Reviewed by Dylan Insch for Readers' Favorite

The Goat of Magalies: Home Is Where You Owe Something by Julian Redwood centers on Marie Botha, a deeply traumatized South African woman who is working as an English teacher in Taipei. Marie has spent most of her adult life running away from the dark cloud of her family’s country home in the Magaliesburg region. Even though she lives in quiet exile with her supportive husband, Gert, she is constantly haunted by the memory of Jacob, her manipulative brother. Jacob goes as far as to use religious power and a fake sense of piety to dominate their mother and systematically rob his own family of their rightful inheritance. But when a sudden family tragedy forces Marie’s return to their isolated farm, she learns that distance can never truly wipe away the past. Instead, she gets caught up in a devious trap engineered by some very dangerous conspirators, including Jacob’s deceptive wife Molly and a crooked lawyer as well. Can Marie escape her family’s terrifying trap of lies and finally find peace?

Julian Redwood’s The Goat of Magalies is a fascinating psychological thriller that does a stellar job of building the tension. The rural South African countryside setting perfectly reflects the complicated internal struggles of the people who live there. Redwood is skilled at building characters, turning Jacob into an unforgettable villain whose hypocrisy is the main engine for the whole plot. The way the story looks at moral debts and family betrayals is very incisive, utilizing the eerie presence of a black-and-gray goat to hint at the dark consequences heading everyone’s way. The book gives readers a really interesting look at how easily human memory can fracture and how deep the chains of deception can run. Every chapter ratchets up the psychological dread, making it the ideal read for anyone who loves a complex family drama. I highly recommend this gripping tale to anyone searching for an intense, suspenseful ride that will keep your heart racing long after the last page.