Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner
Farewell Conch Republic
Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Hialeah Jackson
Class/Genre: Mystery
Series: Annabelle Hardy & Dave the Monkey Man # 2
Dell, Sep 1999, $5.99, 304 pp.
All roads in Key West eventually lead to the home of the great Ernest Hemingway, a historical site on the National Register. Millie deVargas hired Miami based Hardy Security (owned by Annabella Hardy-Morales and Jorge "Dave the Monkeyman" Enamerado) to protect the shrine. At first, neither Annabella nor Jorge questioned why the building needed security after years of foregoing any such protection. However, when an assailant wearing a Hemingway mask kills Millie, the security team begins to wonder why.
The police charge a Hardy Security person with the crime. His story seems ridiculous as he swears no one but the two security guards and Millie were on the premises the night of the murder. In a bewildering and surprising move, Millie had named Annabella as executor to her estate with the Catholic Church gaining everything. Millie's bother and her partner feel cheated out of an inheritance they expected. The deceased's fondest hope is that someone finds the legendary but missing Madonna statue, lost at sea centuries ago. Annabella and Jorge decide to ferret out the truth so that justice is served.
As good as THE ALLIGATOR FAREWELL was, FAREWELL, CONCH REPUBLIC is even better as Hialeah Jackson adds much depth to the lead players. Dave owns this show with his burlesque humor flimsily hiding his gentle tenderness towards his hearing impaired partner. The who-done-it is entertaining in a Laurel and Hardy way, but clearly the center of the story line pays homage to Hemingway.
Harriet Klausner
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner
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