The Savage Hour by Elaine Proctor: A Slow Paced South African Murder Mystery

Matriarchal figure, Ouma is found drowned in the pool of a small African village and at first everyone thinks it was an accident. But footprints are found near the site as well as mysterious substance beneath the fingernails. Investigator Jannie is sent to solve the mystery and instead opens a can of worms within the locals.

South African Whodunit

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The people are grief stricken after the death of a figurehead who also acted as a doctor, counsellor and psychological anchor. But Ouma’s death is not what it seems. There are hidden grievances, jealousies and desires.

Yes, an interesting sounding story but the fact was, the pace was far too slow. Large chunks of the book simply described the sluggish pace of the community where little happens. It is only at around the final third of the book that anyone gets to examine the mysterious footprints near the body.

Solving the Mystery

There is a lot of grimness and misery. Klein Samson’s love is never requited and instead he yields to hunger of heart and stomach. Ex prostitute, Cheetah is treated with disdain, and then there is the stifling loneliness of Isla. Life in the village is brutal, poverty is crippling and the landscape is cruel. There is little hope. I simply wanted the story to end and found myself resisting the temptation of skipping chapters. Others might have given in. Not a page-turner.