Plot Overview

Land surveyor Oscar Murphy is working on a hilltop in Paternoster on South Africa's west coast when he catches a glimpse of imminent danger through a telescope and rushes to the scene to help Ruby, a young, talented woman with a bright future.

When Oscar's friend Luke Watson, a lawyer, travels to Paternoster to help banker Lisa-Marie Pieterse uncover financial fraud and hold the perpetrator, Stephen Banting, to account, a riveting plot unfolds with Banting at the centre of a tale of deceit, retribution, and justice.

Soon, Oscar, Ruby, Luke, and Lisa’s lives are entwined in an enthralling South African story that is equal parts thriller and cosy, small-town saga.

Setting and Themes

Set in the inimitable beauty of the Western and Southern Cape coasts, the harsh mining hinterland, and Namibia, The Beacon Builder is about a killing, the joy of wave surfing, horse racing in the early 1900s, fraud, and the strong bond of friendships, both old and new.