2011: This year’s crime fiction titles: Counting the Coffins by Diale Tlholwe (Kwela) appeared in March, Black Heart by Mike Nicol (Umuzi) in April with Death of the Mantis by Michael Stanley (Headline) out in June, in July came Fallout by Sue Rabie (Human & Rousseau) and The Lazarus Effect by H J Golakai (Kwela). August brought the publication of Jassy Mackenzie’s Worst Case (Umuzi) and Peter Church’s Bitter Pill (Mercury), and September gave us Roger Smith’s Dust Devils (Serpent’s Tail) and A Sailor’s Honour (Umuzi) by Chris Marnewick. October brought the publication of Divine Justice (Mercury) by Joanne Hichens, Trackers (Hodder & Stoughton) by Deon Meyer and Gallows Hill (Jonathan Ball Publishers) by Margie Orford.

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2010

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Killer Country by Mike Nicol
Blood at Bay by Sue Rabie
Die Ondenkbare deur Isa Konrad
Die Onbekendes deur Francois Bloemhof
In Landsbelang deur Quintus van der Merwe
Thirteen Hours by Deon Meyer
The Soldier Who Said No by Chris Marnewick
Young Blood by Sifiso Mzobe
Wake Up Dead by Roger Smith
Tooth and Nailed by Sarah Lotz
Those Who Love Night by Wessel Ebersohn
Stolen Lives by Jassy Mackenzie
Let the Dead Lie by Malla Nunn
Spoor deur Deon Meyer
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If 2008 was a major year for local krimis, then 2009 was the year of consolidation with a number of writers making good on their promise of the previous year and the heralded return of veteran Wessel Ebersohn after wandering in the wilderness for 19 years. Adding to their reputations were Margie Orford with the third in her Clare Hart series, Francois Bloemhof, Chanette Paul, Jassy Mackenzie, Piet Steyn, Rob Marsh, and Michael Stanley. Among the year’s notable firsts were Roger Smith, Sarah Lotz, and Brandon Carstens with a graphic novel.

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Harde Woorde deur Francois Bloemhof
Mixed Blood by Roger Smith
A Deadly Trade by Michael Stanley
Beasts of Prey by Rob Marsh
Project H by Brandon Carstens
Exhibit A by Sarah Lotz
A Beautiful Place to Die by Malla Nunn
Boheem deur Chanette Paul
Seisoen van Sonde deur Chris Karsten
The October Killings by Wessel Ebersohn
My Brother’s Keeper by Jassy Mackenzie
Bottelnek deur Piet Steyn
Karoonag deur Deon Meyer
Geld wat stom is deur Tinus Viviers
Daddy’s Girl by Margie Orford
Plaasmoord deur Karin Brynard
Skerpion deur Wynand Coetzer
Afrspraak in Venesie deur Francois Bloemhof

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This anthology of short stories appeared early in 2009 and is a good introduction to the SA crime fiction scene: Bad Company, (Pan Macmillan) edited by Joanne Hichens, features work by Margie Orford, Deon Meyer, Richard Kunzmann, David Dison, Jassy Mackenzie, Diale Tlholwe, Andrew Brown, Tracey Farren, Mike Nicol, Peter Church, Tim Keegan, Michael Williams, Jane Taylor, Michael Stanley, Dirk Jordaan, Meshack Masondo, and Joanne Hichens.
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It’s likely that 2008 will go down as the break-out year for our crime fiction. Why? Simply because during those momentous twelve months there were books by the stalwarts, Deon Meyer and Richard Kunzmann, but also a whole lot of new names, Jassy Mackenzie, Michael Stanley, Angela Makholwa, Andrew Gray, Peter Church, Diale Tlholwe, Sue Rabie, and Tracy Gilpin hit the bookshops. The krimi scene looked like it was shaping up.

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Blood Safari by Deon Meyer:
Dead-End Road by Richard Kunzmann
Payback by Mike Nicol
Chameleon by Barbara Erasmus
A Carrion Death by Michael Stanley
Dark Video by Peter Church
Snoeisker deur Piet Steyn
The Boston Snowplough
Random Violence by Jassy Mackenzie
Double Cross by Tracy Gilpin
Ancient Rites by Diale Tlholwe
Fortuin deur Chanette Paul
Rooi Luiperd deur Francois Bloemhof
13 Uur deur Deon Meyer