by Wilbur Smith
First published 2021
Jack Courtney has spent his entire fourteen years in the UK, but this summer changes everything. His parents bring him and his friends to the Democratic Republic of the Congo for a conference. The trip turns into a nightmare when mercenaries kidnap his parents in the rain forest. Adults offer no help and few answers. Jack suspects the abduction connects to the local tantalum mines, but he must find proof. He enters the dangerous jungle with his friends Amelia and Xander to rescue his parents. The mission becomes more complicated when Caleb Courtney, a family member, blocks their path. The three teenagers navigate a landscape filled with western gorillas, forest elephants, and hippos while dodging bandits, mercenaries, and poachers. Jack must use his intelligence and courage to save not only his parents but also his own life and those of his friends.
Genres: adventure, mystery, crime, thriller, africa
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, rescue
Setting: Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, UK
Period: 14 years
336 pages · Paperback · Piccadilly Press
Content warnings: kidnapping