Review of The Cache of Acantilado

[Shrabastee Chakraborty]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Cache of Acantilado" by Byron Frimp and Maggio Slooter.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Charlemagne Caine, who goes by the nickname Otter, is a self-proclaimed slacker and a detective with a curious mind. At his mother’s insistence, he agrees to attend the memorial service of his long-estranged uncle at Casa Encantada on the Pacific coast. The insurmountable cliffs, the treacherous ocean, and the black lagoon are rife with the legends of the Chupacabra, La Llorona, and a ghost ship. However, instead of an idyllic vacation with his girlfriend, Otter soon finds himself amid mystery and mayhem. Smugglers, assassins, and FBI agents converge at the resort, all intent on retrieving a famous painting. Can Otter use his remarkable skills to solve the mystery that baffled everyone for decades? The Cache of Acantilado by Byron Frimp and Maggio Slooter will reveal the answers.

The title was a crafty imitation of Edgar Allan Poe’s short story, The Cask of Amontillado. Similar to the famous work, the central theme here involved revenge. However, Frimp and Slooter added several layers to the actual premise, designing an intricate storyline with numerous intersecting subplots. The authors introduced the various characters and revealed the odd coincidences by which they came to live in the same resort. Soon, the plots began to interconnect, and the structure of an elaborate scheme gradually emerged.

Since this was a sleuth story, there were plenty of daring and ill-fated adventures. Despite a flippant attitude, Otter possessed enough clarity to solve the riddles and piece together the puzzles. The characters participated in a unique, thrilling treasure hunt that gradually revealed a nefarious plan and the long-held secrets of the resort, the lagoon, and the lighthouse. Each time I felt that the search was over, the mystery resolved, there would be yet another twist, with the prize becoming more distant than ever.

I loved the motley cast with their quirks and oddities. It included a hitman prone to beat his victims to a pulp at the slightest provocation, a mafia don’s daughter conversing in sexual innuendos, and a woman with an ability to hide in plain sight. A hapless actress desperately tried to find her big break in B-grade horror movies while a con artist controlled his creditors from beyond the grave. The gazillion spooky stories featuring the Chupacabra and La Llorona, strange sightings, and inexplicable organ music added an otherworldly charm to the novel.

The authors used abundant humor, both subtle and not-so-subtle. Each chapter had an ingenious heading that included a clever pun on some famous proverb. Double entendres and groan-inducing dad jokes peppered the narrative, making the read hilarious. The entire novel turned out to be a comedy of errors that strangely complemented the chilling adventures.

However, my reading experience was not without complaints. The presence of many editing errors demanded a thorough round of proofreading. Also, in some places, I became weary of the side plots and wished that the authors would pursue the main storyline. Considering these, I rate the book 3 out of 4 stars. I would recommend it to anyone looking for sleuth stories, cozy mysteries, or simply some laughter. This book required a mature audience because of the abundant sexual situations and violent incidents.

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The Cache of Acantilado
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[Wildflowertheorist]

A comedy of errors and a humorous and mysterious adventure tale. I'd sure love to read this book. Your review has rich vocabulary and that's very nice. Great review!

[Peace10]

I know for sure that I’ll like this novel. I hope Otter doesn’t get himself killed with his excessive curiosity.