The Honest Folk of Guadeloupe

“Fascinating . . . The Guadeloupe of 1990 is no egalitarian paradise. Although the islands that make up the French colonies may be lush and blessed with pristine beaches, they are a racial, cultural, and political quagmire only the brave and nimble-footed can successfully navigate. Fortunately for the hurting souls seeking her help, Anne Marie Laveaud is up to the task.” —Mystery Scene

“Laveaud is an accomplished juggler, dealing with the joint responsibilities of keeping a family and a career in balance and navigating the murky waters of sexism, cronyism and racism in a society where she is very much an outsider. As much social commentary as mystery, this is a crackerjack whodunit from start to finish, as well as a compelling look into one of the last bastions of colonialism in a shrinking world.” —Bookpage

"A unique setting and some poignant social issues about cultural tourism and whitewashing in crime reportage." —Litreactor

“[Laveaud] is smart, stubborn, principled, and vested with enough human frailties to make her someone with whom readers can easily identify.” —Reviewing the Evidence

“A glimpse into the complex life of the citizens of a post-colonial, conflicted culture . . . Highly recommended!” —International Noir Fiction

“Anne Marie's second appearance, courtesy of the author of the Piero Trotti crime novels, boasts an elegantly incisive narrative and a fascinating heroine.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Absorbing . . . laden with insights about the legacies of colonialism, such as nuanced racism, official corruption, and troubled interactions between men and women.” —Publishers Weekly

“Sharp-witted, French-Algerian Anne Marie is an investigator worthy of a following, and Williams has craftily created her story as a microcosm of Guadeloupe’s social situation, where alienation battles dependence and racial stratification rules. Williams digs deep below the exotic setting’s surface in this nuanced mystery.” —Booklist “[Timothy Williams] is an award winning author well worth discovering.” —Murder By the Book

“[A] close look at the folk of Guadeloupe and the West Indian culture in general, with its mix of races and lingering colonial resentment of Mother France.” —Gumshoe Review