Treasure of the Golden Cheetah

July 27, 2009
Arruda's over-the-top fifth historical to feature photojournalist and former army nurse Jade del Cameron (after Jan. 2009's The Leopard's Prey
) fails to live up to its promising concept. Accompanied by her tame cheetah, Biscuit, Jade guides an expedition up Kenya's Mount Kilimanjaro in 1920 to film a motion picture about King Solomon's son. When an African native stabs Graham Wheeler, the film's producer, then plunges the murder weapon into his own chest, Jade once again turns amateur sleuth. The official verdict on Wheeler's killing—that it was the act of a lone, now deceased mad man—doesn't satisfy Jade's American lover, Sam Featherstone, and sure enough, more violence follows. Arruda's superhuman lead, who charges a lion at one point to protect Biscuit's meal of an antelope, might gain more credibility in future exploits if she were to engage in fewer improbable heroics.

September 1, 2009
In 1920s Kenya, Jade del Cameron is hired to help take a crew to Mount Kilimanjaro to film a movie about the legend of King Solomons son, Menelik. The day before they leave on safari, the movies producer, Graham Wheeler, is murdered in what looks like a robbery. Even so, the safari proceeds as planned, with Jades young friend, healer Jelani, and her cheetah, Biscuit, stowing away on the train because Jelani believes Jade is in great danger on the trip and is determined to protect her. At Mount Kilimanjaro, strange events begin to occur on location, and Jade is cursed by a local woman, which leads to her having strange visions. Jade begins to believe Wheelers murder is connected to the movie, and her investigation almost leads to her death. In her personal life, Jade is reluctant to commit to her fianc', leading to problems that could end their relationship. Jade, a fearless, well-developed main character who is at home with a gun, is the main attraction here, though the vivid details of 1920s Africa add to the appeal.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)