Kato

by Louise Dando-Collins

KATO is a chimpanzee who was raised in captivity, and is the star of the Darwin Research Institute's sign language program in Santa Barbara, California. He knows 3,000 signs, can 'talk' by using a synthesizer, can swim, and play baseball, and is adored by his handler Mary Larney. She is devastated when he is returned to the African jungle on Tinto Island, in Tanzania,where he was born, following a 'Free Kato' campaign in the media. Mary and other scientists, along with a media contingency monitor his Introduction to a colony of wild chimpanzees. Cleverly, Kato uses skills learned from his human handlers to over-throw the alpha male, and becomes head of the colony. Then, in his desperation to find his beloved handler, Mary Larney, he leads his new 'family' on a quest. A quest which becomes a destructive rampage. Now he and his band of chimpanzees have become outlaws. The renegade band are hunted by both the Tanzanian police and army. Will he survive their bid to capture him?

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 16, 2015

About the author

I spent many years in television and in the art world working at Sydney's top Fine Arts Gallery -
Holdsworth Gallery in Woollahra. I have been an agent for entertainers, actors, and met many famous artists whilst at the gallery. Being married to Stephen for many years, I have learnt the craft of writing. (So he tells me), and I am told that I have a 'voice'. I certainly do have an imagination, but I learned the structure of books, after first, typing, then editing, and working with Stephen to construct plots and characters.
I have had the priviledge of spending an hour each day, wherever we may be, walking for exercise, and over the years, I have learned from his knowledge about the ancient Roman Legions. The Ponca Indians. Louis Pasteur and his nephew who tried to eradicate Australia's rabbit plague. Sir Henry Parkes. WWII projects (of which there are many) The Big Break e.g. which comes out in January 17 by St Martin's Press. The life of Paul Brickhill who wrote THE GREAT ESCAPE, DAM BUSTERS, and REACH for the SKY. Tycoon's War, starring Cornelius Vanderbilt and the rebel William Walker.
And I have learned about War Dogs, in Caesar the War Dog, who is a sniffer dog in Afghanistan.
Stephen has just completed his 40th book, and I'm very proud indeed of his contribution to literature.

Reviews

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fictional story about Kato, a chimpanzee raised in captivity and returned to the jungle, and Mary, a researcher who worked and bonded with him over many years. Although that character overview sounds a little dull and 'worthy', the story itself is highly entertaining and very readable with a well paced plot including intrigue, romance and adventure. Dando-Collins writes beautifully with a straight-forward and highly engaging style. I really enjoyed this story with it's progressively quickening plot and ended up reading late into the night to finish it as I just couldn't put it down until I knew what happened in the end.