THE STAR'S SHADOW
Dark Justice: A South African Crime Series — Book 14 of 24

When a rising pop star collapses onstage in Soweto during a live broadcast — dead before she hits the floor — the country mourns a voice silenced too soon. But behind the candlelit vigils and fan tributes, detectives Thandi Mokoena and Adam Barnard uncover a darker performance.

Toxicology reports reveal no drugs. No trauma. Just a compound not listed in any public database — a designer substance traced to a wellness clinic used by celebrities, politicians, and influencers alike. And at the centre of it all: a wellness mogul with ties to experimental neurochemical research... and an old Circle shell company used during apartheid mind-control trials.

As Thandi and Adam investigate, they're pulled into the high-gloss world of fame, handlers, and digital manipulation — where the truth is carefully curated, and the real cost of silence is paid behind closed doors.

But when a second artist dies under eerily similar circumstances, and a leaked audio file suggests the victims knew they were being used, the case explodes. And the Circle? They're no longer erasing people — they're rewriting what it means to be seen.

The Star's Shadow is a haunting thriller about identity, exploitation, and the invisible hands behind the spotlight.

She lived in the light. She died in the edit.