The Laughing Falcon

by William Deverell

William Deverell’s 11th novel is an adventure thriller layered with startling twists. All that Maggie Schneider, a romance writer from wintry Saskatoon, wants is a glorious holiday in the tropics and maybe a little real romance to reawaken her creative juices. What she gets instead, soon after she arrives in Costa Rica, is a nasty surprise. First she is robbed of most of her money. Then she is kidnapped and held for ransom somewhere in the steamy jungle by self-styled revolutionaries led by a charismatic man with a mysterious background. Kidnapped along with Maggie is the vivacious wife of a U.S. senator who has presidential ambitions.

While the two women learn to deal with their captors, Jacques Cardinal, a jaded eco-tour guide who is desperately seeking to free himself from the demons of his past, undertakes a daring undercover rescue mission.

Comical and fast-paced – and drawn from true events – The Laughing Falcon transports readers to the lush rainforest of Costa Rica, where the author himself has lived for much of the last 20 years.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery

392 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

William Deverell was born in 1937 in Regina, Saskatchewan. He put himself through law school by working as a journalist for the Canadian Press, Vancouver Sun, and Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. Deverell served as counsel for over a thousand criminal cases and is a founding director and former president of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association. He created the television series, Street Legal, and has written screenplays and radio plays. Deverell lives on Pender Island, British Columbia.

Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
* 1998 – Trial of Passion – Winner
* 2006 – April Fool – Winner

Reviews

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic tale of adventure that actually taught me so much about the beauties of the Costarican jungles!

I read this book right before/during my vacation to Costa Rica and even though this book follows a corrupt government and a kidnapping, it really didn’t scare me too much, haha. I learned a lot and it set the scene perfectly for my trip. I would recommend reading this book if you are planning to travel there.

I loved almost everything, it’s definitely a man written book if you know what I mean haha. There was man-eating crocs, guns, bandits and the whole shebang, but it kept things interesting. The only thing I wasn’t a fan of was how underdeveloped the romance felt at the end (without giving any spoilers that’s all I’ll say), there could have been more but in the end it’s an action book so I can’t complain! Great book, please read this!!

[Kathie Edeli · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great as a description of places I have been but the author makes his heroine way too naive to be believable

[Sally Sugarman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie Schenider is a copywriter for a television station in Saskatchewan who dreams of warmer climes. She has scheduled her two week Christmas vacation break for Costa Rica. Since she is also a writer of romance novels under another name, she assumes that this will give her new material for the current book she is writing. She gets more than sunshile as she is wooed by a charming con man who steals most of her money before she even reaches her scheduled destination. On the trip to the resort, Maggie encounters an American senator and his glamorous wife, Gloria May who are also staying at the Eco-Rico lodge. Discovering that Maggie is a writer, Gloria May tells of her encounter with Jacques Cardinal, better known as Slack, who offers eco-tours in kayaks and gets into brawls with the local low-life. She thinks this will be good material for Maggies romance novels. The novel alternates between Maggie’s and Slack’s perspectives. They are both writers, she a novelist and he a poet, although he also is writing an adventure novel. Maggie’s anticipated idyllic vacation is not to be, however. There is political unrest in this Central American country as a revolutionary leader, Benito Madrigal has been imprisoned. A motley crew of revolutionaries, led by a handsome and mysterious man, attacks the lodge and kidnaps the two women, demanding the release of Madrigal and huge sums of money for the revolution as the condition for their return. Slack, who it turns out is a retired CIA agent is enlisted to rescue the women. As the kidnappers and their captives traverse the countryside eluding pursuers, one gets a sense of the geography of Costa Rica as well as the culture and politics The title of the book comes from the bird that makes a particular laughing sound that haunts Maggie. She is a bird watcher among her other interests and is fascinated by the various flora and fauna they encounter as they traverse the countryside.. Meanwhile, the senator who is running for the Republican nomination for president is getting much sympathetic support at home as well as in Costa Rica. This translates into money for his campaign and for the ransom as well. Still there are many twists and turns as nothing is quite as it seems. In the midst of it all both writers are writing as the reader gets to peruse their drafts and correspondence. Will the falcon get the last laugh or are there more surprises in store?

[John Geary · Rating 3 out of 5]

An eco-thriller set in Costa Rica, this book was a little befuddling to me, at times. It’s a story within a story - and there’s another story within the main story being written while this book is taking place. I know, sounds confusing. It’s actually easier to read the book then to try to explain it.
It’s an action-adventure tale involving a woman from Saskatoon who is a TV copywriter/romance author, a retired CIA operative, a macho Republican senator and his Las Vegas showgirl wife, and a kidnapping in the Costa Rican jungle. Because of the layers in the book, I had a hard time figuring out which was “real“ in the context of the entire book, kind of like when you watch a movie where there are flashbacks within flashbacks within flashbacks – it can be a little difficult to follow, at times. I eventually just followed the main thread and ignored the extraneous material that made it seem like it was a book within a book within a book.
It had some unexpected twists at the end, with a pretty slick ending.
Another book I would have given 3.5 as a rating rather than just 3, had Goodreads had allowed it.

[Anie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh cripes, here we go again. One of the characters is writing a book. The dedication to the Sierra Defence Fund made me wonder if I could be bothered reading it, I'm tired of being preached at by a lawyer who never had to really earn a living. By the second chapter, I decided my time could be better spend.

[Huluriasquias · Rating 4 out of 5]

A far cry from Trials of Passion but interesting nonetheless. This book suffers a bit from identity crises (is it a thriller, a romance novel, a travelogue?...) but W.D.'s prose is always a pleasure to read.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

William Deverell is always worth the read. The long time B.C. Lawyer and part-time resident of Costa Rica has fashioned a great thriller set in Central America.

[Marc Dorval · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quick, very light read. OK for a beach, but not very satisfying.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, gripping adventure story.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

IT was a fun read to read while in Costa Rica. Felt closer to the people and scenery . Added a little depth to my visit.

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done. Classical "damaged" hero, but an interesting set of co-adventurers.