Supercop uncovered

Those who enjoy crime and real life dramas, consider these two cracker releases: “Byleveld: Dossier of a Serial Sleuth” by Hanlie Retief; and “The Quarry” by John Theorin.

Title: Byleveld: Dossier of a Serial Sleuth
Author: Hanlie Retief
Publisher: Umuzi (Imprint of Random House/Struik)

“Supercop” Piet Byleveld really became a household name with cases like the Leigh Matthews murder and the courtroom circus that was the Sheldean Human case. But long before that Byleveld was doggedly solving any number of crimes, before the young detective was recognised as the “go to” man in the case of serial murders in South Africa.

According to the author, Byleveld couldn’t stand to see a case go unsolved, he swore by old fashioned detective methodologies and abhorred boxes and boxes of paperwork. He always spent hours, if not days, returning to the scene of a case that was proving troublesome. Here he searched for detail, context  or some piece of evidence he had missed.

And boy, did this sleuth have some troublesome “clients”: Sipho Dube, Cedric Maake, the Bruma Lake killers, the kind of men you wouldn’t want to meet in your worst nightmare, each with tens of murders and other crimes to their names. Piet Byleveld became a world famous name and he was consulted by Scotland Yard, the FBI and others for his expertise on serial killer cases.

While it’s fascinating reading delving deep into Byleveld’s disturbing cases, the author’s mining of Byleveld’s personal life makes this book such a sensation. What drove this man to put his health on the line, possibly his sanity too in relentlessly pursuing the perpetrators of these grotesque, disturbing and depressing crimes?

How to cope with the fallout in his personal life and the deep obsession when the cases weren’t moving in the right direction?

And then there was Byleveld’s famous “Brixton” interrogation technique, his ability to get into the mind of the suspect and earn a semblance of trust, before going for the jugular. His instincts, meticulous preparation, experience and raw ability all propelled him to a level where he was truly considered the best in his field.

A fascinating read, recalling some of South Africa’s most famous crime headlines, and the story of how the perpetrators were eventually brought to book. – Garth Johnstone

The Quarry, by John Theorin, a quietly disturbing, murder thriller

Title: The Quarry
Author: John Theorin
Publisher: Random House Struik

Described as the next best thing in Scandinavian crime thriller writing after the one and only Stieg Larsson, John Theorin doesn’t disappoint with the gripping “Spring” book in a series of fictional titles about the island of Oland.

Oland is a beautiful and mystical island where Sweden’s well-to-do folk go to spend Spring, as the weather mellows, and the island shows offs all its charms.

But there are secrets and horrors among the island’s tiny community; secrets lurking in the fields, the woods and the quarry that will out.

Although this book couldn’t touch Larsson’s Lisbeth Salander series – it lacked the energy and urgency, but was definitely more descriptive and subtle – it was a fine read, with excellent characterisation and always that lingering sense of mystery that leaves you wanting more. Plus, a perfectly acceptable sting in the tail to round things off.

More Ridge recommended reads here.