The Murderer’s Ape by Jakob Wegelius

Abstract

Reviewed by: The Murderer’s Ape by Jakob Wegelius April Spisak The Murderer’s Ape; by Wegelius, Jakob tr. by Peter Graves. Delacorte, 2016 [608p] Trade ed. ISBN 978-1-101-93175-2 $17.99 E-book ed. ISBN 978-1-101-93177-6 $10.99 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 6-9 The narrator of this Swedish import, Sally Jones, is a gorilla who never spends a day wishing she were anything else. That said, she is closely bonded with humans (Sally Jones can understand language and she can read; she just can’t talk), especially her comrade the Chief, and when the Chief is accused of a murder he didn’t commit, Sally Jones decides she will not rest until he is free. Off she goes on extraordinary adventures, using her building and repair talents and her kind nature to connect with strangers, including a rich maharaja whose cruel heart she changes. The story is told via Sally Jones’ typewritten memoirs, so readers will know from early on that all is going to end well, or at least end with all key characters still alive, so the urgency and danger in the many travails Sally Jones faces is safely bounded. There’s a lot packed into this lengthy novel, especially a fantastic cast of characters (appearing first in intricate full-page black and white illustrations) and a wide range of early twentieth century settings. The complex plot paired with a languid pace may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but those who don’t mind staying a while with Sally Jones will revel in this gorgeous, clever, and memorable story. Copyright © 2016 by The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois