The First Rule of Survival

Synopsis:
"At a farm stall in Cape Town two bodies have been found in the skip behind the premises. Two teenage boys have been shot and then wrapped in Clingfilm before being dumped. It isn’t until closer inspection that it is discovered that these teenagers are two of three boys who were kidnapped in 2007 over consecutive days and never seen again. Despite a big scale investigation that didn’t get the police force (SAPS) anywhere near finding the three boys, everyone involved believed them all dead or trafficked and spirited abroad. Now two of them are found and have only been dead a matter of days.

Colonel Vaughn DeVries was the leading officer on that particular investigation and it is a failure that still cuts deep seven years show more later and the realisation that these boys were alive and still local reopens his wound of failure. With a new deputy in the form of Warrant Officer Don February, DeVries is determined to find their killer and find the third remaining victim in this tragic tale. But with internal politics from on high hindering his every step and a cold trail from seven years before, DeVries feels the case taking a personal toll on him as he searches for the truth which is a lot closer to home than he could ever have imagined."

Excellent first novel that is chilling as it is thought provoking. I was interested in reading a crime novel set in a country I know little about and what a great experience it was. Pacy, stylish and filled with twists and turns that had this reader holding their breath.

At first glance Vaughan De Vries is a cookie cutter crime novel detective; Broken marriage - check
Alcohol problem - check
Maverick - check

However he is so well written I liked him immediately and was rooting for him in his quest for justice.

But for me the South African landscape was the main character - you could feel the heat and dust coming off the page.

Outstanding show less

Thank you to both the publishers and to NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this in exchange for an honest review. I can't believe how good it was.

Two bodies are found; both male, both teenagers, both white, and funnily enough they both have the same upbringing despite being separate ages. It's not long before the unorthodox Colonel Vaughn De Vries, the protagonist of our story, puts the pieces together and identifies the boys as being two of three that were kidnapped seven years ago. Finally De Vries sees his opportunity to solve the case and bring the perpetrators to justice, no matter what the cost.

The absolute best thing about this novel, for me, was the beautiful way in which Mendelson describes the scenery. I believe the show more setting plays a big part in Mendelson's mind, and I absolutely adore when an author describes the scenery around them in such rich and vivid detail that you couldn't stop picturing it, even if you wanted to. It was so easy to immerse myself in absolutely everything; the characters, the animals, the nature, the architecture. Even the manner in which South Africans were subtly racist was handled and written with care but attention to detail. Honestly it felt like I was right there within the story and I could not stop reading.

Despite De Vries having his flaws, and believe me he has a lot of them, you grew to love him and his boisterous ways. A lot of what he said made me giggle or smile, sometimes frown. What he felt, I felt. When he felt a sense of bleakness, so did I. Mendelson creates such a bond with the character through his words that you develop deep feelings for him and just want him to figure everything out. It's as if he's a real person and sometimes you just want to slap him and say "pull yourself together, man!". Overall the entire development of the characters is handled wonderfully and I cannot complain one bit.

The plot itself was interesting. You find out the culprit(s) around 2/3 of the way through the book and yet the story doesn't end there. This means that even if you do figure out who was involved, the story wasn't ruined or spoilt in any way. It also made it stand out and created a uniqueness that was refreshing. Before it was revealed, though, I couldn't figure out who was behind everything. I had my suspicions but nothing concrete. Honestly this novel is a complete mystery, through and through, and I could not put it down.

The only thing I disliked about this novel is that there are still some loose ends to be tied which I think are quite important. I'm sure that this means there's a sequel in mind (wishful thinking, maybe!) where all of the answers will be revealed. In the mean time, my mind has not stopped trying to figure out everything that went on. Even after the last page is turned, this book resonates with you and keeps you guessing. I'd say that was the mark of a truly wonderful novel.

I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. It is a true work of art, and it was a pleasure to read. show less

I read this series out of order starting with the second book and then reading this one.
The was a lot more explanation and character development in this one since it was the first in the series but overall it was a great book.
The writing is fantastic and the mystery is top notch.
I can't wait to read the 3rd book in the series next.

I actually read the book
I read this series out of order starting with the second book and then reading this one.
The was a lot more explanation and character development in this one since it was the first in the series but overall it was a great book.
The writing is fantastic and the mystery is top notch.
I can't wait to read the 3rd book in the series next.

Review FT 26Apr14 The First Rule of Survival, by Paul Mendelson, Constable Robinson, RRP£12.99, 400 pages
Paul Mendelson’s expertise in the poker field is enshrined in several bestselling books on the subject, and he has clearly been salting away observations of human behaviour acquired in that discipline. His debut novel bristles with a command of language and narrative that suggests someone with a slew of novels to their name.
A decade ago in Cape Town, three white schoolboys were abducted – a mystery that has not been solved. Colonel Vaughn de Vries finds a cold case getting hot when the corpses of two white teenagers are found and the troubled policeman becomes obsessed with bringing a vicious criminal to justice. Mendelson, who show more writes the FT’s weekly Bridge column, demonstrates a sense of place to rival old hands such as Deon Meyer (and, like him, introduces racism as a key element).
Some will have trouble with the uncompromising directions in which he takes his narrative but most will find this to be authoritative and unblinkered fare.
Review by Barry Forshaw show less