Too Close to the Sun

Too Close to the Sun chronicles the rise and fall of Brett Kebble, a South African mining magnate who became one of the country's most prominent business figures in the post-apartheid era. The book follows Kebble's path from his early days in the mining industry through his meteoric ascent in corporate South Africa. Through interviews and extensive research, journalist Mandy Wiener reconstructs the complex web of relationships between Kebble and key figures in business, politics, and organized crime. The narrative examines the intersection of corporate fraud, political connections, and violence in contemporary South Africa. This investigation tracks the final days and mysterious death of Kebble, exploring the circumstances and aftermath that shocked the nation. Wiener pieces together the events through police reports, witness accounts, and previously undisclosed documents. The book serves as both a character study and a broader examination of power, corruption, and the shadow economy that emerged in South Africa's transition to democracy. Through Kebble's story, it reveals the complex relationships between business, crime, and politics in a rapidly changing society.

Readers found this true crime account of Brett Kebble's murder and subsequent investigation to be detailed and engaging, with thorough research into South Africa's criminal underworld. Readers appreciated: - Extensive interviews and primary sources - Clear explanation of complex political connections - Inside perspective on South African organized crime - Balanced portrayal of key figures - Readable journalistic style Common criticisms: - Too many characters to track - Convoluted timeline - Excess detail about peripheral figures - Repetitive in sections Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (82 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (12 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Reads like a crime thriller but backed by solid journalism" - Goodreads reviewer "Gets bogged down in minutiae of court proceedings" - Amazon reviewer "Important book that connects dots between crime and politics in SA" - Reddit discussion "Would have benefited from character list and timeline" - Goodreads reviewer

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🌍 The book investigates the life and death of Brett Kebble, one of South Africa's most controversial mining magnates, who was killed in what was later revealed to be an "assisted suicide" 📚 Mandy Wiener wrote this book when she was just 27 years old, after covering the Kebble story as a young crime reporter for Eyewitness News 🔍 The title "Too Close to the Sun" references the Greek myth of Icarus, drawing parallels between Kebble's meteoric rise and dramatic fall in the business world 💎 The story exposes deep connections between South Africa's criminal underworld and the legitimate business sector, particularly in the mining industry 🏆 The book won the 2012 Vodacom Journalist of the Year award and established Wiener as one of South Africa's leading investigative journalists