Pacesetter Novels

Pace setter

Publisher	MacMillan
Publication date	1977

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

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

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

Authors

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

• 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

1. Pacesetter Novels website.
2. "Throwback: Pacesetters Series", BookShy, 10 April 2012.
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.

External links

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