South African writer Nadia Davids CAPE FEVER is an eerie, gothic tale set in the 1920’s in Cape Town, South Africa. Soraya Matas from the Muslim Quarter, must help support her struggling family by working for Mrs Hattingh, a settler in this Colonial Empire. These are two great characters, and their relationship is fraught with many influences; power, class, poverty, history, education, grief, religion.
What appears at first to be a lucky break at having a reasonable employer who pays a decent wage quickly becomes darker. As Soraya learns to use the little agency afforded to her, Mrs Hattingh becomes increasingly obsessive and equally pathetic. There is a lot hidden below the surface of each of these women, as it is fascinating to watch Soraya’s actions while hearing her actual thoughts.
There is one seemingly good point in each of their meets, so that Mrs Hattingh can assist Soraya with letters to Nour, her fiancee. Its also a chance for Madame to tell Soraya more about her own son, recently back from WWII, and living in London. After a traumatic time for Soraya, it will be revelations regarding these two men that will set the course of these two women.
Adding to the tension, the large old house where the manipulative Mrs Hattingh lives, is falling to pieces and likely rotting from the inside. There are ghosts, other spirits, and paintings that are animated. This bit of magic realism masterfully heightens the creepy factor while imparting some support to Soraya.
The descriptions of not only the house but the shopping districts and the Muslim Quarter are wonderful, and the prose throughout is beautiful. Despite a slower than usual start, the novel turned into quite a page-turner in the last third, and rated as much of a thriller as any other novel. Very enjoyable.
Whilst Soraya Matas is the narrator, Alice Hattingh is the more interesting character. During the course of her work, she experiences vague warnings from the spirit of a former maid and the portrait that has a remarkable resemblance to her. The ghosts are either real or are the product of an over-active imagination.
The reasons for Mrs Hattingh’s estranged son and his current situation are not made clear till the final novel pages, even though the reader may suspect that Alice’s perceptions may be flawed or even delusional. The son never actually appears, instead he exists as hearsay, mainly from Alice with the deft use of Soraya’s voice and those of the house spirits. The author developed tension with an increased sense of paranoia and suspicion.
CAPE FEVER doesn’t resemble a typical thriller. There is a simmering tension between Soraya and Mrs Hattingh. You’ll find yourself rolling your eyes at Mrs Hattingh’s micro-aggressions yet things are heightened by the frequent refrain that something isn’t right in her house. Supernatural elements play an important role in the story, but are part of the setting as opposed to the plot.
With prose so gorgeous and compelling. The characters blend into the story, pondering on family, culture and society seamlessly. Nadia Davids raised the atmospheric tension of this story while seeing Cape Town: it’s sights, smells and the wind on heated skin. Its a masterful blend of gothic themes, folj-tales and psychological suspense. Soraya Matas is an unforgettable narrator, whose story of love and grief, is also a chilling exploration of class and the long reach of history. Davids’ creates a fine balance of grudges, micro-aggressions, manipulations and secrets that builds to a powerful climax. This a book that is best savoured in one reading.
