OF ALL THINGS, WE NEED HOPE

192pp., paperback, Modjaji, Cape Town, 2026

ISBN: 9781991240545

A novel about a woman who works tirelessly for 21 years to keep her son's killer safe in prison and to rehabilitate him, so that he can ultimately be released and come home to her. In the process, accused of desecrating her own son’s memory, she loses her family, friends, job, home and social and financial standing.

“Raw, moving, and compassionate, this novel kept me pinned to the page. Sally Cranswick writes tenderly about a grief that refuses to conform and a mother who won’t be told when it is time to move on. Driven by the singular will of its protagonist, this story gallops to a breathtaking conclusion.” Fiona Snyckers, author of Lacuna

“This is an extraordinary and unforgettable novel about love and loss, reconciliation and revenge. The vivid blue skies of Cape Town, the squalor of a high security jail, and the unwavering purpose of one bereaved woman will stay with you long after the last page. I urge you to read it.” Maggie Brookes, author of The Prisoner’s Wife

Sally Cranswick is an author and writing coach, currently studying for her PhD in Creative Writing. Her collection of short stories, Women out of Water, was nominated for the 2022 SALA Nadine Gordimer Short Story Award. Before settling in Cape Town, Sally lived in many countries around the world and worked as a singer in the UK and Southeast Asia.