Don’t miss the launch of Ted Botha’s new book Daisy de Melker: Hiding Among Killers at The Book Lounge (17 May)
More about the book!

Join Jonathan Ball Publishers and The Book Lounge for the launch of Daisy de Melker: Hiding Among Killers in the City of Gold by Ted Botha.

Botha will be in conversation with Brett McDougall at the launch.

A true crime classic about Daily de Melker in ragtime Joburg – a city of murder, mayhem and gold.

Botha takes the reader into the underbelly of Johannesburg in the 1920s and 1930s as he traces the fascinating story of the mysterious Daisy de Melker, who was hanged for poisoning her son. Many also believed she poisoned two husbands for their life insurance money.

In the shadow of ever-growing mine dumps, she went about her business quietly and unnoticed – the most unlikely of killers. Even though people close to her kept dying, no one suspected a thing for 20 years. When someone finally spoke up, it led to one of South Africa’s most sensational trials.

De Melker’s story unfolds in tandem with those of colourful Johannesburg characters of the same period such as the Foster Gang, Herman Charles Bosman, the dashing conman Baron von Veltheim and a Bonny and Clyde-style couple, Dicky Mallalieu and Gwen Tolputt. Some cross paths with each other and also those of famous writers of era such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Sarah Gertrude Millin.

Daisy de Melker will be released by Jonathan Ball Publishers at the end of May.

Event details

Date: Wednesday 17 May 2023
Time: 17:30 for 18:00
Venue: The Book Lounge, Cape Town
RSVP: booklounge@gmail.com

Join us on the 17th of May at @book_lounge to launch Daisy de Melker by @tedbotha. Ted will be in conversation with Brian McDougall. https://t.co/XrzZHVyPwo pic.twitter.com/UYqCkSK89e

— Jonathan Ball Publishers (@JonathanBallPub) May 1, 2023