David Baldacci - Deliver us from Evil

I am always a little wary when it comes to David Baldacci because I am never quite sure what is going to be served up. However I’ve just finished reading “Deliver Us From Evil” and I really enjoyed this book.

The book features Shaw the super spy who has been sent after human trafficking and arms dealer Evan Waller. The mission is pretty simple – snatch Waller and put him out of business – permanently.

Things however get a little complicated because somebody else is looking to put Waller out of business. A group of vigilantes operating out of England are on a mission to hunt down former war criminals and make them atone for their crimes. Waller it turns out has a murderous history in the KGB and Regina Campion intends being the one to make sure he pays.

But Waller is no wilting violent and doesn’t play nicely with others. To prove this point, early on in the book he tortures a terrorist who tries to double-cross him and it is not pretty.

After Shaw and Campion both fail to take out Waller, they begin contemplating what life on the run will be like with a madman hunting them across the globe.

This is one of those books which keeps you guessing to the end and there is a nice twist at the end.
We rated this book a 4 out of 5 and would thoroughly recommend it if you like a spy / action thriller. Baldacci at his best!

You can buy the book online from Kalahari by clicking HERE or from Loot by clicking HERE

50 people who stuffed up South Africa

We are all armchair politicians and have our own views about who has stuffed up South Africa but Alex Parker has gone one step further and now put together a list of the 50 people he believes has stuffed up the country and it could make for a really nice Xmas prezzie.

A collection of the 50 greatest villains of South African history, from Jan van Riebeeck to Shaka to Cecil John Rhodes to Hendrik Verwoerd to Thabo Mbeki to Julius Malema. These are men – mostly, but not exclusively – who have steered South Africa firmly in the wrong direction, affecting our history, our national psyche and our way of life, often wasting guilt-edged opportunities to do the right thing along the way.

But the obvious heavy-hitters are just the half of it: there are also lesser-known but influential historical figures (Bartle Frere, Lord Milner), nameless icons of our modern social problems (The Minibus Taxi Driver, The Man I Sat Next To At The Polo), criminals (Ananias Mathe), chancers (Mark Thatcher), traitors (Kevin Pietersen) and punks (Kevin Pietersen). Part history, part social commentary, this is a fascinating read that delves into South African politics, war, sport and culture.

Appropriately, Alex Parker’s irreverent but scathing writing is brought to life by Zapiro, who adds the finishing touches with his iconic caricatures.

You can support a South African author and buy the book online for R140 by clicking HERE.