The Night Hunter by Natalie Moss

 

First Line: We dove headlong between the trees, red-green mopani leaves whipping our brows and thick grasses tangling under our ankles.

Estranged sisters Danielle and Grace must return to their family home located within a wild-game reserve in the South African bush to take care of their deceased mother's final wishes. To ease the pain of their loss--and the tension between them-- each sister invites two friends to come along with them and their guide on the two-day journey.

The trip begins as a safari adventure but turns into a nightmare when one of them is murdered the first morning at the campsite. In their panic, they crash their vehicle, leaving them stranded with no way to call for help.

Danielle must lead them on foot across miles of unforgiving landscape. To make it even worse, not only do they have to be vigilant because of the dangerous wildlife, but they also have to outfox someone whom they realize is trying to sabotage their escape.

~

The setting, the wildlife, the dangerous cross-country trek... all of these things enticed me to read Natalie Moss's The Night Hunter. Those parts of the book were excellent. I did feel as though I were with them as they set out on foot for safety. Is there a leopard up in that tree? Are crocodiles hiding in that stream? Did I just hear a lion cough? I wish all these bugs would stop feasting on me. I really enjoyed that part of the book.

Unfortunately, when it came to the characters, The Night Hunter fell flat. I have developed a very low tolerance for characters so filled with angst that they constantly try to second-guess themselves and everyone else. Danielle was so angst-filled that it's a wonder she could move. She and her sister, Grace, had a larger-than-life conservationist mother who was responsible for their emotional instability. Since the woman was dead, she was always seen in Danielle's memories. I think I would have had a better reaction to both Danielle and the story if the book had been structured so readers got a chance to meet this woman for themselves. To see her in action instead of always being told what she was like.

If you like survival-in-the-wild adventure stories, The Night Hunter is a good one. If, like me, you are a character-driven reader, you may have a few problems with it.

The Night Hunter by Natalie Moss

eISBN: 9798217187874

Berkley © 2026

eBook, 345 pages

Thriller

Rating: C

Source: Net Galley

An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed by Helene Tursten

First Line: Maud let out a loud sigh of relief as she sank into her comfortable seat on the plane.

 

Things were rather tense in eighty-nine-year-old Maud's Gothenburg apartment after a dead body was found there, and just as she was thinking that everything was back to normal, two police inspectors, Huss and Nyström, knock at her door once more. She evades their questions with ease, but Maud thinks that it's best if she takes a vacation. Someplace warm. Someplace far away.

These six interlocking stories blend Maud's present with some of the problems she's dealt with in the past. And if there's one thing that Maud knows how to deal with quickly and efficiently, it's a problem.

~

Part of me wants to be just like Maud. This woman is eighty-nine and still more than able to go on safari. She's got all her marbles. Her health and mobility are good. She's got enough money to live the life that she wants. Good for her! There's just one fly in the ointment: her attitude towards taking a life-- and this is one reason why some people will not see the humor in these stories, and why I call them a guilty pleasure. This is fiction, not real life. In fiction, isn't it nice to be able to do away with a thoroughly nasty human who's causing harm to others? I figure as long as I think a little fictional murder is okay does not stray into the real world, I should be okay.

What's so unsettling is Maud herself. She's irascible, yet once you learn of the life she's had to lead, she's sympathetic, too. You're not supposed to feel sympathetic toward a killer. The humor these stories contain can also keep you off balance. Just the thought of a little old eighty-nine-year-old woman carrying out a murder or two... shouldn't she be sitting in front of the fire with her knitting?

One of the things I found most enjoyable about this latest collection of Maud stories is that Maud gets drawn outside of herself and becomes involved in the lives of others. It's how she plans the next stage of her life that really put the smile on my face. I'm hoping that we might hear from this little old lady at least one more time.

 

An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed by Helene Tursten

Translated from the Swedish by Marlaine Delargy.

eISBN: 9781641291682

Soho Press © 2021

eBook, 272 pages

 

Short Stories

Rating: B+

Source: Net Galley

The Woman in the Blue Cloak by Deon Meyer

First Line: He was hungry and thirsty, frightened, and weary to the marrow.

The local investigation into the discovery of the bleached body of a woman found by a busy highway stalls, so the two stars of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations-- Captain Benny Griessel and his partner Vaughn Cupido-- are called in from Cape Town, South Africa. The two learn that the woman was an expert in old Dutch Masters paintings and the item she was looking for. What will surprise them is how and why the woman died and by whose hands.

This novella is a little gem that's slow to take off but once the woman's identity is established, it's hard to stop turning the pages. It was just as good to see Benny on the wagon and not craving alcohol as it was to see him working together with Cupido. There's a nice little twist for the whodunit, although it may not be totally unexpected for the more seasoned readers of crime.

The Woman in the Blue Cloak by Deon Meyer

Translated from the Afrikaans by K.L. Seegers.

eISBN: 9780802147240

Atlantic Monthly Press © 2019

eBook, 160 pages

Novella, Part of the Benny Griessel police procedural series

Rating: B+

Source: NetGalley

Icarus by Deon Meyer

First Line: Heaven and earth conspired to expose Ernst Richter's corpse, the universe seemingly intent on reaching out a helping hand for justice.

When the plastic-wrapped corpse of tech wiz Ernst Richter is found in the sand dunes north of Cape Town, the case becomes the focus of intense media speculation. Richter was the creator of an internet service called MyAlibi which provided unfaithful partners with sophisticated cover stories to hide their affairs.

With a long suspect list and intense media scrutiny, the higher-ups insist detective Benny Griessel be put on the case. In less than a week, a connection to a well-known family winery is found-- and tensions rise even higher. But Griessel must tread carefully; with so much attention on the case, if he makes one wrong move, his head could be on the chopping block.

This is not the first book by Deon Meyer that I've read and enjoyed. One of his standalone thrillers, Blood Safari, is very good, and I distinctly remember reading one of his Benny Griessel mysteries-- but evidently, it was one in which Benny was on the wagon. You see, I have very few "buttons" that can be pushed when it comes to my reading. Due to personal experiences, the major button is main characters who are alcoholics. I don't like reading about alcoholics. In Icarus, Benny Griessel falls off the sobriety wagon big time, and I came extremely close to saying goodbye to this book. It says a lot about Meyer's strength as a storyteller that I decided to ignore Benny as best I could and read another page. Then another page. Then a chapter... all the way to the end.

There are two timelines in this book. One takes the form of a rambling legal disposition that begins a few days after Richter's corpse was found. The second is the one of the investigation itself that starts as soon as the dead man is found. It was a bit slow going until the two timelines began to converge. Once that happens, the book picks up speed until its conclusion. It was fascinating to watch the investigation progress and to see the life and personality of the dead man (and others) unfold.

Yes, I learned a lot about the history of winemaking in South Africa and about many other things. Meyer has created a strong story, but even though I did, in the end, rather grudgingly enjoy Icarus, I think I'll stick to his standalones. Sorry, Benny!

Icarus by Deon Meyer

eISBN: 9780802190918

Atlantic Monthly Press © 2015

eBook, 373 pages

Police Procedural, #5 Benny Griessel mystery

Rating: B-

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

Dead of Night by Michael Stanley

First Line: Michael Davidson wiped the sweat off his face, irritated that his hand was unsteady.

When freelance journalist Crystal Nguyen gets the go-ahead from National Geographic to research an article on rhino-horn smuggling, it's the fulfillment of a lifelong dream of visiting Africa. Within a week of landing in South Africa, she's hunted poachers, been hunted by their bosses, and been arrested in connection with a murder. Following a lead, Crystal gets out of South Africa and goes undercover in Vietnam to expose the lynchpins behind the rhino-horn smuggling operation.   

But discovering the plot behind the money is only half the battle. Returning to South Africa, she has to convince authorities to take action before it's too late-- both for the rhinos and for herself. She'll have a powerful story to tell... if only she survives long enough to tell it.

When you read any novel by the writing team of Michael Stanley, you know you're going to be told a fast-paced, exciting story with an incredibly vivid setting and fully fleshed characters. Not only that, you're going to learn a few things along the way. And that's exactly what you get with their thriller Dead of Night.

The authors do us a great service by unfolding all the complexities woven into the problem of rhino-horn smuggling. I have to admit that when I learned how a great deal of the powdered rhino horn is actually used, I had thoughts of putting the buyers into enclosures containing a few disgruntled rhinos that still had their horns. But I digress.

I've already mentioned the fast pace, setting, and characters that are hallmarks of any Michael Stanley story, but I left out one: these two know how to craft a compelling mystery. My little grey cells were given a workout trying to deduce exactly what was going on.

To my way of thinking (and reading), there was only one fly in the ointment: Crystal Nguyen. She had many admirable qualities: she's a talented writer and photographer, she's brave, and she's relentless when it comes to teasing out the clues she finds. But... I found her extremely irritating. One night she's put in charge of the camp where she's staying. With several naive tourists in residence, there was a high probability of issues arising during the night. What does she do? Sleep in the nude so she's got to stumble around in the dark to find her clothes before she can go out and take care of a situation. Smart, eh?

But the thing that almost drove me crazy was the fact that Crystal is told repeatedly by several people who have experience in these matters that you never know who you can trust, so don't tell anyone what you know. Does she pay attention? Heavens, no. She repeatedly ignores the advice... and repeatedly gets herself into life-and-death situations.

I have to say that, although I love Michael Stanley's writing, I hope Dead of Night isn't the beginning of a series because Crystal Nguyen is a character that I wouldn't follow into the next room, let alone out into the bush. But as always-- your mileage can certainly vary!

Dead of Night by Michael Stanley

ISBN: 9781912374250

Orenda Books © 2018

Paperback, 312 pages

Thriller, Standalone

Rating: B+

Source: Purchased from The Book Depository.


 

The Satanic Mechanic by Sally Andrew

First Line: Have you ever wanted something really badly?

Although Tannie Maria is still busy with her recipe and advice column for the local paper, she can't help being concerned when Slimkat the bushman's life is threatened. She takes these threats seriously and is determined to find out who wants to kill him. Problem is, the man in her life wants to keep her safe and could very well be keeping secret some of the answers she needs to find.

It would be nice if those things were the only items on Tannie Maria's to-do list, but... she has personal mysteries that need to be solved, too.

Reading Sally Andrew's first Tannie Maria mystery, Recipes for Love and Murder, last May was one of the best things I've done all year. Once introduced to this wonderful South African landscape, its culture, and the characters, I snapped up the second book as soon as it was available. I didn't want to read The Satanic Mechanic too soon, I really didn't... but I simply could not deny myself.

The country of South Africa is a character in this book. Andrew's descriptions of the landscape and wildlife are absolutely marvelous and immediately immersed me in the story. Tannie Maria is the type of character who notices changes in the weather and countryside, and how animals are behaving-- and these observations, to varying degrees, usually have some sort of impact on the narrative.

To Tannie Maria, cooking equals love. She is falling in love with Detective Lieutenant Henk Kannemeyer and this means that her cooking skills are going into overdrive. However, all is not sunshine and flowers in this budding relationship. Maria has demons from her past that must be laid to rest, and to do this she joins an open-air Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder group. Attending the meetings introduces her to the threatened Slimkat.

What subsequently happens to Slimkat is almost incidental until things start happening in the group sessions. In this second book in Sally Andrew's series, the mystery is secondary to her characters, all that delicious food, and the vibrant South African surroundings, but those three things are so rich and satisfying I really didn't mind. 

If you love series like Martin Walker's Bruno Chief of Police or Tarquin Hall's Vish Puri-- series that have wonderful characters, vivid settings, and sumptuous cultures that you can sink into with a sigh-- I urge you to read Sally Andrew's Tannie Maria mysteries (in order). They're wonderful!
  

The Satanic Mechanic by Sally Andrew

eISBN:9781782116516
Canongate Books © 2016
eBook, 312 pages

Cozy Mystery, #2 Tannie Maria mystery
Rating: A-
Source: Purchased from Amazon  


 

Recipes for Love and Murder by Sally Andrew

First Line: Isn't life funny? You know, how one thing leads to another in a way you just don't expect.

Tannie Maria loves to cook, and she loves to eat. She also loves sharing her experiences with food in her recipe column for the local newspaper in her rural South African town. But that all changes when the newspaper owners decide that their readership is hungrier for advice on love than it is for meal tips. Tannie Maria doesn't like the change, but she soon discovers that she has a knack for helping people with their problems... and adding a recipe or two to make them feel better. 

One of the people Tannie Maria reaches out to is a woman with an abusive husband. When that woman is found murdered, Tannie Maria becomes dangerously tangled up in the investigation-- even though one police detective in particular is doing everything he can to keep her safe.

I have a feeling that there are people who are going to read Recipes for Love and Murder and think it's nothing but an imitation of Alexander McCall Smith's Precious Ramotswe series set in Botswana. Now having read books from both series, I can safely say that-- in my opinion-- it's similar, but not an imitation, and that I prefer Sally Andrews' book. I could only read three or four books into Smith's series because Mma Ramotswe was too all-knowing and the books were just a bit too sweet and charming for my taste. 

Sally Andrews' book not only has recipes and an Afrikaans/South African glossary, it gave me a very real feel for rural South Africa, its landscape, its weather, and its wildlife. Tannie Maria is a woman who notices all these things, and when she's not outside, she's cooking, or at the newspaper office working on her column and being a good friend to her co-workers Hattie and Jessie. 

Tannie Maria is a wonderful character with some rough edges and a bit of history that she has to deal with through the course of the book. There are some tension-filled, downright scary scenes, and I found it tough to identify the killer. In short-- I loved this book and am most definitely looking forward to reading more in the series, but this is where I have to file a complaint-- and a word of advice.

The advice first. I do recommend that you read this book, but when you do, please make sure that you read a physical copy of the book, not a digital copy. Andrews uses many Afrikaans and South African words throughout the book, and although I could usually determine a word's meaning from its context, I'm one of these people who enjoy learning bits and pieces of other languages, so there were times that I wanted to make sure that I had deduced the correct meaning. It was absolutely painful to flip back and forth from story to glossary  on my Kindle. It would've been ideal if each of those words had been a hyperlink that would take me directly to its definition in the glossary, but I imagine that the price of the book would have doubled (at least). It's a shame, but I have learned my lesson. Rant over. (And for the curious, my tribulations with the glossary had no effect on my rating of the book. This isn't Sally Andrew's fault.)

Recipes for Love and Murder is a wonderful mystery that takes you right to the heart of rural South Africa and its people. I highly recommend it!

Recipes for Love and Murder by Sally Andrew

eISBN: 9780062397683

Ecco © 2015

eBook, 437 pages

Amateur Sleuth, #1 Tannie Maria mystery

Rating: A

Source: Purchased from Amazon.


    

Let the Dead Lie by Malla Nunn

First Line: A flashing neon hotel sign lit the narrow cobblestone lane.

In an attempt to document police corruption, Emmanuel Cooper is now working undercover on the docks of Durban, South Africa. One night he finds the body of a white slum kid who was well known for running all sorts of errands on the docks. 

Cooper becomes the prime suspect in the child's murder as well as two subsequent deaths. His boss manages to get him out of jail, but only with the proviso of an extremely tight deadline for solving the murders.

Nunn once again gives us a very revealing glimpse into South African life under the ruling National Party's segregation laws. I thought the first book in the series, A Beautiful Place to Die, was excellent. Unfortunately this second book was a struggle to read due to the inclusion of too much from the previous book and an absolutely glacial pace. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement; however, because of that first book, I will continue with the series.

Let the Dead Lie by Malla Nunn

ISBN: 9781416586227

Washington Square Press © 2010

Paperback, 382 pages

Historical Mystery, #2 Emmanuel Cooper mystery

Rating: D+

Source: Purchased from Book Outlet.

The Kill Switch by James Rollins and Grant Blackwood

First Line: Doctor Paulos de Klerk packed the last of the medical supplies into the wooden trunk and locked the three brass clasps, mumbling under his breath with each snap.

Sigma Force is given a vital mission that must be carried out immediately, and Tucker Wayne and his partner, the retired war dog Kane, are the only ones close enough to get in quickly and get it done. Escorting the pharmaceutical magnate out of Russia and into the United States isn't easy from the first second Tucker and Kane set foot in Siberia. Someone knew he was coming, and now Tucker has to try to outfox the group that wants to keep Abram Bukolov in Russia. Bukolov holds the secret to a deadly bioweapon that's going to take them on to South Africa and Namibia before the billionaire ever has a chance to see America.

James Rollins knows how to take interesting tidbits from history and science and turn them into an adrenaline-fueled thriller. In the case of The Kill Switch, the history is the Boer War and the science involves something that could very well be the stem cells of the plant world. Add to the history and science the intriguing duo of Tucker Wayne and Kane, and the enjoyment factor increases tenfold.

Having already read a bit about this man and his dog, I was looking forward to a little background on the two of them, and I was not disappointed. Tucker's childhood and his service in the military have led him to make rules for himself that can cause problems. One of those rules is that he won't kill a dog. Dogs have given him the love, the friendship, and the loyalty that humans never have, and although his "rule" makes sense to him, it is something that does put him and the others at risk. Kane, the Belgian shepherd, is just as devoted to Tucker as Tucker is to him. He is intelligent, extremely well-trained, and I can see some readers turning the pages of The Kill Switch and thinking that Kane is Super Dog, a fantasy of Rollins' imagination. Truth is, anyone who knows what these war dogs are capable of doing says that Rollins downplays their abilities.

I enjoyed this book for increasing my knowledge about Tucker and Kane, and I found the tie-in to the Boer War and the science fascinating. The action is almost non-stop, but if there is a weakness in this book it is the fact that too much of that action is predictable. However, I look forward to seeing what's in store for these two.

The Kill Switch by James Rollins and Grant Blackwood

ISBN: 9780062135254

William Morrow © 2014

Hardcover, 388 pages

Thriller, #1 Tucker Wayne

Rating: B+

Source: Amazon Vine

The Fallen by Jassy Mackenzie

Title: The Fallen, a Jade de Jong Investigation
Author: Jassy Mackenzie
ISBN:  9781616950651
Publisher: Soho Crime, 2012
Hardcover, 304 pages
Genre: Private Investigator, #3 Jade de Jong mystery
Rating: A
Source: the publisher

First Line: Themba Msamaya didn't suspect a thing on the morning he opened his door to death.

Private investigator Jade de Jong invites her lover, Police Superintendent David Patel, on a scuba diving holiday in hopes that it will solidify their troubled relationship. Instead, Jade discovers that she hates scuba diving, and David puts an end to their affair. However, the next morning, all differences are put aside when one of the resort's diving instructors is found stabbed to death in her room.

Amanda Bolton is a most unlikely murder victim. She was a quiet, intelligent woman who, until a few months ago, was an air traffic controller. She had few acquaintances. The only loose end is a postcard Jade finds in her room that contains a mysterious message. There's no doubt about it: relationship woes or not, Jade and David are going to have to work together in order to solve this murder.

I've long been intending to read one of Jassy Mackenzie's Jade de Jong mysteries, and I'm glad that I finally made the time. The Fallen is a well-plotted, fast-paced book that kept me guessing until the end and vowing to add this South African author's books to my Must Read List. If you're wondering how well I handled reading the third book in the series first, wonder no more. I had no problem at all. Mackenzie provides just enough back story to ensure that the storyline isn't confusing while tantalizing me into feeling that I need to read the previous books in the series.

Of course the reason why I feel that I have to read the first and second books is private investigator Jade de Jong herself. She is a fascinating character who is a natural when it comes to having a gun in her hand-- and at the same time she's a very compassionate woman to the people around her. She and Superintendent David Patel are well-suited to working together. They both have the same style: they think on their feet, and their feet are usually running. Not for either of them is the focus groups and endless committee meetings type of decision-making.

The pace is almost non-stop as the investigation proves to have more than one focus, but even in the midst of all the seriousness and the relentless determination of Jade de Jong, Mackenzie knows just when to add touches of humor-- as she does with an emergency medical technician that keeps appearing on the scene.

If you're in the mood for a fast-paced, intriguing mystery with a strong female lead, let me suggest picking up a Jade de Jong book by Jassy Mackenzie. I wouldn't be at all surprised if you decided to read the other books in the series as well!

The Steam Pig by James McClure

Title: The Steam Pig
Author: James McClure
ISBN: 9781569476529
Publisher: Soho Crime, 2010
Paperback, 272 pages
Originally published in 1971.
Genre: Police Procedural, #1 Kramer and Zondi mystery
Rating: B+
Source: Paperback Swap

First Line: For an undertaker George Henry Abbott was a sad man.

In this first book in the Kramer and Zondi mystery series set in South Africa and originally published in 1971, a beautiful blonde has been killed by a bicycle spoke to the heart. The use of bicycle spokes as murder weapons is the signature of Bantu gangsters. Why would the Bantu kill a white woman in this manner? It's something that Kramer and his Bantu partner, Zondi, are going to have to find out.

This is a series that I've been meaning to sample for a long time because I've heard so many good things about it. Although I found McClure's gritty, almost terse, writing style a bit confusing from time to time and his characters not very well fleshed out, I found a lot to like about The Steam Pig.

I found the well-paced plot to contain several surprises, but more than anything I loved McClure's subtlety. This book was written during the time of apartheid, and McClure's books were wildly popular in South Africa when they were first published. This means that these mysteries had to appeal to both supporters and opponents of the system of racial segregation that finally came to an end in 1994.

You can find the language of racism in The Steam Pig. There are kaffirs, "boys", etc.-- but the language is applied with a light touch. The races are segregated. The laws are being upheld. But they are being upheld by a mixed race partnership that is really a friendship if you take the time to look deep enough. And it will take time because Kramer and Zondi are experts at toeing the "boss and boy" line when in company. They don't stand out; they blend in. But for anyone who cares to observe closely, it's easy to see that the laws Kramer and Zondi insist upon being upheld first aren't the laws of racial segregation; they're the laws of human decency and finding killers regardless of the color of the victim's skin.

Although I really wish Kramer and Zondi had been fleshed out a bit more, I was-- and still am-- in awe of McClure's skill. He put together an engrossing mystery that's all about what's beneath the surface. I'm looking forward to reading the other books in the series.

The Steam Pig at Amazon.

The Steam Pig at The Book Depository.

The Steam Pig at Your Favorite Indie Bookseller.

#5 in the Series On Sale Now!

A Beautiful Place to Die by Malla Nunn

Title: A Beautiful Place to Die
Author: Malla Nunn
ISBN: 9781416586210
Publisher: Washington Square Press, 2009
Trade Paperback, 400 pages
Genre: Historical Mystery, Police Procedural, #1 Emmanuel Cooper
Rating: A+
Source: Purchased from Amazon.

First Line: Detective Sergeant Emmanuel Cooper switched off the engine and looked out through the dirty windscreen.

It is 1952. The apartheid laws have just been enacted in South Africa. Jacob's Rest is a small town on the border of South Africa and Mozambique. When the local police chief's body is found, Detective Sergeant Emmanuel Cooper is sent-- all by himself-- to the town to solve the crime. He soon discovers why he was sent alone: the Security Branch has been dispatched to take control of the investigation. It takes less than 1% of Cooper's deductive reasoning to see that the Security Branch has its heart set on a black communist murderer, and its officers will stop at nothing to procure this result.

The presence of the Security Branch's thugs means that Cooper's job is going to be extremely difficult, but his boss wants him to continue to dig. As Cooper questions people of all races and social strata in Jacob's Rest, he begins to see that the murdered Captain Pretorius wasn't the man he appeared to be, but bringing the killer to justice might mean his death by Security Branch means or igniting a powder keg of racial tension... or both.

This book was extremely difficult to put down, and I probably pouted a time or two when I was forced to stop reading. With seemingly very little effort, Nunn transported me right in the middle of apartheid South Africa-- and I didn't like it. I was so involved in what I was reading that I felt as if one wrong word, one incorrect facial expression, would find me thrown in one of their jails. I love reading books that have such an immediacy to them-- even when it makes me uncomfortable.

The primary characters were well-drawn and multi-faceted. The more I learned about them, the faster I read because they oftentimes surprised me. A few of the secondary characters seemed a bit two-dimensional, but as far as I'm concerned when you're a bigot who only knows how to spout hatred and the party line, you don't always deserve that extra dimension.

Malla Nunn has the gift of perfect description in a mere line or two. Here are some examples:

"A knot of three white men stood farther up the riverbank and took turns drinking from a battered silver flask. They were big and meaty, the kind of men who would pull their own wagons across the veldt long after the oxen were dead."

"They look like they can beat a confession out of a can of paint."

"There was the quiet murmur of Zulu before a pencil-thin woman in a yellow dress gave a shout and ran for the Packard. Emmanuel stilled as the woman hauled the miner into a sitting position in the backseat and wailed out loud. The sound was an ocean of sorrows."

I also enjoyed the complexity of the mystery. As soon as I thought I'd solved something, Nunn (through Cooper) either set me on my ear or showed me that there was more to the case than I'd originally believed. I'm going to be very surprised if this book isn't among my Top Ten Reads of the year.

Nunn's next book in the series, Let the Dead Lie, is now out. Do you know how difficult it is for me to leave it alone? I thought you bookaholics would understand!

Buy from Amazon.
Buy from The Book Depository.
Buy from an Indie Bookseller.

Blood Safari by Deon Meyer

Title: Blood Safari
Author: Deon Meyer
Translated from the Afrikaans by K.L. Seegers
ISBN: 9780802119032, Atlantic Monthly Press, 2009
Genre: Thriller
Rating: A

First Line: I swung the sledge hammer in a lazy rhythm.

Emma Le Roux is getting dressed when her Cape Town home is broken into by three masked men. She manages to get away, and she's convinced that the break-in has something to do with her brother Jacobus, a man whom everyone believes has been dead for twenty years. Emma hires professional bodyguard Martin Lemmer to protect her while she investigates. Lemmer is a true tough guy with a checkered past and the skills that would normally keep Emma safe, but when she's critically injured Lemmer commits himself to finishing her investigation even though his own life is now in danger.

This book grabbed me by the throat and would not let go. The translation is beautifully done, and the settings on the game preserves of South Africa lend the perfect note of the exotic. If you're leery of snakes, there is one scene in this book that could give you nightmares. I didn't have nightmares, but I certainly was jumpy for an hour or two after reading it. (I can still get nervy just writing about it!)

Lemmer is a fascinating character, and not just because he has a questionable past. He has prejudices-- he willingly admits to them-- but when he's shown that he was wrong to think that way, he's a person who can admit his mistakes, apologize, and learn from them.

Meyer's plot is well-woven and moves like a wildfire. I did not want to put this book down. I had to know how this cast of characters fit together. I had to know what was going to happen next.

Above the fast-moving plot, above the intricately drawn characters, is the land of South Africa. Meyer gives strangers to his country a well-seasoned taste of life in that land-- not only for humans, but also for the animals in that unique area of planet Earth.

I don't read that many thrillers because the ones I have read tend to skimp on elements that I consider to be very important: characterization and setting. It's been my experience that thrillers are all about plot. Deon Meyer has made me see that this "ain't necessarily so." There can be thrillers with rich settings that you can see and hear and taste. There can be thrillers with characters so well-drawn that you feel as if you know them. There can be because I've just read one-- Deon Meyer's Blood Safari.


*Review copy provided by the Amazon Vine program.