THE IMAGINED CHILD

330 pp., paperback, Johannesburg, 2013

A psychological mystery about a writer who moves to a small Free State town to start a new life.

"A powerful and perceptive deconstruction of parenthood and culpability. Jo-Anne's trademark twist in the tale is a sudden punch in the gut, and leaves the reader breathless for days afterwards."

"Jo-Anne takes us into small-town South Africa and has us look deep into some complicated souls...This is her fifth novel, and may be her best yet." Anton Harber, Caxton Professor of Journalism and Media Studies, University of the Witwatersrand

"This superbly written, searing study of secrets, motherhood and guilt - both personal and historical - will stay with you long after you've finished it." Sarah Lotz, author

Novelist and journalist Jo-Anne Richards is also the author of the novels "The Innocence of Roast Chicken", "Touching the Lighthouse", "Sad at the Edges" and "My Brother's Book". She teaches creative writing and lectures the University of the Witwatersrand.