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Hyena Dawn
Against a vivid canvas of violence and corruption, Hyena Dawn is a compulsively readable adventure novel set in the war-torn lands of Southern Africa. Hard-headed and impetuous, Rayne Gallagher flees his native South Africa after a tragic accident and joins the Rhodesian Light Infantry. He is embroiled in a war in which he has neither interest or cause when, unable to resist the lure of danger, he is recruited to lead a mission for the CIA in Mozambique. Amassed at the port of Beira is a vast military force led by Russian General Vorotnikov, which is preparing to invade Rhodesia. The general's grand scheme will shatter British plans for a peaceful transition from colony to democracy and create a major political and economic base for the USSR on South Africa's borders. Gallagher and a select group of mercenaries must ensure that the invasion never takes place. Theirs is a fight to the death - with the future of the whole of Southern Africa in the balance. The Man Behind The The story of one man's journey with cancer by Lynn Sherlock documents author Christopher Sherlock’s Journey with his brain tumour. eBook available on Amazon from July 2019.
396 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1991
22 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Sherlock
4 books4 followersChristopher Sherlock was born in Birmingham, England in 1955 and moved to Johannesburg, South Africa in 1970. He is an accident survivor. Returning from a weekend spent rock climbing he was involved in a car accident that killed his girlfriend and best friend. The top of his head sliced off, he was dragged from the car still conscious. He witnessed the death of his girlfriend and then his friend died next to him in the ambulance. He 'died' twice on the operating table, experienced neuro-surgery,and then the top of his head was stitched back with 176 stitches. Lying in a coma, he was pronounced a vegetable but his father refused to believe this. A month later he came out of the coma, a fully functioning but changed man.
He recounts a near-death experience in which God beckoned him to the other side however he bargained that he wanted life. God said that he could have it but that it would be a nightmare experience. He battled on,completing his university studies, continuing to climb and then working first as a geophysical surveyor, journalist and then in advertising. Struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, he fought on, enjoying success as creative director of one of South Africa's leading advertising agencies.
Haunted by death, his thrillers explore the lives of men faced by adversity and catastrophe.
He recounts a near-death experience in which God beckoned him to the other side however he bargained that he wanted life. God said that he could have it but that it would be a nightmare experience. He battled on,completing his university studies, continuing to climb and then working first as a geophysical surveyor, journalist and then in advertising. Struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, he fought on, enjoying success as creative director of one of South Africa's leading advertising agencies.
Haunted by death, his thrillers explore the lives of men faced by adversity and catastrophe.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 18, 2020
African adventure set during the 1960's Rhodesian civil war which led to the creation of Zimbabwe. A damaged soldier fighting for a lost cause accepts a near suicidal mission which is further complicated by the abduction of his ( independent, strong-minded and tough, naturally) girlfriend by rebel forces.
The writing reminded me of early Wilbur Smith which is a good thing. Where it fell down was that the middle third of the book deserted the above narrative to explore political/multi-national company corruption/ sleaze in South Africa. This section of the book slowed things down to the point of boredom until it stopped abruptly allowing the fast-paced action to resume.
I can only surmise that the author delivered a lean and mean thriller to the publisher only to be told that it wasn't long enough. That they needed more bulk to justify their extortionate pricing in the bookshops. So he went back to the laptop and obligingly padded it out adding nothing but page after page of filler.
Hence the three stars and not the four the lean and mean thriller would have earned.
The writing reminded me of early Wilbur Smith which is a good thing. Where it fell down was that the middle third of the book deserted the above narrative to explore political/multi-national company corruption/ sleaze in South Africa. This section of the book slowed things down to the point of boredom until it stopped abruptly allowing the fast-paced action to resume.
I can only surmise that the author delivered a lean and mean thriller to the publisher only to be told that it wasn't long enough. That they needed more bulk to justify their extortionate pricing in the bookshops. So he went back to the laptop and obligingly padded it out adding nothing but page after page of filler.
Hence the three stars and not the four the lean and mean thriller would have earned.
January 13, 2023
I liked this book, and, in a way, it was along the same line at Wilber Smith with the story based in Africa.
Mozambique and Rhodesia were two countries that were fighting internal wars with the black population trying to overthrow the whites, but Russia wanted to have a slice of victory and the treasures that comes with victory.
They did not take into account Rayne Gallagher and his mercenaries who were brought in to remove the Russians and give control to the black community, but there was also infighting between the two main groups within the country, so would there really be any truce?
Mozambique and Rhodesia were two countries that were fighting internal wars with the black population trying to overthrow the whites, but Russia wanted to have a slice of victory and the treasures that comes with victory.
They did not take into account Rayne Gallagher and his mercenaries who were brought in to remove the Russians and give control to the black community, but there was also infighting between the two main groups within the country, so would there really be any truce?
March 23, 2018
Great book
Great book although the last .0001% was a little rushed. I’d given the book a 4.9 if I could have figured out how.
Great book although the last .0001% was a little rushed. I’d given the book a 4.9 if I could have figured out how.
March 19, 2018
A Well written, tense and exciting historical fiction novel that covers a period of Zimbabwean and South African history. Made gripping by all the intrigue and violence that went with those times. A good read.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews