Customer Reviews

Predators

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4 star:		(1)
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The American State Department permits Earth Global CEO Leo Painter, his wife, stepson and other executives to travel to Botswana to negotiate with officials to allow his firm to extract minerals. He believes the mineral rich African country will prove profitable for his energy, mining and realty company. However several of his companions believe Leo is too old and ethical sot hey want to push him aside at the firm along with his spouse. He would like to rest but knows a respite means death from the human hyenas stalking him.

At the same time, Sekeo the elderly lion once ruled his pride with a strong alpha paw or two. However, he is not only turning weak with age, but suffers from HIV/AID, which compounds his health issues. The younger males want to replace him and challenges are coming all the time. He would like to rest but knows a respite means death from the lion hyenas (or the game ranger) stalking him.

With a darker look at human nature than Alexander McCall Smith's genteel "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" and Michael Stanley's Detective Kubu police procedural, Frederick Ramsay provides a super parable thriller as the king of the jungle rules fleetingly. The story line is fast-paced but it is the cast especially the parallel Leos who meet their respective Snows of Kilimanjaro Hemingway moments that makes for one of the year's best glimpses at what drives the living.

Harriet Klausner

`Predators' is an interesting, page turning and satisfying read.

The setting is unusual, North West Botswana, in the famed Chobe district with transitions to the mid west and Chicago. The well formed characters are from three areas; the first is the rich the animal kingdom of Botswana, the second is a corporate world, centered in Chicago. Their competition revolves around oil and mining and is developing toward Africa. The third group is formed by people from Botswana.

The threads interweave to provide an attention holding, enjoyable and fast moving story.

Thomas Bagot PhD
Author of `Out of a Southern African Furnace' (fiction/mystery/Botswana)

Frederick Ramsay's PREDATORS tells of one Leo, the CEO of Earth Global who travels to Botswana, a country rich in resources his company and the U.S. government covet. Pursued by corporate danger, Leo's search for peace pairs with a maneater's stalking of the savannah, bringing the two on a collision course. A fine story of intrigue and mystery evolves.

This is not an easy novel to review because it is difficult to determine or simplify its various themes. At first blush, it is a tale of corporate intrigue. But added to that thread is the development of character in some of the participants, a paean to Botswana, a murder mystery, a 'green' promise, and an insight into the wildlife of Africa. It is nonetheless a well-constructed and -written tale.

Leo Painter, CEO of Earth Global, a large natural resources company, and various of his executives fly to Botswana in an attempt to make a deal for various mining deposits. Leo also has other ideas: to develop a high-end resort-casino. Meanwhile some of his underlings are scheming to force him out. Also part of the entourage: Leo's stepson and the latter's sexy wife, who provide some comic relief and contribute to the complications.

Throughout the novel, we follow a sickly lion suffering from old age, tuberculosis and a form of AIDS, who is followed by hyenas anticipating his death. Of course, the hyenas symbolize the title of the book, as well as various corporate raiders.

Recommended.