Death in the new republic (Paperback)

At the heart of the title is an engaging, strongly drawn central character, Nossel, a Jhb Northern suburbs, middle age Jewish attorney who was involved in the struggle in the 1980's and more recently worked in the National Intelligence Agency until he overplayed his hand and was eased out in what he sees as an act of betrayal by his own people. His part in solving the crime that forms the main plot of the story restores him to favour and to a sense of self-worth. He's a captivating character - gutsy, passionate, vulnerable, smart, who wears his heart on his sleeve and uses his wit and charm to get out of tricky corners. More interesting than the surface plot is the bigger story of what it means, and takes, to live in the new SA post- Mandela. This problem is figured in the story of Nossel - he begins the title, a dillusioned, middle aged man who hankers for the lost idealism, clear-cut morality and comradely activism of the Struggle in which he played a role. But times have changed, and the moral crusade against apartheid and the honeymoon years of the Mandela era have been replaced by the ordinariness, the sordid power games and rampant pursuit of self-enrichment characteristic of the Mbeki years. Even the grand and generous compromises that made possible the transition to democracy have been shown up as strategic mistakes, for many of the villains of apartheid were allowed to get off scot-free and to continue their evil ways in the new regime, as compromising one's own values and without giving way to cynicism, whingeing or complete withdrawal? How does one find a place and a role as a decent and caring citizen committed to the long-term transformation of the country in line with the values that the struggle once espoused? This is the real story at the heart of the title.