Murder Out of Africa – Theakstons Crime

Murder Out of Africa

“Homicide figures in South Africa are akin to a country at war.”

This is how the authors’s works featured in the Murder Out of Africa event in Harrogate this weekend are being described. Africa Noir has its own very special place in many crime readers hearts, mine included. It’s not a continent I’ve been to, well unless you count in the fiction set there. However it’s a country which fascinates me for many reasons – it’s so different in geography, customs and its history is so interesting. Probably know more of the French influence there due to French studies but I do love an African set thriller. There’s something so earthy and gritty about thrillers set there and with the country having gone through such a number of transitions such as South Africa’s post-apartheid world for example, I just find the whole history, political background, the various tribal believes etc just very unique.

There’s a fine bunch of writers sitting on the African bench this weekend.

NJ Cooper, Paul Mendelson, Deon Meyer, Margie Orford, Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip navigate the heart of South Africa’s darkness. So here’s a selection book trails to get you going….

Deon Meyer – ICARUS

There’s a plastic-wrapped corpse amidst the sand dunes north of Cape Town. Deon Meyer doesn’t just introduce Africa but he slams you right into the middle of it. This is African Noir at its finest –  even the weather is described like some sort of monster  – ““A blue-black billowing monster that thundered in from the Atlantic Ocean just north of Robben Island” It’s the history of South Africa which really adds an exciting and often poignant edge to events in the novel. The main character is fighting his own personal battles as well as those of his country and this proves to be more than one line of conflict. There’s five books in this series now and each one unique and grittier than the last.  You learn a lot from his books and there’s a lot of food for thought.

Margie Orford – Water Music

Now here’s a view of CApe Town that might be nice from the top of Table Mountain but get down into the city and it’s not as pretty. Women here are having a particularly hard time in this novel and are often victims, where they are treated as second class citizens. The city is relatively lawless  and the police are overworked and disorganised. The relationship between all kinds of authorities and the unions in post-apartheid South Africa makes for an interesting mix. She certainly gives you an insight into the country’s soul and struggles.  Gritty thrillers these books are too so ones to put on your TBR pile.

Paul Mendelson – Serpentine Road

The fact that this book really delves into the history of South Africa and examines the legacy of Nelson Mandela makes this a top read for me. His influence and leadership heralded so much and free elections were supposed to change the country for the better but this book gets behind the scenes and looks at the troubles that still exist and how they might influence the every day life of its citizens. Groups who were extreme before in their beliefs are even more so now and the country still has problems with attacks of all kinds. Looking at this history through the eyes of those examining the death of an Apartheid-era industrialist reveals the racial tensions which still exist. For me,this was a really gripping read and a definite one for the Africa TBR pile

Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip – Deadly Harvest

Two for the price of one with this crime writing duo – Now I feel I’ve been to Botswana and worked with the police there too. These two writers know the country better than most and have an interesting story of their own to tell of how they started writing what they are doing now. Despite being set in Botswana like the Alexander McCall Smith books, this could not have beeen further from this portrayal of the country if you tried. This is dark and deadly Botswana with tales of Witchcraft and folklore and ancient superstitions. Well, it gave me the shivers and I don’t mind telling you, but what an impression it left with me. Reading the next one as we speak. You should not miss out on these guys

So instead of a safari, why not take a journey to Africa on a booktrail for a very Noir experience…More information can be found over at Oldpeculiercrimefestival.co.uk