This is a seemingly dramatic departure from Adrian McKinty’s usual books but he pulls it off marvelously. Based on a true story McKinty heads to the South Pacific circa 1906 to tell a tale of mad Germans, sun worship and possible murder.
Will Prior, is an ex-English lieutenant who finds himself in German New Guinea after the horrors of the Boer War. As an ex-military policeman he is asked by local authorities to investigate the strange death of a man from a neighbouring island where a new, cultish society is trying to establish itself. Calling themselves ‘cocovores’ they believe that sun worship and a diet of coconuts will lead to immortality. Will’s investigation is quickly stonewalled by a group under the influence of more than just the sun and tropical fruit and he must tread carefully if he wishes to ever leave the island in one piece.
McKinty has obvious fun telling this story. Coming off the brilliant Sean Duffy series was always going to be a challenge and going outside his usual zone is a stroke of brilliance. There is a real 19th century flare to McKinty’s writing and characters in this novel and the atmosphere he creates on the island of Kabakon, which the ‘cocovores’ inhabit, bubbles away nicely with a sinister air never too far away. The combinations of malarial fever and heroin induced dreams also means the lines between sanity and insanity intertwine until the truth of what really happened on Kabakon is possibly indeterminable.
This may not appeal to all the Adrian McKinty fans but I think it is going to win him a few new ones.
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Annie...yayyyyyy...you are back and doing okay. I was really worried because I had no clue what was wrong.
Please don't over do though. We want you to stay healthy and feeling good.
I have a 'Driftwood' also. Mine is really a good one too. I was completely silver haired at age 35*gasp*!
Happy days are here again....song in my head..because you are back and okay!!
Big hugs,
Jackie:-)
Annie, I am glad that you are feeling better. That scared me when you just dropped off.
I enjoyed your post today.I had to laugh as I use to sing that song when I was a kid. And what else can you say about Bewitched? It was a funny show that I also watched in the day.
Here's to you feeling better and staying well.
Take care.
First, it's great that you are okay. It's also nice to have you explain what happened. It's double nice that James did a post so we knew what was happening. Well sort of what was happening.
I so love Bewitched back in the day. Agnus Moorehead cracked me up and she was a awful mother in law. Just saying.
Driftwood is a good name. You know I don't have one of those. I'm with my soul-mate so there you have it. I've had some loves in my life, but they are ex's for a very good reason.
Have a terrific day honey and get some much needed rest. Big hugs from chilly California. :)
It is kinda scary when a post pops up - "Annie fainted..." It does make us anxious. Glad you are much better!
I love "South Pacific", I probably could sing the whole score, not well of course, but still...
I'm 64 and didn't get married until I was 43, so I got me a boatload of exes - actually my current husband was almost an ex - but I'd be happy to see any or all of them - they were nice guys, just not keepers.
Stay well!
Annie! Nice to know you're okay. Be well and healthy. you'll need that to be able to flush out other bad memories...lol!
Annie,
I'm soooo glad you're back and feeling better. Reading James post after your post was freaky. I think I blinked about 1,000 times while my jaw dropped. Once I removed my foot from my mouth and reattached said jaw, I realized the gravity of the words and was really worried. Stay well, please!
Maybe you need to rinse and then repeat. Maybe you need to rinse and then repeat. I'll stop now. I vote for the name Driftwood, too.
Thank you Jackie. I was worried about not being able to let you guys know what was wrong, in addition to worrying what WAS wrong...It's scary to think of how fragile life is...Thank you for thinking about me.
I bet your hair turned that pretty gray. It seems like people who gray early have always had great hair color. Both of my brothers went grey early, and they look better.
My hair is not going to do that...In fact, it scares me to think about what my hair might do.
But, men haven't succeeded in turning me completely gray yet- Actually, Dagwood was my only nightmare. I'm glad you have a really good Driftwood- I love my Driftwood too...
I think that sometimes, I use too much hyperbole in my posts. I'm just trying to make ya'll smile.
Thank you for welcoming me back with such a terrific song in your head; and now, I have one in my mine, You've Got A Friend.
Big hugs back to you~
Annie
Hey Pam,
Laughing...Do you know whats weird? For a minute, I forgot about The Bewitched theme song.
It is a great song, especially the way she swooshes from the sky on her broom, and lands on top of her name.
The Producers were clever to produce Bewitched in the 1960's; the decade really worked for it.
There were woman characters with power showing up everywhere; I Dream Of Jeanie, was another one.
Anyway, I'm sorry I scared you, and thanks for the well wishes. You're a nice person Pam, and a great friend.
Cheers~
Annie
Sandee,
Thank you! :) You're welcome, and you're double welcome from James, he will be happy to know he helped.
I loved Agnes Moorehead too, (well obviously) and she sure did give mother-in-laws a bad name, didn't she? Oh, she was so funny...Poor Darin.
I love this, "I've had some loves in my life, but they are ex's for a very good reason."
Thank you for complimenting the name Driftwood, but as I told Jackie, I think I might use too much hyperbole sometimes.
'Cause actually, Driftwood is James, and he really deserves a better nickname, and although I still like it. It probably won't stick.
I am so glad that you're with your soul-mate. I cannot think of a person who deserves to be happy, more than you.
I will take your advice and get some rest, so that I can keep blogging with all of you. Thank you for caring enough to check on me...and bundle up with hubby~
Big hug and love,
Annie
Grace,
I bet it was a bit of a shock, and I'm sorry I worried everyone...
I'm sure if I read the same thing on any of yall's blogs, I would have had the same reaction.
Like I wrote to Jackie, life is so fragile, it's scary...
I love South Pacific too, particularly that song. I cannot believe you can sing the whole score, and you probably sing it better than you think.
And it's great that you dated a boatload of nice guys, and then found a keeper. You've been lucky in love, and you deserve it.
Thanks for the "Stay Well" wish, I need as many as I can get. I suppose we all do~
Cheers,
Annie
Hello Pearl, Thank you~ And thanks for the laugh...
"you'll need that to be able to flush out other bad memories...lol!
Have a great day!
Annie
Lauren,
You write so well. After reading your comment, I felt like I dropped from a cliff, not like I fell or was pushed, like I simply dropped straight down. I didn't fully realize how that post must have read...
Wow, you recreated a moment that stopped in time...
"I think I blinked about 1,000 times while my jaw dropped. Once I removed my foot from my mouth and reattached said jaw, I realized the gravity of the words..."
I will stay well~ And I'm glad you like Driftwood, I do too.
You stay well too~
Keep writing~
Annie
That tune is catchy! I do remember Bewitched. Hope you have a great weekend.
I'm so glad you're feeling better... just remember not to overdo it! We don't want you going timber again.
This was a really great post in more ways than one ;)
Luvs ya,
Dawn