Adventure is an unavoidable consequence of Raoul Stern’s job as an oil exploration expert, but that doesn’t mean he is fully prepared for what awaits him in Congo. Raoul’s life is already tumultuous enough with the breakup of his marriage when he meets the lovely Rosa, who sweeps him off his feet and helps him explore the social and economic chasms between developed and developing nations. As Raoul looks for oil in the far reaches of a dangerous, superstitious land, he has adventures involving witchcraft, bandits, and malaria. Each day brings new challenges to Raoul’s work, and each sultry night brings even more to his personal life. Livelier than an African beat, this novel moves with grace and empathy through the perplexing social and political landscape of a people victimized by civil war and widespread political corruption.