Customer Reviews

A Sinful Safari

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A SINFUL SAFARI is a delightful romp, part comic mystery and part social farce. I love books that have historical figures doing fictional things, and in this book I was treated to not only the Prince of Wales and his inamorata Thelma Furness, but also Karen Blixen and Denys Finch-Hatton of "Out of Africa" fame. This gave the added treat of picturing Meryl Streep and Robert Redford speaking the characters' dialog. Famous aviatrix Beryl Markham also made an appearance, becoming the hero's buddy and lending him her plane.

For those concerned about cruelty to animals, be assured that on this safari neither main character has any intention of shooting animals. In fact, Bedford's "famously beautiful assistant Sloane" takes shooting lessons before she goes so she'll be able to miss accurately(!)

The 1920s are also one of my favorite eras to read about, and I enjoyed immersing myself in the unfamiliar East Africa of the time. Although the plot is relatively unimportant in this bit of froth, to Kilian's credit he keeps the reader guessing up to the very, very end. My only quibble is that his smooth writing made the pages fly by too fast. I'll be sure to look for more of his Jazz Age mysteries.

The first reviewer had it right at one point. This is froth - fuming with deadly poisons. Stay away from it. Such trite - even Danielle Steel winces when she reads claptrap like this. A mystery it isn't. Stay with Sue Grafton & only read Kilian if you have nothing better to do!

It's the mid-twentieth century, commonly known as The Jazz Age and Bedford Green couldn't be happier. For the first time in a long while his art gallery in Greenwich Village is making a solid profit and he wants to take his best friend and assistant, Sloane Smith. She counters by asking him to teach her how to shoot because she is going to Kenya in British East Africa.

Her uncle Dixon asked her to accompany him and his new wife Gloria so Sloane agrees because she wants to keep an eye on her uncle's new wife. She also wants to visit her friend Alice, who is living in the heart of the British Colony. Alice is unhappy and needs to talk to Sloane. They haven't been in Kenya long before Sloane's uncle is arrested for killing his wife and her lover. Bedford starts investigating and ends up freeing Sloane's uncle but is arrested for the murder with help from the British community. Bedford escapes and tries to clear his name, even though he might be the killer's next victim.

The life of the British expatriates living in Kenya when it was a part of the British Empire is a microcosm of the aristocracy living in England. The protagonist is a loyal to his friends who is willing to bend the law to see justice prevail. There are plenty of suspects who need reasons to see Sloane's aunt or her lover dead so the story never loses its momentum. Michael Killian is a writer who adds lots of color and atmosphere to his mysteries.

Harriet Klausner