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Red Ink
When Lucy Khambule receives an unexpected call from a convicted serial killer, nicknamed The Butcher by the media, her life takes a dramatic turn. The Butcher wants Lucy to tell his story. Intrigued by his approach Lucy decides to take this opportunity to fulfill her dream of writing a book.
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First published July 18, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
October 19, 2023
Crime-thrillers are on the rise here at home. I enjoy JJ Coetzee and Deon Meyer's books immensely. Sarah Key writes chilling stories too, and I am so happy to add this Angela Makholwa's one to my repertoire.
We had read "Black Widows Society" as a book club 2 years ago, and found its ghastly plot very chilling. The plot brought about a very robust discussion around walking away when love is no longer served.
"Red Ink" was Hannibal Lecter meeting "Kiss The Girls" with Jack The Riper. It was gruesome. From the prologue till the last page, page 260, I was on edge. I was so afraid for the naive Lucy that I wanted to pluck her out of the story and slap her senseless.
Angela knows dark and mobid, grisly and gory, actually there are not enough adjectives to describe this suspenseful story.
The story takes place in Johannesburg, my favourite city, and surrounding suburbs. I am for topography because I have a great affinity to the outdoors; space is my canvas.
The story revolves around Lucy and her fulfilment of a writing dream she's had for the longest time. Her boss gets brutally murdered and the plot quickly THICKENS from then, Lucy found herself sinking quickly in this bizzare quicksand that was fast becoming her life. I loved how Angela used the prologue to give context to the story, and her use of the supporting characters, though for the majority of the story were on the periphery, give colour to Lucy's journey as their purpose becomes clearer.
A well written chilling account interspersed with indecipherable clues keeping the reader turning the pages but, paralysed by the fear of the unknown.
I am so looking forward to Angela's newest book, "The Blessed Girl", coming out this October and will be reading "The 30th Candle" just for control.
🌟🌟🌟 Three PHAT stars from me.
We had read "Black Widows Society" as a book club 2 years ago, and found its ghastly plot very chilling. The plot brought about a very robust discussion around walking away when love is no longer served.
"Red Ink" was Hannibal Lecter meeting "Kiss The Girls" with Jack The Riper. It was gruesome. From the prologue till the last page, page 260, I was on edge. I was so afraid for the naive Lucy that I wanted to pluck her out of the story and slap her senseless.
Angela knows dark and mobid, grisly and gory, actually there are not enough adjectives to describe this suspenseful story.
The story takes place in Johannesburg, my favourite city, and surrounding suburbs. I am for topography because I have a great affinity to the outdoors; space is my canvas.
The story revolves around Lucy and her fulfilment of a writing dream she's had for the longest time. Her boss gets brutally murdered and the plot quickly THICKENS from then, Lucy found herself sinking quickly in this bizzare quicksand that was fast becoming her life. I loved how Angela used the prologue to give context to the story, and her use of the supporting characters, though for the majority of the story were on the periphery, give colour to Lucy's journey as their purpose becomes clearer.
A well written chilling account interspersed with indecipherable clues keeping the reader turning the pages but, paralysed by the fear of the unknown.
I am so looking forward to Angela's newest book, "The Blessed Girl", coming out this October and will be reading "The 30th Candle" just for control.
🌟🌟🌟 Three PHAT stars from me.
July 11, 2017
Red Ink kept me at the edge of my sit and it gave me heart palpitations. I had to read it during the day and definitely not immediately before bedtime.
The story opens with a horrific murder of Busi by a stranger and prospective lover. The man lures her to a deserted field. Without provocation he strangles her, urinates on her, swears at her, slices her breasts, cuts her head off and leaves her for dead., soaked in a pool of blood.
A graphic well narrated read with unpredictable twists. It covers universal themes of family, relationships, career, love, sexuality , business and abuse. A true psychological thriller in the making. More scary is that the story line is based on a real time serial killer Moses Sithole, who killed almost forty women across South Africa in the late nineties.
The story opens with a horrific murder of Busi by a stranger and prospective lover. The man lures her to a deserted field. Without provocation he strangles her, urinates on her, swears at her, slices her breasts, cuts her head off and leaves her for dead., soaked in a pool of blood.
A graphic well narrated read with unpredictable twists. It covers universal themes of family, relationships, career, love, sexuality , business and abuse. A true psychological thriller in the making. More scary is that the story line is based on a real time serial killer Moses Sithole, who killed almost forty women across South Africa in the late nineties.
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January 2, 2026That ending y'all!!! I can't scream enough that this book was awesome and everything my thriller loving self wanted
May 18, 2024
Page turner!!. The twists never stop coming, right until the last page.
Morbid and gruesome but still hard to put down.
Morbid and gruesome but still hard to put down.
March 5, 2017
Makholwa is a brilliant writer in my books. I feel like she treats writing like a craft of life-or-death.
If memory serves, I think this is the first South African thriller I've read, by a black young woman nogal, and a debut at that.
I felt like it took a bit of a while for the action to really really really begin - not to say the build-up was not in itself entertaining reading.
The book was fun all in all - blood, backstabbing, sibling obsession and all.
If memory serves, I think this is the first South African thriller I've read, by a black young woman nogal, and a debut at that.
I felt like it took a bit of a while for the action to really really really begin - not to say the build-up was not in itself entertaining reading.
The book was fun all in all - blood, backstabbing, sibling obsession and all.
October 21, 2023
This was a very interesting novel and the thing about reading work about SA authors is the familiarity of the places that they narrate from restaurants , hotels and other establishments. It started slow for me but then got very interesting and I had so many questions throughout to understand the psyche of the characters. The story is about a serial killer Napoleon Dingiswayo who is sentenced for life after brutally killing women and some instances they were raped. The story kept me glued to find out who did Napoloean work with and who was supporting him behind prison. Lucy ended up being at the centre of this story as she wanted to write a book about him but his brother Sifiso didn’t like the idea and went on a killing spree for people around Lucy but at the end they found him. Don’t want to give away the plot and story line especially that there’s a sequel to the book so it’s still going on. There were a lot of themes explored in the book that we still uncomfortable with to freely tackle in the society from serial killing, rape where you wonder if there’s a deeper psychological effect in those men executing those cruel behaviors, domestic abuse was also covered, homosexuality that seem to prevail in men that are powerful in society, corruption and trying to make it in Johannesburg.
November 17, 2024
Read this for my Anglophone crime fiction seminar and honestly I really enjoyed it!! This was SO MUCH better than blood safari which we read before…
Yes this book is flawed (gay people are portrayed in a very negative way) but this book has kept me engaged throughout. I think we kinda lost the plot in the middle (and Lucy is a stupid mc) but I really enjoyed that this story was cantering around women.
Also why are Makholwas books so hard to get??? I actually wanted to buy the sequel but I couldn’t even find it available to buy in my country or my UK Apple Store?
Yes this book is flawed (gay people are portrayed in a very negative way) but this book has kept me engaged throughout. I think we kinda lost the plot in the middle (and Lucy is a stupid mc) but I really enjoyed that this story was cantering around women.
Also why are Makholwas books so hard to get??? I actually wanted to buy the sequel but I couldn’t even find it available to buy in my country or my UK Apple Store?
April 17, 2024
Former journalist Lucy Khambule’s life is turned upside down after convicted serial killer and rapist Napoleon Dingiswayo presents her with the tempting offer of writing a book on him.
With the man, nicknamed The Butcher, stuck in prison Lucy underestimates how dangerous he can be, and things quickly turn deadly.
There were several times where I just wanted to shake the totally naive and reckless Lucy.
The book has a relatively slow start, but the mystery kept me intrigued. I also enjoyed the local angle and that we got some wonderful South African culture and languages sprinkled into the story.
I felt there was something missing. The story was not thrilling or suspenseful. I was not caught on the edge of my seat. Despite the fact that Angela Makholwa holds no punches when it comes to grim and gruesome details.
Unfortunately, I also found Red Ink a bit predictable. Nonetheless, it was an interesting and overall quick read.
With the man, nicknamed The Butcher, stuck in prison Lucy underestimates how dangerous he can be, and things quickly turn deadly.
There were several times where I just wanted to shake the totally naive and reckless Lucy.
The book has a relatively slow start, but the mystery kept me intrigued. I also enjoyed the local angle and that we got some wonderful South African culture and languages sprinkled into the story.
I felt there was something missing. The story was not thrilling or suspenseful. I was not caught on the edge of my seat. Despite the fact that Angela Makholwa holds no punches when it comes to grim and gruesome details.
Unfortunately, I also found Red Ink a bit predictable. Nonetheless, it was an interesting and overall quick read.
September 18, 2012
Beyond amazing !!
May 25, 2020
Initially I thought that the bookay be dull amd predictive but it took me by shocking surprise! Gripping read, well written.
May 3, 2025
I had high expectations for this book, and I am happy to report that they were very well met. It’s easy to see why this was adapted for television.
The novel kicks off with what seems like your typical serial killer opening: disturbing, unsettling, and just gruesome enough to make my skin crawl and my mouth go dry. However, this scene doesn’t fade into the background like those of many other crime thrillers. I was constantly drawn back to it, thinking “Who is this?” “It’s got to be them!” “There’s no way they could have done something so horrific!” It’s refreshing to see an opening like this actually serve a purpose beyond shock value.
Before diving deeper, I have to say: as someone familiar with Johannesburg, I found the near-absence of traffic references both a relief and a minor crime in itself – this is such an integral part of living in Jo’burg, it should be mentioned at least once. Just once. But I live it every day so it’s nice to think that maybe you could get around in record time someday. That’s why they call it fiction, right?
Alright, let’s get into it a bit more.
Red Ink follows Lucy Khambule, a public relations consultant and aspiring writer, who is approached by the infamous serial killer, Napoleon Dingiswayo, to write a book about his life. It seems like a match made in heaven, an irresistible opportunity, but soon it becomes clear that Dingiswayo’s crimes are only the surface of something far darker and far more dangerous.
Lucy is driven, passionate, and very likeable, though like almost any crime-thriller heroine, makes some questionable decisions along the way that makes you want to scream at the page, but which make her feel more real. At times, she was acting so suspiciously, I was shocked she didn’t land herself in a holding cell. But despite the trauma and the chaos closing in around her, she keeps pushing forward – and in doing so, unearths a mystery South Africa didn’t even know it had.
One of Red Ink’s strengths is its casts; I enjoyed how diverse the characters in the book are and how they reflect life and culture in South Africa. The setting and social context feel authentic, which also made the novel that much more terrifying as things started to unravel.
Convicted serial killer Dingiswayo is disarmingly charming and with every meeting it becomes chillingly clear that prison hasn’t broken him so much as warped him further. And when the truth begins to unravel? It unravels fast.
At the end of each chapter I was holding my breath. Each page turn came with equal parts dread and anticipation. I am delighted to say that there are quite a few things I did not see coming, but I also managed to hit a few nails on the head. It was a thrilling ride!
All in all, Red Ink is a gripping debut and a great crime thriller. Angela Makholwa knows how to craft tension, develop characters, and keep readers guessing. I can’t wait to get my hands on more of her work.
The novel kicks off with what seems like your typical serial killer opening: disturbing, unsettling, and just gruesome enough to make my skin crawl and my mouth go dry. However, this scene doesn’t fade into the background like those of many other crime thrillers. I was constantly drawn back to it, thinking “Who is this?” “It’s got to be them!” “There’s no way they could have done something so horrific!” It’s refreshing to see an opening like this actually serve a purpose beyond shock value.
Before diving deeper, I have to say: as someone familiar with Johannesburg, I found the near-absence of traffic references both a relief and a minor crime in itself – this is such an integral part of living in Jo’burg, it should be mentioned at least once. Just once. But I live it every day so it’s nice to think that maybe you could get around in record time someday. That’s why they call it fiction, right?
Alright, let’s get into it a bit more.
Red Ink follows Lucy Khambule, a public relations consultant and aspiring writer, who is approached by the infamous serial killer, Napoleon Dingiswayo, to write a book about his life. It seems like a match made in heaven, an irresistible opportunity, but soon it becomes clear that Dingiswayo’s crimes are only the surface of something far darker and far more dangerous.
Lucy is driven, passionate, and very likeable, though like almost any crime-thriller heroine, makes some questionable decisions along the way that makes you want to scream at the page, but which make her feel more real. At times, she was acting so suspiciously, I was shocked she didn’t land herself in a holding cell. But despite the trauma and the chaos closing in around her, she keeps pushing forward – and in doing so, unearths a mystery South Africa didn’t even know it had.
One of Red Ink’s strengths is its casts; I enjoyed how diverse the characters in the book are and how they reflect life and culture in South Africa. The setting and social context feel authentic, which also made the novel that much more terrifying as things started to unravel.
Convicted serial killer Dingiswayo is disarmingly charming and with every meeting it becomes chillingly clear that prison hasn’t broken him so much as warped him further. And when the truth begins to unravel? It unravels fast.
At the end of each chapter I was holding my breath. Each page turn came with equal parts dread and anticipation. I am delighted to say that there are quite a few things I did not see coming, but I also managed to hit a few nails on the head. It was a thrilling ride!
All in all, Red Ink is a gripping debut and a great crime thriller. Angela Makholwa knows how to craft tension, develop characters, and keep readers guessing. I can’t wait to get my hands on more of her work.
December 11, 2018
This is definitely the year I begin pushing my reading boundaries to new levels and I am excited about it. Earlier in the year I read Children of Blood and Bone – an afro futuristic, fantastical YA book that I absolutely loved it, I moved on to Arimah’s Short story collection which has a number of magical realism, afro futuristic themes I enjoyed, I even read Ngugi wa Thiong’despite my misgivings and now a Psychological crime thriller!! Who am I turning into? I like her!
It starts with a date and a murder. He strangles her and then urinates on her and slices her breasts. Once done, he swears at her and cuts off her head.
This is how this book opens up and right off the bat, it gives you chills and leaves you paranoid, looking over your shoulder. Woe unto you, if like me, you start reading this at night! The descriptions of the crimes are so graphic and vivid, they place you right at the scenes. Reading this book, I felt like I had been transported to the set of Criminal Minds or CSI.
Lucy Khambule is a former journalist, turned Publicist. She lives in Jo’burg and her career as a Publicist is really taking off, save for the strenuous relationship with her once friend, now business partner Patricia. She lives a comfortable life and is a doting mother to her four year old son, Diseko. Five years ago while working as a crime reporter, she wrote to Napoleon Dingiswayo, the serial killer nicknamed The Butcher, asking if she could write a tell-all book about him. Writing a book is one of her life long dreams.
Fast forward to five years later, Lucy receives a called from C-Max Maximum Security prison and on the other end of the line is Napoleon Dingiswayo telling her that he received her letter and would like for her to visit him in prison so they can discuss the tell all book that he wants her to write. For Lucy, this is an intriguing offer and she agrees to it and this sets in motion a series of more murders and bizarre events – but with Dingiswayo in prison, who could be killing all these people around her? Did they catch the wrong serial killer?
This was Makholwa’s debut and it is a brilliant book. The crime/psychological thriller genre is not something I have seen often in African Literature. We definitely need to see more of these coming out of Africa.
See full review on the blog www.somanami.co.ke
It starts with a date and a murder. He strangles her and then urinates on her and slices her breasts. Once done, he swears at her and cuts off her head.
This is how this book opens up and right off the bat, it gives you chills and leaves you paranoid, looking over your shoulder. Woe unto you, if like me, you start reading this at night! The descriptions of the crimes are so graphic and vivid, they place you right at the scenes. Reading this book, I felt like I had been transported to the set of Criminal Minds or CSI.
Lucy Khambule is a former journalist, turned Publicist. She lives in Jo’burg and her career as a Publicist is really taking off, save for the strenuous relationship with her once friend, now business partner Patricia. She lives a comfortable life and is a doting mother to her four year old son, Diseko. Five years ago while working as a crime reporter, she wrote to Napoleon Dingiswayo, the serial killer nicknamed The Butcher, asking if she could write a tell-all book about him. Writing a book is one of her life long dreams.
Fast forward to five years later, Lucy receives a called from C-Max Maximum Security prison and on the other end of the line is Napoleon Dingiswayo telling her that he received her letter and would like for her to visit him in prison so they can discuss the tell all book that he wants her to write. For Lucy, this is an intriguing offer and she agrees to it and this sets in motion a series of more murders and bizarre events – but with Dingiswayo in prison, who could be killing all these people around her? Did they catch the wrong serial killer?
This was Makholwa’s debut and it is a brilliant book. The crime/psychological thriller genre is not something I have seen often in African Literature. We definitely need to see more of these coming out of Africa.
See full review on the blog www.somanami.co.ke
April 8, 2024
Red ink is a book I have been really wanting to read, so I was incredibly excited to get to read it. Crime Thrillers are a first for me, I tend to read romance and fluff. But I did enjoy reading it, there were parts of the book that held my attention, that were gripping and intense and that left me having more questions about where the story was heading. There were twists and turns that weren't expected...
Napoleon was an interesting character, I found myself doubting his sanity because he had a tendency to act out when he didn't get his way and his obsession with Lucy and their made up relationship in his head. Then there was his brother Sifiso who just seemed darker than Napoleon which at some point I felt like the wrong brother was in jail, I mean yes Napoleon did a lot of horrible things including the murders of those girls. I think his brother should have been right there with him instead of being free to continue his killing sprees. Lucy the main character I felt incredible empathy for, she lost the most at Napoleon and Sifiso hand, even though she did make a name for herself with her book on Napoleon and her business, she still lost a great deal.
I expected more with the ending, the build up towards the end of the book had me expecting a massive ending, so that was really disappointing.
Napoleon was an interesting character, I found myself doubting his sanity because he had a tendency to act out when he didn't get his way and his obsession with Lucy and their made up relationship in his head. Then there was his brother Sifiso who just seemed darker than Napoleon which at some point I felt like the wrong brother was in jail, I mean yes Napoleon did a lot of horrible things including the murders of those girls. I think his brother should have been right there with him instead of being free to continue his killing sprees. Lucy the main character I felt incredible empathy for, she lost the most at Napoleon and Sifiso hand, even though she did make a name for herself with her book on Napoleon and her business, she still lost a great deal.
I expected more with the ending, the build up towards the end of the book had me expecting a massive ending, so that was really disappointing.
December 5, 2024
For a debut novel, Angela Makholwa devoured tf out of this, so much that I finished it in just two days because I could not put it down!
The narration is a bit all over the place, yes, what with the perspectives shifting between characters and making for unnecessary distractions in some parts. But the heart and grit of the author, as well as the level of care put into this story is evident from the first page right to the very end. The consistency is enthralling, and I applaud Makholwa for yet another story that had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.
Lucy Khambule is a strong-willed, and sometimes too-trusting, young woman who finds herself in the middle of a war between very dark figures when she agrees to write a book about the life of Napolen Dingiswayo, a serial killer and rapist who gained the attention of the authorities and the public after his bloody spree came to a screeching halt in the late 90's. This project finds Lucy at the right time, as she grapples with a betrayal that ultimately leads her to branching on her own and starting her own PR firm. She loses a lot of people close to her, but the end finds her still standing.
I absolutely cannot wait to watch the adaption of this book on Showmax, I have seen the cast, and it honestly looks really promising.
The narration is a bit all over the place, yes, what with the perspectives shifting between characters and making for unnecessary distractions in some parts. But the heart and grit of the author, as well as the level of care put into this story is evident from the first page right to the very end. The consistency is enthralling, and I applaud Makholwa for yet another story that had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.
Lucy Khambule is a strong-willed, and sometimes too-trusting, young woman who finds herself in the middle of a war between very dark figures when she agrees to write a book about the life of Napolen Dingiswayo, a serial killer and rapist who gained the attention of the authorities and the public after his bloody spree came to a screeching halt in the late 90's. This project finds Lucy at the right time, as she grapples with a betrayal that ultimately leads her to branching on her own and starting her own PR firm. She loses a lot of people close to her, but the end finds her still standing.
I absolutely cannot wait to watch the adaption of this book on Showmax, I have seen the cast, and it honestly looks really promising.
July 10, 2025
I wish I read this book before watching the series on Showmax. This book was good but so triggering! As a woman living at the height of femicide in South Africa, it reached close to home.
Lucy, although determined was so naive! Warning bells kept ringing, warning signs kept flashing but she could neither hear nor see.
The Dingiswayo brothers had their fair share of trauma growing up, but my goodness were they evil! Their killings were brutal and cruel; they felt no remorse for any of their victims, instead they painted themselves to be the victims.
Overall, this book was good, well written and action packed. Read it if you want something fast paced and dramatic.
I won’t be rushing to read the sequel, I need a light palette cleanser after all that heaviness.
Lucy, although determined was so naive! Warning bells kept ringing, warning signs kept flashing but she could neither hear nor see.
The Dingiswayo brothers had their fair share of trauma growing up, but my goodness were they evil! Their killings were brutal and cruel; they felt no remorse for any of their victims, instead they painted themselves to be the victims.
Overall, this book was good, well written and action packed. Read it if you want something fast paced and dramatic.
I won’t be rushing to read the sequel, I need a light palette cleanser after all that heaviness.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2024
I always battle with the question of when is it a right time to revisit a book. This one has always been in my top ten books ever, and because there is a sequel, as well as series on the book, it was the right time to revisit it. I was surprised at how much I had forgotten about the story but managed to read the book in less than a week. More than anything, I am looking forward to watching the story coming to life, and then getting into the much-anticipated sequel.
This is a must-read book, over and over!
This is a must-read book, over and over!
September 27, 2024
Crime does not pay, the story of two brothers who grew up without parents and landed in the hands of a gangster, with one in prison the other one colluded with the sponsor to betray him. The prisoner is sent on a mission to lure this girl who is hungry to be an author to write his story.
In this story we see Lucy’s life unfolds but we never get to hear the story of Napoleon (the prisoner) which is what the book is based on. Therefore Napoleon doesn’t contribute much into the story.
The plot twist where KK is the sponsor is mind blowing, it rounds up the story pretty well.
In this story we see Lucy’s life unfolds but we never get to hear the story of Napoleon (the prisoner) which is what the book is based on. Therefore Napoleon doesn’t contribute much into the story.
The plot twist where KK is the sponsor is mind blowing, it rounds up the story pretty well.
November 3, 2023
what a thriller, Oh i wish to know what happened when Lucy found out that Napoleon escaped from prison, Fundi finding out that her bf (the sponsor) was linked with the Dingiswayo brothers. I happy that Tshepo realised that Lucy had nothing to do with Patricia's death. I read this book in a week , I couldn't put it down , i think im going to read more thrillers , what a page turner!
September 1, 2024
Overall quite gruesome and chilling, but a very interesting read! I found the beginning a little slow, but the story really started to pick up a quarter in. The role of the brother and KK was a very surprising twist!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2025
This was a fun murder mystery, thriller novel, perfect for a long weekend getaway. I bought this book in the Johannesburg airport during a long layover and I'm very happy I bought the sequel as well since Red Ink set up for the next book perfectly!
January 8, 2018
Good read
I liked the book very much. I will recommend the books to family and friends. Have read most of the authors books and love them.
I liked the book very much. I will recommend the books to family and friends. Have read most of the authors books and love them.
Read
October 25, 2019With this book, as much as I am a fan of her work Angela thriller in this book is amazing. It really makes you visiualise the incidences as they are portrayed. Amazing work
May 28, 2020
Lucy is so stupid
December 13, 2021
Good mystery if a little scary at times. Read for RATW book group.
December 18, 2023
Absolutely loved it. A page turner for me.
January 20, 2024
had to take a physical step back
January 24, 2024
The book is marvelous with great storytelling,hooks and all
did-not-finish
March 4, 2024dnf @ 100 pages
The TV show is better.
The TV show is better.
March 10, 2024
An amazing crime thriller. Glad to have discovered the writing by Angela Makholwa definitely buying the sequel to this book - The Reed Dance Stalker.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews