According to novelist, historian and politician John Buchan, “Every man at the bottom of his heart believes that he is a born detective.”
This year, there are a number of great true crime books on the shelves by writers who are obviously just that.
The extended trial of Oscar Pistorius for the murder Reeva Steenkamp is one of the most hotly debated and widely followed events South Africa has ever seen. It could only be rivalled, perhaps, by the trial of Shrien Dewani for the murder of his wife Anni Dewani. Both cases were thoroughly pulled apart by authors, resulting in a number of excellent publications.
Other well-presented and thoroughly researched true crime titles include investigations of the murder of Michael van Eck and Don Steenkamp’s murder trial. Carla van der Spuy and De Wet Potgieter both present collections of stories about crimes and criminals.
Her are a list of books about jaw-dropping crimes:
Presenting De Wet Potgieter’s Gruesome: The Crimes and Criminals that Shook South Africa
In this book, investigative journalist De Wet Potgieter follows the trail of a number of criminals in South Africa’s history. These violent crimes, perpetrated from the late 1980s into the new millennium, vary from fanatical far-rightists who killed their innocent countrymen, to assassins who executed high-profile, state-sanctioned murders. He takes the reader behind the scenes of some of the most controversial events in our country and, with his fearless style of writing, pulls you right into the belly of the beast.
Grave Murder: Examining One of the Most Brutal Psychologically Motivated Murders in SA History
In April 2011, the sleepy goldmining town of Welkom was deeply shocked when the dismembered, decapitated body of Michael van Eck was discovered buried in a shallow grave on the outskirts of the local cemetery. Was this a muti murder, the work of a deranged madman or part of a satanic ritual?
For the investigators and psychologists involved, the mystery only deepened when a seemingly unlikely arrest was made: a soft-spoken girl next door and her intelligent, well-mannered fiancé.
Updated Edition of The Griekwastad Murders by Jacques Steenkamp, With Information on Don Steenkamp
This updated edition identifies Don Steenkamp as the perpetrator of the murders that shook South Africa and – in a new chapter – covers his full sentencing …
Based on interviews with all the role-players, including the investigating officers on the case, the forensic and ballistic experts, and family and friends of the deceased, and concluding with the verdict and the sentencing, this is the riveting account of what really happened on Naauwhoek farm on that fateful day, as told by the reporter who followed the case from day one.
Anni Dewani: A Father’s Story by Shekhar Bhatia
Anni Dewani: A Father’s Story is a full, frank and ultimately heartbreaking account of Anni’s life from childhood through to the conclusion of the trial of her husband Shrien Dewani in Cape Town, four years after her murder. It is told from the perspective of Anni’s father, Vinod Hindocha, to journalist Shekhar Bhatia and is the extraordinary story of how one family has coped with seeing their hopes for their daughter’s future being so cruelly extinguished, how they tried to live with, and through, the aftermath, their efforts to see justice done and, ultimately, their attempts to reconcile themselves with the court’s verdict and a future without their beautiful daughter, Anni.
Why Do Women Kill? Find out in Blood on Her Hands: Women Behind Bars by Carla van der Spuy
Carla van der Spuy visited four prisons across South Africa and looked into the minds of women who had committed violent crimes. She spent time with their babies behind bars, celebrated Christmas in prison, and did face-to-face interviews with a variety of hardened criminals, including those who had killed with knives and guns and those who had contracted others to kill their husbands.
These are women with blood on their hands.
The author kept asking: Why?
Elanie Kruger’s Story, From Playground to Prostitute, Written by Jaco Hough-Coetzee, Now Available
16-year-old Engela flees to Bloemfontein because the leader of the Satanic Group 13 wishes to kill her. Her path crosses with Pieter, a friend of her brother’s, who turns her over to the owner of a brothel in return for money he owes him.
After a desperate and impoverished childhood Engela, as a rebellious teenager, becomes mixed up with Satanism, alcohol and drugs and is eventually kept as a sex slave. Her only wish is to escape, but how?
In Chase Your Shadow, acclaimed journalist and author John Carlin tells the gripping story of Oscar Pistorius’s tragic journey from sporting icon to accused murderer.
Before Valentine’s Day of 2013, Pistorius was best known as an extraordinary athlete, the ‘Blade Runner’ who became the first amputee in history to compete in the Olympics. Everything changed after he shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp dead in the early hours of 14 February. Overnight, the Olympian’s status as a role model was replaced by tales of erratic behaviour and a violent dark side.
Searching for Babyshoes: Barry Bateman and Mandy Wiener’s Behind the Door Launched
Mandy Wiener said that soon as the story broke she knew it was going to be big. It had all the elements of a sensational story. Barry Bateman was the first journalist on the scene at Oscar Pistorius’ house. “I knew Barry was well placed to do the story,” Wiener explained. “Barry became the go-to guy.”
Bateman added that their personalities worked quite well together, and that while his style of journalism is dry and sticks to the facts Wiener has the ability to “weave a great narrative”.
Book details
- Gruesome: The crimes and criminals that shook South Africa by De Wet Potgieter
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EAN: 9781770229082
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- Grusaam: Die dade en geweldenaars wat Suid-Afrika geruk het by De Wet Potgieter
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EAN: 9781770229112
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- Grave Murder: The Story Behind the Brutal Welkom Killing by Jana van der Merwe
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EAN: 9781770227767
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- The Griekwastad Murders by Jacques Steenkamp
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EAN: 9781770228177
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- Die Griekwastad-Moorde: Die misdaad wat Suid-Afrika geruk het by Jacques Steenkamp
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EAN: 9781770225626
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- Anni Dewani: A Father’s Story by Vinod Hindocha and Shekhar Bhatia
EAN: 9781770228726
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- Blood on Her Hands: Women Behind Bars by Carla van der Spuy
EAN: 9780799374322
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- Bloed op haar hande: Vroue agter tralies by Carla van der Spuy
EAN: 9780799374315
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- From Playground to Prostitute by Elanie Kruger and Jaco Hough-Coetzee
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EAN: 9781928248019
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- Van Skoolbank tot Bordeelbed by Jaco Hough-Coetzee and Elanie Kruger
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EAN: 9780908387526
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- Chase Your Shadow: The Trials of Oscar Pistorius by John Carlin
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EAN: 9781782393276
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- Behind the Door: The Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp Story by Mandy Wiener, Barry Bateman
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EAN: 9781770103504
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