Once again, I find myself showing up late for a series of
novels featuring several recurring characters.
Thankfully, as is the case with Jassy Mackenzie’s Jade de Long series,
that is not always a bad thing. The Fallen, Mackenzie’s third Jade de
Long novel, works so well as a standalone novel, in fact, that I now want to go
back and read her two previous ones featuring this feisty South African private
investigator.
Jade de Long is taking scuba lessons in St. Lucia while she
waits for her boyfriend, police superintendent David Patel, to join her for the
romantic holiday she has planned for them.
Still fighting the panic attacks that make it impossible for her to
remain underwater for any length of time, Jade is grateful for the kind and
patient attention she is receiving from dive instructor Amanda Bolton. She genuinely likes the young instructor and
is intrigued when she learns that only a few months earlier Amanda had been
working as an air traffic controller.
Things begin to go bad when David arrives with news about a
personal matter that will adversely affect their relationship. Jade, reacting badly to David’s revelation
and not wanting to return to the cabin she shares with him, winds up spending
the night in another man’s bed. Then,
before she can confront David about whether they still have future together,
she discovers that Amanda Bolton has been stabbed to death.
David offers to help the undermanned local police department
with the murder investigation, and Jade, feeling some personal loyalty to
Amanda, works with him every step of the way.
As Jade and David pick away at the few clues they start with, they learn
just how complicated the situation they have stumbled into really is. Each thread they pull on leads them in a new
direction, adds suspects to their list, and puts their own lives at greater
risk.
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| Jassy Mackenzie |
Jassy Mackenzie certainly has a winner in the fearless Jade
de Long character, but the greater strength of The Fallen is how she blends her characters into the fabric of
contemporary South African culture. The
book offers enlightening looks at the dangerously high crime rates of the
country’s major cities, everyday interaction between the races, and the environmental
issues that threaten that part of the world.
All of this is so seamlessly integrated into her storyline that it is
absorbed as just another element of a Jade de Long mystery.
The Fallen is not
scheduled for publication until April 2012, so there is still time to read the
first two books in the series, Random
Violence (2008) and Stolen Lives (2010),
before this new one hits the shelves.
Rated at: 4.0
Oh, this sounds really good! I have to get my hands on a copy as soon as it's out. Meanwhile, I'll look for the first two books in the series.
ReplyDeleteYou wrote an excellent review here, Sam. I really enjoyed reading it, and it made me want to run to the nearest bookstore (or failing that, Amazon.ca!!!) I've just found Deon Meyer, so it's lovely to have another author writing about South Africa to add.
Did I find out about Malla Nunn from you? Isn't she also S. African?
ReplyDeleteSusan, Deon Meyer is a new name to me. Thanks for that...I'm going to have to find something of his.
ReplyDeleteNot me, Ms. Factotum, so thanks for adding a new name for me to check out. Much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the wonderful review, Sam. I am delighted you enjoyed The Fallen and I've had such fun reading through your blog... it is great.
ReplyDeleteJassy, thanks for the nice surprise visit. I did enjoy The Fallen very much and I'm now looking forward to reading the first two titles in the series.
ReplyDeleteThanks, too, for the kind words regarding Book Chase...much appreciated.