Beast of the Bells

T.K. Sheils
Mundania Press (2006)
ISBN 1594261725
Reviewed by Ellen Hogan for Reader Views (4/07)

The main point of this book is to find the person who murdered Estevanico. He is the one they called the “Beast of the bells.” He had worked for Viceroy Mendoza as a slave; then he led a group to find the fabled Seven Cities of Antilla. It was on this trip that he was reportedly killed by the Cacique Aponivi of Hawikuh. Viceroy Mendoza sends his secretary Rodrigo Aquilino with a group of friars led by Fray Marcos and soldiers let by Captain Melchior Diaz. It's written in letters back and forth from Rodrigo to the Viceroy and the Viceroy to Rodrigo.

Rodrigo is aided in his quest for the truth by an Indian slave, Tehya and a blacksmith's assistant named Talavera. Tehya was once in Estevanico's entourage, and wanted to assist Rodrigo in finding out what happened to him. Rodrigo sets about questioning everyone connected with the expedition lead by Estevanico. He learns that the man was obsessed with sex and finding the treasure of Hawikuh before the Spainiards.

Through the whole story Rodrigo learns much about the man Estevanico and also about himself. He loses his innocence and after this expedition will never be the same. The writer if very descriptive in getting the reader to see the places visited, but informative with the beliefs that the Indians possess. He also gives impressions of the people and their customs. "Of treasure, for instance, I have seen one or two tiny emeralds, some fragments of what might be garnet and no gold or silver, in fact no metal at all...except the mysterious torture instruments (which would hardly have been brought by a missionary, would they?...Or would they?) The treasure may exist at Tayasan, of course, but Marcos never even claimed to have been there."

The story is set in 1540, so anyone who likes history, or more particularly, Spanish history would like this book. I liked the fact that the author kept you guessing through the whole book, not knowing the outcome before the last page was read.

It was a very good story line and I would highly recommend “Beast of the Bells.” Even though I am not particularly fond of historical books, I really enjoyed this one.

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