SA reads discussion

Comments on the final section of the book.

I ended the book with this feeling that the author had some strong themes and a decent plot and then bolted it onto his existing cast of characters. It might have been better off as a standalone novel with a new cast of characters. The assassins were never more than hired guns with absolutely no personality and their only role was to appear with guns at the appropriate moments in the plot.

I really liked Tyrone as a character and appreciated his version of honour and how he kept his wits about him.

Bennie and team were done a disservice by the book. Character development was limited (I like Vaughn Cupido a bit more than previously, but that is about it). I really liked Nyathi in the previous books and I am upset that he is essentially wasted in this manner (since the good guys don't exactly win either).

And that is my other gripe, there is so much senseless killing in the book.

I am glad I have read the other books by the author to know how much better he can be and will continue reading him for those reasons.

I also want to go back and reread some of the earlier books to check the language. I have a suspicion that the books are actually getting harder to translate, because there is much more Cape dialect in the later books compared to the earlier ones.

I agree with all you said, Carolien.
Deon definitely took a wobble with this book, but I am puzzled by the generally good reviews he received. Surely all three of us can't be wrong?
Cupido's allowing Tyrone to walk off with the money was weak and incredible. Race solidarity - helping a deserving coloured brother - more important than upholding the law as a policeman??? Does Deon really expect us to swallow that?
Benny losing his arm was a final, belated attempt at some kind of personal drama for his waning protagonist.
I think the poor formatting is an indication of the hurry to get this book to print. I cannot believe that a professional publisher would not check the formatting before allowing it to go out there. There are errors on almost every page!
The translation was mediocre, but I don't blame it entirely for the flat prose. Deon simply wrote a poor book. It happens to the best.