White Fire

White Fire has everything I look for in a novel--engrossing plot, characters that come alive, and a vividly drawn setting that allows me to escape for a few hours while learning something new. I'm looking forward to reading more books by Stuart Murray.

Author, journalist, and editor Stuart Murray has written a superbly crafted historical novel capturing the yesteryear feel of 1828 in southern Africa. Dirk Arendt is guiding an archaeological expedition toward a lost city near Zululand. One of the part is an agent for a ruthless secret brotherhood in search of an ancient amulet, thought to be in the hands of Shaka, founder and lord of the newly unified Zulu nation. Dirk's expedition arrives just as rebels are about to overthrow Shaka, and the rebels also desire to posses the Amulet of White Fire. Meanwhile to the southwest, the first Cape Colony Dutch pioneers have launched a journey northward into the wilderness in search of the Promised Land. These independent minded Boers include Dirk's own parents and Rachel Drente. These "voortrekkers" are marching straight into the turmoil and civil war between Zulu regiments and the conspirators who are seeking to overthrow Shaka and seize the amulet. White Fire is a stirring, very highly recommended, action-adventure oriented historical novel which is enhanced for the readers pleasure with a meticulous attention to accurate detail throughout.