This author finds inspiration in seaside living and early morning swims, which refresh and prepare her for the writing ahead. She is an avid reader, particularly of crime and thriller fiction, appreciating both classic and contemporary hard-boiled styles. Her own writing emerged from a deep-seated desire to tell stories, which fully took hold during a master's program in creative writing. The act of writing itself has become an addiction, fueling a constant drive to create more.
Recovering addict Rae Valentine, a PI in Cape Town struggling with her own demons, finds herself in the violent world of diamond theft, white supremacy, and religious zealots-a world that doesn't want someone like Rae-to solve a case that may be more than she can handle.
In a poor district on the outskirts of Cape Town, Grace lives with her adoptive mother. Of mixed race, Grace dreams about what her birth mother is like and is plagued by a deep sense of not belonging. Rebelling against her adoptive mother's smothering influence, Grace turns to close friend Shardonnay and her sister, Crystal.