Indiana Jones fans: this is the book for you! Adventure is the central premise of The Serpent’s Daughter, although you still get a good mystery along the way. The reader is swept off to Morocco between the Wars to follow Jade Del Cameron as she simultaneously tries to improve her relationship with her mother, prove their innocence, deal with multiple kidnappings and restore harmony to a Berber village.
The book will likely appeal to fans of modern historical mysteries, especially those who like the Amelia Peabody series, as it is full of rich detail and is light enough to maintain its coziness. The real success of the book is the author’s ability to evoke a time and a place, the reader is truly transported to dusty roads, teeming bazaars, dark tunnels and the homes of people along the way. I find that many historical mysteries fail to invest in the environment and create stories that would not be out of place in the present day, Suzanne Arruda is not guilty of this; Morocco of 1920s is a main character in this story
Although treated with a very light touch, class, race and gender were all themes in this book (full disclosure: obviously gender is always a theme in historical fiction with female protagonists, but I also read these books looking at the role class plays and how the author portrays it). I have found that the majority of protagonists are either aristocratic but struggling financially or wealth but generous to a fault; Jade falls into the latter category, which allows her endless opportunity while maintaining her likability.
Jade Del Cameron is a highly likable character, even as she pushes the reader’s boundaries in suspending disbelief for the sake of the story. She manages to escape capture so many times that during one kidnapping, I thought: not again. The story did rely heavily on action so readers looking for a more cerebral journey might be disappointed. The story was complex enough that I was compelled until the end and I can recommend this book for those who enjoy a fun, light read that evokes another time and place.
