The First Rule Of Survival

(Paperback)

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Description

Seven years ago in Cape Town three young white South African schoolboys were abducted in broad daylight on three consecutive days. They were never heard of again.

Now, a new case for the unpredictable Colonel Vaughn de Vries casts a light on the original enquiry; for him, a personal failure which has haunted him for those seven years and has cost him his marriage and peace of mind.

A former British government agent, friend to De Vries, provides intelligence on this new case, but is any of it admissible Struggling in a mire of departmental and racial rivalry, De Vries seeks the whole truth and unravels a complex history of abuse, deception and murder. Challenging friends, colleagues and enemies, De Vries comes to realise he doesn't know who is which.

Set against the background of Cape Town and the endless, rolling South African veld, this chilling thriller reveals layer after layer of abuse physical, political and psychological.

Reviews

An excellent, uncompromising crime thriller made even better by its setting ... the story is two journeys in one, and I'm glad I took both.

A jaw-droppingly brilliant crime thriller. Imagine The Killing moved to Cape Town and into the landscape of the hot and dusty African veld.

The First Rule of Survival is an incredibly atmospheric, complex and dazzling debut from a thrilling and authentic new voice in crime fiction.

An impressive debut - The Times

Author Bio

Paul Mendelson is the author of eleven books on bridge, seven on poker and one on casino games. He is the weekly bridge columnist for the Financial Times and his stage-play, 'You're Quite Safe with Me' was performed at the Cottesloe Theatre in 1986. Paul was 21 at the time and is still the youngest playwright the National Theatre has ever had. He has also been Britain's bridge champion. Paul splits his time between South Africa and London.