Orca Book Publishers

Browse by Category

A Ray Robertson Mystery
Adult Fiction
Pages: 128
Themes: crime, mystery, Africa, murder, serial killer, RCMP, policing, United Nations, foreign aid
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Pub Date: 01/Apr/2014
Fry Reading Level: 3.0
Bookmark and Share
Juba, South Sudan.

RCMP Sergeant Ray Robertson has spent eleven and a half months serving with the United Nations in the world’s newest country. He’s tired of the chaotic traffic and jostling crowds that fill the narrow streets. Tired of the choking red dust that blows into the capital from the desert. He can’t wait to get back to his wife and kids—and back to policing a world he understands.

But when a young woman—the fourth in three weeks—is found dead at the side of a dusty road with a thin white ribbon wrapped tightly around her neck, Robertson fears that a serial killer is on the loose. In a country plagued by years of extreme poverty, civil war and the struggle to establish a functioning government, the policeman realizes that it’s up to him and his Dinka partner, John Deng, to find the killer before they can strike again.

CM Magazine
"A page-turner filled with suspense. The characters are true to life as is the setting. Ray Robinson, as the main character, is a believable character complete with flaws. The plot is unpredictable with a twist at the end. Highly Recommended."
ForeWord Reviews
"A murder mystery that explores the complexity of culture, in a simple narrative...The story feels ripped from the headlines...This relevance, coupled with the quick narrative pace, gives the book immediacy. Robertson’s perspective is relatable and insightful. Delany’s handling of setting and culture distinguish this novel from other cop murder dramas—a genre it fits into comfortably. The descriptions are focused, so they’re clear and not wordy...Delany’s skill with concise plotting and characterization means that nothing valuable is left out...A great waiting-room read for people who want to experience worldwide thrills from within the safety of their hometown."
"Tense and gritty, but not overtly so...[Delany has] won awards for previous mystery stories, and [her] talents come through here...Can be easily completed by a struggling or reluctant reader...[and] could spark an interest in reading for those looking for a good detective story."


Arthur Ellis Award nominee  | 2015 | Short-listed
Golden Oak Award nominee  | 2015 | Short-listed