The First Rule of Survival

Col Vaughn de Vries #1

by Paul Mendelson

Seven years ago, in Cape Town, South Africa, three schoolboys were abducted in broad daylight on consecutive days. They were never seen again.
Now, a new case for the unpredictable Senior Superintendent Vaughn DeVries casts a light on the original enquiry; for him, a personal failure which has haunted and changed him. Struggling in a mire of departmental and racial rivalry, DeVries seeks the whole truth, and unravels a complex history of abuse, deception and murder. Encountering friends, colleagues and enemies, DeVries realises he doesn't know who he can trust.
Set against the richly described backdrop of Cape Town, this chilling psychological thriller reveals its secrets one by one, each more shocking than the last.

Genres: Crime, Africa, Thriller, Fiction, South Africa, Mystery, International

393 pages, Paperback

First published March 20, 2014

About the author

Paul Mendelson wrote stories at school when he should have been doing other things, but went on to become the, then, youngest ever playwright performed at the National Theatre, with his play, "You're Quite Safe With Me". This was followed by further work for theatre and, briefly, for television.

For twenty years, Paul has written on mind sports, such as bridge, poker and casino games, becoming the UK's best-selling author within his genre. He has contributed to magazines and newspapers worldwide, has a weekly bridge column in the Financial Times, and also writes interviews and features.

His debut crime novel, "The First Rule of Survival" was published in 2014, making the short-list of the CWA Golden Dagger for Crime Novel of the Year.
His second novel, "The Serpentine Road" was short-listed for several awards, including the CWA Gold Dagger again - an almost unheard of achievement - and received great acclaim in South Africa where it's political elements chimed with many that were in the news at the time.
Book 3, "The History of Blood" was published in July 2016, receiving accolades from reviewers in the national press in the UK, Eire and South Africa. It has been chosen as a Recommended Summer Read, Thriller of the Week and Thriller of the Month.
"Apostle Lodge" is his fourth novel set in Southern Africa, released for export on November 2017 and in the UK in February 2018, and it has received plaudits from around the world, hitting the top-ten Bestseller List in South Africa throughout the Christmas period.
Mendelson's fifth novel is set in England with a new detective.

Paul's novels now appear as audio books, Large Print books, and have been translated into French and German, with more languages to come, including Afrikaans (for the huge crime reading market in South Africa)

Each of the novels in the Vaughn de Vries series are set in Southern Africa, the novels allowing Paul's creative writing once again to come to the fore, and providing the perfect excuse to return to his beloved Cape Town to gain inspiration and time to write.

Paul lives in London (and, sometimes, Cape Town) with his two and four-legged family.

Reviews

[Nick Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

I put this on my wish-list a couple of years ago, on the strength of it being shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger, and having liked the sound of the plot. Having then been bought a copy for Christmas, I'm not sure why it sat on my shelf for so long. Blame my strange TBR list rotation type habits :-)

This was a very solid and well-written crime thriller, and I can see why it was so acclaimed. The story focusses on a white police detective (and his black deputy) facing all kinds of internal and external politics in investigating the murder of two boys who went missing seven years previously. On the face of it - a police procedural with a troubled maverick cop, bosses more interested in public/media perception of the investigation than the actual solving of the crime, broken marriages due to police officers spending too much time on the case and too little time with their family, slimy lawyers, alcoholics, the protagonist putting himself in danger in confronting the baddie - there are a lot of very clichéd aspects. However, Mendelson stays the right side of the line and produces an intelligent and involving novel which never made me think 'this is all a bit predictable'. In fact I thought the balance of describing the interesting setting (South Africa, but not every other word was reiterating the differentness of the place) and the characters (I wasn't left feeling the central character was just another Rebus/Harry Hole.. though in some ways he was) was perfectly judged.

Difficult to pin down exactly why I thought it was deserving of five stars, but it was very good. I will read others of the series, I imagine.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a complex and compelling crime thriller. The main detective isn't filled with great qualities in his personal and social life; indeed some of his professional relationships are poor, insubordinant and unkind but he is an exceptional detective, driven, determined and dogged.
When a cold case he, Colonel Vaughn de Vries has been haunted by for over 7 years breaks he will not rest for a neat political conclusion to the case. He sees conspiracy but cannot prove it sufficiently to get his man.
Set wonderfully in the new South Africa, de Vries is a white police officer in a new regime where many new black and coloured detectives have been elevated quickly and not always on merit. The solving of the case matters personally to him but it also takes on a deeper significance to maintain his way of policing.
An engaging writing style, Mendelson has written a fast-paced novel that will grip you and take you into the story to the point you will share de Vries' frustration, his paranoia and lack of trust in others.
A fine range of characters keep the plot twisting and the solution out of reach. There seems duplicity in everyone's actions and from the beginning you question whose side people are on.
Particulary enjoyed the walk and chemistry between de Vries and a suspect's sister.
A superb read that will leave you wanting more.

[Anke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I liked it a lot; ok, at times it was rather gruesome and this is another author who can't find the end of the story:). But it was a captivating and engaging read and I'm already looking forward to reading the next book!

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit ho hum! Too much about internal power plays within the South African Police Service and not enough oomph. The story is mainly about one man who feels driven to solve the disappearance of 3 boys seven years ago. In the present time two of them turn up dead and Vaughn De Vries becomes even more compelled to solve this crime. He thinks the third boy who disappeared may still be alive. Suspicion is soon thrown around but the police hierarchy are not helping and there is no proof to pin anything on the suspects. As usual, early family life is a factor blah blah. Nothing new here and hardly suspenseful.

[Kerry Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to both the publishers and to NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this in exchange for an honest review. I can't believe how good it was.

Two bodies are found; both male, both teenagers, both white, and funnily enough they both have the same upbringing despite being separate ages. It's not long before the unorthodox Colonel Vaughn De Vries, the protagonist of our story, puts the pieces together and identifies the boys as being two of three that were kidnapped seven years ago. Finally De Vries sees his opportunity to solve the case and bring the perpetrators to justice, no matter what the cost.

The absolute best thing about this novel, for me, was the beautiful way in which Mendelson describes the scenery. I believe the setting plays a big part in Mendelson's mind, and I absolutely adore when an author describes the scenery around them in such rich and vivid detail that you couldn't stop picturing it, even if you wanted to. It was so easy to immerse myself in absolutely everything; the characters, the animals, the nature, the architecture. Even the manner in which South Africans were subtly racist was handled and written with care but attention to detail. Honestly it felt like I was right there within the story and I could not stop reading.

Despite De Vries having his flaws, and believe me he has a lot of them, you grew to love him and his boisterous ways. A lot of what he said made me giggle or smile, sometimes frown. What he felt, I felt. When he felt a sense of bleakness, so did I. Mendelson creates such a bond with the character through his words that you develop deep feelings for him and just want him to figure everything out. It's as if he's a real person and sometimes you just want to slap him and say "pull yourself together, man!". Overall the entire development of the characters is handled wonderfully and I cannot complain one bit.

The plot itself was interesting. You find out the culprit(s) around 2/3 of the way through the book and yet the story doesn't end there. This means that even if you do figure out who was involved, the story wasn't ruined or spoilt in any way. It also made it stand out and created a uniqueness that was refreshing. Before it was revealed, though, I couldn't figure out who was behind everything. I had my suspicions but nothing concrete. Honestly this novel is a complete mystery, through and through, and I could not put it down.

The only thing I disliked about this novel is that there are still some loose ends to be tied which I think are quite important. I'm sure that this means there's a sequel in mind (wishful thinking, maybe!) where all of the answers will be revealed. In the mean time, my mind has not stopped trying to figure out everything that went on. Even after the last page is turned, this book resonates with you and keeps you guessing. I'd say that was the mark of a truly wonderful novel.

I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. It is a true work of art, and it was a pleasure to read.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The setting of South Africa plays a major part/character in this book along with Colonel Vaughn DeVries who was unable to solve the case of three boys being abducted in 3 days, seven years ago. Now in present times, the bodies of two of those missing boys show up sending DeVries on a mission to know what has happened, where the boys have been and who is behind their abduction. This is a very complicated case with clues slowly revealed, and the politics of South Africa playing a role in solving the case. At times, I really liked the storyline, the setting of South Africa drew me to the book, but at other times I found the many complications a bit frustrating. However, the ending took me by surprise and boosted a 3 star to a 4.

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul Mendelson knows how to write a very good stomach churning thriller to break your heart. The story is set in the lanscape of the hot and dusty African veld. The story is about Seven years ago, in CapeTown, South Africa, Two teenage bodies between the age of fourteen and sixteen are shot in the chest within the last forty-eight hours and have been found dead in a skip. Senior superintendent Vaughn Devries has the duty to unravel abuse, deception and murder. The story reveals its secrets one by one, with each more shoking than the last. I highly recommend The First Rule Of Survival.

[Anne-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last page. I really hope that there will be more books from this writer. The setting of the story is the Western Cape, South Africa. The writer portrays the South Africa Police Service and the ongoing politics internally very well.

[Dlmrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[HalcyonDaze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great plot, great setting, great character development - a great all rounder.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main character, de Vries, is one of those detectives who works outside the box, much to the frustration of his superiors. Foul-mouthed, intuitive, heedless of authority when it suits, and obsessed with a particular case.
The book is set in South Africa and not only conveys the breadth and wide-openness of the country, but also its inter-racial tension, between blacks, whites and those who are somewhere in the middle. All seem to despise each other...up to a point. De Vries is white and of the old school; he has a very competent black assistant to whom he warms, but doesn't always trust.
The story concerns the discovery of bodies of two white boys in a rubbish container; it's soon discovered that they're two of three boys who went missing seven years before. De Vries worked on that case and it was never solved. This time he's determined to bring closure, but his bosses seem equally determined to get in his way.
There are some superb, tension-filled scenes, plenty of well-drawn characters, and a climax that comes quite some way before the ending. The ending, though satisfactory in its own way, doesn't quite have the zing that a thriller requires. Still the journey towards it is intriguing, and the book heats up and stays heated.
I found that the Mendelson's style of introducing new sections with 'he' or with a line of dialogue that's attached to no character a bit disconcerting. Having to work out who's talking, or which of the 'hes' he means makes the reader work unnecessarily hard, I felt.

[Keith Currie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colonel Vaughn DeVries of the South African Police Service is an elemental force of nature, an irascible, irreverent, opinionated, bigoted detective whose one redeeming quality is his drive to solve crime and achieve justice. Often during this exciting, well-plotted thriller I found myself dumb with admiration for the patience and forbearance demonstrated by his boss and by the rest of his team. This patience is granted because DeVries is a driven man who gets results.

The crime here to be solved is the disappearance of three young white boys, abducted in broad daylight in 2007. When the bodies of two are discovered in 2014 a cold crime becomes live again. This time the guilty parties are discovered early on, but establishing their guilt is the problem.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the novel is its setting, the SAPS in 2014, and the tension between surviving white officers, the dominant black establishment and other racial and political plotting and difficulties. The first in a series, this novel introduces a number of very interesting characters who I imagine will play a major part in sequels.

The novel is a real page-turner; my only problem with it is the resolution, a solution which left this reader rather uneasy because of its moral ambiguity.

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually enjoy crime books just because you can already make a fairly accurate guess at the ending not too far in, but this book caught me off guard and made for a gripping journey right through. The characters were just the right amount of flawed to keep interest and it went from strength to strength.
That being said, the ending did feel like it left something to be desired. The last few pages had me with more questions than answers but not in a way that made me want to find out more. I could have done without it or would have preferred it maybe done differently.
Overall well enjoyed, and I would look for Paul Mendelson's name again.

[Natasha Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a couple of chapters getting used to the names and characters, this became an unexpectedly fantastic story. It was well written for the most part, and completely in the present tense, which was different to any I have previously read.
Although I felt there were a couple of plot holes, I could overlook it simply because I really enjoyed reading it. The story itself was well composed and thoroughly gripping, keeping you guessing right up until the very end.
In my opinion the main character was comparable to Gene Hunt (Life on Mars) or Detective Luther (BBC TV series), in that he had problems of his own, visible imperfections, and a dark side that constantly makes you curious as to whether or not you can trust him. However, trust or mistrust becomes irrelevant when you realise that you are on his side no matter what.

[Durinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scary theme throughout the book, but very true of life in South Africa. Police procedural, crime, gruesome in parts, law, inhuman people of society - pedophiles. Role of the SAPS is very difficulty in the new rainbow nation, and the underlying distrust between the races will never end.

Very descriptive of the scenery in and around Cape Town and out in the Swartland, vineyards, coastal areas, etc. Definitely kept my attention all the way through. First read by this author, well done. Looking forward to his next book, which I have already purchased. This one I read on my Kindle, next is an actual softcover book.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably meriting 3.6 stars rather than four. Much of this was solid, enjoyable and involving, not least the insight into South African policing and politics, plus the landscape descriptions. What detracted, for me, were some of the over-long descriptions of actions, and what felt to me like directions screaming out to be followed by de Vries but never done so.

[Marc Zimmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thriller such as this, set in Cape Town, cannot escape comparison with Deon Meyer's book. Although a fun read I did not get the South African flavours conjured by reading a Deon Meyer book.

[AVid_D · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent police thriller with a seriously flawed main character. It managed to draw me in enough that I fancy a second book.

[AJ Payne · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

Decent thriller with an interesting story and characters (although the main character was pretty insufferable) And of course I was digging the Cape Town setting - really the primary reason why I read it.

But it was long and pretty slow, with a lot of extraneous side ‘mystery’ that didn’t really make much sense. There was a also a lot of ambiguity in the writing and I couldn’t tell if it was purposeful (though I don’t think it added much to the story) or just signs of an inept writer. So that’s not a good thing. The side mystery and ambiguity were related with the author trying to introduce secrets for characters or strange motivations that really made no sense and didn’t have any sort of continuation in the story after he brought them up (why bring up some mystery of the warrant officer’s wife for no reason? Or the owner of the cabin de Vries stays in? Among others). So that rend I found annoying and unnecessary.

Some of the politics, race relations, and the story generally were pretty interesting, but I doubt I will read another by this author (if there are any) unfortunately because it just wasn’t that great.

[Balthazarinblue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely flew through the first 75% of this book. I thought for sure it was going to be a 4 or 5 star read. The author used to write for The Bill and you can tell. The characters are complex and deeply unlikable but still very compelling. The case is a complicated head-scratcher. Mendelson has that page-turning pace down to a science. It was hard to put this down.

But the ending was such a nothingburger. I hate that nothing really got resolved. That the ex-spy, still has contacts dude, neatly wrapped everything up, no consequences. If you're into spy books then maybe you'd enjoy this ending but I was enjoying a police procedural and I feel like I only got 3/4 of a plot! I'm extra bummed because I was excited to find a new series to binge and now I doubt I'll ever pick up the rest of the books if they're all like this. Boo.

[Margob99 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A formulaic police procedural. The cop with an attitude and a drinking problem, the shadowy criminals at the top, a cold case - the author takes all the classic elements and provides a fairly satisfying story. I felt like the South African elements were marginal; I felt discomfited by the fact that very little emotion was expended on the victims and their experiences. I closed the book and the end, unsure if it had satisfied me or not. I am becoming a really critical reader (not sure if I like that either!).

[Louise Fincham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am always pleased to find a South African writer whose work I have not yet read. I do not know why Paul Mendelson’s work has evaded me to date but I am very glad to have discovered him now. This is a wonderful crime story set in the Western Cape, largely Cape Town, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Well constructed, strong plot, intriguing cast of characters, especially the curmudgeonly uncompromising de Vries.

[Paul McBride · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this series out of order starting with the second book and then reading this one.
The was a lot more explanation and character development in this one since it was the first in the series but overall it was a great book.
The writing is fantastic and the mystery is top notch.
I can't wait to read the 3rd book in the series next.

[Studvet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definite promise and enjoyed the book but at times seemed to not finish off details and didn't flow coherently and some interesting character developments not followed fully nor clarified properly so at times the narrative wasn't tight. That said, had a lot packed into it and really a 3.5

[Ernst Nieuwoudt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow excellent debut. Could not put the book down. Finished and already bought the next one in the series.I can recommend this book to anyone!

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading it & could identify with it
Used to be a cop in the then SAP (1975-1980)
Busy with the next one - The Serpentine Road
Equally compelling

[Christine Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just brilliant.

[Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. Captures RSA well. Story keeps you interested. Will read the next in the series with great expectation.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing to find a new writer. Have got all 4 now.

[Phillipa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do love a novel set locally!