The Leopard's Prey: A Jade del Cameron Mystery

Suzanne Arruda has brilliantly created a spellbinding tale of adventure and murder set in 1920's colonial East Africa. It chronicles the engaging adventures of photojournalist/animal rescuer Jade del Cameron in and around Nairobi, Kenya. When a local storekeeper is found dead and her filmmaker boyfriend is named as the lead suspect, Jade ardently investigates all suspicious clues. What follows is a suspenseful story fraught with danger, sabotage and intrigue. Ms. Arruda does a magnificent job crafting a delectable cast of fascinating characters. She beautifully describes the majesty of the exotic Kenyan countryside, with its herds of wild animals and breathtaking scenery. Adding to the ambiance of the storyline are tiny glimpses into the cultures of the native warriors and the problem of civilized society displacing the wild animals' habitat. I absolutely loved this captivating mystery! Once I picked it up, I was not able to put it down! I was thoroughly entertained and therefore, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book.

Suzanne Arruda's fourth mystery has Jade Del Cameron working for a zoological company in Nairobi, working to save a pair of leopards slated for execution. When bodies are found, Jade also finds herself working to clear her friend of murder charges - and finds herself piloting a plane and landing in African wilderness to face a brutal killer. THE LEOPARD'S PREY is a riveting, fast-paced mystery highly recommended for any mystery collection.

I have read all these books and love them. They give you a glimpse of life in Africa after the Great War. Jade Del Cameron is a great heroine and her situations only add to the fun in the stories. While the books are not exactly "cosies" they are not the thriller killer type mysteries. They are more for relaxed reading and enjoying the journey through the landscape and period in time.

I've found a new heroine to cheer for: Jade Del Cameron in The Leopard's Prey by Suzanne Arruda. Jade was an ambulance driver in World War I and now (after the war) finds herself drawn to British East Africa. An independent, single woman, Jade struggles to make a living as a writer in post-war times. "Writing articles for the Traveler paid well enough, but traveling anywhere to write about a new location had grown more expensive, especially with the current petrol shortage." It may sound familiar--except this action is happening in the 1920's on another continent. Jade takes on odd jobs to supplement her income. Her current job of wrangling and photographing exotic animals gets this gutsy action figure into some tight places. Jade even uses herself as leopard bait in a last-ditch effort to trap the animal and save it from being shot when it stalks its prey too near a village. She is dedicated to finding a place for herself while preserving a vanishing way of life. When a man is found dead on a friend's coffee plantation, Jade sets out to clear her friends' names and find the true killer. The descriptions of the African continent, with its exotic natives and wildlife, make a great setting for adventure. Little touches, such as the style of clothes and the types of soap commonly in use, show that the author has done her research into the area and its history. Add a little romance, some entertaining characters, a dash of male posturing, and a lot of danger and you have the recipe for a wonderful series of mysteries in an historical setting. by Rhonda Esakov for Story Circle Book Reviews reviewing books by, for, and about women

In 1920 on the Thompson coffee plantation near Nairobi, the corpse of Martin Stokes, owner of Stokes and Berryhill Store, is found inside a coffee dryer. Since his wife Alice has gone missing as evidenced by Martin putting out an ad asking for help to find her, the local cops assume two murders occurred. Other evidence points towards WWI flying ace, Sam Featherstone. Having returned from Morocco (see THE SERPENT'S DAUGHTER) photographer and animal rights activist Jade del Cameron refuses to accept Sam the filmmaker as a suspect; he is her lover and aviator instructor teaching her to fly. He also wants to be her spouse, but Jade hesitates. As she investigates the murder of Martin and the disappearance of Alice, Jade and her sidekick Biscuit the cheetah rescue endangered animals. Paying a strong homage to Africa, Suzanne Arruda provides a wonderful historical whodunit that focuses a powerful light on the changing "Dark Continent"; especially Kenya by bringing to life the geography , the assault on animals, and a deep look at the customs of the Kikuyu and Masai tribes. The story line vividly depicts the era that can be summed up by the rationale of Jade and the Perkins and Daley Zoological Company to save (not capture) animals for zoo relocation in order to keep them safe from hunters. Jade is at her best trying to prove her lover is innocent while eluding his efforts to marry her; all that in between her rescuing endangered species like white leopards. Harriet Klausner