Once again, we are presented with a masterpiece (without exaggeration!) by the Swedish author Jakob Wegelius — "The Murderer's Ape."
In terms of the scale of events, geographical scope, and duration in time, this is a truly classic novel.
Everything begins in Portugal in the first half of the 20th century. Captain Chief and his faithful assistant, the gorilla mechanic Sally Jones, get tangled up in a shady affair and bitterly regret it when the Chief is imprisoned on false charges, leaving the gorilla alone in the world. Sally Jones is no ordinary pet monkey — she is a highly developed being who simply cannot speak, yet possesses intelligence and skills that surpass those of many humans. But without human protection, an animal cannot survive in Lisbon, especially when being hunted, for Sally Jones has seen too much and will surely seek justice to save her friend. Fortunately, she meets good people along the way — a singer and a musical instrument maker — who take her under their wing and help in the effort to free the Chief from prison.
From the narrow streets of Lisbon, we are transported to a ship where Sally Jones signs on to reach India, for that is where the trail of the person who can save everyone leads. After a long voyage, we arrive with the gorilla at the luxurious palace of a Maharaja. The Maharaja quickly realizes that she is no mere monkey; he makes Sally Jones his confidante and becomes so attached to her that he practically smothers her with affection. The Maharaja is eccentric, with a wide range of interests—ranging from music and airplanes to chess and women—and now Sally Jones must take part in all his mad capers.
The events unfold against exotic, atmospheric backdrops, with the world spreading out before the reader like a colorful carpet: you can almost hear the sounds of Fado from Lisbon taverns, walk through the marble halls of an Eastern palace, and feel the salt spray while standing on the deck of a steamer crossing the ocean. The book is full of diverse details; the author demonstrates knowledge of music, the mechanics of musical instruments, aviation, and seafaring—everything just like in classic novels. And believe me, reading about a gorilla overhauling an engine or polishing the buttons of a harmonica is incredibly interesting!
The book ends well, though a happy ending is by no means a foregone conclusion; the probability of a bad outcome seems more than real right up until the final pages, so — honestly! — you will read it in a state of emotional tension, biting your lips and clutching your heart.
"The Murderer's Ape" is a book for readers aged 10 and up with no upper limit; we highly, highly recommend it. It is magnificent.
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