Synopsis
Young Doug Pearce, just fired from his steady job in the brewery, has never strayed far from home. But he's always been fascinated by stories of his dead Uncle Russ, the family black sheep. So when an old friend of his uncle invites him up to Toronto, he accepts. On arrival, he learns that wealthy and glamorous Edna has an she has assembled enough clues to solve the murder of Russell Pearce and to recover a legendary red diamond he was thought to be smuggling. Doug, nervous but game, agrees to play detective. But by the end of his first day in Casablanca, he knows he's made a mistake. From Morocco to Egypt to Singapore, Doug stumbles on. And whether he's escaping across Cairo rooftops, ducking bullets in a high-speed desert chase, or killing time in a crowded Egyptian jail cell, Doug is sure of just one he has no clue what he's doing.
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About the Author
Charles Benoit, an insatiable traveler and occasional scuba diver, has worked in education and advertising. When they're not on the road, Charles and his wife, Rose, live in Rochester, New York.
From Booklist
Where has Benoit been hiding? With a debut novel this good, it's hard to believe he hasn't published at least 10 previous books. Every element of this rollicking adventure shines, from its suspenseful, globetrotting plot to its nicely rounded characters. Unlikely young hero Doug Pearce, most recently of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, leaves his small town at the request of Edna, an exotic older woman who knew his black-sheep uncle, Russell Pearce. It seems that Russell was murdered in 1948, apparently while trying to smuggle an outrageously big red diamond out of Singapore. Edna thinks Russell was framed and wants Doug to help clear his uncle's name; he agrees, mainly because he's never been out of the U.S and because Edna is footing the bill. Beginning in Casablanca and continuing through Morocco and Egypt, Doug eventually lands in Singapore, where his uncle's life ended. Along the way, he meets a stately museum curator and a stunning heiress, among other exotic characters, and unwisely trusts both of them. This captivating debut makes great use of a familiar gambit: throwing a naive, untraveled hero into foreign climes and forcing him to hit the ground running. Readers will eagerly await more from the very talented Benoit. Jenny McLarin
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