Suzanne Arruda, Stalking Ivory

Stalking Ivory

Suzanne Arruda

NAL, January 2007, $23.95

ISBN: 0451220269

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 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.