King of Beasts

A theft, a hunt and a rescue. Sonja Kurtz has a mission.

By Tony Park

An action-packed hunt across South Africa full of international espionage, twin swaps and prison escapes.

King of Beasts delivers a fast-paced thriller that spans continents. It combines international espionage, dangerous missions, and deeply personal conflicts. Readers can expect relentless action, unexpected twists, and high-stakes decisions from beginning to end.

Former mercenary Sonja Kurtz faces her most personal mission yet. Her archaeologist daughter, Emma, is captured by Russian forces in Ukraine while trying to save priceless antiquities from the destruction of war. Meanwhile, Emma’s captor, Major Vassily Orlov, once served time in a South African prison for poaching and murder. Now, he plans to return to Africa for pleasure and to settle unfinished business. He also intends to bring Emma with him.

A high-stakes thriller with personal consequences

Sonja’s mission appears straightforward. She must hunt down Orlov and rescue Emma. However, the operation quickly becomes far more complicated. Before she can confront Orlov, Sonja must reconcile with Fiona, Emma’s estranged twin sister. Fiona once tried to kill her mother, and the fractured relationship adds emotional depth to an already dangerous mission. As a result, King of Beasts explores not only survival and justice but also forgiveness, trust, and the bonds that endure even after betrayal.

Set against the dramatic landscapes of South Africa and the backdrop of an international conflict, King of Beasts blends authentic military detail with compelling storytelling. Tony Park balances tense action sequences with well-developed characters, creating a novel that appeals to fans of espionage, adventure, and African wildlife fiction. The story also raises timely questions about the protection of cultural heritage during war, organised wildlife crime, and the human cost of violence. These themes give the novel substance beyond its thrilling pace.

Readers who enjoy international thrillers will appreciate the novel’s combination of military realism, emotional tension, and African settings. The shifting alliances, dangerous pursuits, and unpredictable plot keep the suspense high throughout. Whether following Sonja’s relentless pursuit or navigating the complex family dynamics at the story’s heart, readers will find themselves invested until the final page.

About the author

Tony Park was born in 1964 and grew up in the western suburbs of Sydney. He has worked as a newspaper reporter, a press secretary, a public relations consultant, and a freelance writer. In addition, he served for 34 years in the Australian Army Reserve. During that time, he completed a six-month deployment as a public affairs officer in Afghanistan in 2002.

Today, he and his wife, Nicola, divide their time between Australia and southern Africa. Park is the author of twenty-three other novels set in Africa, including Die by the Sword, as well as several non-fiction biographies.