The Eye of the Beholder': Dark mystery with a South African twist

The Eye of the Beholder': Dark mystery with a South African twist The Eye of the Beholder' is the latest tour de force of the queen of South African crime fiction, Margie Orford.

by Carmen Coetsee

21-10-2022 12:47

in Books

Margie Orford's new novel, The Eye of the Beholder', is a dark tour de force. Image via Twitter @_LifeWithBooks_

Award-winning journalist Margie Orford's latest novel, The Eye of the Beholder, is a dark mystery with South African roots. Orford is most known for her Clare Hart series, and her new novel promises audiences something new.

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The Eye of the Beholder is a refreshing take on Scandinavian crime dramas, but with female trauma at its core. Packed with mystery, recognisable South African elements and unforgettable characters, Orford's new thriller is one not to miss.

FEMALE REVENGE CORE OF ORFORD'S NEW THRILLER Out today! an auspicious day for a book that drills down into the the darkness in the heart of narcissistic, cruel and entitled man. A book that accounts for the damage they do and the damage they bring on themselves. Should I send a copy to Boris. Not long for No 10 pic.twitter.com/SM6EnstPLb

Margie Orford (@MargieOrford) July 7, 2022

ALSO READ: Counterfeit': Bestselling novel explores dark underbelly of luxury

As an outspoken feminist, Orford seeks to place female stories at the heart of most of her novels. In The Eye of the Beholder, Orford unites violence, revenge, and trauma with realistic female characters.

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This novel is not for the faint of heart. With dark themes of domestic violence, exploitation and childhood trauma, The Eye of the Beholder should be approached with caution.

But this book is more than just a dark drama. It raises questions that are very pertinent in today's society and handles them with considerable skill and sensitivity. More than many of the crime novels being produced today, it does what crime fiction can do best: it mirrors contemporary society in a thought-provoking way.

Margaret Von Klemperer The Sunday Times THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER': SYNOPSIS THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER spotted in the wild and on the @ExclusiveBooks best seller list. Thank you, fabulous book buying people! pic.twitter.com/jUwvhhE0WO

Margie Orford (@MargieOrford) October 8, 2022

When danger lies in the eye of the beholder, what happens when you reject its pull?

Cora carries secrets her daughter can't know. Freya is frightened by what her mother leaves unsaid. Angel will only bury the past if it means putting her abusers into the ground.

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One act of violence sets three women on a collision course, each desperate to find the truth, when the people they love are not what they seem.

ALSO READ: BOOK QUIZ: WIN one of three R500 Exclusive Books vouchers

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR .@JonathanBallPub and @ExclusiveBooks invite you to the Joburg launch of The Eye of the Beholder, the new novel from @MargieOrford!https://t.co/CzKlfBdLqi

The Reading List (@readinglist_) August 19, 2022

Margie Orford is an award-winning journalist and has been dubbed the queen of South African Crime Fiction. Her Clare Hart novels have been translated into ten languages. There is also a TV adaptation in the works.

Orford was born in London but grew up in Namibia. She is a Fulbright Scholar and received her doctorate in creative writing from the University in East Anglia. She president of Emerita of PEN South Africa and was a patron of Rape Crisis Cape Town while she lived in South Africa.

The Eye of the Beholder is published by Jonathan Ball Publishers and is available from Exclusive Books for R333.

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LINK:	https://www.thesouthafrican.com/culture/books/book-review-eye-of-the-b...
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