Hard Rain by Irma Venter: book review

Hard Rain (2020) is set in Tanzania, in Africa.

The narrator, South African Alex Derksen, is a journalist on assignment in Tanzania. He already has an L-shaped scar under his left eye.

He meets South African photographer Ranna Abramson, who has spent most of her life in America. Alex is immediately in love with her, but he can smell chaos and trouble around her—and the blood on her arm, which she is hiding. And Tom Masterson, a freelance journalist, is also in love with Ranna.

There are a lot of smells in this novel—sweat, perfume, unwashed bodies, rain, wet earth, cigarettes, garbage, coffee, beer, bleach—‘if you lift your nose slightly, like an eager predator, you’ll be able to identify it as the smell of anticipation.’

And then chaos happens. The floods. American tech billionaire William Jones is swept out to sea, and his body is washed up onshore, during the hard rain. It makes worldwide news. Tanzanian Detective Hamisi Bahame suspects foul play—and Ranna.

The dilemma for Alex is to know whether she was or was not involved in murder, and if she was, should he help to hide the evidence or should he return home to South Africa. If she wasn’t, when is he likely to know so that he can tell her that he loves her. Should Alex help the detective or should he do his own investigation?

Before Alex could think too much, Ranna is linked to another murder.

This novel is rather interesting – light to read, easy to follow, and, although it is not sophisticated, it has just enough intrigue to keep readers continuing to the end. There are some trite and annoying bits, but they can be brushed over in a reader’s haste to finish.

MARTINA NICOLLS

SUBSCRIBE TO MARTINA NICOLLS FOR NEWS AND UPDATES

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of: The Paris Residences of James Joyce (2020), Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

Comments

Pir-E-Kamil - The Perfect Mentor by Umera Ahmed: book review

The Perfect Mentor pbuh (2011) is set in Lahore and Islamabad in Pakistan. The novel commences with Imama Mubeen in medical university. She wants to be an eye specialist. Her parents have arranged for her to marry her first cousin Asjad. Salar Sikander, her neighbour, is 18 years old with an IQ of 150+ and a photographic memory. He has long hair tied in a ponytail. He imbibes alcohol, treats women disrespectfully and is generally a “weird chap” and a rude, belligerent teenager. In the past three years he has tried to commit suicide three times. He tries again. Imama and her brother, Waseem, answer the servant’s call to help Salar. They stop the bleeding from his wrist and save his life. Imama and Asjad have been engaged for three years, because she wants to finish her studies first. Imama is really delaying her marriage to Asjad because she loves Jalal Ansar. She proposes to him and he says yes. But he knows his parents won’t agree, nor will Imama’s parents. ...

Flaws in the Glass, a self-portrait by Patrick White: book review

The manuscript, Flaws in the Glass (1981), is Patrick Victor Martindale White’s autobiography. White, born in 1912 in England, migrated to Sydney, Australia, when he was six months old. For three years, at the age of 20, he studied French and German literature at King’s College at the University of Cambridge in England. Throughout his life, he published 12 novels. In 1957 he won the inaugural Miles Franklin Literary Award for Voss, published in 1956. In 1961, Riders in the Chariot became a best-seller, winning the Miles Franklin Literary Award. In 1973, he was the first Australian author to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature for The Eye of the Storm, despite many critics describing his works as ‘un-Australian’ and himself as ‘Australia’s most unreadable novelist.’ In 1979, The Twyborn Affair was short-listed for the Booker Prize, but he withdrew it from the competition to give younger writers the opportunity to win the award. His autobiography, Flaws in the Glass...

Sister cities discussed: Canberra and Islamabad

Two months ago, in March 2015, Australia and Pakistan agreed to explore ways to deepen ties. The relationship between Australia and Pakistan has been strong for decades, and the two countries continue to keep dialogues open. The annual bilateral discussions were held in Australia in March to continue engagements on a wide range of matters of mutual interest. The Pakistan delegation discussed points of interest will include sports, agriculture, economic growth, trade, border protection, business, and education. The possible twinning of the cities of Canberra, the capital of Australia, and Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, were also on the agenda (i.e. called twin towns or sister cities). Sister City relationships are twinning arrangements that build friendships as well as government, business, culture, and community linkages. Canberra currently has international Sister City relationships with Beijing in China and Nara in Japan. One example of existing...

FEAST OR FAMINE

Search This Blog