The Leopard's Prey

Jade del Cameron Mysteries #4

by Suzanne Arruda

?A larger-than-life heroine far ahead of her time, ?(Denver Post) returns to 1920s Africa, where she meets with an ominous warning?

Jade del Cameron's latest endeavor?helping a company collect wild animals for U.S. zoos? finds her lassoing zebras and posing as bait for a leopard. But the real danger begins when Jade's friends find a merchant's body on their coffee plantation. Authorities determine the cause of death to be murder. Their prime suspect: Jade's beau, moviemaker and World War I flying ace Sam Featherstone.

To clear Sam's name, Jade launches her own investigation, questioning the dead man's partners and clients. But nothing can prepare Jade for the journey that lies ahead, as she must make an emergency landing in Sam's plane deep within the vast African wilderness, then risk the long trek back to Nairobi to confront more than one kind of brutal killer face-to-face?

Genres: Mystery, Africa, Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Historical Mystery, Mystery Thriller

400 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2008

About the author

Suzanne Arruda, a former zookeeper-turned-science teacher and freelance writer, is the author of several biographies for young adults. She has also published science and nature articles for adults and children and is a regular contributor to a weekly newspaper supplement. An avid hiker and outdoorswoman, she lives in Kansas with her husband, twin sons, and a small menagerie of pets.

Reviews

[Werner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fourth installment of the series has much the same strengths and general style of the previous books. We find Jade back in British East Africa, a few months after the events of the third book, The Serpent's Daughter, and again encounter our old friends from the first two books. She's supplementing her writing income by using her lariat and photography skills to help Perkins and Daley, the two partners in a small company that secures African animals for U.S. zoos. But we sense early on that her sleuthing skills may also be called on again, with the discovery of the dead body of a merchant from Nairobi (1920 population, ca. 11,000 --white population, ca. 3,000). Is his death, as the authorities initially suppose, suicide --or murder? And where is his unhappy wife? And did she or didn't she have a recent unreported, unattended childbirth? Inquiring minds want to know; and Jade has an inquiring mind, soon made more so by the fact that the lead investigator seems to consider her beau, Sam Featherstone, a prime suspect.

The mystery (or mysteries) here was more challenging than in the previous books; I was able to figure out the basic solution about the same time that Jade did, but not before. Jade will face life-threatening jeopardies, and get to display her action-heroine credentials before the book is over; she's also learning to fly Sam's biplane, to add to her accomplishments (and yes, she'll get to fly solo here). Arruda isn't simply marking time with this installment; there are significant developments in store for some of the secondary characters, and one for Jade herself.

In a couple of areas, Arruda touches on serious issues in this book, issues from a 1920 context, but which have continuing relevance. By 1920, wildlife in parts of Africa was already coming under pressure from the great influx of European settlement and urbanization, as well as the spread of European-style agriculture. This brought habitat destruction, and the killing of predators to protect livestock --the old Africa already at war with the new. For Jade, taking individual animals to safety in a zoo is a way to help protect their species from extinction. But she's also painfully aware that from the standpoint of the animal, life in a zoo isn't the same thing as freedom; something important is lost. This is a quandary the morality of which is still being debated, nearly a century later. And much more so than in the previous books, we're brought face to face with the ugly injustices of British treatment of native Africans: subjected to arbitrary taxation without representation, payable only in British money, and solely designed to force the males over 13 into oppressive labor contracts with white employers; subjected as well to travel restrictions (in their own country), that leave them virtual wards of the British and bind the males to their jobs.

This has always been, and continues to be, a seriously researched series, in which the results of the author's research are blended seamlessly into the narrative, creating a strong sense of place. Here, we have a close look at traditional Masai culture --not as immersive and detailed a literary experience as the exploration of Amazigh (Berber) culture in the previous book, but still fascinating to me. Arruda's treatment of non-European cultures is realistic but respectful. As always, her concluding Author's Note here is mainly an annotated description of the source material she used in writing the novel, which would be valuable to readers who want to learn more about Africa (and post-World War I Africa in particular).

[Brooklyn Esh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oof I don’t know how to feel about this one. The plot line was good, it was suspenseful and easy to read, however, I don’t know how many people I would recommend this to.

The main characters relationship,more like situationship, was extremely annoying.In their dialogue they would act and talk like they are dating, but then would refer to each other as “friends”.🙄
Also the whole thing that Jade isn’t like most girls and is different and independent felt very much so like the author was trying to make sure you know this, but really she isn’t that different from other girls.
The murder part of the story was fun and definitely made it a page turner but I probably wouldn’t recommend. 3⭐️

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jade is back in Nairobi doing her photography & travel writing, but also picking up some cash helping an American company collect animals for zoos. When her friend, Sam Featherstone, is accused of a local murder, it's up to Jade to clear his name. She starts asking around & finds herself a target of the unknown killer as she tries to unravel the web of lies & half-truths that abound in the European expats colony. Once again, the setting is a large & fascinating part of the story, as well as great characters with a healthy perspective on the large chasm between the local inhabitants & the foreign colonists.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying this series. If you've read Out of Africa and would like to read more books set in that time and place, then this series might appeal to you, too. The highlights for me are the main character, Jade del Cameron, whose readiness for adventure reminds me of Indiana Jones. Love this strong-willed female character! I also especially love how Arruda paints the picture of Kenya in this time period. Her careful research and thoughtful approach to her subject matter creates the perfect blend of wanderlust and cultural awareness. We get to know the plights of the Kikuyu and the Masai under colonial British rule, gain insight into what life was like for the colonists, and peppered throughout are so many wonderful descriptions of the African landscape and wildlife. Having read the prior 3 books in the series, I find myself invested in these characters and look forward to seeing how they develop. There's also plenty of rip roaring adventure and love interest to keep you entertained.

[Cheryl Ames · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this easy-to-read murder mystery which takes place in 1920s Kenya. The author appears to reflect historically accurate information and embeds context about the colonial culture and native cultures as well. While I liked the perky female character, she was a bit too stereotypical as an “independent female adventuress,” thus the three stars. However, it was an enjoyable enough read that I may try the author’s Moroccan-based mystery about this character, The Serpent’s Daughter, before traveling to Morocco later in 2020!

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Leopard's Prey by Suzanne Arruda is the 4th book of the Jade del Cameron mystery series set in 1920 Kenya Colony. Jade is "larger than life", but certainly needs her many skills and talents to survive the challenges she faces this time around. Scary start leads to a puzzling murder mystery, which Jade must solve to clear her beau of suspicion. Best to read the series in order, to appreciate relationships.

My favorite quote (so oddball/unexpected!) is by Jade's wealthy friend Beverly, newly returned from London to Kenya: "I positively hate London now. It's so noisy and smelly, and there aren't any zebra to come running down the street when a lion scares them."

[Kelli Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. I Love the "old world" setting and the African backdrop. I love that the main character is a strong independent woman.

The characters are fun and the mystery is interesting. I'm going to read the whole series

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun book with several mysteries involved. Set in Kenya and not traveling around like in the past two books, that made it a pleasant surprise. Everyone is here and it is a good time.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fiercely independent Jade del Cameron sets herself up as bait to catch a leopard.

[Kathie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one did more to keep guessing as to who did it. As always, though, Jade has kept me well entertained with her antics.

[Amanda]

My bad for starting four books in. I don’t really get all the different characters and dynamics. I hope to come back to the beginning of the series.

[Theresa Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this adventurous mystery. This is the first book I have read in this series. Will look for more

[Pearson, · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good recreational read with a theme of Africa and setting of the 1920s. Murder mystery

[Katherine Farris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about the Africans during the. 1920’s. Jade is an entertaining character as is Sam.

[Olivermagnus · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is never a shortage of adventure in Suzanne Arruda's Jade Del Cameron mystery series. Set in colonial Africa in 1920, readers of this series can without a doubt always count on a lot of action, an intriguing background murder to puzzle out, and a genuine feeling of being right there in the time and place on the Kenyan plains.

The reader gets up close and personal with the exotic land of Africa at a time when wild animals ran free, and when native tribes such as the Maasai and Kikuyu had still not fallen into the hands of the white man. As you read, you will smell the hot arid African air, glimpse a sky full of twinkling stars come sundown, and will drive Safari style along a long dusty road in a jeep viewing herds of wild giraffe, buffalo, elephants or zebra.

The star of this delightful series, Jade Del Cameron, is a bit of a too independent rifle-toting, sarcastic spitfire, complete with her own motorcycle that she uses to take her pet cheetah name Biscuit out for a run. Within the four novels so far, one never knows what trouble or adventures she will encounter; anything from Big Game Hunting, outrages of Elephant Poaching, vacations to Morocco with her mother, kidnappings, murders, interactions with the local natives, or as in this new installment, soaring high in the sky with her love interest Sam Featherstone as he instructs her in flying lessons.

The reader always learns something new about Africa in the 1920's with each new installment of the series, and I can only say these stories are very enjoyable, delightful, and engaging. There is usually a sideline murder to solve but they almost seem to be irrelevant. The ongoing scenarios of the usual crowd of characters that appear in each story are what drive the books and allow the reader to get addicted to them. An additional fun feature, are the quotes that are inserted over each chapter head. Jade Del Cameron's way of making a living in Africa is being a professional reporter for a travel magazine called The Traveler. Quotes and paragraphs from her articles are placed in the front of each chapter allowing the reader to also get firsthand information on what is happening locally. In Leopard's Prey, wonderful Maasai myth and culture tidbits appear.

If you enjoy a light and easy simple mystery series with quaint characters that you can rely on to always make you smile, this series will not disappoint. Murder, romance, adventure, action, exotic locale....what more do you need for a few hours of sheer entertainment? Leopard's Prey, the fourth book in the series still holds steady to show us the author is still going strong and has not relented in giving us the goods. I highly recommend this book as well as the previous three in the set, and I eagerly await book five which should hopefully gives us some answers to the cliff hanger Arruda left us with on the last page

[Theresa Blandino]

The Leopard’s Prey was written by Suzanne Arruda.The point of view is third person omniscient. The story takes place in a 1920’s modernizing Africa, specifically in the city of Nairobi, which is in the Kenya Colony of Africa. The story also takes place in the areas surrounding Nairobi, which includes farms and the African wilderness.
The main character of the story is Jade DelCameron. Jade DelCameron is a courageous, independent, adventurous, clever young woman. She is an American but lives in and loves Africa with all her heart. She is sad to see the old ways, such as tribal customs and animals, falling prey to modernization and wants to help preserve them. Jade also helps anyone in need of help with no thought to her own safety.
Jade is at the Thompson’s, who are friends of hers, farm when her pet cheetah sniffs out a dead man, Martin Stokes, who is stuck in a coffee dryer. Her friend, Sam, comes under suspicion for murdering Mr. Stokes, and Jade goes on a journey to prove his innocence. In the process of questioning people, Jade and her friends find out Mr. Stokes wasn’t such a kind and generous man who everyone thought he was. He blackmailed people, and that ultimately led to his death. After talking to several people, Jade doesn’t know who killed Mr. Stokes and begins to suspect Mr. and Mrs. Berryhill, Mr. Stokes’ colleagues, and some of her own colleagues, Alwyn Chalmers, a man in love with Mr. Stokes’ missing wife, Charles Harding, a man diseased from using too much cattle dip, and Wayne Anderson, a man jealous of Sam. When Sam falls sick with malaria, he asks Jade to fly his plane to complete a job for him. She flies the plane but has to put it down in the African wilderness because someone fouled the engine with dirt, which was meant to harm Sam because he knew something incriminating, unfortunately he doesn’t know what it is. Sam gets better and Jade makes it back to Nairobi where she questions people around the rail yard. There she finds a pocketknife which could have belonged to the killer since Mr. Stokes was killed nearby. That night, Jade goes to the animal warehouse by the rail yard because she has been told an animal is sick. Instead, she is trapped inside with a released, violent leopard, but she manages to escape and from a memory realizes who Mr. Stokes’ killer is.
I liked this book because it was full of action and suspense. I didn’t have any idea who the killer was until the end, so the book never became boring. Also, the characters were full of life and spirit and were fun to read about. The story also gave me a glimpse into Africa and what it was like in the past, which was really fascinating.

[Kara Jorges · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young, fearless Jade del Cameron is back in her fourth African adventure. Last time, Jade had traveled to Morocco to meet her mother, but this time she returns to all her friends in Nairobi, British East Africa, now Kenya. Coffee farmers Neville and Madeline Thompson are going about their business when they find a body in their newly-purchased coffee dryer. Jade, who’s been earning extra cash helping an outfit trap wild animals for a zoo, gets on the case immediately when her special friend, Sam Featherstone, is named as a suspect. Then, when Sam is hospitalized and Jade nearly crashes his plane because of sabotage, she decides to get to the bottom of the murder before Sam becomes the next victim. She investigates the owners of the local mercantile, other colonists, and befriends a few more natives in her quest for the truth, but before it’s over, she almost winds up food for a leopard more than once.

The characters in this series are charming, the location is exotic, and Jade is a wonderful heroine. The mystery was decent, too, but this book dragged a bit in the middle, prolonging the growth of Jade’s relationship with Sam. It seemed as if there were more scenes of Jade and Sam just missing each other than of actually advancing the story or getting closer to finding the murderer. As usual, though, the location was described in loving detail, as well as the lifestyle lived by African colonists almost 100 years ago. This book was further flavored by descriptions of a changing Africa, as it becomes more settled and also restless while more and more Europeans moved there. Though Jade’s stalling relationship with Sam chafes a bit, all around, it’s a very decent mystery from a familiar cast of wonderful characters. This a great series that I recommend. Jade is one of my favorite heroines.

[LJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

First Sentence: I'll be fine.

Jade del Cameron is a single, independent woman. She's a photojournalist, helps wrangle wild animals, rides a motorcycle and is learning to fly. Sam, a wounded American war hero, wants to propose but isn't certain Jade is willing to forsake her independence for marriage. Sam is suspected is suspected of murdering a local merchant and it is up to Jade to prove him innocent.

The book started off well for me. The opening scene was exciting and suspenseful.

Jade is an interesting character, I had hoped she would remind me of Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher. Unfortunately not. However, I did like her reaction to finding a dead body.

However, I found I had very hard time getting into the story and the characters. The whole exchanging journals thing annoyed me, There are references to events from previous books but I don't mind them as they are adequately explained. There is a lot of exposition but nothing that pulls me into the plot. There is copious extraneous detail the strong sense of place I would expect for a book in this setting, is completely lacking.

I loved the chapter headings from the traveler, but that wasn't enough to save this book for me. Between not being able to feel any affinity for the characters, the plot plodding along and the very poor dialogue, I couldn't stay with it.

THE LEOPARD'S PREY (Hist Mys-Jade del Cameron-British East Africa-Golden Age) - DNF
Arruda, Suzanne - 4th in series
NAL Trade, 2009, US Paperback - ISBN: 0451227611

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jade is back in Kenya for this installment. She's working with the Perkins & Daley Zoological Co. to collect wild animals to be transported back to the States for zoos. She's helping with the capture and crating as well as taking photographs to document the company's work. All of this is really to enable her to earn some money to continue her work for the Traveler magazine. After a harrowing night's work, she's relaxing with Neville and Madeline Thompson on their farm. Neville has recently purchased a coffee dryer which he hopes will enable them to do more of the work themselves and get better prices for their coffee. Madeline makes a gruesome discovery that morning when she finds the dead body of the store merchant in the coffee dryer. Jade's beau, Sam Featherstone, is fingered to be the prime suspect. Jade must work to clear Sam and fine the real killer.
Typical for the series. Headstrong Jade must get herself out of some harrowing circumstances before the book can end. And I don't mean that as a complaint; just that this follows the pattern of the earlier volumes. From reading the afterward, it sounds like the author did extensive research of 1920's Kenya before writing this in order to understand Nairobi at the time as well as sentiments towards the natives. Surprise ending that makes me wonder what is in store.

[Su · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay but got better in the end. This is my first mystery novel and my first novel featuring Jade Del Cameron. I felt the characters were okay. They weren't stock characters but not as developed as I would have liked. I think the main reason Arruda didn't do that because there are so many characters involved and after some time I was confused.

The plot was interesting and once everything was revealed at the end it did make sense. However, I wish that the writing was more personal. I felt it could have been better and that the style was different. She spends about one page describing the plane setup, cleaning a motorcycle, and etc which can be tiresome.

However, it was a pleasant read. I would recommend this novel if you want to get out of your comfort zone because this is very different from anything I've read but it was alright. I would also recommend probably reading the previous ones. I think if I already had more background it would have been better. She does effortlessly tie in previous adventures but reading them would probably make this one even better to read.

[AfricaAdventureConsultants · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book four in the Jade del Cameron series finds Jade back ‘home’ in Nairobi, Kenya. In addition to her unconventional work as a reporter and photojournalist, she takes on the job of helping a zoological company collect wild animals for zoos in the United States. The work has obvious dangers, but Jade skirts them with aplomb and gains the grudging respect of the men ‘in charge’.

Mystery and intrigue find Jade quickly when her friends find the body of a local shopkeeper on their plantation. The cause of death is murder and the prime suspect is Jade’s sweetheart, Sam. Jade launches her efforts to clear Sam’s name and finds danger and adventure at every turn.

Author Suzanne Arruda again paints a picture of the old British East Africa that brings the era to life for the reader. The story is never dull and the action doesn’t stop; Jade del Cameron lives up to her full potential as a quirky heroine.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cosy mysteries set in East Africa in the twenties/period between the two wars. Well researched, period setting but contemporary attitudes and values and a cool heroine: the beautiful (of course) and spirited Jade del Cameron. American born, of Spanish mother in New Mexico, she was an ambulance driver with the Allies in France in WW1. Her beau was a fighter pilot and killed. She is fiesty, intelligent, beautiful and brave and all the men are after her so there is constant love interest. She is based in Africa, ostensibly reporting and photographing for a travel mag....but she gets involved in adventures and solves crimes, befriending the locals along the way. Mix of Karen Blixen, Beryl Markham and Mma Ramotswa with echoes of the context of White Mischief. Good gentle reads with excellent background research and notes for further factual reading. A series so there is continuity.

[Sherri Dub · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is much like the earlier writing of Elizabeth Peters, as it claims. But, it isn't as witty.
I did like the way the Heroine is completely independent, working as an animal wrangler and writer in Africa and cruising the landscape on her motorcycle~ Yet, she falls for a Pilot Hero who respects her for being herself.
Their chemistry is good, but not hot.
I wanted to see more of what the two characters would've expirienced, if the author had let them take over their scenes.
This book has tight writing, clear goals and crisp follow through.
Yet, it lacked passion.
I do rate it 3 stars, though.
It's an easy read, leaving you feeling like you've been on safari in the early 1900's.

[Bill · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the fourth book I have read in this series. The first, Mark of the Lion, is by far the best. I always enjoy the descriptions of Africa and the native tribes in 1920. However, this story is mystery-lite; not very interesting for that matter. The Heroine, Jade del Cameron, is a campy, larger-than-life character that always "saves the day" and is more Macho than most men. While some aspects of this series are interesting, I could not recommend it to most readers.

[Brick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suzanne Aruda reaches back to the post-WWI period in Nairobi, Kenya, and paints an interesting picture of a colonial British society, the African country-side, and the transitional period between the wars. The back story sets up the heroine, Jade del Cameron, as an old-fashioned American, patriotic, brave, adventurous, a skilled outdoors person who has grown up on a ranch, learned to ride and shoot, served with heroism in the great war, with a tragic romantic involvement that has left her with a mission, a mission that plays out in a beautiful but dangerous and exotic locale. Entertaining and fun, a mystery story surrounded with adventure, and with an interesting ensemble of characters, a great introduction to a good series.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back to Nairobi, this book focuses on recurring characters, particularly from the first two books in the series. Still interesting with the details of flying the biplane and catching the animals, it did not capture the adventurer's imagination like the tales of elephants and lions. Much less of the supernatural is included in this installment, which was good because it wasn't needed in the storyline. My only concern was Jade's "justification" of rounding up animals for American zoos - I realize that the author does have experience working for zoos, but the stance did seem out of character for Jade.

[E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting mystery featuring Jade del Cameron, an intrepid photojournalist living in British East Africa. Fascinating glimpses of the society of the 1920s interspersed with descriptions of capturing wild animals to populate zoos and description of the native peoples, including the Maasai warriors. Jade and her beau, pilot Sam Featherstone, end up in the middle of a murder investigation while they try to survive the normal hazards of living in Africa (man-eating leopards, rhinos, malaria, etc.). A very colorful tale.

[Catherine Woodman]

I still like this series, but I think when you are creating a heroine who is very brave, in addition to being a woman outside her time, you have to be careful that she doesn't go to far over the bravery edge, and I think Jade is getting pretty dang close in this book. I like the love interest in Sam Featherstone--the man without a leg due to an untold mishap in WWI, and perhaps it is these details that we will learn about later. I like the setting, and the fact the author is a a zoo person. Recommended.

[Kayeb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmmm, this was not my favorite of the ones a have read. yes, there is the formality of writing of the times, but this book just felt stilted to me this go round. Who knows, had I read it along with the others I may have looked at it differently. Jade seemed to me to be a bit of a caricature this go round as well. Almost, too adamant, too overblown in her independence......little sense of humor about much of anything. Ah well.......