Delany’s first rapid reads novel featuring RCMP sergeant Ray Robertson takes place as he is nearing the end of a one-year tour in South Sudan with the UN. He has been working as a mentor and trainer in a program designed to help the country develop a modern police force. The story focuses on Robertson’s efforts to identify and arrest a serial murderer who is preying on prostitutes.

Many of the local police officers are former members of the South Sudan People’s Liberation Army. Hardened by their years of struggle and cynical about Robertson’s efforts to encourage a stronger sense of purpose, they display a passive indifference to the struggling masses they are supposed to serve. Robertson is handicapped by a complete lack of the modern technology and the absence of procedural techniques that underlie effective police practice, His UN colleagues all seem to be equally passive, and they view Robertson as somewhat of a naïve trouble-maker.

Delany’s depiction of the poverty-stricken nation and the hopeless situation of its people is compelling. Unfortunately, that makes for rather grim reading. Robertson’s effort to identify the serial killer is mildly interesting, but disappointment lies ahead as Delany opt for a cynical ending. I didn’t enjoy this book very much. ( )

Although I'm not the target for these Rapid Read books I enjoy them just the same.

In this story RCMP officer Ray Robertson is serving with the United Nations in South Sudan helping the new country learn how to police effectively. He is close to the end of his one year engagement and he is really looking forward to leaving this chaotic, dusty place. Then he and his partner are called in to the homicide of a young woman. The place and manner of death are the same as three other homicides. There is a serial killer loose in Juba.

It is amazing how a good writer can convey a sense of place in very few words. I felt like I had been plopped down in the centre of Juba. Well done! ( )

This is the 2nd in a series of "Rapid Read" books, which are apparently geared toward an ESL or not-typically-a-reader audience. Essentially it is a longer short story. It works well in that capacity since there is a lot of quick action in an interesting setting.

The mystery is very straight forward without much in the way of twists or turns. The main character, a Canadian police officer, is in Juba, South Sudan to train the police force in the newly independent nation. He is relatively well developed given the length of the story but none of the other characters are.

As long as the reader's expectations are for a snapshot of a couple of high-energy days in the life of a foreign national learning to live in another culture, this novelette should lead to an enjoyable hour of reading. ( )

Ray is a RCMP officer sent to South Sudan by the UN to train local police. While on his second to last week of a year-long stay, Ray stumble upon what looks like a serial killer.

This is the second book written by Vicki Delany for the Rapid Reads series. Having read both, I feel that with this one she has found the right rhythm and pace for that kind of books, since even though the book is short and easy to read, it packs a lot of action and information. All along I felt what it was like to be there, to breath the dust, feel the heat, and feel ill-prepared and ill-equipped to deal with the investigation. The racism, distrust, and covert violence of the residents and US personnel are presented in a way that the reader feel them, without getting in the way of the story, only adding to it.

I warmly recommend this book and think this is one of of the best, if not the best, book of that series I have read. ( )

It is intended to be a quick read - and it is. The story is not very detailed (can't be because of the length), and there are no extraneous tangents... all the actions of the character(s) are used to move the story forward.

If you like detailed heavy books, don't get this. If you are looking for a quick and easy read on the plane, or at the doctor's office, this will do it for you. Just enough story/plot to keep you interested, but not enough that you get bogged down, or have to look back to see if you missed something.

I liked the "mystery", and even though we just have enough time to meet the main character, he is believable. I think it is entirely feasible to have a series of these short novels based on this one character, and his actions. ( )