"The shelf of books by journalists who venture to a remote or hostile place and try to solve a crime or disappearance has swelled since the success of Jon Krakauer’s best sellers. Mr. MacKinnon’s journey fits squarely within the genre. But the island’s unusual history, with Arab immigrants adding an intriguing spice to the usual grim legacy of Indian eradication, slavery and military coups, gives his tale a distinct flavor. . . Riding into destitute villages in aging buses or on the backs of motorbikes, the author never pretends to be more than a respectful outsider, dependent for his imperfect knowledge on the generosity of friends and strangers. . . .[
Dead Man in Paradise is] a smart and unpretentious nonfiction thriller about the still largely unknown Dominican Republic."
-The New York Times"An adventure growing out of a mystery, a glorious trip for armchair travelers and students of Caribbean politics alike."
-Shelf-Awareness.com
"Beguiling . . . vividly written and exquisitely structured . . . MacKinnon has produced a worldly-wise meditation on truth and reconciliation, or the lack of it, which reaches inside the troubled soul of this Caribbean island."
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Sunday Times "Gripping, richly layered and in its ceaseless twists and turns a very apt metaphor for the Dominican Republic itself."
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Sunday Telegraph "A superb work of reportage."
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The Independent "Impressive… The book contains a remarkable layering of voices, points of view and pure intrigue: it's equal parts Ian Rankin, Jan Morris and Joan Didion. …
Dead Man in Paradise is a virtuoso performance."
-CBC.ca"Equal parts mystery, political thriller and travelogue,
Dead Man in Paradise is a gripping effort guaranteed to keep even the most jaded reader enthralled."
-Monday Magazine
"J.B. MacKinnon has written an astonishing book about faith, fear and revolution. In so doing, he has worked a miracle of his own: he has brought the dead back to life in the form of a bona fide page-turner. MacKinnon’s exhaustive and courageous search for his uncle's killers immerses us in the beauty, terror and soul of a fascinating and volatile island nation - not only the Dominican Republic then, but also now."
-John Vaillant, author of
The Golden Spruce
"[
Dead Man in Paradise is] a bit like a John le Carré spy thriller and a bit like a Raymond Chandler detective novel, but it's also a stirring memoir, and a testament to the enduring virtues of literary journalism, besides."
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The Georgia Straight
"J.B. MacKinnon has transcended three genres in this remarkable book. Poignant, thrilling and very well written indeed, it is a wholly unique achievement and instantly places this young writer among the best talents in the country. I was deeply impressed."
-Paul William Roberts, author of
A War Against Truth: Behind the Lines in the Invasion of Iraq"It's rare that a work of historical non-fiction grabs a reader from page one, but
Dead Man in Paradise does exactly that, holding the reader captive... [It] works as travelogue, thriller, and much-need antidote to the ways in which history is often buried and forgotten."
-
Quill & Quire (
starred review)
