Trent flies Josh to New York City for an interview and Josh is not particularly interested until he returns home to find his thrice divorced mom and Laura, the stepsister for whom he had almost total responsibility under the negative influence of the evil stepsister, Fawn.  After another missed job opportunity (because Trent advises the prospective employer of Josh's incarceration), Josh returns to New York City for a second interview. Trent promises only 40K but offers health benefits and all college expenses paid for Laura. Josh accepts the position.  

After a long flight, a customs inspector who tries to rob him, and a seven hour drive into the heart of Africa, Josh reaches New Africa's  agricultural project. His home is in a walled-in compound where J.B. Flannery, (a burned out reporter), Annika Gritdal (Scandinavian Aid Worker), and Katie (African's Women's initiative) also live. This African country is ruled by Umboto Mtiti who took power twelve years previously when foreign mining companies became interested in the region's natural resources.

Mtiti rules by power and intimidation and joins with Trent, a former real estate con-man, and Aleksei Federov, a member of the Russian Mafia, to use New Africa to divert not only the foods provided by New Africa but as a means of trafficking drugs and weapons. When Josh quickly realizes something is very wrong and starts asking questions, his life is suddenly very much at risk.  

Kyle Mills has provided vivid descriptions  of the desolate African countryside in the unnamed country ruled by the prototypical despot. The concept of a charitable organization being run by criminals for their own benefit does provoke a certain amount of concern. However, save Josh Haggarty, all of the characters are quite predictable including the alcoholic reporter and the saintly Annika. Even the escapes, and there were many, are barely plausible. Long time Kyle Mills' fans may find this latest effort rather lackluster.

--Jerry Solot