Mr. Lees has written a story of treasure-trove, greed and murder, set in the
Rhodesian bush -- a location he obviously knows well. The accounts of African
behaviour and the thinking behind it, the events and the places, will no doubt be
remembered by readers who have lived out there. The pace is rather slow but the
story will doubtless be enjoyed by readers not looking for a thrill a minute but who
like a nostalgic saunter, with some excitement towards the end.
Mr. Lees's language is very formal and he does not differentiate between the
written and spoken word, so the dialogue tends to be pedantic and rather unreal.
However, the author is a naturalist and his interest and regard for Rhodesia and
its wild life are clearly portrayed. His animals come alive rather better than his
people; bird and animal behaviour being affectionately and acutely observed and
recorded. It is this knowledge and understanding that enables the story to be
brought to a satisfactory climax and conclusion.
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