Received a review copy via Contemporary Small Press

Review from Literary Flits (http://litflits.blogspot.co.uk)

I was pleased to receive a copy of Murder In Montego Bay via The Contemporary Small Press because of its Jamaican authorship and setting. I have only previously read one Jamaican novel, A Brief History Of Seven Killings, and although this book also revolves around murder, it provides a very different perspective on island life. Lennon sets her tale within the grossly underfunded Jamaican police service I appreciated that her team of detectives really are portrayed as a team. Their leader, Preddy, does have shades of the dysfunctional-older-detective-against-the-world crime fiction cliche, but at least he isn't an alcoholic who never eats! There's no random love interest forced into the plot either which made a refreshing change! Instead Lennon's detectives realistically banter, support and rile each other in a patois dialogue which is easy to understand and adds a real sense of authenticity. Their camaraderie reminded me of Sjowall and Wahloo's Martin Beck series and I think fans of those books might also enjoy this tropical mystery.

Lennon's great strength I thought was in her evocation of Jamaican culture and people. She presents the poverty of the island alongside the vast wealth of some of its inhabitants, and shows how tourists are generally fenced into their own secure beach enclaves away from sights that might discourage them from visiting again. Details of police station disrepair are shocking. I liked that the lack of available high tech gadgets gave a classic crime fiction feel in keeping with the investigation's style. This novel is certainly more of a character-driven mystery than an all-action thriller. The plot narrative isn't particularly convoluted, but Lennon kept my interest throughout and I actually found myself being drawn deeper into her created world as the book progressed. I wasn't immediately gripped by the early chapters, but struggled to lay the book aside by the end as I wanted to know how everything would turn out! Murder In Montego Bay is a nicely satisfying read and has the potential to continue into a strong series.

On the book table