The Rainbow Nation

Plot synopsis and Character summary.

The Rainbow Nation is a razor-sharp, darkly comedic novel where a sleepy retirement village chess club becomes the unlikely stage for a no-holds-barred clash of ideologies, identity, and generational reckoning in post-apartheid South Africa.

At the center of the storm is Mark Miwerz—gruff, opinionated, and fiercely territorial, ruling the chessboard and his world with an iron will. But his dominance is upended by the arrival of Cactus, a younger, enigmatic player with an unsettling grin, a sharper tongue, and even sharper moves. Their rivalry escalates beyond chess into a battle of wits, egos, and worldviews, exposing deep-seated prejudices, buried betrayals, and a past neither man can fully outrun.

But the chessboard is just the beginning. A bring and buy that turns into a crime scene, an ostrich egg masquerading as a Fabergé treasure, a misfit clown who may or may not be a criminal mastermind, an attempted murder, a vindictive tiger, and a Porsche 911 that meets a fiery, glass-shattering demise—these are just some of the ingredients in the whirlwind that upends Mark’s world. When a heist goes spectacularly wrong and accusations start flying, Mark is left with nothing but scorched pride, and a wrecked home—forcing him to confront the uncomfortable truth that his greatest opponent might not be across the chessboard, but inside himself.

What begins as a battle of egos spirals into an unpredictable journey of reckoning, redemption, and reluctant camaraderie. In a nation still struggling to define itself, two men from different pasts must ask the same question: Can they find common ground in the most unexpected of places?

With unforgettable characters, and a masterful blend of satire, absurdity, and brutal honesty, The Rainbow Nation is not just a novel about chess—it’s about survival, legacy, and the messy, ridiculous, and often hilarious ways we win or lose — it’s a bold, unflinching exploration of a country still struggling to define itself, packed with twists, revelations, and a climax as unpredictable as the nation it portrays.

The novel falls into the dark comedy crime caper genre, blending elements of crime, satire, and absurdity with sharp humor. Mark’s grizzled sarcasm align it with crime fiction, while the eccentric characters, bizarre twists, and satirical edge give it a comedic, almost Coen Brothers-style feel. It also has elements of mystery (the stolen money, the briefcase, the true nature of the con) and noir (distrust, deception, morally grey characters), but its offbeat humor and absurd events push it firmly into dark comedy territory. Think Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels meets The Big Lebowski, with a South African twist

The Rainbow Nations a poignant, humorous, and deeply moving story about second chances, found family, and the power of confronting one’s past. With sharp wit, unexpected twists, and a heartfelt resolution, it delivers a story that lingers long after the final page.

The novel falls into the dark comedy crime caper genre, blending elements of crime, satire, and absurdity with sharp humor. Mark’s grizzled sarcasm align it with crime fiction, while the eccentric characters, bizarre twists, and satirical edge give it a comedic, almost Coen Brothers-style feel. It also has elements of mystery (the stolen money, the briefcase, the true nature of the con) and noir (distrust, deception, morally grey characters), but its offbeat humor and absurd events push it firmly into dark comedy territory. Think Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels meets The Big Lebowski, with a South African twist.