The new episode of Pagecast is out now! Ted Botha chats about his ‘gutsy, gritty and utterly electrifying’ new book Daisy de Melker
More about the book!

In this week’s episode of Pagecast, the podcast from Jonathan Ball Publishers, Ted Botha is interviewed by Nicole Engelbrecht, host of the podcast True Crime South Africa, about his new book Daisy de Melker: Hiding Among Killers in the City of Gold.

Pagecast offers you insider interviews with recently published authors, looking into the process of writing, exploring the narratives within and providing you with the story behind the story.

Daisy de Melker will be launched in Joburg at Constitution Hill on 11 May, and in Cape Town at The Book Lounge on 17 May.

Joburg launch info
Cape Town launch info

Ted Botha takes the reader into the underbelly of Johannesburg in the 1920s and 30s 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.

‘Botha has created an instant classic … Totally enthralling. I devoured it.’ – Deon Meyer, author of The Dark Flood

‘… shiny, gutsy, gritty, and utterly electrifying …’ – Lauren Beukes, author of The Shining Girls

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.