Photo: Bradford Dunlop
Reading at The Niagara Literary Arts Festival, At the Fine Grind Café, June 2014
Contest on Goodreads! 1263 entries!
Poets, musicians, authors and more! We had a great evening!
Really Compelling, Perfect Example of 'Setting as Character'
So I was taking a coffee break and I picked up The Witchdoctor's Bones, which was next on my tbr list, and decided to read for 10 minutes to get a taste of it. When I raised my head, I was on page 116! Holy smokes, that was a long coffee break :) Great fun, Lisa! Really compelling - I can feel the dust of Africa, and am thoroughly enjoying it.
UPON COMPLETION: NEVER have I read a book with such a wonderful sense of place! I can *smell* Africa...taste it. Feel like I've been there. As an example of "setting as character", it's perfect.Your love for Africa - with all its faults - is clear and beautiful. I was rooting for Kate all the way through.
MC — acclaimed author, whose current position in the Canadian Publishing industry prohibits her from posting reviews
A Truly Wonderful Accomplishment, Goes for the Jugular
I have enjoyed all of Lisa de Nikolits' books. Each book gets better and better........BUT nothing prepared me for this latest adventure!!! Amazing, captivating from the start of this crazy adventure!!!! The multiple characters are all sooo different and diverse, I loved learning more and more about their past and how it affected this story!!!l Lisa takes us through a remarkable journey of old legends of Africa , beautiful descriptions of every campsite they visited, never boring, real accounts of every destination on our "vacation "like noooo other!!!!' Throw in some really shocking twists that go right for the jugular and this book is a first class bestseller!!! Congrats, can't wait for more!!!!! — Lynn Bunker
Great Opening Chapters
I have started reading The Witchdoctor's Bones! Wow -- Great opening chapters. Very well written. — Donna Carrick, author and publisher
Finished The Witchdoctor's Bones last night.
Loved it. Kind of like Agatha Christie meets Marlin Perkins and again a cast of characters most of whom you wouldn't want living next to you. Thanks for another great read. — Syd Bradley
A Story Dissecting Darkness Alongside An Exploration of Liberation and Personal Freedom
What an extraordinary accomplishment this marvellous book is. I read it straight through. Lisa de Nikolits' stories are all so unique, yet they form a very distinct body of work ... of huge achievement and integrity.
Macabre and fascinating complexities ... interspersed with yummy meals ... the cheesy pasta and ice cream topped with chocolate ... and your tale encompasses nourishment of body and soul ... what awesome, scenic imagery ... the sun being likened to a kiln ... and dried, broken ground becoming puzzle pieces ... an analogy also, to the pieces of story being a puzzle, slowly being pieced together ... deep-delver of psyches ... obsessions, rhythms and rhymes ... investigating and exploring the deranged ... the questionable ... the suspicious ... debating conscious and unconscious interactions ... dissecting intentions ... some dubious some romantic.
Encapsulated in a bus journey adventure from Cape Town to Namibia ... yet exceeding these geographical African boundaries in terms of universal human responses and concepts, as these travellers reveal and conceal themselves ... a shifting balance of control and power ... instincts within communications ... a story functioning on many profound levels ... examining, perplexing and bewildering reactions ... scorn ... neediness ... enigma and ingenuity entwined ... myths and magic ... race and culture ... ritual and gender ... murder ... bonding ... a story dissecting darkness alongside an exploration of liberation and personal freedom ... — Shirley McDaniel, Artist
A Great Psychological Thriller/Mystery
This is a very pleasurable read not in the least because of the charm of the African background and setting of the story.
There is a lot of unbelievable twisted mayhem taking place in just under two weeks, with an interesting if unlikely gathering of odd people leading to a number of strange and fatal events happening. I love the fact that each character is fascinating, the personal background is revealed in the ongoing story line, as well as the character developments throughout the story.
It’s not so much the suspense, despite the twists and turns the story takes, but the quality of storytelling and the author’s ability to draw the reader in that made it such a great read. It’s a great psychological thriller/mystery with African folklore thrown in to top it of. Grab it for a Summer read, you won’t regret it :-) — Hotchpotch: book blogger and reviewer
Murder, Mysteries and Mayhem!
I really enjoyed this book! This story was a great mix of – touring South Africa, murder mysteries and mayhem, and a total zany cast of characters. This book kept me guessing all the way through. Every time I thought I had it all figured out, I was wrong. I was right on a few things, but they were only the things the author wanted you to know.
This book starts out really well and just keeps going all the way to the great ending. There is so much happening in here you don't have a moment to get bored. I thought the writing was excellent. I would definitely like to read another by this great author.
The character development was very good. There were a LOT of characters but I had no trouble keeping them all straight because the author did such a fantastic job. One thing I really liked was that you got to go into the head of a madman and see what he was planning all along. This part kind of reminded me of the movie "Mr. Brooks" with Kevin Costner.
Secrets, secrets, everyone has secrets! There are so many little mysteries to figure out. And so many little romances (and almost romances).
wall-to-wall-books.blogspot.ca
Wonderful tour with the book blog reviewers — they loved The Witchdoctor's Bones!
2014 Top Ten
The Witchdoctor’s Bones is on my 2014 Top Ten list. – funnygirlmelodie.blogspot.ca
Four Out of Five Stars!
The author does a wonderful job of bringing out each individual’s personalities from near-normal to very bizarre. There is no one protagonist, but Canadian-born Kate Fraser is a predominant character. She cuts loose from her cheating boyfriend and plans this trip hoping to dismiss him from her mind and to find a little adventure. She gets more than she could ever imagine. The land is primitive and wild, but that is nothing compared to the intentions and motives of some members of the group … I rated this 4 out of 5 stars!” – Fiction Zeal
This Is The Way Mysteries Used to Be Made
Take sixteen strangers and put them on a tour bus and there is bound to be trouble when there is murder involved. Ms. De Nikolits has given us a fairly complex story that starts out interestingly and then whips along at a brisk pace. There is a lot going on as we study the dynamic of the group over the course of the twelve-day journey. The Witchdoctor’s Bones is very exciting and quite a page-turner – this is the way mysteries used to be made. . – Vic’s Media Room
Well-told and Well-developed, This is a Book for Mystery Lovers
I learned about the Bushmen tribe, about some African folk beliefs and mythologies. I found out more about local witchcraft and the local beliefs in the power of the supernatural. I saw vicariously a part of South Africa and some of the tourist sights and places to see wild animals in Namibia, and also learned about the dangers of the land - poisonous plants being one of them. I liked that the novel included a map of the places on the tour.
This is a tense, interesting story of a group of people stuck together in an unusual situation, on an African tour in this case, some of them having pretty murderous intentions. A few of the characters and situations are truly frightening, but then all ends well (as well as can be expected in the situation) in the end. Well told and developed, this is a book for mystery lovers, adventure lovers, and those curious about Africa. – bookdilettanteblogspot
Loved The Storyline, Loved The Characters, Four Out of Five Stars!
This is a book full of mystery and suspense that keeps you hooked until you get to the very last page. It keeps you guessing until the very end. I loved the storyline and I love the cast of characters. Lisa de Nikolits is a wonderful author and I intend to get all of her books. I give this book a 4/5.
- 3partnersinshopping.blogspot.ca
Five Out of Five Stars!
This was a great mystery, and I did not expect the ending. The book takes place in Africa, where witchdoctors originated. The glossary really helped, especially since there were language barriers. There is so much to this book, trafficking human body parts, hired killers, and all in a land very different then the ones I am used to reading about. This book has a little bit of everything, for everyone. I am giving this book a 5/5. – dealsharingaunt.blogspot.ca
Inside The Head of a Madman
This story was a great mix of - touring South Africa, murder mysteries and mayhem, and a total zany cast of characters. I have to be honest, this book kept me guessing all the way through. Every time I thought I had it all figured out, I was wrong. Well I was right on a few things, but they were only the things the author wanted you to know.
This book starts out well and just keeps going all the way to the great ending. There is so much happening in here you don't have a moment to get bored. I thought the writing was excellent. I would definitely like to read another by this great author.
The character development was very good. There were a lot of characters but I had no trouble keeping them all straight because the author did such a fantastic job. One thing I really liked was that you got to go into the head of a madman and see what he was planning all along. This part kind of reminded me of the movie "Mr. Brooks" with Kevin Costner. Secrets, secrets, everyone has secrets! There are so many little mysteries to figure out. And so many little romances (and almost romances).
All-in-all - A very good mystery, very well planned out. There are also a lot of great little facts about Africa, so if you are looking for a great easy-reading book about Africa that is also fun - this is a great choice! – wall-to-wall-books.blogspot.ca
The Quality of Storytelling Makes This Such a Great Read
This is a very pleasurable read not in the least because of the charm of the African background and setting of the story.
There is a lot of twisted mayhem taking place in just under two weeks, with an interesting gathering of odd people leading to a number of strange and fatal events happening. I love the fact that each character is fascinating, the personal background is revealed in the ongoing story line, as well as the character developments throughout the story.
It’s not so much the suspense, despite the twists and turns the story takes, but the quality of storytelling and the author’s ability to draw the reader in that made it such a great read. It’s a great psychological thriller/mystery with African folklore thrown in to top it of. Grab it for a Summer read, you won’t regret it – hotchpotching.wordpress.com
A Delightful Treat for Readers!
Take one chilling bus-load of characters, a panoramic view of Africa, murder and romance, all served up with a quirky literary style, and what do you get? A delightful treat for readers, that's what!
De Nikolits brings home the adventure in this Modern-day mystery. Without revealing the plot, let me say there is something in The Witchdoctor's Bones to please everyone.
I could not put it down -- highly recommended summer reading! – Donna Carrick – Mesdames of Mayhem
Rocking and Reading in Edmonton! August 19th, 20th 2014
What A Treat!
I was very lucky that Linda shared this book with me! I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was lovely to read a book that was so vivid and bought back such clear memories of the African landscape and culture. I could picture myself on the bus with the group, bouncing along the rugged roads with the windows open and the fresh, crisp air blowing on my face. I remembered my trips through the Kruger Park and the smells and sounds of the animals. What a treat!
I also loved reading all the South African slang and learning more about the Bushmen culture and African traditions. The story was gripping and I enjoyed learning more about each character as the story progressed.
I really enjoyed the wonderful story and the memories of home.
– Suzanne Isaacs
Note: The Hungry Mirror, West of Wawa, The Witchdoctor's Bones, A Glittering Chaos, Between The Cracks She Fell, The Nearly Girl, Single Girls Go Mad Sooner and Cannibals of the Afterlife are all works of fiction by Lisa de Nikolits. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All work is original and the author holds copyright.
Top left: with Carrianne Leung, nominated for Book Award of Toronto, 2014, with Vicki Delaney and Nate Hendley of the Crime Writers of Canada. My doll from African. With Terri Favro, author of The Proxy Bride. Below, with Ursual Pflug, author of Motion Sickness, with Luciana Ricciutelli, Publisher of Inanna. With Jacqueline Valencia.
Above: Inanna Publicist, Renée Knapp, right: with Carole Giangrande, author of Midsummer, far right, with Evan Munday
2nd row, Robin Richardson, bottom row: Kari Maaren, Kat Kruger, Francine Lewis.
Below: Rob Brunet, author of Stinking Rich, with my African doll.
This tale of a varied group of people on a tour through South Africa and Namibia contains entertaining characters and a strong storyline. I enjoyed it very much. – Sharon S. McKay, author of Stony Point
Bouchercon 2014! It was everything I had hoped it would be - and more!
Reading at Gatsby Books, Long Beach - what a fun evening!
Meanwhile, back in Toronto...
Top: panel moderated by Twist Phelan. Gift basket for charity auction. Books in the book room.
Left: speed dating - there were 600 authors and1200 fans/readers! I got to meet a lot of wonderful people!
Top pic: Rob Pierce, Anonymous-9, Mike Ronson. Bottom: with Rob Brunet. Far right: Ruby the cat.
Find Daniela at: http://bit.ly/1y07nrD
Email address: [email protected]
The Witchdoctor's Bones
Published in Fall 2014
