Chris Karsten

A series of ten short journalistic-type essays about teens and a few preteens in South Africa who have committed murder. In most cases the author provides background for both the victims and the offenders, as well as a description of the crime and sentencing. I am interested in juvenile crime and juvenile justice but I know little about how violent children are handled outside the US. South Africa doesn't have the "lock-em-up-and-throw-away-the-key" attitude America has; most of these killer kids were given sentences that, by American standards, would be shockingly short. Yet it's clear there are no winners here and I think Karsten's view of the young violent offenders is balanced and even sympathetic at times.

The most tragic story, in my opinion, was the one where two 15-year-old boys shot an entire family during a home invasion robbery: grandmother, father, mother, daughter, son. The sole survivor was the little boy. Left paralyzed, he nevertheless became a celebrated athlete, playing basketball and other sports from his wheelchair. Then, at the age of twenty, he shot himself.… (más)

These two books in the true Crime series offer the reader a macabre walk down memory land as Chris Karsten showcases 20 of his most memorable murders.

Most occurred within the last two decades, although some of the more notorious slayings of the 1970s – The scissors Murder, and the killing of Robert Smit and his wife for example – are also examined.

Chris Karsten is an experienced journalist and his writing is no doubt factual and properly researched: it is also sensationalist, sentimental, and the English is sloppy.

“No Answers to heinous South African crimes” is the subtitle of ‘Unsolved’ – yet most of the killings it discusses are filed under solved – such as the station Strangler, the sizzler’s Massacre, the Gert Van Rooyen killings, the Crossbow Murder and the Easter assassination of Chris Hani.

“Less provocative is “Slayings which shook South Africa” – the ‘Headline Murders’ to which someone usually confessed, or which the evidence was incontrovertible.

Purple prose, bad writing and bias aside, Karsten’s accounts are addictive: even the most intelligent reader will devour them and call for more because, distorted though they may be, they present a fascinating mirror on our immediate past… (más)

These two books in the true Crime series offer the reader a macabre walk down memory land as Chris Karsten showcases 20 of his most memorable murders.

Most occurred within the last two decades, although some of the more notorious slayings of the 1970s – The scissors Murder, and the killing of Robert Smit and his wife for example – are also examined.

Chris Karsten is an experienced journalist and his writing is no doubt factual and properly researched: it is also sensationalist, sentimental, and the English is sloppy.

“No Answers to heinous South African crimes” is the subtitle of ‘Unsolved’ – yet most of the killings it discusses are filed under solved – such as the station Strangler, the sizzler’s Massacre, the Gert Van Rooyen killings, the Crossbow Murder and the Easter assassination of Chris Hani.

“Less provocative is “Slayings which shook South Africa” – the ‘Headline Murders’ to which someone usually confessed, or which the evidence was incontrovertible.

Purple prose, bad writing and bias aside, Karsten’s accounts are addictive: even the most intelligent reader will devour them and call for more because, distorted though they may be, they present a fascinating mirror on our immediate past… (más)