| Title | : | The Witch Doctors Wife (Belgian Congo Mystery #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0061727830 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780061727832 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 307 |
| Publication | : | First published September 30, 2009 |
The Congo beckons a young Amanda Brown in 1958, as she follows her missionary calling to the mysterious "dark continent" far from her South Carolina home. But her enthusiasm cannot cushion her from the shock of a very foreign culture—where competing missionaries are as plentiful as flies, and oppressive European overlords are busy stripping the land of its most valuable resource: diamonds.
Little by little, Amanda is drawn into the lives of the villagers in tiny Belle Vue—and she is touched by the plight of the local witch doctor, a man known as Their Death, who has been forced to take a second job as a yardman to support his two wives. But when First Wife stumbles upon an impossibly enormous uncut gem, events are set in motion that threaten to devastate the lives of these people Amanda has come to admire and love—events that could lead to nothing less than murder.
Richly evocative, written with warmth and humor, and based on the author's own experiences, Tamar Myers's The Witch Doctor's Wife is an unforgettable African journey with a spellbinding mystery at its heart.
The Witch Doctors Wife (Belgian Congo Mystery #1) Reviews
-
This was a fun read. The major character is a young American missionary, who comes to the Belgian Congo in the 50's and becomes involved in a mystery involving a large diamond and a possible murder. The characters were interesting, the setting was stunning, the mystery, however, was only average. There are too many side stories that are never really traced out, and the characters have lots of potential, but their relationships and how those tie in to the plot are never really developed. Definitely worth reading, however, if you like light mysteries with exotic settings. The writer knows her setting well and includes lots of good physical details.
-
The Witch Doctor’s Wife by Tamara Myers ISBN 978-0-06-172783-2
Review by Chris Phillips
The Witch Doctor’s Wife is historical fiction. The action occurs in the Belgian Congo of 1958 just before that nation’s independence. The main characters are Their Death, a Witch Doctor for the local tribe in the area of Belle Vue, a Belgian colonial village, and Amanda Brown, an American missionary coming to the area to manage a guest house. Myers writes a very well penned novel. There is a mystery, actually three mysteries, and they play an important part in the plot and the flow of the novel.
The story begins with the airplane Amanda arrives on crashing in the jungle that surrounds the landing strip. The perspective of the plot changes from Amanda’s situation to other situations as the story progresses. This may seem to be disjointed, but it is something that can and does work for Myers. This allows for several different subplots to ebb and flow throughout the novel.
The plot, and various subplots, are consistent and interweave well to make this a good tale. Myers is normally a “fun” mystery writer. She has written fifteen “Den of Antiquity” mysteries and seventeen Pennsylvania Dutch mysteries. Both of those series contain lighthearted and frolicking stories. This work is much darker and more brooding, as is suitable for a tale set in the same land as Conrad’s Heart of Darkness.
The characters are very much alive and fully developed; even those that don’t have names, or are only mentioned once or twice. There is, however, a stark contrast between the whites and the Congolese, as was the case at that time in history. Each player makes their contributions, while some move closer to the front and others recede.
Their Death’s First Wife, named Cripple by her peers, is lively and the intellectual equal of any others. Second Wife, although not named anything else, is the stable factor in the Witch Doctor’s house. The police captain, Pierre Jardin is very important to the plot and resolution of the mysteries, but often seems a bit player. However, he is real and easily visualized. The list of characters is considerable and these examples are but a sample of those populating the novel. None of the characters suffer at Myers’ hand.
Myers’ incorporates an odd feature in this book. The beginning of each chapter offers some tidbit of information about the Congo, its flora and fauna and even Myers’ own longing wish to return there some day. Although there must be some logic for where each tidbit is presented, it is not apparent to this reviewer. What is apparent is that Myers grew to love the Congo, the people there and is a very able defender of that region of Africa.
This is a very good book. The viewpoints and problems of the people living in that time and place are fairly depicted by Myers. There are some characters that do not quite seem to fit, but perhaps this reviewer missed some subtle details, because the book as a whole is a wonderful read and a delightful trip into Myers’ past and the Congo’s history. It is highly recommended for any reader, but particularly for those readers who enjoyed her other books.
Published by Avon, imprint of Harper-Collins Publishers (
www.harpercollins.com) (SRP $
13.99/Amazon $10.07) Reviewer received the book from the publisher -
The Witch Doctor’s Wife (Avon 2009) introduces Amanda Brown, a young missionary who comes to the small Belgian Congo diamond mining community of Belle Vue in 1958. The small plane Amanda is traveling one has to make a crash landing, but luckily no one is seriously hurt. However, the tall Nigerian passenger who carries Amanda from the burning plane vanishes into the bush, which confuses Captain Pierre Jardin of the local Belgian Colonial Police. The pampered Europeans, waited upon by the natives while stripping the country of diamonds, have little interest in befriending a poor missionary and worry that their time of power is coming to an end. Amanda is proud of her ability to speak Tshiluba, the local Congolese language, but finds communicating with the native people harder than she expected. When the local witch doctor’s first wife arrives at her doorstep looking for a job, Amanda resists calling the woman "Cripple" though she insists it is her name. Cripple dubs Amanda “Ugly Eyes” because of the pale blue color. When the witch doctor discovers his youngest son, Baby Boy, teething on a huge uncut diamond, greed and violence erupt in the usually peaceful community. The contrasting world views of Amanda and Cripple are beautifully portrayed, though Cripple’s determined no-nonsense personality tends to overwhelm Amanda’s. Myers was born and raised by missionary parents in the Belgian Congo, and presents the historical and environmental background for her story in vivid detail in this intriguing series opener.
Tamar Myers page at SYKM -
Cripple is First Wife (of two) of a witch doctor named Their Death. She is a smart woman who constantly gets discounted due to her appearance. When a huge diamond is introduced into their lives a web of unfortunate events set off a tidal wave of dangers fueled by greed.
Amanda Brown, a young missionary from South Carolina, travels to the Belgian Congo in 1958 in order to oversee a missionary guest house in the town of Belle Vue. Belle Vue is a diamond mining town in which the race by the Belgian occupiers to get as many riches as they can before the forces of independence takes over is a major concern.
When the lives of these two women cross, they and the people they interact with are tested in ways none of them ever imagined.
For me, the premise of the novel, nothing is what it seems; gets tested almost every chapter with the main characters as well as the fascinating individuals they encounter. Ms. Myers' makes that point several times during the story as well as the informative short paragraphs which introduce every chapter and tell the reader about the plants, animals and culture of the area.
The book is not told from one point of view, but from several points of view which is very interesting because the reader has an idea of how the several characters in the book see themselves (the natives, the Belgians, etc.)
I found this book easy to read and it kept up my interest both from a cultural perspective as well as an interesting storyline. The characters were fascinating and the author made an effort to keep them "gray", not all good and not all bad. -
When Amanda Brown arrives in the Congo to run a missionary guesthouse, she is fascinated by both the landscape and the people. But, her cultural training hasn't prepared her for its people’s peculiar names and odd customs. Although she already has a housekeeper, she can’t resist offering employment to the clever first wife of Their Death, the local witch doctor. Their Death, not really a very successful witch doctor, is trying to deal with his two squabbling spouses and his second job as a yardman. When he discovers his baby son sucking on a huge raw diamond, he sets in motion a chain of greed, misplaced trust, and betrayal.
Each chapter begins with a short paragraph about the Congo, primarily the various animals that live there, but occasionally on the culture of the local native tribes as well. I thought it was one of the most interesting aspects of the book even though it didn't really signal an event in the following chapter. I loved the interaction between Amanda's household staff, arrogant housekeeper Protruding Naval and assistant, Cripple.
I thought this book was an interesting look at pre-independence Congo from an author who grew up there. The setting was very atmospheric and the characters were very humorous. The author has just started to develop the character of Amanda Brown in this book and it feels a bit unfinished. I am planning to read one of the other three books in the series and she how these characters make out in the future. -
Not really a mystery (that only occurs in the last 40 pages or so), this book offers good deal of historical information, but not a lot of characterization. It was a book I almost had to force myself to finish because I didn't bond with any of the characters, so I didn't really care what happened. Intriguing plotlines (the Nigerian, the relationship between Nunez and Dupree) were abandoned after a careful set-up, with what to me seemed too random. Fiction doesn't work well with randomness - that's what real life is - storytelling should be different. Finally, the ending seemed to be too unbelievable and far-fetched. I was hoping for either a better mystery or a more in-depth look at the Belgian Congo with less shallow characters.
-
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I particularly enjoyed seeing European/American culture through the eyes of the Congolese. The author grew up in the Congo and this is apparent through both her insight and her love of the people. The only negative I found is that the mystery and how it is resolved is somewhat confusing. But, this is not so much a book about a mystery as it is about people and their relationships with one another. For sheer enjoyment, I would give this book 5 stars. All around it certainly earns a solid 4.
-
I was so excited to read this book -- what a let down.... The story was like an outline of a premise that could have been a fantastic story. I felt like the author got tired and decided just to finish it up quickly. The charcters started out interesting, but never developed. One character was intriguing in the beginning escaped prison, a plane crashed, hid out behind a waterfall and absolutely NOTHING happened. I wouldnt recommend this book to anyone. I only gave it 2 stars because it 'could have been' a great story.. only if....
-
So far... can't put it down. Should easily be done before I get to meet the author later this week!
And I finished it! Wonderful book, complex characters, people to love and to dislike. Culture and nature to absorb. Plot to follow and with each twist and turn. This author has mastered not only the art of the hook, but also of the prod! -
I thought this was a interesting book about the colonists and indiginous people of the Congo and a series of events that reveals the atmosphere of the time.
-
Another new location for me, brought to life by the author's experience as a child & adult living amongst multiple cultures. Enjoyed it.
-
I'm giving this book 5 stars for the sake of Goodreads rating system. My true rating would be between a 4.5 and 5.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved that the characters were so expertly executed. The book had a large ensemble cast but all of them were given enough description that I never had issue with keeping "who did what" straight. However, my one criticism is that the lead character, the one in which apparently ties the other books in the series together, was actually the weakest developed. Perhaps that was design by the author so that we get to learn a little more about her with each book. I suppose that remains to be seen. But back to the good...because there really was so much good in this book! I also enjoyed that the characters were on the quirky side but didn't go over the edge into being caricatures. I especially liked when the author gave insight into how the Africans thought of the "white man". I found myself laughing out loud several times. Another good idea the author had was to include a short paragraph before each chapter that read like a text book on The Congo. The subjects ranged from culture to history to plants to most often animals. Usually the chapter that followed would touch lightly on the subject. Sometimes you'd have to search for it, and a few times I couldn't figure out the connection. Maybe there was not always one to be found? Anyway, I have read other books in which an author attempted something similar but the effect was not executed as well as this. I do plan to read the next book in this series once I'm able to locate a copy. -
This novel was amazing! I absolutely loved the interactions between Amanda, the American missionary, and First Wife (I cannot reveal First Wife's name because it's key to the hilarious interactions and cultural confusion between First Wife and Amanda). Seeing the Americans and Europeans through the eyes of the Congolese was both fascinating and humorous.
Although this novel is set up as a mystery with greed corrupting all involved, the heart of the novel is the relationships and the characters. Tamar Myers did an excellent job developing her characters, particularly The Witch Doctor, First Wife, Second Wife, and Amanda, the American missionary. The novel was intriguing, fascinating, and humorous and is not to be missed. Another aspect of the novel I enjoyed was that each chapter begins with a fascinating blurb about the people, animals, and environment of the Congo. I felt that I learned a great deal about the Belgian Congo while enjoying an entertaining novel.
I couldn't wait to pick this book up every chance I got and cannot emphasize this enough. I carried this book with me everywhere I went until I finished because I couldn't bear to not have it by my side. I would actually rate it 4.5 stars if I could. The only thing that keeps it from being five stars is that the ending wasn't quite satisfying because I would have liked the mystery to be wrapped up with a little more information and detail. -
Hmm, what can I say about this book? It has been on my list to read for the longest. I looked at the synopsis on Goodreads and thought it sounded like a good book. Especially since it took place in Africa - by way of the Congo. I've always had interest in Africa in general, even as a kid. So this novel sounded like something I would enjoy.
For the most part the book held my attention. I just don't like how the main character, Amanda, seemed to "save the day". I hate when it seems like white people come into a foreign country and "fix" everything. She came from South Carolina and traveled to the Congo as a missionary. As a missionary, she needed to spread her religion throughout the Congo. But now that I think back on it, this book never focused on religion - or her wanting to spread her beliefs. But of course when Cripple was about to be hung, she "saves the day" by admitting to the crime, which gets others to admit the same thing.
What I liked about the book was that each chapter started with a brief background of some African tidbit. It usually focused around animals in the Congo, which I found very interesting. I felt like it supplemented the story, just to give the reader a visual of the African continent.
Overall it was a good book - just not a favorite. I will try to continue the series though. -
From this book, I learned quite a bit about the Congo, formerly colonized by Belgium, and the animals and people who make their home here. Wow. I love the balance of the characters and the point of view Tamar Myers chose to speak from. Though I do have questions about some of the characters, and why some of the people were not further elaborated on, I can appreciate the sense of mystery which was a result of this.
The personalities presented were intriguing: Amanda's ambition to do good and her naivety, Second Wife's nobleness as a house wife, and Cripple's surprising motives nearing the end of the novel. This book effortlessly braids the themes of greed and unconditional love. I had a blast reading this, and felt as though I were truly there with Amanda, Cripple, Protruding Navel, and the rest of the characters in Belle Vue.
Must. Read. The. Remaining. Books. Why? One word - diamond. -
This sneaked up on me. It’s a mystery, light reading, set in the Congo. The characters struck me as over-drawn, as if the author is trying too hard for an effect. But the author was raised in the Congo, and she makes legitimate points about the dreadful human costs of colonialism and diamond mining in particular. She gently and humorously presents views of how each culture, the Western and the Congolese, may misunderstand each other and make erroneous judgments. One tidbit: the witch doctor of the title explains to his wife that Western people must “eat three times a day, not two, because their food is insubstantial.” And the clever Westerners, feeling sorry for Cripple wife, haven't a clue as to what is really going on. The plot is fun, but the interest in the book arises from the culture and especially the people.
-
Since I read the Poisionwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver I looked forward to reading more about Africa. This book was great for that. I loved that the characters were new and refreshing with each page and their story and events never got redundant or boring. I also enjoyed the clips at the top of each chapter although they some of the reviews state that they are unrealted to the storyline. I thought they only added to my intrested in learning more about African and made me feel like I could experience it though I have never been there myself.
-
This is such a different novel for Tamara Myers. I have enjoyed her quirky mystery series (Den of Antiquity and Magdelena Yoder mysteries)
The Witch doctor's wife is about the Belgium Congo in the late 1950;s. Young Amanda Brown runs a Missionary Guesthouse. This is a lively story about a very foreign culture and overlapping European greed. -
I love this book. Full of complex characters, plot twists and general info on the Congo.
Young missionary Amanda Brown has her hands full of incidents, accidents and odd characters after crash landing in the Belgian Congo in order to do penance for her own foolish mistake back home in the Carolinas. -
I'd give this book 3.5 stars. I was attracted to this book because it takes place in Africa. I enjoy stories that center amongst the various tribes and their traditions. The author ends the novel on a good note, which makes me want to read the second book in this series: The Headhunter's Daughter.
-
I loved this book! Great story and very interesting introductions to each chapter. The ending, however, was a little disappointing for me. I won't say anymore, until you guys finish it. Can't wait to discuss!
-
This book has some of the most amazing plot twists ever! It's set in the Congo in the late 1950's (before their independence). The characters is this story are so interesting, but so is the setting. Loved it!
-
Not what I was expecting, this book didn't really hold my interest. The best parts were the blurbs about Africa at the beginning of each chapter.
-
Quote “The passenger in 3B couldn’t tear her gaze from the window. Was that patch of dirt the landing strip? It couldn’t be. It was way too short – and there were pigs on it. Pigs!
This book taught me some interesting facts about animals and customs from the Congo at the beginning of each chapter.
Such a cool idea, at the beginning of each chapter is a little history, customs or animals of Congo, very interesting and cultural even though these details have nothing to do with the plot line itself.
An exciting beginning, various characters giving their personal experiences of the plane crash. The same scene is written from different points of view.
Lovely, often amusing interactions between white and black people. Most of the African characters have some unusual names, like First Death, Cripple and Protruding Navel.
Delightful and funny conversations between the local people and the Belgiums, who are the invaders of the country, as the book is based in the country of Congo, during the 1950’s before the independence of the country, the Belgiums were the owners of all the diamonds found in the mines and even anywhere else, diamonds are a big part of this book. The characters are nicely developed and alive. I loved the descriptions with the drums and you could almost hear them.
Even though in the title it says Belgium Congo mystery, the mystery part is not the most important in the book, the important part of the book is the development of the characters.
The author herself was born and raised for some years in this small town in Congo, and covers many of her experiences. How much of this is true, it is always difficult to know, but after reading a colourful interview on her website,
https://www.tamarmyers.com/bio and reading that the author kept all the letters her father sent to her grandmother in the USA, while living in Congo, this book might have more truth than fiction.
This is a cozy mystery, even though it takes a long time to get to be mysterious, it is a slow burner after an exciting beginning and there were a couple of parts that were a little mysterious as they didn’t have an ending, as this is the first in a series this might continue in a later book.
Thank you so much for watching this video, consider subscribing to continue this journey around the world with me.
I give this book 4 stars. The next country in the read the world challenge is Moldovia. -
Being in my seventy–fifth year, I tire of fictitious fantasies about the foibles of man. Nevertheless, I am captivated by the author’s very real understanding of the colonial culture of the Congo both from the perspective of the colonists and the colonized. Racism is not confined to white on black relations, but even the whites have prejudices against each other magnified by their isolation from, and adherence to, their own cultures. In addition, the author understands the deep and ancient prejudices that exist between the Africa tribal cultures as the European dominance divides them between their native culture, the imposed religions, and the class of Westernized Africans called évolués. This is all portrayed on the brink of the impending independence movement which is destined to change all their quasi-comfortable lives.
The plot is about diamonds and the Consortium that mines them. In particular a very large diamond discovered by children and the impact this has on the lives of both native and European residents of Belle Vue, on the Kasai River. It has all the earmarks of a made-for-cinema serial complete with a cliff hanger at the end of this first book, which fact explains why there are incomplete story lines about the characters. The author kills off the Nigerian, without an explanation of why he ended up living in the cave under the falls after the plane crash and his rescue of the American missionary, Amanda. Why he came to Belle Vue will probably be in a prequel. Amanda’s barely budded romance with the Capitan Jardin, the local gendarme, will probably be a main plot in the sequel. But what of the Cripple and the diamond?
I also wish to mention the author’s knowledge of the Africa flora and fauna. In addition to the fact-filled chapter headings, the animal and the vegetation play an integral part in the story.
The author, Tamara Myers (who has written 36 mostly mystery novels), seems to have said to me (in print, or in my mind) “I should probably write my own experiences in a book.” In a way, she already has. As she explains: her growing up in the Congo paralleled instances in this book. I, for one, would rather see the true story of her life than have it couched in mystery. chacun à son gout! -
I really enjoyed this book. The author grew up in the Belgian Congo where her parents were missionaries. Each chapter begins with fascinating (though completely useless to the plot so far as I can tell) tidbits of information about the area. This book sort of fails as a mystery novel, but is fascinating as an exploration of the Congo, colliding cultures, and human nature in general.
The main white character, an American girl named Amanda, was someone I found it easy to identify with. She is intent on doing God’s will in saving souls and being part of the solution in breaking down cultural divides and racism, but often overthinks everything, dwelling on what message she is sending and whether her train of thought matches her internal system of morality. Cripple, the title character, is a more complex, and very likeable, character. Sometimes lazy and selfish, sometimes incredibly loyal and selfless, but always clever.
While this story purports to be a mystery concerning diamonds and greed and murder, it is more of a study of what happens to human nature when it is confronted with opportunities to get wealth, when it experiences extreme grief, and whether humans will choose, in difficult situations, whether to protect themselves and their own self interests, or will act to help and protect others at risk of peril to themselves.
I would give the book more stars, but some of the side plots didn’t really get resolved well, and there are too many characters involved in the main plot that were not developed well enough that I kept confusing with each other. I also spent way too much thought trying to figure out what the chapter headings were leading to and how certain characters were going to become useful to the main plot in vain.
Overall though, this was a fascinating read and I look forward to reading the other books in the series, despite flaws in this one. -
I read this as part of my Around the World in 80 Books challenge. A mystery story set in the 1950s in the Belgian Congo before its independence from Belgium (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). The main character is Amanda Brown, a young American missionary who moves out to the village of Belle Vue to run a missionary guesthouse. The author was born and raised in the Belgian Congo by missionary parents so she is on familiar territory. Although Amanda’s mission is to convert souls, the book does not really focus on religion but is a rather quaint look at the villagers, their lives and the way they perceive the oddities of the Europeans, and makes some points about the effects of colonialism. Amanda is proud of having learnt Tshiluba the local Congolese language, but finds there is much else to learn. The story is populated by great characters such as Their Death, Cripple, Second Wife and Protruding Navel. My favourite character was First Wife, Cripple, with her sharp mind and outspoken ways. When a priceless diamond is discovered a series of events is set in train. I found the story fun and entertaining. There were snippets at the beginning of each chapter about the Congo, its people and fauna. It also highlighted the tension in Belgium between the Walloons (French speakers) and the Flemish (dutch speakers). A light mystery with some historical and cultural insights into colonial Belgian Congo. My only complaint was there seemed to be some loose ends in the mystery that didn’t entirely resolve.
