Murder at National Geographic

The year is 1964, and Xander Riley is an adventurer traveling through Quito, Ecuador, searching for history. He is searching for rare artifacts of the Jivaro Tribe. However, he is unafraid to take a shortcut to acquire exotic treasures. Riley is a freelance writer for National Geographic, and his sojourns often yield eye-catching articles for the renowned periodical. Upon his return, Riley gives a colorful lecture equipped with anecdotes of bombastic adventures and theatrics, which engage the audience but aggravate his editors and bosses. Riley has charisma with the women but may need a heroic dose to charm his editor, Joan Smollett.

Joan Smollett is known for her editorial and fact-checking acumen. She is not known for her tact. She can cut down an employee with a withering critique. When examining Xander Riley’s recent piece on the Jivaro Tribe of Ecuador, she believes Riley fabricated parts of the story and calls him on it. Riley vehemently denies it. The matter is far from closed.

Detective Archimedes Bib is a homicide detective whose latest case involves a puzzling murder at the National Geographic Society. The victim was found in her office and involved in a peculiar matter of death. Bib and his partner begin their investigation by questioning the victim’s husband and co-workers. They learn that the victim was respected yet disliked in equal measure. Bib begins to cogitate a list of suspects that includes co-workers, former classmates, and the deceased’s husband. Bib is an intelligent and dedicated sleuth, but this case may prove problematic.

“Murder at National Geographic” starts as a bewitching mystery and its appeal never dims as the whodunit reaches its fantastic denouement. Xander Riley is a knave who believes he has everyone fooled, yet hubris ultimately trips him up. The heart and soul of the story is Archimedes Bib. Bib’s profession revolves around obtaining justice no matter who the victim is or how they were perceived. Whereas Xander excelled at meaningless flings, Bib’s life revolved around his late wife. The men are truly a study in contrasts. Bib’s investigation takes the occasional u-turn, but his intellect and insight propel him forward. Motives of greed, ambition, and revenge will be considered along the way to nabbing his suspect. Author Paul Martin furnishes an appreciation for writing and history and combines it with the shortcomings of men and women in rendering this fine novel.