MAIA

This first installment of debut author Vonn’s historical Kill Devill series offers a tale of political and financial scheming, violence, murder, romance, and a bit of mysticism.

It’s 1667, and there are evil forces at work on the island of Barbados. The sailing ship Angeline has entered the harbor in Carlisle Bay, Bridgetown. Onboard are brothers Thomas and Richard Dewe, who’ve crossed the Atlantic to help their older sibling, John, run the Tallywhoa Plantation, home of the family’s sugarcane enterprise. Because their ship is two days early, the brothers check in with garrison commander Col. Duncan McKenzie to send word to John that they’ve arrived and need transport. McKenzie sends his most trusted officer, Giles Freeman, to ride out to Tallywhoa. While introducing readers to Giles, a pivotal character in the ensemble cast, Vonn reveals the first of the isle’s many secrets: “On the island only the Colonel’s wife, Elizabeth, knew he was the Colonel’s son.” On his way to the plantation, Giles discovers an enormous wild hog feasting on human remains. The body is that of Esmerelda Conn, the beautiful, pregnant daughter of the owners of another sugar plantation. So begins a twisty murder mystery with danger at every turn. Readers will need to pay close attention to keep track of all the players and their hidden backstories. The society they inhabit is a simmering caldron of European gentry, African slaves, and indentured servants, and it features strong female characters. The narrative does contain graphic, brutal rape scenes, however, which are especially difficult to read, and the descriptions of the island’s reprehensible slavery practices are also deeply disturbing. The prose does offer some light, humorous passages, as well, but it’s too often grammatically careless: “Smiling at her as a gentleman should she did a slight curtsy and headed for the bar.”

An uneven but intriguing melodrama with a surprising villain.