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Cuban-American Miami police detective Jimmy Paz thinks he's been called in on a very easy murder investigation. An Arab businessman was hit over the head and then thrown out his hotel room window. In the dead man's room sits Emmylou Dideroff, praying, with her fingerprints all over the murder weapon. But Emmylou claims she didn't kill the man, at least she's pretty sure she didn't, because sometimes she goes into religious trances and she doesn't always know what she does when this happens. The police are positive that Emmylou is the murderer but when she starts to write out her 'Confessions,' Paz doesn't believe that she killed the man and plans on proving it. Emmylou's guilt isn't the only outstanding mystery in this case. The dead man was on the government's 'terrorist watch list' and for some reason the FBI is also involved and Paz has been ordered to not investigate some of the suspects. Emmylou's psychologist Lorna Wise has seen Emmylou go into one of her religious trances, and Jimmy has too. When this happens, something evil takes over. It appears that now both God and the devil might possess Emmylou. As Emmylou draws up her 'Confessions' for Jimmy and Lorna, she writes about her life, first as an abused child, then as a prostitute, then living with The Blood Of Christ Sisters of Charity, and eventually going into Africa to do God's will by working to help one of the small African countries fight for freedom, and eventually ending up in Miami. But what does all this have to do with the FBI and the murdered man? Jimmy and Lorna will find out if it's the last thing they do. What can I say about VALLEY OF BONES by Michael Gruber? How about wonderful, top-notch and intriguing! It's a book not to be missed. Though it's long with multiple storylines that could easily confuse any reader, Mr Gruber has done a masterful job in keeping everything clear and easy to follow. The story is set in present day Miami but the author takes us back a few centuries to when a very special sect of Nuns was established. We're also shown Africa, Rome, and an area in Virginia where a group of anti-government types live. All of these details come together to help us find out who murdered the businessman and why. The book delves heavily into Christianity, Santeria, discussions of good versus evil, Satan versus God, and possession. Yet VALLEY OF BONES is far from heavy-handed. There is no proselytizing or religious preaching, just a great story. Read VALLEY OF BONES, it will not disappoint you. Michael Gruber is a talented writer and I'm making a beeline to get his other books.
Reviewed by Sharon Katz, April 2005
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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