Juba Good: A Ray Robertson Mystery. (Rapid Reads). Vicki Delany. Victoria, BC: Raven Books/Orca, 2014. 119 pp., pbk., pdf & epub., $9.95 (pbk.). ISBN 978-1-4598-0490-6 (pbk.), ISBN 978-1-4598-0491-3 (pdf), ISBN 978-1-4598-0492-0 (epub). Grades 10 and up / Ages 15 and up. Review by Christina Pike. **** /4 Reviewed from Advance Reading Copy.

excerpt:

Deng crouched down. "What does the ribbon mean?" He reached out one hand and ran his fingers over it lightly.

"I don't know. It means something to him. He might not even know what. Sometimes they leave a sign. Sometimes they take trophies."

"Trophies?"

"Yeah. I don't see anything missing here. Serial killers usually have a signature. His is the white ribbon."

Deng shook his head. When you've seen so much death and dying, it's hard to believe someone would do it for ... fun?

In Juba Good, Vicki Delany creates a novel with Sergeant Ray Robinson as its lead. Sergeant Robinson is a RCMP officer on leave serving a year in Juba, South Sudan. When a fourth killing involving a young woman takes place, Robinson fears there is a serial killer on the loose. Serving in a country where poverty and crime are commonplace, Robinson is not certain if he can solve this mystery.

      Delany has written a fast-paced novel that keeps its readers wanting more. It is truly 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.

      A good read.

Highly Recommended.

Christina Pike is the principal of St. Paul's Junior High in St. John's, NL.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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