Set in the exotic African local of the port of
Djibouti, "Djibouti" by Elmore Leonard takes on the very
real problem of pirates hijacking merchant ships in this
fast paced story that will thrill fans of contemporary
action.
Award-winning documentary filmmaker Dara Barr heads off to
Djibouti on the Horn of Africa to film her next project --
documenting Somali pirates who are hijacking ships and
holding them for ransom.
Dara is accompanied by her assistant, Xavier LeBo, a six-
foot-six African-American septuagenarian and former
seafarer, who is ready and willing to defend Dara when she
gets in a little too deep for his liking. They met a cast
of characters including a pirate chief who longs to retire
to Paris, a suave Saudi diplomat who is also a gun-runner,
a Texas billionaire sailing around the world with a world-
weary model who has hopes of marrying him (if she can keep
from throwing up!), and an American al-Qaeda recruit who
wants to blow up something, anything, as long as it's big.
As Dara and Xavier work to get the footage they need, they
also have to work equally hard to keep from being the next
pirate victim. But when the action is hot and the champagne
is flowing freely, the adrenaline rush is well worth the
bit of danger now and then.
Leonard populates his books with a huge but lively cast and
keeps the dialogue moving along nicely. The only spot that
bogged down for me was when Dara and Xavier are going over
the footage they shot in great detail. Other than
that "Djibouti" was a great introduction (for me) to this
master of storytelling. Leonard's faithful fans are sure to
enjoy the book as well.
Elmore Leonard, New York Times bestselling author and
"the hippest, funniest national treasure in sight"
(Washington Post), brings his trademark wit and inimitable
style to this twisting, gripping—and sometimes playful—tale
of modern-day piracy
Dara Barr, documentary filmmaker, is at the top of her game.
She's covered the rape of Bosnian women, neo-Nazi white
supremacists, and post-Katrina New Orleans, and has won
awards for all three. Now, looking for a bigger challenge,
Dara and her right-hand-man, Xavier LeBo, a six-foot-six,
seventy-two-year-old African American seafarer, head to
Djibouti, on the Horn of Africa, to film modern-day pirates
hijacking merchant ships.
They learn soon enough that almost no one in the Middle East
is who he seems to be. The most successful pirate, driving
his Mercedes around Djibouti, appears to be a good guy, but
his pal, a cultured Saudi diplomat, has dubious connections.
Billy Wynn, a Texas billionaire, plays mysterious roles as
the mood strikes him. He's promised his girlfriend, Helene,
a nifty fashion model, that he'll marry her if she doesn't
become seasick or bored while circling the world on his
yacht. And there's Jama Raisuli, a black al Qaeda terrorist
from Miami, who's vowed to blow up something big.
What Dara and Xavier have to decide, besides the best way to
stay alive: Should they shoot the action as a documentary or
turn it into a Hollywood feature film?
© 2003-2024 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy