Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
On my never-ending quest for mysteries with exotic locations, I came across this first Fiji Islands mystery, Death on Paradise Island. It was an enjoyable read; however, I'm undecided about continuing with the series.
I learned quite a bit about the Fiji Islands, the importance of rugby to its inhabitants, and the customs of its people. (I would imagine that Fijian traditional naming practices could drive genealogists to distraction.) I also liked reading about how a new marine preserve could affect both the wildlife and the human inhabitants of the islands.
Joe Horseman is an interesting character. He works very well with subordinates such as his new detective sergeant, Susie Singh, and his idea to form a rugby team for many of the feral children on the main island is definitely a good one. I also liked how his standing as a rugby champion opened a lot of doors for him during the investigation.
Another thing I enjoyed while reading was the musical Fijian language with a glossary provided in the back. Yes, there is a lot to like about Death on Paradise Island, but the pace of the story did bog down several times, and although Horseman and Singh are interesting characters, they didn't "shine" enough for me to want to grab the next book in the series. Decisions, decisions...
I learned quite a bit about the Fiji Islands, the importance of rugby to its inhabitants, and the customs of its people. (I would imagine that Fijian traditional naming practices could drive genealogists to distraction.) I also liked reading about how a new marine preserve could affect both the wildlife and the human inhabitants of the islands.
Joe Horseman is an interesting character. He works very well with subordinates such as his new detective sergeant, Susie Singh, and his idea to form a rugby team for many of the feral children on the main island is definitely a good one. I also liked how his standing as a rugby champion opened a lot of doors for him during the investigation.
Another thing I enjoyed while reading was the musical Fijian language with a glossary provided in the back. Yes, there is a lot to like about Death on Paradise Island, but the pace of the story did bog down several times, and although Horseman and Singh are interesting characters, they didn't "shine" enough for me to want to grab the next book in the series. Decisions, decisions...
