THE AFRICAN SLEUTH

There is no gainsaying the fact that the creation and presence of attractive, even intriguing women add colour to the narratives of book of this ilk, whether it is a combination of mystery, suspense, adventure etc Again, our African writers were probably influenced by such powerful books churned out in the western world.  To name just two examples, authors Mickey Spillane, and Peter Cheyney dotted their fiction with astonishingly attractive women who often turned out to be villains. Hence it is no surprise to see intriguing women characters in works published by African writers. Victor Thorpe 's male sleuth, Paul Okoro meets so many interesting female characters in the books (including prostitutes) but his own wife, Aimee always stands out: very beautiful, elegant, well educated, charming, confident etc. African Authors Ighavini, Agbo Areo, Sunday Adebomi, Louis Omotayo Johnson, etc weaved such ladies into their fiction too. Actually, this should be expected, and...

This genre actually has a healthy existence for many decades in Africa, including "thrillers " for the young, written by the likes of Cyprian Ekwensi and Kola Onadipe. With adult fiction in mind, considering that Africa's ace writers were always influenced by Eurocentric types, it is no surprise to see writers like Ben Mtobwa, Kalu Okpi, Dickson Ighavini and many others revelling in the hardboiled school of thriller writing, a school exemplified by James Hadley Chase, Mickey Spillane, and others.  And looking back over the  decades it is gladdening that African women writers have not been left out, with delightful, humorous cerebral contributions by Adaora Lily Ulasi many decades ago; and in recent times, polished  world class, taut plots and characterization by South Africa's  Angela Makholwa. Decades ago too, Fagbamigbe punblishers in Nigeria brought out thrilling mystery novels. Louis Omotayo Johnson and Sola Oloyede particularly excelled in...

African Authors who have contributed in this wise over the decades include: DILLIBE ONYEAMA SOLA OLOYEDE KALU OKPI VICTOR THORPE DAVID G. MAILLU ANGELA MAKHOLWA BEN MTOBWA ADAORA LILY ULASI LOUIS OMOTAYO JOHNSON SUNDAY ADEBOMI PEPETELE DICKSON IGHAVINI BODE SOWANDE DIALE TLHOWE OMOSEYE BOLAJI LAURI KUBUITSILE

TEBOGO AND URIAH HEEP By Omoseye Bolaji Review by Ishmael Mzwandile Soqaga Another fine mystery book by the author  that reveals the findings of a most brutal murder committed against the daughter of "Bra Uriah", Anne Duma.  Tebogo the renowned Free State private detective after some quiet years of hardly hearing anything from him, is once again in the spotlight and tasked with one of the complicated missions which ultimately proved to be a success because of the enormous evidence he got from his investigations. Anne Duma, the hapless female victim who was staying in Dealesville a town in the Free State was mercilessly murdered.  Her murder remained an odious thing to her father.  The murder of Anne caused her father to live a very strange life.  A well-known person to some top politicians who would also benefit from this connection.  Affectionately, portrayed in the book as Bra Uriah whom Biggie knew better for years, ...