This is the first book I have read from this author not previously having heard of him. Augustine is a young mother who is fleeing from her older boyfriend and is terrified of him finding out her whereabouts. She has hardly any funds to support herself and finds herself in a town called Greenside after managing to escape her current environment.

She finds work as a housekeeper for a wealthy family, the Diamonds, but from the beginning we are aware that something is not right, she is being watched and is even frightened to sleep of a night, holding her child close. Her ex Teddy has hired a detective to seek her out determined to find her and his childhood.

The book has quite a creepy feel to it and the reader finds themselves immersed in this tale. The characters are very realistic and take you to the heart of the environment the story is set in, from the shady clubs where the detective is trying to find clues to Augustine’s whereabouts to this house she has now become a prisoner in a town where trust is a rare commodity.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.

A really original and atmospheric debut novel. I loved the South African setting and the characters were very well-drawn. The plot is quite a slow burn but this works really well, giving the reader time to get to know the characters and soak up that glorious sense of location. A brilliant, surprise ending rounded up a very good book. I look forward to see this one fly off the shelves!

This was a really well done crime thriller novel, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed from this type of book. The characters had that feel that I was looking for and was hooked from the first page. I was on the edge of my seat and enjoyed the overall concept of this. Sam Genever wrote this perfectly and was glad I got to read this.

3.5 ⭐️ Fast paced crime thriller set in apartheid South Africa.

Teen mom Augustine and her baby Justice on the run from her white teacher boyfriend Teddy. Detective Segert is hired by Teddy to find them, but there is another reason he wants them found.

Segert searches extensively through seedy neighborhoods, bars, and residences. What he finds leads to a twist and time jump at the end I did not see coming.

Interesting and complex characters and a great plot. Kept me invested til the surprising ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a pretty good read, but you had to pay attention! Things happened quickly, and unexpectantly. I had to re-read several passages to make sure what I thought I read was correct! All in all, it was suspenseful, well written, and worth a read! I sometimes wished the characters were just a little bit more developed and the ending left me with a couple of questions that were not addressed, but I would recommend this book to others.