Solace

by Andrew Brown

The body of a Muslim boy is found in a synagogue, mutilated in what looks like a ritual sacrifice, and Inspector Eberard Februarie is called in to solve the case. As news of the murder quickly becomes public, a storm of religious violence threatens to engulf Cape Town. Eberard, however, suspects that the case is not as clear cut as it seems. But can he prove this before the storm breaks?In his investigation, Eberard must steer between Islamist agitators determined to spread unrest, shady security agents trying to trip him up, and a powerful church pastor intent on exploiting the situation for his own purposes. The story moves swiftly from forensic laboratory to drug house, from church office to street demonstration, as the case takes unpredictable and violent twists.A gripping novel with an unstoppable plot, Solace exposes the religious tensions that threaten to tear society apart.

251 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2012

Reviews

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never give mysteries a 5 star rating but I'm going to do it this time! The writing is superb, insightful and very compassionate for the characters and their lives. This together with the plot full of conspiracies, makes this a very easy and exciting read.
Inspector Februarie Eberhard is the detective in this case and he is a character that will stay with me. The location in Cape Town and the case looks at first to be a ritualistic killing of a Muslim boy in a synagogue. After the scene is investigated it is soon clear things are not as they first appeared, but that doesn't stop the uproar in the Jewish community, they are feeling scared and threatened and they respond accordingly. The level of violence is soon escalated.
Februarie is a clever and experienced detective but he is also extremely troubled personally, struggling with his own demons. He has a problem with authority and with new methods of working. He also has a relationship with a prostitute which he struggles to understand himself. And he's bordering on alcoholism.

The writer is a lawyer in Cape Town, but also serves as a reservist in the South African Police Service. I think this gives him a perspective that not many writers have into the criminal world, and the people that live and work in it, in different parts of the system.

[Kathe Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my kind of book. . .

[Marion Roux · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crime novel set in Cape Town. It exposes internal corruption set up to forment aggression between Muslim and Jew.
The evil in this setting had me reeling and stayed in my thoughts for longer than I liked

[Dan Rosengarten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well paced thriller dealing with what is yet again a current issue involving Muslims and d Jews through an investigation carried out by a down and out detective. Littered with cameos from Deon Meyers books including Bennie Griesel. Well worth a read and well written.

[Elroy Paulus · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant writer. Thanks for captivating writing Andrew Brown. Your style and detail transports me to, not only the story, but I can picture the places you write about, in the city of my birth and where I live.

[Bernadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting read.
Murder with a whole lot of conspiracy thrown in.Hugely topical too given the current situation in the Middle East.
A young boy, seemingly Muslim is found dead in an apparent sacrificial slaying in a Synagogue. And even though it is quickly pointed out out that he is neither Muslim nor was he murdered where he was found, tensions rise between the two Cape Town communities.
Who could possibly stand to gain from his death, radical extremists on either side, or is there a more sinister third force involved.
Februarie as the talented, but alcoholic detective is superb and the fight against his own demons becomes as difficult as this case.
The book begins slowly but gathers momentum and becomes the kind of thriller you can not put down.
I love Andrew Brown's writing and can recommend this super read.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is both gripping and interesting. I enjoyed the variety of and the development of characters and Eberard Februarie is a great cop. This is the third book I’ve read by Andrew Brown. He’s really very good – a great read! I couldn’t put it down.

[Liliane Marais · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read!

[Anne Baker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somehow this book did just not quite make the grade for me.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story, gritty flawed characters and fast paced story line, going to find everything he's ever written and devour them.

[Kathe Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't really grab mee

[Lynne]

Did not really enjoy it....