New Releases by Wilbur Smith

A FAMILIAR FOE. A BATTLE FOR THE HEART OF A COUNTRY AT WAR WITH ITSELF. South Africa, 1899 - the smouldering hostility between the Boers of the Transvaal and Orange Free State and the British colonies of the Cape and Natal is about to burst into flame. War is coming and no one can prevent it. Colonel Penrod Ballantyne, hero of Abu Klea and Omdurman, is sent to Mafeking, ''the place of stones'', to recruit and train men for the fighting ahead. Amber, his wife, the successful novelist, accompanies him - eager to see more of the country her husband is about to risk his life for. But when war is declared, Amber must flee with their baby son and pray for her husband''s survival against impossible odds. Eight hundred miles to the south, in Cape Town, Ryder Courtney - adventurer, maverick, industrialist - is using his wealth and connections to bankroll the British war effort. His artist wife Saffron, frustrated by stuffy Cairo society, has joined him with their three children. There is peace in the Courtney household, or so Saffron believes, until their eldest son, Leon, stows away on a train to the front line, determined to join his distinguished uncle, Penrod Ballantyne, in changing the course of history. Saffron and Ryder have no choice but to leave the safety of the Cape Colony and follow. Leon is convinced that his parents are without honour and courage. Little does he realise that he has no chance of escaping the people they used to be. Two families torn apart, caught up in a battle for the heart of a country at war with itself. BOOK 24 IN THE LONG-RUNNING EPIC HISTORICAL SAGA OF THE COURTNEY FAMILY FROM WILBUR SMITH IN WHICH THE COURTNEYS AND THE BALLANTYNES COME TOGETHER ONCE AGAIN IN THE SEQUEL TO WORLDWIDE BESTSELLERS THE TRIUMPH OF THE SUN AND KING OF KINGS. Praise for Wilbur Smith ''A master storyteller'' Sunday Times ''No one does adventure quite like Smith'' Daily Mirror ''Best historical novelist'' Stephen King

When Ann Waite discovers a battered longboat washed ashore in Algoa Bay, she is stunned to find two survivors: a badly scarred sailor and a little boy. But it isn''t long before Ralph, Ann and their fellow settlers learn that Nativity Bay now lies on the borders of a mighty kingdom, where the warrior king Shaka rules.[Bokinfo].

In Amulet, het negende deel in de populaire Egypte-serie van bestsellerauteur Wilbur Smith, hebben jaren van Hyksos-heerschappij geleid tot de teloorgang van het eens zo machtige Egypte. Hoewel de huidige farao weer op zijn rechtmatige troon zit, is zijn macht broos – sommigen proberen te profiteren van de chaos die is ontstaan na de eerdere harde machtsstrijd. Wanhopig probeert de grote magiër Taita de twee verdeelde koninkrijken van Egypte te verenigen, en stuurt daarom zijn beschermeling, Piay, op een missie. Aan Piay de zware taak om het antwoord te vinden op een eeuwenoud raadsel, dat de vrede in Egypte voor altijd veilig zou kunnen stellen. Met het lot van zijn thuisland in zijn handen, snelt hij door de woestijn op zoek naar aanwijzingen om het raadsel op te lossen. Kan Piay voorkomen dat zijn geliefde land in handen valt van degenen die het ten onder willen zien gaan? Amulet is het razend spannende nieuwe deel in de succesvolle Egypte-reeks. ''Topamusement.'' – de Volkskrant ''De allerbeste historische romanschrijver.'' – Stephen King

A brand-new Ancient Egyptian epic from the master of adventure, Wilbur Smith. Global bestselling author of River God and The New Kingdom, Wilbur Smith, returns with the next epic book in his brand-new Ancient Egyptian series. A RUTHLESS ENEMY. A CIVILISATION IN RUINS. A QUEST FOR SALVATION. For over fifty years Egypt has known nothing but war and devastation at the hands of the Hyksos, a bloodthirsty barbarian people from the distant east who continue to advance, crushing armies in their wake. Times are desperate, but throughout the conflict, a brave resistance fights on under the great Taita, a slave who has risen far beyond his ranks. Piay, entrusted into Taita''s care by his parents at the age of just five, has been trained to become a great spy, unmatched by any other. Determined to prove his worth, he embarks on a dangerous mission to the north - to Mycenae and through the heart of Hyksos land and across the great sea - to find allies to help defend Egypt. As the situation becomes increasingly precarious, and the fate of the kingdom is hanging in the balance, can Piay succeed in his quest or will this mean the end of the glory that is Egypt once and for all?

An epic new novel of Ancient Egypt, from the Master of Historical Adventure, Wilbur Smith. FROM THE RUINS OF BATTLE A HERO MUST RISE FOR THE GLORY OF EGYPT Years of Hyksos rule have seen the plunder of once-mighty Egypt. Though the two kingdoms have now been reunited by the armies of the true Pharaoh, his position is perilous, his rule under threat from those who seek to take advantage of the turmoil created by the overthrow of the Hyksos. Desperate to keep Egypt united, Taita the Magus summons his protégé, Piay, to solve a millennia-old riddle which has the power to secure Egypt''s future forever. But in the tumult of war, an evil has thrived. Malevolent followers of Seth, the god of chaos, are determined to claim this power and usher in a new age of darkness. The fate of Egypt is at stake. Can Piay prevent their land falling into the hands of those who would see its ruin? Book 3 in The New Kingdom Sequence and book 9 in the Ancient Egyptian series from the master historical adventure writer, Wilbur Smith. Don''t miss House of Two Pharaohs, the next action-packed Egyptian adventure from Wilbur Smith. Coming August 2025.

Two brothers divided over the future of a country on the brink of revolution. Multimillion copy bestselling author Wilbur Smith returns with a brand-new historical epic, set against the backdrop of the American revolution. The Courtney family is torn apart as three generations fight on opposing sides of a terrible war that will change the face of the world forever. ''Best Historical Novelist'' Stephen King 1774. Rob Courtney has spent his whole life in a quiet trading outpost on the east coast of Africa, dreaming of a life of adventure at sea. When his grandfather Jim dies, Rob takes his chance and stows away on a ship as it sails to England, with only the family heirloom, the Neptune Sword, to his name. Arriving in London, Rob is seduced by the charms of the big city and soon finds himself desperate and penniless. That is until the navy comes calling. Rob is sent across the Atlantic on a ship to join the war against the rebellious American colonists. But on the other side of the Atlantic, unbeknownst to Rob, his distant cousins Cal and Aidan Courtney are leading a campaign against the British. Their one desire is American independence, and they are determined to drive the British out of America - by whatever means necessary. . . A powerful new historical thriller by the master of adventure fiction, Wilbur Smith, of families divided and a country on the brink of revolution.

A brand-new Ancient Egyptian novel from the master of adventure fiction and global number 1 bestselling author, Wilbur Smith.

Third high-octane instalment in the bestselling author''s compelling Jack Courtney Adventures for readers 10+, following CLOUDBURST and THUNDERBOLT. On the pretext of making a film for his mother''s environmental protection work, Jack wangles an expedition to the Arctic with his friends Amelia and Xander and cousin Caleb. But Xander''s investigations into the mysterious backers funding their adventure raises Jack''s suspicions. Is the renewable energy investment company really as environmentally responsible as it claims to be? While sledding with dogs, ice fishing, driving snowmobiles and sleeping in a self-made igloo, accidents beset them. Then disaster strikes when Caleb takes on a pack of wolves. Can Jack really trust his mother''s friend Jonny Armfield to come to their help, or is he part of the problem?

The action-packed and gripping historical adventure by global sensation Wilbur Smith, about one man''s quest for revenge. ''An exciting, taut and thrilling journey you will never forget'' - Sun THE DESIRE FOR REVENGE CAN BURN THE HEART OUT OF A MAN The son of a wealthy plantation owner and a doting mother, Mungo St John is accustomed to wealth and luxury - until he returns from university to discover his family ruined, his inheritance stolen and his childhood sweetheart, Camilla, taken by the conniving Chester Marion. Mungo swears vengeance and devotes his life to saving Camilla - and destroying Chester. As Mungo battles his own fate and misfortune, he must question what it takes for a man to regain his power in the world when he has nothing, and what he is willing to do to exact revenge . . . Call of the Raven is the prequel to Wilbur Smith''s bestselling novel, A Falcon Flies (1980), part of the Ballantyne Series. Don''t miss the rest of the series, Men of Men, The Angels Weep, The Leopard Hunts in Darkness, Triumph of the Sun and King of Kings, all available in paperback and ebook now. Praise for Wilbur Smith ''Best historical novelist'' - Stephen King ''A master storyteller'' - Sunday Times ''Wilbur Smith is one of those benchmarks against whom others are compared'' - The Times ''No one does adventure quite like Smith'' - Daily Mirror ''Call of the Raven'' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/e 06-09-2020.

A Courtney series adventure - Book 1 in the Assegai sequence For King and Country. No matter the cost. With the backing of his uncle, General Penrod Ballantyne, young Leon Courtney joins the King''s Rifles of Nairobi. When he becomes discouraged by the dishonesty of army life, his uncle recruits him for a special mission - spying on the Germans in East Africa, whom the General suspects are preparing for the Kaiser''s war. Posing as a professional game hunter Leon is tasked with gathering information on one is his clients, a wealthy industrialist Otto Von Meerbach. Leon finds himself falling for von Meerbach''s beautiful mistress but never forgets that his real mission is to destroy the enemy. But how easy will he find his task when his true enemy is closer to home than Leon ever expected?

The first ever memoir from the Number One global bestselling adventure author Wilbur Smith has lived an incredible life of adventure, and now he shares the extraordinary true stories that have inspired his fiction. I''ve been writing novels for over fifty years. I was lucky enough to miss the big wars and not get shot, but lucky enough to grow up among the heroes who had served in them and learn from their example. I have lucked into things continuously. I have done things which have seemed appalling at the time,disastrous even, but out of them have come another story or a deeper knowledge of human character and the ability to express myself better on paper, write books which people enjoy reading. Along the way, I have lived a life that I could never have imagined. I have been privileged to meet people from all corners of the globe, I have been wherever my heart has desired and in the process my books have taken readers to many, many places. I always say I''ve started wars, I''ve burned down cities, and I''ve killed hundreds of thousands of people - but only in my imagination! From being attacked by lions to close encounters with deadly reef sharks, from getting lost in the African bush without water to crawling the precarious tunnels of gold mines, from marlin fishing with Lee Marvin to near death from crash-landing a Cessna airplane, from brutal schooldays to redemption through writing and falling in love, Wilbur Smith tells us the intimate stories of his life that have been the raw material for his fiction. Always candid, sometimes hilarious, and never less than thrillingly entertaining, On Leopard Rock is testament to a writer whose life is as rich and eventful as his novels are compellingly unputdownable.

An action-packed thriller from global bestseller Wilbur Smith The Syrian plane disintegrated, evaporating in a gush of silvery smoke, rent through with bright white lightning, and the ejecting pilot''s body was blown clear of the fuselage. For an instant it was outlined ahead of David''s screen, cruciform in shape with arms and legs thrown wide, the helmet still on the head, and the clothing ballooning in the rush of air.'' He chose this life. And it may cost him everything. From a young age it''s clear that David Morgan is ''bird''-a natural pilot, most at home in the air. In the South African Air Force he receives plaudits beyond his years, and even his family begins to accept that David will do anything to stay away from the Morgan billion-dollar business, and to keep flying instead. Following his dream and in pursuit of Debra, a beautiful young Israeli writer, David soon joins the Israeli Defence Force and finds himself caught up in the country''s struggles. But when he pays a terrible price for his choices, will he be able to become the man he always hoped -or will he choose to disappear into the skies?

BOOK 5 IN THE EPIC HISTORICAL SAGA OF THE COURTNEY FAMILY, FROM INTERNATIONAL SENSATION WILBUR SMITH ''Smith will take you on an exciting, taut and thrilling journey you will never forget'' - Sun ''With Wilbur Smith the action is never further than the turn of a page'' - Independent ''No one does adventure quite like Smith'' - Daily Mirror A POWERFUL FAMILY. A DEVASTATING WAR. Centaine de Thiry Courtney has not only survived the many challenges of her life but has thrived. A successful businesswoman with two sons: Shasa Courtney, the Courtney heir, and Manfred de la Rey, Shasa''s half-brother, her secret child raised solely by his father. But as the Great Depression takes hold, Centaine must make difficult decisions to ensure the security of her family - decisions that will affect Manfred and his father, Lothar de la Rey, a man Centaine once loved. But the world is changing, and conflicts greater than any the world has seen before are looming. Centaine and her children must face the upcoming war - and not all of them will be on the same side . . . A Courtney Series adventure - Book 2 in The Burning Shore sequence The Power of the Sword is the shocking second novel in The Burning Shore sequence of the Courtney family saga by Wilbur Smith, one of the best and most beloved authors of the century. Book 6 in the Courtney family series, Rage, is available now.

BOOK 2 IN THE BALLANTYNE SERIES, BY INTERNATIONAL SENSATION WILBUR SMITH ''Best historical novelist'' - Stephen King ''A master storyteller'' - Sunday Times ''Wilbur Smith is one of those benchmarks against whom others are compared'' - The Times ''No one does adventure quite like Smith'' - Daily Mirror A RUTHLESS MAN. AN UNFORGIVING DESTINY. Zouga Ballantyne has in his blood a fanatical need to find diamonds, and it is in the diamond mines of Kimberley that he finally realises his fate. But the price of success in one of the most punishing places in the world is high, and Zouga loses his beloved wife to one of the many sicknesses that haunt the diamond mine camp. Zouga and his sons are left to find their fortune elsewhere, and end up a part of the flourishing British Empire, developing their own form of civilisation in the face of tribal opposition. But Zouga''s success has come at a price. The local Matabele tribe, who have tried to live alongside the colonists, are slowly losing everything. In the face of exploitation, violence and greed, who will triumph in the land of ruthless men? The second book in the epic Ballantyne Series. Book 3 in the Ballantyne series, The Angels Weep, is available now.

A Courtney series adventure - Book 2 in the When the Lion Feeds trilogy SOME WILL WIN. SOME WILL LOSE. As war is declared between the British Empire and the Transvaal Republic, a battle-hardened and newly wealthy Sean Courtney realizes that it is not only on the front lines where enemies are made. While Sean’s own brother, Garrick, is bitter and vengeful—determined to destroy Sean and the empire he has built—his sons are repeating the sins of their father, locked in a violent and seemingly never-ending struggle. On the brink of losing everything in the ongoing war, Sean discovers there is something he can’t buy – true love – in the strong-willed, self-assured and beautiful Ruth Friedman. But this love forms a weakness in him, a weakness Garrick is determined to manipulate to deliver the revenge he so desperately seeks. As Sean fights to save himself, his family, and his fortune, The Sound of Thunder becomes a vibrant tale of love and hatred in many forms: between brothers, between friends, between father and son, and between man and woman. The Sound of Thunder is the thrilling second novel from Wilbur Smith, one of the bestselling and most beloved authors of the 20th century.

BOOK 4 IN THE BALLANTYNE SERIES, BY INTERNATIONAL SENSATION WILBUR SMITH ''Best historical novelist'' - Stephen King ''A master storyteller'' - Sunday Times ''Wilbur Smith is one of those benchmarks against whom others are compared'' - The Times ''No one does adventure quite like Smith'' - Daily Mirror A FAMILY''S PAST. A COUNTRY''S FUTURE. Bestselling author Craig Mellow is tired of fame and wants only to return to his family''s old home in Zimbabwe. When the World Bank recruits Craig to investigate ivory poaching and corruption it is the opportunity he so desperately craves to return. Under the guise of writing a new book on Africa, Mellow returns to his family''s old ranch, Rholands, accompanied by beautiful young photographer Sally-Anne Jay. Although it''s now derelict, Craig wants to rebuild and turn Rholands into a tourist safari, but he finds his way unexpectedly blocked by his old friend, now government minister, Tungata Zebiwe. With the corrupt government blocking his plans and new conflict on the horizon, Craig and Sally must fight not only for their lives, but for the very future of a country. The fourth book in the epic Ballantyne Series and the final instalment in the first sequence. Join a new generation of Ballantynes in Book 5 of the Ballantyne series, The Triumph of the Sun, available now.

An action-packed, race-against-time thriller from global sensation Wilbur Smith. ''A master storyteller'' - Sunday Times ''Wilbur Smith is one of those benchmarks against whom others are compared'' - The Times ''No one does adventure quite like Smith'' - Daily Mirror His toughest challenge. His final hope. Once the envied and admired chairman of one of the world''s most successful shipping consortiums, Nick Berg now finds himself completely alone. His long-time nemesis, Duncan Alexander, has schemed to take his job, alienated him from his wife and son, and stolen his fortune. Nick''s only hope now is the Warlock, a top-of-the-range salvage boat that will be his final gamble. When an SOS call comes in Nick finds himself in a race against time - one of his former company''s Antarctic cruisers is stranded, sinking in frozen wastelands in a terrible storm. But this is no accident, and as Nick fights to save the lives of the six hundred people on board he has no idea that they are pawns in a game concocted by Duncan Alexander. And it''s not just Nick he wants to ruin - the future of his former company and even the ocean itself is under threat. As the storm sweeps in, can Nick save them all before it''s too late?

An action-packed thriller of family, business and betrayal – perfect for fans of Succession – by international bestselling author, Wilbur Smith. Some people will never have enough . . . Johnny Lance was taken in by the Van Der Byls when he was an orphaned boy, and his life has been dedicated to making his adoptive father proud. But his efforts have been in vain, his father loathes him and, in his dying breath, makes one final demand of his biological son, the jealous and vengeful Benedict: to destroy his half-brother. After being tricked into giving his entire fortune to the Van Der Byls Diamond company, Johnny realizes he only needs two things in life, and one of them is Benedict’s sister, the smart and beautiful Tracey. But the obsessive Benedict has been shaped at his father''s hand and will stop at nothing to finish what he started. Even if it means destroying everything . . .

BOOK 9 IN THE EPIC HISTORICAL SAGA OF THE COURTNEY FAMILY, FROM INTERNATIONAL SENSATION WILBUR SMITH ''Smith will take you on an exciting, taut and thrilling journey you will never forget'' - Sun ''With Wilbur Smith the action is never further than the turn of a page'' - Independent ''No one does adventure quite like Smith'' - Daily Mirror A DEADLY MISSION. A HEROIC BATTLE. It is 1667 and the war between the Dutch and the English is escalating rapidly. Sir Francis Courtney, his son Hal and their crew are carried around the southern tip of the African colonies by the good ship Lady Edwina, licensed to attack and seize the treasure-laden ships of the Dutch East India company. When they capture a Dutch trader and hold the passengers to ransom, Sir Francis hopes only for a good price and a small sense of satisfaction. But this is unlawful territory they sail in. An unexpected betrayal will mean those on board must face greater peril than they ever have before - and many good men may never see home again . . . A Courtney Series adventure - Book 1 in the Birds of Prey sequence. Birds of Prey is the ninth novel in the Courtney family saga from Wilbur Smith and the first novel of the Courtney series chronologically. Exploring the thrilling era of the Dutch East India Company, Birds of Prey is perfect reading for historical fiction and adventure fans, and those new to Wilbur Smith.

Set at the dawn of the eighteenth century and reviving Tom Courtney, hero of Wilbur Smith''s bestsellers Monsoon (1999) and Blue Horizon (2003), this new novel packs action, romance, and exotic settings into a rousing historical adventure. It was not birth that made a man. It was what he made of himself. Indian Ocean, 1700. The Malabar coast is full of dangers: greedy tradesmen, fearless pirates, and men full of vengeance. But for a Courtney, the greatest danger might just be his own family... Francis Courtney flees the comfort of his Devonshire estate when his stepfather''s gambling debts leave him penniless and in grave danger. He voyages to South Africa with revenge and fortune on his mind: his uncle Tom Courtney killed his father, and he plans on repaying the debt and making his fortune in the process. However, upon his arrival in Cape Town, he uncovers a truth that leaves him overwhelmed and disoriented. Christopher Courtney sets out to make his own way in the world, giving up his privileged position as the son of the Governor of Bombay. The perils and betrayals that play out on his journey carve a fierce warrior out of him, but they also harden his soul and lead him to more violence and treachery. As the lives of the Courtney men intertwine, the sins of the fathers will forever alter the lives of a younger generation. The Tiger''s Prey takes readers on an epic journey from the southernmost point of Africa, through the perilous waters of the Arabian Sea, to the lush Indian coastline. It is an incredible and breathless tale of intrigue and family betrayal from one of the world''s greatest storytellers.

The Malabar coast is full of dangers: greedy tradesmen, fearless pirates, and men full of vengeance. But for a Courtney, the greatest danger might just be his own family...

The saga of the legendary Courtney family continues in this fourteenth installment in Wilbur Smith’s bestselling series—the sequel to 2009’s Assegai—a thrilling tale of espionage, adventure, and danger, set in Africa and spanning from the Great War’s end to the dark days of World War II. As a member of the remarkable Courtney family, Leon Courtney knows how quickly fortunes can be won and lost. Over the course of more than two centuries, generations of his family have risen and fallen with the tides of history. Leon, too, has experienced his own share of triumph and pain. In the wake of his beloved wife’s death, the renowned big-game hunter is raising his young daughter, Saffron, alone in colonial Kenya. In the 1920s, the continent of Africa is a dangerous place. As Leon attempts to navigate the murky political waters of this most exquisitely beautiful and wildest of lands, his daughter grows into an independent and headstrong young woman bound for a far different life in Britain, as a student at Oxford. But over the course of more than two decades, spies, traitors, and adventurers will dog their every step. As the fitful years of peace lead to the outbreak of the Second World War—involving Africa once more—Leon and Saffron must fight for their survival . . . and that of their illustrious family. Wilbur Smith masterfully captures the tensions that will spark a war across continents—and the uncertainty and hopes of a father and daughter caught in its grips—in this engrossing novel that delivers the fast-paced action and vivid history that have made him a living legend.

Shout at the Devil is a tense adventure novel from master of the genre, Wilbur Smith, set during the outbreak of the First World War.''Now the seas were more awesome in their raging insanity. Each mountain of glassy grey rose high above the raft, shielding it for a few seconds from the whip of the wind, its crest blowing off like the plume of an Etruscan helmet, before it slid down, collapsing upon itself in the tumbling roar of breaking water.'' In German East Africa on the eve of the First World War two freebooting adventurers - one a flamboyant Irish American, the other an impeccable young Englishman - pit their wits against the gross German Commissioner from whose territory they are making their living as game hunters and ivory poachers. But the outbreak of war gives the signal for their private skirmishing to flare into a relentless vendetta pursued with devastating violence by land and sea, so that what begins as a comic escapade gives way to chilling horror . . .

An adventure set in the violent world of modern piracy and terrorism follows the kidnapping of an oil heiress''s daughter for a multi-billion-dollar ransom and the efforts of Cross Bow Security head Hector Cross to secure her release.

The Sound of Thunder, a Courtney Family Adventure by Wilbur Smith The year is 1899. The British Empire is at the height of its power. But in South Africa, proud Dutch colonists defy the Queen and her army--and a lush, wild world is torn apart by guns, spears, and swords. Sean Courtney had been tragically separated from his family, but the Boer War has brought him back to his homeland--and into the sights of his enemy''s guns. It has also returned him to Ruth Friedman, the only woman Sean can love, even though he shouldn''t. As Sean''s loyalties--to nation, man, and blood--are tested, a saga of duty and betrayal unfolds....

Egypt is struck by a series of plagues, followed by the failure of the Nile. Something catastrophic is happening, so the Pharaoh sends for Taita, the only man who might be able to discover the cause of all their woes.

Sonder Ditch gold mine was Rod''s life; his love of its precious contents and those who toiled in it rivalled even his feelings for Theresa. Rod''s world is threatened when a group of financiers plots to flood the Transvaal workings and he finds himself fighting desperately to save more than just the mine.

They''ve come from out of the shifting sands and down from ancient mountains. Mounted on horse and camel, carrying gleaming swords and plundered rifles, the sons of Allah are led by a holy warrior imbued with jihad, driving his army of thousands to wipe out the last Englishmen from the isolated Nile city... Along with hundreds of others, British trader and businessman Ryder Courtney is trapped in the capital city of Khartoum. In Khartoum, the fates of a legendary British general, a brilliant, mercenary trader, a beautiful woman and a courageous soldier will become one. They know that time is running out and rescue is improbable. So they prepare for one last stand--and the beginning of an epic journey of survival... From a passionate rivalry for a woman to an unforgettable face-off between warriors, Wilbur Smith''s The Triumph of the Sun is adventure fiction writ large--alive with the sounds of throngs, the terror of battle, and the mystical fire of human courage in the darkest moments of all.

The Van Der Byl Diamond Company, willed by its founder to his son Benedict, daughter Tracey and estranged foster-child Johnny Lance, turns out to be a bequest not of love, but of hatred. For it is couched in such terms as to offer Benedict an instrument of destruction of his bitterest rival. ''Destroy Johnny'' was the old man''s implacable message to his son, and, obsessively jealous of his foster-brother, Benedict sets out in ruthless pursuit of this goal. In a desperate bid to support Johnny, Tracey acquires for him the concession in the diamond-rich seabed round the coral islands of Thunderbolt and Suicide off the savage South West African coast, and Johnny throws all his resources into the construction of a vessel that will recover the stones from the ocean floor and repair his fortune at last. But Benedict, already involved in illegal diamond-dealing as a sideline, seizes this chance to attack his rival and, with a network of accomplices and some ingenious electronic tampering, plots to syphon off the diamonds. Johnny will not only be ruined by his liabilities, he will also be a laughing stock. However, Benedict''s obsessive jealousy is his undoing. He cannot resist stripping his rival of his beautiful but bitchy wife Ruby as well, and when he then discards her, she takes her revenge, precipitating a climax of murder and destruction that consumes Benedict at last. Narrated with Wilbur Smith''s irresistible driving thrust, The Diamond Hunters is a tale of brotherly hatred, redeemed only by the deepening love between Johnny and Tracey. It is set in London, Cape Town, on the thunderous seas around the ocean diamond fields and ends in a final confrontation between Johnny and Benedict in the blistering hyena-infested desert.

An unimaginable treasure has rested on the bottom of the Indian Ocean for centuries. Harry Fletcher, a former soldier turned fisherman, is pulled into a murderous mystery of what rests far beneath the sea. Now, Harry has no choice but to enter full bore into an international battle to raise an extraordinary object from the sea.