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Tropic of Night

Book 1 in the series:Jimmy Paz

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'Tropic of Night' by Michael Gruber follows the protagonist Jane Doe, a former anthropologist who goes into hiding under a new identity in Miami. As a series of ritualistic murders terrify the city, Cuban American police detective Jimmy Paz gets involved in the investigation, leading to a cataclysmic battle between good and unimaginable evil. The plot weaves through Africa, Siberia, and Miami, blending elements of African sorcery, voodooism, and supernatural powers, creating an enthralling and gripping tale of mystery and horror. The narrative alternates between first-person accounts, historical diaries, and traditional third-person storytelling, providing a deep and broad exploration of voodoo, mysticism, and anthropological expeditions.

Characters:

The characters are multifaceted, including a strong female protagonist and a relatable detective, each grappling with themes of magic, identity, and morality.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is engaging yet complex, mixing narrative styles to weave a rich tapestry of characters and cultural insights while occasionally becoming tedious.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot combines elements of mystery, supernatural horror, and anthropological exploration as it follows Jane Doe, a fugitive anthropologist, and the investigation into a series of murders linked to her past.

Setting:

The settings are diverse and richly detailed, emphasizing the clash and blend of different cultures and the supernatural.

Pacing:

The pacing ranges from fast-paced and enthralling to slower, more formulaic, leading to potential lulls that may affect reader engagement.
Looking at the sleeping child, I watch myself looking at the sleeping child, placing the dyad in a cultural context, classifying the feelings I am feeling even as I feel them. This is partly the resul...

Notes:

The main character, Jane Doe, is a former anthropologist who studies shamanism and witchcraft.
Jane fakes her own suicide to escape her husband, a poet who becomes a serial killer.
Her husband murders pregnant women to steal their babies for ritualistic purposes.
Detective Jimmy Paz investigates the string of ritualistic murders in Miami.
The novel explores African magic and the supernatural, blending genres of thriller and horror.
The story includes Jane's anthropological field notes from expeditions to Siberia and Africa.
The narrative alternates between Jane's personal story, her diary entries, and the police procedural perspective.
Jane has skills in martial arts and becomes involved in a battle against dark forces.
The book features rich cultural insights into voodoo and Santeria practices.
Despite some tedious sections, the book is praised for its interesting plot and character development.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include depictions of violence, murder of pregnant women, and themes of domestic abuse.

From The Publisher:

Not since The Secret History has a novel so flawlessly married the ferocious intensity of an unforgettable thriller with the depth, daring, and nuance of our most celebrated literary fiction. Tropic of Night is a virtuoso performance - an unforgettably accomplished novel, a masterpiece of electricity and ambition.

Jane Doe was a promising anthropologist, an expert on shamanism. Now she's nothing, a shadow: after faking her own suicide, she's living under an assumed identity in Miami with a little girl to protect. Everyone thinks she's dead. Or so she hopes.

Then the killings start, a series of ritualistic murders that terrifies all of Miami. The investigator is Jimmy Paz, a Cuban-American police detective. There are witnesses, but they can recall almost nothing of the events, as though their memories have been erased - as if a spell has been cast on each of them. Equally bizarre is the string of clues Paz uncovers: a divination charm, exotic drugs found in the bodies of the victims, a century-old report telling of a secret place in the heart of Africa.

These clues point Paz inexorably toward the fugitive, Jane Doe, and force Jane to realize that the darkness she has fled is seeking her out, hunting her down. By the time her path intersects with Jimmy Paz's, the two will be thrust into a cataclysmic battle between good and an evil unimaginable to the Western mind.

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About the Author:

New York Times bestselling author Michael Gruber is the author of five acclaimed novels. He lives in Seattle.

 
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