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Shadows Over Africa #8
Daughter of Africa
When an American heiress and an Australian anti-poaching veteran unite, Africa’s wild heart beats with danger, hope, and the fight for freedom.
American Marissa Whitney has always found solace in her bond with Amalee, the elephant she rescued as a child. But when tragedy and violence strike her family and Nevada is no longer safe, Marissa turns to the wilds of Zimbabwe, determined to return Amalee to her ancestral home. There, she finds an unexpected ally in Mitch Laski, a former Australian Special Forces operator turned anti-poaching leader, whose commitment to protecting Africa’s wildlife is as fierce as the threats they face.
Together, Marissa and Mitch are swept into a world of political corruption and a vengeful cousin whose obsession could destroy them all. As they fight to save Amalee and the baby elephants of Zimbabwe, Marissa and Mitch must trust each other, and the wild land around them, if they hope to survive.
From a snowy ranch in Nevada to the sun-drenched savannahs and shadowy underworlds of Africa, Daughter of Africa is a pulse-pounding contemporary adventure of resilience, redemption, and the unbreakable bonds between people, animals, and the land they call home. Will Marissa and Mitch’s courage be enough to outwit their enemies and give Amalee the freedom she deserves? Or will the ghosts of the past and the dangers of the present tear them apart forever?
Perfect for fans of Wilbur Smith and contemporary action fiction, this is a sweeping journey into the soul of Africa, where every sunset could be your last, and every dawn brings hope for a new beginning.
American Marissa Whitney has always found solace in her bond with Amalee, the elephant she rescued as a child. But when tragedy and violence strike her family and Nevada is no longer safe, Marissa turns to the wilds of Zimbabwe, determined to return Amalee to her ancestral home. There, she finds an unexpected ally in Mitch Laski, a former Australian Special Forces operator turned anti-poaching leader, whose commitment to protecting Africa’s wildlife is as fierce as the threats they face.
Together, Marissa and Mitch are swept into a world of political corruption and a vengeful cousin whose obsession could destroy them all. As they fight to save Amalee and the baby elephants of Zimbabwe, Marissa and Mitch must trust each other, and the wild land around them, if they hope to survive.
From a snowy ranch in Nevada to the sun-drenched savannahs and shadowy underworlds of Africa, Daughter of Africa is a pulse-pounding contemporary adventure of resilience, redemption, and the unbreakable bonds between people, animals, and the land they call home. Will Marissa and Mitch’s courage be enough to outwit their enemies and give Amalee the freedom she deserves? Or will the ghosts of the past and the dangers of the present tear them apart forever?
Perfect for fans of Wilbur Smith and contemporary action fiction, this is a sweeping journey into the soul of Africa, where every sunset could be your last, and every dawn brings hope for a new beginning.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 30, 2026
About the author
T.M. Clark
16 books86 followersT.M. Clark
Zimbabwean-born T.M. Clark combines her passion for storytelling, different cultures and wildlife with her love for the wild in her multicultural books. Writing for adults and children, she has been nominated for a Queensland Literary Award and is a Children’s Book Council Notable. When not killing her fans and hiding their bodies (all in the name of literature), Tina Marie coordinates the CYA Conference (www.cyaconference.com), providing professional development for new and established writers and illustrators, and is the co-presenter at Writers as Sea (www.WritersAtSea.com.au). She loves mentoring emerging writers, eating chocolate biscuits and collecting books for creating libraries in Papua New Guinea.
Visit T.M. Clark at tmclark.com.au
Her books include My Brother-But-One, nominated for a Queensland Literary People’s Choice Award in 2014. Shooting Butterflies, Tears of A Cheetah, Child of Africa, Nature of the Lion and Cry of the Firebird. Her children’s picture books include Slowly! Slowly!, which is a 2018 CBCA Notable Book, and Quickly! Quickly! which are companion books to Child Of Africa.
Her new novel, Song of the Starlings is out now.
Zimbabwean-born T.M. Clark combines her passion for storytelling, different cultures and wildlife with her love for the wild in her multicultural books. Writing for adults and children, she has been nominated for a Queensland Literary Award and is a Children’s Book Council Notable. When not killing her fans and hiding their bodies (all in the name of literature), Tina Marie coordinates the CYA Conference (www.cyaconference.com), providing professional development for new and established writers and illustrators, and is the co-presenter at Writers as Sea (www.WritersAtSea.com.au). She loves mentoring emerging writers, eating chocolate biscuits and collecting books for creating libraries in Papua New Guinea.
Visit T.M. Clark at tmclark.com.au
Her books include My Brother-But-One, nominated for a Queensland Literary People’s Choice Award in 2014. Shooting Butterflies, Tears of A Cheetah, Child of Africa, Nature of the Lion and Cry of the Firebird. Her children’s picture books include Slowly! Slowly!, which is a 2018 CBCA Notable Book, and Quickly! Quickly! which are companion books to Child Of Africa.
Her new novel, Song of the Starlings is out now.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 28, 2026
Marissa Whitney and her father lived a busy but peaceful life on their Nevada ranch, along with Dawn and the adult female elephant Amalee. Marissa and her father had rescued Amalee from a circus three decades earlier, and Dawn, as her handler, had come with her. Now Marissa wanted to rewild Amalee to her ancestral home of Zimbabwe, which was also Dawn's birth country. The bond the three of them shared was unbreakable; Amalee had saved Marissa's life more than once. After Marissa had spent some time at Yingwe River Lodge, Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation Center, Binga, Zimbabwe, and met Mitch Laski, a former Australian Special Forces operator turned anti-poaching leader, along with other committed people, she decided this was the place to bring Amalee.
But Marissa's life, and that of Dawn and Amalee, was in danger. A cousin, ex-military, ex-jailbird, and psychotic narcissist, was obsessed with the family. The bodyguards kept close, but was it enough? Arriving in Africa with Amalee, Marissa realised it felt like home and with Amalee settling in well, their new friends - Peta, Joss, Sophia, and of course Mitch - made them feel welcome. The political underworld was drawing closer to Yingwe River Lodge and there was a great need to keep everyone safe...
Daughter of Africa is another special, heart thumping addition to the Shadows Over Africa series by Aussie author T.M. Clark and once again I loved it. The wild but beautiful country; old suspicions and traditions; animals of all description, slowly being decimated - and the caring people trying to save the animals one step at a time. Bring in the "bad guys" with no hearts, greed for the money, and determination to win, and it's a recipe for an adventure thriller of the best sort. Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author for my uncorrected proof ARC to read and review.
But Marissa's life, and that of Dawn and Amalee, was in danger. A cousin, ex-military, ex-jailbird, and psychotic narcissist, was obsessed with the family. The bodyguards kept close, but was it enough? Arriving in Africa with Amalee, Marissa realised it felt like home and with Amalee settling in well, their new friends - Peta, Joss, Sophia, and of course Mitch - made them feel welcome. The political underworld was drawing closer to Yingwe River Lodge and there was a great need to keep everyone safe...
Daughter of Africa is another special, heart thumping addition to the Shadows Over Africa series by Aussie author T.M. Clark and once again I loved it. The wild but beautiful country; old suspicions and traditions; animals of all description, slowly being decimated - and the caring people trying to save the animals one step at a time. Bring in the "bad guys" with no hearts, greed for the money, and determination to win, and it's a recipe for an adventure thriller of the best sort. Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author for my uncorrected proof ARC to read and review.
May 10, 2026
Big thanks to Tina for gifting us a copy to read and review.
A sensory African kaleidoscope heightens the pages and swirls the impetus of a story about emotional bonds and the need for conservation.
The yin and yang of good and evil play their role as lives are threatened and positive changes succeed.
Heiress Marissa Whitney rescued an elephant from a circus in America three decades ago.
Love and devotion had no bounds.
A dream to have her re wilded back on her home continent of Africa was an aspiration.
A deranged cousin with a military background is determined to harm and extract millions from her.
An earlier attempt to kill her was thwarted by her protective elephant.
The perfect sanctuary in Zimbabwe could make this dream a reality.
A shadow of danger lurks and threatens bloodshed.
An intense, beautiful and emotive tale awaits fans of this popular author.
An elephants point of view curates the affection that flowed both ways.
A deep dive into political and conservation conflicts sets context and portrays a landscape that is riddled with cruelty.
A returned character of mega proportions blesses us with her presence and the unique relationship she has with the natural and human world.
A sensory African kaleidoscope heightens the pages and swirls the impetus of a story about emotional bonds and the need for conservation.
The yin and yang of good and evil play their role as lives are threatened and positive changes succeed.
Heiress Marissa Whitney rescued an elephant from a circus in America three decades ago.
Love and devotion had no bounds.
A dream to have her re wilded back on her home continent of Africa was an aspiration.
A deranged cousin with a military background is determined to harm and extract millions from her.
An earlier attempt to kill her was thwarted by her protective elephant.
The perfect sanctuary in Zimbabwe could make this dream a reality.
A shadow of danger lurks and threatens bloodshed.
An intense, beautiful and emotive tale awaits fans of this popular author.
An elephants point of view curates the affection that flowed both ways.
A deep dive into political and conservation conflicts sets context and portrays a landscape that is riddled with cruelty.
A returned character of mega proportions blesses us with her presence and the unique relationship she has with the natural and human world.
September 29, 2026
Daughter of Africa offers an engaging combination of contemporary adventure, romance, wildlife conservation, and high-stakes danger. I was especially drawn to Marissa’s lifelong bond with Amalee and her determination to return the elephant to her ancestral home in Zimbabwe. That emotional connection gives the larger adventure a meaningful foundation.
Mitch’s background as a former Australian Special Forces operator turned anti-poaching leader adds another compelling dimension. His partnership with Marissa places them in the middle of political corruption, family betrayal, and the dangerous fight to protect elephants and their young. I also liked how their growing trust becomes just as important as their ability to survive the threats around them.
The sweeping movement from Nevada to the Zimbabwean savannah gives the story a strong sense of place, while the themes of resilience, redemption, freedom, and the bond between people and animals add emotional depth. A good fit for readers who enjoy action-packed adventure with romance, wildlife, and African settings.
Mitch’s background as a former Australian Special Forces operator turned anti-poaching leader adds another compelling dimension. His partnership with Marissa places them in the middle of political corruption, family betrayal, and the dangerous fight to protect elephants and their young. I also liked how their growing trust becomes just as important as their ability to survive the threats around them.
The sweeping movement from Nevada to the Zimbabwean savannah gives the story a strong sense of place, while the themes of resilience, redemption, freedom, and the bond between people and animals add emotional depth. A good fit for readers who enjoy action-packed adventure with romance, wildlife, and African settings.
May 12, 2026
How can you not love an elephant
A beautiful story. Such amazing animals, bond between both sides is strong but gentle. I can read and see this in my mind
A beautiful story. Such amazing animals, bond between both sides is strong but gentle. I can read and see this in my mind
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews