NATIONAL NEWS - A spokesperson for Tafelberg publishers says The Lost Boys of Bird Island co-author Mark Minnie’s death was “sudden and unexpected”, and there was no indication that he would take his own life.

On Tuesday, it was confirmed by police spokesperson Captain Johan Rheeder that a suicide note was found at the scene of the author’s death.

According to the publishers, they were in contact with Minnie on Sunday night, after which attempts at emailing and phoning him were unsuccessful. They added that Minnie was “enthusiastic” when they last spoke to him and mentioned new leads that led to fresh evidence regarding an alleged apartheid paedophile ring.

While it was initially reported that no foul play was suspected in the death of The Lost Boys of Bird Island co-author Mark Minnie, News24 has reported that Minnie and co-author Chris Steyn had received threats after the book’s publication and had been “living in fear”.

Rheeder later also told the website the firearm with which Minnie allegedly took his own life had not been his.

The two authors reportedly refused to have a traditional book launch and feared for their safety to the point of not wanting to appear in public.

Minnie reportedly met a source on Friday, and was meant to meet another one on Monday.

While Steyn confirmed Minnie’s death, she was apparently too traumatised to say anything about what may have caused it.

Minnie and Steyn had allegedly been investigating several leads subsequent to the book’s publication, but were afraid to publish what they had discovered.

Read more on the Caxton publication, The Citizen.