The Headhunter's Daughter
by Tamar Myers
In 1945 in the jungles
of the Belgian Congo, a Bashilele tribesman on a quest to claim an
enemy head finds an infant in the gravel pits. These gravel pits
have been haunted since a white woman drowned there. The pits
claim lives. Despite the infant's white skin and blue eyes, the
tribesmen brings the baby back to the tribe. After hearing
stories of white girl living among the Bashilele, missionary Amanda
Brown takes Captain Pierre Jardin and Cripple to investigate the
strange stories. Thirteen years after she was found, the maturing
girl now named "Ugly Eyes", returns to the civilization from which she
was taken. After spending years among the Bashilele, the attempt
to rectify the kidnapping causes more problems. Not only is she
lost among her new home, but the story about her birth and kidnapping
threaten to unravel dangerous secrets.
In THE HEADHUNTER'S DAUGHTER, Tamar Myers delves deeper into unique
cast of characters first introduced in THE WITCH DOCTOR'S WIFE.
The author takes the reader deep into the ethos of pre-independence
Belgian Congo and the racial, economic, religious and social tensions
beneath the surface of daily life. The mystery keeps a reader
guessing. Even as one follows the trail of clues to solution, the
intricacy of the mystery and the discoveries along the way leaves a
sense of satisfaction once revealed. THE HEADHUNTER'S DAUGHTER is
so much more than a clever mystery. The author's insights into
the culture add both depth and humor. The author's poetic prose
is a delight to read. The cast of character's is delightful from
the refreshingly innocent but insightful Amanda Brown to the more
conniving Cripple.
THE HEADHUNTER'S DAUGHTER is best read after having read the previous
book, THE WITCH DOCTOR'S WIFE. One simply must read them in order
to get the full effect of Cripple's character, Amanda's revelation and
to understand some of the interrelationships at work. Both books
are highly recommended. An author interview accompanies the
text at the end to facilitate book club discussions. The
interviewer's constant mention and veering away from touchy subjects
(which will not be all that touchy to most adult readers) is annoying
but the author's discussion adds additional insights into the culture
and book. If you find the interviewer grating, just skim her
comments while stopping to enjoy the author's responses. The
author's parents were missionaries in the Belgian Congo. The
author certainly uses her history and knowledge to create a rich
character in missionary Amanda Brown, a woman who is not afraid to look
inside to find her way rather than depend on strict church
protocol. THE HEADHUNTER'S DAUGHTER will appeal to
those with a religious
background and also those who shy away from organized
religion. While the book would certainly make a great
choice for stimulating church bookclub discussions, the story in and of
itself is a historical mystery rather than an inspirational
novel. Tamar Myers is an excellent storyteller.
