The Signare of Gorée
by
Laura Rahme
1846. In the heat of West Africa, the French navy uncovers the corpses of two French soldiers. Inspector Maurice Leroux arrives at the island of Gorée. It seems death has come to this small colonial outpost off the Senegal coast, home to the prosperous mixed-blood women known as the signares.
The navy suspects that the Bambara people, emboldened by approaching emancipation, may be out for blood. While confronted by the locals’ strange magical beliefs, Maurice remains skeptical. Does malevolence play a part, or are these deaths accidental, brought upon by the brutality of nature in an island known as the white man’s grave?
But when murder strikes, it becomes clear that a killer is stalking Gorée.
Swept by a mystery unlike any he has known, Maurice meets Signare Angélique Aussenac. The proud métis, deserted by her wealthy Bordeaux lover, casts her spell upon Maurice.
But beyond the throbbing sounds of the tam-tams and the glittering signare soirées, danger lurks. Someone is watching. And the deaths go on.
Could the killer be one of the rich Bordeaux merchants? Or are they hiding among the powerful signares?
A historical mystery spanning France and Senegal, THE SIGNARE OF GORÉE explores a world of magic, murder, and passion.
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited
Universal Buy Link: Universal Buy Link
Laura was kind enough to be interviewed for my blog. I think it’s always fascinating to read another writer’s approach – and I was particularly interested to read about the brain’s responses to being “in the moment” in action scenes! Here is our Q&A:
As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal and why?
Because I write historical mysteries with occult themes, I would choose the crow as my animal spirit. Something about its appearance inspires danger and wisdom combined. I can relate to its observant, contemplative stillness, and its sudden bursts into intense, purposeful activity. It is an animal reputed for its memory and its ability to recall details about people, and what is a mystery without the careful assembly of details?
Does writing energize or exhaust you and how do you wind down / recharge?
Writing is both energizing and exhausting to me. First it will depend on the scene and how confident I feel with crafting a certain passage. It also varies based on what stage I have reached in the story. In the case of a mystery, keeping the integrity of the clues and withholding revelation involves discipline and focus from the writer. All this self-control can be mentally tiring. Then comes the dénouement and I become excited and the words just flow! It is a welcome release.
On another note, neuroscience will tell us that a writer’s brain responds as though it were experiencing the action it has imagined. After a fight scene, I honestly feel bruised, and long for a break! To rebalance myself, I watch movies and go for nature walks. Historical fiction films and horror are my favorites. I also find research highly relaxing.
What was your favourite part of writing this book?
What I loved most about writing The Signare of Gorée was the creative weaving of Senegalese folklore with the murder mystery. I enjoyed injecting references to local beliefs, food, and cultural practices throughout the story. I wanted the reader to glimpse Senegal and its people – whether they be Lebou, Serer or Wolof – through my detective’s eyes. The result is that Inspector Maurice Leroux is a fish-out-of-water character. He navigates through the island of Gorée to piece together a puzzle with the limited knowledge he possesses of this foreign world.
Then there is the ambiguous quality of the murders. It is possible to interpret them through animist or djinn beliefs, while remaining anchored to a non-magical way of thinking – one that offers either a psychological or scientific explanation. Allowing differing modes of thought to co-exist was pleasurable to me. I see this approach as perfectly representative of Senegal which is a country at peace with syncretism.
What was your work schedule like when writing this book?
My full-time IT job is intense, so over the last two and a half years, I set aside regular weekends for writing. During that same period, I dedicated most of my holidays – we have a lot of those in France – to write and edit. And let us just say that the endlessly cloudy Brittany weather will be a writer’s best ally!
Laura Rahme is the author of seven historical novels. Born in Dakar, Senegal where she spent her early childhood, she moved to Australia at the age of ten. A graduate of two Honors degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Psychology, she has worked over two decades as an IT professional. Her greatest joy comes from travel, researching history, and penning historical mysteries. She now lives in France with her screenwriting husband.
Author Links:
Website: https://teranga-and-sun.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurarahme.author/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurarahmegram/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/teranga/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Laura-Rahme/author/B008P7CF8K
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6449755.Laura_Rahme
