Political subterfuge, an exotic locale, and potential romance are popular potent ingredients for action thrillers, but it’s a tricky cocktail to concoct. The Laughing Falcon, William Deverell’s 11th novel, begins with Maggie Schneider, a harmless romance writer from Saskatoon, off on a tropical vacation in search of inspiration and, perhaps, a little romance. Barely having a chance to warm up, Maggie’s ripped off by a smooth-talking Lothario, then gets dragged into a terrorist kidnapping along with the sassy wife of an up-and-coming, trigger-happy, potential American presidential candidate. Ever the optimist, Maggie looks upon her capture as a unique adventure – inspiration for a gripping novel – as she sets her agenda to be the best little hostage ever.
Enter Jacques (Slack) Cardinal, former CIA screw-up, kayak tour guide, eco warrior, and a romantic poet to boot. Cardinal,along with a host of other typical characters – corrupt politicians, CIA agents, local authorities, tripped-up Nam vets, supposedly homegrown freedom fighters – stage a botched rescue plan that has everyone traipsing through a landscape as overgrown and sprawling as the narrative itself.
Deverell, who has spent chunks of the past 20 years in Costa Rica, certainly knows the geographical terrain of his story, but he sabotages it with verbosity. He is clearly enjoying himself with his multiple characters and their personal tics – Cardinal’s gruffness, Maggie’s naiveté – but his enthusiam tends to get in the way of the unfolding narrative. The story also abounds with red herrings and the odd logistical blunder. A level of believability is essential in any story – particularly this genre – but too many questions, both niggling and obvious, leave the reader challenged to continue.