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Random Violence (Jade de Jong #1)

by Jassy Mackenzie (Goodreads Author)

3.68 of 5 stars 3.68 · rating details · 177 ratings · 49 reviews

In Johannesburg prosperous whites live in gated communities; when they exit their cars to open the gates, car-jackings are common. But seldom is the victim killed, much less shot twice, like Annette Botha. Piet Botha, the husband of the wealthy woman, is the primary suspect in his wife's murder.

P.I. Jade de Jong fled South Africa ten years ago after her father was killed....more

Hardcover, 336 pages

Published April 1st 2010 by Soho Crime (first published 2008)

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Nov 12, 2012 James Thane rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime-fiction

Lately there have been a number of crime novels set in South Africa and this is another. The protagonist is Jade de Jong, the daughter of a police commissioner. Jade's father was killed ten years earlier and in the wake of his death, Jade fled the country. Ten years later, the man convicted of killing her father is scheduled to be released from prison and Jade finally returns to confront him.

The country she finds is sharply divided by race and class. The whites who can afford to do so live in ga...more Lately there have been a number of crime novels set in South Africa and this is another. The protagonist is Jade de Jong, the daughter of a police commissioner. Jade's father was killed ten years earlier and in the wake of his death, Jade fled the country. Ten years later, the man convicted of killing her father is scheduled to be released from prison and Jade finally returns to confront him.

The country she finds is sharply divided by race and class. The whites who can afford to do so live in gated communities with alarms, high walls and private security forces. They huddle in their homes ever-fearful of the crime and violence that seems to surround them.

Upon her return, Jade agrees to help her father's former deputy, David Patel, who is now a police superintendent, in the investigation of the murder of a woman who was killed in an apparent carjacking. It's possible that the woman's husband hired someone to kill her, although Jade doesn't believe that. Inevitably, there's a lot going on behind the scenes and Jade puts her own life at risk by antagonizing powerful, greedy and desperate antagonists who do not shrink from violence as a means of accomplishing their ends.

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Mar 05, 2013 Gloria Feit rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jade deJong , the headstrong protagonist of this terrific new novel, is a p.i. who has left her native South Africa, but following a ten-year absence has returned after, most recently, doing surveillance work in England. Her father, before his death, had been police commissioner in Johannesburg, described as a city filled with crime and brutality. The tale opens with the brutal murder of a young woman in what initially appears to have been an attempted carjacking, the first but hardly the last v...more

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Oct 17, 2012 Barbara rated it 4 of 5 stars

RANDOM VIOLENCE
Jassy Mackenzie
With a main character named Jade, I expected this series to be light weight, a bit silly maybe. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised to find a tight, well-written, gritty crime novel set in Johannesburg, South Africa. Jade is a private investigator whose policeman father was killed in the line of duty.
Jade returns to Jo’burg after 10 years in England. Her best friend from her life in South Africa, is police superintendent David Patel, now a grown man with a wife and...more

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Mar 22, 2012 Heather Pearson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery

Home comings are often portrayed as bittersweet, and Jade De Jong's return to Johannesburg, South Africa, after an absence of ten or so years, is no different. Shortly after her father, a police superintendent, was murdered, she fled the country, eventually working an assortment of private security and investigative jobs. Now she has returned and is looking for revenge.

It didn't take long for complications to arise. When her friend, the new Police Superintendent David Patel, picks her up at the...more Home comings are often portrayed as bittersweet, and Jade De Jong's return to Johannesburg, South Africa, after an absence of ten or so years, is no different. Shortly after her father, a police superintendent, was murdered, she fled the country, eventually working an assortment of private security and investigative jobs. Now she has returned and is looking for revenge.

It didn't take long for complications to arise. When her friend, the new Police Superintendent David Patel, picks her up at the airport, he asks if she'll help investigate a recent murder. While the police think that Annette Botha's murder is either a botched carjacking or a robbery, Jade has to be sure. This investigation leads her into some very dangerous situations.

I liked the character of Jade De Jong. She presents as a respectable woman, successful and capable. Then I met the other side, the loyal side. She knows her father's death was wrong, and she is willing to do what it takes to get justice/revenge, though she also knows when to pull back and let things work themselves out.

This contrasts with Whiteboy, who can barely restrain himself. He is a ticking time bomb that has gone off at least several times already. His actions are brutal and are described with all the gruesome details. Not to be read by the faint of heart. At the same time, I don't think this story would read as well if the violence were toned down, it wouldn't seem real (not that we want this kind of violence to be real).

I was fascinated by Ms. Mackenzie's descriptions of the levels of security that South African's use in their daily life. Security fencing with automatic gates, armed guards at the entrances to gated communities and hired, private guards to roam neighbourhoods and answer calls for assistance. This is in stark contrast to the safety I feel here in Ontario, Canada.

I listened to the audio book version which was produced by Blackstone Audio. 8 hours 57 minutes, unabridged. It was read by Justine Eyre, who had me totally convinced that I was in Jo'burg, as Jassy calls Johannesburg. At first I had trouble differentiating between the male and female characters, but one I stopped trying to figure that out and wait for the story to guide me, I was fine.

Jassy Mackenzie has added two further books to the Jade De Jong series. The second book, Stolen Lives is on shelves now, and the third, Worst Case was out in South Africa in August 2011, and will be released internationally under the title of The Fallen in April 2012.(less)

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Jul 03, 2011 Jasmine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: zimbabwean

So Jassy mackenzie was born in rhodesia, after some google turns out rhodesia was never a recognized country and is now called zimbabwe so that explains that.

I haven't read a lot this week cause I've been reading the hobbit, and reading the hobbit and reading the hobbit... do you understand the point. the hobbit has stalled all of my reading because the hobbit is not good. I know I know tolkien is a genius and it's a classic. everytime I read it I read three pages and want o throw it across the...more

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Jun 08, 2011 Doug Bower rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read this book on my kindle after seeing a post about it through the Kindle Daily Posts. What a find! The book takes place in South Africa and features PI Jade DeJong who has just returned to Johannesburg, South Africa after a decade away. She had grown up there, the daughter of the Police Commissioner, and was always interested in investigating crimes. After her father was murdered she left South Africa. Now that she has returned she is committed to taking her revenge on the person who killed...more

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May 30, 2010 Trish rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: africa, mysteries

Took a long 1-day roundtrip to NYC and managed to read this on the way. Fortunately, it did not have gratuitous violence, though one very clever but certifiable madman wreaked his share of havoc. The main characters could, perhaps, have used a little more fleshing out. I couldn't picture them well. And the author had the disconcerting habit of changing points of view for a chapter, but not often enough for it to be part of the book's style. Either we know what's going on in the character's mind...more

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Mar 09, 2013 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

I came along this series after I received an ARC for the 4th installment. I had read a bunch of reviews for this initial de Jong book and had mixed feelings about what to expect. Most were positive but many talked about the excessive violence and bad portrayal of South Africa. I had not previous read anything South African novels, nor had I even heard of Jassy Mackenzie, so all of these themes were new to me. The first quarter of the book took me longer to complete than I originally planned. For...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Christina rated it 3 of 5 stars

Jade de Jong is a private investigator assisting the Johannesburg police with an investigation. She's finally come home ten years after the tragic death of her father, who died while serving on the same police force. There have always been questions in Jade's mind about the circumstances surrounding his death and it's time for her to sort out the pieces. Meanwhile, she's also looking into the death of a local woman, which is the tiny thread that may unravel a very complicated puzzle.

This was a g...more

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May 16, 2011 Eva Leger rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: thriller, b-fiction

I picked this up on a library trip and was very, very pleasantly surprised. The cover attracted my attention at first, the title second. The description interested me but left me wondering if I would actually like the story.
While I do read fictional "thrillers" at times it's not even close to being any of my main reading genres. Something pulled at me though so I brought it home with me. And like I said, I was very pleasantly surprised.
I'm left thinking about S. Africa, of which I know very li...more

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Feb 23, 2013 Kimberly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-bookshelf, africa, library-books-read-2013, mystery, south-africa, south-african-goodreads-authors

About a year ago I stumbled across the Jade de Jong series but it took me until a couple weeks ago to finally get around to reading the first novel in the series a try. I'm always on the look out for great South African authors and I have to say Jassy Mackenzie is a new favourite of mine.

Random Violence was a fast past intricate novel with a wonderful female sleuth as the lead character. Jade de Jong returns to her homeland of South Africa after 10 years away working all over the globe. Upon her...more About a year ago I stumbled across the Jade de Jong series but it took me until a couple weeks ago to finally get around to reading the first novel in the series a try. I'm always on the look out for great South African authors and I have to say Jassy Mackenzie is a new favourite of mine.

Random Violence was a fast past intricate novel with a wonderful female sleuth as the lead character. Jade de Jong returns to her homeland of South Africa after 10 years away working all over the globe. Upon her return she's met with all the changes that have happened in her country including in the lives of the one person she cares about the most.

I loved the mystery behind the slue of murders that seem to be occurring as well as the relationship between Jade and David who was once her father's right hand man and her best friend. I really enjoyed seeing the ups and downs as they got used to be around one another again after such a long time apart as well as seeing how much respect they had for one another. I have to say that Jade and David are probably two of my favourite crime solving partners after reading Random Violence. Both are intelligent, witty and savvy and they both have different skills plus the chemistry between them is great.

I thought that the fact that the author also took the time to touch briefly on the political background of the country post-apartheid with the referral of David's "old line" boss. I think that it was an important touch especially for the readers who aren't really versed in the history of the country and it plays a rather large part in the novel because of the actions and histories of individual characters mostly those of the bad guys.

I was very surprised at how enjoyable Random Violence was as strange as it might sound it was a fun read because Jassy Mackenzie kept me on my toes. There were far more plot twists that I had expected and many of them didn't even become obvious until the the end when everything came together and I was left with my jaw on the floor in shock.

Overall, I thought the writing was fantastic. The author used a perfect balance of drama, action, intrigue, deception and plot twists to create a wonderfully well written who dun it novel. In a genre that is still very much male dominated Jassy Mackenzie makes sure that her unique voice is heard and for me her gift in the genre was very well received by me. Everything fit together so well and the way she wove the story in such subtle ways sometimes was amazing and I can't wait to read the second book in the series. As first novels go Jassy Mackenzie's Random Violence is a hit and has earned a place on my favourite's shelf.

I would highly recommend Random Violence to everyone who enjoys a mystery set in a foreign country. I think the fact that it is written by a South African writer and takes place in South Africa is a unique offering in the mystery genre and the story is one that you can get wrapped up in and is a great way to expose yourself to a new writer and a new series in a place you may never have had a book take place in before.(less)

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Jan 23, 2011 William rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nook, crime-noir, south-africa, africa

An intelligent, capable killer, an ethically shady P.I., and a setting in a newly integrated, economically challenged South Africa create excellent and believable tension in this series premiere. The crimes committed here are grizzly, but realistic enough to let the story avoid appearing like a film script disguised as a novel, the overarching plot is clever without resorting to cliche, and the novel's end is pitch perfect. Jade de Jong is a well-intentioned but flawed heroine, well-paired with...more

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May 04, 2013 Bonnie rated it 3 of 5 stars

The setting is Johannesburg, South Africa where white residents live behind gates, but when they exit their cars, carjackings are common. One does not fit the pattern; Annette Botha was shot twice and left for dead and her wealthy husband is the prime suspect. P>I> Jade de Jong fled to England from Johannesburg after her policeman father was killed. She has returned to help her father's former assistant solve the case. David Patel is of Indian descent and is still subjected to racial preju...more

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May 03, 2012 Annie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-thriller

Jassy Mackenzie's "Random Violence" A most excellent 5 star read for this mystery lover!
Set in south Africa this thriller has a spunky heroine who, after her father is murdered under suspisious circumstances has fled her homeland only to comes back after 10 yrs. to reconnect with a lost love and avenge her fathers murder by killing the man she holds responsible. I Loved the descriptions of your country, the way you describe the places, people and strife of your home is very interesting, not to...more

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Mar 27, 2012 Edith Parzefall rated it 5 of 5 stars

Jade de Jong, a private investigator, left Johannesburg after her father was killed and returns when the man who likely ordered the murder is about to be released from prison. While waiting for her revenge, she hooks up again with her old friend David, now a police detective like her father. She agrees to help him with the investigation of what looks like an attempted carjacking gone wrong, leaving a woman dead. But there's nothing random about Annette's death. A chilling, highly intelligent psy...more

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Jul 19, 2011 Mark rated it 4 of 5 stars

Mackenzie thrills again with the next in the Jade De Jong series. Jade, a private detective has recently returned from self-exile in England after needing time to get her head together following her last caper.
She immediately falls back in not only with the criminal underworld informants she had cultivated, but also into a semi-partnership with police detective David Patel. Hoping to stay close to Patel in order to foster a romantic relationship, they find themselves at loggerheads, especially w...more

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May 11, 2010 Tuck rated it 3 of 5 stars

this is a good start for a new south african detective/crime/noir novel. good things are it takes place now, so you get insight in to the economy, paranoia, traffic, guns, 15 years of opposite-apartheid govt. its just... malla nunn does it better even though she writes about 1950's sa, she explains peoples motivations better, the plants and weather better. roger smith does the violence and insanity better. so this jassy mackenzie book was hyped pretty big, and it IS worth reading, just maybe her...more

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Mar 04, 2012 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: If you like Deon Meyer, Lee Child, Mark Stanley: detective, police, crime

A fast paced South African skop skiet en donder detective thriller. Guns, violence, crooked cops, double crosses, a couple of interesting twists and an angry PI Jade de Jong returning with a score to settle after 10 years of living outside the country. Recent South African history and the contemporary corruption and voilent social scene as backgroud. A worthy author to add to the South African crime shelves. recommended for those who enjoy Deon Meyer, Mark Stanley, Lee Childs.

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Nov 28, 2010 Deb rated it 4 of 5 stars

fast-paced mystery - takes place in s.africa -- a bit violent in some parts for my taste; however, the mystery and characters are great. read in one day as i had to find out the mystery. I did figure one part out, but it was guess work to the end about other happenings! the suspense and depth of mystery is equal to henning mankell's books.

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Jun 18, 2013 Marc Leroux rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: _hardcover, fiction, mystery-suspense, series

I picked up this book on the strength of Pale Horses which I had won in a Goodreads give-away program, and I'm glad that I did. The story centers on a PI who returns to South Africa after a 10 year absence. She had fled after her father, a former Police Commissioner, had been killed.
Jade returns to Johannesburg to kill the man who she believes was responsible for her father's death, and is about to be released from prison.
I found this to be a great read, partially because it brought back memorie...more

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Jul 29, 2011 Catherine Woodman added it

Excellent murder mystery set in SOuth Africa (that is two South African murder mysteries in a row--this one is the better of the two). Jade de Jong is a great protagonist, and the violence of the country and where it comes from, where it might be going, is well depicted.

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Feb 21, 2013 Maria Kiguthi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I first read Pale Horses (#4) and like it so much I decided to get the others in the series. This was a good book. I enjoyed the setting and all the detailed descriptions. I must say there were some inventive ways to commit crimes.

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Jun 08, 2012 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow. This book seriously ROCKED! Main character is a no-nonsense, kiss-ass-and-take-names-later type of heroine that I LOVE! Kinda violent, but I am sure it is true to it's setting. I loved both this one and #2Random Violence.

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Aug 13, 2012 Linda rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: private_investigator, south-africa, mystery

I wanted to like this more than I did. The setting in South Africa and the character of Jade de Jong were both intriguing, but neither got fleshed out enough. Minus points for sadistic and unnecessary violence.

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May 11, 2010 Bob rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010

An expert and surefooted first outing with a well drawn, grim South African backdrop. Strong characterizations and some terrific harrowing moments. I look forward to the further investigations of Jade De Jong.

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May 19, 2010 Robert Intriago rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime-noir

Pretty good for a first book. Dark in places and the villain character is well developed. The protagonist has a lot of lovely faults, and she loves jalapenos, which makes her likeable. Action is fast paced and the story flows easily with little gratuitous sex scenes. Look foward to her next book.

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Jul 13, 2010 Joanne rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

Bleh. Too violent for me.
I would think the Johannesburg tourist board would loathe it for making the city seem like a corrupt cesspool.

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Jan 02, 2010 Mary rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: all who love a good thriller

Recommended to Mary by: Jassy

The seemingly random shooting of a Johannesburg woman stumps police superintendent David Patel and he turns to private investigator Jade de Jong for help. With an agenda of her own, Jade manages to solve the murder and at the same time expose a web of corruption and deceit.

In Jade, Ms Mackenzie has created a heroine who is both feisty and vulnerable and although not always loveable, one looks forward to reading more of her.

Random Violence is a first novel in that specialised branch of the thrill...more

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Jul 04, 2012 Andre Beukes marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: myafrikaans-com

Buy this eBook at http://myafrikaans.com/random-violence.html

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May 02, 2012 Anna rated it 4 of 5 stars

It took me a while to get into this one, but before I knew it, I couldn't put it down! Jade de Jong is pretty badass.

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About Jassy Mackenzie

Jassy Mackenzie is from a family where books weren’t just more important than television, they were so important that television was banned from the house.

Jassy is the second youngest of five sisters. She was born in Zimbabwe, and moved to South Africa when she was eight years old. Today, she is the editor of HJ, a hair and beauty magazine. She lives on a smallholding outside Johannesburg and shar...more

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“Sometimes, losing your dreams could be worse than losing your reality.” — 4 people liked it

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Random Violence (Jade de Jong #1)

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