Cape Fever by Nadia Davids

This is a beautifully written and well-crafted novel about the balance of power between an employer and her servant in a racially and religiously divided colonial colony just after World War I. It is a poignant story with nuanced characters and an intricate plot.

After a bad situation as a household maid, Soraya thinks she has found the right fit with Mrs. Hattingh, a stern but seemingly kind widow. What she finds is not just a house badly in need of repair, but spirits only she can see. While waiting for her son to visit, Mrs. Hattingh takes an interest in Soraya's life, and, thinking Soraya is illiterate, offers to write letters to Soraya's fiancé. The weekly letter writing becomes a ritual, and although Soraya is skeptical that Mrs. Hattingh is accurately writing what she dictates, she trusts her--something she later regrets. As the women's lives become more intertwined and Mrs. Hattingh's hold on Soraya deepens, Soraya desperately seeks to escape her clutches, only to find she has few options.

This is a poignant, psychologically suspenseful story with two strong characters at cross-purposes, each trying to gain the upper hand over the other. The gothic elements and the atmospheric setting enrich the book. The themes of love and grief for both characters unite them and, at the same time, widen the gap. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. 

5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is December 9, 2025.

For more information:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble