CASE: A SHALLOW GRAVE
Alec Steenkamp was missing for over eight years. The last time anybody made contact with him was on 16th of September 1996. He was on his way to collect outstanding money for a vehicle his brother, Tom Steenkamp, had sold to a man named Ken Downey in the Johannesburg area. Alec never returned. What had transpired and where was Alec Steenkamp?
CASE: MURDER AT THE LAKE
Deon De Vlliers parked his car at Boksburg Lake in Johannesburg at 6:14am on Saturday 27 march 2004, less than two minutes after he had left his car he was attacked by a group of men who stabbed him numerous times and proceeded to steal his car. Deon died at 7:30am in the nearby hospital. Was this a random act of violence and theft, or was there more to this story?
'Professional writer and journalist Chip Michie has recorded some of Christian Botha's more spectacular cases in a brilliant paperback. Michie has skillfully captured Botha's empathy and fervor as well as the distress of those seeking his services. She avoids a dry, documentary style, instead managing to lend credibility and the excitement of the chase to each story.
Michie has effectively written a detective thriller better than anything Agatha Christie or Conan Doyle could have dreamed up, all based on fact! With clever scene-setting and her human approach, the cases are brought to life, keeping readers aware all the time that these are current incidents, real characters and familiar, identifiable places. Don Bryce, The Daily Dispatch.
'Botha is thorough and tenacious in his investigation and he tackles his cases with intelligence. Some have been researched by journalist Chip Michie and compiled in this gripping page turner. Michie has taken each case and built a story around the facts, creating a good read. Events are traced step by step and scenery and people brought to life through vivid description and characterisation.' Susan Gladwell, The Cape Times.
'You won't be able to put it down once you have started reading it, it's fabulous. It's full of compassion. Christian really cares about people and it's not scary at all. Some stories bring a tear to your eye.' Mieke Erasmus, chairwoman, Lord Charles Ladies Club, Somerset West
'I picked up your book in Durban and couldn't put it down. Give us more details of how Christian Botha solves his cases - they are so compelling I was spellbound. Send me the next book as soon as it's written.' Stanley Cierenberg from The Queen Mary.
A thoroughly enthralling and absorbing book which kept my attention from page one to the end. I appreciated the descriptions of places, they became real and tangible. I particularly enjoyed the variety of stories portraying human qualities of sympathy and morality, as well as the ultimate crime investigations. A really great read. Sarah Walker
The book contains gripping real-life stories in which the reader is taken step by step through each case, together with photos of crime scenes. Many of the cases will be familiar to readers who followed the events in the newspapers or on television.' Engela Neethling, District Mail, Talk of the Town.
Die middeljarige vrou wat my by die voordeur van haar huis of Somerset-Wes inwag, lyk op 'n haar soos die speurskrywer in the TV reeks, Murder, She Wrote, Jessica Fletcher. Sy stel haar voor en beduie na 'n aantreklike man met die lyf van 'n slot wat onrustig op en af marsjeer in haar sitkamer. Sy sonbril is in die Miami Vice-styl op sy voorkop gebalanseer, en sy hare is glad agteroorgejel. Wat anders is as in Murder, She Wrote, is dat die nie Michie is wat die moored oplos nie, dis the marsjeerder, die held van haar eerste (en nou tweede) boek, Christian Botha, PI.' Willemien Brummer, Die Beeld.
Women from a variety of Book Clubs and Ladies Clubs.
'Hurry up with the next book. How Christian Botha solves these cases, often so many years later, is fascinating. I read it from start to finish and couldn't put it down. It kept me awake all night. Now my husband is enthralled and our teenage son is waiting for it. He never reads but he's dipped into it and now he can't wait for his turn. When is the next book coming out?'
Good morning!
I am currently reading Christian Botha's book, "SEARCH FOR TRUTH" and I am thoroughly enjoying it and cannot put it down. I even "sneak" in a few pages at work when my boss is not around!
The reason why I am e-mailing, I would like to find out where I can find a copy of "SHALLOW GRAVE" and the book which tells about the penguin murderer. I am almost finished reading 'SEARCH FOR TRUTH" and feel like I am getting withdrawal symtems because I don't have another book of his to read!!
Please let me know A.S.A.P. I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanking you kindly,
Desrae Parker
