The Twelfth Delegate - Softcover

In seconds a brutal carjacking shatters the life of top Johannesburg banker, Pierre Joubert. Disillusioned, he vows to leave South Africa. He decides on Provence, home of his French Huguenot ancestors and epitome of civilised society a utopian world far from his violent country. But two chance meetings in the village of Lacombe lead to unintended and terrifying consequences. He first encounters Dr Uli Maier, humanist and free thinker intent on protecting Europe s secular values against an encroaching Islam, and then Shada, a Muslim girl from an Algerian immigrant family. Daunting cultural differences cannot stop the dangerous attraction Pierre and Shada feel for each other. Casting his long, dark shadow over them all is Hassan, trapped in a Paris slum, his hatred of France matched only by his self-loathing. Four people, three missions, one deadly appointment with fate... A novel rich in irony, The Twelfth Delegate creates almost unbearable suspense as it moves between Johannesburg, Paris, Provence, Algiers, and the Cape winelands.

A ninth generation South African, Gustav Preller was set on becoming a journalist but a chance meeting led to a career with multinational corporations in Johannesburg, Frankfurt, Zürich, Hamburg, Cape Town, and Manchester.Now retired, he has embarked on a second career as a writer. When he is not in front of his computer he surfs longboards, rides a mountain bike, and fishes on Namibia s Skeleton Coast.He is married and has one son.His debut novel, Icarus over Hong Kong, was published in 2009.