The Diamond Hunters

HARDCOVERS

(UK)

(US)

SOFTCOVERS

Synopsis

The Diamond Hunters is about two brothers, Johnny and Benedict. Johnny struggles to hold on to the one thing that he has worked his whole life to build, his father's diamond mining business, and Benedict uses the overwhelming tools he has been given to completely destroy Johnny's life.

Johnny has never gotten along with his father. The man disowned him at an early age and never visited, but kept him in the business for his uncanny knack at finding diamond fields. Johnny worked like a madman to earn the Old Man's respect, and believed he was making progress right up until the very end. When Johnny is summoned to a meeting and learns that he has been included in the old man's will and given an equal share to that of Benedict and his sister, he believes for the first time that his father has taken him back.

Johnny is faced with unbelievable odds and, with his sister's help, fights to save his fortune, life's work, and honor from the devastation Benedict aims to target at him.

Characters
Johnny Lance		A director of the Van Der Byl Diamond Company and 'adopted' son of Jacobus can der Byl. Unhappily married to Ruby Lance but loves Tracey van der Byl.
Jacobus van der Byl (the Old Man)		Wealthy and elderly father of Benedict and Tracey. Founder of the Van Der Byl Diamond Company.
Benedict van der Byl		Son of Jacobus van der Byl. He is a director of the Van Der Byl Diamond Company. Loves to spend money and enjoy himself. He has always hated Johnny Lance.
Tracey van der Byl		Daughter of Jacobus van der Byl. She is a director of the van Der Byl Diamond Company and is in love with Johnny Lance.
Ruby Lance		Beautiful but hard wife of Johnny Lance who will not divorce him even though she does not love him.
Hugo Kramer		German captain of the fishing boat, Wild Goose.
Sergio Caporetti		Italian captain of the dredging ship, Kingfisher.
Kaminikoto		Japanese computer expert.
Mr Larsen		Head of Larsen Finance Company which finances the Van Der Byl Diamond Company for the building of Kingfisher.




Interesting Information
	First published in 1971 by William Heinemann Ltd.
	Book dedication: For Dee
	A film (also known as THE KINGFISHER CAPER and DIAMOND LUST) was made in 1975, starring David McCallum and Hayley Mills, and was directed by Dirk de Villiers. Like so many other Wilbur Smith film adaptations, it sank without a trace...




Reader Reviews
	Strongly constructed drama, once or twice horrific, of diamond field expertise and South West African (now Namibian) backdrops. - The Northern Echo
	This is definitely a 'one-sitting read' concluding with a riveting desert man-hunt right up to the last eye-popping paragraph - Kentish Observer
	...a gem of a suspense/adventure novel... - Daily Mirror

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