Random Violence

In Johannesburg, prosperous white people live in gated communities - and 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. Piet Botha, her husband, is the primary suspect in his wife's murder. As Jade probes into the Botha case and other recent carjackings, 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.

About the Author :
Jassy Mackenzie was born in Rhodesia and moved to South Africa when she was eight years old. She lives in Kyalami near Johannesburg and edits and writes for the annual publication "Best of South Africa."

Review :
Praise for "Random Violence" "Jade de Yong kicks ass." NPR A new generation of crime writers is trying to put apartheid and modern South Africa in focus . . . ["Random Violence "is] a thought-provoking book. "Portland Oregonian" "Mackenzie, who has lived in South Africa from an early age, plays her hand deftly, with a page turner of a story, intriguing characters Jade is particularly memorable and a wealth of South African color, including its appalling racial history. At once brutal and beautiful, Random Violence leaves nothing to chance in hooking the reader." "Richmond Times-Dispatch" With surprising characters and an intriguing plot, you ll be guessing right up until the very end. "Tulsa Examiner" "South African writer Mackenzie has created a strong female character with amazing resilience, unusual friends, and incredible luck . . . Gripping." "Library Journal," Starred 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 "Beautiful and haunting . . . Each chapter is filled with wonders and horrors masterfully told in darkly poetic prose, with absolutely no wastage of space permitted. She has created a terrific and believable P.I. in the headstrong and somewhat intimidating Jade de Jong; a P.I. we will no doubt be seeing plenty of in the future. A host of colorful and memorable characters fill the pages, alongside Jade, making this a gripping and page-turning read, despite the bleakness of place and events via post-apartheid South Africa." New York Journal of Books "Complicated and tough and real." Boston Bibliophile " Praise for "Random Violence" A new generation of crime writers is trying to put apartheid and modern South Africa in focus . . . ["Random Violence "is] a thought-provoking book. "Portland Oregonian" "Mackenzie, who has lived in South Africa from an early age, plays her hand deftly, with a page turner of a story, intriguing characters Jade is particularly memorable and a wealth of South African color, including its appalling racial history. At once brutal and beautiful, Random Violence leaves nothing to chance in hooking the reader." "Richmond Times-Dispatch" With surprising characters and an intriguing plot, you ll be guessing right up until the very end. "Tulsa Examiner" "South African writer Mackenzie has created a strong female character with amazing resilience, unusual friends, and incredible luck . . . Gripping." "Library Journal," Starred 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 "Beautiful and haunting . . . Each chapter is filled with wonders and horrors masterfully told in darkly poetic prose, with absolutely no wastage of space permitted. She has created a terrific and believable P.I. in the headstrong and somewhat intimidating Jade de Jong; a P.I. we will no doubt be seeing plenty of in the future. A host of colorful and memorable characters fill the pages, alongside Jade, making this a gripping and page-turning read, despite the bleakness of place and events via post-apartheid South Africa." New York Journal of Books "Complicated and tough and real." Boston Bibliophile " "Complicated and tough and real." Boston Bibliophile A new generation of crime writers is trying to put apartheid and modern South Africa in focus ... ["Random Violence "is] a thought-provoking book. "Portland Oregonian" "Mackenzie, who has lived in South Africa from an early age, plays her hand deftly, with a page turner of a story, intriguing characters Jade is particularly memorable and a wealth of South African color, including its appalling racial history. At once brutal and beautiful, Random Violence leaves nothing to chance in hooking the reader." "Richmond Times Dispatch" With surprising characters and an intriguing plot, you ll be guessing right up until the very end. "Tulsa Examiner" Starred Review: "South African writer Mackenzie has created a strong female character with amazing resilience, unusual friends, and incredible luck.... Gripping." "Library Journal" "Beautiful and haunting... Each chapter is filled with wonders and horrors masterfully told in darkly poetic prose, with absolutely no wastage of space permitted. She has created a terrific and believable P.I. in the headstrong and somewhat intimidating Jade de Jong; a P.I. we will no doubt be seeing plenty of in the future. A host of colorful and memorable characters fill the pages, alongside Jade, making this a gripping and page-turning read, despite the bleakness of place and events via post-apartheid South Africa." "New York Journal of Books" Starred 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"" "Complicated and tough and real." --Boston Bibliophile "A new generation of crime writers is trying to put apartheid and modern South Africa in focus ... ["Random Violence "is] a thought-provoking book." --"Portland Oregonian" "Mackenzie, who has lived in South Africa from an early age, plays her hand deftly, with a page turner of a story, intriguing characters--Jade is particularly memorable--and a wealth of South African color, including its appalling racial history. At once brutal and beautiful, Random Violence leaves nothing to chance in hooking the reader." --"Richmond Times Dispatch" "With surprising characters and an intriguing plot, you'll be guessing right up until the very end." --"Tulsa Examiner" Starred Review: "South African writer Mackenzie has created a strong female character with amazing resilience, unusual friends, and incredible luck.... Gripping." --"Library Journal" "Beautiful and haunting... Each chapter is filled with wonders and horrors masterfully told in darkly poetic prose, with absolutely no wastage of space permitted. She has created a terrific and believable P.I. in the headstrong and somewhat intimidating Jade de Jong; a P.I. we will no doubt be seeing plenty of in the future. A host of colorful and memorable characters fill the pages, alongside Jade, making this a gripping and page-turning read, despite the bleakness of place and events via post-apartheid South Africa." --"New York Journal of Books" Starred 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" "A new generation of crime writers is trying to put apartheid and modern South Africa in focus ... ["Random Violence "is] a thought-provoking book."--"Portland Oregonian" "Mackenzie, who has lived in South Africa from an early age, plays her hand deftly, with a page turner of a story, intriguing characters--Jade is particularly memorable--and a wealth of South African color, including its appalling racial history. At once brutal and beautiful, Random Violence leaves nothing to chance in hooking the reader."--"Richmond Times Dispatch" "With surprising characters and an intriguing plot, you'll be guessing right up until the very end."--"Tulsa Examiner" Starred Review: "South African writer Mackenzie has created a strong female character with amazing resilience, unusual friends, and incredible luck.... Gripping."--"Library Journal" "Beautiful and haunting... Each chapter is filled with wonders and horrors masterfully told in darkly poetic prose, with absolutely no wastage of space permitted. She has created a terrific and believable P.I. in the headstrong and somewhat intimidating Jade de Jong; a P.I. we will no doubt be seeing plenty of in the future. A host of colorful and memorable characters fill the pages, alongside Jade, making this a gripping and page-turning read, despite the bleakness of place and events via post-apartheid South Africa."--"New York Journal of Books" Starred 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" "Mackenzie, who has lived in South Africa from an early age, plays her hand deftly, with a page turner of a story, intriguing characters--Jade is particularly memorable--and a wealth of South African color, including its appalling racial history. At once brutal and beautiful, Random Violence leaves nothing to chance in hooking the reader."--"Richmond Times Dispatch "Starred Review: "South African writer Mackenzie has created a strong female character with amazing resilience, unusual friends, and incredible luck.... Gripping."--"Library Journal" Starred 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"