Bloody Harvests

By Richard Kunzmann

Book Overview

Even your soul isn't safe in death... On the outskirts of shimmering Johannesburg, Detective Harry Mason and his crew are summoned to a grisly crime scene. By all accounts, discovering the mutilated corpse of a young child is a horrific and heart-wrenching task. But in the South African city, where some citizens still cling to the nation's mythological past, there is much more at stake. Mason and his team must discover whether this gruesome death is the work of a serial killer on the loose; or the work of a cult leader practicing a tribal muti killing---in which children are sacrificed for their body parts in order to elicit powerful medicine. Discerning between the two is even more complicated than it seems, especially in a city rife with cultural and social tensions---and they're sure the killer will strike again. Mason's police partner, Jacob Tshabalala, is also faced with his own questions. Both a tribesman and a cop, he is forced to reconsider his beliefs as he becomes increasingly convinced that this time they are dealing with a genuine witch---perhaps one powerful enough to subvert the investigation itself. The two friends' relationship deteriorates as the case progresses and cultural tensions grow between them. They are still no closer to identifying the killer when a second murder occurs. Meanwhile Nina Reading, a young reporter, has been conducting her own investigation into slave trafficking, thus putting herself in deadly danger. Harry's discoveries and Nina's revelations unite and lead them ever deeper into a chilling spiritual underworld in the slums of Johannesburg, where money, superstition, and fear reign supreme. But their enemies will stop atnothing to protect their bloody harvests. International Praise for Bloody Harvests Kunzmann has a seasoned and individual voice.---Publishing News (UK) Bloody Harvests is a valuable addition to the South African canon. It is a brilliant first novel by an engaging author. It charts new ground for the thriller/crime genre in South African literature. ---The Cape Times (South Africa) Kunzmann has turned South African crime statistics and African myths into a beautifully written piece of fiction. . . . It reads very much like a Hollywood blockbuster set in Jo'burg . . . a great read for thrill seekers.---The Mercury (Australia) Bloody Harvests, a fast and grisly thriller, hails Kunzmann as an impressive new talent in this genre. This is Jozie noir . . . he's telling ripping stories in a contemporary setting. --- Sunday Times (South Africa) A gripping thriller, Richard Kunzmann's story is not only an addictive page-turner, it also teaches as much as it enthralls.---Daily Echo (UK) Bloody Harvests gave me sleepless nights, yet kept me enthralled until the very last page.---Pretoria News (South Africa) Bloody Harvests is an ambitious work and an interesting read . . . a fascinating story.---The Citizen (South Africa)

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312360339
• ISBN13: 9780312360337
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Length: 455 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 5.8" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Wonderful insight into the dichotomies of life in South Africa

Kunzmann's debut novel offers an astute view of the dichotomies that face South Africans every day. Set in contemporary Johannesburg, Kunzmann vividly travels between inner city, suburbia and township. At times he juxtaposes this with rural life. He shows us the tension between traditional African life, and modern, Westernised life, that many Africans have to struggle with everyday. Like his settings, his characters are real, and he does not succumb to easy stereotypes, rather showing the complexities of human nature.He captures the tender racial balances and differences, showing that it is not a homogeneous thing. but filled with nuances and subtleties that changes depending on the situation and the roleplayers. Extraordinary novel, and I've already started on his second, Salamander Cotton.

One of the Best

This is absolutely essential reading for mystery/thriller fans. Set in contemporary South Africa, the novel manages to explore societal and personal tensions between blacks and whites as well as offering tantalizing glimpses of traditional African animist religions. Told in third person present tense, this book grabs with appalling, grisly details while exploring the personal demons which drive the two detective protaganists: one white, one black. Kunzmann goes for the jugular while not leaping into the fantastic. Albino, their target, sacrifices innocent chldren and his minions, believing that he doesn't answer to any social norms, but only his ancestors and his evil religious beliefs. Though he eventually escapes (perhaps to return in another book), most other ends are wrapped up tightly. This is altogether an amazing ride, one that will have readers up late into the night, only to then dream vile nightmares. A must read.

terrific thriller

In South Africa, even in the most modern of cities, practitioners of magic hold sway over the population. The ones who work for the benefit of their client are revered but there are some like the Albino that use the dark powers of the spirits to achieve their own ends. The Albino has built up an empire based on heroin and human smuggling and he performs mudi (organ) murders so he can harvest human organs for his spellcraft. When a black child's body is found in a ditch, it is easy to see it is a mudi murder because the heart is missing. Detectives Harry Morgan and Jacob Tshabalala are assigned the case. While Harry uses tried and true police methods, Jacob believes in the magic of his people. A major heroin bust disrupts the Albino's empire, causing him to commit crime against those that betrayed him. The Albino's empire is linked to the little girl's murder so it is inevitable that he will cross paths with Harry and the police many times. The case is broken wide open by a British reporter who identifies the top guns in the criminal empire. Harry begins to realize there is more to the world of spirits than he ever knew. The exotic locale and the supernatural beliefs of many people living in South Africa will give armchair travelers a thrill. It is fascinating to watch the metamorphosis of Harry from non-believer to believer. Both Harry and Jacob are well developed characters with demons they have to exorcise if they want to live normal lives. Richard Kunzmann's debut novel is a smash hit. Harriet Klausner