Cry Wolf Paperback – December 9, 2001

If a picture paints a thousand words then in order to craft a convincing story the writer has to deftly use his or her words in a way that a reader can not only see the picture but with word color and tones that give it life. As a writer I hate Wilbur Smith. He's so good he makes me want to break my fingers so I can't pretend to turn out anything of the kind. His settings are paintings, his characters convincingly real, and his dialogue...yeah, well, suffice to agree with so many others here and elsewhere that's he's a gifted Master with his craft. CRY WOLF is yet another living painting with words. Chapter after chapter he draws us deeper into the story with action, adventure, and a promise of a wealth of gold. His plot twists and tangles are deftly tied and untied as he takes us along with several soldiers of fortune with Haile Salassie's fight againt Mussolini's forces in Ethiopia. Since I try to read a little bit of every writer out there to be better at what I do, I read EVERYTHING of Smith's. Will I ever rise to his level? Doubtful. But will I learn and appreciate what it takes to do what he does? You bet. Wilbur Smith is a true artist in a field where most just offer sketches.

This novel is based on a time of shame of the civilized world when it stood still and watched as Mussolini's Italian Army and Air Force destroyed and murdered helpless Ethiopians as they took over the East African country in 1935 and 1936. The League Of Nations only placed an inaffective embargo on Italy; no one cared about a few grass huts being burned, just as they did not care about the Japanese or Germans waring actions in the late 30's. We all know what happened because of this inaction.In this novel Wilbur Smith expertly brings the reader a small brutal piece of this war. His tale involves a Texan, Jake Barton, and Englishman, Garth Swales, and Vicki, a free lance news writer and how they get tangled up in the Ethiopian struggle against the mighty Italians forces. The author writes with no chapters, no blank pages, and this book is full of excitement, action, romance, humour, and graphic brutality from cover to cover. Wilbur Smith never lets me down as I found myself laughing out loud at different times and also crying. This was truly a hard to put down story.

Wilber Smith is one of the greatest adventure story tellers in the world today. Literally it is very hard to put down it holds you attention and excitement all the way to to the end

Wilbur Smith is a writer who sometimes makes it difficult to read the first chapter, but once you make yourself become involved it’s difficult to stop reading.The book left you pondering what happened to the characters, and is there a follow up book which I believe there should be.

Not sure who wrote this book but it had no resemblance to the W.S. author I know. Long rambling predictable verbiage throughout with a sudden ending without an ending. Should not have been published...

There is more than a little Soldier Of Fortune here, guiltily read in the barber’s waiting room of my youth. Guilty pleasure aside, Wilber Smith is a treasure of a story teller. His writing is compelling and informative. No doubt if I did the research I would find his attention to detail absolutely extraordinary, as are the historical events he describes.It’s not pretty, but war never is!

This is certainly not one of Wilbur Smith’s best. The plot & characters are shallow, and predictable. There are much better WS reads.

interesting story

The story is of an intriguing battle for the heart of a woman occupying the wit of 2 likeable but very different heros- and is set against a tragically inevitable unfolding of the colonial ambitions of Fascist Italy, just before the 2nd World War. Every page rings true and contains humour and believable characters on a grand scale. There is pathos and joy, and the huge backdrop of historical events is understood at all times by the reader- whilst we wonder about the outcome of the male struggle to secure the affections of a strong female lead character. The tale is fast paced and very difficult to put the book down- a true sign of a well-written and riveting story.

This is an absolutely compelling book from start to finish. There are passages that had me in fits of laughter and passages that left me feeling sad and angry in equal measure. So if you like your adventure fiction to be action packed, hilarious and thrilling, don't read this read the book.

I've read pretty much everything by Wilbur Smith but had not read this stand alone novel. It brings together all of Wilbur's storytelling prowess with a familiar feel. However, thus book has far more elements of humour than usually found in his books which serves to endear us to his characters and adds on occasion to the sense of farce which accompanies the Italian army.Highly enjoyable, thought provoking and saddening in equal measure. A thoroughly satisfying read.

It always amazes me that Wilbur Smith produces so many gripping books. My first book read was "When the Lion Feeds" when I worked on the Copper Mines in Zambia between 1968-1970, and I have been a great fan ever since.

Another brilliant book by Wilber Smith. It kept up the pace from beginning to end. Hard to put down. Had some very late nights.