City of blood - MD Villiers

Siphiwe, a nineteen year old orphan dreaming of a better life, is haunted by memories of the brutal death of his elder brother. When a woman selling mangoes is stabbed on the street in front of him, Siphiwe rushes to her aid, desperate to stop history repeating itself, but in doing so unwittingly crosses the paths of two very dangerous men.

McCarthy Letswe, notorious crime lord, has returned home to Johannesburg after several years in exile, determined to wreak his revenge onAbaju, the Nigerian gangster responsible for Letswe's forced departure, and the man now seen as Johannesburg's king of crime. Siphiwe's actions have set him on a collision course with both Letswe and Abaju, and as the violence on the streets intensifies, and the danger to those he loves most increases, Siphiwe is soon forced to seek help amongst criminals and police alike.

A story of survival, revenge and ultimately, redemption, told in prose which is deceptively simple and utterly compelling,City of Bloodis a gripping coming of age story set against a searing backdrop of violence, heat and colour.

Longlisted for the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) dagger