This is fun historical fiction and adventure. Adventure lurks on every page as the book follows Henry Morgan Stanley's African expedition to "rescue" Emin Pasha, the German instated by England to rule over one of their African colonies. Turns out, after many lives are lost reaching him, Emin doesn't need rescuing after all. Yet Stanley won't leave empty handed. A great look at the self-interest of European colonizers and explorers at other's expense. ( )