Author in crisis: Queen of crime Margie Orford on how divorce and loss pushed her to the brink

To her readers she’s South Africa’s queen of crime but there’s a lot more to Margie Orford than her popular Clare Hart series. In her new memoir she takes an unflinching look at her life and the passion, anger and sense of restlessness that have constantly driven her.

The structure of the book is very clever – instead of working chronologically, Orford looks at her life through the prism of a devastating series of losses including the end of her marriage – all of which leave her in a very dark place as she tries to build a new life for herself in London. It’s a brave and beautfiully written story about a woman on the brink who needs to understand her past so she can face the future.

We chatted to Margie about her memoir, how her life has changed since over the past few years and the unconventional living arrangement she has with her second husband which allows her the space she needs.