BLACK PETALS

UNASSUMING ARCHIVIST MACAULAY VOGEL EXAMINES A RECENTLY DISCOVERED CACHE OF OLD POLICE ARCHIVES, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HE COMES UPON A SURVEILLANCE FILE ABOUT HIMSELF. IT'S A TERRIBLE SHOCK HE DOESN'T RECOGNISE THIS PERSON AT ALL. WHO IS THE YOUTHFUL MACAULAY VOGEL IN THESE REPORTS? AS VOGEL SETS OUT TO DISCOVER WHO HE ONCE WAS - AND NOW IS, A SERIES OF DRAMATICALLY UNINTENDED EVENTS IS IGNITED. VOGEL SOON DISCOVERS NO ONE WANTS THE PAST RAKED UP ANYMORE. HE SEEKS OUT OLD FRIENDS A LOVER; FORMER COMRADES; THE STRUGGLE LAWYER TURNED CORPORATE LAWYER; EVEN THEIR NEMESIS, BOSCHARD, THE EERIE FORMER SECURITY POLICEMAN. VOGEL'S SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH IS PARALLELED BY THE EXCAVATION OF A MYSTERIOUS ACCUMULATION OF BONES IN THE CENTRE OF CAPE TOWN. IS THIS A SECRET SLAVE BURIAL PIT? THE SITE BECOMES AN IMPASSIONED BATTLE GROUND AND THE RISING SOCIAL AND RACIAL TENSIONS THREATEN TO SPILL OVER INTO VIOLENCE. UNWILLINGLY, VOGEL IS SUCKED INTO MEDIATING BETWEEN TWO FORMER COMRADES, NOW BITTER RIVA