Ebolowa

by Simon Miller

A historical, political thriller that delivers! Page-turning to the point I had to make an effort to slow down — Andrew Greig

The official verdict was accidental death.

In 1956 photojournalist Annie Fayol had drowned in a rip tide off the coast of Cameroon. They said she shouldn’t have gone skinny-dipping on her own.

Nearly twenty years later her sister Candace finds a cache of old photos and is convinced someone had been with her – someone Annie had fallen for. Candace hires Harry Kaplan to find out who he was and why he hadn’t come forward. Right away it’s obvious the man is no ordinary missing person; there’s a whiff of a cover-up in the air and it seems somebody powerful is trying to stop the past from seeping into the present.

Based on a true story of courage, complicity... and murder

384 pages, Paperback

Published November 7, 2017

About the author

Taught Mexican and Spanish history at universities in UK and US before turning to noir thrillers. Fascinated by 'what-if' questions and tension between fact and fiction. First book in Harry Kaplan series, THE WRONG DOMINO, was shortlisted for CWA Debut Dagger award. Graduate of UEA/Guardian Masterclass Finish a Novel with Gillian Slovo. Second Harry Kaplan case, EBOLOWA, serialised on thepigeonhole.com and published by UNBOUND as e-book and paperback November 2017. Blends fact and fiction drawn from a 'cold case' of courage, conspiracy and murder.

Reviews

[Sam A · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. Read it cover to cover in a few days. I'm a big fan of crime thrillers and this one doesn't disappoint. More Harry Kaplan please!

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been a fabulous read! I don't normally read African fiction as I live in Africa and find that these tend to be unrealistic but this one, set in the 70's was well written and depicted the area well. The premise was a good one and the blend of truth and fiction was seamless, to the point I couldn't tell where one began and the other left off but it was a well conceived plot. I will be looking forward with interest for this author's next book!

[Geoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cracking political thriller. It grips the reader and takes them on a roller-coaster ride through a dark world of corruption, money and power in two periods (1950s and 1970s) in Europe and west Africa. The central characters are an American private investigator (Harry Kaplan) who is hired by Candace Fayol to investigate the mysterious death of her sister in Cameroon in 1956. There is also a cool, attractive Irish/American diplomat and possible foreign agent (Eileen O’Connell) who is involved in both periods. The plot unfolds at a terrific pace with twists and turns right to the end as the reader is kept guessing about who is lying, who is telling the truth, and who is simply carrying out the bidding of powerful political and business interests as they fight for control over the natural resources - oil and uranium – ripe for development in the poor countries in this part of Africa.

What is striking about the book is not just that it operates simultaneously on two levels (time periods) switching between the two and developing the characters in both epochs. This gives a depth to the plot which is unusual and a bit challenging to keep up with. I found it a little confusing at first, it demands effort, but it is helped by a comprehensive ‘dramatis personae’ which appears at the end. (I confess I only found this when I had finished the book, could it have been flagged up earlier?). The other feature of the book, which is even more impressive, is the extraordinary level of background detail that the author is able to supply for all the places and characters which appear. Whether it is scene-setting by Lake Michigan in Chicago, the atmosphere of a Cameroonian prison, or the details of an upmarket, ladies’ lingerie business, all are described here in a way that is rich and impressive. Similarly, Miller doesn’t just mention historical events, he comments on them to give the reader greater context and meaning. It is true that sometimes this level of detail and context gets in the way of the plot, but mostly it adds to its richness. It is also what makes this book a lot more than a conventional detective thriller. It is truly a political and historical thriller which transports the reader not just to one time and place, but to two times and several places, that’s what makes it such a satisfying read.

In keeping with this attention to detail, the characters are drawn carefully and with a real effort to make their behaviour consistent over time. The men are fairly stock detective thriller material, tough, ruthless, with little acknowledgement of their impact on others. The women are similarly, film noir, good-looking broads, in pursuit of a clean conscience, a good man and a quiet life. The descriptive narrative is well-paced, with the action and violence disturbingly well depicted. There is even a little sensual indulgence, but not enough to divert from the criminal and political plot.
Ebolowa is thus no ordinary crime novel. It requires a bit more effort than the traditional, airport bookshop, pot-boiler, but it rewards this effort with a real insight into different times and different countries. If you want to learn something about life in the 1950s and the 1970s in west Africa and in France and be entertained by a clever and complex plot, this is for you. If you are just interested in another ‘whodunit’, try something a bit simpler. I know where my preference lies and I now look forward to a sequel from the ‘Harry Kaplan casebook’.

Geoff Shepherd
Cambridge, England, March 2018

[Ivy Ngeow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ebolowa is a smart and slick political thriller which will keep you guessing to the end. It is April 1974. PI Harry Kaplan has been hired in his Chicago office by pretty doctor, Candace Fayol to investigate the death of her sister in 1956, a photographer for Life magazine. Meanwhile a third in, a subplot from another character viewpoint is introduced, that of M. Benet in France. The Irish/American Ice Maiden diplomat Eileen O’Connell who appears in both in the 1950s and the 1970s, connects the pieces of the story between the two time periods.
As the main plot and subplot arcs intersect in a dramatic climax, what happened to Annie Fayol on that African beach is finally revealed.
I would recommend this fast-moving stylish novel to anybody who enjoys reading travel, history and crime fiction. Ebolowa is rich in international themes such as corruption and greed, and wonderful West African, Mancunian and French period detail. The plot is fantastic and keeps writhing and turning. It is full of historical facts and written in vintage noir-style dialogue, set in two of my favourite periods in fiction - the glamorous midcentury modern period.

[Francis Byng · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not for the slow-witted or faint-hearted!

In a world plunged into economic chaos by the Oil Crisis of 1973, world-weary Chicago PI Harry Kaplan reluctantly takes on a cold case - the drowning of a headstrong young photojournalist in a notorious riptide off the coast of Cameroon.

But poking about in these murky waters stirs up some inconvenient truths that many people would prefer to remain hidden…..

This sprawling thriller cleverly mingles fact with fiction in a tale about the treachery and corruption that defined the ruthless realpolitik of post-colonial West Africa.

There is a terrific cast of characters (you may need to the help of the Dramatis Personae in the back of the book to keep track) who are individual and compelling, some memorably unpleasant. The settings which are also numerous (USA, England, France, Niger, Cameroon) breathe authenticity. This is an author who is clearly drawing on personal experience.

Ebolowa has a complex plot which demands attention – this is not a book to be read a few bedtime pages at a time – but if you can keep up with Harry as his investigation sucks him further down the rabbit hole then you will be rewarded with an intelligent and gripping read.

Recommended.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thriller! That's an understatement, you just can't put this book down. The story is built around an actual murder in Cameroon in the 1970's. A young investigative photojournalist is found dead and naked having been caught in a powerful rip-tide off the coast of Ebolowa. Circumstances are suspicious but authorities determine the death accidental. Twenty years later the dead girl's sister discovers a box of photos that reopens her anguish. She has always believed her sister's death was not accidental and she hires a private investigator to uncover the truth. The intrigue starts here and never stops. The book is brilliantly conceived, well written and the key players develop with the plot which constantly demands the reader's attention. You won't need your dictionary handy but unless you are a student of French public affairs in the 1970's you might want to keep Safari handy. I loved the way the author developed the plot around real events; it made it all very easy to believe. I strongly recommend the book to readers who are looking for an intelligent read that is unpredictable to the last page.

[Lew Sargentich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful combination of particular scenes you can taste and small (market stalls, a rip tide, gun running) and an overall plot that ties things together. In this exciting narrative, the personal turns out to be the political. By following the leads in a murder investigation, the reader comes to a rich understanding of a history -- a true one -- of intrigue.

My test for success of a complicated thriller is how the story works when, toward the end, you take your eyes off the page and look back. After all the thrills and spills, unexpected developments and revelations, does it make sense for the characters to have acted as they did? For this book, the answer is resoundingly yes. It is great fun going forward, thoroughly satisfying looking back.

[Crittermom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ebolowa is a multifaceted murder mystery/ political thriller based on a true story.  In 1956, a young photojournalist investigating the volatile political environment of Cameroon is found dead.  The verdict is accidental death. Two decades later, her younger sister hires Harry Kaplan to find out who her sister was with at the time of her death and find out what really happened.  The more Harry digs, the more obvious it becomes that Annie Fayol learned too much and became close to the wrong people. Major players both local and international have secrets they are willing to kill to keep, even twenty years later.  Cameroon is a dangerous place - one that just might become too dangerous for a PI and his client.

Ebolowa is an excellent novel, with palpable tension.  This is not a high action Bourne thriller. Instead it is a realistic novel based on true events.  The danger is real, despite the absence of over the top action sequences. The slower pacing means it isn’t a novel for action lovers, but it will be enjoyed by readers who like realistic., believable thrillers.


5 / 5


I received a copy of Ebolowa from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.


— Crittermom

[Valerie Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished Ebolowa with great pleasure. Big wow! The characters -- especially the minor characters -- are incredibly well drawn. I love meeting the Dutch hotelier, Fitz, Pleven, Bamenda, and Esther. I admire Miller way of making the political and colonial background clear by the slow build-up of detail and connections. His ability to evoke scenes and interiors puts us in the time and place. A great combination of mystery and history -- a history that not many know but should. Here's hoping for a sequel!!

[Emily Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as part of The Pigeonhole serialisation - my first experience of this way of reading. It was a gripping story, but with some odd and hard to follow plot twists and grammatical errors that I find hard to ignore. Has the makings of a really good read with some refinement and I enjoyed the interweaving of historical fact and murder mystery fiction.

[Diane Challenor]

This story wasn’t for me. I did not finish it. It’s a political thriller, set in a period I know little about (the years after WWII, up till the 70’s), and I have no interest in, because it’s so complicated. I’m sure there are other readers that would enjoy it. I was intrigued enough to skim to the end.

[Gail Wylde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, let me just get my breath back! I was a bit hesitant about reading this book but I'm so glad I did. This is a thriller based around real events in Cameroon in the early 70s, events I knew absolutely nothing about. I found myself googling quite a bit, I learnt a lot!! The characters are very strong and apart from Harry and Candace I didn't trust any of them!! I can't wait for this to be out in paper copy so that my husband can read it (he's a traditional book person!). I know he will enjoy it as much as me. Don't be like me and hesitate about reading this book, JUST READ IT, you will not be disappointed!! Cannot wait for more adventures of Harry! Thank you Simon.

[Sandy Hogarth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intelligent, exciting, and I'm not a thriller reader. Get hold of a copy.

[Kate Maddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put this thriller down! You have conspiracy, excitement, historical background all in a great plot! What more do you need in a thriller. I want to read the next one now!
Def recommend to all.

[Nada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, well paced and gripping story. I grew up in Africa in the exact era this is set, and the tensions and entitlement of the white expat classes who were still living there, post Empire, are well portrayed. The characters are engaging, the setting convincing. Moreover, actual, historical events even provided a killer plot. (less)

[Lalage Hampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thrilling read - gripping from early chapters. At times I needed to check up on the characters (possible better to have had list at front of book to be found earlier!) Plenty to think about and digest. Lots to learn. Don't be tempted to read too fast as there is a richness which shouldn't be missed.

[Jane Radford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this shortly after finishing Gavin Esler’s A Scandalous Man - the two books are similar in that they take actual political events as the heart of their story. Ebolowa carried me along even more than Esler’s novel. There are also echoes of The Constant Gardener but it is no way derivative. The pace is fast and the characters are well drawn and, although the story is convoluted, the narrative is clear. Some of the more dramatic scenes are filmic in quality - the encounter with the rip tide especially so. I did refer to the cast list a couple of times - but I am a bedtime reader and appreciated the reminders given. First rate.

[Di Paterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every minute of this book. As always, with good historical fiction, the lines blur between fact and fiction, and the whole plot was very credible. It was an insightful journey back to the seventies, and to a place which is unfamiliar, and which, consequently, made the perfect backdrop for the twists and turns of the intrigue. I thought the characters were well developed, and the historical context had me constantly googling for more information. Taking the historical aspect out, it's an intriguing thriller, with nothing predictable, and the ending is perfect.

[Lulu]

This is a political thriller rich with excitement and a kind of grimy glamour that perfectly set the era - great stuff. A fascinating look at a time when the needs of empire shift into the needs of corporations and companies, both ruthless in their rapaciousness. I learned a great deal at the same time as thoroughly enjoying the ride.