As Cecil the Lion's Killer Returns to Work, New Book Exposes True Horror of Poaching "Epidemic"

London, United Kingdom, September 17, 2015 (Newswire.com) - When Dr. Walter Palmer walked back into his Minnesota dental office last week the eyes of the world’s media were on him for all of the wrong reasons. Branded a “murderer” by many for his July 1st killing of Cecil the Lion outside Hwange National Park, Palmer’s story has resulted in public and social media outrage, such as the ‘petition for justice for Cecil’ on Change.org. At the opposite end of the scale to Dr. Palmer, and poachers who hunt animals for ‘sport’, are the organised poaching syndicates vilified in this new work of fiction by author Dan Fletcher.

‘Dawn of Deception’ couldn’t have been released at a more pertinent time. While of course a novel, Fletcher’s compelling story of one man’s quest to bring Kenyan poachers to justice is so well researched that it appears to have been lifted right out of the real world. The detailed description of the criminal methods employed and their effect on wildlife and the local population makes ‘Dawn of Deception’ a vital contributory resource.

“I wanted to help readers understand real-world poaching syndicates, the criminals who run them, the devilish methods they use to kill and how it all results in top-dollar demand,” explains Fletcher, who was brought up in Africa. “For example, almost all ivory carving houses are owned by the Chinese Government, a nation that created a strategic loophole that allows them to stockpile ivory even though harvesting it is banned. This ban has actually led to the near-extinction of rhino and elephant in Kenya as prices soar and trade falls into the hands of ruthless criminals.”

Fletcher continues, “The ban may have been effective if it was extended to cover the trade of ivory products but the reality is that demand continues. Not only has the ban criminalized the supply of ivory but also hinders the efforts of wildlife conservationists. In countries like Zimbabwe they have successfully restored the herds and have to cull elephants to maintain a sustainable level. The ivory from the culled elephants is either locked away or destroyed. If the ban were lifted then National Parks in Zimbabwe would be able to sell the collected ivory to pay for the transport & rehabilitation of elephants to other countries, such as Kenya.”

“Chinese tradition is also responsible for the use of rhino horn as a cure for a lack of libido. The mis-belief that rhino horn is a ‘vital ingredient’ in the manufacture of products such as Viagra would be ridiculous if it hadn’t resulted in the near annihilation of the species. Per kilo rhino horn is fifteen times more valuable than ivory, at $30,000 dollars per horn it is easy to understand why it is known to the poachers as ‘black gold’.”

Fletcher ended by saying, “Conveniently, Kenya also has a well-equipped port with direct shipping lanes to China and other regions in the Far East. This is why Kenya remains the poaching playground of the world. Courageous men and women working for the Kenyan Wildlife Service and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust put their lives on the line every day to save animals, which is why I feature them prominently in my book.”

Readers agree that the book serves as a vital wake-up call. One critic comments, “This is a book that should be read widely, not only for its fast-paced story, its action, and memorable characters, but also for its undeniable importance against poaching in Africa.”

Paul Faraday adds, “This book grabbed me from the beginning chapter and didn’t let go. The characters are deep, with believable motives, and there is plenty of action. Poaching is just the tip of the iceberg and the story involves a ruthless criminal mastermind, who has his own torture chamber, and the CIA. The three storylines came together brilliantly at the end, with a few twists that caught me by surprise. Very highly recommended!”

Synopsis:

CRIME THRILLER HOUND'S 'BOOK OF THE WEEK' (25th-31st of May 2015)

A routine patrol leads to the discovery of an orphaned elephant and her butchered family on the border with Tanzania. An international poaching racket is responsible and David makes it his mission to bring the perpetrators to justice. Kenya is in political and economic turmoil with widespread violence and acts of atrocity being committed by the government against the Kikuyu.

POACHING, POLITICS & KILLER MOTIVES...

Who is Commander Peter Abasi, AKA Maliki, and what does he want with Professor Mutungi and the Committee of Human Rights? And where do freelance reporter Aaron Bernstein and Seymour Dewitt of the American Embassy fit in? Amidst the turmoil David meets Caitlyn, the new vet at the elephant orphanage, as the heat intensifies will he be able to protect her?

‘Dawn of Deception: Part I in The David Nbeke Thriller Series’ is available on Amazon​