Publisher's Synopsis
CRIME THRILLER HOUND'S 'BOOK OF THE WEEK' (25th-31st of May 2015) A routine patrol leads to the discovery of an international poaching racket and David makes it his mission to bring the perpetrators to justice. Kenya is in political and economic turmoil with widespread violence and acts of atrocity being committed by the government against the Kikuyu. POACHING, POLITICS & KILLER MOTIVES... Who is Commander Peter Abasi, AKA Maliki, and what does he want with Professor Mutungi and the Committee of Human Rights? And where do freelance reporter Aaron Bernstein and Seymour Dewitt of the American Embassy fit in? Amidst the turmoil David meets Caitlyn, the new vet at the elephant orphanage, as the heat intensifies will he be able to protect her? Review by Crime Thriller Hound (23rd May 2015); "The tribal custom that damages, and thus creates, the evil Maliki makes a strong opening set up in this busy thriller from Dan Fletcher. And then there's David, the protagonist. Five years after witnessing a shocking crime, David is working for the Kenyan Wildlife Service, hoping to find the monster behind the brutal attack that destroyed his family. In his role fighting poachers he discovers the terrible slaying of elephants (alive when their tusks were removed) with one orphan left in the carnage on the Kenyan/Tanzanian border. The surviving calf makes for a powerful headline that draws unwanted attention to those responsible. Why, despite more efforts to halt the poachers, are the numbers of killings on the rise? Is there an informant helping them? Even without this corruption, the police would be unable to protect the wildlife effectively . They are hugely under resourced and must flag up their patrol route. They also face a well-equipped enemy intent on capturing the highly valuable ivory. And the big money is in the black gold - the rhino horn. Dawn of Deception is rich with action and memorable characters such as Wei and Caitlyn (memorable for very different reasons), and a strong lead, the caring, brave David. The international poaching syndicates and the political corruption are ready made for Fletcher's thriller and both seem to have been well researched. Assuming it's as authentic as it reads, there's much to disturb and alarm us. International funding, loopholes, political corruption, and truly, evil, torturous individuals are at large. Graphic violence, both to humans and animals, is more than threatened in this confident thriller that pits the small crusaders against the big hitters. How can rangers compete against demand for such an expensive commodity? You'll instinctively despise those killing for money and back those on the animals' side. With the good guys constantly under as much threat as the animals you'll be hooked."
