Vernon Baker

Ok ... so I am a sucker for the highlander trope in my fiction (sue me). I really enjoyed this book. It had enough historical minutiae to appease my fascination for obscure facts and progressive revelations that had me diving ever deeper into the mysteries that surround the protagonist ... an immortal Templar protecting a secret from a hidden cabal of Vatican infiltrators while hunting souls who refuse to move on. It probably would have gone much better if the author focused more on actually completing one of the several plot lines introduced in this book. As it is, the ending totally sucked (-1 star) ... it seemed rushed, a tad disjointed and left nearly every major question unanswered. I realize that this is just the first of what looks to be a trilogy ... except it isn't. It is simply a very long winded introduction to the next book which may or may not explain anything either. If I bother to get the next book ... I will let you know how that goes.… (plus d'informations)

Steamy is right – and not just the weather. THE MORUTAU AFFAIR was not what I was expecting.

Ostensibly about the death of a plantation owner, it's a story made up of current action and flashbacks to the time that he and his wife, met, married and from there, the lead-up to his death. Obviously, given the time and the place, there's a lot of racial interactions which are uncomfortable reading nowadays, but there's nothing about any of it that feels out of place, or gratuitous.

There is, however some very complicated sexual shenanigan's going on. We're not talking erotic - it was more a rather complicated litany of who was sleeping with who and why / when / who else knew. It was same-sex and heterosexual, and it was all a bit odd. Not necessarily because you don't like to think that anybody in the 1950s ever had sex, but rather you have to wonder how so many unusual persuasions all managed to end up in one remote plantation in Southern Papua. Without it being signposted, or deliberate.

THE MORUTAU AFFAIR is an unusual book absolutely no doubt about it. A reasonably interesting puzzle to be solved (most likely of the exactly why as opposed to who variety), with glimpses into some of the aspects of life in remote communities in the 1950s. Perhaps not one for readers who prefer their sexual exploits downplayed.

http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-morutau-affair-vernon-h-baker… (plus d'informations)

Alex has learned that his grandfather has died and left almost everything to him. After reading a letter that his grandfather left for him, Alex finds an unusual book in a strange language that has beautiful pictures illustrating each section. There is also an older journal, which seems to be a translation. The letter explains that Alex’s grandfather was drawn to different places at different times relating to the books and the story of a Templar knight Gaspar. Alex starts to read the journal about how Gaspar came to become immortal.

Gaspar was a regular Templar knight that ran into trouble during the holy war. He is then made an offer to be a hunter of souls. He finds the souls then takes them to Hell, Heaven, or Purgatory. Through these actions, he is cleaning his own soul to try to get into Heaven.

There is also a third party trying to meet Gaspar, Dominicus. He is a priest intent on getting the secret of immortality. Dominicus is very determined and will do whatever it takes to bribe, cajole, or kill those with the information he needs.

I really loved this book. I admit I was a little lost after the first section but fell into the story quickly. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next with Gaspar. I admit I was disappointed in the ending just because I wanted to know what happens next. I cannot wait to read the second book. I hope it is published soon.… (plus d'informations)