Stalking Ivory

Really, really good. Post WW1 Colonial British East Africa settings. 2 very strong, full rounded women, good strong male characters and African characters not set up as cute background or folkloric decor.

There is the influx of popular culture with a tiny hint of irony since Arruda uses Burroughs' Tarzan to contrast with her depictions of this area. Not vines to use for traveling but cars that break, early cinema and modern photography. Arruda takes you to a place where you are entertained by the mystery but also nourished with an history and culture that she depicts with intelligence and style.

I love the strong character of Jade in this series. She doesn't let anything get in her way when she's helping/investigating someone or something. the writing is solid and the characters are believable. Add in a couple of plot twists, as all good mysteries do and it's a great follow up to Mark of the Lion.

Stalking Ivory is the second book in the Jade del Cameron series, set in Africa in the 1920s. She explores Africa with her camera and writes a for the Traveler Magazine. Jade's current assignment is to photograph elephants in the Mount Marsabit area of Kenya. Jade has also promised the chief game warden that she’ll be on the lookout for ivory poachers in the area. Even though elephants aren’t yet endangered animals they are preyed on by ivory poachers who brutally slaughter whole herds. Not only does Jade find poachers, she also has to deal with slave trading, gun running, and murder.

I thought the mystery was very well constructed. The secondary characters are quite interesting, especially Jelani, the young boy Jade is determined to show more help. He also travels along with Jade, babysitting her pet cheetah, Biscuit. Sometimes the main character can be a bit unrealistic. Nevertheless, this is a series I often read when looking for an escapist read. show less

More of a suspense novel than a mystery. The slight fantasy element is even subtler in this one than the first one. Jade continues to be an appealing heroine.

The second book in the series we pick up several months after the events in the first book. In this book Jade is on a photography assignment in far north British East Africa with good friends Beverly, Avery and Jeleni in tow. Soon Jade finds her self smack in the middle of trouble dealing with poachers, slave traders and Harry Hascombe who has returned to being a safari guide. This is a great book and I enjoyed it as much as the first one. Arruda's passion and research of Africa shines through. If you liked the first you will definitely like the second.

Lacked the charm of the first in the series and the supernatural element that was put to good use in the first one was a total clunker here.

This is a Great follow up to Mark of the Lion. Reall good page turner.