*****
When apartheid ends in South Africa, many rich white people - fearing retribution and violence - protect their homes with fences and gates. This scheme isn't foolproof, however, and Annette Botha is murdered and robbed in her driveway when a faulty gate causes her to get out of her car.
Vandalized gates are a common tactic for Johannesburg thugs, but in Annette's case her husband Piet - who benefits from her death - is a prime suspect.
Police Superintendent David Patel is thinking about the Botha case when he picks up private detective Jade de Jong at the Johannesburg airport.
Jade had left South Africa ten years ago, after her Police Commissioner father was killed by the Viljoen brothers - and she's back to get revenge. One Viljoen brother is dead, but the other one is getting out of prison tomorrow, and Jade plans to shoot him.
Superintendent Patel, who once worked under Commissioner de Jong, knows nothing about Jade's nefarious plan and asks her to assist with the Botha inquiry. Jade agrees, and adds this to her "to-do" list. Jade also fantasizes about getting romantic with Patel, whom she's crushed on since childhood.
Jade acquires a pistol from her old friend Robbie - a gangster who runs a chop-shop and is tuned in to the criminal underground. This is helpful because Jade's investigation into Annette Botha's death uncovers several similar crimes.....but the police have 'lost' some of the files. Jade suspects a corrupt cop, and asks Robbie to sniff him out.
Meanwhile, we learn that a pasty-faced sadist called Whiteboy is obsessed with killing, real estate transactions, and rough sex with women.....and he's got his eye on Jade. Uh-oh!
All this leads to a dramatic climax and surprising revelation.
Jade is something of a flawed woman. She's smart and courageous but sometimes behaves in a questionable fashion. Still, the story is compelling and Jade is a capable heroine. I'd recommended the book to fans of thrillers.
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