What would you do if your dream sailing adventure became a nightmare of captivity? How would you protect your children when surrounded by armed child soldiers in a country torn apart by war?
For David and Sandy Muller, these were no longer hypothetical questions.
When architect David Muller, his marine biologist wife Sandy, and their two young children set sail for Mozambique's beautiful Bazaruto Archipelago, they expected adventure, not captivity. But their idyllic voyage aboard their yacht Arwen takes a terrifying turn when they are captured by Renamo rebels and plunged into the brutal reality of the Mozambican civil war.
For 49 days, the Mullers live as hostages, never knowing whether they or their children will survive.
Children lie at the heart of Not Child's Play: both the Mullers' own children, whose innocence they desperately try to protect, and the child soldiers who hold them captive. Against a backdrop of fear, violence and uncertainty, something unexpected emerges: alongside brutality, there are moments of compassion, humour and startling humanity. The constant tension between violence and gentleness makes this story as psychologically compelling as it is harrowing.
Told through David and Sandy's first-hand account, Not Child's Play takes you inside the extraordinary reality of captivity. As they navigate hunger, fear, moral dilemmas and the ever-present threat of death, they must find ways to protect their children while negotiating with captors who can be both terrifyingly brutal and unexpectedly humane.
However, this is more than a story of survival.
Set in a historical context of political changes profoundly affecting Southern Africa. It is also the story of how the Mullers' survival and rescue shaped the final chapter of a nation's war and became the catalyst bringing peace to Mozambique.
Raw, intimate and unforgettable, Not Child's Play is a true story of survival that will make you see freedom, family and human nature differently forever.
Get your copy today and witness an extraordinary tale of survival that will forever change your perspective on freedom and family bonds.