Description
Adam Geard is drawn into the area of simmering insurrection in the Palma district of Mozambique in an attempt to rescue an old team mate from Iraq who has been kidnapped.
What he finds is the deep secret of more than two decades of a drug trade which routes heroin from those northern ports for transhipment into South Africa and onward to European and Australasian markets.
His activities make him a target for those involved in the trade and those who support and sustain it, including the secret service agencies in South Africa. And they have no compunction to use all of the state resources to eliminate those who threaten their lucrative lifestyles.
Review
The Peter Cleary production line shows no signs of slowing down.
Indeed, his latest offering could well be his best-selling ever, in my opinion.
“The Secret Enemy” continues the fine tradition of hero action man Adam Geard novels – except, this time the tale is rather disturbing for reasons that becomes evident as one reads.
There are certain things one will never find in a Peter Cleary book, such as a feeble or implausible story line.
In this case, the narrative makes me unsure whether the plot is actually fiction using fact to give authenticity, of fact disguised as fiction.
The idea of drugs being smuggled from Mozambique via South Africa to the rest of the world is a bit too close to home for me, in terms of the reality of the situation.
And doing so under the cover of massive international projects that are both government-protected and tie in with the scary religio-political situation of our northern neighbours, makes it all even more convincing and worrying.
Either Peter Cleary is connected with the underworld (friends in low places) or he hangs out with security forces and drug- and gun runners, such is the credibility of the narrative.
It’s another fast-paced, rewarding read and one you won’t want to miss.
Dave Savides – Zululand Observer
