Manchineel is an island in the Caribbean reserved for villas owned by a select group of rich and royals. Manchineel is one of the first novels to be published under a new imprint, Castle Street Mysteries, from The Dundurn Group. The author is John Ballem who counts nine other novels, several short stories, a collection of poetry and a textbook on oil and gas law to his credit. It is further to his credit that he has managed to wring solid entertainment from the endless rounds of cocktail parties and gossip enjoyed by his motley collection of wealthy ex-colonials.
In true Dick Francis style, interest is provided by an exceptionally talented protagonist with the unlikely name of Skye MacLeod, an independent investor who flies into the island social whirl in his private vintage aircraft, the ashes of his late wife under his wing. She so enjoyed their home on the island that Skye will add her to the beach, there to squish between his toes forevermore. But this is just part of the action, leading to subplots with voodoo encounters and romance of the sexy kind.
The author has a keen eye for island beauties, native and imported. Not that Skye himself is much affected. He's just too great a guy to letch after the female flesh thrown his way. Skye is the type of wealthy, white world-hopper that servants put down the dishes and risk their lives for. He's the sort past employees turn to for help when their children go missing. He'll not only develop alternative theories when shark-attack victims wash ashore, you can count on him for action when the brainwork's done.
It's fun. Manchineel will fill a summer lawn chair for hours at a stretch. Toward the end it even has a Bond-style raid on a mysterious island, and of course Skye gets the girl. Sort of. There might be more to come from that direction. I for one shall look forward to it.
Oliver, freshen my G&T will you, there's a good chap.
Kevin J Schooley, Murder Out There (www.murderoutthere.com)
Product Description
The Rada drums spoke in a rolling tattoo like muted thunder, and the frantic activity within the temple ceased as though time had stopped. Eyes rolled heavenward as the drums beat out an imperious summons. Would the great god come to them? A sibilant whisper of indrawn breath swept through the crowd of worshippers as Baron Samedi appeared before them ...
In Manchineel, John Ballems tenth mystery novel, worlds collide on an island paradise in the Caribbean. Manchineel is a place where Royals mingle with an American political dynasty, natives are befriended by the rich resort owners, and the ordinary is confronted by the occult.
As soon as Skye MacLeod arrives in his Cessna 180, he knows that all is not as it should be on Manchineel. The bodies of three young people have washed up on shore, and voodoo drums cast an eerie cloud across the island. Is there a connection, he wonders, or is there something even more sinister lurking beneath the rich and glamorous surface of the islands elite?
Skye has returned to his island resort with the ashes of his late wife, who was killed in a skiing accident by Patrick Kelly, a member of a prominent American political family. When Erin Kelly, the ex-wife of Patrick, turns up on the island, Skyes trip becomes more complicated than he had anticipated.
Then, when the daughter of a friend goes missing, Skye finds himself investigating her disappearance, as well as the disappearances of several other young people from Manchineel. And with the arrival of the yacht Caroline and its mysterious owner, his investigation takes a macabre turn.
See all Editorial Reviews
