Cape Fever, by Nadia Davids

An exhilarating tale of twisted desire and the unexpected shape of revenge. 1920, a small, unnamed city in a colonial empire. Soraya Matas believes she has found the ideal job as a personal maid to the eccentric Mrs Hattingh, whose beautiful, decaying home is not far from the Muslim quarter where Soraya lives with her parents. As Soraya settles into her new role, she discovers that the house is alive with spirits.

While Mrs Hattingh eagerly awaits her son's visit from London, she offers to help Soraya stay in touch with her fiancé Nour by writing him letters on her behalf. So begins a strange weekly meeting where Soraya dictates and Mrs Hattingh writes – a ritual that binds the two women to one another and eventually threatens the sanity of both.

Nadia Davids is a South African playwright, novelist and academic, and a former President of PEN South Africa. Her debut novel, An Imperfect Blessing, was shortlisted for the Etisalat Prize for Literature, and she won the 2024 Caine Prize for her short story “Bridling”.