Harvesting the Past
By Madge Swindells
When sixteen-year-old Mandy September goes missing from a birthday holiday in the Okavango swamps, Arion St. John from the Pretoria police force is sent to investigate her disappearance.
Twenty-seven years old, Ari finds it odd that he is to return to Silver Bay, the very place he was adopted from as an infant. Curious about his roots, despite his loving and caring adoptive parents, Ari uses this as an opportunity to dig deeper into his own roots.
His welcome to Silver Bay was not what he was expecting. The townsfolk were openly set against him. Their loyalty clearly lay with the wealthy fishing magnate, Angelo Palma.
As Ari digs further into Mandy’s disappearance, he finds that her parents, Bill and Hannah September, have a past that proves to be quite interesting. When a skull is found and identified as belonging to Bill September’s sister, Rose, the investigation takes on a more sinister role.
With no ransom requested, the link between Rose’s murder and Mandy’s disappearance grows stronger. Ari finds himself going deeper and deeper into the Palma’s and September’s pasts.
Ramona September wanted her children to grow up leading a life she failed to gain herself. As housekeeper at the Palma residence, she is in a position to influence the ongoings of Angelo, and his grandson, Rob.
When Kate, Rob’s wife, loses her fortune, Rob takes the upper hand. With her wealth wiped out, he is in a position to control her every move; a change Kate refuses to accept. Brought up as a caring individual, her love of nature and compassion towards people drives her through some of the toughest times.
Falling in love with Kate was not part of the plan. Ari must learn to overcome his passionate requirements and focus on the crimes that were committed in Silver Bay. Mandy is still alive and he must find her… and soon.
Madge Swindells was born and educated in England. As a teenager, she emigrated to South Africa where she studied archaeology and anthropology at Cape Town University. Later, in England, she was a Fleet Street journalist and the manager of her own publishing company. Her earlier novels, SUMMER HARVEST, SONG OF THE WIND, SHADOWS ON THE SNOW, THE CORSICAN WOMAN, EDELWEISS and THE SENTINEL, were international bestsellers and have been translated into eight languages. She lives in South Africa.
