Pale Horses (Jade de Jong Investigations)
*Starred Review* Sonet Meintjies jumps to her death off a swanky downtown Johannesburg skyscraper when her parachute doesn’t open. Her jumping partner hires private investigator Jade de Jong to clear his name and find out what really happened. De Jong reluctantly takes the case and immediately finds much more than she bargained for. Sonet’s sister, an investigative journalist looking into the timely topic of genetically modified seeds, is missing. As de Jong starts digging, all leads seem to point to a small, mysteriously abandoned farming community in Limpopo. In another story line, Ntombi Khumalo, a widow with a young son, is working as a driver for a man she is sure is a murderer. Her employer has effectively trapped her in his employ; she is completely dependent on him for all support, and he threatens her very existence. Khumalo is terrified yet determined to protect her young son. De Jong is tough as nails and persistent, despite the fact that every clue leads to a dark and twisted place. The South African setting and culture are fascinating; the strong women characters intriguing; and the way the story lines eventually intersect adds another layer to this compelling and disturbing tale. While not for the faint of heart, Pale Horses is sure to appeal to fans of Liza Marklund, Zoë Sharp, and Mackenzie’s fellow South African crime writer Deon Meyer. --Stacy Alesi