Sopwith Jones goes undercover for the Australian Federal Police, who have, with the help of the British, intercepted communications between a Colombian cocaine cartel, a mysterious South African intermediary known only as ‘Mafuta’ and the end-user in Australia, the self-styled Crocodile Dundee.

Will Sopwith penetrate the murky and dangerous world of cocaine smugglers but, more importantly, survive it?

From Barranquilla in Colombia, East London in South Africa, Darwin in Australia and a final showdown in the Kologha Indigenous Forest near Stutterheim with the dangerous Brickie Shaw, it’s all action for dashing Sopwith Jones, special investigator for the firm of Maartens and Associates.

Sopwith Jones abandons his solar-powered aircraft after an accident that kills his wife Ali, for a new life as a private investigator in partnership with the beautiful lawyer Zelda Maartens. Together they undertake — with some help from Sopwith’s old friend Withers and his daughter Kelly — a stalled investigation into the murder of a Cape Town husband and wife.

Their enquiries soon land them in the middle of the illegal cigarette and money laundering trade as they earn the ire of Moosa Davids. Davids is the leader of the criminal syndicate, who, with the help of the violent Cobra gang, corrupt government officials, police officers, and business people to do their bidding.

Will Sopwith find love in the aftermath of his beloved Ali’s demise, will he and Zelda survive the attention of the ruthless Davids and the Cobra gang, and will they solve the mystery of the murder of the Constantia couple?

The first book in the series following the life and adventures of Dr Sopwith Jones. The story explains why this South African bears such an unusual name, originated from the First World War fighter aircraft, the Sopwith Camel. We learn too how the Joneses, of Welsh heritage, migrated to South Africa and Sopwith’s introduction to the world of flying.

Armed with a doctorate in aeronautical engineering, Sopwith leaves formal employment and develops a solar-powered Cessna 172, which attracts the attention of a corrupt South African government employee, who tries to claim the design for his own benefit. Sopwith flees South Africa rather than loose his dream. The British Government, keen to benefit from his innovation, assists his flight, conveying him to England aboard an aircraft carrier. He barely escapes an attempt to shoot his plane out of the sky en route to the carrier over the Indian Ocean.

On board, he meets the love of his life, Lt Ali Murray, a dashing fighter jet pilot. But once in England and seemingly betrayed by the British Government, the newlyweds are forced to flee to Africa, where extremist guerilla groups, private security companies and the British armed forces pursue them.

Unwittingly exposed by South African Air Force pilot Chuma Sandile and Canadian civil engineering student Jules Demet, and tracked by Britain’s Project Oberon satellite programme, the Jones couple face up their adversaries with courage and passion.

Will they survive against the overwhelming odds? And will Sopwith reap the benefits of his groundbreaking invention?

This is the 3rd novel featuring protagonist Sopwith Jones, but the first published in South Africa. The first 2 were first published in England, proving distribution in SA difficult. Those two novels will be republished in South Africa in due course.

,P> The President of South Africa survives an attempted assassination. Jones, together with other helpful and colourful characters, the likes of Withers and Dr Njoli become involved in protecting him. In evading the faction responsible for the attempt and who are intent on taking over the government once the President has been disposed of, they take refuge in the Northern Cape.

Their whereabouts are detected, necessitating a move to the Langkloof. A further attempt is made on the President’s life but is thwarted, enabling the President to be returned to Johannesburg, but having to remain in hiding.

Convincing the leader of the faction, Spade Mapeti, that he is supportive of their ideology, Jones manages to meet with him at a game lodge in KZN but is exposed for who he really is.