Jamaica, 1772. Over the past years, three people with large insurance policies have disappeared without trace from the island, so the insurance company from Bristol sends Isaiah Ollenu, a Black barrister’s clerk with high hopes of a long legal career, along with Ruben Ashby, a god-fearing insurance clerk, to the Caribbean to investigate.

But Jamaica is not a safe place for a free Black man to visit, least of all to try and stir up trouble. With suspicion, prejudice and even some vengeful spirits dogging their tracks, can Ollenu and Ashby find the fates of their missing clients?

I was sent this one by Canelo, who I’ve reviewed a few titles for, and it sounded intriguing. Indeed, it sounded like a mystery novel. However, looking at the Amazon page, you see that this is published by Canelo Adventure, because I should say off the bat, this is not a mystery novel.

It’s a crime novel, certainly, but there is just as much time, if not moreso, describing Ollenu’s journey to Jamaica, the problems that he faces before, during and after the voyage. Indeed, it’s almost half the book before anyone mentions a mad doctor – our heroes could have saved a lot of time by looking at the title of the book they were in.

Once the villain is identified, then it’s a tale of proof (along with some adventure along the way), as well as the aftermath of his downfall. I’m not spoiling anything by saying that the mad doctor is indeed mad and rather murderous, but the story doesn’t understate the problem of bringing someone with status to justice when you are a stranger in town.

All in all, it’s a very effective read – I especially enjoyed the evolution of Ollenu and Ashby’s relationship – but I do have one problem with it.

There is a supernatural side to the story – three instances where phantoms appear and are seen by a number of people – and I’m just not sure what that added to the tale. It actually took me out of the narrative somewhat. There were real visceral horrors on display that didn’t need some murderous mermaids to hammer home. These sequences are pretty brief, and I was soon engrossed in the narrative again.

All in all, an effective historical and character piece with a good crime story at its heart – just not a mystery.

The Case Of The Mad Doctor is out this Thursday in paperback and ebook from Canelo. Many thanks for the review copy.