Divine Justice

Cape Town PI Rae Valentine, the heroine of this gritty series launch from South African author Hichens (Cape Greed as Sam Cole with Mike Nicol), has three strikes against her: she’s female, Black, and an amputee. Rae embraces and uses her past struggles with the trauma of a near-rape during a home invasion, as well as the drug addiction that cost her a leg, to help others. Intent on trying to forget a recent heartache, Rae welcomes the distraction of a simple case of stolen jewels. Meanwhile, religious fundamentalists, led by a fanatic who’s fixated on Rae, prepare for the end of the world. Rae must also deal with a threat from criminal Rocco Robano, the brains behind the Boyz, a right wing group. The stakes rise after Rae is kidnapped and plunged into a fight for survival. Staccato prose moves the action along at a machine-gun pace reminiscent of classic hard-boiled mysteries. Rae and the cutthroat streets of Cape Town aren’t for the faint of heart, but fans of George V. Higgins and James Ellroy are sure to have a blast. (Jan.)