Yellowbone: A Novel

Growing up in Mthatha, light-skinned Karabo is called ‘yellowbone’. She often hears her parents argue, not realising her complexion, and questions surrounding her paternity, is the cause. People expect ‘exotic’ Karabo to coast through life on her looks. But she has high aspirations and goes to London to study architecture. When Karabo is invited to a private recital, a priceless antique violin binds her fate to that of virtuoso André Potgieter who came to London to hide his secret – though no saint, he sees angels when he plays a beautiful piece of music. Whether it is synaesthesia or something otherworldly, he cannot say. All he knows is that he would do anything to keep seeing the engele, but these days they rarely come to him. Events on the night of the recital cause Karabo to run away to Ghana to the refuge of her father, but her plans go horribly wrong. And André soon follows for his own selfish reasons. Enthralling and powerfully written, Yellowbone is a tour de force.