Kiss of the Bees
by J.A. Jance
Fiction, Avon Books
454 pp, $27.50
Whether escaping, dreaming or adventuring, the reader is alive and well in the world of books – of telescoping images, colors, and shapes, never limited to the narrow confines of day-to-day living.
A vivid example of this is "Kiss of the Bees" by J.A. Jance. Not previously having explored the language and mores of Native Americans, I had difficulty relating to the mysticism that surrounds their beliefs. However, I found this tale of murder, love and violent hatred fascinating. It bears out the theory that the more terrible the villain, the more spellbinding the story. (So does the current movie "Hannibal," with the cannibalism of its lead character.)
Arizona is the setting for Jance's novel. The beautiful mountains of the American Southwest with their magnificent caves full of stalactites, ancient artifacts and mysterious bones provide a background that keeps the excitement level high and rising.
Diana Ladd Walker's family is far from simple. Multiple marriages produce birth children and stepchildren plus adopted children which, when sorted out, make for very interesting relationships. Diana and her husband, Brandon, have two children (one adopted) together, and he has two sons from a former marriage.
The monster of a man whose evil permeates the first part of the saga casts a spell over all even as he dies in prison. He passes his seething hatred of Diana, who 20 years earlier had blinded him in a fight for her life, on to a disciple who proceeds to terrorize the family and kidnap the couple's 16-year-old daughter. Events unfold according to his plan, with an outlook of blood and terror.
The book's title comes from the belief within the Papago tribal community that the teenager has been "kissed by the bees" and thus destined, according to Tohono O'othham lore, to become a woman of great spiritual power.
The background of the Indian Nation is woven throughout the book, and the Papago language is enchanting. Each chapter begins with stories, passed down over centuries, of the people who lived in the American West before even the Spaniards arrived in the 16th century. All of the species of birds, animals and insects take on personalities, planning how to survive in a savage land.
These Native American legends have much in common with the stories many of our grandmothers told, giving human qualities to the animals. Some are humorous; others relate to the sun and moon, and to such things as how the jackrabbit got such long hind legs. They add a wonderful dimension to the story.
Jance has written a number of books focusing on the culture and heritage of Arizona's indigenous peoples. The legends of this area are spellbinding – strange, yet believable, inviting one to explore them further. It's an invitation that's easy to accept.
"Kiss of the Bees" is available at Dockside Bookshop in Havensight Mall. To check out other Dockside favorites, click here.
