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'Pro Libris'
Review on Amazon |
A poignant and outspoken indictment against sexual abuse
This book is a great murder mystery - but it is far more besides. It is a vivid and insightful picture of South Africa before and since the end of apartheid. And it is a poignant and outspoken indictment against sexual abuse. All of this is embedded in a moving love story with characters creatively drawn so that the reader becomes intimately involved with the big drama of the thriller but also with their personal and emotional journey. This is a book that can stand beside the best of post apartheid literature although its canvas is broader than that and touches universal themes of human life.
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Walter Saunders
Academic and Author |
Your book is very powerful indeed
I'm sure you don't need to be told that but perhaps you'll be glad to hear me confirm it. Well done!
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Ken Douglas
Author and Publisher |
The 'Next John Grisham'?
Last week I picked up 'Scream and I'll kill you'. It had to be at the proof reader the next day, but I thought I'd read over a few pages. I started the book just before midnight.
I collapsed in a heap at 5.30 the next morning unable to put the book down. I really couldn't stop reading it, you know the sort of book when you look at the clock and it's 2 in the morning and you say to yourself..... well... just a few more pages and you keep going and going. I read Henri Charrie's Papillon like that and Mario Puzo's The Godfather and 'The Client' by Grisham. Now 'Scream and I'll Kill You'. Good company you're keeping Lex... congratulations!
The book is a masterpiece and rivals the Grishams and Wilbur Smiths of this world.
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Nik Morton
Author |
Captured the voices of his characters very well
The cover says it all, really. This book is not for the faint-hearted. So I feel sorry for the faint-hearted, as they're going to miss a damned good novel. It begins with a victim of the Castration Murderer, so you know what you're in for - plenty of gore and grim torture. And sex. Yet, sluice away the blood and beneath is something quite unusual, a love story between an Afrikaner and a black woman in modern-day South Africa. As von Rudloff lives in that neck of the forest, his prose comes across as authentic in every way.
Anton Venter is a crusading lawyer who tries to fight the system. During a rape trial that collapses before him, due to incompetence and chicanery, he meets Kelly Modise, a member of a women's protection group. They instantly connect. He's divorced with two children, she's from London though originally from a mud-hut village nearby. Maybe the relationship shouldn't work, but it does. Except for one thing - she seems afraid to indulge in sex. Gradually, Anton peels away her past as she writes it down in notebooks. He's shocked at the brutality of her early childhood. As if in horrendous counterpoint, the Castration Murderer is still claiming victims. Anton's friend Christo Januarie, a mixed-race detective working on the murder cases, divulges details that seem to have a bearing on the accused man Anton was prosecuting.
Despite the colourful language, and grim and gruesome nature of the storyline, there are many fine phrases, and a fair dollop of humour. At random: `... the laughter lines around my eyes were beginning to verge on the geological.'
Von Rudloff has captured the voices of his characters very well. Even after I'd put the book down, I could still blerrie hear them!
Decidedly not for the squeamish, though.
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| John Hinchliffe |
This is a seriously good read... as good a novel as I have read this year!
I have lived in Botswana for the past 25 years, for most of that time I have known Alexander as a good friend and so when he asked if I would read his novel and give him feedback, I was happy to do so. I was given the manuscript on a Tuesday and in my mind I was taking it out of interest to see what my good friend had been up to over the past few months. I quickly read through the first 3 Chapters and was surprised to find that I was intrigued by what was to follow, this was no longer a favour for a mate but I was reading a good, well constructed story and I immediately wanted to know what happens next. On Thursday we left on the long drive to Port Elizabeth, a short holiday to see the kids and have a break. I took the manuscript with me and got totally involved in the story. By Sunday it was finished and I was able to give some time to the kids! I was however left feeling a little frustrated as one does after a good book, I wanted more but there was no more to have... Yet.
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| Glen McVeigh |
Insightful and often profound
Scream, and I'll kill you is an intriguing story of love across cultural barriers, an ironic story of abuse of power, a harrowing story of multiple murder and a moving account of personal suffering; all cleverly woven in a plot that whirls with surprises. Scream dazzles - it's a cracking good story, well presented and a thoroughly readable thinking persons' thriller. A compelling, whirlwind read! Highly commendable! Not for the feint hearted.
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| Nicola Hart |
The book is brilliant, you are extremely gifted
You owe me a night's sleep! I would have been happier with a few less rape stories, and definitely less detail on the rape, but I just skipped the paragraphs that were too gruesome for me! Can't wait for next one...
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Martin Penalver (Molinhio Penalver)
Author of "In Search of an Angel" and "The Ticking of the Clock" |
Difficult to forget!
To enjoy any book, I always like to not only become engulfed in the story, but also learn something from the book or about myself as I read. My first experience of reading a von Rudloff book did both. A horrifying story set in South Africa and Botswana, the first person view of not only events, but places, opened up a new macabre world to my eyes. Graphic detail, set against a gripping storyline, had me hooked from the off as I walked alongside the author following a bloody trail of mystery and intrigue, laced delicately with love, passion and emotion. Overall I found the book difficult to put down but more importantly, difficult to forget. If you want to see the world of South Africa and beyond I would suggest you see them through the eyes of von Rudloff. Brilliant!
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John Mole
Author of "Mind Your Manners", "It's All Greek to Me" and "I was a Potato Oligarch" |
Gripped in South Africa
A new wave thriller set in the new South Africa and Botswana. Raw, uncompromising antidote to Detective Agency romanticism. Fascinating insights from an insider into the racial and sexual politics of a country remaking itself. Sometimes uncomfortable, always gripping.
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Prof. Ernst Engels
Filmmaker and CEO of the CamelThorn Media Trust |
An extremely well-written psycho-drama
Beautifully set in Southern Africa, with a contemporary socio-political background. Well done! Great use of language, good knowledge of the various interacting cultures. The story offers lots of suspense, the sex in it is never offensive and at the same time "visually" interesting!
I read the book without putting it down once.
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| Timothy Morton |
Unputdownable!
This book is tantalising - a great read. Starts well - finishes tensely, chokingly asphyxiating. Von Rudloff titillates the palate of 21st-century schizoid Africa with ironic humour and gruesome specifics.
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| Mmamosese Thatayaone Tladi |
Riveting stuff! A very good read!
I could not put the book down once I started.The plot is very intriguing and appropriate for these times where there are a lot of social ills, like the sexual abuse of children, which need to be addressed in whatever form to sensitise society especially the youth. The language flows well and is not too technical hence it can be read and understood by a wide and diverse audience. It touches on subjects that are close to my heart, the flow is comfortable, and the language is easy to follow.
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| Oliver Groth |
This is a "MUST BUY"
If you have an Amazon delivery address this is a "MUST BUY" but be warned - you can't put it down 'till its done! Otherwise if you haven't read it - sorry for that - join the waiting list for the few copies doing the rounds, or BUY THE eBOOK!
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| Michelle de Bruyn |
Quite disturbing
I ended up reading most of it on a marathon train trip across Morocco a few weeks back, with temperatures of around 48 C - it was like a 7 hour sauna. It managed to keep my attention in that extreme setting, which must be a good thing - very readable style. At first I wasn't sure about combining content around abuse / Zuma-style behaviour with the popular novel/racy style, but I think it works, and will hopefully get a few people thinking about those issues who might not usually do so.
Quite disturbing having some of those gruesome scenes set in familiar places (those De Waal Drive parking areas will never be the same again!). It must be quite difficult to strike the balance between writing so that international readership will understand the context and having local readers feel the book's also written for them - the style felt more oriented towards a foreign readers, but I guess that's sensible given how small or Southern African market is?
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| Darren Riggon |
Marvellous!
Lex, I read your bloody gruesome book on holiday and it was marvellous! I love the interweaving of political and personal and was intrigued by the insights of South African culture and politics. I left it for my friends to read in Spain who were also raving about it. However, I don't think the preamble on the cover does it justice as it gives the impression it's going to be a really tough book to read in terms of gut wrenching... I did not find it that bad maybe I'm thick skinned! I eagerly await your second instalment.
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| Bill Russo |
One hell of a ride!
I finished the book! I am still recovering.....
No one could ever accuse you of pulling your punches. That was one hell of a ride. One of the constant criticisms of Oz films is their passive characters and an unwillingness to go to those dark places of the soul. This is your great strength. Lex my dear friend there was at least one occasion that I admit I had to look away. However I never felt once that the violence was gratuitous. My god you must have done some research.... having a daughter who teaches anatomy I got the distinct impression you seemed to know your stuff. And all that rock climbing, has that been something you've been into or is that research for the story as well? Do you hang upside down by your finger nails 1000 feet in the air?
I have to say I was constantly on the sleuth trying to find bits of the Lex of today buried in your Anton character, a hopeless quest I know. Great main characters that I really cared about. Couldn't put it down. I have worked on two films in recent times with a young aboriginal woman who has revealed only a little of her traumatic past to me. Kelly constantly reminded me of her, especially the intensity of the final act.
This is an important story. It works in so many ways, detective story, love story and eye opener for many of us who got not much further than the wonders of "Truth and Reconciliation" and seeing the world through politically correct eyes. I have to say I really astounded with all that. Unfortunately I'm not sure my soul is pure enough for me to have handled the reconciliation bit if someone in my family had suffered at the hands of that despicable regime. As someone who voted with their feet and passport on the appalling human rights of the past regime you are well placed to lay it all bare as you have done so well. The importance of justice being done and being seen to be done is so fundamental to the functioning of a civil and liveable society.
Saw an excellent John Pilger film a while back that showed a good deal of the corruption that is going on. Seems time has finally run out for Mbeki and his cronies. His stance on AIDS has been truly astonishing. Where do you think things will head from here now that he's gone? Will the lot of those that have suffered for so long improve are will it be more of the same?
Anyway once again really well done with Scream. Looking forward to the next one and maybe a film of it eh?
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| Zenon Hannick |
This book passed the ultimate test
My primary objective when selecting a book is to have something to transport me away from the fact that I am sat in a hot, smelly train on the way to/from work. This book does that and then some. It is not just a gripping page turner as the depth of the characters and the excellent descriptions of ZA and Botswana make this a really absorbing read.
This book passed the ultimate test in that I was so engrossed at one point that I missed my stop and had to spend an extra half an hour getting home. Half an hour well spent mind you!
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| Abo Tacheba |
A rollercoaster ride
It's not every day you come across a book that is bold enough to tackle rape, incest and sexual abuse in a Southern African context or brave enough to mirror real life scenarios, and this is what von Rudloff sets off to do. 'Scream and I'll kill you' will take the reader through a rollercoaster ride of emotions, you will become so engrossed that you will forget your everyday life and go through Kelebonye's life with her, you will cry with her when you reflect on how cruel people can be and smile when you see how powerful love can be. You will begin to wonder if the justice systems of today are really as fickle to be manipulated by the rich and powerful. This book will bring understanding, reflection, empathy and an appreciation of life. How far can one woman be pushed before she snaps?
This is a good read; it is nail biting and keeps one guessing, page turning until two in the morning. It's gutsy and brave enough to penetrate the John Grisham thriller market. I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery and is not afraid to face the harsh realities of life, the setting in Africa gives it an extra special feel and I look forward to anything else that this seasoned writer will come out with in future.
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| Steve Power |
Powerful Stuff
This book is powerful stuff, makes your eyes water!
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| Peo Peterson |
This is one hellava book!
"Okay you sick minded man. Here it goes. Will try not to spoil it for those who haven't read it yet... fools...
First of all, why such an ending? I wanted them to hook up and continue the 'work'. I really wanted them to kick some butt as a couple. An eye for an eye, who said terror cannot be measured in terms of who dies physically or whose soul dies from trauma - as a form of justice?
I am really waiting for the next instalment. On second thoughts let me go to the books page. I really wanna discuss it with likeminded people and hope it's still rated PG18!
Congrats Bra Lexy!"
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Kopano Sechele
Publisher |
A Powerful Love Story
I found the story extremely engaging and was amazed how much I learnt about Southern Africa; particularly Batswana and their history and geography. I have to agree with you that it's a bit traumatic that such a powerful love story should end so quickly.
I love that couple, and the build up to Anton finally acing Kelly was too much for me, I could come on it!
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George Eustice
Director Of Re Bina Mmogo - Botswana Television Drama (2005 and 2010) |
A Well-Written Thriller
Yes, read your book a while back! A fast moving, well-written thriller indeed. My only criticism was the portrayal of all female characters - more or less for sex or horror only :-) But that was part of the overall theme of the book, yes?
Are you writing another? How far are you? Must take up a lot of time, well done!
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| Kevin Duke |
Thanks for a great read
Just finished your novel - a day well spent - really enjoyed the circular ties in the plot - fell in love with Kelly myself!
Thanks for a great read - looking forward to sequel ... Well done Lex ...
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| Marleen McLeod |
An easy and fast read
I enjoyed the book. It is an easy and fast read. It is brutal in places, with an unexpected and sad, but completely logical ending.
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| André De Jongh |
Lays bare the harsh realities of Southern Africa
If you have the stomach for it, read the new excerpts from SCREAM AND I'LL KILL YOU...even better, get the book... it contains every emotion known, with an insight into a colourful and endearing culture that lays the harsh realities of Southern Africa bare... after all, I've read it twice and find myself often re-visiting the beefy parts of the story, and that's all of it but the page numbers!
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Joy Lennick
Author Of "Hurricane Halsey" |
Keeps you biting your nails until the shocking end
Alexander von Rudloff's hair-raising book "Scream and I'll Kill You"... is, as it warns on the haunting cover 'not for the faint hearted' but intrigues from page Zero. As Anton Venter, a divorced South African champion of human rights, reads of the incredible, often appalling history of the beautiful black woman, Kelly Modise, he has fallen in love with, he becomes even more enmeshed and drawn to her. However, it soon becomes evident that the love he has discovered with Kelly is overshadowed by the truly horrendous rapes she endured when still a child. Meanwhile, being a busy lawyer, Anton is side-tracked by several horrifying castration murders. An imaginative, original writer, Alexander keeps you biting your nails until the shocking end.
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| Brandon Swarrovski |
Disturbingly enticing, intense - ouch!
Alexander von Rudloff is a deranged madman, a raving lunatic, yet he may have mastered the art of blending several sensational stories, and possibly genres, into one clever realistic fiction book. Scream and I'll Kill You is one of the most beautifully gruesome, disturbingly delectable stories I have ever read. It is Edgar Award worthy for its mystery and suspense, though I do not believe the author qualifies as he was born outside of the United States (I think).
Von Rudloff's ability to intertwine a pleasurable love story, eroticism, and humour with truly horrific and graphic crimes makes SCREAM one of the most unique books I have ever read.
Even though I had a pretty good idea of how the story was going to end based on its character development, the book remained exciting to the finish. If there were half stars this one would be a 4.5 STARS rating for me.
I couldn't wait to see if this creative and imaginative story was ever going to stop climaxing!
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| Larry Kaufmann |
Challenging and thought provoking
Your book certainly gives a jolt! It is challenging and thought provoking - if the 'deep impact' variety. But it flows well and it certainly takes one on a trip all round Southern Africa (Jo'burg, Ermelo, Toti, Cape, Botswana, Mauritius etc etc), then London (through Brixton, reminding me of all those bus trips to Martin and Anna!) which made it contextual and easy to picture, having myself having been to nearly all the places the book traverses. But of course that's not what it's about. It's more about another journey: into the darker recesses of the human psyche and human behaviour. But not without 'redemption' - in the struggle to give and receive love. If I could use painting imagery to describe your book, the contrast between light and darkness is stark (e.g. Caravaggio), rather than the soft blending hues of, say, a Turner. This is where the book itself "screams". Perhaps I live too much of a sheltered existence, but I tend to see life (including my own) in less stark terms, only occasionally shattered by a visit to a squatter camp or some place like that. Perhaps that's why I found the book challenging!
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| Maureen Moss |
Just the stuff to keep you awake!
Can't believe I didn't write a review straight away! Probably too tired after a long day and night reading...
Extreme suspense, chilling atmosphere, horrifying ending.
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| Monkgogi Lenao |
Aaah! It's a brilliant piece! Jooo!
By the way, after countless postponements I have finally come around to reading your book. Actually, I have just completed it now, and since I started reading it two days ago I never gave it space to breathe.
I think it belongs on the shelves somewhere out there... I mean, sincerely I'm sure you should get another publisher to take it over like yesterday. It should just be flying off the shelves like hot fat cakes!
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