Smorgasbord Book Reviews – #Adventure #Thriller #Africa – Legacy of War – Wilbur Smith with David Churchill

I have read all of Wilbur Smith’s books and since the age of 11, when I read When the Lion Feeds, I have collected the hard copies straight off the press. They have been packed up carefully every time we have moved and there is a bookshelf dedicated to his work in our library.

Sadly he died at age 88 in November 2021 but his legacy lives on in the over 30 novels he wrote and also in those that were already in pre-publication. Including two books in a new adventure series for under 10 year olds.

I finally sat down and read his most recent release Legacy of War,  written with collaborator David Churchill and caught up with the latest adventure of the Courtney family, set just after World War II and following on from the excellent Courtney’s War

About the book

A nail-biting story of courage, bravery, rebellion and war from number one bestselling author, Wilbur Smith.

The war is over, Hitler is dead – and yet his evil legacy lives on. Former Special Operations Executive, Saffron Courtney, and her beloved husband, Gerhard, only just survived the brutal conflict, but Gerhard’s Nazi-supporting brother, Konrad, is still free and determined to regain power. As a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse develops, a plot against the couple begins to stir. One that will have ramifications throughout Europe. . .

Further afield in Kenya, the last outcrop of the colonial empire is feeling the stirrings of rebellion. As the situation becomes violent, and the Courtney family home is under threat, Saffron’s father, Leon Courtney, finds himself caught between two powerful sides – and a battle for the freedom of a country.

My review for the book March 19th 2022

I was looking forward to discovering how Saffron Courtney and her husband Gerhard fared following the end of WWII and Legacy of War was as action packed and fast paced as the previous book.

There are certain aspects of Wilbur Smith’s writing that is present in all his books, and that is his love of Africa, the land and it’s people. That is just as evident in this book which is set a few years after the war, when colonialism was loosening its hold on countries such as India. Change is not supported by those within the white population who stand to lose land and wealth accumulated over the past century at the expense of the native population. The younger generation of black Africans who have received further education abroad, are coming home with a determination that there must be change, and the balance of power begins to shift. However, others see only violence as the solution to remove those they consider trespassers on their land. It is the time of the Mau Mau and the fear they instil brings about a time of terror and bloodshed, with both sides suffering great losses in the struggle.

Runnng parallel to this time of building tension, is unfinished business for Saffron and Gerhard. The war may be over, but some who committed the worst atrocities are still free and in hiding. Gerhard had suffered a great deal at the hands of his elder brother Konrad, who had served the Reich to further his family’s industrial fortunes and because it suited his nature.Having lost everything at the end of the war and forced into hiding, vengeance and retribution will shatter the peace that Gerhard and Saffron have found on their home close to the Courtney estate. They will be forced to confront the threat if they and their children are to survive.

In a thrilling and action packed climax, the Courtney family and those close to them, find themselve trapped in the path of a seemingly unstoppable army led by a man who sees only violence as a path to the future. The outcome will determine the legacy the Courtney family will leave on this land they love.

Recommended read.

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

A selection of other books by Wilbur Smith

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And on Amazon UK: Amazon UK – More Reviews: Goodreads – Website: Wilbur Smith Books

About Wilbur Smith

Wilbur Smith was born in Central Africa in 1933. He was educated at Michaelhouse and Rhodes University. After the successful publication of WHEN THE LION FEEDS in 1964 he became a full-time writer, and has since written 30 novels, all meticulously researched on his numerous expeditions worldwide. His books have been translated into twenty-six different languages