Booksellers' Choice Awards selects 2016 shortlist

Shortlist
In alphabetical order, the following books have been shortlisted:

• Death By Carbs by Paige Nick (published by Bookstorm)
  
• Ikarus by Deon Meyer (published by Human & Rousseau)
  
• Immer Wes by Irma Joubert (published by LAPA Publishers)
  
• Little Suns by Zakes Mda (published by Random House South Africa)
  
• Recipes for Love and Murder: A Tannie Maria Mystery by Sally Andrew (published by Random House South Africa)
  
• Sweet Medicine by Panashe Chigumadzi (published by Jacana Media)

Synopses

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The shortlist consists of fiction titles including romance and crime – always a good mix.

Death By Carbs, by Paige Nick, at first glance would appear a non-fiction title, but it is not, it is based on South Africa’s biggest craze – dieting – and Nick pokes a little fun and sheds a little light on this phenomenon. Deon Meyer’s Ikarus looks at the disappearance of an infamous internet entrepreneur and the ensuing investigation, whilst Immer Wes, by Irma Joubert is a romance that looks at fading beauty and the impact of war on people and relationships. Zakes Mda’s title Little Suns, weaves the true events of the death of Magistrate Hope into his story of love and perseverance.

Recipes for Love and Murder, by Sally Andrew, is a mix of romance, mystery, crime and cooking and Sweet Medicine, by Panashe Chigumadzi looks at a modern young woman with values and spirituality who discovers that sometimes life is a compromise.

One of the authors – Zakes Mda – has been shortlisted before in 2001 and 2003, but sadly has not yet won this prestigious award. Could this be third time lucky? Deon Meyer won in 2012 and is on the shortlist again.