THE KILLER BREATH

by John Wyllie ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 22, 1979

West African Dr. Quarshie, appearing here for the seventh time as doctor-sleuth, is hired by ""Akhana's leading female barrister-at-law""--a powerful patient--to track down her missing, anthropologically inclined daughter. Nice Mrs. Quarshie and their twelve-year-old adopted son wind up doing much of the investigating--which leads to a corrupt football star, a discredited chemist practicing sorcery, and a greedy professor. But it's the good doctor himself who connects up the links (which also include a smallpox virus and Benin bronzes) and therefore almost loses his life on Murder Mountain, scene of unspeakable ritual goings-on; as so often in Wyllie's Africa, the native religious practices have been distorted and manipulated by more sophisticated types. A serviceable tale--somewhat slowed and confused by Wyliie's usual eagerness to share his vivid, intimate knowledge of the exotic flora, fauna, and population. He has, however, dropped the anticolonial mini-tracts which marred earlier Quarshies, so those partial to local colors will find this a better-than-average mystery/travelogue.

Pub Date: June 22, 1979

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1979

Categories: FICTION