Thrillers

Frank Coates captures the essential elements of how many people see the conflicts within the African continent in his sixth and latest novel Softly Calls the Serengeti (HarperCollins).

The turmoil surrounding a Kenyan election is viewed through the eyes and thoughts of a young shantytown-dwelling man, who is gifted in football but short on life experience.

Estranged from his father, Joshua Otieng longs to find his heritage, believing his father has run away from his past.

However, his father is trying to avoid the long-running tribal conflicts of his own history and a secret that has followed him since his youth. Within the mix, Mark Riley arrives to try to get over his writer's block, caused somewhat by the violent death of his wife in Indonesia. She had written a book that sparks his interest in Kenyan tribal history and he also wants to find an orphan he and his wife sponsored.

Although the boy has disappeared, funds are continuing to be paid to the account of the orphanage.

The villain is Gideon Koske, a political manipulator, corrupt businessman and violent thug. His main weapon is fear but his wealth is such that he can buy almost anything and anyone he chooses. He befriends Joshua, noticing his football ability. Koske sponsors the team, first providing Joshua with new boots - a luxury no other team member has ever had - then with a new strip and an opportunity to trial in front of Kenyan selectors. Joshua is manipulated to support Koske's favoured politician and the downward spiral of morality and ethics begins.

The book could be set in any country but the feel and smell of Kenya is a drawcard for readers. Yes, there is a happy ending but one that does not feel contrived.

• Thriller writers are regularly now publishing continuing stories and Jon Stock is no different with Games Traitors Play (Blue Door HarperCollins). Stock takes up the story of Daniel Marchant and his half-brother Salim Dhar, the world's most wanted terrorist. Marchant has long awaited another meeting with the brother he did not know he had until two books ago. The chance to turn him from a Islamic terrorist to working with the British secret service appears when it is learnt Dhar wants to visit the place his father lived and worked.

Intrigue, betrayal and redemption are woven into the story. The Americans are left looking like global bullies in their treatment of prisoners, the British every bit stiff upper lip, and readers are left dangling about whether or not Dhar will drown or turn. A good book for a wet Sunday afternoon.

• Long Reach (Walker Books), by Peter Cocks, has a different theme from other thrillers out this year. The "hero", Eddie Savage, makes two discoveries. One that his brother Steve has been working undercover; second, that Steve had died a violent death. Eddie is a raw teenager who becomes a critical part of a campaign by the police to infiltrate the violent Kelly family. He returns to school to befriend the daughter of the Kelly family boss. The daughter is regarded as off limits by boys at the school because of her family, but Eddie presses his suit and the story develops. Eddie is soon immersed in the family business, allegedly buying and selling antiques - real and fake. But there are dirty deeds being done with smuggling people and drugs and Eddie soon cannot decide which side he is really on.

The book is a fast-paced read, but again, the author takes the ending a step too far.

This is a growing and annoying trend to write an epilogue where common sense would say stop. I may be too cynical but the "real" ending of the book was good enough without a soppy epilogue.

 - Dene Mackenzie is a Dunedin journalist.