Book review: Hunting with the Hawks

Hunting with the Hawks

Graham Coetzer

Tafelberg

Review: Karen Watkins

In this debut true crime thriller, Pretoria-based investigative journalist and television producer Graham Coetzer presents a gripping collection of nine cases tackled by South Africa’s elite crime-fighting force, the Hawks.

Founded in 2008 to replace the disbanded Scorpions, the Hawks specialise in combating organised and economic crimes and corruption, operating with a relentless pursuit of justice despite daunting odds.

Coetzer peels back the layers of the intensive processes involved in catching and prosecuting southern Africa’s most notorious criminals.

His meticulous research and first-hand accounts set a fast-paced tone, spanning a spectrum of criminality.

One standout case exposes a human trafficking network in Blouberg. Another involves the investigation of forex heists targeting smaller banks from 2012 to 2014.

Other gripping accounts include saving a husband from his wife’s hired hitman, tracking a serial killer of the elderly, and infiltrating syndicates involved in poaching rhinos, pangolins and abalone.

Coetzer also details the pursuit of a zama zama kingpin who has taken over an active mine.

Through these stories, Coetzer humanises the Hawks, revealing the personal sacrifices and professional tenacity of its members who operate under the radar with limited resources.

Coetzer ensures the human stories behind these crimes are not lost, maintaining a compassionate portrayal that highlights the officers’ motivations and the personal toll of their high-stakes work.

While the book provides an insightful look into the inner workings of specialised police units and true crime events, Coetzer’s preface clarifies it is not a PR exercise for the Hawks but rather a candid portrayal of their operations.

However, one critique is the need for a detailed chapter on the rationale behind the Hawks’ creation and the disbandment of the Scorpions.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in true crime events or the inner workings of specialised police units.