The Purifier

by Henk Wester

Superintendent Braam van der Merwe is woken up in the early morning hours and called to a murder scene in Hillbrow. The body belongs to that of a young, beautiful lady. The homicide appears to have been committed out of anger and hatred. What looks like just another murder statistic within the South African violent crime context will soon turn into something much more complex as the corpses begin to pile up; the work of a serial killer who calls himself “The Purifier”. A madman whose killing spree stretches back years.Braam and his team of investigators find themselves caught in the web of a mastermind maniac who is always one step ahead of them. The more stones that are turned, the more puzzles appear. Will The Purifier be stopped? And is Braam, with his dark past, psychologically fit for the road that lies ahead?

336 pages, Paperback

Published January 18, 2021

About the author

Henk Wester was born in a farm town in South Africa. He started writing at the age of seven and hasn't stopped since. Wester specializes in horror, extreme horror, and sci-fi. Due to the dark nature of his work, his stories were more often than not met with scorn and disapproval from classmates, family, and friends while he grew up. However, that didn't and still doesn't stop him from churning out works of fiction that disturbs, disgusts, and scares, but also makes you think. Underneath Wester's stories, there often belies a deeper meaning and commentary on profound topics.

Besides writing, reading, cartoons, and horror movies, Henk also loves nature, animals, silence (so that he can hear himself loud enough in his head), and sleeping. Furthermore, he enjoys hearing from readers and can be found on Facebook.

Reviews

[Angel Gelique · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the middle of the night, Superintendent Braam van der Merwe is summoned to the scene of a grisly murder where he spots the mangled corpse of a young woman. All plans for a much-needed vacation come to a screeching halt as it soon becomes apparent that the police force are dealing with a serial killer. “The Purifier,” as he calls himself, seeks to disinfect the world of the scourge of women—the “reigning evil” who “...contaminate[s] the worth of man....” The detectives soon connect him to multiple murders spanning years back, within different regions. The Purifier is sly, cunning and fueled by pure hatred and rage towards the female population. Worse, he sends out a video urging others to follow suit. Braam and his fellow colleagues must find a way to stop this merciless butcher before more innocent lives are lost.

Superbly written, this book has all the elements of a great novel: Relatable characters, brilliant plot, perfect pacing, suspense and mounting tension, action, unpredictable twists and a satisfying ending. Wester masterfully breathes life into his characters, many of whom have such depth that you feel as though you personally know them. Braam, in particular, is quite unforgettable and I instantly connected with him. The story flows easily with the writing enabling you to visualize what is happening, much like a movie playing within your mind. I could actually see this being made into a film. It is an engrossing, intriguing book—one that I highly recommend.