Frank Coates' latest historical novel again draws on his love of the African continent and rocks along at a fair pace.
Whisper at Dawn begins in the final days of the Boer War, with young Australian deserter Dan Sullivan seeking a new life away from the eyes of officialdom. He stumbles across it in a backstreet brawl in steamy Mombasa.
Saved from a beating and robbery, belligerent chancer Australian Bill Freeman offers his saviour, who introduces himself as Dan Sutherland, a place in his newly established East African game safari business.
The plot quickly becomes a rich and colourful historical feast, referencing events of the day and taking in the family Freeman left behind in Adelaide, petulant safari clients, a native tracker with revenge on his mind, and as World War 1 breaks out, anti-German hysteria and a not so dashing British officer. Yes, there's a major love interest, too.
Coates does character development well, in particular Freeman, who as he blusters into old age becomes, if not loveable, just about bearable.
There are also wonderful descriptions of the African landscape, of life in the frontier town of Nairobi, and prewar Adelaide. However, perhaps the most touching, thought-provoking passages are those detailing life on a game safari. Little is left to the imagination.
- Peter Donaldson is ODT deputy news editor.
