A series of murders in a small South African town forces two mismatched detectives to confront the racial tensions and social fractures of their environment. Lieutenant Tromp Kramer and his Bantu assistant, Mickey Zondi, operate within the rigid, oppressive structures of apartheid-era South Africa. Their objective is to solve a string of killings that threaten to destabilize the local community. They face constant friction from both the criminal underworld and the institutional prejudices of the police force. The narrative framework utilizes a third-person perspective to examine the complex power dynamics between the two men and the society they serve.

Readers and critics frequently note the effectiveness of the partnership between Kramer and Zondi as a lens for viewing the complexities of South African history. Discussion often centers on the author's ability to balance traditional mystery tropes with a stark, realistic portrayal of a divided society. The pacing is described as deliberate, allowing the atmosphere of the setting to become a central component of the narrative. Many observers highlight the lack of sentimentality in the prose, which serves to emphasize the harsh realities faced by the characters. The series is often cited for its historical significance in the crime genre due to its unflinching look at institutional inequality.