The First Rule Of Survival

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.

Short-listed for CWA Goldsboro Gold Dagger 2014 (UK)

“The First Rule of Survival is an incredibly atmospheric, complex and dazzling debut from a thrilling and authentic new voice in crime fiction.-- Brian McGilloway”

An excellent, uncompromising crime thriller made even better by its setting ... the story is two journeys in one, and I'm glad I took both.

A jaw-droppingly brilliant crime thriller. Imagine The Killing moved to Cape Town and into the landscape of the hot and dusty African veld.

The First Rule of Survival is an incredibly atmospheric, complex and dazzling debut from a thrilling and authentic new voice in crime fiction.

An impressive debut - The Times

Paul Mendelson is a leading author on poker, whose previous books include Texas Hold 'Em Poker: Begin and Win. His expertise comes from a long association with gaming in the UK, South Africa and in Las Vegas. He runs poker classes and also writes as gambling correspondent for the Financial Times. His debut novel, The First Rule of Survival, was nominated for the CWA Gold Dagger in 2014. The follow-up, The Serpentine Road, is due to be published in 2015.

Seven years ago in Cape Town three South African schoolboys were abducted in broad daylight on consecutive days. They were never seen 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. 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 he can trust any more. Set against the richly described background of Cape Town and the endless rolling veld, this chilling thriller reveals layer on layer of abuse - physical, political and psychological. paulmendelson.co.uk

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.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.