Random Violence

The Jade de Jong Investigations, Book 1

By: Jassy Mackenzie

Narrated by: Justine Eyre

In Johannesburg, prosperous whites live behind gates; when they exit their cars to open the gates, carjackings are common. But seldom is the victim killed, much less shot twice, like Annette Botha. And now, Piet Botha, the husband of the wealthy woman, is the primary suspect in his wife’s murder.

PI Jade de Jong fled South Africa ten years ago after her father was killed. Now back in town, she offers to help her father’s former assistant, Superintendent David Patel, with his investigation of this case. Under apartheid, Patel, of Indian descent, could never have attained his present position. But he is feeling pressure from his “old line” boss with respect to this investigation and fears lingering prejudice is at work.

As Jade probes into this and other recent carjacking cases, a pattern begins to emerge—a pattern that goes back to her father’s murder and involves a vast and intricate series of crimes for profit.

©2008 Jassy Mackenzie (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Even as Mac­kenzie captures Johannesburg’s ‘crazy boomtown energy,’ she doesn’t shy away from the rough stuff. None of which, it should be said, is quite rough enough to scare this remarkable new sleuth, whose future exploits should be worth watching.” ( New York Times Book Review)

Murder in South Africa

This is the first book in the PI Jade De John, South African Mysteries. Daughter of the past murdered police commissioner, she is returning to the city of Johannesburg after being gone for ten years. She's returned to kill the paroled man who was convicted of her father's murder before she left. She also reconnects with Superintendent David Patel who used to be her father's assistant, and now wants her help with a present case. Though apartheid has ended, Patel's half Indian lineage still causes him problems. They also have a romantic history which makes things interesting and complicated too.

The case involves a car jacking in a gated community. A woman is killed when she goes to open her gate. Are there other cases similar to this? Why is there a rash of these incidents? Is there someone in the police department who is helping the criminals? How does this relate to Jade's father's death from ten years ago?

Mackenzie has developed a compelling mystery with a psychological basis that rings true. Her character development is exceptional, as it drives the mystery. The criminal's logic is so reasonable but so evil. Great start for this series.

South African crime thriller

First time author, set in South Africa. Audible has this feature where it suggest books you might like based on the other books you've read. That's how I found this one. I know a lady from South Africa that says she went to the mall two days in a row and both days had shots fired over her head, she now lives in New Zealand. At a core level, besides liking crime thrillers, that got me interested in what crime and life in South Africa might be like. In the post-Apartheid, newly interracial, developing country that South Africa is you might suspect crime could be rampant. According to this book it is. The author crafts an interesting crime tale and gives a good indication of at least a part of what living there must be like.