Veils of Smoke

Sinazo Biyela is in mortal danger.

Narrated by Melanie Walker

Serial killer, Tomas Ndaki, has slipped between the bars of Pretoria C max prison, intent on revenge. Three ruthless, evil men hurtle towards The Empress apartments at steel magnate, Lukas Makubena's behest, murder their mission.

Imprisoned in the penthouse in Sandton Central, Sinazo's fairy-tale romance with Makubena brutally imploded, she considers joining Kwetsi and her Ancestors in the River of Stars.

Nonhlanhla, Sinazo's sister, travels to Alexandra Township to find her. Mama Zama, Shebeen Queen at The Place on the Corner, tells Nonhlanhla that promises of better prospects lured Sinazo to glitzy upmarket Sandton. In her search, Nonhlanhla hooks up with a centre for abused women at Wits University and her trepidation escalates.

Can Nonhlanhla harness the help she needs to avoid heart-breaking consequences? Will those who knew Sinazo break their silence?

A contemporary psychological thriller with elements of African magical realism, Veils of Smoke exposes greed, lust and social ills in Egoli, City of Gold, notorious for violence and crime.

Sarah Key ramps up tension and suspense in this, her fifth novel.