Golden Fox: A Novel

Wilbur smith is excellent on details and material, wish he would leave out some of the excess sexual material - his books are great but for that one small part. I always learn about the history of South Africa that is something few teach in North America and the tales are wonderful!

From the moment I turned the first page I could not put this book down. This book is enthralling, with my most hated character I've even heard of. I had nightmares about this man.It takes a truly magnificent writer to be able to create such hatred towards a fictional character.

It covers all what one would expect for being a "Page-turner". Just wish that when buying a WS Novel, it should emphasis what Part it represents of the "Courtney Series". I say that because I happen to read the "Golden Fox" prior to "Rage" not realizing that one is the continuation of the other. This now makes Rage more predictable to read. To bad, however, it should be emphasized in the short Description when while looking to buy. Therefore, not the fault of the Author!!!!!!

I have read almost all of the Courtney (and Ballantyne) series, on Kindle. I do not understand why Golden Fox and a Time to Die are not available on Kindle. It is hard for me to read a paperback as my hands hurt and the print is small. Have invested a lot of time and significant $$$ is this family saga, am going to have to really struggle to read these two books. Not happy.Early writing is extraordinary!

Typical Wilbur Smith Africa. The next to last of the Courtney books, set 1969-1979. A very good historical fiction read that should be read in context with Smith's other 12 Courtney Africa books. The content is rough and graphic and will be disturbing for many readers. I have read all 13 of the Courtney books and have found them all to highly entertaining and educational. For anyone interested in African history this is highly recommended.

As a self confessed Wilbur Smith fan this book initially had me hooked from the first page, however it seemed to lose the plot (pun intended) around halfway through. Characters which had been strongly developed in the first few chapters just seemed to fizzle out and lose their depth, almost as if Mr Smith got bored and tired of them.The story line then started, what seemed like, a slow meander of all over the place with various previous Wilbur Smith characters suddenly making an appearance. It was almost as if Mr Smith was trying to keep all of his fans appeased by having every previous Courtney character make an appearance.I was left disappointed, and rather confused by the ending, with many questions which seemed to have been left unanswered.Sadly, this is definitely not one of Mr. Smith's finest novels.

I have read through this book of the Courtneys of Africa series wondering just how low these despicable characters could go and surely this book is where they bottom out... I hope. Smith's yarns are spun in ways that make them difficult to put down for the excitement, predictable as it is, but after a while you start looking for something beyond his penchant for describing them in terms of sexual exploits (each and all like something right out of a porn masterpiece: those "books, movies, and other people's" lives kind of experiences); making shady, self-centered business dealings no matter who becomes flattened roadkill in the process; and carrying the whole thing on the back of the most despicable character of the bunch (Centaine the Ruthless), always lurking in the background eying her own family no differently than she would any potential competitor in terms of how manipulative she is willing to be to affect their activities.If only I didn't think Smith truly liked these people, in the manner Tom Clancy fancies himself the real Jack Ryan. There is just no counterpoint to convince me he isn't enthralled with them. For example, his treatment of racism isn't much different that a mud-puddle-deep person proclaiming some of his or her best friends are black, gay, Jewish, Martians, or whathaveyou.Oh, yes, the low point? The liberal, gay Courtney, now out of the closet, and sleeping with under-age black boys while pretending to be their friend and savior! Unfortunately, we cannot buy first-class tickets for the lot of them to sail on the Titanic. So far, each chronological book in the series has been somewhat less than its predecessor (not a great sign since I have the next three in queue). If they don't improve (or these Courtneys don't get their comeuppance), damn the Egyptians!

I just enjoy all of wilbur smiths books I have read this one and all of his a couple of times as I have them in my library all in hard cover but needed something on my tablet to read on the plane so just took pot luck with which one I selected

That was a poor novel in nearly every sense.Littered with typos. (I’ve tried to request a refund…Amazon aren’t interested)Storyline is dubious and padded out with irrelevant passages. What was the point of that fishing adventure!?So many errors or completely unrealistic things. Two striking examples: a 1yr old weighing 16kg…nope, sorry, that has NEVER happened in human history. A 3yr old in control of their emotions sufficiently to understand body language from a person they hardly know - nope, sorry, still a big fat no-no. A 20-something man who can self fund the Red Revolution and do so at the drop of a hat by shooting now and again? Come on…it’s just daft, irritating nonsense from an author who lost his way.Another two perfect humans beings (Bella and Ramon) with questionable morals and ethics? Wow, we’ve never had that from Wilbur before have we? Sean the first, Dirk the Evil, Michael the Good, Centaine the Thief (remember when she saved herself using insider trading?), Shasa the Pirate (apart for his one eye and lusty loins, he is faultless), Blaine, etc. These people have EVERY desirable attribute and outlandish wealth, but still make terrible choices and find themselves up sh*t creek with no paddle. But as good fortune has it, those billions in the Courtney coffers just fix everything. It would be nice for Wilbur to challenge himself and come up with a bit more variation in his novels.Oh and what happened to Sean’s conquest from the previous book? Never mind…that was just a little money spinner for him although a much better book than this nonsense.This was Wilbur’s least imaginative drivel I’ve had the misfortune to read and will end the Courtney Series here. Not worth your time…move swiftly on and read The Hungry Caterpillar if you want some real literature.Facepalm.

I enjoyed this novel in the Courtney series. I did not though think it as good as RAGE , the previous book in the series. This was a completely different kind of story. This was like a good spy thriller with espionage and passing of secrets be it unwillingly. The same characters appear in this book as appear in RAGE so it is continuation. Well worth a read as the late Wilbur Smith was a very good author who fully researched all his story lines before writing a novel. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

This book is a disgrace to the name of someone like Wilbur Smith. How he could display a mind which relishes the torture of a woman and child by waterboarding is inconceivable. As an 87year old man who has spent his working as a Soldier and a Police Officer I was so disgusted that I stopped reading and will not continue. What sort of twisted mind could have conceived a plot like that. If I could do so I would ask for my money back.

Continuing the Courtney family saga featuring Isabella Courtney who finds herself caught up in some industrial espionage for her lover Ramon who manipulates the birth of their child to get her to do as he wants.For such a strong character, Isabella is really stupid in that first of all she sleeps with him, knowing very little about him and then foolishly succumbs to every lie, deception and suggestion he puts to her without questioning the logic of what he has said and most of it should have rung warning bells (obviously the fabulous sex made her deaf!). Using the Courtney connections in business Ramon is able to infiltrate South African's security but to state more would be to give the plot away.The high-light of the book was that the Courtney brothers finally settle their differences in a very surprising but sad way as they are pitted against each other. Things will never be the same again....I honestly did not enjoy this book as much as Mr Smith's previous novels and felt a little let down afterwards. Hopefully A Time To Die will more than make up for this meagre offering.Thank you Wilber never the less.

Over the past year I have reread the Courtney series in order,something I failed to do over 30 years of reading Wilbur Smith books. Wilbur Smith is my favourite author and always will be.another great read which has the reader imagining the beauty and majesty of Africa at the same time sitting on the edge of your seat with excitement and dread. Very powerful book,fully recommended. I have just picked up Birds of Prey from my bookshelf,enjoy people