Official Review: Kiss of the Jaguar by Issia Jordan
Posted: 17 Dec 2015, 14:31
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Kiss of the Jaguar" by Issia Jordan.]
4 out of 4 stars
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Kiss of the Jaguar by Issia Jordan is an utterly stunning book. Set in a corruption-ridden Colombia of the relatively recent past, it tells a story of family, politics, love, betrayal, and loss. Normally, any book I see described like that would make me think that it’s trying to take on too much, but I can assure you that this novel manages to capture every theme perfectly. I never once felt that the story was moving too slowly, and I found myself captivated by the imperfect (and utterly human) characters. I would give this book 4 out of 4 stars, and would rate it even higher if I could.
The book opens with Rafa Caetano’s kidnapping, and Jordan navigates us seamlessly into his life. As he tries to understand who has just captured him – and for what purpose – he thinks back to the life he has left behind, including the dairy farm where he works, his dog Zac, and his distant mother Claudia. Just as Rafa comes to the conclusion that he has been kidnapped by terrorists, the viewpoint switches to his father Dario, in a meeting with members of the MNCO, a group which could be called either activists or potential left-wing terrorists, depending on who is speaking about them. Dario is attempting to work with them to bring about reforms to help the rural population of Colombia, and just as they reach an agreement, he finds a bugging device on his desk.
Nearly every chapter has an ending as powerful as these, and nearly every chapter has some new revelation about the central characters. I was blown away by their depth and humanity, and by just how distinct and diverse the characters were. Rafa, of course, is the easiest character to empathize with, but I was more drawn to some of the others by the way Jordan brought them to life and managed to give them flaws without making them hateful. Dario has been having an affair, and yet he isn’t turned into the sort of stock character who sleeps with another woman behind his wife’s back. The kidnappers are given moments of humanity, but the author never lets us forget what they have done or what they could do. Claudia, however, is the most remarkable of them all. She is presented as an ice queen, but when her own tragedy is revealed, she doesn’t suddenly transform into a likeable character but remains just as she was before.
Despite my high rating and praise, I did have a few complaints about the book, the main one being with its ending. While it does end on a satisfying note on several counts, I did wish that a few of the smaller plots had been resolved more fully. I still had several questions about what had happened with Gabi, Dario’s mistress, and the kidnapping plot was left partly open-ended, leaving me wondering what the author had in mind. It could be nothing more than a sequel hook, but it could also simply be a sign that the world itself is open-ended. It was that ambiguity which kept me from bumping my rating down to three stars.
Overall, though, I loved the book, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes political thrillers, especially those set in foreign countries. Jordan gives us a strong feel for Colombia without exoticizing it, and for that I’m willing to say it’s one of the best thrillers I’ve read this year.
******
Kiss of the Jaguar
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4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Kiss of the Jaguar by Issia Jordan is an utterly stunning book. Set in a corruption-ridden Colombia of the relatively recent past, it tells a story of family, politics, love, betrayal, and loss. Normally, any book I see described like that would make me think that it’s trying to take on too much, but I can assure you that this novel manages to capture every theme perfectly. I never once felt that the story was moving too slowly, and I found myself captivated by the imperfect (and utterly human) characters. I would give this book 4 out of 4 stars, and would rate it even higher if I could.
The book opens with Rafa Caetano’s kidnapping, and Jordan navigates us seamlessly into his life. As he tries to understand who has just captured him – and for what purpose – he thinks back to the life he has left behind, including the dairy farm where he works, his dog Zac, and his distant mother Claudia. Just as Rafa comes to the conclusion that he has been kidnapped by terrorists, the viewpoint switches to his father Dario, in a meeting with members of the MNCO, a group which could be called either activists or potential left-wing terrorists, depending on who is speaking about them. Dario is attempting to work with them to bring about reforms to help the rural population of Colombia, and just as they reach an agreement, he finds a bugging device on his desk.
Nearly every chapter has an ending as powerful as these, and nearly every chapter has some new revelation about the central characters. I was blown away by their depth and humanity, and by just how distinct and diverse the characters were. Rafa, of course, is the easiest character to empathize with, but I was more drawn to some of the others by the way Jordan brought them to life and managed to give them flaws without making them hateful. Dario has been having an affair, and yet he isn’t turned into the sort of stock character who sleeps with another woman behind his wife’s back. The kidnappers are given moments of humanity, but the author never lets us forget what they have done or what they could do. Claudia, however, is the most remarkable of them all. She is presented as an ice queen, but when her own tragedy is revealed, she doesn’t suddenly transform into a likeable character but remains just as she was before.
Despite my high rating and praise, I did have a few complaints about the book, the main one being with its ending. While it does end on a satisfying note on several counts, I did wish that a few of the smaller plots had been resolved more fully. I still had several questions about what had happened with Gabi, Dario’s mistress, and the kidnapping plot was left partly open-ended, leaving me wondering what the author had in mind. It could be nothing more than a sequel hook, but it could also simply be a sign that the world itself is open-ended. It was that ambiguity which kept me from bumping my rating down to three stars.
Overall, though, I loved the book, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes political thrillers, especially those set in foreign countries. Jordan gives us a strong feel for Colombia without exoticizing it, and for that I’m willing to say it’s one of the best thrillers I’ve read this year.
******
Kiss of the Jaguar
View: on Bookshelves | on Barnes and Noble
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