Blurb........
More than a decade after the end of Apartheid,
ex-gun-runners Mace Bishop and Pylon Buso are trying to settle down to a
comfortable Cape existence. But when an old contact calls in a favour, they
become embroiled once again in the country's violent underworld of crime and
corruption - and with the lethal Islamist organisation PAGAD. A gripping tale
of narcotics, arms-dealing and international intrigue, PAYBACK heralds the
arrival of a major new crime-writing talent.
Praises sung
by.........
"Mike Nicol is the rapidly rising
star of South African crime fiction. His novels have everything I love about
the genre in just the right amount: shady characters, twists, turns, murder,
mayhem, humour, wonderful dialogue, white-knuckle pace and lots of authentic
Cape Town colour."
Deon Meyer |
"South Africa joins the hard-boiled
stakes, and in a wondrous dazzling humorous novel. Imagine Elroy joining
forces with Chester Himes, Coffin Ed, and Gravedigger, throw in the
spectacular landscape of South Africa, and you ll get some sense of this wild
and daring novel. One prays this is the first in a series if Tom Sharpe wrote
mystery, this would be it."
Ken Bruen |
I had high
hopes for this book when I bought it, yet again sucked in and seduced by the soothing,
enticing, creamy, lyrical and lavishing praise bestowed upon it by fellow
authors. We’ve all bought those books and after reading them been puzzled and
slightly disappointed; pondering whether a slight lack of intellect has thwarted
us and as a result obscured the true majesty of the magical prose we’ve just invested
time and money in.
(I could
ramble on about blurbs, back-scratching and sycophancy but I’d end up boring
myself, let alone anyone else who may care to read this.) Suffice to say on
this occasion the praise given is well deserved.
To the book.....absolutely
top drawer, one of the best things I’ve read in the past couple of years. The
main character is Mace Bishop, supported by his business partner Pylon Buso. One
white, one black, and in a story set in post-apartheid Cape Town, initially I had
a slight concern that it would turn into a pc-oriented tale of hope and harmony,
that “ebony and ivory” to paraphrase Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder might
be “living in perfect harmony” in the newly emerging Rainbow nation.
Nothing of
the sort....... dodgy nightclubs, arms-dealing, dope fiends, bent police, gay-Italians,
failing husbands and enough back story on Bishop and Buso that enriches the tale.........and
one Sheemina February -a chilling, calculating adversary.
I won’t give
away any more of the plot, but I would recommend this unreservedly to anyone
with an interest in crime fiction. Fortunately for me there are two subsequent
books in Nicol’s revenge trilogy that are still on mount TBR......Killer
Country and Black Heart.
6 OUT OF 5!
Sounds like an interesting book Colman especially as it's been praised by Deon Meyer. I am swamped with books at the moment but I've made a note of his name. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSarah,I know the feeling, too many books, not enough time!
ReplyDelete