Devil-Devil (Kella and Conchita Mysteries #1) in Around the World

Apr 16, 2023 Andrea rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction-foreign-locale, around-the-world-2023, series, 2023, personal-challenge-2023

A fun and interesting read, but for me it probably wasn't strong enough to continue with the series.

Sergeant Ben Kella of the Solomon Islands police force is digging himself into a hole of trouble again. Educated both at home and abroad, and currently trying to reconcile his twin vocations as a hereditary cultural peacemaker and a literal law enforcement officer, Ben is supposed to be staying out of the affairs of the different peoples of the island of Malaita. But when he is sent there to try t ...more

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Jun 09, 2012 Rusalka rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: original-52-books-around-the-world, mystery, around-the-world, mudder, own, pacific, migrants-diaspora-other

This. This book was perfect for Singapore. I couldn't quite get my head into a space with Norwegian Wood, where I could imagine snow. What I needed after that, was somewhere where there was 28C temp and 85% humidity like Singapore. This book filled it. So what about it?

Straight up.
This book had 1 major error that I had problems getting past. It just SCREAMED(!) outsider (it was written by a Brit who had lived in the Solomons). All these intelligent islanders, were sent to Australia for an educat This. This book was perfect for Singapore. I couldn't quite get my head into a space with Norwegian Wood, where I could imagine snow. What I needed after that, was somewhere where there was 28C temp and 85% humidity like Singapore. This book filled it. So what about it?

Straight up.
This book had 1 major error that I had problems getting past. It just SCREAMED(!) outsider (it was written by a Brit who had lived in the Solomons). All these intelligent islanders, were sent to Australia for an education. If, and I understand they were in the 60s, they had the unfortunate experience of drinking XXXX, they would know to spell it XXXX. As an Aussie, you spell it XXXX.

Not, definitely not, 4X.

The whole joke is "Why is spelt XXXX? Because Queenslanders can't spell Beer!".

Bah.

So with all that aside. Murder mystery. Traditional culture vs colonial culture clash. Hiking around the bush in the heat and the humidity. The fact that there were too many fallible characters that any one of them could be the killer. Grumpy, precocious nun.

You like the main character Ben Kella. He is straddling a world that is drastically changing, which he knows and has to balance them both. He is the traditional peace keeper of his traditional culture, yet a policeman of the new world order. You respect him and empathise with him.

Same with Nun-face (yes I called her nun-face. I call everyone whats-his-face if I don't know their name and I have no idea how to pronounce the rest of her South American name, so nun-face will have to do). You respect her for what she is doing and where she is. Also, as much of me resents it, in the 1960s it was probably the most amount of independence she was going to get (as a woman, to become a nun and end up in the Pacific).

Best read ever? No. But fun read? Yes. Nice murder mystery? Yes. Nice Pacific Island read? Yup. Read it. It gives you perspective, and education (it comes with a map inside! Bonus!) and I think shines light on a place that hasn't got that much light shining on it (what is it with the lack of Pacific fiction? Seriously?). 4 stars.

For more reviews visit http://rusalkii.blogspot.com.au/ ...more

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Feb 20, 2011 Shomeret rated it really liked it

Shelves: my-reviews, historical-fiction, mystery-thriller

I was fascinated by the idea of a mystery taking place in the Solomon Islands, so I couldn't wait to read this one. I loved both the protagonists. Both Sergeant Kella and Sister Conchita are mavericks who do what's right even if they get into loads of hot water as a result. I also really liked the customs and rituals from the native culture which Kent shares with us in this book. It reminded me of The Coroner's Lunchwhich takes place in Laos and also has a protagonist who participates in traditi ...more

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Apr 22, 2015 Barbarac rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-thriller-spy, south-pacific, atw15

I picked up this book 5 months ago and had a difficult time getting hooked on it so I set it aside. But once I got back to it I read it in two days.
This had all the potential for a great mystery, but I didn't care for the mystery at all, probably because I found it confusing with all the characters and different locations. I did enjoy the characters, what a mix of interesting folks found in these Solomon Islands. And the book also lightly touches on events surrounding WWII, and natives' customs ...more

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May 14, 2012 Tanya rated it really liked it

Shelves: around-the-world-2012

Police mystery set in the Solomon Islands in the 1950s. Not only was it full of interesting customs, beliefs and anacdotes, it is a really good police mystery. Will definitly look out for the next in the series.

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