Review by Diane Matson

EVIL NEVER DIES - 2004 by Hilber H. Graf Infinity Publishing ISBN 0-74142172-0

If you’d like to learn about Jamaica’s history, culture, and Voodoo, this is one of the most entertaining ways to educate yourself (compared to a travel guide). Graf did a boatload of research, and pleasantly sprinkled interesting tidbits throughout the story.

About half the dialogue is written with a Jamaican accent, which at first I found a little irritating. Occasionally, for clarity, I had to reread what the natives were saying. But I’m keeping the book, because by the time I was done reading, I had a firm grasp on the accent. As an actress, I ‘m always keeping an ear out for people with various accents and dialects, so my dialogue will sound authentic.

The story centers around Professor Dan Forrester, an archeologist visiting Jamaica, searching for the shipwrecked Duke of Wellington (full of treasure), lost at sea in 1715. His 21 year old daughter Jennifer, and her college roommate, Moesha, dive with him in Montego Bay.

In the past, Dan notoriously disproved a few hauntings, so the hotel developer and various government officials request his services. Great Hall is a huge mansion with an evil history that will, (once people in the vicinity stop dying), become a hotel, bringing in tourists and their cash. In return, Dan’s dig expenses will be handsomely covered. Reluctantly, Dan accepts the offer.

Anne Gaillard, who owned Great Hall 80 years ago, acquired her massive wealth by marrying, then killing, various wealthy husbands, as well as various slave lovers. She also learned Voodoo, so although she was killed, her spirit lived on. Now she’s continuing her quest to fornicate, kill, and acquire as much wealth as possible.

Every single female character Graf created is a unique, smart, strong woman. Graf worked hard to make each character different, but they all remained static - no character arcs.

Graf summarizes Anne’s story in the first part of his book, and then, at the end, walks us through the details, which are interesting, but reveals nothing noteworthy. It’s also a little odd because he just launches into it. It’s not a flashback, no one is narrating it, there’s no reason for anyone to remember it, or hear it again, and it doesn’t advance the plot or characters. Why did he tell the same tale twice?

There’s also some narrative and dialogue inconsistencies. Anne’s thoughts range from past tense to present, even though her situation is present tense. I tried to find a pattern or logical reason that would explain this, but failed.

Some of Graf’s sentences are odd. For example, the sentence, “Chris Sanka became a ridiculous dilemma.” It’s not improper, but it sure reads funny. I’ve never heard (or read) anyone talking like that. Have you?

The plot is simple, as are the characters, and I suppose that’s good because otherwise (thanks to the aforementioned problems) I’d have gotten thoroughly lost. Actually, there were a LOT of characters briefly introduced in the first part of the book, so I had to keep going back and rereading to figure out which government official or bad guy was being referred to. Eventually I gave up and allowed myself some confusion, because it wasn’t worth the work.

This book is a great travel guide and dialect coach, but a frustratingly poor novel.

2 Bookwyrms

This review copyright 2009 E.C.McMullen Jr.

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