𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘵 by Deon Meyer

My affair with crime books is unhealthy. I'll just own it. So when I was sent a copy of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘵 to review, it was the equivalent of giving an addict a key of cocaine. 

 * I assure you, you will find no spoilers here!

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘵 is an English translation of the Afrikaans  bestseller, Die Prooi.  I dug in and surfaced for air occasionally when the world needed my attention, and after finishing this in the weehours of this morning, I don't doubt  that this edition will also be up on those bestseller lists!

Our inimitable hero, Benny, and his trusted partner, Vaughn, are given a 'new' cold case, and all the headaches that come with it; dodgy paperwork, crooked agents, fictious witnesses, and pressure from the top echelons of the force.

They'd love to solve this quickly, but soon realise that the case has more turns than a Grand Prix circuit. Deon Meyer gives us some international flavor with clandestine meetings set in the beautiful French city of Bordeaux. He thrusts us into current affairs and politics with state capture and an assassination plot!

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘵, is everything you want in a crime novel...it is fast paced, has Russian spies, a hitman, a detective on a banting diet and a possible proposal!

it's a full 5* 

Review: Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky

Wow. Wow. I said it again.

Who does this? Who comes back after 20 years, and rocks your world? Stephen Chbosky that's who!

Same author. Same writing. Different genre.

This is me not giving you spoilers. You're welcome.

Christopher and his mother move to a small town to escape an abusive  relationship.

Everything is going well. Obviosly too well
...then one day Christopher disappears. He's goes missing but returns after 6, physically unharmed, but that doesn't mean he's not changed.

He  starts to tell the townspeople, things he shouldn't really know, and when asked who told him these secrets, he replies."My imaginary friend".

But that's not all it's has told him...if Christopher doesn't do what he's been asked, his mother and the town folk will pay the price!

So there...the barest bones have been spilled to you. This should be read over a weekend, food and sleep optional - kinda like binge watching any good tv series! For fans of Stephen King.

Review: Take It Back by Kia Abdullah

Wow.

Kia Abdullah has done something important here.

Zara Kaleel, ex barrister, now working as a volunteer at Artemis House, a sexual assault referral centre to support rape victims, is handed the case of Jodie Wolf, a disfigured white teen accusing four Muslim boys of the unthinkable. Rape.

The case gets to trial and soon becomes the cause of racial tensions. You as the reader vascilate between Jodie and the accused, as well as get immersed in Zara's sub-plot.

Without giving away spoilers, Kia Abdullah lights a fuse, which sputters and just when you think it has been snuffed out, you get suckered by the lethal explosion.

There are various themes running throughout. On a deeper level, and as a brown woman reading this I understand what Kia is trying to say with this novel.

This a firm 5 ⭐