Stalking Ivory (Jade del Cameron Series #2) by Suzanne Arruda

From the Publisher

On a photography assignment in the northern territory of Mount Marsabit, American adventuress Jade del Cameron and her friends hope to film the area's colossal elephants. Instead, they discover the mutilated remains of four elephants and a man. Although the authorities suspect Abyssinian poachers and raiders in search of ivory and slaves, Jade has her own suspicions. Could it have been Harry Hascombe, her nemesis and unremitting suitor? Soon the Kikuyu boy accompanying her is captured by slave traders. Ultimately, it will take all of Jade's mettle to rescue her guide from slave traders, protect the animals, and expose another kind of beast.

Publishers Weekly

In Arruda's spunky second throwback adventure to feature Jade del Cameron (after 2006's Mark of the Lion), the former WWI ambulance driver travels to British East Africa in 1920, to photograph and write about elephants. En route to an elephant sanctuary in remote Mount Marsabit-accompanied by her friend Beverly; Bev's husband, Lord Avery Dunbury; and a 12-year-old Kikuyu boy, Jelani, whom Jade is mentoring-Jade discovers the corpses of four elephants, slain for ivory, and the dead King's African Rifle soldier who evidently tried to stop the poachers. Jade swears to find the killers. Are hostile Abyssinian raiders to blame, or could it be safari leader Harry Hascombe, who's leading a suspicious group of German tourists? Handsome American pilot Sam Featherstone provides romantic interest. The resilient Jade will charm readers as she asserts her independence in rugged Africa. (Dec.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Elephant-poaching, gunrunning and romantic derring-do in Africa, 1920. Plucky Jade del Cameron (Mark of the Lion, 2006), on assignment for The Traveler, leaves the English expats decked out in evening wear in Nairobi to photograph herds of elephants in the Northern Territory. Her first sighting is ghastly. Not only have the elephants been butchered for their ivory tusks by poachers, but a new recruit from the Protectorate's Africa Rifle patrol has also been slaughtered. It's the work of Abyssinian raiders or a bloody reprisal by a warring tribal faction, says Capt. Smythe of the patrol that ventures to the site. Jade blames Harry Hascombe, her would-be lover, who's leading a safari of gun-toting, squabbling, lust-crazed Germans through the bush. Poisoned arrows are shot at Jade; her 12-year-old pal Jelani, responsible for babysitting Harry's pet cheetah Biscuit, is ambushed; and limping ex-pilot Sam Featherstone swoops in-to film the elephants? Or to court Jade? Following old elephant trails pointed out by mysterious, ubiquitous guide Boguli, Jade, aka Simba Jike ("lioness" in Swahili), discovers a cache of Mauser rifles and more butchered pachyderms, then learns a trio is missing from the German safari. Are they in the poachers' sights? The slave-traders'? Jade does her best to find out, but vengeance will belong to Boguli. It's hard to respect a heroine who swears by yelling, "Sweet Millard Fillmore on a tightrope!" The poaching/elephant lore, however, is unimpeachable.

Product Details

• Table of Contents

Table of Contents