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The Leopard's Prey: A Jade Del Cameron Mystery    by Suzanne Arruda Amazon.com order for
Leopard's Prey
by Suzanne Arruda
Order:  USA  Can
New American Library, 2008 (2008)
Hardcover, e-Book
* *   Reviewed by Tim Davis

Following in the glorious wake of her hair-raising adventures in three previous novels (Mark of the Lion, Stalking Ivory, and The Serpent's Daughter), the plucky photographer and amateur sleuth Jade del Cameron makes her fourth excitement-packed appearance in the latest Suzanne Arruda mystery, The Leopard's Prey.

Once again in Kenya in July of 1920, the spirited Jade is working near Nairobi with an American company responsible for trapping animals for shipment to American zoos. Not surprising to readers who know her, Jade even goes so far as to put herself in great danger in efforts to capture a particularly dangerous leopard. The leopard, however, may not be the most serious threat to Jade's safety.

Though warned by a Kikuyu native that she 'will face danger' and 'must always watch for the madness in the eyes of a killer,' Jade - true to form - quickly immerses herself in plenty of complicated problems - including a murder investigation. A farm supply salesman is found murdered on a friend's nearby coffee plantation, and Sam Featherstone (appearing again after very interesting early appearances in the previous novels), a dashing young aviator and adventurer (of whom Jade is particularly fond), finds himself on the wrong end of the policemen's investigation. Of course, Jade - in order to sort out the truth (and in order to come to grips with her true feelings toward Sam) - will not rest (and will not be safe) until the murderer (much like the aforementioned leopard) is captured.

Like its predecessors in the series, this latest Jade del Cameron mystery is remarkable and commendable because of the historical and geographical settings as well as the vivid characterizations. More particularly, with the following description intended in the most positive terms, The Leopard's Prey - again, like its predecessors - is an old-fashioned cozy mystery adventure. Engagingly entertaining, consistently exciting, and infused with just the right amount of romance, The Leopard's Prey is another highly recommended winner from Suzanne Arruda.

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