The Devil's Breath by David Gilman

The Devil's Breath starts off with an attempt on Max Gordon's life; shortly after, he discovers that his father's gone missing somewhere in the Namibian desert, having discovered something serious enough to kill over. Max isn't one to sit around and hope for the best - soon as he can, he's off to Namibia himself, chasing a trail that his father may or may not have been left for him.

Max is nearly killed many times in the book; he actually dies only once. There's an element of magic realism once he meets the Bushmen - the boys !Koga becomes his guide, and his friend, in his search to find his father - and to save the world from a ruthless businessman who's figured out a way to ensure his dam is the only source of clean water in the region.

The prose in The Devil's Breath isn't great, but it makes up for it with sheer excitement - the book keeps a cracking pace even through the many episodes where characters only just make it out alive - possibly too many, and from different viewpoints. The author also has the habit of saying bad things are going to happen before they happen, which was a bit annoying. But it's a gripping read, and good for passing away those pesky hours quickly.