TEBOGO FAILS. By Omoseye Bolaji

Here are three quick perspectives on this book

The third detective/mystery story involving sleuth Tebogo Mokoena; based in Botshabelo (South Africa). This is the adventure in which Tebogo meets his (future) wife, Khanyi; and a fine motif this is in itself! One does not want to give the game away, but one invariably winces at the antics of a particular character in this work - a defiler of young girl(s) - a "gentleman" who plumbs the depths of shamelessness.

I read this book twice quickly. I found it very exciting. From the moment Tebogo arrives in Botshabelo and the story starts; and he meets a number of characters - the interplay between Bareng and Sizwe, the alcoholic ageing man; the flamboyant "lawyer" who is not quite a lawyer, and his striking female companion; Tebogo going through various areas and joints pondering a murder or two. Also of interest for many is the exciting love affair between Tebogo and Khanyi – some women have told me that this is the aspect they love most about this work, not necessarily the mystery. Tebogo does let the killer go free at the end - then declares that he "has failed"; which he has not...

The late critic Peter Moroe pretty sums this work up when he wrote: "The point here is that Bareng plunges the knife into his friend after he realised that he killed his sister. It is a clear case of revenge or vendetta which our Tebogo...fully supports. Tebogo would rather tell the whole world that he had 'failed' to discover the secret behind these Botshabelo murders than have Bareng arrested or impugned..."