Random Violence (Jade De Jong) - Hardcover

"Random Violence excels in its ability to translate our propensity for violent crime into a clever plot that could take place only in South Africa."—Gillian Anstey, The Sunday Times (South Africa)

"Mackenzie delivers a thriller that will hopefully be the first of many."—The Star (South Africa)

In Johannesburg, prosperous whites live behind gates; when they exit their cars to open the gates, car-jackings are common. But seldom is the victim killed, much less shot twice, like Annette Botha. Piet Botha, the husband of the wealthy woman, is the primary suspect in his wife's murder.

PI Jade de Jong fled South Africa ten years ago after her father was killed. Now back in town, she offers to help her father's former assistant, Superintendent David Patel, with his investigation of this case. Under apartheid, Patel, of Indian descent, could never have attained his present position. But he is feeling pressure from his “old line” boss with respect to this investigation and fears lingering prejudice is at work.

As Jade probes into this and other recent car-jacking cases, a pattern begins to emerge, a pattern that goes back to her father's murder and involves a vast and intricate series of crimes for profit.

Jassy Mackenzie, born in Rhodesia, moved to South Africa when she was eight years old. She has actually been car-jacked at gunpoint outside her home in Kyalami, near Johannesburg. She edits and writes for the annual publication Best of South Africa.