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THE LAST TROPHY by Brian Marsh

THE LAST TROPHY

By

Pub Date: March 19th, 1982
Publisher: St. Martin's

African hunting adventure--in a lust-oriented, Hemingway-derived, implausible jungle stew. Millionaires Emile and Eve de la Brochardière leave their huge chateau to knock around the Zimbabwe bushveld on a big game safari: Emile, a kinky, moody Casanova, needs to prove his virility. And though professional hunter Rob Buckmaster knows it's too hot and rainy for a safari, he agrees to guide the rich folks. Rob and teasing Eve hit it off, of course; Emile's jealousy rises--while Eve also secretly lusts for their muscular bushman-driver Twaii. And when Emile runs from a charging water buffalo, leaving his unarmed bearer behind, Eve calls Emile a ""despicable, detestable, disgusting coward."" Meanwhile, too, ranger John Ashton, out hunting a marauding rogue elephant, crosses the safari's path: bitter encounters ensue. So finally, as Eve's adulterous yens climax, there's a grandly ludicrous jungle romp: everyone chasing everyone else (including the elephant). Some serviceable African backgrounds and hunting detail--but a crudely unengaging melodrama overall.