COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! ( )

Wilbur Smith always seems to be one of those authors I think I will really like but he never captures me like other authors in the same genre. I can't really say what the reason is, the plots sound brilliant and the subject matter is my usual read, I guess we haven't clicked for the few books I have recently read and may never do, but I can see me always drifting back to him.

Shout at the Devil have an ivory poacher called Patrick O'Flynn who just also happens to be a bit of a conman/rogue. He comes across Sebastian and convinces him to work as his assistant poaching Ivory and goods from the German army. However, the leader of the army in that area is a man called Fleischer who is an arch enemy of O'Flynn, when he finds out who is behind the poaching he orders barbaric reprisals. With each side despising the other a bitter rivalry breaks out, but when the course of the war could be altered the stakes are even higher.

I think the main issue with this book as that I was never totally sure what it was supposed to be. At times a comedy and at others a hard hitting adventure novel. For me, these didn't really mix all that well and it needed to be one or the other. This meant I tended to gloss over the comedy (which I didn't really find that funny) to try and get back to the action. It was an ok read but one I was glad to see end. ( )

I really like Wilbur Smith's earlier novels. They are well thought out, suspenseful and very descriptive.

This book is part comedy, part thriller and part tragedy. It begins with Patrick O'Flynn, an ivory poacher, convincing Sebastian a naive Englishman to do his dirty work poaching ivory from German East African lands. There is a running battle between O'Flynn and the German Commissioner Herman Fleischer that at times borders on Keystone Cops.

WW1 breaks out and the book becomes more serious with the hunt for the German cruiser, Blucher as well as atrocities committed by Herr Fleischer.

A very good read ( )

5152. Shout at the Devil, by Wilbur Smith (read 17 Apr 2014) Until this month I had never heard of this author, even though he has written over 30 books. This book was published in 1968 and in the U.S. in 1977. I was unenchanted by the first half of the book, as the characters seemed woodenly drawn and preposterous (and they are). But the second half of the book is concerned with events after the beginning of World War One and is fast-moving and intense. Since important people die one is unsure as to what will be the outcome of the daring action of the main character planting a bomb on a German cruiser being repaired. In the Rover Boys books (which the first part ot the book reminded me of), one always knew that the boys would survive and triumph. The outcome of this book could not be known and thus there is real tension as the story proceeds. There are also nice humorous touches, which add to the story's appeal. ( )

I won't bore anyone with a synopsis of what this book is about the jacket writers are far more qualified than I to impart that information. I will say that if you enjoy novels that give you a sense of chaos and energy and do not try to be to be too introspective whilst protraying the cruelties of life approaching WW1 then I think you'll enjoy this. The part of Flynn 'O' Flynn, portrayed brilliantly by Lee Marvin in the film, is brilliantly written and worth the read alone.

I've read every other Wilbur Smith book and have been extremely critical of his latest works. I'm so glad I completed my journey with this novel. Reading this reminded me why I enjoyed the majority of his earlier works so much and convinced me that it wasn't just a mistake in my thinking. This novel, is full of fun and subterfuge, great characterisation and a plot line that, whilst not actually totaly believable, has enough credibility to enable you to forgive and enjoy. Anyone who's seen the film of the same name will know the story, but should read it anyway, this is Wilbur Smith in his pomp and obviously having fun with his craft. I truly hope that he can produce another like this before he stops writing but if not, I must thank him for many a summers' read. I typically take a Wilbur Smith novel with me when going abroad for a week or two on holiday. It's been a few years since I enjoyed one of his books so much. ( )