"[A] hard edged first novel … 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."—The New York Times Book Review "Set in contemporary South Africa, Mackenzie’s triumphant debut introduces PI Jade de Jong . . . The plot has more than its fair share of nice twists, and Mackenzie does a superb job of making the reader care for her gutsy lead while offering a glimpse at life in South Africa after apartheid. Readers will wish Jade a long fictional career.
"—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review "Random Violence excels in its ability to translate our propensity for violent crime into a clever plot that could take place only in South Africa."—Gillian Anstey, Sunday Times | "As a private investigator, a cop’s daughter proves a chip off the old block when she solves a tough, tangled murder . . . key characters and a gritty style augur well for proposed future installments."—Kirkus Reviews "Grim, gritty, and violent, the novel offers a revealing view of modern South Africa from the eyes of the people tasked with the seemingly overwhelming job of fighting crime in a society still in the midst of post-apartheid upheaval."—Booklist "The author impresses with the tightly wrought and thrilling story."—Mariana Malan, Die Burger |
