by Malla NunnPan
Detective Emmanuel Cooper is the main character in this murder mystery set in the small town of Jacob’s Rest in a remote South African province. He is sent to investigate the death of the local police chief in suspicious circumstances. He discovers a community deeply split along racial lines at a time in South Africa history when the recent introduced racial segregation laws are being rigourously enforced. The sons of the dead man are looking for someone to blame and the Special Branch, which imposes its presence on the investigation, is looking for a murderer who suits their needs. Cooper has to work surreptitiously with a coloured policeman and a Jewish doctor, unusual allies in the community, to go beyond prejudice to find justice. Many secrets, including those of the dead captain Pretorius, are uncovered during the investigation. As the plot unwinds the reader is presented with tales of sexual depravity and family members who are prepared to protect even the worst of secrets. Malla Nunn has written an intriguing novel which works both as a crime novel and an account of the devastating effects of institutionalized racial prejudice. A terrific novel with a great sense of time and place.
by Chris
