Book Review: Tropic of Night

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Tropic of Night     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Michael Gruber
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Thriller   Supernatural
Series: Iago "Jimmy" Paz # 1
Morrow, Mar 2003, $25.95, 432 pp.

A far cry from her wealthy, Long Island roots, anthropologist Jane Doe hides in Miami after faking a suicide. Instead of studying magic practices in remote global sites, Jane pretends to be an unassuming drab medical records clerk. The last person Jane expected to ever have to avoid is her spouse Witt Moore, but that is whom she hides from if she wants to remain alive. On their recent trip to Africa, Witt became involved in nasty powerful magic that has taken control of him.

Jane recognizes descriptions of serial killing rituals as that from the lore of the Olo tribe that she and Witt visited. Her husband is probably the deranged killer and she knows she is the only with the skills to stop him but fears trying. The police including Detective Jimmy Paz search for the maniac too. However, clues are difficult to find when the witnesses contain whiteout memories except that the culprit seems to them to look like Paz.

TROPIC OF NIGHT is an intriguing mystical police procedural in which black magic interferes with the investigation. The story line engages the audience as if Michael Gruber cast a spell on his readers. The support cast is a delight as they enhance the strong plot. The villain is clearly out of control by the dark force has engulfed him. However, what keeps the tale focused and centered is Jane starting to comprehend that she can run but she can’t hide.

Harriet Klausner

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