“It is only through the tragic lens of death that we may be able learn the beautiful meaning of life.”

Nowhere was the above-referenced quote more relevant than to the existence of MAVUTO LOYISO, a former South African officer turned gun for hire. Since adolescence—Mav—as the world had come to know him—was forced to endure.

Beginning with his father’s unsolved murder to making ends meet in present-day Johannesburg, some might gather that nihilism had a stranglehold on Mav’s consciousness. That it was the danger that he had become most attracted to.

His latest job promised that and much more as he was contracted with the responsibility of transferring and protecting NEVILLE SHEDD, a rogue British national with more aliases than clean pairs of knickers.

For one night, Mav must keep him safe until British authorities arrive in Jo-burg. Unbeknownst to him, there’s a substantial bounty on Shedd. His enemies are both far too many to count and determined to make sure the mercenary doesn’t make it off of the continent in one piece.

What began as an opportunity for some fast cash has been transformed into a dance with the worst the devil has to offer—putting Mav’s nihilism to the test. The signals may not be the only thing that have been crossed.

The past has a way of catching up to us all.

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I had the pleasure of reading “Isiginali” by Sloane Swinton and it thoroughly impressed me. This action packed thriller follows the story of Mavuto Loyiso, a South African gun for hire. His latest job, protecting British national Neville Shedd. What Mavuto thought was to be a way to get some quick and easy cash comes with one major problem. Neville has a very pricey bounty on his head.

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The book is well written and kept me turning the pages from start to finish. Swinton writing style is fast-paced and action-packed, making it impossible to put the book down. An obvious example of this would be the following passage:

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Mav placed his left hand on the mercenaries left shoulder. He turned to Mav—leaving his neck exposed. The blade sliced across the merc’s throat. Blood gushed as the merc clutched around it to try and stop the bleeding, before doubling over. One down, two to go. Mav flipped the blade closed and slid it back inside his pocket. He would have to disinfect it later.

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He raised the assault rifle and set his sight line. He located the exposed head of another merc. Mav waited an extra second before pulling the trigger. The second merc dropped to the ground. He switched his attention to the last merc who was raising his weapon. He must have seen what Mav had done.

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Mav released three shots. He shot him through his right hand as the last merc fell back to the floor, dropping his weapon. The junkies appeared to be none the wiser to what was transpiring. Many were just too far gone. Mav pushed one out of the way in his pursuit of the wounded merc. Leaving any of the trio alive would’ve only increased the probability of him failing the mission.

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The characters in the book are well-developed. With Mavuto being a particularly interesting protagonist. He is a complex and multi-layered character who is easy to root for.

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Swinton does an outstanding job at turning Johannesburg, South Africa, into a character just like the protagonists themselves. The vivid descriptions transport the reader to the bustling streets, gritty buildings, and other one of a kind settings, making it easy to imagine oneself in the world of the book.

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This book has it all, significant action and an even better setting. Isiginali is a great read for fans of fast-paced action and adventure. Swinton has crafted a well-written book that will keep readers guessing until the end.

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Final Score

4 out of 5 stars

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