Refuge (Paperback)

Novel is a fast-paced story filled with lawyers, policemen and the dubious personalities that inhabit the underbelly of society. It depicts the deceit and violence that characterise the meeting point between 'illegal aliens' and 'law-abiding society'. The plot revolves around Richard, a disillusioned lawyer who is tiring of his criminal practice, his unaffectionate wife and his condescending colleagues. He becomes infatuated with the beautiful Abayomi, a Nigerian refugee who works as an erotic masseuse in a studio in the city. Through his lustful affair with her, we are introduced to the colourful characters, the richness and the menacing dangers of the immigrant community. Two sub-plots also develop, one involving the arrest of Abayomi’s husband, the other centering on Richard’s defence of a Russian ganglord in the jaded district courts. All three plots converge in an explosive ending, as Richard discovers the extent of his gullibility and the deception of those around him. The novel is also a harsh depiction of xenophobia and the frail basis upon which notions of citizenship and entitlement are formed. It is not only an indictment on our discriminatory attitudes, but also a plea that we accept, and enjoy, the exciting cosmopolitan undertow of our city.