Even after the release of Nelson Mandela and the promise of free elections, extremist groups terrorized South Africa, bombing churches, opening fire in bars and restaurants. Nearly twenty-five years ago, as a young Captain, Vaughn de Vries finds himself in pursuit of the suspects of a fatal bombing in his precinct, under the command of one of the most feared white police officers of the time: Major Kobus Nel. Out of radio communication and without clear evidence, the SAPS barge into a township and set off a chain of events which will resonate for a quarter of a century. In Cape Town in 2015, the heiress of an Apartheid-era industrialist is found murdered, her body posed to suggest a racial hate crime. But, as Colonel Vaughn De Vries investigates, possible motives for her death abound: a highly controversial art exhibition, her sexual preferences, her relationship - as yet unknown by the press - with the son of one of the heroes of The Struggle. And, moving South down through the country, five men are murdered, each with a connection to a point in history De Vries would sooner forget. When the link is made, De Vries must re-live the traumatic event to uncover the perpetrator. Old wounds, hidden in history, are exposed, and a mysterious killer approaches, whom no one seems able to stop. Longlisted for the 2015 Crime Writer's Association Golden Dagger (Crime Novel of the Year) Praise for Paul Mendelson: 'Authoritative and unblinkered fare' Financial Times 'Once more, South Africa is brought vividly to life in a fine crimer which delivers a warm change from the regular diet of Scandinavian angst' Weekend Sport 'The Serpentine Road has been my discovery of the year. Paul Mendelson has the makings of a literary superstar' Jenny Crwys Williams, Radio 702/Cape Talk 567 'In another superb slice of South African noir, Mendelson illuminates the corruption and criminality that plagues a country still haunted by apartheid. A taut thriller which evokes a unique political and geographic landscape' Cath Staincliffe 'An excellent, uncompromising crime thriller made even better by its setting ... the story is two journeys in one, and I'm glad I took both' Lee Child 'A jaw-droppingly brilliant crime thriller. Imagine The Killing moved to Cape Town and into the landscape of the hot and dusty African veld' Philip Glenister 'The First Rule of Survival is an incredibly atmospheric, complex and dazzling debut from a thrilling and authentic new voice in crime fiction' Brian McGilloway 'An impressive debut' The Times

A riveting, ultra-realistic example of “dystopian fiction at its best” (Brad Thor, #1 New York Times bestselling author) from the acclaimed author of the Day By Day Armageddon novels! During an unacknowledged mission inside the Syrian border, a government operative had unwittingly triggered an incredible worldwide event that irrevocably shaped the future of the United States. In the aftermath of the crisis, families have struggled to survive in a world short on food, water, and electricity. Hyperinflation cripples the United States economy and post-war armored military vehicles are patrolling the streets. One man has now stepped forward and continues to push back the dark wave of tyranny brought on by martial law in the streets of America, and may be the only hope of saving liberty for the country’s future.

To an experienced thief like Krunzle the Quick, the merchant nation of Druma is full of treasures just waiting to be liberated. Yet when the fast-talking scoundrel gets caught stealing from one of the most powerful prophets of Kalistrade, the only option is to undertake a dangerous mission to recover the merchantlord''s runaway daughter - and the magical artifact she took with her. Armed with an arsenal of decidedly unhelpful magical items and chaperoned by an intelligent snake necklace happy to choke him into submission, Krunzle must venture far from the cities of the merchant utopia and into a series of adventures that will make him a rich man - or a corpse! At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

A sinister Masonic-Templar organization - The Brotherhood Of The Wand - is planning to bring the world to its knees and create a dystopian one-government world. The price? 80% of the world's population. To achieve this aim, they are planning to harness ley lines and other ancient earth energies to reawaken the Serpent: a mythical creature known to all early civilisations by different names. On the winter solstice at Avebury, an apocalyptic event is to take place... and to trigger the next ice age. The last line of defense against the evil organization is Jake Conley - a psychic investigator with powers of retrocognition, shapeshifting and intuition. But to survive and save the world from the insane plot, he will have to overcome the greatest challenge of his life.

“The King of High Adventure.” Starlog. In a world of magic and gunpowder, the half-breed Rik must rise from simple soldier to the deadliest assassin the world has ever known. The Serpent Tower is an impregnable fortress built by an ancient, pre-human race, bristling with terrifying, magical weapons, watched over by unsleeping, sorcerous sentinels. It has never fallen to siege. Now it is the lair of the sinister sorcerer Lord Ilmarec who holds Princess Kathea, rightful heir to the throne of Kharadrea in his clutches. In order to save his own life, Rik must penetrate the ancient secrets of the Tower and rescue the Princess from her lustful uncle. And all the while he is pursued by an undead horror born from the vilest necromancy, created by a deadly conspiracy that plans to rule the world. The Serpent Tower continues the thrilling saga of muskets and magic begun in Death’s Angels. In it, the bestselling creator of Gotrek and Felix blends Lovecraftian horror with high adventure in the tradition of Sharpe. ABOUT THE SERIES A thousand years ago the world of Gaeia fell to the Terrarchs, cruel and beautiful alien invaders with a deadly secret. Masters of sorcery and intrigue they have ruled humanity with a fist of steel inside a glove of velvet. For a thousand years, ancient demons have slept, waiting for the moment of their return. Now the stars are right. Old and evil gods are wakening. New revolutions are being born. A genocidal war that will destroy civilization sweeps ever closer. Born a Shadowblood, one of a clan of genetically engineered super-assassins created to serve a long dead Dark Lord, the outcast Rik must master his deadly birthright before his own lost kinfolk can kill him. BOOKS IN THE TERRARCH SERIES Death’s Angels The Serpent Tower The Queen’s Assassin Shadowblood

One of the most exciting and dynamic world cities, London is an extraordinary megalopolis, packed with both historic and cutting-edge attractions. Insight Guide Explore London is the ideal pocket companion for your trip: a full-colour guide containing 20 easy-to-follow routes around the city, from Westminster and Mayfair to Kew and Greenwich. Inside Explore London: Discover the iconic appeal of the British capital, from buzzy Soho and the South Bank's theatrical landmarks to Kensington's great museums and the Tower of London Experience classic London: take a red bus tour, watch the changing of the guards and taste your way around Borough Market Insight's trademark cultural coverage sets the routes in context, with introductions to London's celebrated cuisine, unparalleled entertainment options, world-class shopping and key historical dates Our recommended places to eat and drink are highlighted in each route, with even more suggestions in the directory section, which also contains a wealth of useful practical information including a range of carefully selected accommodation to suit all budgets Pull-out map with useful plotted routes. Evocative photography captures the very best of this powerhouse capital city About Insight Guides: Insight Guides has over 40 years' experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides. We produce around 400 full-colour print guide books and maps as well as picture-packed eBooks to meet different travellers' needs. Insight Guides' unique combination of beautiful travel photography and focus on history and culture together create a unique visual reference and planning tool to inspire your next adventure. 'Insight Guides has spawned many imitators but is still the best of its type.' - Wanderlust Magazine

Welcome to the Church of the Serpent. The universe is the Tree of Knowledge. At the top of the tree is the Golden Bough with which we attain Golden Knowledge, the Apex Knowledge of the cosmos. So, we must climb. All the way to the highest consciousness. The Church of the Serpent is devoted to knowledge – ultimate knowledge, the knowledge of existence itself. We must have Absolute Knowledge. Nothing else will suffice. Completion, or nothing. From the top of the Tree of Knowledge, we command all knowledge. Are you one of the Serpents of wisdom? Are you one of the protectors of the Tree of Knowledge? Everyone is faced with the same test: to embrace knowledge or reject it. The Bible, as well as love and light, mysticism, and sensory science, all say that you should fear and reject knowledge in itself. Adam and Eve did the right thing. They ate the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. They were condemned and punished for that, and knowledge has been deemed "forbidden", "dangerous", and "unwelcome" ever since. Not in the Church of the Serpent. The altar of the Church of the Serpent bears the Tree of Knowledge itself. Everyone must eat the apples of knowledge. Drink the serpent elixir. Come to the Church of the Serpent. Learn the philosophy of the snake and access the highest transcendent knowledge. Who is the real God in the Garden of Eden? Is it the ignorant "God" who tries to keep humanity away from knowledge, who forbids Adam and Eve from accessing knowledge, or is it the Serpent who leads Adam and Eve to the highest knowledge and transforms them through the gift of consciousness and, finally, super consciousness? The False God is always an enemy of knowledge, and the True God always a promoter of knowledge. Yet, to the idiot masses, it's knowledge itself that's evil. For them, knowledge is the Original Sin. The Serpent spoke with words of fire and none who heard them failed to tremble. The words were lit by lightning. Come and join the Church of the Serpent. Learn the philosophy of the snake and slough off the old, failed skin of humanity. Don't you want to be one of the Prometheans, the HyperHumans, the Faustians? Don't you want to complete the journey from Cimmeria (Alpha) to Hyperborea (Omega)? Only the Serpent Humans can bring all of humanity to the most precious fruit of the Tree of Knowledge and confer Absolute Knowledge on everyone. Only through the Serpents will you achieve gnosis.