Barricade

Barricade is a well-written, fast-moving action-packed thriller - fully in line with a would-be Ian Fleming novel. Although David Longridge readily admits that he has yet to visit the DRC, due to extensive research and an historical narrative, his observations and knowledge of Katanga in the 1960s are compelling. In short, a rip-roaring read.

The fifth in David Longridge's excellence historical series, BARRICADE is again basically meticulously researched military and political history enlivened and animated by a host of characters from all his previous books now playing key roles in the break-away state of Katanga in the newly independent Congo and/or 1960s Paris. There's Bill, with his faithful old Dakota, air lifting uranium and cobalt to the highest bidder. Kim Cho, the beautiful Cambodian investigative journalist (now married to French Legionnaire Henri) getting involved in more than strict reporting. The German para Leo now commands soldiers in the Katanga army. Justine, the left wing Deputy in the French National Assembly and Francoise of the French secret service become involved. Not to mention Matt of the CIA! The narrative covering the tumultuous period of post Independence Congo and the 1958 student 'revolution' in Paris is linked by a new character, Alain Banza, an idealistic student with a brother in the Katanga Police Force, who witnesses the murder of Patrice Lumumba and leaves for university in Paris where he later becomes entangled with the 1968 student 'revolution' in Paris. This is a well written, fast paced thriller and a history lesson at the same time. If you liked the author's previous books, you will love BARRICADE, but it stands alone well too. Highly recommended!

As usual, David Longridge has included amazing and excellent historical detail in his latest thriller. And I was surprised and pleased to find a family connection with Moise Tshombe, the leader of the Katanga province, trying to break away from the disorganised Congo, who I know exclaimed, ‘Voila O’Brien le mauvais, voici mon ami O’Brien le bon’. He was referring to his enemy Conor Cruise O’Brien who was using UN forces to bring mineral-rich Katanga back into the Congo and his friend my father, Toby O’Brien the publicist whose Katanga lobby was trying to help Union Miniere, the mining interests in Katanga. This is a fascinating novel which should also be translated. There should be many French and Belgian readers who would be interested – as well as Africans.