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93 ratings | 102 reviews | avg rating:3.90

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Barbara Mutch

Goodreads Author

Born

Johannesburg, South Africa

Website

https://barbaramutch.com

Genre

Romance, Historical Fiction, Travel

Influences

Music... especially by Chopin, whose Prelude known as the "Raindrop" i ...more

Member Since

July 2010

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Barbara Mutch is the author of four novels set in South Africa. The Housemaid's Daughter, a tale of love, hope and redemption, is set in the stunning Karoo. The Girl from Simon's Bay follows a forbidden romance in the port of Simon's Town during the 2nd World War. The Fire Portrait traces the life of a young artist in a rural hamlet who survives a fire to raise a child. In The Case Against Fili Du Bois, an adopted child must make her mark amid the joys and challenges of a newly-democratic South Africa.
Visit https://barbaramutch.com for more

Barbara was born and raised in South Africa, and is the granddaughter of Irish immigrants.
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Combine Editions
Barbara Mutch’s books

Average rating: 4.03 · 6,140 ratings · 824 reviews · 6 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Housemaid's Daughter really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 5,261 ratings — published 2010 — 45 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Girl from Simon's Bay 4.17 avg rating — 561 ratings — published 2017 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Fire Portrait 4.35 avg rating — 261 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Case Against Fili Du Bois 4.30 avg rating — 50 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Schwarze Tochter by Barbara Mutch (Goodreads Author), Irene Eisenhut (Translator) 3.50 avg rating — 6 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Cradock Evi : Hizmetcinin Kizi it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Barbara Mutch…

323 posts
Barbara Mutch's Blog

What are we reading? And writing...

It's always fascinating to investigate the latest trends in book publishing. The boom in "Romantasy" novels - the mix of romance and fantasy - that has dominated sales in recent years seems to be coming off its peak a little. Perhaps readers are looking for more reality in their reading - to reflect their lives now? - rather than outright fantasy!
In terms of marketing, social media is cle Read more of this blog post »

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Published on October 13, 2026 06:09

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Barbara is Currently Reading

Barbara Mutch is currently reading

Culpability

by Bruce Holsinger (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Oct 14, 2026 01:17AM

Barbara’s Recent Updates

Barbara Mutch is currently reading Culpability by Bruce Holsinger (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 14, 2026 01:17AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Culpability by Bruce Holsinger. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Culpability by Bruce Holsinger <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Barbara Mutch rated a book liked it In the Blink of an Eye (Kat and Lock, #1) by Jo Callaghan (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This is an intriguing - and disturbing - book! It describes the solving of a crime by a police force using an AI avatar as an assistant. The avatar does better than expected in some areas, and not so well in others. But it is a sign of things to come ...more
Oct 14, 2026 01:15AM · like · see review
Barbara Mutch is starting In the Blink of an Eye In the Blink of an Eye (Kat and Lock, #1) by Jo Callaghan (Goodreads Author) progress:	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 06, 2026 12:53AM · like · see status
Barbara Mutch started reading In the Blink of an Eye (Kat and Lock, #1) by Jo Callaghan (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 06, 2026 12:53AM · like
Barbara Mutch made a comment on Marie-Eve Anctil’s review of Une chanson pour Ada " Merci, Marie-Eve! "
Jul 29, 2026 01:21AM · see review
Barbara Mutch and 4 other people liked Marie-Eve Anctil's review of Une chanson pour Ada: "Une de mes belles lectures cette année . 👏👏👏👏Bravo pour cette autrice . Le personnage de Ada je me suis attachée à elle . Quelle histoire émouvante . "
Jul 29, 2026 01:21AM · see review
Barbara Mutch rated a book really liked it The Forbidden Garden of Leningrad: A True Story of Science and Sacrifice in a City under Siege by Simon Parkin	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This is an extraordinary book about an extraordinary act of sacrifice by a group of scientists during the Siege of Leningrad in World War 2. Despite bombardment and starvation, they managed to preserve the world's first Seed Bank. Don't miss this. ...more
Jun 12, 2026 01:06AM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Forbidden Garden of Leningrad by Simon Parkin. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Forbidden Garden of Leningrad by Simon Parkin <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Barbara Mutch finished reading Heartstone (Matthew Shardlake, #5) by C.J. Sansom	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 02, 2026 12:23AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Heartstone by C.J. Sansom. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Heartstone by C.J. Sansom <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Barbara Mutch is currently reading Heartstone (Matthew Shardlake, #5) by C.J. Sansom	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 19, 2026 01:17AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Heartstone by C.J. Sansom. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Heartstone by C.J. Sansom <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Barbara Mutch made a comment on Sylvie Fontaine’s review of Une chanson pour Ada " Merci, Sylvie! "
Mar 05, 2026 12:19AM · see review

More of Barbara's books…

Quotes by Barbara Mutch (?)

“And I remind myself that wherever one finds oneself, home and love is lent to each of us only for a while. We must care for it while it's ours, and cherish its memory once it's gone.”
― Barbara Mutch, The Housemaid's Daughter

8 likes

“Maybe war makes you value things and people more than you did when there was Peace and you knew there would never be a shortage?”
― Barbara Mutch, The Housemaid's Daughter

1 likes

“But loneliness taken away from one place looks for a home somewhere else. And trouble taken from one person will surely search for a new lodging”
― Barbara Mutch

0 likes

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