They told Amie it was a simple look, listen and report back mission, but from the beginning everything went wrong. She is stalked across borders, the aid workers act suspiciously, she’s assaulted, and abandoned in a rural African hut miles from anywhere. What has happened to her partner Simon and can she trust the charismatic Frenchman who befriends her? The discovery of an ancient tribal … tradition and a group of young children to rescue, test her skills to the limit. For the first time, she is prepared to kill to protect the innocent caught up in an international sex trade with an extra horrifying twist.
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This is another five star adventure for the intrepid Amie. I decide on my star rating these days based on my ability to put a book down, and I couldn’t put this one down at all so five stars it has to be. Amie Cut for Life is a great rollicking adventure bringing in some very topical issues, such as kidnapping, trafficking and FGM. If I have any reservation at all, it is that it has rather a similar scenario to one of the previous books (Amie rescuing a group of girls from unsavoury groups of men out in the African Bush) albeit it a different topic. However, that didn’t detract from the unputdownable nature of the book, and I just loved all the Africa details. I could smell the bush, feel the sun, taste the dust and experience both the thrill and danger of being up close to animals in the wild. I was also in the towns, seeing the cagey, indifferent shop owners and their dingy but colourful stores and there is even a Pep Store. I loved it for all its Africaness. For me, this is the absolute unique selling point of this series. The plots are an exciting romp, but it is the author’s knowledge of Africa that makes them real. I am now looking forward to Amie 5, assuming from the end of this book that there will be one?
Another great installment in this fast paced and intriguing series. I recommend to fans of adventure and suspense books.
As with all Clarke’s books there is an authentic feel to the setting in Africa as the author spent many years living in the continent through turbulent times. Believable characters and a skillful building of suspense makes the read a real page-turner.
As well as a fabulous story the book highlights the practice of sending young British girls to Africa to undergo genital mutilation. A practice which is also carried out secretly in most European countries and I guess elsewhere.
Loved the read. My only question is – “Are you writing more in Amie books?”
Lucinda Clarke has continued Amie’s African Adventures by tackling the difficult subject of Feminine Genital Mutilation, an abhorrent practice carried out on young girls. I knew a little about this subject, but the horrific and far-reaching effects for the victims are laid out before us in this novel. Ms Clarke weaves an action-packed adventure of espionage, murder, kidnap, and romance that is well told, engaging, and often humorous. Africa and its people, both good and bad, come alive beneath her fingers. Recommended read.
You’ll never view Africa the same again after reading this book, or any of the other ones in the Amie series. The wild beauty of the land and the customs of the people come alive before your eyes, as does the horrific nature of FGM, female genitalia mutilation. It’s made even more treacherous becausece is perpetuated by those whose only concern is making money.
Despite bumbling her way through being a spy, Amie manages to once again save the day, or more precisely, the lives of young girls. At times you wan the practit to slap her for being so trusting, but it’s a trait that makes you love her just as much. She’s real; she’s flawed; and she’s a hero.