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Dark Traces
When a child is murdered, a light is extinguished in a parent's eyes.
They find her decomposing body in the veld. A teenager. She was raped and tortured for days. She was hanged. And she wasn't the first.
The South African Police Service's Warrant Officer Jan Magson, estranged from his son and still grieving for his wife, is assigned to the case. He has to look the mothers and fathers in the eye. He has to answer their questions. And he can't.
Headlines question the police's ability to protect the community from this evil. A newspaper prints a mother's heart-wrenching letter to the killer. A father offers a substantial reward.
And every time a lead reaches a dead end, Magson finds himself looking down at another dead girl, wondering how he's going to make it through the dark traces of yet another night, alone, a service gun at his side.
They find her decomposing body in the veld. A teenager. She was raped and tortured for days. She was hanged. And she wasn't the first.
The South African Police Service's Warrant Officer Jan Magson, estranged from his son and still grieving for his wife, is assigned to the case. He has to look the mothers and fathers in the eye. He has to answer their questions. And he can't.
Headlines question the police's ability to protect the community from this evil. A newspaper prints a mother's heart-wrenching letter to the killer. A father offers a substantial reward.
And every time a lead reaches a dead end, Magson finds himself looking down at another dead girl, wondering how he's going to make it through the dark traces of yet another night, alone, a service gun at his side.
352 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2014
23 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
Martin Steyn
12 books52 followers[English version follows below ...]
Martin Steyn het begin skryf as gevolg van Stephen King. Nadat hy The Dark Half gelees het, was hy selde sonder ’n boek met Stephen King se naam voorop. En toe tel hy ’n potlood op en skryf ’n storie van sy eie. ’n Paar jaar later het reeksmoordenaars hom na die misdaadgenre toe gelok. Dit het Steyn gefassineer dat hierdie mans vreemdelinge vir hulle plesier jag en hy het begin om boeke oor Jeffrey Dahmer en Andrei Chikatilo te lees, terwyl hy die plaaslike koerant dophou vir berigte oor ’n reeksmoordenaar wat die liggame van jong seuns tussen die duine los, skaars 30 km van Steyn se huis af.
Hy het Sielkunde en Kriminologie deur die Universiteit van Suid-Afrika studeer, en ’n honneursgraad in eersgenoemde verwerf. Daarna het hy reeksmoordenaars en profielsamestelling in erns bestudeer en dit opgevolg met navorsing oor misdaadondersoek in Suid-Afrika. Tussendeur het hy ook sewe artikels oor Suid-Afrikaanse misdade vir die Crime Library geskryf, onder meer oor die reeksmoordenaar Moses Sithole.
In 2014 word Steyn se eerste misdaadroman, Donker Spoor, deur LAPA Uitgewers gepubliseer. Die volgende jaar word dit met die ATKV-Woordveertjie vir Spanningslektuur bekroon, en in 2016 ontvang Skuldig dieselfde toekenning.
Steyn heg groot waarde aan realisme en wanneer hy nie voor sy rekenaar sit nie, is dit baie moontlik dat hy by ’n speurder of forensiese deskundige is. Dit herinner hom telkens dat dit gewone mense is wat die stryd voer om geregtigheid te kry vir dié wie se laaste hoofstuk in ’n moorddossier neergeskryf word.
--
Martin Steyn got into writing because of Stephen King. After reading The Dark Half he was constantly lost in one of King’s worlds until, one day, he picked up a pencil and wrote a story of his own. A few years later, serial killers got him into crime writing. Fascinated by how these men came to hunt strangers for pleasure, Steyn began reading books about Jeffrey Dahmer and Andrei Chikatilo, while scanning the local paper for reports on the serial killer dumping the bodies of young boys in the dunes a mere 30 km from where Steyn lived.
He studied Psychology and Criminology at the University of South Africa, obtaining an honours degree in the former. Then he studied serial killers and profiling in earnest, following it up with research into the investigation of violent crime in South Africa. He also wrote seven articles about South African crimes for the Crime Library website, including one about the serial killer Moses Sithole.
In 2014 Steyn’s first crime novel, Donker Spoor, was published in Afrikaans by LAPA Publishers. The next year it was awarded the ATKV’s “Woordveertjie” for Suspense Fiction. In 2017 the English version, Dark Traces, followed, receiving a starred review from Kirkus.
Steyn places a premium on realism and when not behind his PC, can often be found questioning a detective or forensic expert, a constant reminder that it is normal people who fight to get justice for those whose final chapter ends up being written in a murder docket.
Martin Steyn het begin skryf as gevolg van Stephen King. Nadat hy The Dark Half gelees het, was hy selde sonder ’n boek met Stephen King se naam voorop. En toe tel hy ’n potlood op en skryf ’n storie van sy eie. ’n Paar jaar later het reeksmoordenaars hom na die misdaadgenre toe gelok. Dit het Steyn gefassineer dat hierdie mans vreemdelinge vir hulle plesier jag en hy het begin om boeke oor Jeffrey Dahmer en Andrei Chikatilo te lees, terwyl hy die plaaslike koerant dophou vir berigte oor ’n reeksmoordenaar wat die liggame van jong seuns tussen die duine los, skaars 30 km van Steyn se huis af.
Hy het Sielkunde en Kriminologie deur die Universiteit van Suid-Afrika studeer, en ’n honneursgraad in eersgenoemde verwerf. Daarna het hy reeksmoordenaars en profielsamestelling in erns bestudeer en dit opgevolg met navorsing oor misdaadondersoek in Suid-Afrika. Tussendeur het hy ook sewe artikels oor Suid-Afrikaanse misdade vir die Crime Library geskryf, onder meer oor die reeksmoordenaar Moses Sithole.
In 2014 word Steyn se eerste misdaadroman, Donker Spoor, deur LAPA Uitgewers gepubliseer. Die volgende jaar word dit met die ATKV-Woordveertjie vir Spanningslektuur bekroon, en in 2016 ontvang Skuldig dieselfde toekenning.
Steyn heg groot waarde aan realisme en wanneer hy nie voor sy rekenaar sit nie, is dit baie moontlik dat hy by ’n speurder of forensiese deskundige is. Dit herinner hom telkens dat dit gewone mense is wat die stryd voer om geregtigheid te kry vir dié wie se laaste hoofstuk in ’n moorddossier neergeskryf word.
--
Martin Steyn got into writing because of Stephen King. After reading The Dark Half he was constantly lost in one of King’s worlds until, one day, he picked up a pencil and wrote a story of his own. A few years later, serial killers got him into crime writing. Fascinated by how these men came to hunt strangers for pleasure, Steyn began reading books about Jeffrey Dahmer and Andrei Chikatilo, while scanning the local paper for reports on the serial killer dumping the bodies of young boys in the dunes a mere 30 km from where Steyn lived.
He studied Psychology and Criminology at the University of South Africa, obtaining an honours degree in the former. Then he studied serial killers and profiling in earnest, following it up with research into the investigation of violent crime in South Africa. He also wrote seven articles about South African crimes for the Crime Library website, including one about the serial killer Moses Sithole.
In 2014 Steyn’s first crime novel, Donker Spoor, was published in Afrikaans by LAPA Publishers. The next year it was awarded the ATKV’s “Woordveertjie” for Suspense Fiction. In 2017 the English version, Dark Traces, followed, receiving a starred review from Kirkus.
Steyn places a premium on realism and when not behind his PC, can often be found questioning a detective or forensic expert, a constant reminder that it is normal people who fight to get justice for those whose final chapter ends up being written in a murder docket.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
April 29, 2019
Steyn’s “Dark Traces” is a powerful police procedural set in South Africa. Often, a crime thriller set in a foreign locale can be an awkward read because of translation issues, because of cultural differences, etc. but, here, Steyn offers a novel that is not just easy to read, but which is altogether impossible to put down. It’s a police story about a race to catch a serial killer who is preying in young teenage girls and Warrant Officer Magson is determined to catch this evil man. Magson is a complex character, haunted by the recent death of his wife from cancer and frustrated beyond belief by his inability to ferret out this monster even with the scant clues available. The subject matter may not be unique, but it has rarely been offered with such skill. This is an author to keep an eye on.
September 6, 2015
Noudat ek klaar is met hierdie boek, Donkerspoor van Martin Steyn wil ek net graag ʼn paar dinge daaroor sê.
Ek hou nogal baie van die genre van misdaad, meer so as dit handel oor ʼn reeksmoordenaar. Wat mens deurgaans in hierdie boek beïndruk, is die feit dat dit goed nagevors is, dit wys.
“Ek kon nie boek nie neersit nie” is woorde wat lesers graag gebruik wanneer hulle oor boeke soos hierdie praat. Ek sê nie so nie, maar ek is nie ʼn gewone leser nie. My leestyd is saans wanneer ek in die bed klim en dan vir solank as wat ek my oë kan oophou. Met ʼn vervelige boek, hou dit nie lank nie. Met Donkerspoor van Martin Steyn, het dit soms gevoel of ek vuurhoutjies in my oë wil sit om te kan wakker bly want ek wou net nog lees en lees.
Dit was ʼn heerlike lees, met die ontknoping wat vir my baie goed was. Dit was so goed geskryf dat daar nêrens eens naastenby ʼn vermoede by my bestaan het oor wie die reeksmoordenaar werklik kon wees nie.
Die boek speel af in die gebied waar ek woon, dit het verder bygedra tot die plesier van die lees. Dit het vir my die verhaal net meer spannend gemaak.
In die omgewing van p 301 is daar vertel van die man met die rooi mus. Omdat ek persoonlike kennis het van die optrede van ʼn skisofreen, was die beskrywing vir my baie goed en met deernis geskryf. Daar is twee plekke waar die skrywer tot diep in my hart gepraat het, dis woorde wat ek wil saamneem met my
• Dis altyd asof daar ʼn lig in ʼn ouer uitgedoof word wanneer ʼn kind vermoor word. P 80
• Sy kyk daarna, sit haar hande oor haar gesig en huil. Daardie rou geluid van ʼn ma wat weet haar kind gaan nie weer huis toe kom nie. P379
Ek gaan definitief weer van hierdie skrywer se boeke lees. Daar is net nog een, Skuldig, gepubliseer. Vir meer sal ek wag.
Ek hou nogal baie van die genre van misdaad, meer so as dit handel oor ʼn reeksmoordenaar. Wat mens deurgaans in hierdie boek beïndruk, is die feit dat dit goed nagevors is, dit wys.
“Ek kon nie boek nie neersit nie” is woorde wat lesers graag gebruik wanneer hulle oor boeke soos hierdie praat. Ek sê nie so nie, maar ek is nie ʼn gewone leser nie. My leestyd is saans wanneer ek in die bed klim en dan vir solank as wat ek my oë kan oophou. Met ʼn vervelige boek, hou dit nie lank nie. Met Donkerspoor van Martin Steyn, het dit soms gevoel of ek vuurhoutjies in my oë wil sit om te kan wakker bly want ek wou net nog lees en lees.
Dit was ʼn heerlike lees, met die ontknoping wat vir my baie goed was. Dit was so goed geskryf dat daar nêrens eens naastenby ʼn vermoede by my bestaan het oor wie die reeksmoordenaar werklik kon wees nie.
Die boek speel af in die gebied waar ek woon, dit het verder bygedra tot die plesier van die lees. Dit het vir my die verhaal net meer spannend gemaak.
In die omgewing van p 301 is daar vertel van die man met die rooi mus. Omdat ek persoonlike kennis het van die optrede van ʼn skisofreen, was die beskrywing vir my baie goed en met deernis geskryf. Daar is twee plekke waar die skrywer tot diep in my hart gepraat het, dis woorde wat ek wil saamneem met my
• Dis altyd asof daar ʼn lig in ʼn ouer uitgedoof word wanneer ʼn kind vermoor word. P 80
• Sy kyk daarna, sit haar hande oor haar gesig en huil. Daardie rou geluid van ʼn ma wat weet haar kind gaan nie weer huis toe kom nie. P379
Ek gaan definitief weer van hierdie skrywer se boeke lees. Daar is net nog een, Skuldig, gepubliseer. Vir meer sal ek wag.
January 17, 2025
Thrilling. The description of the characters and every event was so realistic that it leaves you speechless.
A fantastic novel. 🙌🏻
A fantastic novel. 🙌🏻
December 28, 2017
I don't often have the time to read a book in a single day, but I am extremely glad I had nothing else planned for today. This book grabs you from the start and maintains momentum. A serial killer is on the prowl in Cape Town and the detectives from the Serious Crime Unit are under pressure to solve the killing spree before another teenage girl is killed.
There are numerous red herrings and false hopes. The characters are well-drawn and the story draws on the complexity of crime in South Africa where murder is unfortunately a daily occurrence. The police are under-resourced, under pressure and the back stories of the main characters are well incorporated in the overall tale. The fact that the book considers death both from the act of murder and the act of a mercy killing adds an additional perspective to the overall narrative.
Well-written and definitely worth following this author.
There are numerous red herrings and false hopes. The characters are well-drawn and the story draws on the complexity of crime in South Africa where murder is unfortunately a daily occurrence. The police are under-resourced, under pressure and the back stories of the main characters are well incorporated in the overall tale. The fact that the book considers death both from the act of murder and the act of a mercy killing adds an additional perspective to the overall narrative.
Well-written and definitely worth following this author.
August 30, 2017
Baie goeie boek. Excellent geskryf en goeie storielyn. Kan nie wag om die volgende boek te begin lees nie.
May 24, 2017
Dark Traces – Martin Steyn
The reader simply plunges into Martin Steyn’s Dark Traces. He writes with a certain relish and an indisputable style that cannot be ignored.
“Yet another Sunday lunch with the family interrupted by blood and maggots,” remarked Warrant Officer Colin Menck beside him. “what a great job we have, hey, Mags?”
Behind the wheel Warrant Officer Jan Magson did not respond He simply continued along the meandering Vissershok Road out of Durbanville, looking for the murder scene.
Steyn does not disappoint with his first novel. Dark Traces is the English translation of the Afrikaans novel Donker Spoor. Steyn fearlessly tackles difficult and even dark subject matter. Teenage girls go missing one after the other. Jan Magson has a huge task in front of him after discovering the body of a teenage girl in a veld. He is confronted with the evil in this world. He looks down at the decomposed body of this teenage girl. She was raped and endured horrific torture. This is not the first one and not the last. Dark Traces is certainly not for the faint hearted. The darkness of the world is not the only darkness Jan Magson has to face. He has dark traces in his past that he also has to come to terms with. The loss of his wife and the unstable relationship with his son haunts him.
This is a gripping but disturbing novel. A letter to the killer and a reward from the father takes the reader on an emotional and upsetting journey into the world of serial offenders. Magson and Menck are racing against time as they hunt the monster. A monster which is starting to like his own “work.”
This is indeed a challenging read by a very accomplished and talented writer. - Sylvia de Kock
The reader simply plunges into Martin Steyn’s Dark Traces. He writes with a certain relish and an indisputable style that cannot be ignored.
“Yet another Sunday lunch with the family interrupted by blood and maggots,” remarked Warrant Officer Colin Menck beside him. “what a great job we have, hey, Mags?”
Behind the wheel Warrant Officer Jan Magson did not respond He simply continued along the meandering Vissershok Road out of Durbanville, looking for the murder scene.
Steyn does not disappoint with his first novel. Dark Traces is the English translation of the Afrikaans novel Donker Spoor. Steyn fearlessly tackles difficult and even dark subject matter. Teenage girls go missing one after the other. Jan Magson has a huge task in front of him after discovering the body of a teenage girl in a veld. He is confronted with the evil in this world. He looks down at the decomposed body of this teenage girl. She was raped and endured horrific torture. This is not the first one and not the last. Dark Traces is certainly not for the faint hearted. The darkness of the world is not the only darkness Jan Magson has to face. He has dark traces in his past that he also has to come to terms with. The loss of his wife and the unstable relationship with his son haunts him.
This is a gripping but disturbing novel. A letter to the killer and a reward from the father takes the reader on an emotional and upsetting journey into the world of serial offenders. Magson and Menck are racing against time as they hunt the monster. A monster which is starting to like his own “work.”
This is indeed a challenging read by a very accomplished and talented writer. - Sylvia de Kock
September 23, 2014
Donker Spoor is 'n uitstekende debuut. Die dialoog is goed, die karakters lewe en die storie is boeiend. Mags, ten spyte van die feit dat mens hom op die oog af wil klassifiseer as nog 'n stereotipe "speurder met probleme" karakter, is alles behalwe stereotiep en is 'n fantastiese hoofkarakter wat mens geniet om beter te leer ken. Sy struwelinge raak jou op 'n emosionele vlak en die tyd wat hy by sy huis spandeer tel onder my gunsteling dele in die boek. Sy interaksies met sy kollega Menck is ook 'n hoogtepunt.
Daar het wel 'n punt gekom waar die ondervragings van die verskeidenheid verdagtes wat Mags en sy span raakloop vir my bietjie te veel geraak het en die storie se spoed begin breek het. 'n Interessante studie in mense en hul dinge en die speurproses, maar miskien kan ons volgende keer net so een of twee minder dwaalspore loop. Hierdie is basies die enigste rede hoekom ek 'n sterretjie weggevat het.
Ek sien uit na die skrywer se volgende boek.
Daar het wel 'n punt gekom waar die ondervragings van die verskeidenheid verdagtes wat Mags en sy span raakloop vir my bietjie te veel geraak het en die storie se spoed begin breek het. 'n Interessante studie in mense en hul dinge en die speurproses, maar miskien kan ons volgende keer net so een of twee minder dwaalspore loop. Hierdie is basies die enigste rede hoekom ek 'n sterretjie weggevat het.
Ek sien uit na die skrywer se volgende boek.
August 21, 2018
Wow, wat 'n debuut roman van Martin Steyn.
Goed nagevors, uitstekende beskrywings van gebeure en emosies... jy kan die vrou se trane voel rol oor jouwang.... jy sien die marteling van die meisies.... jy ervaar die frustrasie van die polisie.
'n Definitiewe móét lees. Maar wees gewaarsku: die gebeure is ontstellend.
Wel gedaan Martin Steyn! En op nog baie boeke uit jou pen!
Goed nagevors, uitstekende beskrywings van gebeure en emosies... jy kan die vrou se trane voel rol oor jouwang.... jy sien die marteling van die meisies.... jy ervaar die frustrasie van die polisie.
'n Definitiewe móét lees. Maar wees gewaarsku: die gebeure is ontstellend.
Wel gedaan Martin Steyn! En op nog baie boeke uit jou pen!
March 10, 2017
Uitstekend. Kon dit nie neersit nie!
September 4, 2016
UItstekende boek. Goeie storielyn, goed geskryf, goeie navorsing.
October 27, 2017
Donker spoor was die eerste misdaadroman uit die pen van Martin Steyn. Dit is in 2015 bekroon met die ATKV-Woordveertjie vir spanningslektuur, 'n toekenning wat ek heelhartig onderskryf nadat ek die boek in 'n baie kort tyd verslind het.
Die onderwerp is inderdaad donker, dié van 'n reeksmoordenaar wat tienermeisies teiken. Vervleg daarmee, is die sekondêre tema van genadedood, wat reëlreg staan teenoor geweldadige moord. Wat nietemin diep emosionele gevolge het, wat verwydering bring tussen mense. Die skrywer se kennis van die sielkunde, en sy intensiewe navorsing oor ware geweldsmisdade, blyk duidelik uit die sukses waarmee die storie oorgedra word.
Die speurder, Magson, identifiseer met die verliese van mense, verstaan die "as" situasies waarmee hulle worstel. Hy weet dat dit nie help nie: "As iets as geword het, kan niks dit terugbring nie." (Bl 227) Die goeie verstandhouding tussen Magson en sy spanmaat, Menck, help om plek-plek die spanning effens te verlig.
Die skrywer het meesterlik daarin geslaag om een na die ander verdagte te identifiseer, en dit was so oortuigend en weldeurdag, dat bloot die feit dat daar nog baie bladsye oorbly, my laat twyfel het of dit die moordenaar kon wees.
Die wreedaardigheid van die gebeure, die trauma van die slagoffers en hulle ouers, word geensins afgewater nie. Nogtans bly dit leesbaar, selfs vir 'n redelik sensitiewe leser soos myself. Ek het dit waardeer dat die taal nie deurspek was met kru woorde nie. Waar daar wel sterk woorde gebruik is, was dit funksioneel binne die konteks.
Martin Steyn het vanjaar die roman ook in Engels vertaal, en dit is deur LAPA uitgegee onder die titel Dark traces. Twee verdere spanningsromans, Skuldig en Swartval, het gevolg op Donker spoor, en vra om gelees te word.
Die onderwerp is inderdaad donker, dié van 'n reeksmoordenaar wat tienermeisies teiken. Vervleg daarmee, is die sekondêre tema van genadedood, wat reëlreg staan teenoor geweldadige moord. Wat nietemin diep emosionele gevolge het, wat verwydering bring tussen mense. Die skrywer se kennis van die sielkunde, en sy intensiewe navorsing oor ware geweldsmisdade, blyk duidelik uit die sukses waarmee die storie oorgedra word.
Die speurder, Magson, identifiseer met die verliese van mense, verstaan die "as" situasies waarmee hulle worstel. Hy weet dat dit nie help nie: "As iets as geword het, kan niks dit terugbring nie." (Bl 227) Die goeie verstandhouding tussen Magson en sy spanmaat, Menck, help om plek-plek die spanning effens te verlig.
Die skrywer het meesterlik daarin geslaag om een na die ander verdagte te identifiseer, en dit was so oortuigend en weldeurdag, dat bloot die feit dat daar nog baie bladsye oorbly, my laat twyfel het of dit die moordenaar kon wees.
Die wreedaardigheid van die gebeure, die trauma van die slagoffers en hulle ouers, word geensins afgewater nie. Nogtans bly dit leesbaar, selfs vir 'n redelik sensitiewe leser soos myself. Ek het dit waardeer dat die taal nie deurspek was met kru woorde nie. Waar daar wel sterk woorde gebruik is, was dit funksioneel binne die konteks.
Martin Steyn het vanjaar die roman ook in Engels vertaal, en dit is deur LAPA uitgegee onder die titel Dark traces. Twee verdere spanningsromans, Skuldig en Swartval, het gevolg op Donker spoor, en vra om gelees te word.
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February 8, 2018There is something close to your heart when you read books set in your own country. As South Africans, we are faced with crime and violence often. Whether it be in the news, or even something that happened to us personally. Reading then about it as a novel, always makes me sad that it often feels like something not as far removed from us as we would hope. This makes me hesitant to read stories such as these, but this one is definitely worth a read.
The graphic description of the girl found in the field at the beginning of the book, is a good indication that Dark Traces will hit you right in the gut.
From the brutal way these girls have been attacked, to the heartbreaking grief that the main character is trying to work through, this book manages to draw you into Jan Magson’s story right off the bat.
A flawed character - which makes him relatable in so many ways - Jan has to try and put his own troubles aside, and try his utmost to give the parents of these girls the peace of mind they deserve.
But will he be able to put together all the pieces of the puzzle, before more girls fall victim to this brutality?
Martin Steyn tells a masterful story, with characters you can empathise with and relate to, while telling a story which keeps you reading, wanting to find out if the resolve of one man can overcome the inherent evil he has come to face.
The graphic description of the girl found in the field at the beginning of the book, is a good indication that Dark Traces will hit you right in the gut.
From the brutal way these girls have been attacked, to the heartbreaking grief that the main character is trying to work through, this book manages to draw you into Jan Magson’s story right off the bat.
A flawed character - which makes him relatable in so many ways - Jan has to try and put his own troubles aside, and try his utmost to give the parents of these girls the peace of mind they deserve.
But will he be able to put together all the pieces of the puzzle, before more girls fall victim to this brutality?
Martin Steyn tells a masterful story, with characters you can empathise with and relate to, while telling a story which keeps you reading, wanting to find out if the resolve of one man can overcome the inherent evil he has come to face.
September 6, 2018
Readable, it keeps you going yet there are issues. Another serial killer and a string of female victims. Do men ever get murdered in crime novels? There are some holes — like — would the detective show himself and pull a gun on a criminal who has the victim in his grip? Would he question a suspect without looking around his place? And there are other flaws. And the demographics — all the crimes are set in fairly affluent, white areas where white girls aren't usually serially killed. However the Cape Flats is known as South Africa's killing fields where the crime stats are among the highest in the world. Also the demographics of the characters — the majority are white males. One black character. Belleville, Voortrekker Rd — not a taxi in sight. Where are the people who would fill the busy sidewalks and roads? Not a township or shack in sight. Not a balanced representation of SA.
January 11, 2019
South African detective novel. Colin Menck and Jan Magson main characters. It fit just a little too easily. No suspense, just the deeds and then the end. Hard to be critical for a novel. The action was not there, conclusions were pulled out of the air. Father of one of the girls killed accused the stepfather and then turns up shot. It was not explored, the reader was not told about a conclusion. It was left hanging. The killers were just pulled out of the air. It reminded this reader of a similar case that was committed here in Canada, in the early 90's. Fast read but somewhat shallow. Keep reading.
July 8, 2020
I always say I like gory. This story may have changed that. Though I did really like the plot and the characters, I may have encountered one of the most sadistic, evil human beings ever so scary good imagination in the part I'd the author. Think the other I'm remembering was from Jonathan Kellerman. Still and all, this book was well written to a fault. I almost gagged at least once. LOL. A seriously good serial killer mystery.
January 29, 2018
A realistic and heartfelt story. A South American detective, Magson, grieves the death of his wife while having to deal with a tough case of teenage schoolgirls being raped and hanged. The reader processes Magsons emotions alongside him while interrogating several suspects, only for most of them to lead in a dead end.
February 1, 2018
Great book! Africa is a colorful place though and except for the occasional Afrikaans and S. African police terminology, this could have taken place anywhere. Almost all the charachters are white. African culture is not involved like in Roger Smith's thrillers or Malia Nunn's mysteries.
December 11, 2020
Took me a while to read as Afrikaans is my second language but I really enjoyed everything about this book. It is a really intense book but I love the comedic relief here and there. Great to read something from a South African author too 🏵️🌻
October 19, 2018
Baie goeie debuut. Het meer van die einde verwag, maar lekker gelees. Sien daarna uit om die ander boeke van Martin Steyn in my boekrak te lees.
May 28, 2019
Baie geniet.
January 5, 2020
Very impressive debut. Cant wait to read his other books.
August 28, 2022
Really a 3.5 rating!
May 22, 2024
It was just kinda meh for most of the book for me
August 23, 2014
'n Trefseker debuut. Adjudant-offisier Jan Mags Magson en adjudant-offisier Colin Menck lei die ondersoek na 'n reeksmoordenaar wat tienermeisies ontvoer. Die verhaal is kompleks en baie spannend. Die fokus val op Mags en die 'donker spoor' in sy privaat hoedanigheid - die feit dat sy geliefde vrou kanker gehad het en nie meer daar is nie; daarby die spanning tussen hom en sy seun in Engeland. Ek sal beslis Martin Steyn se verdere publikasies ook te lees kry: as DONKER SPOOR die maatstaf gaan wees, wag daar 'n fees op misdaadstorievrate.
The search for a serial killer preying on teenage girls ensures a nail-biting narrative in Steyn's confident debut. The story is complex and (sadly) convincing. The main character, Mags Magson, has his own demons to deal with after his wife's death after a long fight against cancer. With this novel as benchmark, Steyn will surely keep on serving gourmet dishes to crime connoiseurs.
The search for a serial killer preying on teenage girls ensures a nail-biting narrative in Steyn's confident debut. The story is complex and (sadly) convincing. The main character, Mags Magson, has his own demons to deal with after his wife's death after a long fight against cancer. With this novel as benchmark, Steyn will surely keep on serving gourmet dishes to crime connoiseurs.
December 2, 2022
I actually found a South African author who wrote a crime/mystery book that I didn’t feel like chucking aside!
This is also translated from Afrikaans and that was done very well. It’s a slow burn book, some character focus but overall it was a gripping read with a deranged series killer that needed to be caught – ASAP!
Read the full review here: https://sincerelyyoursannie.com/2022/...
This is also translated from Afrikaans and that was done very well. It’s a slow burn book, some character focus but overall it was a gripping read with a deranged series killer that needed to be caught – ASAP!
Read the full review here: https://sincerelyyoursannie.com/2022/...
March 14, 2016
Baie goeie boek maar net jammer daar is 'n paar los drade, daarom gee ek nie 5 sterre nie. Ek wil weet wie het die hond op die stoep gelos, wat het van die laaste lyk gebeur, wie het die dvds en hardeskyf van die skuldige gevat?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2017
Meticulous police procedural which tracks a serial killer at the same time as the detective finds himself sinking towards suicide. Believable and dark. Steyn's first book in English, but I'm sure not his last.
June 15, 2015
Resensie volg later
October 10, 2015
Amazing book. A must read!
December 18, 2016
Tweede boek van Martin Steyn wat ek lees. Sy navorsing is deeglik & mens kan nie die boek neersit nie. Lekker vinnige lees met boeiende storie.
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