La esvástica ondea desde el Sáhara hasta el océano Índico. Unas relucientes autopistas bisecan la jungla, mientras los reactores de caza patrullan en el cielo. Gran Bretaña y una victoriosa Alemania nazi se han dividido el continente, pero ahora los planes de Walter Hochburn amenazan a las debilitadas colonias británicas. En Inglaterra, el ex mercenario Burton Cole es reclutado para un trabajo que le permitirá saldar una cuenta pendiente con Hochburn, a pesar de los recelos de la mujer a quien ama. Si Burton fracasa, toda África será presa del horror y nadie estará a salvo. Sin embargo, cuando su misión se ve abocada al desastre, Burton tendrá que huir para recuperar su porpia vida.

A very effective, well paced thriller, especially if you like a lot of action. Personally, I was more interested in the alternative history aspect and came away slightly disappointed that we didn't get more background and texture on that - which is why I'm only giving it 3 stars, not 4. But this may not be a fair criticism because it looks to me as if the author took a conscious decision to go for the action-thriller market, so my reaction may be more a product of my own tastes and expectations. For a longer review including comparisons with "Fatherland" and "The Man in the High Castle", see http://www.paulsamael.com/blog/afrika-reich ( )

A bit too actiony but very exciting. Seemingly well researched with main characters that have some bite to them. Overall, it's formulaic and struggles to provide the historical depth it needs. ( )

Gave up on page 37 Enough said! ( )

This will contain spoilers. Not that I care; you'll not want to read it after you've read this anyway.
Oh dear. I'm not sure why I finished this, it certainly wasn't because I cared about Burton Cole. I was mildly intrigued to know what the next improbable hurdle between Burton and his Quince farm was going to be, because just as you think he'll manage to get away something else manages to intervene.
Set in a fictional Africa that is under the heel of the Nazis after a peace made after Dunkirk this seems to be an excuse to come up with some of the most distasteful racism, fanatical views and unnecessary violence that can be imagined. Then there are the stereotypical characters, all red blooded, honourable and battle scarred on the Allied side and despicable zealots on the German side. Mostly men, apart from the odd woman waiting at home. I was left with the feeling that Burton was going to get back, regardless of what happened, because the number of times he was missed by a hail of bullets, or they sang past his ear; he had an air of inviolability about him. I mean I haven't fired a rifle since I was in my teens, but I reckon even I could have hit him, the number of times he seemed to be stood still while a whole troop faced him down. As did Patrick until his lucky pipe broke. Then predictably, it all went a bit pear shaped.
It had a fair number of thing that were left unexplained. How come Burton immediately assumes the man he's asked to kill is the same man he remembers from his childhood, but had assumed was dead. Where was the logic in that. And to leave the same man in the ocean, on a sinking boat, but known to be a strong swimmer?
It wasn't written in great prose either. A lot of short sharp sentences that bring an action sequence to an abrupt halt. And some strange use of adjectives. Not sure that smoke grumbles...
It was so bad that it seemed to pass through awful to some sort of bizzare place when I was going to get to the end, just to find out how bad it actually was. And it's left in some sort of unresolved place that leaves you no resolution. He doesn't get home, he doesn't have a showdown with his mistress' husband (yes, i saw that coming from fairly early on) he doesn't find the truth he seeks, nor kill the man he meant to. And the whole plan of which the assassination was part doesn't really come off either. If this is setting up a sequel, I won't be reading it. And I suggest you don't bother either. ( )