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The First Rule of Survival

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The First Rule of Survival

By: Paul Mendelson
Narrated by: Peter Noble
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About this listen

Seven years ago in Cape Town three young white South African schoolboys were abducted in broad daylight on three consecutive days. They were never heard of again.

Now, a new case for the unpredictable Colonel Vaughn de Vries casts a light on the original enquiry; for him, a personal failure which has haunted him for those seven years and has cost him his marriage and peace of mind.

A former British government agent, friend to De Vries, provides intelligence on this new case, but is any of it admissible? Struggling in a mire of departmental and racial rivalry, De Vries seeks the whole truth and unravels a complex history of abuse, deception and murder.

Challenging friends, colleagues, and enemies, De Vries comes to realise he doesn't know who is which.

Set against the background of Cape Town and the endless, rolling South African veld, this chilling thriller reveals layer after layer of abuse - physical, political and psychological.

©2014 Paul Mendelson (P)2014 Audible Studios Crime Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction Africa Crime

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All stars
Most relevant  
I really did start by reading Bridge for beginners. But then Don February and Vaughan de Vries got hold of me. Excellent narration, intelligent plot and nuanced observation of culturally shifting forces at work in a New south Africa. Read it..

One No Trump it ain't, more like four spades.

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character driven dark story that engages and pushes your own perceptions of people and what drives them good and evil

strong story plenty of twists

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Realise that some people resented Mr Mandela’s
Release but personally loved him and will forever just treat him with total respect the book is so interesting

It was just so good but then lived in SA for 50 years

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