Mark of the Lion: A Jade del Cameron Mystery

Mark of the Lion is a wonderful read. The setting is extremely important in the novel and becomes a character itself because Ms. Arruda has done her research. But luckily the other characters are so well-developed, likeable, and even quirky that they do not get lost in this wonderful setting. And the plot is not typical--Jade is searching for the missing brother of her former love in the middle of witchcraft, greed, wild animals, secrets, and best friends. I highly recommend this historical mystery novel to anyone--mystery lovers or not. I think anyone who enjoys a good read with exceptional characters will love this book!

Jade Del Cameron is a terrific new character. I've loved African stories since I was small, and rarely do I find one with such a charming lead female. Jade is able to take care of herself. She's the sort of character that makes you keep turning the pages long after bedtime. I like the character of Africa, too. Suzanne Arruda brings the area to life. I loved the little chapter headings - the articles that Jade "wrote". They bring added life to the story. I hope to see lots more of Jade, and of Africa in the future.

I read a LOT of mysteries. I devour them like popcorn, but this was more like caviar. First, it was set in a location we seldom, if ever, see: Kenya in the early 1900s. Next: the main character is a more than usually independent and brave woman, who was an ambulance driver in WWI. Next: the mystery is unusual, concerning her need to find the brother of a dead friend. And there is a lot of intriguing atmosphere with a "witch" sending dangerous animals after the main character. Additional characters are well-drawn. I only put it down to go to church(!)

"The Mark of the Lion" begins in the closing moments of World War I in France, where we meet the American ambulance driver Jade del Cameron. Jade has volunteered to serve with an all-female British ambulance corps. As Jade is sent out to evacuate some wounded troops from near the front lines, she witnesses a dogfight between a British and German airplane. The British plane enters a deadly spin, and to her horror, Jade realizes that the pilot is her love interest, David Worthy. Jade manages to pull David from the burning wreckage, and then David gives Jade a ring which is a family heirloom, and with his dying breath tells Jade that he has an illegitimate half-brother (who David only learned of recently) and that their father was killed under suspicious circumstances. All this happens just in chapter one! The fast-moving plot develops quickly from there,and after the close of the war Jade procures a position as a writer and photographer for a travel magazine. Through a visit to London, Jade finds herself hired by David's father's solicitor to go to British East Africa to deliver a mysterious package to David's surviving brother, if she can find them. So Jade combines the trip to search for clues about the murder of Gil Worthy, David's father, the search for David's brother, with her journaliam and sets off for Nairobi. Once in Africa, Jade meets a collection of eccentric British colonists and Kikiyu and Maasai tribesmen. Jade becomes involved in a hunt for a hyena who killed a Kikiyu villager, and while at the village she discovers that the villagers suspect that an evil witch doctor, locally called a "laibon", might have enchanted the animal to attack their village. What follows is more excitement as Jade and her English friends prepare to go on a safari across Kenya to look for David's missing brother, and also investigate the evil magic which appears to have been unleashed against the local village. Miss Jade del Cameron is one of the most exciting female protagonists I've read about in a long time. This was a book that was very difficult to put down, the action just keeps coming. I hope that author Arruda will give us the next adventure for Jade very soon!

Early praise for this mystery novel is well-deserved. Jade del Cameron is an appealing heroine and locales in France, England, and Africa are beautifully rendered. Jade del Cameron epitomizes American toughness and determination in the early 20th century. Raised on a New Mexico ranch, Jade is doing her bit during World War One by driving an ambulance at the Front. She's a top notch driver and mechanic, a gutsy girl who pilots a rickety Model T Ford through crossfire and shellbursts all day, every day. Transporting wounded and shell-shocked soldiers is a heartbreaking job. Despite her courage, War has taken a hard toll on Jade. When friend and would-be suitor David Worthy crashes his plane, Jade is the first person on scene. Before his death, David extracts a promise from her: Find his brother Abel and investigate his father's suspicious death in Africa. Jade is a girl who keeps her promises. At war's end she dedicates herself to honoring David's last request. In her new job as reporter for an American magazine, she begins the investigation in England then heads for Nairobi. In Africa, Jade encounters an intriguing mix of characters: English Lords and Ladies living like royalty; native warriors and servants; working class coffee growers trying to survive Africa's climate; and shape shifting witch doctors out to end her investigation. Jade is enthralled by Africa's wildlife, people, and vistas, but doesn't lose sight of the purpose for her visit. The search for David's brother takes her from Nairobi to the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Handsome Harry Hascombe heads the safari to Kilimanjaro country. Jade is courageous and capable, a crack shot. And thanks to her Spanish-Irish-French ancestry, her looks attract Harry like a magnet. But Jade is all business and focused on the promise made to a dead pilot. She believes the mystery is all but solved until first a lion, then a hyena try to kill native guide, Pili. I won't share more of the plot because the mysteries are only partially solved by book's end. Jade will carry on her investigation with the next book in this series. Because of top notch prose style, exciting plot, and memorable characters, Mark of the Lion is highly recommended.