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Book Bites: 13 April 2014

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The Fall of the ANCThe Fall of the ANC: What Next?
Prince Mashele & Mzukisi Qobo (Picador Africa)
**
Book buff
The authors mount one of the most ferocious critiques of the African National Congress. For them, the ANC is ‘technically dead and incapable of renewing itself’. The first chapter clears the ground before the slaughter, then the authors churn out an array of colourful insults positing the a scenario of a future without the ANC. ‘Turning our backs on the ANC would be an affirmation of faith in our ability to drive change,’ they write. Their book reads more like an super-sized opinion piece than a scholarly work. – Tinyiko Maluleke @ProfTinyiko

KillerKiller
Jonathan Kellerman (Headline)
***
Book thrill
Recalls some of Kellerman’s earlier novels, notably When The Bough Breaks. Alex Delaware’s court work as a child psychologist makes a return as a plot anchor, but this time the scope’s cross-hairs are trained on Delaware himself. When an unbalanced pathologist seeking custody of her niece threatens his life, he is unwittingly drawn into a complex ecosystem of LA crazies. And for the first time, one gets the sense that all is not glowing in Delaware’s highly homosocial relationship with gay detective Milo Sturgis. One for the fans. – Russell Clarke @russrussy

To Catch A CopTo Catch a Cop: The Paul O’Sullivan Story
Marianne Thamm (Jacana)
****
Book buff
Two things become clear while reading this book. One: don’t mess with Paul O’ Sullivan. Two: if you have a complicated story to tell, get Marianne Thamm to do it. The Irish-born detective doggedly pursued Jackie Selebi for eight years, was nearly killed twice and believes that his and his family’s lives are still under threat. His motivation? Thamm: “O’Sullivan hates criminals and low-lifes like dogs hate flies”. Thamm pieces all the scumbag players and their numerous crooked dealings together in a easy-to-follow narrative. Riveting – and quite chilling – reading. – Jennifer Platt @Jenniferdplatt

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