Book Reviews

Esther is Now Following You delivers a sharp and unsettling exploration of celebrity obsession, identity and emotional vulnerability. The novel balances humour with psychological tension. As a result, readers remain both entertained and uncomfortable throughout the story. The novel follows the strange and increasingly intense connection between its characters. At first, the relationship appears harmless and even amusing. However, the situation slowly becomes more invasive and emotionally complex.

Leading with Wisdom is a vital guide for leaders, creators and seekers asking one defining question: what does it mean to be human? We live in an era drowning in information yet starved of wisdom. Therefore, this book argues that the most powerful technology we possess is not artificial, but human.

Frontiers of National and International Development offers an incisive interrogation of statecraft and governance in the Global South. Drawing on theory, policy experience and case studies from South Africa and China, Busani Ngcaweni explores how capable and ethical leadership drives national and global development transformation.

Unleashed: A Vet's Memoir of Heartache, Hairballs and Hope delivers a vivid, candid look at veterinary life. Caitlin Venniker writes with sharp humour and emotional clarity. The memoir traces her journey from Onderstepoort into private practice. It also follows her experiences in the United Kingdom and the Middle East. Unleashed is the hilarious, intensely honest memoir of Caitlin Venniker’s journey.

Walter Nash began a journey down a dark path with seemingly no return. Now, he finds himself questioning everything that led him there in Hope Rises, the thrilling sequel to Nash Falls from #1 New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci. After turning informant for the FBI against a global criminal empire, Walter Nash lost everything he cherished to its ruthless leader, Victoria Steers.

A revelatory exposé, Blood Will Flow, examines a devastating terror attack in one of the world’s most remote places. In addition, it exposes the global greed that allowed it to happen. On March 24, 2021, ISIS fighters attacked the small coastal town of Palma in northern Mozambique. Men, equipment and fuel that could have supported a rescue sat just minutes away in one of the world’s largest natural-gas fields.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Exiles and The Dry comes a captivating new novel, Last One Out, set in a modern ghost town. Carralon Ridge, once a vibrant village in rural New South Wales, has become a shell of its former self. Its houses and buildings were bought up and left to rot by the mining company operating at its borders. As a result, the setting of Last One Out reflects a place in steady decline.

Dogtag Memories is a raw, darkly humorous memoir that follows one conscript’s chaotic journey through South Africa’s military machine during the border war. Drafted into the Defence Force in 1977 as a carefree seventeen-year-old, Jon Goetzsche saw his tranquil schooldays abruptly replaced by the brutal regimentation of army life. What began as naïve indifference soon spiralled into a struggle against authority, misfortune and the absurdities of war.

In MOAR!, de Villiers Basson shifts her focus to burnout, exhaustion, and the quiet emptiness many high achievers experience. The author challenges traditional wellbeing programmes. These programmes often treat symptoms rather than root causes. As a result, the book encourages readers to stop doing more. Instead, it invites them to transform from the inside out.

In ROAR!, de Villiers Basson tackles the silent damage caused by bullying. This includes bullying in the workplace, online and in everyday life. The book empowers readers to recognise toxic behaviour early. It also helps them understand the dynamics between the bully, the victim and the broader culture.