Sloane’s real motive for the trip is to keep an eye on Gloria, her uncle’s second wife whom Sloane dislikes. Using her female wiles, Sloane convinces a reluctant Bedford to accompany her to Africa, a decision that doesn’t take him long to regret.

Bedford soon realizes that the British expatriates and vacationers in this part of the British Empire seem to have left their genteel lifestyles in England. He is invited to many parties where the gin flows freely and is invited, even encouraged, to share the beds of several new acquaintances.

No one appears to have any problem with this lifestyle until the discovery of Gloria’s body atop her lover’s body with one shot through both seems to indicate quite the opposite. Uncle Dixon is the immediate suspect and the African justice system being somewhat different than what Bedford is used to makes him realizes it may be a difficult task to prove otherwise. What Bedford doesn’t expect is that when the suspicion is lifted off Uncle Dixon it falls on him. Now confined in an African jail, Bedford uses his time to ponder his predicament and hopes there are outsiders he can rely on.

Even taken out of Greenwich Village, Bedford and Sloane continue to be a delightful duo. Surrounding them with local celebrities of their time (this outing includes Isak Dinesen and the Duke of York) only adds to the glamour and excitement of the atmosphere. British Colonialism is often as romanticized as the Roaring Twenties are and the lives these people are living seem very similar to those Bedford and Sloane are used to in New York.

As always, Bedford remains a proper gentleman (almost) and remains steadfastly loyal to Sloane and is always willing to lend a helping hand. Sloane meets with an old school friend, Alice, who is an unusual character and doesn’t seem to have a firm place in the plot. A lot of Bedford’s investigation relies on the kindness and honesty of others, people Bedford hopes he can trust with his life. The final solution to the murders ends up a little muddled and confusing, but with all the glitz and glamour and exotic locations, readers may not mind.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry