No Darkness

by Mark Morey

What started as a work posting to Zimbabwe with his African girlfriend, becomes a life and death struggle against the forces of despot Robert Mugabe. Michael Page had no idea that a simple misunderstanding would have such tragic consequences. Set in 1999 when Zimbabwe is in a slow and inexorable decline, and the political scene is disturbed by a new opposition party which has a real chance of democratic victory. Only a tyrant deliberately destroys his own country in order to retain power and control, and Michael and his girlfriend Cathy become embroiled in what is close to a civil war. Can they make it out alive? And even if they do, can they survive the psychological torment they have endured?

360 pages, Paperback

Published March 28, 2017

About the author

Writing a novel didn’t cross my mind until after a visit to the local library where I couldn’t find a book that interested me. That led me consider a new pastime - write a book. That book may never be published, but I felt my follow-up cross-cultural romance-crime hybrid set in Russia had more potential. So much so that I wrote a sequel that took those characters on a journey to a very dark place.

The opening of the Red Sun Will Come came to me in a dream, and to this day I have no idea why Moscow. I had never been there before, but during the course of developing this novel we did visit Russia, and my wife and I both fell in love with Moscow. It is a world city: exciting, dynamic, visually beautiful and more What better setting for a romance with many difficulties?

Beyond part-time work and part-time writing I particularly enjoy travel.

But writing is my favourite pastime and I have many more tales that I would like to tell. Keep in touch to see where my next journey will take you.

Reviews

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommend to fans of political thrillers and anyone interested in the recent history of Zimbabwe.
When Michael and Cathy are posted to Zimbabwe they stumble upon an expenses scam. Little do they know the hornest nest of trouble it is going to stir up and how dangerous the political system is. Alongside the main story there runs a second from a much earlier period, involving Mudiwa and Rudo, whose love runs counter to the ways of their people.
A fast paced interesting story but the highlight of the read for me was the authentic feel of the setting. The book very much brought alive the vibrant sights and sounds of the country along with the humour of the people but also the sense of fear and oppression. My assumption is the author has had some first hand experience of the chaotic state of the country at the turn of this century.

[Lucinda Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I FOUND A NEW AUTHOR I LOVE
I loved this book. It jumped from rural Africa to the modern day, drawing a parallel between two couples both facing a love which is forbidden. What made it special for me was the author’s excellent grasp of the African way of life, the mindset and the outlook held by a different culture. Quite apart from the story, which had me turning the pages furiously, was the look inside modern day Zimbabwe describing what has happened to cause such suffering and the collapse of the infrastructure. If you are at all interested in world affairs, then you must read this book. Highly recommended.

[Allen Werner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Having no knowledge of Zimbabwe, I was absolutely amazed how effortlessly the author drew me into this strange and corrupt world filled with desperate but hopeful people. The cultural differences, both good and bad, were presented so succinctly, the story just flowed. There were unique uses of language. The writing is steady throughout. The plight of the characters changes, from love and comfort to desperate, all of which is to be expected in the chaotic and still tribal world they live. Highly recommended.

[John Hendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating story set in the failed state of Zimbabwe, with a sense of menace that never quite abates. Spread over two time periods coinciding with the rise of a viable opposition political party, and some years later after the brutal response to that. The second part is strangely more foreboding, perhaps because we now know how far those in power will go.

Intertwined with this is a lovely romance story, with the two stories connecting well. Characters are well-developed, even minor characters like the no-nonsense FADM sergeant, but what stands out is the African-ness of the characters and the story. This story shows a deep understanding of Zimbabwe and especially of its people.

Well written, fast-paced, and covers a lot of ground but never seems rushed. In other words, ideally-paced. Recommended.

[Valerie Poore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fast paced and exciting read and I enjoyed it very much. Having been to Zimbabwe when I lived in South Africa, I can agree that the people are wonderful and the book has a great sense of the place and atmosphere of this beautiful country. The story of Michael and Cathy is intense and gripping as is the interwoven earlier story of Mudiwa and Rudo, although I have to confess I didn't quite see how the two connected or why the legendary story was included, beautiful though it was. What rang even more true was the brutality of those in power when crossed and Michael and Cathy suffer badly when they expose the corruption behind a banking scam. Even after escaping, the evil that accompanies such power follows them, making for a thrilling adventure and climax. I can recommend this book to anyone who loves an action packed African drama.