Legacy of War

by Wilbur Smith with David Churchill
Published by Bonnier
ISBN 9781838772246

The story telling skills and the way Wilbur Smith writes grip the reader"s attention providing a most enjoyable escape and entertaining reading.

As the story commences WWII is over, Gerhard von Meerbach is on a mission to find his unflinchingly cruel Nazi brother and is determined to see him brought to justice.

The two brother's views are poles apart, it's hard to believe they came from the same family. Gerhard a former ace fighter pilot and second son of a titled German industrialist, is married to Saffron Courtney, an English woman from a renowned and wealthy British Colonial family in Kenya who bravely served behind enemy lines in the War. She is highly trained and just as well as the first thrilling part of this story begins, she needs all those skills once again if she is to survive.

In this sequel to the Courtney's War, set across a backdrop of Germany after the War, Switzerland briefly and mostly in Africa, predominantly Kenya this novel is filled to the brim with hair raising and thrilling escapades.

There are also peaceful and enjoyable times for Saffron, Gerhard and their two young children and her parents, but Saffron can't resist using her knowledge and finely honed skills when necessary or opportunity arises.

What I particularly liked and without giving too much away, part of the highly charged story to catch Gerhard's nazi brother, the car chases through a part of Africa I know well. The accurate descriptions jumped to life as I pictured them hurtling down these roads in the dead of night.

Most of the story is set against the backdrop of the era of the Mau Mau uprisings as the Kenyan people are fighting for independence. Unfortunately not all white British Colonialists treat the local population with respect and dignity as well as the Courtney family do. It's quite shocking to read about some pretty hair raising cruelty afflicted upon the local population by some members of this Colonial group. Will they get their comeuppance?

There's never a dull moment in the Courtney and friends numerous adventures. It really is a nail bitingly thriller and I think better than a movie. All thanks to the author's gift for describing places and scenes that the reader can easily picture in the mind's eye.

If you enjoy a gripping story that is packed with adventure you will find this book difficult to put down.

Highly recommended, can't wait to read the next one.

This is independent review, I am not paid by the publishers, so.If you Liked this review, Buy me a coffee

Purchase this book from one of these bookstores