Pacesetter Novels

Pacesetter Novels are a collection of 130 works of popular fiction written by notable African authors, published by Macmillan.^[1] The series was started in 1977, with the first book being Director! by Agbo Areo.

Writing style[edit]

The Pacesetters series was characterised by adventures of falling in love, ethno-religious conflicts, tragic tales of woe, cautionary tales, and "rags to riches" (and sometimes back to rags!) tales.

Book cover artwork[edit]

The book covers usually featured very garish pictures that served to illustrate the main theme of that particular novel.^[2]

Authors[edit]

The authors of the books are noted African novelists and writers. Some of the more celebrated of these are Buchi Emecheta, Barbara Kimenye^[3] and Helen Ovbiagele.^[4]

Titles[edit]

1. A Picture Of Innocence – A. Mhlope
2. Agony In Her Voice – Peter Katuliiba
3. Angel Of Death – Nandi Dlovu
4. Anything For Money – Akinbolu Babarinsa
5. The Betrayer – Sam A. Adewoye
6. Bitter Consequences – Osman Conteh
7. Bittersweet – Yéma L. Hunter
8. The Black Temple – Mohmed T. Garba
9. Blackmailers – Joseph Mangut
10. Bloodbath At Lobster Close† – D. Ighavini
11. Bonds Of Love – Hope Dube
12. The Border Runners – James Irungu & James Shimanyula
13. Camera Never Lies – A. Mhlope
14. Cherished Dreams – Mugarra Adyeeri
15. Child Of The Rainbow – Anthony Kwamlah Johnson
16. Child Of War – Ben Chirasha
17. Christmas In The City – Afari Assan
18. Circle Of Betrayal – James Irungu
19. Coup! – Kalu Okpi
20. Cross-Fire – Kalu Okpi
21. The Cyclist* – Philip Phil-Ebosie
22. Danger Express – D. Msere
23. Dangerous Inheritance – Chuma Nwokolo
24. Dangerous Waters – Maurice Sotabinda
25. Dead Of Night – Philip Phil-Ebosie
26. Deadly News – Prim Nga'ab
27. Dealers In Death – Victor Thorpe
28. Death Is Woman – Dickson Ighavini
29. Dela Boya-African Detective – Kojo Akwa
30. The Delinquent – Mohammed Sule
31. Desert Storm – Hope Dube
32. Director! – Agbo Areo
33. Double Dating – Walije Gondwe
34. Double Trouble – Osman Conteh
35. A Dream Called September – Christine Botchway
36. The Equatorial Assignment – David G. Maillu
37. Europeans Only? – George Mason
38. Evbu My Love – Helen Ovbiagele
39. The Extortionist – Chuma Nwokolo
40. Felicia – Rosina Umelo
41. Finding Francis – Damian Asabuhi
42. Finger Of Suspicion – Rosina Umelo
43. For Better For Worse – Osman P. Conteh
44. For Mbatha And Rabeka – David G. Maillu
45. Forever Yours – Helen Ovbiagele
46. Forgive Me Maryam – Mohmed T. Garba
47. Francie Molala and the Mercedes Affair – D. Fitzgibbons
48. A Fresh Start – Helen Ovbiagele
49. Frozen Fire* – Victor Thorpe
50. Give Me Money – B. Mtobwa
51. Gun Merchant – Kwasi Koranteng
52. Harvest Of Love – Sam Aryeetey
53. Have Mercy – Joseph Mangut
54. The Hopeful Lovers* – Agbo Areo
55. The Hornet's Nest – Jill Inyundo
56. The Infamous Act – Mohammed Sule
57. The Instrument – Victor Thorpe
58. A Kind Of Marriage – Buchi Emecheta
59. The Last Aloe – R. Wooding
60. Life Is A Lottery — Sotabinda
61. The Lost Generation – J. Irungu
62. Love – Kalu Okpi
63. Love Letters – Rosina Umelo
64. Love Match: Imperfect Partners – Walije Gondwe
65. Love On The Rocks – Andrew Sesinyi
66. Love's Dilemma – Walije Gondwe
67. Mark Of The Cobra – Valentine Alily
68. The Mating Game – Barbara Kimenye
69. Meet Me In Conakry – Sheriff Sarr
70. The Money Doublers – Maurice Sotabinda
71. The Money Road – Miriam Nkhana
72. Moses and the Gunman – B. Kimenye
73. Naira Power – Buchi Emecheta
74. Nanasi Girl – Damian Asabuhi
75. The Night Of the Full Moon – Muheki-Rushedgé
76. On The Road – Kalu Okpi
77. Operation Rhino – James Irungu & James Shimanyula
78. The Other Side Of Town – Sam Aryeetey
79. Pains Of A Maid – Sarah Mkhonza
80. Poisoned Bait – James Ngumy
81. The Politician* – Kalu Okpi
82. Possessed! – Atu Yalley
83. The President’s Son – Kwasi Koranteng
84. Race Against Rats – Nandi Dlovu
85. Rassie – Andrew Sesinyi
86. Remember Death – Gladstone Meena
87. Rich Girl, Poor Boy – Bode Osanyin
88. The Runaway Bride – Barbara Kimenye
89. The Schemers – Helen Ovbiagele
90. Sea Running – Tish Farrell
91. Second-Hand Love – Walije Gondwe
92. Secret Blood – John Chitambo
93. Shadow Of A Dream – Hope Dube
94. Shadow Of Death – Jackson Katondwaci
95. Shameful Sacrifice – Richard Anieke
96. Sisi – Yemi Sikuade
97. Small Affairs – Kenneth Rowley
98. The Smugglers* – Kalu Okpi
99. Something To Hide – Rosina Umelo
100. South African Affair* – Kalu Okpi
101. Spears Down – Christine Botchway
102. State Secret – Hope Dube
103. Stone of Vengeance – Victor Thorpe
104. Stop Press: Murder! – Mohmed T. Garba
105. The Stranger Son – Ruth Reeves
106. Sunset At Noon – A. Johnson
107. Sweet Revenge – Victor A. Ulojiofor
108. Symphony of Destruction – Sunday D. Adebomi
109. Teardrops At Sunset – Richard Akoji
110. Tell Me No More – Sensenjani Lukhele
111. The Legacy – Kwasi Koranteng
112. Thorns Of Life – David G. Maillu
113. To Have & To Hold – Shelley Davidow
114. Tobacco Smoke – Kwasi Koranteng
115. Too Cold For Comfort – Jide Oguntoye
116. Too Young To Die* – Omondi Mak'Oloo
117. The Treasure – Peter Katuliiba
118. Truth Will Out – Dede Kamkondo
119. The Undesirable Element – Mohammed Sule
120. Vicious Circle – Alexander Kanengoni
121. Wages Of Sin – Ibe Oparandu
122. What The Future Holds – Sarah Mkhonza
123. When Love Dies* – Gladstone Meena
124. Where Children Play – Christine Botchway
125. Who Killed Mohtta? – Edison N. Yongai
126. Who Really Cares – Helen Ovbiagele
127. Women For Sale – Joseph Mangut
128. The Worshippers – Victor Thorpe
129. You Never Know – Helen Ovbiagele
130. Zero Hour – Ben Mtobwa

NB. † No longer exists * Out of print^[1]

References[edit]

^ ^a ^b Pacesetter Novels website.
^ "Throwback: Pacesetters Series", BookShy, 10 April 2012.
^ Khainga O'Okwemba, "Barbara Kimenye: East Africa’s Bestselling Children’s Author", The Star (Kenya), 27 September 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
^ Toni Kan, "The Thriller Tradition in Nigerian Literature (1)", Vanguard, 22 January 2012.

External links[edit]

Pacesetter Novels website
"Pacesetters", Sahara Reporters, 13 May 2010.

[PNwebsite-1] Pacesetter Novels website.

[2] "Throwback: Pacesetters Series", BookShy, 10 April 2012.

[the-star-3] Khainga O'Okwemba, "Barbara Kimenye: East Africa’s Bestselling Children’s Author", The Star (Kenya), 27 September 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2014.

[4] Toni Kan, "The Thriller Tradition in Nigerian Literature (1)", Vanguard, 22 January 2012.

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