Michael Kilian (1939–2005)

This is the last book in this three book series.

Bedford Green, Greenwich Village, gallery owner, finds himself on a trip to Africa with Sloan Smith, his assistant. She has been invited by her Uncle Dixon to join him and his new wife, Georgia, on safari in Kenya. Sloan is worried about her uncle and the social climbing woman he’s newly married. She figures the new wife is out for his money at any cost.

Sloan and Bedford arrive in Africa to find it a very different place in manners, habits and life style. The hot weather isn’t enjoyable either.

The Prince of Wales is also in country for a safari. Georgia quickly attaches herself to the Prince’s party and the Prince, regardless of the fact he has his own romantic interest with him.

Life in the colonies runs loose and wild, drinking at all hours, mate swapping and even illegal drugs are part of the everyday among the aristocracy. It just isn’t make public knowledge.

When Georgia is found with a married gentleman in a very compromising situation and both are dead, the search for the killer and motive starts. With all the social activities, there is a fair list for both motive and killer.

Sloan’s uncle is the first primary suspect for the murder. He was also gone from the camp at the same time Georgia was. He was also carrying a rifle. Shots had been heard and he was the one who found the body.

Bedford has another idea of how the murder was committed, but is unsure of who. It is also a bit of a fantastic method.

There are a good number of red herrings in the case, along with some hidden background information. As the various bits come to light, the pieces start falling into place.

A fun read and a bit more twisty than the previous two books.… (meer)

Bedford Green receives an invitation for a weekend visit to the Vanderbilt estate in Newport. It is through his gallery assistant, Sloan. Bedford is suspicious there is a reason more than just being social. Turns out he is right.

The inviting Vanderbilt is interested in getting the gossip on Countess Zala, a supposed Hungarian noble. When Bedford and Sloan arrive at the right Vanderbilt house (seems there is more than one) the interest in getting the gossip on the Countess has disappeared. In fact any interest has completely dried up, even when a dead body is found by Bedford during a late night skinny dipping episode. This is very interesting and unusual, as the dead body strongly resembles the Countess.

Bedford and Sloan find that the rich prefer to ignore or silence any and all publicity that could be negative. For the rich, life is too good to be soiled by murder.

In trying to solve this case, Bedford and Sloan find themselves involved with rum runners, Hungarian revolutionaries, murderous family members from high society to middle class. It is quite the cast of characters. And of course it is the Roaring Twenties!

I’m looking forward to finding more books in this series. This is number two!… (meer)

The Jazz Age — the roaring twenties. Man-about-town, Bedford Green, arrives at his art gallery to find his assistant, Sloan, in tears. When asked what is wrong, she hands him a postcard and tells him she wants to go to Paris.

Sloan is not a weepy, emotional woman. She is independent, sensible, smart, logical and has excellent control of her emotions. Something serious has caused Sloan’s current behaviour. That something is the postcard she’s received from a close friend. The image is a bizarre likeness of the lady with an unusual message: “Doulour. Le denier cri.” Is it a cry for help?

Bedford winds up going to Paris to find Sloan’s friend and to find out what is going on. The trail he follows leads to meeting up with Picasso, Hemingway and his wife, the Fitzgeralds and others of that era, as he searches for the missing lady.

It is a fun read, set in an interesting era. The first of a series.… (meer)