Andrew Nugent Second Burial for a Black Prince

Second Burial for a Black Prince

Andrew Nugent

Dunne, Jul 2006, $23.95

ISBN: 0312327617

In Dublin Nigerian immigrant Shadrack Nwachukwu dies from the loss of blood caused by the amputation of his leg below the knee. Garda Siochana Murder Squad Inspector Jim Quilligan and Sergeant Molly Power head the investigation. Jim's initial reaction is scorn as he assumes it is another racist murder by some misguided idiot. However, Molly says otherwise as the operation was professionally performed but the post op was amateurish and the victim ultimately dumped at nearby Dublin Mountain before he crawled down to his death.

Jim and Molly make inquiries in the Nigerian community of "Little Africa" while the victim's outraged brother Jude vows the culprit will face justice. As the case seems to be going nowhere, Jude helps the two cops navigate the neighborhood though he struggles with understanding the western concept of justice as he knows how to deal with family killers back in his homeland.

The key to this excellent Irish police procedural is not the cops though they do a great job as they did in THE FOUR COURTS MURDER. Instead the fascination for the readers is with Jude and the tour of Little Africa. Jude is an interesting person who wants to do the right thing by his late brother in accordance with his ancestry yet also adhere to his new country's laws, which in his mind are not necessarily in harmony especially when it comes to an eye for eye. Andrew Nugent provides a deep thriller in which his stars take a back seat to the support cast.

Harriet Klausner