I was thrilled to find another South African crime writer, but found the violence is this book to be excessive. The book opens with a carjacking in Cape Town where the arms dealer husband of American Roxy Palmer dies and the gangbanger perpetrators (Disco and Godwynn), take center stage. Meanwhile, ex-cop turned mercenary, Billy Afrika is owed money, goes to see the husband, and then decides Roxy can help. Meanwhile, a local cop smells a rat, and decides to investigate the killing. Finally, Piper, a psychopath prisoner, is bent on getting his paroled jailhouse "wife" Disco back. Afrika ignites a gang war, and there is mayhem and slaughter galore. A dark thriller, with an authentic feel, showing the underbelly of poverty and despair in Cape Town. ( )

Very good thriller set in present-day South Africa, which appears to be, if this story and its characters are any indication, nearly unpoliceable. Two other Smith Cape Town thrillers were published after this one. I've read neither, but based on the quality of Wake Up Dead, I'm going to re them ( )

This one is not for the faint of heart, Its set in the brutal world of South Africa and I am not sure there is a good guy in the whole book. A simple car jacking sets off a chain reaction with lethal results for everyone. Smith is an excellent writer and though its an ugly story, he brings it alive. I'm not sure enjoyable is the right word but its a worthy read. ( )

Beyond hard-boiled - This brutal thriller set in the Cape Town Flats of South Africa is an uncensored view of poverty, gang violence, drugs, corruption, greed and racial disparity.

Two gangbangers from the Flats out to score some easy cash stumble upon Roxy and Joe Palmer. Roxy is an ex-model who has been living off her looks and as they fade so has her easy lifestyle. Her current husband is a "private security broker" with a drinking problem, a bad temper, and worse friends. The couple drive a nice car, they eat in expensive restaurants, and they live in a very exclusive neighborhood behind locked gates. They are the perfect targets for Disco and Godwyn the meth heads that followed them home.

Billy Afrika is also from the Flats. A former gang member and ex-cop turned mercenary he has just returned from Bagdad where he was fired after being injured on the job. Billy is determined to collect his back wages, a cool $30,000, from his ex-employer Joe Palmer. Billy has a long history with the Flats mostly scars, bad memories, and broken promises and he also has a few vicious enemies including Piper a lifer at Pollsmoor maximum security prison.

Piper has brought the Flats with him to prison and he has his own plans which revolve around Disco and Billy. The opposite ends of his obsession -love and hate - Disco and Billy don't stand a chance when this ruthless killer breaks out of jail.

Bad decisions, old crimes, greed and revenge spiral out of control in this unflinching crime thriller from Smith. So raw and relentless you'll love it or hate it. Absolutely guaranteed to make you cringe. ( )

I would not recommend this book to young people because it has a lot of reverence to drug use, violence, an opening story of a car jacking. Other than that the book is ok I didn't like it too much because i read just mysteries and legal thrillers.