Stalking Ivory: A Jade Del Cameron Mystery [Hardcover]

Suzanne Arruda (Author)

Book Description

Series: Jade Del Cameron Mystery | Publication Date: January 2, 2007

On a photography assignment in the northern territory of Mount Marsabit, Jade and her friends Beverly and Avery Dunbury hope to capture on film the area's colossal elephants. Instead they discover the mutilated remains of four elephants and one man. The authorities suspect Abyssinian poachers and raiders in search of ivory and slaves. But Jade has her own suspicions, which are only heightened when she discovers a cache of German rifles hidden in a nearby cave. And when Jelani, the Kikuyu boy accompanying her, is captured by slave traders, Jade must join forces with handsome American pilot Sam Featherstone to rescue one of her own.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Arruda's spunky second throwback adventure to feature Jade del Cameron (after 2006's Mark of the Lion), the former WWI ambulance driver travels to British East Africa in 1920, to photograph and write about elephants. En route to an elephant sanctuary in remote Mount Marsabit—accompanied by her friend Beverly; Bev's husband, Lord Avery Dunbury; and a 12-year-old Kikuyu boy, Jelani, whom Jade is mentoring—Jade discovers the corpses of four elephants, slain for ivory, and the dead King's African Rifle soldier who evidently tried to stop the poachers. Jade swears to find the killers. Are hostile Abyssinian raiders to blame, or could it be safari leader Harry Hascombe, who's leading a suspicious group of German tourists? Handsome American pilot Sam Featherstone provides romantic interest. The resilient Jade will charm readers as she asserts her independence in rugged Africa. (Dec.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Suzanne Arruda is a former zookeeper turned science teacher and freelance writer. An avid hiker and outdoorswoman, she lives in Kansas with her husband, twin sons, and a small menagerie of pets. Author website: suzannearruda.com.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: NAL Hardcover; First Edition edition (January 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451220269
• ISBN-13: 978-0451220264
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #539,922 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars delightful historical amateur sleuthing safari, January 6, 2007

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stalking Ivory: A Jade Del Cameron Mystery (Hardcover)

In 1920 with the war over and the need for female ambulance drivers also over, Jade del Cameron completed a death bed promise in British East Africa (see MARK OF THE LION). Though her quest is done, Jade decides to stay for now and even mentors a preadolescent lad, Jelani.

Jade accompanied by her friends Lord Avery Dunbury and his wife Beverly, and Jelani head towards the Mount Marasbit elephant preserve, but are horrified by the corpses of four elephants killed for their tusks as ivory sells big in western markets. Nearby she also finds the remains of a King's soldier obviously killed by the poachers who butchered the elephants. Jade especially personalizes the kills and vows to bring to justice to the poachers whether they are natives, Abyssinian raiders, western safari leaders like Harry Hascombe, or some other avaricious souls.

STAKING IVORY is a delightful historical whodunit starring an independent courageous woman who wants to see justice occur for the brutally slaughtered animals and the dead soldier. Jade risks her life to do so though she finds an ally in a pilot Sam Featherstone. Fans of Alexander McCall Smith's Precious Ramotswe No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency tales will join Jade on her amateur sleuthing safari.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Jade is one tough lady!, March 25, 2008

By 

Penny L. Bloodhart - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Stalking Ivory: A Jade Del Cameron Mystery (Jade del Cameron Mysteries) (Hardcover)

I've enjoyed two books in this series so far. The writing is crisp, the settings fascinating, and the characters well sketched. As a fan of Amelia Peabody and her Egyptian/London adventures, I'm always looking for similar series.

Jade has lots of potential. She's almost TOO tough at times. I find myself wishing that just once she'd put on a dress, some lipstick and sip a bit of champagne! I also find myself liking Harry, the rather dashing hunter that she mistrusts and abuses, rather than the new heroic Sam, who seems just a little bit too perfect.

A most enjoyable book, and I'm looking forward to further ventures!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good mystery set in a unique setting, April 30, 2007

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stalking Ivory: A Jade Del Cameron Mystery (Hardcover)

American Jade del Cameron has ended up in British East Africa, after working as an ambulance driver in the Great War. She has settled on a career of travel writing and photography in Africa, and travels out to the wild to photograph elephants. Traveling with her are her friends Beverly and Avery Dunbury, her young charge Jelani, and her pet cheetah, Biscuit.

They stumble across elephant carcasses, victims of ivory poachers, as well as her old friend and irritating suitor Harry Hascombe and the party of German tourists he is leading on a safari.

Jade is suspicious of Harry and his Germans, and finds clues linking them to the poachers and to gun smuggling. Young American pilot Sam Featherstone arrives at their camp, hoping to make movies of elephants, complicating the plot and Jade's feelings. Since her fiance, a pilot in the war, was killed she has resolutely avoided romantic entanglements.

Jade tracks the poachers, finds and hides a cache of German guns, sets snares, dismantles a pit trap, and tracks down Jelani when he is kidnapped by slavers. She does get a tiny bit of help from her friends--and an unusual man who appears out of nowhere, an ancient and mysterious native named Boguli, who leads her to safe trails and hiding places when she is stalking the evil leader of the poachers.

Armchair Interviews says: This book follows The Mark of the Lion. Arruda is a zookeeper and biologist, and has researched her wildlife extensively. If you like Isak Dinesen, and Beryl Markham, Jade is a woman in their mold.