The Dead Don't Dance by John Enright

What Apelu liked about walking down the road through To'aga was that nothing much ever changed. One end of the road looked pretty much like the other end, and both ends were like the middle, if you didn't pay particular attention and did not know the names and stories of each separate piece of land along the way.


Title: The Dead Don't Dance
Author: John Enright
ISBN:  978-1612185026
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer/2014
Pages: 252

Detective Apelu Soifua has come to To'aga to mourn the loss of his 11-year old daughter. He does nothing but drink and only a handful of people visit him which include, a shamanistic recluse and two marine biologists. 

He thinks it is so peaceful and brings his 16 year old son to be with him. He wishes for  his teenage son to learn about the roots of their heritage. Just then some surveyors arrive to spoil the landscape by building a hotel in the mystical place. His land to is one of the places landmarked for the hotel. Most of the natives are against the development and there are clashes. And a murder occurs. His son is found missing. He thinks the worst. 

In the world of To'aga, tradition co-exists with tribal followings. The world of the past present comes together. And there seem to be more ghosts than people. Enright, with his lyrical writing, has made the Samoan landscape and wildlife alive for us. Some of the characters are very interesting as is Apelu. 
It might seem slow but after a while I couldn't get enough of it. I got into the spirit of the place. This is one the best novels I have read so far. I am going to check out more of John Enright's Jungle Beat mysteries