FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

Johannes Hossfeld, Goette Institute outgoing director, with Tom Odhiambo (right) at a book launch of Nairobi's Matatu Men, on November 16, 2013. Odhiambo believes that crime novels continue to be written because there is something evil in the air all the time. This virtual evil, the one that the CCTV cameras can’t capture, is what the crime thriller writer thrives on. PHOTO| FILE| NATION MEDIA GROUP  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

  • I guess that crime novels continue to be written because there is something evil in the air all the time. This virtual evil, the one that the CCTV cameras can’t capture, is what the crime thriller writer thrives on
  • Such crime respects no man or woman’s social standing, sweeping all within its reach. Such crime paints all humanity with its evil strokes, leaving consternation, anger, destruction and death in its wake
  • This is the reason we read crime thrillers, keenly following the criminal, hoping — and knowing — that in the end she or he will lose out to the forces of good
By TOM ODHIAMBO
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I thought the African crime thriller was a thing of the past. Who wants to read stories of heroic detectives chasing after criminals or engaging in endless mental tussles with their opponents, and eventually winning?

Are human detectives even necessary in a world where “big brother” closed circuit television and all kinds of sensor cameras literally watch us all day?

In this post-modern world, a world where the story of normalcy has been ruptured and we are all captured by the social media — another site of infinite surveillance — why would someone want to write an “ordinary” crime novel?

I guess that crime novels continue to be written because there is something evil in the air all the time. This virtual evil, the one that the CCTV cameras can’t capture, is what the crime thriller writer thrives on. 

WHY CRIME THRILLER?

Such crime respects no man or woman’s social standing, sweeping all within its reach. Such crime paints all humanity with its evil strokes, leaving consternation, anger, destruction and death in its wake. It threatens to undo society’s moral fabric.

This is the reason we read crime thrillers, keenly following the criminal, hoping — and knowing — that in the end she or he will lose out to the forces of good. 

There is something redemptive and restorative about crime thrillers, even though they may appear to dabble in violence and transgression of law and order.

If we read the crime novel as speaking about the tensions within and threats to the society’s moral fabric and order, then Nducu wa Ngugi’s new book, City Murders (East African Educational Publishers, 2014), begins to make sense; a great sense in Kenya today.

CITY MURDERS

City Murders is about inexplicable murders of materially wealthy members of the society. The first to be murdered is Isaac King’ori, a businessman, who is a friend of the country’s president; then there is a medical researcher, Dr Juma Kizito, followed by Prof Justin Obo and then another …. When will the murders end, the reader is likely to wonder, along with Jack Chidi, the journalist who eventually leads us to the answers.

The drama of the novel revolves around Chidi, his colleague, Otieno – both work at Daily Grind newspaper; their friend, Mburu; Jacob, the driver at the newspaper; Ali Fana, the lead detective during the investigations into the murders and his wife, Fatima; the government coroner, Rosa; Kamau Kariuki, a property developer, who is at the core of the murders, and the editor of Daily Grind, Bulldog.

Chidi, Otieno and Mburu embark on unravelling the mysterious murders, which appear to be the work of a serial killer, when they sense that the police detectives appear unable to solve the crimes.

They become “private detectives”, following forensic leads that point to Kamau Muriuki. Indeed, in the end Chidi and Otieno lead us to Kamau Kariuki, and surprisingly, Rosa and Ali. Ali, Kariuki and Fatima are the evil trio. How and why?

Kamau Kariuki had a construction company in Mombasa, which became bankrupt. He simply relocated to Nairobi and started another unregistered company to purportedly build and sell houses.

Ali and Fatima are part of the racket, but its dark side is the cause of the mysterious deaths.

CONSPIRACY

Once a potential customer shows interest, Fatima shows him the house, makes him sign the contract for payment and Kariuki convinces him to pay the deposit.

The problem is that the victim is killed the day after signing off the cheque to KayKay Concepts. Ali’s job is to stall the investigation. Rosa simply can’t find the “cause” of death except to say that the victims seem to have been asphyxiated.

The story pulls the reader in many places but it labours in many other parts. For instance, the reader doesn’t get any hints that Ali is part of the murderous plot.

Again, Ali’s wife has an affair with Kariuki, and this situation is presented as potentially leading to more drama in the text but this expectation isn’t fulfilled.

In many places the story just doesn’t thrill. However, what makes City Murders worth reading are the “other”– unstated – stories it may provoke.

THE CORRUPT COP

The first, and probably more obvious other story, is that of the corrupt cop. Although the tale of the cop on the take has become banal in Kenya today — what with the claims of massive corruption during the recent police recruitment drive — it is scary when you have cases of police officers who are willing to kill just to make a few more shillings beyond the usual chai.

What makes the case of Ali damning and dangerous is that he is actually an efficient professional.

The question to ponder is: So, what are we to do when the professional crime busters become crime movers? If you can’t trust the police to protect you and your wealth, who will?

The second other story that Nducu suggests here is that of the journalist crime investigator. In a country where the Fourth Estate capitulated to politicians and business PR managers, who will pursue and tell the story of theft of public resources, malpractice in government offices or even corruption in the media houses themselves?

I wish to imagine that Nducu is asking if the risky but noble profession of investigative journalists can still have disciples.

Isn’t it easier to attend political rallies or product launches and write withering news analysis of already reported cases of corruption than risk broken ribs, destroyed careers, exile or death pursuing cases such as who really pocketed all that Goldenberg money or who were the faceless individuals behind Anglo Leasing?

MORALLITY

The third unstated story here is one of civic duty. Chidi and company aren’t just seeking personal glory in their search for the killer.

They represent the basic moral stance that all good people should take. In a country where crime — or what we prefer to call corruption — has become the normal, maybe the crime novel is what we need to wake us from the stupor that moral degeneration has induced in us.

Nducu, one of the sons of Prof Ngugi wa Thiong’o, seems to be ably following in the footsteps of his brother, Mukoma, who has released Nairobi Heat and Blackstar Nairobi in the past three years.