Published: Oct. 04, 2011
Words: 92,159 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781465980496

Short description

A cardiac surgeon and long distance runner, Malcolm Hartford, takes his family on safari. At first, the Serengeti works its magic, but when the travelers encounter a gang of poachers, the vacation becomes a disaster. As the long rains threaten, events cascade into a raging torrent. Malcolm must run the marathon of a lifetime and use all his medical skills to rescue his his loved ones.

Extended description

Only in the heart of Africa can the heart of a surgeon change.

Dr. Malcolm Hartford promises to join his family on a grand vacation in East Africa before his daughter leaves for college. He cannot escape the hospital, though, until he finishes the most challenging case of his career. Sleep-deprived, burnt-out, mentally and physically exhausted, he finds rejuvenation among the wild plains and peoples of the Masai Mara.

Guided by a wilderness-savvy Maasai guide, the Hartfords (Malcolm, his wife, son, and daughter), unlock the secrets of the tooth-and-claw African plains, witnessing rituals and events that make their California world seem distant and unreal. As a pride of lions slaughters a Cape buffalo, a hippo defends its baby from a hungry croc, and a bull elephant dies mysteriously, the family strengthens its bonds through shared adventures and revelations. (Read more) Only in the heart of Africa can the heart of a surgeon change.

Dr. Malcolm Hartford promises to join his family on a grand vacation in East Africa before his daughter leaves for college. He cannot escape the hospital, though, until he finishes the most challenging case of his career. Sleep-deprived, burnt-out, mentally and physically exhausted, he finds rejuvenation among the wild plains and peoples of the Masai Mara.

Guided by a wilderness-savvy Maasai guide, the Hartfords (Malcolm, his wife, son, and daughter), unlock the secrets of the tooth-and-claw African plains, witnessing rituals and events that make their California world seem distant and unreal. As a pride of lions slaughters a Cape buffalo, a hippo defends its baby from a hungry croc, and a bull elephant dies mysteriously, the family strengthens its bonds through shared adventures and revelations.

In the land of the Maasai, the Hartfords become an integral part of the intersection of man and nature at its most raw. They steal honey from African bees, perform surgery in crude conditions, and participate in a circumcision ceremony with hundreds of warriors. The experience transforms them, calling forth ancestral memories buried deep within their DNA.

When the travelers encounter a gang of poachers, though, the vacation descends into catastrophe. Malcolm must use every bit of training a lifetime of running and operating have lent him. Even on returning to the United States, Kenya leaves its mark, both for good and evil. A fathomless love powers him to save his family in Africa. Only their faith and trust can help him choose between life and oblivion at home.

"An ambitious story, full of action and realistic dialogue, featuring a dynamic central character. Some of Vanstrum's finest writing to date."

--John A. Murray; author of more than 40 books, including Cinema Southwest and The Sierra Club Nature Writing Handbook
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Tags

kenya, poaching, maasai, serengeti, african safari, heart surgery, masai mara, antiviral drugs, cardiac surgeon, cardiomyopathy

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Reviews

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Review by: Audrey Driscoll on Feb. 04, 2013 :
Impressed by this author’s book Northern Liberties, I was eager to read more by him. Let Fall Thy Blade did not disappoint. The first part of the book, which shows the central character’s driven life as a heart surgeon, is totally gripping. Vanstrum demonstrates an insider’s knowledge of what goes on in the operating theater and in the surgeon’s mind. Once the Hartford family is in Africa, viewing wildlife and gaining insights into Maasai culture, I found a certain degree of disconnection from Malcolm Hartford. Granted, he’s on vacation, but I expected him to mentally link up his African experiences with his career, in which he seemed totally immersed. But things definitely pick up once the Hartfords are kidnapped by poachers and Malcolm faces crisis after crisis before the ambiguous and poignant conclusion.
(reviewed long after purchase)

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