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Red Earth
A heart-racing thriller from the master of adventure
An assassination. A stolen baby. A race to the death.
Durban, South Africa, a car is hijacked. Suzanne Fessey fights back and kills one thief but the other, wounded, escapes with her baby on board.
In pursuit of the missing vehicle and baby are helicopter tracker pilot Nia Carras from the air, and Mike Dunn, a nearby wildlife researcher, from the ground.
But South Africa's police have bigger a bomb has gone off in Durban, killing the visiting American Ambassador, and chaos has descended on Kwa-Zulu Natal.
As the missing baby is tracked through the wild game reserves from Zululand to Zimbabwe, Mike and Nia come to realise that the war on terror has invaded their part of the world.
Fans of David Baldacci, Wilbur Smith and Ken Follett will love Tony Park.
An assassination. A stolen baby. A race to the death.
Durban, South Africa, a car is hijacked. Suzanne Fessey fights back and kills one thief but the other, wounded, escapes with her baby on board.
In pursuit of the missing vehicle and baby are helicopter tracker pilot Nia Carras from the air, and Mike Dunn, a nearby wildlife researcher, from the ground.
But South Africa's police have bigger a bomb has gone off in Durban, killing the visiting American Ambassador, and chaos has descended on Kwa-Zulu Natal.
As the missing baby is tracked through the wild game reserves from Zululand to Zimbabwe, Mike and Nia come to realise that the war on terror has invaded their part of the world.
Fans of David Baldacci, Wilbur Smith and Ken Follett will love Tony Park.
469 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 27, 2016
92 people are currently reading
215 people want to read
About the author
Tony Park
37 books299 followersTony Park was born in 1964 and grew up in the western suburbs of Sydney. He has worked as a newspaper reporter in Australia and England, a government press secretary, a public relations consultant, and a freelance writer.
He served 34 years in the Australian Army Reserve, including six months in Afghanistan in 2002.
Tony and his wife, Nicola, split their time between Australia and Africa, where they own a house on the edge of of the Kruger National Park.
His 18th African novel, Last Survivor, went to number 1 in South Africa. His 19th novel, Blood Trail, will be released worldwide on August 1, 2021.
Praise for Tony Park
“Wilbur Smith...fans will not be disappointed to have found a spiritual heir,” The Times, London
“Tony Park is Australia’s premier adventure writer.” Canberra Weekly
“One of our best and most consistent thriller writers.” Sydney Morning Herald
“Since Wilbur Smith in his heyday, no one has written as well about southern Africa than Tony Park.” Crime Review (UK)
The Delta: “Break-neck in pace, with narrow escapes from death on every page, its charm is infectious.” Daily Mail, UK
“Tony Park exudes a love and deep knowledge of southern Africa in every line and character he creates in his books.” The Citizen, South Africa.
Far Horizon “Watch your back, Wilbur,” Qantas, The Australian Way
Zambezi: “a compulsive page turner” Sydney Morning Herald.
African Sky: “Rootin’ tootin reading” Sun-Herald
Safari: “He just gets better and better” Sun-Herald
Silent Predator: “Memorably exciting” Sydney Morning Herald
The Prey: “Another ripping yarn based on realistic scenarios,” Daily Telegraph
An Empty Coast: “Another winner which will keep you turning pages.” Crime Review UK
Red Earth: “One helluva fine thriller.” Booklist (US)
The Cull: “A fascinating insight into a life and death struggle.” Daily Telegraph
Captive: “A compelling and fascinating read.” Sunday Tribune
Scent of Fear: “A first-rate thriller.” Canberra Weekly
Ghosts of the Past: “A fabulous tale of betrayal, greed, intrigue and love.” Drum Magazine, South Africa
Last Survivor: “Sure-footed plotting and regular gunfire makes this one of Park’s best books. Recommended.” Canberra Weekly.
He served 34 years in the Australian Army Reserve, including six months in Afghanistan in 2002.
Tony and his wife, Nicola, split their time between Australia and Africa, where they own a house on the edge of of the Kruger National Park.
His 18th African novel, Last Survivor, went to number 1 in South Africa. His 19th novel, Blood Trail, will be released worldwide on August 1, 2021.
Praise for Tony Park
“Wilbur Smith...fans will not be disappointed to have found a spiritual heir,” The Times, London
“Tony Park is Australia’s premier adventure writer.” Canberra Weekly
“One of our best and most consistent thriller writers.” Sydney Morning Herald
“Since Wilbur Smith in his heyday, no one has written as well about southern Africa than Tony Park.” Crime Review (UK)
The Delta: “Break-neck in pace, with narrow escapes from death on every page, its charm is infectious.” Daily Mail, UK
“Tony Park exudes a love and deep knowledge of southern Africa in every line and character he creates in his books.” The Citizen, South Africa.
Far Horizon “Watch your back, Wilbur,” Qantas, The Australian Way
Zambezi: “a compulsive page turner” Sydney Morning Herald.
African Sky: “Rootin’ tootin reading” Sun-Herald
Safari: “He just gets better and better” Sun-Herald
Silent Predator: “Memorably exciting” Sydney Morning Herald
The Prey: “Another ripping yarn based on realistic scenarios,” Daily Telegraph
An Empty Coast: “Another winner which will keep you turning pages.” Crime Review UK
Red Earth: “One helluva fine thriller.” Booklist (US)
The Cull: “A fascinating insight into a life and death struggle.” Daily Telegraph
Captive: “A compelling and fascinating read.” Sunday Tribune
Scent of Fear: “A first-rate thriller.” Canberra Weekly
Ghosts of the Past: “A fabulous tale of betrayal, greed, intrigue and love.” Drum Magazine, South Africa
Last Survivor: “Sure-footed plotting and regular gunfire makes this one of Park’s best books. Recommended.” Canberra Weekly.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
May 14, 2024
Another fast paced thriller set in South Africa that’s notable for both the breakneck action that takes place from the first page and the complete way in which the reader is transported by the richly described landscape. Red Earth features a deceptively complex plot superbly handled by the deft hand of Tony Park.
It all starts with a car hijacking by a bunch of local hoods in Durban, but there are a couple of complications for the thieves. The first is the baby that’s still in the car. The second is that the baby’s mother is part of a terrorist cell and has no compunction in killing her enemies.
Meanwhile Mike Dunn, a wildlife researcher who specializes in vultures, has been called out to investigate a group of dead vultures that have been poisoned after feasting on a poisoned carcass. Poachers are the culprits and we’re given an insight into one of the scourges of Africa, a real problem that continues to plague the continent today. With the help of helicopter tracker pilot Nia Carras he quickly ascertains that poachers are working the area and are still somewhere close by.
While on the call out his path crosses with the stolen car drama that has been playing out. It becomes apparent that there’s a lot more to the story than merely a stolen car and in no time flat the stakes are elevated to extremely high as a desperate chase from Durban to the Zimbabwe border ensues.
What first appears as though the child’s mother is attempting to retrieve her baby with the help of a few heavily armed men, becomes a series of full on attacking raids. The armed response is totally out of proportion with an attempt to retrieve a missing child.
Making an appearance in the chase is Jed Banks who has featured in Zambezi and Scent of Fear. Banks is a CIA agent working in South Africa and, although he appears to be an ally to Mike Dunn and his friends, he’s ultimately a spook and that creates a definite element of doubt when it comes to his trustworthiness. When the action really starts to ramp up ex Australian SAS officer Shane Castle (Safari, The Pride) also makes an appearance to lend a much-needed hand.
Through the wildlife research expert who serves as the story’s protagonist, there’s quite a bit of interesting information that’s provided about the importance of vultures in contributing to the health of all African wildlife. The birds are often the overlooked scavengers of the landscape but you get a far broader appreciation of their role in the life cycle. Tony Park hits the right balance of providing information without impinging on the flow of the story which serves to enrich the book greatly, giving it even greater depth.
Having never been to Africa, I have no idea how accurate Tony Park’s portrayal of the place is, but both the dialogue and the vivid descriptions of the wildlife in their natural habitat strike me as authentic. It’s vivid, evocative and filled with the movement and dangerous grace of the animals we come to expect from the continent. It certainly has the effect of driving a desire to visit the place and experience the beauty and wonders that are so well described amid the bullets, bombs and terrorist activities that have ensured this action thriller is captivating on so many levels.
Just one final thing, I’ve noticed that the book is billed as being part of the Sannie van Rensburg series but the detective doesn’t appear anywhere in this book’s proceedings. It’s possible that the appearance of CIA agent Jed Banks qualifies it as being part of a broader universe of somewhat related books, but I certainly wouldn’t place it as a part of the series. Definitely read this as a stand alone novel.
It all starts with a car hijacking by a bunch of local hoods in Durban, but there are a couple of complications for the thieves. The first is the baby that’s still in the car. The second is that the baby’s mother is part of a terrorist cell and has no compunction in killing her enemies.
Meanwhile Mike Dunn, a wildlife researcher who specializes in vultures, has been called out to investigate a group of dead vultures that have been poisoned after feasting on a poisoned carcass. Poachers are the culprits and we’re given an insight into one of the scourges of Africa, a real problem that continues to plague the continent today. With the help of helicopter tracker pilot Nia Carras he quickly ascertains that poachers are working the area and are still somewhere close by.
While on the call out his path crosses with the stolen car drama that has been playing out. It becomes apparent that there’s a lot more to the story than merely a stolen car and in no time flat the stakes are elevated to extremely high as a desperate chase from Durban to the Zimbabwe border ensues.
What first appears as though the child’s mother is attempting to retrieve her baby with the help of a few heavily armed men, becomes a series of full on attacking raids. The armed response is totally out of proportion with an attempt to retrieve a missing child.
Making an appearance in the chase is Jed Banks who has featured in Zambezi and Scent of Fear. Banks is a CIA agent working in South Africa and, although he appears to be an ally to Mike Dunn and his friends, he’s ultimately a spook and that creates a definite element of doubt when it comes to his trustworthiness. When the action really starts to ramp up ex Australian SAS officer Shane Castle (Safari, The Pride) also makes an appearance to lend a much-needed hand.
Through the wildlife research expert who serves as the story’s protagonist, there’s quite a bit of interesting information that’s provided about the importance of vultures in contributing to the health of all African wildlife. The birds are often the overlooked scavengers of the landscape but you get a far broader appreciation of their role in the life cycle. Tony Park hits the right balance of providing information without impinging on the flow of the story which serves to enrich the book greatly, giving it even greater depth.
Having never been to Africa, I have no idea how accurate Tony Park’s portrayal of the place is, but both the dialogue and the vivid descriptions of the wildlife in their natural habitat strike me as authentic. It’s vivid, evocative and filled with the movement and dangerous grace of the animals we come to expect from the continent. It certainly has the effect of driving a desire to visit the place and experience the beauty and wonders that are so well described amid the bullets, bombs and terrorist activities that have ensured this action thriller is captivating on so many levels.
Just one final thing, I’ve noticed that the book is billed as being part of the Sannie van Rensburg series but the detective doesn’t appear anywhere in this book’s proceedings. It’s possible that the appearance of CIA agent Jed Banks qualifies it as being part of a broader universe of somewhat related books, but I certainly wouldn’t place it as a part of the series. Definitely read this as a stand alone novel.
November 26, 2016
Red Earth is the first book that I have read of Tony Park. In the beginning, I was not sure if I would continue to read Red Earth with all different plots and characters that entwine throughout the book. At first, I did not understand how all the characters Mike, Angus, Nia, Suzanne, Hassan, Simon, Jed, Bandile, Lerato, Themba, Chris and Franklin all fit into the plot of Red Earth. However, has you continue to read you realise how gifted Tony Park is in the way he can intertwine all the characters and plots into one amazing conclusion. Red Earth is an action pack and moving story you never know what going to happen next. I recommend this book.
June 12, 2025
Шеметен екшън и приключения ви очакват на страниците на тази книга. Действието се развива в африканските резервати на фона на борбата с бракониерството.
В Дърбан се случват няколко неща едновременно - терористична атака, изчезнало бебе, бракониерство на лешояди и бягството на двама тийнейджъри през изпълнения с опасности резерват. Сякаш всичко най-лошо се струпва наведнъж върху децата, Ния, пилот на самолет и Майкъл Дън, рейнджър в резервата. Някой оставя след себе си планина от трупове, за да се добере до бебето. Постепенно разбираме връзката между всички герои, проследяваме тяхното движение и борбата им за оцеляване.
Този приключенски екшън се развива на фона на красивия африкански резерват "Хлухлуве-Умфолози", в който живеят опасни диви животни. Човекът се оказва по-жесток от тях при преследване на богатството и парите. На този фон авторът включва в сюжета малко драма и любовни взаимоотношения. Действието е забързано и постоянно се случва нещо. Хареса ми тази динамика и мисля, че книгата е много подходяща за филм, даже за мини сериал.
Авторът не ме остави да скучая нито за момент, затова ще продължа с интерес да го чета. Имам всички негови книги.
В Дърбан се случват няколко неща едновременно - терористична атака, изчезнало бебе, бракониерство на лешояди и бягството на двама тийнейджъри през изпълнения с опасности резерват. Сякаш всичко най-лошо се струпва наведнъж върху децата, Ния, пилот на самолет и Майкъл Дън, рейнджър в резервата. Някой оставя след себе си планина от трупове, за да се добере до бебето. Постепенно разбираме връзката между всички герои, проследяваме тяхното движение и борбата им за оцеляване.
Този приключенски екшън се развива на фона на красивия африкански резерват "Хлухлуве-Умфолози", в който живеят опасни диви животни. Човекът се оказва по-жесток от тях при преследване на богатството и парите. На този фон авторът включва в сюжета малко драма и любовни взаимоотношения. Действието е забързано и постоянно се случва нещо. Хареса ми тази динамика и мисля, че книгата е много подходяща за филм, даже за мини сериал.
Авторът не ме остави да скучая нито за момент, затова ще продължа с интерес да го чета. Имам всички негови книги.
October 21, 2016
Well!!!
It was action packed, but I just coudn't really get into it, I felt a little let down as I have waited to read this.
I found it rambled on a bit in places 3 out of 4 Mr Park...
It was action packed, but I just coudn't really get into it, I felt a little let down as I have waited to read this.
I found it rambled on a bit in places 3 out of 4 Mr Park...
February 24, 2018
An exciting book. Many twists and turns kept me reading !
February 18, 2021
Red Earth
by
Tony Park
Red Earth by Tony Park was my seventh of his books set in Africa and it was as good, or better, than any of the other six. As usual I had visited or knew some of the locations during a visit to South Africa’s, Kruger National Park, in 2013.
Basically this novel is one long chase scene and commences with a woman (Suzanne) who is victim of a car hijacking in Durban. One of the hijackers steals her car along with her infant son.
Helicopter pilot, Nia, and wildlife researcher (Mike) are in pursuit and led on a merry chase by two teenage school children friends who do not know just who is chasing them and the baby they now have in their possession.
As Mike and Nia track the missing baby through wild game reserves of Zululand and Zimbabwe, Mike and Nia realise that war on terror has arrived in their world.
Not only are the bad guys trying to catch up with the baby and its teenage saviours, so also, are the CIA and no-one knows which members of the CIA are good and who is running with the bad guys.
Red Earth moves along at a good pace and lovers of Tony Park books will enjoy Red Earth.
Narrator, Mark Davis, also adds to this story.
I have rated Red Earth as a four star audiobook.
At the time of writing my review other Goodreads readers had awarded Red Earth an average of 4.09 stars from 473 ratings and 36 reviews
by
Tony Park
Red Earth by Tony Park was my seventh of his books set in Africa and it was as good, or better, than any of the other six. As usual I had visited or knew some of the locations during a visit to South Africa’s, Kruger National Park, in 2013.
Basically this novel is one long chase scene and commences with a woman (Suzanne) who is victim of a car hijacking in Durban. One of the hijackers steals her car along with her infant son.
Helicopter pilot, Nia, and wildlife researcher (Mike) are in pursuit and led on a merry chase by two teenage school children friends who do not know just who is chasing them and the baby they now have in their possession.
As Mike and Nia track the missing baby through wild game reserves of Zululand and Zimbabwe, Mike and Nia realise that war on terror has arrived in their world.
Not only are the bad guys trying to catch up with the baby and its teenage saviours, so also, are the CIA and no-one knows which members of the CIA are good and who is running with the bad guys.
Red Earth moves along at a good pace and lovers of Tony Park books will enjoy Red Earth.
Narrator, Mark Davis, also adds to this story.
I have rated Red Earth as a four star audiobook.
At the time of writing my review other Goodreads readers had awarded Red Earth an average of 4.09 stars from 473 ratings and 36 reviews
April 7, 2025
Fast paced thriller. Kept me wanting to read more.
February 17, 2024
You know what, it’s fine. Not great, not terrible, just… fine. The main characters do what main characters do in this genre - make a series of increasingly unlikely decisions until they are in too deep to get out: and then hijinx ensue. Setting it in African game reserves and sanctuaries brought a really interesting element.
However… the way the female characters were written annoyed me so much that has tainted any enjoyment I could have had. The male lead can’t seem to decide whether he likes the main female for her feistiness or is annoyed by the fact she has a mind of her own, but he is happy that she’s always down to f*ck. Another significant female character does an awesome job of crying and carrying a baby. None of the male characters can be in the presence of a female character without catching feelings. Pretty sure it would not pass the Bechdel test.
However… the way the female characters were written annoyed me so much that has tainted any enjoyment I could have had. The male lead can’t seem to decide whether he likes the main female for her feistiness or is annoyed by the fact she has a mind of her own, but he is happy that she’s always down to f*ck. Another significant female character does an awesome job of crying and carrying a baby. None of the male characters can be in the presence of a female character without catching feelings. Pretty sure it would not pass the Bechdel test.
August 22, 2017
Suzanne Fessey pulls her car into a rest stop to deal with her vomiting baby. She is carjacked and before she can react, the thief drives off in her car with her baby, triggering an epic manhunt across scorching Kwazulu-Natal.
The US ambassador is killed in Durban, leaching manpower and resources from the police who would’ve searched for the missing baby. The task then falls to feisty helicopter pilot Nia Carras and bushranger Mike Dunn, who team up to track the missing baby but they encounter a web of intrigue, poaching and terrorism that embroils not just Africa, but the US as well.
It is difficult to continue with a precis of this book without spoiling the storyline’s natural twists and turns, which flow evenly and logically throughout the novel, so I’m not going to!
This is the first Tony Park book I’ve read and am impressed by his rejection of stereotypes and use of believable characters. The storyline is pacy without feeling frantic and delivers on the promises of action and peril.
Early on in the book, Mike Dunn is attending the site of some dead vultures and I’ve learnt more about vultures in one chapter than my whole life to date. Perhaps I’m not the only one, but I would be happy reading a Mike Dunn story, where nothing extraordinary happens, he’s just going about his business in the bush.
The wildlife are characters in their own right and just as deadly as the terrorists. In the temperate UK, there’s no reason to be wary of wildlife – a squirrel is just not going to be dangerous to you. It was interesting to read a book where mankind is not at the top of the food chain in other places of the world. There is a gripping reminder of that truth midway through the book, involving the baby and a leopard.
I do have a couple of minor gripes with the book though and they’re just enough to stop it from receiving top marks.
Some of the characters are thinly sketched and could’ve used more backstory to flesh them out into living, breathing people, with nuanced histories and motivations.
The other main gripe is that the author assumes that the reader is familiar with the geography and terminology used in Africa, which I’m certainly not. More than once I found myself googling both words to understand colloquial terms and maps to try and get a greater sense of where the action was happening. It was a minor annoyance, Google is only a click away, but a few descriptive words for the uninitiated would’ve prevented being dragged out of the story to do a little research.
These are minor moans, though and don’t detract too much from my enjoyment of the story.
Red Earth is very much in the same mould as classic Jack Higgins and conjures images of searing, beautiful, deadly Africa. It’s so authentic, you can almost taste the dust in your mouth and the blazing sun on your neck.
Four out of five laughing hyenas.
The US ambassador is killed in Durban, leaching manpower and resources from the police who would’ve searched for the missing baby. The task then falls to feisty helicopter pilot Nia Carras and bushranger Mike Dunn, who team up to track the missing baby but they encounter a web of intrigue, poaching and terrorism that embroils not just Africa, but the US as well.
It is difficult to continue with a precis of this book without spoiling the storyline’s natural twists and turns, which flow evenly and logically throughout the novel, so I’m not going to!
This is the first Tony Park book I’ve read and am impressed by his rejection of stereotypes and use of believable characters. The storyline is pacy without feeling frantic and delivers on the promises of action and peril.
Early on in the book, Mike Dunn is attending the site of some dead vultures and I’ve learnt more about vultures in one chapter than my whole life to date. Perhaps I’m not the only one, but I would be happy reading a Mike Dunn story, where nothing extraordinary happens, he’s just going about his business in the bush.
The wildlife are characters in their own right and just as deadly as the terrorists. In the temperate UK, there’s no reason to be wary of wildlife – a squirrel is just not going to be dangerous to you. It was interesting to read a book where mankind is not at the top of the food chain in other places of the world. There is a gripping reminder of that truth midway through the book, involving the baby and a leopard.
I do have a couple of minor gripes with the book though and they’re just enough to stop it from receiving top marks.
Some of the characters are thinly sketched and could’ve used more backstory to flesh them out into living, breathing people, with nuanced histories and motivations.
The other main gripe is that the author assumes that the reader is familiar with the geography and terminology used in Africa, which I’m certainly not. More than once I found myself googling both words to understand colloquial terms and maps to try and get a greater sense of where the action was happening. It was a minor annoyance, Google is only a click away, but a few descriptive words for the uninitiated would’ve prevented being dragged out of the story to do a little research.
These are minor moans, though and don’t detract too much from my enjoyment of the story.
Red Earth is very much in the same mould as classic Jack Higgins and conjures images of searing, beautiful, deadly Africa. It’s so authentic, you can almost taste the dust in your mouth and the blazing sun on your neck.
Four out of five laughing hyenas.
February 15, 2019
В екшън романите на австралиеца Тони Парк на африкански теми задължително има някаква добра кауза, най-често – екологична; задължително един от главните добри (или мъжът, или жената) има някакви командоски умения и/или боен етап в биографията си; задължително един от главните добри (може – и същият) е австралиец/-ийка или поне полуавстралиец/-ийка и задължително поне двама от добрите се привличат до степен на интимност. Екологичната кауза в “Червена земя“ са лешоядите, които вършат само добрини на околната среда, но местните хора в Зулуландия ги преследват заради поверия, че главите им, потопени в отвара от лудо биле в павиански гъз (или нещо друго в този дух) лекуват от смъртоносни заболявания. Голяма част от събитията се случват сред природните резервати Мкузе, Шлушлуи и иМфолози в провинция КваЗулу-Натал, бивши ловни полета на зулуските вождове отпреди колонизацията. Но понеже целият сюжет е едно щуро преследване на двойка зулуси тинейджъри от селска гимназия и попаднало им бебе с бяла южноафриканска и матова близкоизточна жилка и имплантиран чип във врата, картата на района на действие обхваща и Крюгер парк, Свазиленд и някои области в южни Мозамбик и Зимбабве. А понеже още в първата глава в Дърбан взривяват американска посланичка, залозите за вдигнати спрямо предишните оферти от същия автор. Всичко е най-малко удвоено на брой – и добрите, и лошите, и австралийците, че даже и хеликоптерите. Интригата е единствено дали всички добри ще оцелеят и дали ще останат добри до края. Подсказка #1: ако един добър е болен от рак, то най-вероятно ще загине саможертвено. Освен ако не се сети да пробва отвара от лешоядова глава. Подсказка #2: ако на някой добър единственият му грях е недообмислено прелюбодейство, може и да оцелее, но с цената поне на физиотерапия. Подсказка #3: в запазената територия на добри африканци и австралийци американци биха проникнали само след обстоен приемен изпит. А пък паролата, с която терористите са шифровали швейцарската си банкова сметка за спестявания за атомна бомба (и за малко не са взели на бебето здравето в процеса на шифроване) даже и трето дивизионен отбор по бягства от заключени стаи ще я разкрие!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2017
Based mostly in South Africa, Tony Park's Red Earth is a rollicking read, full of danger and action. The story begins with an activity that's apparently all too common in the Republic, notably a car-jacking. Unfortunately the outcomes create mayhem, as a young baby was in the car-jacked vehicle, and the vehicle also belonged to a female terrorist leader.
From there the action escalates as the mother seeks to reclaim her car and baby, and brings into the picture an unlikely partnership between a wildlife expert Mike Dunn and a helicopter pilot Nia Carras. As a backdrop the American ambassador to South Africa has just been assassinated and the local police and American agencies are relentlessly trying to catch the other members of the terrorist cell that the suicide bomber belonged to.
Mike and Nia combine their local knowledge to track down the vehicle with the baby on board, not initially aware of its link to Suzanne Fessey, the baby's mother, and the brutal terrorist leader. Fessey is a take-no-prisoners type and the body count mounts as she tries to find her baby. But there's another reason for wanting to locate the baby, as a digital device has been implanted into the child's neck, and contains details of a multi million dollar Swiss bank account.
Red Earth is an exciting read as the good versus evil story-line plays out across South Africa and into neighbouring territories. Tony Park delivers.
From there the action escalates as the mother seeks to reclaim her car and baby, and brings into the picture an unlikely partnership between a wildlife expert Mike Dunn and a helicopter pilot Nia Carras. As a backdrop the American ambassador to South Africa has just been assassinated and the local police and American agencies are relentlessly trying to catch the other members of the terrorist cell that the suicide bomber belonged to.
Mike and Nia combine their local knowledge to track down the vehicle with the baby on board, not initially aware of its link to Suzanne Fessey, the baby's mother, and the brutal terrorist leader. Fessey is a take-no-prisoners type and the body count mounts as she tries to find her baby. But there's another reason for wanting to locate the baby, as a digital device has been implanted into the child's neck, and contains details of a multi million dollar Swiss bank account.
Red Earth is an exciting read as the good versus evil story-line plays out across South Africa and into neighbouring territories. Tony Park delivers.
November 5, 2016
'Red Earth' is Tony Park’s best effort so far.
Settle in for an exciting ride, where nothing is as it seems.
There are more twists and turns in the plot than a big Kudu bull’s horns.
Just when you think you have worked out who’s who, the dynamics change. I gave up trying to guess how it would end and just sat back and enjoyed the yarn.
The story builds up to climax after climax as the pace quickens.
As I got towards the end of the book, I found myself hoping the climax I was devouring was not “it”, so the story would last that bit longer.
Tony’s books are three-quarters cracking yarn and one-quarter educational travelogue on Southern Africa, its peoples, landscapes and animals. His descriptions highlight the beauty and irony that is Africa, the amazing little details that the first time traveller might miss.
Tony’s first hand knowledge and empathy with military matters adds that essential air of believability, so that you find yourself accepting and enjoying the moment, rather than thinking, “how could this be so?”
Tony is a modest, no frills author. That such a great storyline can come from such an unassuming person is another African mystery, but one we should all be grateful for.
So as someone once said, do yourself a favour and have a look at 'Red Earth'. You won’t be disappointed.
Settle in for an exciting ride, where nothing is as it seems.
There are more twists and turns in the plot than a big Kudu bull’s horns.
Just when you think you have worked out who’s who, the dynamics change. I gave up trying to guess how it would end and just sat back and enjoyed the yarn.
The story builds up to climax after climax as the pace quickens.
As I got towards the end of the book, I found myself hoping the climax I was devouring was not “it”, so the story would last that bit longer.
Tony’s books are three-quarters cracking yarn and one-quarter educational travelogue on Southern Africa, its peoples, landscapes and animals. His descriptions highlight the beauty and irony that is Africa, the amazing little details that the first time traveller might miss.
Tony’s first hand knowledge and empathy with military matters adds that essential air of believability, so that you find yourself accepting and enjoying the moment, rather than thinking, “how could this be so?”
Tony is a modest, no frills author. That such a great storyline can come from such an unassuming person is another African mystery, but one we should all be grateful for.
So as someone once said, do yourself a favour and have a look at 'Red Earth'. You won’t be disappointed.
July 10, 2017
This was a surprisingly good read. I don't read a lot of action/adventure as I usually leave that for the big screen, and I've never read anything by Tony Park before. Now however, I will definitely consider reading his work again.
Red Earth is a high octane thriller that while still bringing nail-biting tension, also focuses on good character development: something often missing in the action genre. The dynamics between the characters and the little twists and turns really made the story interesting.
What I also enjoyed was that Park incorporated many real life issues and circumstances into his work, raising awareness of poaching and dwindling vulture numbers, as well as not shying away from using ISIS as a political device.
My main criticism is that the book could have been cut a bit shorter, especially in the first half as there were parts which dragged and felt unnecessary. This is turn made it hard to get into at first, other than that I really enjoyed it.
If you have never read Tony Park before I definitely recommend you give him a shot, and Red Earth is a great place to start.
Red Earth is a high octane thriller that while still bringing nail-biting tension, also focuses on good character development: something often missing in the action genre. The dynamics between the characters and the little twists and turns really made the story interesting.
What I also enjoyed was that Park incorporated many real life issues and circumstances into his work, raising awareness of poaching and dwindling vulture numbers, as well as not shying away from using ISIS as a political device.
My main criticism is that the book could have been cut a bit shorter, especially in the first half as there were parts which dragged and felt unnecessary. This is turn made it hard to get into at first, other than that I really enjoyed it.
If you have never read Tony Park before I definitely recommend you give him a shot, and Red Earth is a great place to start.
August 21, 2016
This was my first ever Tony Park book. Did I like it? Let's see...I started reading it before bed and finished reading before bed that same night. I could not put this book down! There were so many side stories that all linked in together to create the main story. Holy moly! Everything happened in this book.
Assassination..check. Baby kidnap...check. Romance...check. Action...check. Lives at stake...check. As I said, this book has something for everything. Spies, Park Rangers, Teenagers and Helicopter pilots, all going about their business one day in Africa, when BAM!!! Their world changes and suddenly they are in a literal race to the death.
Well written and keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Assassination..check. Baby kidnap...check. Romance...check. Action...check. Lives at stake...check. As I said, this book has something for everything. Spies, Park Rangers, Teenagers and Helicopter pilots, all going about their business one day in Africa, when BAM!!! Their world changes and suddenly they are in a literal race to the death.
Well written and keeps you on the edge of your seat.
June 9, 2022
Another cracking book by Tony Park. He certainly knows the area around the reserves in northern KZN. It was exactly as he described.
The story focuses on the plight of the endangered birds and animals being slaughtered to satisfy man’s cravings for power, status, health through “traditional medicine” and the desperate struggle of those fighting against the tide of corruption.
Throw into this mix a terrorist arrack, a car-jacking and the coming together of unlikely allies in a tale moving through South Africa from Durban into Zimbabwe and it makes a great tale.
The story focuses on the plight of the endangered birds and animals being slaughtered to satisfy man’s cravings for power, status, health through “traditional medicine” and the desperate struggle of those fighting against the tide of corruption.
Throw into this mix a terrorist arrack, a car-jacking and the coming together of unlikely allies in a tale moving through South Africa from Durban into Zimbabwe and it makes a great tale.
October 29, 2022
If you enjoy an endless lineup of gunfights and shootouts with a skinny storyline this might work for you but I was very bored and disappointed listening to this audiobook. There are many books from this author that I have enjoyed but not this one.
On a side note, the narrator Mark Davis's interpretation of the South African accents is awful and lazy and he should stick with the voices he is good at.
On a side note, the narrator Mark Davis's interpretation of the South African accents is awful and lazy and he should stick with the voices he is good at.
November 18, 2020
Rollicking good ride and fun.
March 12, 2021
As good as any book by Tony Parks
July 18, 2021
Beautifully written. Kept me wanting to read more
January 18, 2023
Excellent action thriller set in Southern Africa. Cannot wait to have a discussion with Tony, the author, at our special book club this weekend.
March 28, 2025
The excitement never ends, you think you have it worked out, then there is another twist.
January 21, 2023
Not my favourite but i would recommend reding it if you like adventure and crime
December 30, 2023
I'm not overly enamoured of action-packed thrillers with heaps of violence but Tony Park balances these themes with others that make his work quite admirable, particularly his concern for endangered wildlife and his disgust at the illicit trade in animal products. Also his bad guys are well balanced in terms of gender, race, nationality and political affiliation.
January 12, 2019
Storyline: The story line was a little too much for me. It was like sitting on a rollercoaster for hours and hours. There was so much action. The book was more suited to be a movie, if that makes sense.
Writing style: I liked the writing style, it was eloquent.
Twists/engagement: The story was engaging, especially the start of the book which is the most important. The twist wasn’t very shocking although it was well thought out.
Overall: I like the story and the lesson associated with the book but the fact that the excitement did not stop was why this book gets a 4 and not a 5. The only times when it was tending towards a more intimate and detailed relationship with the characters was when Mike was talking about the trauma and anxiety he had from his past life. Some characters were also not developed quite as well too but you can expect that in 400 pages, overall but I enjoyed the book.
Writing style: I liked the writing style, it was eloquent.
Twists/engagement: The story was engaging, especially the start of the book which is the most important. The twist wasn’t very shocking although it was well thought out.
Overall: I like the story and the lesson associated with the book but the fact that the excitement did not stop was why this book gets a 4 and not a 5. The only times when it was tending towards a more intimate and detailed relationship with the characters was when Mike was talking about the trauma and anxiety he had from his past life. Some characters were also not developed quite as well too but you can expect that in 400 pages, overall but I enjoyed the book.
August 8, 2019
Okay, can I say I'm obsessed with the author - Tony Park. He takes me back to my beloved country of birth, stirring up so many emotions, I'm able to relive so many happy memories of growing up when he describes locations and the use of local lingo of South Africa.
If you are looking for a fast paced thriller, page turning never ending roller coaster of a ride, and emotions, and raw heart beating scenarios, then these books are it. Heavy hitting, gruesome in parts, but alas that is what life is in Africa, and particularly in South Africa. I cry on a daily basis about what is happening in the country of birth, and for its people and more importantly for its wildlife. Tony Park's descriptions and tales are woven through every blade of grass or drought stricken clods of earth that leaves one wanting more.
For someone who is not even South African, but an Australia who spends 6 months of each year in Africa, he belongs with the great authors from Africa.
If you are looking for a fast paced thriller, page turning never ending roller coaster of a ride, and emotions, and raw heart beating scenarios, then these books are it. Heavy hitting, gruesome in parts, but alas that is what life is in Africa, and particularly in South Africa. I cry on a daily basis about what is happening in the country of birth, and for its people and more importantly for its wildlife. Tony Park's descriptions and tales are woven through every blade of grass or drought stricken clods of earth that leaves one wanting more.
For someone who is not even South African, but an Australia who spends 6 months of each year in Africa, he belongs with the great authors from Africa.
November 17, 2024
This is set in South Africa, where a vulture researcher and an helicopter pilot are drawn into the hunt for terrorists responsible for the assassination of the USA ambassador. But they don't know about the terrorists and are only interested in saving a teenage boy and girl and a stolen baby, accused of things they didn't do. They wind up in the middle of the manhunt that takes them across South Africa trying to figure out exactly what is going on and who they can trust. Giving up being on the run isn't easy when everyone seems to want to kill you.
I enjoyed this, mostly, except for the ending. It was a twist that comes when you are dealing with spies. I'm not a bit fan of spy novels and glad there was only a small amount in this.
I enjoyed this, mostly, except for the ending. It was a twist that comes when you are dealing with spies. I'm not a bit fan of spy novels and glad there was only a small amount in this.
August 2, 2018
ALL THINGS AFRICAN
As soon as I find a book about Africa I have to read it. It’s the first I’ve tried by this author and I enjoyed it. Set in a part of SA I know well it took me back a few years. The storyline was good, although the information dump at the end was rather intense. The cast of characters was quite extensive and I’d recommend reading this is two sittings at most. I shall be buying more books by Tony Park.
As soon as I find a book about Africa I have to read it. It’s the first I’ve tried by this author and I enjoyed it. Set in a part of SA I know well it took me back a few years. The storyline was good, although the information dump at the end was rather intense. The cast of characters was quite extensive and I’d recommend reading this is two sittings at most. I shall be buying more books by Tony Park.
June 21, 2019
This is not my usual choice of genre, but is a fast-paced action tale which I really enjoyed. The kind of book that you don't want to put down because you have to know what happens next. I liked the South African background, remembering my time there with words that I haven't heard anywhere else slipping into the text. So why only 3 stars? Some of it just pushed the boundary of what could be possible and was just a little too gung-ho and glib for me. I'll certainly read more from this author.
May 31, 2017
One of the characters, Jed, first appears in 'Zambezi', so it might be nice to read Zambezi first? Although not the main character in this one, his previous experience in Zambezi does add another layer to this excellent read. It is fascinating reading this as he so accurately describes the areas - I can picture where all happens (I am South African and lived in Umhlanga and Mtubatuba).
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