Book Review: Samedi's Knapsack

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Samedi's Knapsack     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Gaylord Dold
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Private Investigator
Series: Mitch Gaylord # 3
Dunne, May 2001, $23.95, 320 pp.

After spending three years in London, Colorado private investigator Mitch Roberts begins the trek home. On the way to Miami, Mitch flirts with stewardess Rosemary Collins, who suggests he meet her at the Tropical Lounge, just off the Miami-Dade International Airport. However, once in the lounge's parking lot, a masked dude holds Mitch up taking his money and credit cards. Mitch's efforts to obtain a replacement credit card fails so feeling stranded he calls former minor league baseball teammate Bobby Hilliard, a crazy person, for help.

Bobby assists Mitch with some cash, new clothing, and a place to bonefish in the Keys. Bobby later offers Mitch a deal of several thousand dollars to take care of something on Hispaniola. Apparently, someone stole Haitian art that was headed to one of Bobby's Florida galleries. Bobby wants Mitch to find the thief. Reluctantly, Mitch agrees not aware the danger he will face in Haiti.

The latest Mitch Gaylord mystery, SAMEDI'S KNAPSACK, is an exciting tale that moves rather quickly forward. The key (no pun intended) to the tale is that author Gaylord Dold insures his prime characters seem genuine though a bit flaky, which in turn adds essence, reality, and enjoyment to the plot. Fans of a fun to read private sleuth series will want to try other Gaylord stories as well as other novels by Mr. Dold who is solid gold when it comes to novels.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner