Thrillers
Those who love night
Book Description:
(A Yudel Gordon / Abigail Bukula novel)
Abigail Bukula, the brilliant young lawyer who in The October Killings (2009) teamed up with Yudel Gordon, veteran criminologist of Ebersohn’s oeuvre, returns in this political thriller.
When ten activists go missing in Zimbabwe, Abigail’s help is sought. Among the missing ten, believed to be held at the notorious Chikurubi prison, is Abigail’s cousin – a gifted writer and the child of an aunt who died in the Gukuruhandi massacres of the early 1980s. Reading her cousin’s work and trying to understand him, Abigail turns to Yudel, whom she hasn’t seen in four years.
Yudel follows Abigail to Zimbabwe where she wins the court battle for their release, but at Chikurubi there is no trace of the ten prisoners. In the days to follow, Abigail and Yudel search for the missing activists in a race against time. They uncover a relationship that no one could have anticipated in the complex power web in a country struggling to throw off the dictatorship of the past, and where success and tragedy are like Siamese twins.
Publishers:
Umuzi publishing
Publishing date: 2010
Details: In print
ISBN: 978 1415201190
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The October Killings
Book description:
(a Yudel Gordon novel)
The OCTOBER KILLINGS is the fourth novel in which prison psychologist Yudel Gordon appears, although in this one he is not the main character. The action in the first three took place in the old South Africa. In THE OCTOBER KILLINGS the New South Africa has arrived.
All four books are more than just detective stories. The social backdrop is very important to the action in all of them. The aim is to provide entertainment for intelligent people, those who are looking for something more.
Freek Jordaan, a senior police officer and long-time friend of Yudel, appears in all the books.
Perhaps the most important new development in the series is the appearance of Abigail Bukula, a senior functionary in the Department of Justice, who grew up in exile. In future I expect her to appear repeatedly. Her creation had to do with the many strong women in my life. I admit though that the importance of women as the readers of novels also had something to do with the creation of Abigail.
On a violent night twenty years ago, Abigail Bukula’s life was saved by a good man fighting for an evil cause. Leon Lourens had been part of a commando that raided one of the liberation movement’s safe houses in Lesotho when Abigail was just fifteen. Of fifteen people in the house, Abigail was one of only six who survived. Leon had come between her and his commanding officer to save her.
On the next, equally violent night Abigail was rescued from the police cells in Ficksburg just across the border. This time she was saved by an evil man fighting for a just cause.
Now, twenty years later, she discovers that the men who took part in the raid are being murdered at the rate of one a year on the anniversary of that incident. Leon, to whom Abigail owes her life, is one of only two who are still alive. The other is a prisoner in C-Max maximum security prison.
Abigail feels that she has no choice but to try to save him. She enlists the help of psychologist Yudel Gordon, a maverick who has been working in South African prisons since apartheid days. Together, and sometimes in conflict, they try to unravel the mystery and save Leon from what seems like certain death.
Publishers:
Umuzi publishing
Publishing date: 2009
Details: In print
ISBN: 978 1415200742
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Closed Circle
Book description:
(a Yudel Gordon novel)
In Wessel Ebersohn’s third Yudel Gordon novel, the South African prison psychologist is under financial pressure. When he is offered a large sum to conduct an inve
stigation privately for a group of political activists, he agrees – even though it is against regulations.
Over a number of years, several prominent liberals have been murdered. Is one group responsible for the killings, or are they unconnected? It is possible that the extreme rightwing Afrikaner Revival Movement is involved. But, more chillingly, could the murderers be found within the country’s security polices?
Following a trail of death across South Africa, Yudel slowly edges closer to the truth. . . and earns himself some very powerful enemies, including the sinister Colonel Wheekwright.
Closed Circle is a wonderful novel. An absorbing, subtle story, with a menacing political edge, it is both thought-provoking and gripping. And convincingly depicts the tensions rife in South Africa of the time.
Publishers:
Victor Gollancz Ltd, UK
Rivages/Thriller, France (Le Cercle Ferme)
Ordfronts Vorlag, Sweden (Den Lukkede Cirkel)
Publishing date: 199
Details: Out of print
ISBN: 978 0575048485
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Divide the Night
Book description:
(a Yudel Gordon novel)
This second suspense novel featuring Yudel Gordon, the South African prison psychiatrist, is “a powerful book and a well written one that just happens to fall within the genre of the police procedural” (THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW). When Johnny Weizman comes to Yudel Gordon for mandatory treatment, he has already killed eight blacks.
Yudel finds him a demented, fanatical killer and racist,but to the Special Branch he is a respectable citizen and patriot. They are far more interested in Muntu Majola, a fugitive black leader who witnessed Weizman’s last murder and who, they hope, will return to avenge it. The case leads Yudel into the brutal evidence of a dark aspect of South Africa society where he is in as much danger as the people he is trying to protect.
“This is one of those rare novels that can be read as two levels, either as a gripping suspense novel or a powerful indictment of a repressive, fear-ridden society.” – SAN DIEGO BOOKS.
Publishers:
Victor Gollancz Ltd, UK
Vintage (Random House), USA
Hamlyn Paperbacks, UK
Pantheon (Random House), USA
Gollancz Crime paperback, USA
Van Gennep/Novib, Holland (Verscheurde Nacht)
Zelena Kniznica, Czech (Part of omnibus)
Sombre Crapule, France (La Nuit Divisee)
Rivages Noir, France (La Nuit Divisee)
Rowohlt, Germany (Hab Hat Keine Farbe)
Modtryk, Norway (Morke Gjerninger)
Publishing date: 1981
Details: Out of print
ISBN: 978 0575048508
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The Centurion
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Book description:
(no description available)
Publishers:
Ravan Press, Johannesburg
Publishing date: 1980
ISBN: unkown
Details: Out of print
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A lonely Place to Die
Book description:
(a Yudel Gordon novel)
Ebersohn’s first Yudel Gordon Novel.
A prominent politician’s son dies after eating poisonous mushrooms and an obviously mad black servant is convicted. But prison psychiatrist Yudel Gordon refuses to 
accept the official case – with good reason
In a dangerous move to prove the innocence of the terrified man he travels to a remote country town, a closed and fearful society – and interviews relatives, friends and local police.
He encounters hostility – and when he gets too close to the truth his life is threatened.
After being savagely beaten and enduring some hellish hours of pursuit in the veld, he comes up with the shocking – and inevitable – solution.
“A brilliant book” – DAILY TELEGRAPH
“Brilliantly evoking South African society.” – WASHINGTON POST
“Mr Ebersohn’s prison psychologist hero is just the man to save an underdog from going under: a most original hero in a setting tylor-made for him. Of whom we must have more, much more.”
- ANTHONY PRICE
Publishers:
Victor Gollancz Ltd, UK
Vintage (Random House), USA
Hamlyn Paperbacks, UK
Pantheon (Random House), USA
Gollancz Crime paperback, USA
Zelena Kniznica, Czech (Part of omnibus)
Kustannus Oy Jalava, Finland (Yksinainnen Paikka Kuolla)
Modtryk, Norway (Et Ensomt Sted At Do)
Ordfronts Vorlag, Sweden (Svart Offer)
Sombre Crapule, France (Coin Perdu Pour Morir)
Gyldendal Norsk Vorlag (Et Ensomt Sted At Do)
Rowohlt, Germany (Hangt Ihn Auf, Er Ist Doch Schwarz)
Rivages Noir, France (Coin Perdu Pour Morir)
Publishing date: 1979
Details: Out of print
ISBN: 978 0575048515
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