Gone To Ground by Bronwyn Hall

Publisher's Synopsis

UN surgeon Rachel Forester is posted at a remote medical clinic deep in the jungle of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. With violence escalating in the region, Dr Forester risks her life by remaining to tend an injured child while the rest of her team evacuates. On the cusp of her final desperate chance to leave, a soldier is carried into the camp by three other members of his unit, his condition so critical, his airlift must take priority over hers.

With no help coming, and in the path of warring militias, this small unit must flee through the heart of the jungle to reach the safety of the province capital. But in the dark wilderness lies a strangling web of crime and corruption. As they get deeper, they discover a sinister mining operation and stolen children with evidence indicating shadowy ties to the UN. But aren't those the people Dr Forester works for? The only people who know she's still lost out there? And now, the people who want her dead?

The further they delve, the more the web closes around them. Will they make it out alive?

My Review of Gone to Ground by Bronwyn Hall

Gone To Ground is set in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where Australian doctor Rachel Forester, working with Doctors Without Borders in a clinic in a remote jungle village. This is a tense action thriller combined with a romantic storyline to create multiple layers of jeopardy in a harsh and constantly dangerous environment. 

Rachel and her nurse were due to be evacuated from the village along with the last of her patients when a group of Canadian UN soldiers arrive carrying their wounded comrade. She performs the necessary emergency surgery and decides that he has to evacuate on the chopper, taking the last available spot - her spot.

The only option for her is to join the remaining three soldiers for a long walk through the Congo jungle to the nearest sizable town and relative safety. It will be an arduous trek with militia forces close behind them adding a further dangerous aspect to their journey. 

As they travel they come across the disturbing sight of local village children being captured and forced into slavery to work in a nearby mining operation. This is the kind of illegal operation that will be defended with deadly force, but it’s also the kind of thing that must be exposed to protect the lives of the local people.

This is a richly described story with the awesome natural beauty of the Congo jungle taking centre stage. In stark contrast is the ever-present danger from the wildlife as well as the human inhabitants. Bronwyn Hall does an outstanding job of balancing these two extremes as they move deeper into the jungle. The result is a tension-filled journey that brings Rachel and the soldiers closer together as they depend on each other for survival.

The setting of the majority of the book is inspired for the beauty and danger it represents. Rachel Forester is a similarly strong character, highly capable with a tendency towards rebellion yet still vulnerable. When thrust into numerous uncertain situations she manages to come out stronger and more resilient than ever. 

Gone to Ground is the debut action thriller (with a touching romantic bent) by Bronwyn Hall. It demonstrates an adept hand at providing a realistic narrative and consistent pacing. She has found a way of balancing highly emotive subjects with common sense decisions and coming up with a, well, a thrilling ending.