This novel by James
Marlon, published in 2014, is inspired by the 1976 attempted assassination
of Bob Marley during the political turmoil of Jamaica. A Brief History of Seven Killings
delves deep into that dangerous and unstable time in Jamaica’s history and
beyond. James deftly chronicles the lives of a host of unforgettable characters
– gunmen, drug dealers, one-night stands, CIA agents, even ghosts – over the
course of thirty years as they roam the streets of 1970s Kingston, dominate the
crack houses of 1980s New York, and ultimately reemerge into the radically
altered Jamaica of the 1990s. Along the way, they learn that evil does indeed
cast long shadows, that justice and
retribution are inextricably linked, and that no one can truly escape his fate.
Gripping and inventive, shocking and irresistible, A
Brief History of Seven Killings is a mesmerizing modern classic of
power, mystery, and insight.
Copies of the book are available
at Prosser. Join in the discussion and
enjoy a taste of the Caribbean in literature along with some Caribbean tasty
treats, courtesy of the West Indian Foundation, Inc.