Dan Fletcher’s action thriller Dawn of Deception: David Nbeke Series Part I is available now as an audiobook narrated by Patrick Devenish
Hello again, dear audiobooks friends! Today’s spotlight article is dedicated to Dawn of Deception: David Nbeke Thriller Series Part I by Dan Fletcher. This gripping audiobook exposes the true horror of the poaching “Epidemic”.
Dan Fletcher’s Dawn of Deception audiobook, narrated by Patrick Devenish, turns the spotlight onto the controversial, if confusing, world of poaching. Fletcher’s compelling novel tells the story of a maverick Kenyan ranger who tries to bring poaching perpetrators to justice. But it’s far more than fiction. The author hopes that his narrative will highlight everything from the barbaric way in which elephants and rhinos are slaughtered, right through to the underground geopolitical forces that knowingly help poaching remain a profitable empire.
Let’s take a look at the Publisher’s Summary and after that, I will introduce you to our author, his inspiration and motivation for writing this novel, and of course, the narrator.
A routine patrol leads to the discovery of an international poaching racket and David makes it his mission to bring the perpetrators to justice. Kenya is in political and economic turmoil with widespread violence and acts of atrocity being committed by the government against the Kikuyu.
POACHING, POLITICS & KILLER MOTIVES…
Who is Commander Peter Abasi, AKA Maliki, and what does he want with Professor Mutungi and the Committee of Human Rights? And where do freelance reporter Aaron Bernstein and Seymour Dewitt of the American Embassy fit in?
Amidst the turmoil David meets Caitlyn, the new vet at the elephant orphanage, as the heat intensifies will he be able to protect her?
Dawn of Deception should keep action thriller fans looking for a good adventure on the edge of their seat as it is also inspired by real-world events and its publication is quite timely as well.
When Dr. Walter Palmer walked back into his Minnesota dental office the eyes of the world’s media were on him for all of the wrong reasons. Branded a “murderer” by many for his killing of Cecil the Lion outside Hwange National Park, Palmer’s story resulted in public and social media outrage, such as the ‘petition for justice for Cecil’ on Change.org. At the opposite end of the scale to Dr. Palmer, and poachers who hunt animals for ‘sport’, are the organized poaching syndicates vilified in this new work of fiction by author Dan Fletcher.
The ‘Dawn of Deception’ audiobook couldn’t have been released at a more pertinent time with many species of wildlife being threatened with extinction. While of course a novel, Fletcher’s compelling story of one man’s quest to bring Kenyan poachers to justice is so well-researched that it appears to have been lifted right out of the real world. The detailed description of the criminal methods employed and their effect on wildlife and the local population makes ‘Dawn of Deception a vital contributory resource.
“I wanted to help readers understand real-world poaching syndicates, the criminals who run them, the devilish methods they use to kill and how it all results in top-dollar demand,” explains Fletcher, who was brought up in Africa. “For example, almost all ivory carving houses are owned by the Chinese Government, a nation that created a strategic loophole that allows them to stockpile ivory even though harvesting it is banned. This ban has actually led to the near-extinction of rhino and elephant in Kenya as prices soar and trade falls into the hands of ruthless criminals.”
Fletcher continues, “The ban may have been effective if it was extended to cover the trade of ivory products but the reality is that demand continues. Not only has the ban criminalized the supply of ivory but also hinders the efforts of wildlife conservationists. In countries like Zimbabwe they have successfully restored the herds and have to cull elephants to maintain a sustainable level. The ivory from the culled elephants is either locked away or destroyed. If the ban were lifted then National Parks in Zimbabwe would be able to sell the collected ivory to pay for the transport & rehabilitation of elephants to other countries, such as Kenya.”
“Chinese tradition is also responsible for the use of rhino horn as a cure for erectile disfunction. The misbelief that rhino horn is a ‘vital ingredient’ in the manufacture of products such as Viagra would be ridiculous if it hadn’t resulted in the near annihilation of the species. Per kilo rhino horn is fifteen times more valuable than ivory, at $30,000 dollars per horn it is easy to understand why it is known to the poachers as ‘black gold’.”
Fletcher ended by saying, “Conveniently, Kenya also has a well-equipped port with direct shipping lanes to China and other regions in the Far East. This is why Kenya remains the poaching playground of the world. Courageous men and women working for the Kenyan Wildlife Service and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust put their lives on the line every day to save animals, which is why I feature them prominently in my book.”
Dan Fletcher was brought up in Africa and has lived in South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Nigeria, as well as Canada, Spain, and the UK. Author of DAWN OF DECEPTION and DIVIDED THEY FALL, his love for thrillers started at an early age due to the lack of any TV.
In 1976, Dan’s parents emigrated to South Africa and they lived in Palabora on the edge of Kruger National Park. Almost every weekend was spent in the park on safari and Dan was captivated by the wildlife and multitude of species from a very early age.
Later on, Dan’s family lived in Zimbabwe and his love for animals and knowledge grew as they learnt from the rangers at Hwange National Park about maintaining the herds of Elephants whilst at the same time keeping the poachers at bay. It was on one of these visits that Dan witnessed firsthand the brutal effect of poaching that was the seed for Dawn of Deception. Having heard the gunfire as they slaughtered a family of elephants, Rangers disturbed the poachers before they could remove the ivory. Dan arrived a couple of hours after the event and heard the sound of AK47s being fired in the distance as rangers chased the poachers over the border into Botswana.
As a qualified construction manager, Dan designed and built luxury villas in Spain to clients’ specifications in challenging and remote locations. Having lived there for over 8 years Dan loves the people, culture, and climate and intends to return to Spain one day.
When not writing Dan works as a project manager and for the last 6 years has headed a niche department within the London Stock Exchange that is responsible for the design, acquisition, maintenance, and management of the Exchange’s low latency trading networks.
Dan currently lives in the UK with his partner Clare and their children but still has Africa in his blood and returns as often as possible.
Pat Devon, born and raised in South Africa, later moved to Northeast Ohio in the United States. With a corporate career in supply chain leadership, he excelled in selling concepts to stakeholders as he was able to bring people along on journeys with him through his ability to engage his audience.
Pat’s father, who is clinically blind, became the inspiration for his interest in audiobooks. To entertain his father, Pat loaded audiobooks on an Amazon Alexa device, realizing the joy they brought to people’s lives. This experience sparked his passion for audiobook narration.
Seeking to refine his skills, Pat studied voice acting under the guidance of a renowned television and movie actress. He learned the art of vocal delivery, conveying emotions through tone, and the power of storytelling through audio.
Armed with his newfound knowledge and a burning desire to share stories, Pat embarked on a journey in audiobook narration. Each project became an opportunity to immerse listeners in captivating worlds and evoke genuine emotions through his voice.
Pat’s goal is to have a profound impact on listeners, transporting them to far-off places, sparking their imaginations, and providing solace and companionship. He is grateful for the remarkable journey he has undertaken, from his humble beginnings in South Africa to finding his true calling in voice acting.
With every new project, Pat strives to create captivating experiences for his audience.
I will return with a full review for Dan Fletcher’s Dawn of Deception in early August although I am sure that I will have a really hard time listening to what I’m convinced will be a captivating audio production. I hate violence of all kinds, but especially against helpless animals. We all need to be aware of what’s happening in this world and that’s why I’ll listen to the audiobook and review it so that I can help raise awareness on this topic. Until then, take care, stay safe, and don’t forget, always listen with your heart.
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Victor Dima
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