Al wat tel (All That Counts) by Irma Venter has been shortlisted for the ATKV Suspense Prize 2025.

Al wat tel is the third title in Irma Venter’s compelling series of crime novels featuring the headstrong and resourceful journalist and former Olympic swimmer, Ami Prinsloo, whose past comes to play a role in interesting ways.

The ATKV literary prizes are presented annually to award exceptional literary contributions in the Afrikaans language.

Venter, one of South Africa’s most celebrated crime writers, is known for writing slick, sophisticated page-turners featuring strong women characters and clever intrigues.

She has been the recipient of the ATKV Suspense Prize on two prior occasions: for Die verkeerde vrou (The Wrong Woman), the second title in the Ami Prinsloo series, as well as for Skoenlapper (published in English as Hard Rain), her debut novel.

Congratulations to Irma Venter on this well-deserved recognition!

The winners of the ATKV-Woordveertjies will be announced on the ATKV’s social media platforms between 17 and 19 September.

About the book

When someone is killed in front of her gym, Ami immediately knows it’s big news. Why are the Hawks on the scene? This police unit focuses on organised crime, economic crimes, and corruption; surely this means something is up. Is it an assassination? And why does one of the detectives remove evidence from the crime scene? Before Ami can uncover the truth, she crosses paths with a German journalist. He is investigating allegations of a disturbing incident in Mozambique. Could there be a connection between the two events?

Publication date: April 2024

Publisher: Tafelberg / NB Publishers

Extent: 396 pp

World rights excluding Afrikaans available.

Click here to read more about Irma Venter’s work on her website and here to download an information sheet on Minder as niks (Less than Nothing), the first title in this series, to get to know Ami Prinsloo:

Rights queries: catrina@catrinawessels.com