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| Category: Fiction:Mystery:Cozy |
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| About the Book | |
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In 1912, a group of diamond prospectors are stranded on the Skeleton Coast and perish. John Beecher was one of those unfortunate souls. Yet his legacy lives on when over one hundred years later, his great grandson arrives on the same coast also lured by the prospect of diamonds. In the present day, semi-retired Dink is on a tour of Namibia where she meets Marco, a retired physician. When the tour ends, Dink and Marco extend their stay, travel to the northern region of Namibia, but stumble into trouble. When visiting a Himba village, they learn of mysteriously dying cattle and the village livelihood is at stake. Dink and Marco discover the cattle were poisoned, but in searching for why and by whom, they learn that a missing academic and what secrets he holds are key. It becomes clear that a more complicated and bizarre series of events may involve diamonds. Dink and Marco must draw upon all their wits to unravel the mystery. The past and present are linked by man’s search for diamond riches. The country culture, lifestyle of indigenous people, and historical moments are blended throughout the novel.
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| Reviews | |
"Duca offers a well-researched work that effectively encompasses the geography and history of Namibia. She also addresses a variety of themes such as white paternalism and other issues that plague present-day African communities. It's a diverting read that may appeal to those who prefer cozy mysteries." Wow, I really like the format - using two time periods to tell the story and good intertwining the plots. The travelogue parts were intriguing and encouraged me to do some independent research. What I loved most was the description of the country, people, culture, food, the mining of diamonds, the illegal vessel, and the history of Namibia. Dink and Marco made a perfect pair of sleuths.
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| About the Author | |
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Ms. Duca has been traveling out of country since childhood and her wanderlust has continued even into her senior years. Although semi-retired, she works part time with social service organizations. Diane has a doctorate in Public Service Administration and two Masters. She lives in Washington state with her two cats and enjoys writing in her spare time. |