Review: Confessions of a Deathmaiden

Frances Oliver comes home to find her terminally ill patient, Tomas Gomez, being taken away to hospital. She is angry, as in her role as a deathmaiden, she helps people pass from one life to the next. At the hospital, he dies in suspicious circumstances. With the clue of Mayan jade, she travels to Mexico to find the truth about what is going on, only to run into a massive conspiracy and put her own life in danger.

Francisco writes in the first person, allowing the reader to see the innermost thoughts of her main character. The novel is also in the present tense. Whilst this should not pose a problem, one of the main concepts of the novel may be difficult to understand ? essentially, what a deathmaiden actually is. Francisco likens the role to that of a midwife, but helping people die, rather than being born. Of course, deathmaidens do not really exist, so it may take the reader some time to become accustomed to the role.

Francisco packs the book with action, but at times, it seems that the heroine is too clever for her own good. She takes on multiple personae during her investigations, but she does so incredibly easily for someone with no investigative background. Francisco is also guilty of some obvious foreshadowing, in naming one of the doctors, Faust. Anyone who knows this story will immediately see that there is something malevolent about this character. Necessary? Not really.

When the heroine reaches Mexico, Francisco?s narrative descriptions come into their element. At times, it is easy to forget that we are reading a thriller, as it could well be a travelogue. Francisco has clearly done her research into Mexico and she knows a great deal about the contrast between the pre-Columbian and present-day civilisations, as well as the pervasive influence of the United States, making this an interesting read for anyone who has an interest in Latin American culture or politics.

Overall, 'Confessions Of A Deathmaiden' is an enjoyable read, with some powerful descriptions and interesting prose, but this is offset by some unlikely coincidences and some unbelievable events. However, you could do much worse than read this novel and I am certain that a second novel will be stronger.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Luke Croll - RAM

Book Review: Confessions of a Deathmaiden