Edge of Eden

More than an exciting adventure-mystery--though it's certainly that--Proffitt's story is also a richly authentic evocation of Kenya's natural history and a portrait of a postcolonial system rife with social inequality (essentially a few Wabenzis, or ``men of the Mercedes-Benz,'' riding upon the backs of the destitute), intertribal animosities and corruption among government officials that until recently was herding the elephant, the rhino and the leopard along the road to extinction. One-time white hunter Adrian Glenton is asked by an African police inspector to select a handful of men to track down ``The Hyena,'' a ruthless and well-organized poacher claiming supernatural powers. It is a well-nigh impossible task, given The Hyena's connections and the size of the national park in which he operates. Proffitt ( The Embassy House ; Gardens of Stone ) mingles convincing descriptions of the thrill of the hunt with vivid characterization, a dash of romance and an unblinking look at the horrors of wildlife poaching. In a note he tells us that Kenya's park rangers recently received orders to shoot poachers on sight. 50,000 first printing; $50,000 ad/promo. (June)