Summer 2008 sees former Royal Marine John Pierce lured from running convoys in Iraq to a lucrative contract in the steamy jungles of French West Africa. He soon discovers this new theatre is even more dangerous than the war zone he left behind. Corrupt officials, drug cartels, and competing military factions rub shoulder-to-shoulder in a melting pot of greed and intrigue... And a sadistic foe lurks in the shadows.
When old intelligence contacts take an interest, the situation gets complicated fast. Dark forces emerge and events spiral out of control. Pitched into a desperate race against time, can Pierce’s makeshift team of soldiers and civilians fight fire with fire and outwit vicious enemies?
One thing’s for sure, Pierce won’t leave anyone to the mercy of a brutal adversary he knows only too well no matter what it takes.
It's such a pleasure to be hosting the blog tour for Don't Play Dead With Vultures today. Huge thanks to Jack Leavers for sending me a copy of the book and to Zoe from Zooloo's Blog Tours for inviting me onto the tour.
Don't Play Dead With Vultures is the second John Pierce book, following the impressive Appetite For Risk but Jack Leavers has upped the stakes still further here with a weighty thriller that is jam-packed with action, tension and emotion. It's not necessary to have read the first novel but as this is to be an ongoing series, I would recommend doing so in order to fully appreciate the continuous development of the main characters.
The explosive opening immediately sets the tone for the book; pulse-pounding action balanced with humour and a deep understanding of geopolitical issues. John Pierce is running convoys for a security company in Iraq but work is petering out and he has increasing financial concerns considering the risks he takes while spending months away from his family. It's not surprising, therefore, that he should be tempted by a job offering fantastic money, a big payday and the chance of a lucrative long-term gig. It does, however, mean that John will exchange the sandpits of the Middle East for the jungles of Guinea in West Africa. He is tasked with negotiating for the development of six mining concessions but what looks relatively straightforward on paper soon proves to be anything but.
There's an ominous sense of foreboding almost as soon as he arrives in the capital, Conakry but he realises that if this was a safe, stable country, the small company who has employed him wouldn't stand a chance of winning a contract. He recognises too that he welcomes the adrenalin rush and it's this that is perhaps one of the most fascinating facets of his character. He obviously thrives in perilous situations but he isn't a mindless thrill-seeker and throughout the book is shown appraising the potential for danger. He is constantly aware of the risks of food-poisoning and disease and at one point is dismayed to be in the same room as somebody with a hacking cough.
It's the little moments like this that really add to the authenticity of the novel and make him such a believable protagonist. This is a long book and doesn't skimp on details but it's not heavy on needless explanations and readers are expected to figure out the army lingo through the context rather than having it spoon-fed to them. It works really well and together with the first-person narrative ensures the gripping, immersive plot is propulsive throughout. There are high-octane scenes all through the novel and the midway point would make a dramatic conclusion in its own right but this turns out to just be the start of John's complex relationship with Guinea and he is lured back there despite his wife, Claire's disapproval.
The brief scenes set in England offer a striking juxtaposition to the chapters that take place in Guinea. John is obviously a loving family man who adores his wife and daughters but it's plain to see that it isn't just the financial rewards that entice him to leave them for some of the most perilous areas in the world – he is addicted to danger and coupled with his strong sense of duty, he is both a man you'd want on your side and yet somebody you'd perhaps fear becoming close to. He is quick tempered and has a tendency to react first and think later but is also an excellent leader of men and the closeness that develops amongst his crew is a real highlight of the book. The fierce banter that persists even at the most challenging of moments lightens the mood with humour and gives an insight into how people survive the mental impact of these sorts of situations. I particularly loved Luke, whose wife isn't impressed by his new vocabulary after he has spent time with a group of men who enjoy a full and frank exchange of views...
Don't Play Dead with Vultures hits the mark then when it comes to heart-racing action scenes and characters I genuinely became invested in but a contemporary thriller like this also needs to have a rich sense of place and Jack Leavers certainly doesn't disappoint here either. I don't know Guinea at all but felt I was transported to the country; the sights, sounds and smells of the city and rural areas are vividly described throughout but so too is the essence of the country where people attempt to live out their lives against a complex, corrupt political backdrop. I admired the recognition that foreign investment is both needed and yet has the potential to disrupt the livelihoods of the innocent citizens of the country.
The final part of the book has some of the most compelling, nailbiting action scenes I've read in a thriller for some time and I raced through these pages with my heart in my mouth. Without giving anything away, there are some deeply emotional moments as John's belief in leaving nobody behind means he has to face his demons head on.
Don't Play Dead With Vultures more than lives up to that intriguing title and is an exhilarating, brutal and intelligent exploration of loyalty, revenge and retribution. It's an absolutely cracking thriller written with honest perceptiveness and real heart – I thoroughly recommend it and eagerly await the next instalment of this top-notch series.
Don't miss the rest of the blog tour, details are below.
About the Author
He continues to work in challenging environments and has now begun to pen novels inspired by some of the more enterprising projects that got the green light, and other audacious plans that didn’t.
Jack is normally based in London but finds he’s at his most productive writing-wise when deployed overseas. New projects in Iraq and Africa beckon, which should be good news for his third book.
Thank you so much for this fab review and for taking part in the tour xx
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