3 out of 4 stars
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Montego Bay, Jamaica hosts the crypt of the notorious plantation owner, Annie Palmer. Dubbed the “White Witch,” legend has it Annie used her knowledge of voodoo to terrorize slaves during her life, and even long after her death it is believed she still haunts the grounds, using her wicked powers to harm the locals.
In present day, we meet Will Taylor, head of security for an American mining corporation that is in the process of constructing a bauxite mine in Jamaica. The Maroons are the indigenous people trying to stop the mine, asserting their ownership of the land, as was granted to them hundreds of years previously as part of a British treaty. As Will and his coworkers are met with much resistance, strange and violent things start happening. Is this somehow the work of Annie Palmer from her grave? Or is it the locals trying to take matters into their own hands to stop the mining? When Will discovers the company he represents has secrets of their own, he is faced with a moral dilemma, and choosing the wrong side could cost him his life.
Author Larry D. Thompson has interwoven a number of social, political, and historical threads into his book, White Witch. I was especially impressed with the research he invested into learning the history of the Maroon people, as well as the legend of Annie Palmer. Thompson’s knowledge of legal proceedings is apparent, adding an authentic glimpse into the courtroom action that presents itself as an integral part of the narrative. The book moves along at a nice pace, tossing in surprise elements at unanticipated times. I like that the author plays on the local hype of the White Witch legend, and I feel their reactions toward voodoo is completely realistic; their fear and aversion to speaking about the White Witch is a credible angle that enhanced the mystery and intrigue of the story.
A factor I took issue with almost immediately was the speech mannerisms of the characters. There was very little setting them apart from each other, and most spoke with similar verbiage and tone as the narrator. While it wasn’t enough to detract from the narrative, it created a general blandness. The Jamaican characters had almost no dimension to their speech; the only indication of their nationality was the occasional “mon” in their statements. Unfortunately, I felt the dialogue was too often used as an unimaginative means for “info dumping.” Given these two major detractors, I had difficulty fully submerging myself into the story.
I noticed only a handful of errors. As they were infrequent and relatively minor, I cannot be sure if the book has undergone professional editing. With the moderate usage of mature language, brief violence, and one glossed-over sex scene, this book hovers somewhere close to PG-13. I have rated this book 3 out of 4 stars due to its unrealistic speech/dialogues, and feel it would be a great read for someone interested in historical fiction that promotes cultural awareness.
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White Witch
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