The Lioness, Bohjalian - B

      Katie Barstow, A-list actress, takes her new husband, her best friend and her husband, her brother and his wife, and a few other Hollywood types on a safari in Kenya and Tanganyika in 1964. All's well until one morning men arrive, shoot up the safari staff and drive the Americans away in two different vehicles. They are Russians, andwill hold them for ransom.  One escape attempt is successful, although one of the captured Americans dies as does one of the Russians. The two survivors head off into the savannah, but are attacked by hyenas the next morning. Carmen, Katie's friend survives and is rescued. The five in the larger party are also successful in attacking the Russians, but only Katie and her brother Billy survive. A fun read with interesting background on Hollywood and the Cold War in Africa, at the time the continent was throwing off the shackles of colonialism. But the biggest takeaway is that Africa is one scary place, where death is just around the corner.