The Alpha Raid — Alan Scholefield

A fight to the death…

In the final years of the First World War, East Africa is dominated by the Germans, whose powerful paddle-steamer, Afrika, prowls Lake Tanganyika â€" preventing the Allies from launching a crucial offensive.

On a mission to destroy the formidable warship is a small British naval unit, led by Commander Bagley. Working its way up from Cape Town, it has two powerful launches, Alpha and Beta, at its disposal.

But with the blundering Commander Bagley at the helm of the unit's motley crew, the success of the mission is far from certain.

Among the crew is Lieutenant Edward Ross, Bagley's second-in-command.

With the difficulties of the expedition and the incompetency of its Commander soon becoming apparent, Lieutenant Ross must not only deal with an inexplicably hostile Bagley, but also with the harsh reality of the dangers they face.

Yet matters are further complicated when Ross meets and falls in love with Justine Jumelle, who joins the crew following the death of her father.

As the battle rages on, will the mission to destroy the German warship succeed? And will all the crew make it out alive?

The Alpha Raid is a thrilling World War I naval adventure that builds up to a nail-biting and unexpected climax.

Praise for Alan Scholefield

‘Suspense is more or less guaranteed' â€" The Observer

Alan Scholefield was born in 1931 in Cape Town, South Africa. After leaving university he became a journalist and travelled widely in southern and central Africa, Europe, and America. He now lives in Hampshire with his wife and has three daughters. Most famous for his Macrae and Silver series, Scholefield has also written other novels, including Venom, which was made into a film in 1981.