Pigeon Blood Red
by Yolande Kyngdon-McKay
An auditor’s investigation of a dubious mining company stirs up her complicated past in Kyngdon-McKay’s novel.
Elliott Fox has a few questions regarding Astrapia Mines, the company she’s auditing in Dubalenge in Southern Africa. Why, for instance, does it seem that this profitable ruby mine hasn’t mined any materials for some time? Her boss back in the U.S. would prefer she simply turn in a positive report to guarantee future business with Astrapia. But Elliott is itching to know what the company is up to; the fact that its CEO, Otto Kaspin, is her ex-boyfriend perhaps stokes her curiosity. He unceremoniously dumped her years ago, after Elliott’s father was tried and convicted for running a Ponzi scheme (his misdeeds were brought to light thanks largely to a secret whistleblower—a then-17-year-old Elliott). Tuya Terbish is a reluctant confidential informant for the FBI. She’s been arrested for insider trading, which she did on behalf of her Manhattan hedge-fund boss, Quinton Zines, who’s ostensibly the person the feds really want. As Quinton’s latest shady deal involves possibly shorting Astrapia, he sends consultant Peter Mackham to Dubalenge to look into the company. Peter is a potential ally for Elliott, who is unable to unearth evidence against Astrapia on her own. But their motives don’t mesh: Elliott may be hung up on some kind of vengeance against Otto while Peter, who’s a former CIA agent, needs to get a loan shark off his back. The question remains: If the mining company isn’t digging for pigeon blood rubies, then how are they bringing in money—and how many laws are being broken?
Kyngdon-McKay deftly develops a well-rounded, spirited cast. The teenage Elliott turns her father in, knowing it will upend her family’s life; she also undoubtedly cares deeply for her younger twin brothers. At the same time, Peter seemingly wants to do the right thing, but this self-serving borderline alcoholic is not an easy guy to trust. The author finds time to develop these characters without ever slowing down the story, which teems with suspense-riddled scenes. Elliott spends much of her time rubbing elbows with a number of dangerous individuals like Dominic Van Tonder, Astrapia’s head of security, who’s frighteningly unpredictable. As Elliott’s investigation entails snooping around and snapping photos, there’s no telling what Dominic or others will do if they suspect her intentions. As the tension rarely lets up, Elliott’s obsession with chocolate offers a pleasant reprieve; she clearly savors every bite she gets, and even ranks her favorites (spoiler: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are No. 2). The dialogue throughout the novel pops, and the narrative details are even richer: “Elliott stared out the window of the train, her eyes fixed on the sole rift of blue in the cloudy sky…Extraneous thoughts could spill over, when the world outside, rushing by, was let in.” The superb buildup leads to a final act that’s unfortunately somewhat muddled, with another villain joining an already full roster of baddies who don’t necessarily want the same thing. The ending, which implies a new goal for Elliott, makes a sequel a distinct possibility.Laudable characters fuel this corporate thriller that runs full tilt.