Blessed Are The Dead (Detective Emmanuel Cooper #3) by Malla Nunn

Aug 14, 2012 Viccy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime-fiction, historical-fiction

Emmanuel Cooper has worked his way back into the good graces of the Johannesburg, South Africa C.I.D. Cooper is awakened in the middle of the night by a phone call from his boss, sending him out into the veldt to investigate a murder. Turns out the murdered girl is the daughter of a Zulu chief who expected her to fetch a good bride price. As Emmanuel investigates, he determines the dead girl had many enemies. Soon, another dead body turns up and the hunt intensifies. This is a very interesting s...more

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Nov 14, 2012 Gloria Feit rated it 5 of 5 stars

The iconoclastic South African detective Sergeant Emmanuel Cooper returns in this excellent third installment in the series, replete with poignant observations on the effects of the rigid apartheid system in the country in 1953. Cooper, who remains in the dog house for past transgressions, is plucked by his superior to solve a murder in an attempt to resurrect his status.

Accompanied by black Detective Constable Samuel Shabalala, he finds the body of a 17-year-old Zulu girl, daughter of a chief....more

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Oct 04, 2012 Hana Howard rated it 5 of 5 stars

Malla Nunn is an excellent storyteller. Blessed Are the Dead is the third novel with the tenacious, honest and fair Emmanuel Cooper. Emmanuel doesn’t bend the rules; he tramples them in his quest for justice.

Detective Sergeant Cooper and Detective Constable Samuel Shabalala are sent to the desolate area of the Drakensberg Mountains in the Natal Midlands. Zulu tribes, Afrikaans and transplanted English who think of themselves as the aristocrats of South Africa, inhabit this area. The body of a be...more Malla Nunn is an excellent storyteller. Blessed Are the Dead is the third novel with the tenacious, honest and fair Emmanuel Cooper. Emmanuel doesn’t bend the rules; he tramples them in his quest for justice.

Detective Sergeant Cooper and Detective Constable Samuel Shabalala are sent to the desolate area of the Drakensberg Mountains in the Natal Midlands. Zulu tribes, Afrikaans and transplanted English who think of themselves as the aristocrats of South Africa, inhabit this area. The body of a beautiful seventeen-year-old Zulu girl, Amahle, has been found dead of unknown causes. She was found halfway between her father’s compound and the enormous white-owned farm where she worked.

Obstacles by the various groups interviewed are set up to hinder the investigation by the two detectives. The English doctor refuses to do an autopsy on the girl, so Dr. Zweigman, a friend and valued colleague of Cooper’s is sent for. The commander of the Roslet station suspiciously steps aside to allow Cooper full jurisdiction of the investigation. Conflicts in the Zulu compound intrude upon the investigation. Both white groups lie to the detectives and omit vital information pertinent to the case. The unusual reactions of the community to the murder begin to trouble the team. Cooper believes that there is more to the girl than what the people involved want him see.

Shabalala and Cooper are a formidable team. The dynamics between the two men create an outstanding flow to the action. Shabalala, because of his racial background is conservative and has to hold back the risk taking Cooper. Cooper sees Shabalala as an invaluable assistant, someone who can go into the black population for information that a white would never hear. He also is very attuned to his environment. He has excellent skills in tracking and an understanding of the Zulus cultural traditions.

I found this novel to be an excellent read, a bona fide mystery that has the reader easily immersed into the culture and the times. It is skillfully plotted, well written, and has some wonderful characters. Not only do I highly recommend this book, but I also recommend all Nunn’s previous novels with Detective Sergeant Cooper and Detective Constable Samuel Shabalala.

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Oct 02, 2012 Kwei Quartey added it

This is an intriguing new novel from Malla Nunn, author of A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO DIE. When the body of a lovely seventeen-year-old is found in the Drakensberg Mountains of South Africa, Detective Sergeant Emmanuel Cooper and Detective Constable Samuel Shabalaba are sent to the stark area to investigate.

Set in 1950s apartheid South Africa, the Detective Cooper series is quite unique. Malla's writing soars with each successive novel. I wish I could come up with some of her visual metaphors in my o...more

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Aug 12, 2012 Book Him Danno rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really loved this book. As an avid reader of police procedurals I am always on the lookout for a great series and Malla Nunn has really delivered with Blessed are the Dead. A beautiful Zulu girl has been found dead in the remote farming country of 1950’s apartheid South Africa and our troubled white police detective, with his native partner in tow, has been sent to dig in to the case.

The crime scene offers up very few clues, but just enough information for our team to start asking questions....more I really loved this book. As an avid reader of police procedurals I am always on the lookout for a great series and Malla Nunn has really delivered with Blessed are the Dead. A beautiful Zulu girl has been found dead in the remote farming country of 1950’s apartheid South Africa and our troubled white police detective, with his native partner in tow, has been sent to dig in to the case.

The crime scene offers up very few clues, but just enough information for our team to start asking questions. Questions lead to more clues, more suspects, and so on until our wide circle slowly begins to tighten down on a few good possibilities. Nunn manages to keep the conclusion at a distance but allows you the reader to arrive at it simultaneously with the police. There are no jumps of logic or giant clues just falling in their path; they get to their killer one step at a time bringing you along for the ride. That is the hallmark of a masterful police procedural.

The book also offers up an indirect commentary on apartheid and racism in general, not only as it relates to blacks (natives) and whites, but the whole range of society and where each person fits into it. The different ranking order of the Dutch Afrikaners versus the British born farmers versus the Jewish Doctor was something I did not understand previously. Nunn opens this 1950’s world in a way that makes it seem more real as opposed to the blanket statements to be found in history texts.

But well written crime doesn’t come down to over the top killers or plots, rather it is firmly settled in the human flaws that have been with us since the beginning of time; Greed, Love, Jealousy, etc. At the end of the day most horrific acts are performed for the most commonplace reasons. Blessed are the Dead is a terrific look into these basest of emotions. Nunn has created a timeless mystery, a crime that could happen in 1950’s South Africa, or on your block tomorrow. This is definitely an author I will read their backlist and in turn keep on reading for as many books as they care to write.

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May 19, 2012 Ashland Mystery Oregon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-africa

Blessed are the Dead is Malla Nunn's best work to date. Detective Emmanuel Cooper and Constable Shabalala are back to investigate the death of a breathtakingly beautiful Zulu woman.

Set in Apartheid South Africa, European and Africans don't mix, and the racism of the times pervades every aspect of the work. It's disturbing to read of the codification of racism, the structure and ridgid rules both written and unwritten that must be observed. Cooper and Shabalala are an unusual team, and unusual fr...more Blessed are the Dead is Malla Nunn's best work to date. Detective Emmanuel Cooper and Constable Shabalala are back to investigate the death of a breathtakingly beautiful Zulu woman.

Set in Apartheid South Africa, European and Africans don't mix, and the racism of the times pervades every aspect of the work. It's disturbing to read of the codification of racism, the structure and ridgid rules both written and unwritten that must be observed. Cooper and Shabalala are an unusual team, and unusual friends. Mixed race Cooper and Zulu Shabalala ride the divide, giving them the moral freedom to accept each other as equals."Faith, loyalty and trust kept them both above the quicksand in this clandestine operation."

Their interplay is extraordinary, communicating with nuance and the slightest motion, both understanding a sensitive situation, and seeing the most effective way to respond. At times, Shabalala takes the lead and others, Cooper.

Late in the book, Cooper is removed from the case leaving Shabalala in place as a driver for the replacement team, and to unofficially lead the investigation. As a Zulu, he is prohibited from carrying out both responsibilities. Here's Shabalala challenging the station chief: "The visual punch of a tall, solid Zulu man sitting behind a station commander's desk was stunning and immediate. Shabalala was either a dream come true or a colonial nightmare brought to life, depending on who was looking. 'Suits you,' Emmanual said. The first thing Bagley would see was a world in reverse, a black man in the power seat."

One of the features of crime fiction that particularly thrills me, is the writing that takes me to that place and time. Sometimes it's dialogue that does this, as in Mala Nunn's use of language: "Yebo, inkosi" as a greeting, or the meanings of names. I'm finding that more often, its the description and the interior dialog that is most compelling. Here's where a group of Zulu men intercept Emmanuel and Shabalala as they hike into the bush; their guide has already disappeared: "Three Zulu men dressed in traditional cowhides worn over printed cloth stood shoulder to shoulder across the the narrow path to form a roadblock. They held hardwood clubs and assegais, hunting spears with rawhide bindings and sharp blades. Together they made an impi, a fighting unit." I love it!

For Emmanuel, the interior dialogue is sometimes with the Welsh sargent from the war, a ghost that keeps him on track and focused.

So, in this, the latest and best of Malla Nunn's works, the Welsh ghost is back, so is the hated and feared Constable Bagley, the beloved doctor Zweigman, lazy lazy Ellicott and Hargrave - big bellied and red-faced, and the politically motivated and confusing character, Colonel van Niekerk. There's a couple of new characters that I hope will see again in future works too.

My thanks to the Ashland Public Library where I first found Malla Nunn, in her A Beautiful Place to Die, to Simon and Schuster for sending a review copy of Blessed are the Dead and to the South African Crime Beat that keeps me in touch with some of the most amazing writers in the world today.

--Ashland Mystery (less)

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May 16, 2012 Barbara rated it 5 of 5 stars

BLESSED ARE THE DEAD
Malla Nunn
From the author of a Beautiful Place to Die and Let the Dead Lie, this is the next episode in the life of Detective Emmanuel Cooper. Set in South Africa in the early 1950’s, Nunn has created a character that fits this place and time. Apartheid is the law of the day, and the line drawn between Blacks and Whites is distinct, unwavering and often brutal. The strength of it is a character as big as any other. It affects every action and every decision made by the people...more BLESSED ARE THE DEAD
Malla Nunn
From the author of a Beautiful Place to Die and Let the Dead Lie, this is the next episode in the life of Detective Emmanuel Cooper. Set in South Africa in the early 1950’s, Nunn has created a character that fits this place and time. Apartheid is the law of the day, and the line drawn between Blacks and Whites is distinct, unwavering and often brutal. The strength of it is a character as big as any other. It affects every action and every decision made by the people in the book. It creates anxiety, fear and distrust that run like a main artery through the body of the novel.
Detective Cooper has a dark and difficult background, which we pick up on throughout the novel. In Blessed are the Dead, he is reinstated to his position of detective, but is given only the minor or undesirable cases. His fellow officer, Shabalala, a black man, is his Constable. Cooper sees him as an invaluable assistant, someone who can go into the black population for information that a white would never hear. Shabalala and Cooper are a formidable team, but Cooper takes chances that frighten Shabalala. He is more vulnerable, being black in a primarily white job and with a wife and children to protect. The dynamics between the pair add interest to the flow of the novel.
A young Zulu girl is found dead. The death of a black person is not of much importance, so Cooper and Shabalala are sent to investigate. Immediately the odd aspects of the case begin to bother the team. Furthermore, Cooper believes that there is more to the girl than what the people involved want him see. As the net spreads, more people in the country community give their part of the story, but what are they not telling him?
As he gets closer to the answer, there are accusations of muti, or witch doctor, a strange, feral child from the white farm where the Zulu girl worked as a favorite servant, and distrust of the local police office complicate the solution.
It is always best to read mystery series in order, starting with the first one. In this case, the third one came to my attention and was the first to be read. I am looking forward to reading the first two books, and will be anxiously awaiting the next Emmanual Cooper novel. Well written, with a strong place and time, and believable characters, kudos to Emily Bestler Books/Washington Square Press for bringing this series to American mystery fans.
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May 21, 2013 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

This mystery is set in post-WWII South Africa, specifically the countryside outside of Durban, so it is full of apartheid detail. The main plot deals with the death of a Zulu chief's daughter and Nunn does a good job of packing the story with potential murderers. the detective sergeant, Emmanuel Cooper, has a suitably troubled past, which makes it easy tounderstand why he operates mostly as an otusider. I enjoyed this book, especially the detail about the layers of behavior between Afrikaaners a...more

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Jul 17, 2012 Carolyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars
This is the 3rd book in the detective Emmanuel Cooper series. Malla Nunn's books provide a great sense of time and place, and as you read the unraveling of some very intriguing mysteries you also learn much of the racial and class differences enforced by law with the beginning of apartheid. Such prejudices were widely held before the legal system forbade any mixing of black and white people, and the white citizens got all the privileges and the black could not hope for anything more tha...more 4.5 stars
This is the 3rd book in the detective Emmanuel Cooper series. Malla Nunn's books provide a great sense of time and place, and as you read the unraveling of some very intriguing mysteries you also learn much of the racial and class differences enforced by law with the beginning of apartheid. Such prejudices were widely held before the legal system forbade any mixing of black and white people, and the white citizens got all the privileges and the black could not hope for anything more than servile positions or poorly paid labor work.
I felt that the first book in the series gave a better understanding of the system as it emphasized the class differences between the Afrikaners (Dutch early settlers) and the English settlers.In this book we have a wealthy English farming family and a poorer Afrikaan family, but are not given reason for why they do not mix in this society and their dislike for one another..
Cooper is an interesting character. He is still haunted by his experiences as a soldier in WW2. His identity card classifies him as White , but he may have some mixed blood in his background. In the second book he was reclassified for a time as Colored (meaning anyone of mixed race, also East Indian, etc.) This was one category above Black. In the second book we saw how Cooper's new classification changed his status in society. Cooper works closely with a Zulu constable, who cannot by law drive a car and cannot enter many places open to Cooper, but his knowledge of bush tracking, and understanding and ability to communicate with the natives is invaluable. The two have become great friends which is considered wrong by many.
Cooper and the Zulu detective, Shabalala, are sent to a remote area to investigate the murder of a beautiful black teenaged girl, daughter of a Zulu chief. They are given the case because the killing of a native is not considered a priority.
When it appears that a white person may be involved, Cooper is withdrawn from the case due to political pressure. He stays behind to be Shabalala's driver, while he disobeys and continues to investigate the crime. A Jewish doctor has been called in to conduct the autopsy on the murdered girl. He cannot stay at a hotel because of his race, and stays with the local doctor who has refused to examine the dead native girl.Soon another dead body is discovered of a native man who had a crush on the dead girl. Both have been killed in the same way by unusual method. There is also a wild feral child, a son of the wealthy English family. Today he might be classified as autistic, but in considered crazy by some and to have magical powers by others. The dead girl worked for his family and was given special privileges which the other servants did not have.
I love a book that transports you to another place and time. This has well developed interesting characters, and you also learn much about South Africa's troubled history in her books. Hoping to read more about Emmanuel Cooper in the future. (less)

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Apr 03, 2013 Rita Marie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Had I known this book was set in 1953 I probably would not have snatched it off the library shelves. Recent history is extremely difficult to do well. Too many people still around who know what it was really like then; authors have trouble capturing the "feel" of the times. Same issue with this story.

The plot is excellent, the descriptions stellar, and the characters good although a bit wooden. Each person seems to represent a situation more than an actual, fully rounded person. The protagonist...more

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Jul 02, 2012 Tuck rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: noir, south-africa

yebo, inoki, this is pretty good police procedural so far, i got a feeling after the first sentence "i woke up to my front door being kicked in" but it was just a bad dream, that there's gonna be some fucked up shit in this malla nunn's 3 novel.

perhaps the weakest of malla nunn's 3 mystery/police procedural novels but that said there is still lots of atmosphere and much more in-depth integration of zulu culture into the story, but not as much rabid racism of the ruling white as in her past 2 nov...more

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May 10, 2012 Terry rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, mystery

A GREAT who-dunnit with lots and lots of twists!

Set in 1953 South Africa, this book features the sleuthing skills of Durban’s Detective Sergeants Emmanuel Cooper and Samuel Shabalala (a Shangaan Zulu with a gift for tracking). The pair are sent from Durban to a remote area four hours away, to investigate the cause of death of a young Zulu girl found near an English farm.

The detectives quickly learn that the 17-year old victim, Amahle, was not just any girl, but the stunningly beautiful daughte...more A GREAT who-dunnit with lots and lots of twists!

Set in 1953 South Africa, this book features the sleuthing skills of Durban’s Detective Sergeants Emmanuel Cooper and Samuel Shabalala (a Shangaan Zulu with a gift for tracking). The pair are sent from Durban to a remote area four hours away, to investigate the cause of death of a young Zulu girl found near an English farm.

The detectives quickly learn that the 17-year old victim, Amahle, was not just any girl, but the stunningly beautiful daughter of a local tribal chief. Although her father had already promised her hand in marriage, Amahle worked as a house maid for the richest English farming family in the area, and she had developed plans of her own for her life.

The investigation is stymied at every turn: by the local constable who all but disappears from the case; by the local doctor who mysteriously refuses to conduct the autopsy; by the discovery of the body of a Zulu laborer at the same farm who was “sweet” on Amahle; by Amahle's father who seems more upset by the loss of his daughter’s bride-price than by the loss of his daughter; and by the wealthy white English family who attempt to “pull old school strings” to have the investigation called off. Even a local Afrikaner father and daughter seem reluctant to become involved. Everyone has preconceived ideas about who killed the Zulu girl, and about why the black/white detective team won’t be able to figure out who did it.

The detectives struggle continually with determining the motive for Amahle's murder: was it sexual? racial? tribal? envy? retaliation? The book is easily readable and engaging, even for one with little or no knowledge of South African culture. The South African racial and cultural interplay is fascinating in itself and adds an intriguing dimension to an already superlative book. If you enjoy the sleuthing aspect of murder mysteries, you will love this book.

Disclosure: I was randomly selected from among numerous GoodReads readers to receive an advance copy of this book; I have read it and this is my honest evaluation. I have no connection with this author or publisher and have received nothing from anyone in consideration for publishing this review.
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Nov 12, 2012 Chris Witkowski rated it 3 of 5 stars

Set in South Africa in 1953, this spare mystery told through the eyes of a Dutch detective, Emmanuel Cooper, is a grim reminder of the appalling injustice of Apartheid. A young, beautiful girl, the daughter of a Zulu chief, has been murdered right before she is to be given in marriage to an aging fellow chief in exchange for a herd of cattle. Cooper, along with a Native compatriot, is assigned the task of finding the murderer, all the while trying to balance the huge distinctions between the rac...more

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May 06, 2012 Patricia Gulley rated it 4 of 5 stars

I received this book as an ARC, and just read some of the beginning because I hadn't heard of the series. Well, I couldn't put it down. 10 pages in I ordered book 1. A detective in South Africa still suffering from the effects of fighting in WW2, working with a Zulu detective in 1953.
This is the kind of book, I wish had a glossery of word definitions because even though we all speak English, there are words from different English speaking countries that have little or no meaning to others. A goo...more

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Aug 19, 2012 Skip rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: foreign-authors, crime-detective

Malla Nunn has written another gem. A beautiful young Zulu girl, daughter of a chief, is found murdered, but the cause of death is unknown. She is resting peacefully, with flower petals strewn around her. Detective Emmanuel Cooper and his partner Constable Samuel Shabalala are brought in to investigate, and have to deal with resentment at the farm where Amahle worked, her desire to avoid an unwanted marriage, tensions in her tribe, indifference by the local police, all in the context of tenuous...more

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Sep 08, 2012 Lily Mulholland rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime-suspense

Another fabulous instalment of the Detective Emmanuel Cooper series by Malla Nunn. I can't recommend these books highly enough - they are great on so many levels. The writing is fabulous, the characters are wonderful, and the story is riveting and expansive. Nunn also skilfully weavesc the horrors of apartheid South Africa into the narrative and blends the storytelling with a social commentary that doesn't preach but helps to propel the story along.

These books are up there with Peter Temple - hi...more

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Aug 30, 2012 Roslyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Blessed Are the Dead
By Malla Nunn

Malla Nunn is an excellent storyteller. "Blessed Are the Dead" is the third novel with the tenacious, honest and fair Emmanuel Cooper. Emmanuel doesn’t bend the rules; he tramples them in his quest for justice.

Detective Sergeant Cooper and Detective Constable Samuel Shabalala are sent to the desolate area of the Drakensberg Mountains in the Natal Midlands. Zulu tribes, Afrikaans and transplanted English who think of themselves as the aristocrats of South Africa,...more Blessed Are the Dead
By Malla Nunn

Malla Nunn is an excellent storyteller. "Blessed Are the Dead" is the third novel with the tenacious, honest and fair Emmanuel Cooper. Emmanuel doesn’t bend the rules; he tramples them in his quest for justice.

Detective Sergeant Cooper and Detective Constable Samuel Shabalala are sent to the desolate area of the Drakensberg Mountains in the Natal Midlands. Zulu tribes, Afrikaans and transplanted English who think of themselves as the aristocrats of South Africa, inhabit this area. The body of a beautiful seventeen-year-old Zulu girl, Amahle, has been found dead of unknown causes. She was found halfway between her father’s compound and the enormous white-owned farm where she worked.

Obstacles by the various groups interviewed are set up to hinder the investigation by the two detectives. The English doctor refuses to do an autopsy on the girl, so Dr. Zweigman, a friend and valued colleague of Cooper’s is sent for. The commander of the Roslet station suspiciously steps aside to allow Cooper full jurisdiction of the investigation. Conflicts in the Zulu compound intrude upon the investigation. Both white groups lie to the detectives and omit vital information pertinent to the case. The unusual reactions of the community to the murder begin to trouble the team. Cooper believes that there is more to the girl than what the people involved want him see.

Shabalala and Cooper are a formidable team. The dynamics between the two men create an outstanding flow to the action. Shabalala, because of his racial background is conservative and has to hold back the risk taking Cooper. Cooper sees Shabalala as an invaluable assistant, someone who can go into the black population for information that a white would never hear. He also is very attuned to his environment. He has excellent skills in tracking and an understanding of the Zulus cultural traditions.

I found this novel to be an excellent read, a bona fide mystery that has the reader easily immersed into the culture and the times. It is skillfully plotted, well written, and has some wonderful characters. Not only do I highly recommend this book, but I also recommend all Nunn’s previous novels with Detective Sergeant Cooper and Detective Constable Samuel Shabalala.
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Apr 30, 2012 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: australian, crime, review-books, south-africa

The Emmanuel Cooper books by Malla Nunn, set in 1950's South Africa, are another excellent series in what is luckily now becoming a bigger range of crime fiction set in various parts of Africa. SILENT VALLEY (aka BLESSED ARE THE DEAD) is the third book now, centred around Detective Sergeant Emmanuel Cooper, a policeman with plenty of demons from his past. Knowing that his past is closely intertwined with a society based on Apartheid will help the reader understand some of the difficulties that C...more The Emmanuel Cooper books by Malla Nunn, set in 1950's South Africa, are another excellent series in what is luckily now becoming a bigger range of crime fiction set in various parts of Africa. SILENT VALLEY (aka BLESSED ARE THE DEAD) is the third book now, centred around Detective Sergeant Emmanuel Cooper, a policeman with plenty of demons from his past. Knowing that his past is closely intertwined with a society based on Apartheid will help the reader understand some of the difficulties that Cooper faces, just as understanding the intrinsic brutality of that system will give his struggle context.

Not that these books over-bake the personal situations, but the death of seventeen-year-old Amahle, daughter of a Zulu chief, in a society fraught with complications, inevitably takes everyone into the personal. Especially as there is no obvious motive for the death of a girl who, on the face of it, was destined for traditional marriage and life. There's a clever balancing act going on in this book - whilst the death of Amahle remains the central focus of Cooper and his investigation, the reader is also provided with a very personal and telling look into the nature of Apartheid. There is an extra element to that - not just the tension between black and white; but also the tension between the White Boer settlers and the later English arrivals.

In the middle of what is basically a whole heap of mistrust and dislike, there's some very well written individual characterisations and some touching partnerships. Cooper and his colleague, Zulu Constable Shabalala share a respect and understanding which is obviously outside the boundaries of racial acceptability, to say nothing of police procedure and hierarchy. In much the same way Cooper is able to reach out to the young British son of a local farmer, regarded as wild and not a little odd, Cooper and Gabriel connect - perhaps their mutual difference being part of what makes them work together. Really, that concept of difference being a connecting point weaves it's way through the entire narrative with so many of the characters prepared, often seemingly required, to be different, to survive in a society which most definitely does not approve.

What's particularly interesting is the way that this series is progressing. The first two books - A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO DIE, and LET THE DEAD LIE - introduced Cooper, established the brutality of the world in which he lives, and set about creating a character who is real, conflicted and complex; somebody who is profoundly affected by the events that happen around him.

SILENT VALLEY takes another step forward again, building in a stronger sense of place and the different groups within the society. The inclusion of a strong Zulu cultural, societal and family environment into this book adds an extra layer to the ongoing storyline, and to reader's understanding of the complications of 1950's South Africa that was moving and instructive.

Part of what is really working in this series is the progression, and the way that the characters and the sense of place is building. SILENT VALLEY could work on some level as a standalone, but there will be a greater understanding of the characters and the place if you can read the series in order. If you've not caught up with any of Malla Nunn's Emmanuel Cooper books - now is as good a time as any.
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May 14, 2012 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: aussie-author, provided-by-publisher

After finishing Let The Dead Lie I was eager to dive into Silent Valley, the third installment of Malla Nunn's Detective Emmanuel Copper series set in Southern Africa in the 1950's. Silent Valley picks up a short time after Let The Dead Lie ends with Emmanuel on his first real case since being reinstated to the force. Along with Native Constable Samuel Shabalala, Colonel van Niekerk has sent Emmanuel to a small rural town where a homicide has been reported, what they find is the posed body of a...more After finishing Let The Dead Lie I was eager to dive into Silent Valley, the third installment of Malla Nunn's Detective Emmanuel Copper series set in Southern Africa in the 1950's. Silent Valley picks up a short time after Let The Dead Lie ends with Emmanuel on his first real case since being reinstated to the force. Along with Native Constable Samuel Shabalala, Colonel van Niekerk has sent Emmanuel to a small rural town where a homicide has been reported, what they find is the posed body of a dead Zulu girl, the daughter of a local cheiftan, with no visible signs of injury. Though under orders to wrap the investigation quickly and return to Durban, solving the murder is proving to be difficult being as it is complicated by a lazy local cop, a corrupt station owner, an arrogant chief and a reluctant doctor. Finding Mr Insurance Policy might just crack the case wide open, but things are never quite that simple for Detective Emmanuel Cooper.

The plotting of Silent Valley is superb, there are numerous twists and turns that kept me guessing almost the entire way through the novel. Emmanuel and Shabalala have to use every bit of their combined knowledge and skills to find the murderer and, as usual, Emmanuel can't help but step on a few toes in the process. He puts the town's Constable offside almost immediately by questioning his competence, while a powerful white local family, the son of whom is a suspect, wants the whole matter quashed and pulls strings within the CID to place pressure on Emmanuel. It seems that everyone is this community has secrets that would prefer remain hidden and none take kindly to Emmanuel investigating them. Emmanuel is not willing to give up though and continues to follow leads even those that seem to pull him in opposite directions.
I really liked the way Shabalala's unique skills are brought the the fore in Silent Valley. The Zulu culture is an important feature of the story and as a Shangaan Zulu, Shabalala helps interpret the beliefs and motives of the local Zulu tribe. His tracking and keen observation abilities are also integral to Emmanuel considering and dismissing suspects and Shabalala gains more confidence in his partnership with Emmanuel in this more familiar setting.
It is Colonel Van Niekerk that insists on the involvement of Dr Zweigman in the case when the local medic, Dr Helen Dagliesh proves reluctant to assist with determining the cause of the girl's death. The three men, Emmanuel, Shabalala and the Doctor, are a formidable team as always, but on this case, their refusal to back down results in a life threatening injury to the 'old Jew'.

While solving the murder of Amahle remains the central focus of the novel, Nunn continues to explore the culture of Southern Africa in the 1950's. The stark realities of Apartheid are ever present and Nunn also explores the conflict between white Afrikaners and the English.
Tribalism and witchcraft also play a part as the investigation involves a local Zulu tribe.

Silent Valley is my favourite of this high quality crime series so far and leaves me eager for the next. With intelligent writing, intriguing story and appealing characters, the Detective Emmanuel series should be on everybody's reading list.

**Click here to listen to my chat with Malla Nunn about Silent Valley at my blog, Book'd Out**

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Jul 20, 2012 Harvee rated it 5 of 5 stars

I found out a lot about South Africa in the 1950 during apartheid, about the relationships between the British, the Afrikaans, and the local African people, in particular the Zulu tribe. In addition, I read a really good mystery. A teenage Zulu girl is murdered in an unusual way, which leads the white and Zulu detectives, Detective Sergeant Emmanuel Cooper and Constable Shabalala, to discover her killer. I hope to read the first two mysteries in this series.

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Jun 03, 2012 Kaity rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, 2012-reading-challenge

I received this book through a First Reads giveaway.

While I would categorize this book as a murder mystery, it was not the investigation undertaken by Detectives Cooper and Shabalala that most intrigued me. The mystery, to me, was not as interesting as the undercurrent of racial tensions in post-WWII South Africa. Munn weaves a rich story that gives her readers a glimpse into what pre-Apartheid South Africa looked like in the 1950's, as well as exploring the culture of the Zulu tribe.

Although I...more

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Jan 19, 2013 Bluenoon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Very good book. Told from a smart detective of an era where the British made an ass, actually inhuman of themselves (yet didn't know it)by colonizing South Afrika and treating the natives the way they did. The book details a beautiful picture of the landscape and the valleys unlike any other you've seen with a harrowing tale of murder of a young girl who hoped to dream to escape mundane life and a detective who wanted to find out the truth.

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Feb 17, 2013 Nae rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was such a wonderfully complex, well written story! It is my first time with something set in South Africa and I found the author's skillful blending of the racial tensions and interactions fascinating, and, at times the lyrical descriptions of the countryside were almost like reading poetry with the same cadence that the actual sound and rhythm of those speaking the words in Arikans must sound like. I enjoyed this one so much that upon finishing it I did something rather unique for me, I i...more

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Nov 20, 2012 Andrew Neal rated it 4 of 5 stars

Yet another great episode in this series by Malla Nunn. I'm very impressed with how she has told three different stories in three totally different settings all with in the context of 1950's Apartheid-era South Africa.

Definitely read the books in order, as there is an ongoing continuity, and experiencing Cooper's, Shabalala's, and Zweigman's arcs as they occur has been fascinating and exciting.

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Sep 10, 2012 Katie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Lots to like about this fast paced crime novel. Fascinating look at the land, the people, the times, and the culture. Racial tensions are ever-present, almost another character,but it isn't shoved down your throat. There is no moralising, it is just the way things are. Well told, gripping with entry of plot twists. Loved the first one of this series and was glad to spend more time with Cooper and Shabalala.

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Jan 19, 2013 Tessa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, south-africa, 2013

I really enjoyed this mystery. For whatever reason, I didn't always believe that it was set in 1950s Apartheid South-Africa. But, it at least attempted to accurately portray the characters as they might have lived then. It just didn't feel quite "real" enough. All the same, I enjoyed the mystery and learned a bit about the context. I will go back and read books one and two in the series.

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Jul 24, 2012 Doreene rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoy this series set in South Africa. The way the different races are treated makes me think. The characters are well developed. The plot/crime/mystery is always well thought out. The back drop of South Africa is a major character in the book. This book shed a lot of light on a group of Zulus and how they interact with the whites - both English and Afrikaners.

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Jul 10, 2012 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Another fascinating book set in 1950s South Africa. I enjoy learning about the cultures and the challenges, as well as the relationships between the main character and the two men (one Zulu, one Jewish) who assist him. The mystery was less interesting, mostly because the perpetrator wasn't a major part of the story.

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Apr 16, 2013 Sandi Loper-herzog rated it 5 of 5 stars

Love Malla Nunn's descriptions of South Africa, it's people and their beliefs in the 1950's. Her story clearly paints the divide that existed for different groups of people, painfully so.
Cooper and Shabala are a terrific partnership, solving crimes despite man-made obstacles.
Great story!

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Jul 04, 2012 Mairi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Usually I get new releases (especially hardcovers, though this wasn't one) from the library and if I want a copy, I get it later in a more transit-commute-friendly format. There are a few authors whose books I will purchase in hardcover and/or without having read them first or, really, without having so much as glanced at the jacket copy. Malla Nunn has become one of them.

I love this series. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love it. The characters are complex; the narrative is layered;...more

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title link	preview: Blessed Are The Dead
avg rating	preview: Blessed Are The Dead Goodreads rating: 3.95 (173 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10454420-blessed-are-the-dead?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1334914108l/10454420.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10454420-blessed-are-the-dead?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Blessed Are The Dead by Malla Nunn[/url]

Blessed Are The Dead (Detective Emmanuel Cooper #3)

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Blessed Are The Dead (Detective Emmanuel Cooper #3)

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