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A Short Life
‘What are you thinking about?’
‘I think I might have killed someone’
How far would you go to protect the ones you love?
Two car accidents take place on the same night, on the same stretch of twisting valley road. One is fatal, and six friends’ lives will never be the same. Only two of them know what really happened that night – and one will stop at nothing to get to the truth.
When your life is on the line, who can you really trust?
‘I think I might have killed someone’
How far would you go to protect the ones you love?
Two car accidents take place on the same night, on the same stretch of twisting valley road. One is fatal, and six friends’ lives will never be the same. Only two of them know what really happened that night – and one will stop at nothing to get to the truth.
When your life is on the line, who can you really trust?
232 pages, Paperback
Published July 22, 2024
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July 10, 2024I've made no secret of the fact that I've barely read anything this year. Only two books so far! I am 22 books behind on my Goodreads Reading Challenge (😳😬)
But, but, but, A Short Life by Nicky Greenwall is one I HAVE read.
So this is the vibe: a group of friends go out together, later that night there are two separate car accidents on the same stretch of road in Constantia.
One is fatal.
But why was the one driver on the road at that time, when everyone thought they were at home in bed?
What really happened that night?
There are a lot of questions, and the only thing we do know for sure is that these six lives will never be the same again.
Mysterious and thrilling, life is short, don't miss out on a short life
But, but, but, A Short Life by Nicky Greenwall is one I HAVE read.
So this is the vibe: a group of friends go out together, later that night there are two separate car accidents on the same stretch of road in Constantia.
One is fatal.
But why was the one driver on the road at that time, when everyone thought they were at home in bed?
What really happened that night?
There are a lot of questions, and the only thing we do know for sure is that these six lives will never be the same again.
Mysterious and thrilling, life is short, don't miss out on a short life
November 22, 2024
I have always loved Nicky Greenwall. Watching her on a Saturday night was the reason that I wanted to go into entertainment journalism. I was so excited to buy and read her debut novel. And it didn't disappoint. I enjoyed the familiar setting of this book. While it took me some time to get used to who was who (I initially thought Maria was Frankie's mother?), each character's background provided intrigue which in turn kept the book moving. While I was a bit underwhelmed by who seems to have caused Charlie's accident, I was kept guessing until the very end (and was surprised) about why Charlie was out that night. A really good read that kept me engaged.
May 24, 2025
Thank you so much to Penguin Books South Africa for the review copy of A Short Life by Nicky Greenwall! I love that it is set in South Africa as it made the read that much more enjoyable 🤩 It is impressive that this is her debut novel.
What if the people you trust most in the world are the ones hiding the darkest truths—and what if one tragic night binds you all to a secret that could destroy everything?
Set against the backdrop of Cape Town, A Short Life unravels the story of six close-knit friends whose lives are thrown into disarray when two of them are involved in separate car accidents on the same night, on the same road, with devastatingly different outcomes. One survives. One doesn’t. And only two people know the full truth of what actually happened that night.
From the first page, I was drawn in. The writing is immersive and intelligent. The author’s style is both accessible and artful, balancing rich description, authentic dialogue, and just the right amount of introspection. I found myself celebrating the writing as much as the story. The short chapters made it really easy to stay engaged and feel like I was flying through the book.
The story unfolds through multiple first-person perspectives, a technique that can easily fall flat in less capable hands—but here, it shines. Each voice felt distinctive and believable and this structure added real depth to the emotional landscape of the book. It was fascinating to see how each character interpreted the same event differently, shaped by their own fears, guilt, love, and loyalties. This layering also allowed the mystery to be revealed slowly, piece by piece, keeping the tension high throughout.
At its core, A Short Life is a vivid exploration of human relationships, how they bend under pressure, how secrets corrode trust, and how even love can become complicated in the aftermath of trauma. The novel grapples with themes of friendship, loyalty, grief, guilt, and the murky terrain of truth and memory. These themes are handled with sensitivity and complexity, making the story resonate on a human level beyond just its plot twists.
To me it felt like the pacing was really good with a steady build of suspense that leads to a surprising conclusion. All the threads are tied up, but not in a way that feels overly neat.
Overall, A Short Life is not only a gripping mystery but also a poignant character study. It left me thinking about how quickly life can shift, and how we carry or hide the truth. A beautifully written, emotionally layered read that I would recommend giving a read.
What if the people you trust most in the world are the ones hiding the darkest truths—and what if one tragic night binds you all to a secret that could destroy everything?
Set against the backdrop of Cape Town, A Short Life unravels the story of six close-knit friends whose lives are thrown into disarray when two of them are involved in separate car accidents on the same night, on the same road, with devastatingly different outcomes. One survives. One doesn’t. And only two people know the full truth of what actually happened that night.
From the first page, I was drawn in. The writing is immersive and intelligent. The author’s style is both accessible and artful, balancing rich description, authentic dialogue, and just the right amount of introspection. I found myself celebrating the writing as much as the story. The short chapters made it really easy to stay engaged and feel like I was flying through the book.
The story unfolds through multiple first-person perspectives, a technique that can easily fall flat in less capable hands—but here, it shines. Each voice felt distinctive and believable and this structure added real depth to the emotional landscape of the book. It was fascinating to see how each character interpreted the same event differently, shaped by their own fears, guilt, love, and loyalties. This layering also allowed the mystery to be revealed slowly, piece by piece, keeping the tension high throughout.
At its core, A Short Life is a vivid exploration of human relationships, how they bend under pressure, how secrets corrode trust, and how even love can become complicated in the aftermath of trauma. The novel grapples with themes of friendship, loyalty, grief, guilt, and the murky terrain of truth and memory. These themes are handled with sensitivity and complexity, making the story resonate on a human level beyond just its plot twists.
To me it felt like the pacing was really good with a steady build of suspense that leads to a surprising conclusion. All the threads are tied up, but not in a way that feels overly neat.
Overall, A Short Life is not only a gripping mystery but also a poignant character study. It left me thinking about how quickly life can shift, and how we carry or hide the truth. A beautifully written, emotionally layered read that I would recommend giving a read.
September 11, 2024
a good, easy read— however character depth often fell flat and i found it soooo hard to get through sebastian’s parts. the ending was also vague and i felt loose ends were not tied up. with that being said i did finish within days!
March 5, 2025
Six friends meet for dinner one night. Later on, two car accidents occur on the same road, and one person ends up dead. The lives of these friends will never be the same.
This story is set in the affluent suburbs of Cape Town, and the descriptions in the book made me feel like I was driving around Cape Town myself while reading. I really enjoyed the familiarity of setting, especially having just been to Cape Town on holiday myself.
Although this book follows the plot of the car crashes that happened on the fateful night, I actually think that this story is more of an in depth character study of these friends and their lives. They all have their complex personalities, their secrets, their hopes and desires, all wrapped up in day to day life.
Although this is a short book, with short chapters, don't think that you will fly through this. It requires concentration and thought, you need to give these characters time to get to to know them.
Thank you to Penguin South Africa for the gifted copy of this book.
This story is set in the affluent suburbs of Cape Town, and the descriptions in the book made me feel like I was driving around Cape Town myself while reading. I really enjoyed the familiarity of setting, especially having just been to Cape Town on holiday myself.
Although this book follows the plot of the car crashes that happened on the fateful night, I actually think that this story is more of an in depth character study of these friends and their lives. They all have their complex personalities, their secrets, their hopes and desires, all wrapped up in day to day life.
Although this is a short book, with short chapters, don't think that you will fly through this. It requires concentration and thought, you need to give these characters time to get to to know them.
Thank you to Penguin South Africa for the gifted copy of this book.
May 29, 2025
3.5 rounded up to 4 for The Showbiz Report.
This was a bookclub book (thanks Michal!). I don't usually read murder mystery but I idolised Nicky Greenwall when I was growing up and was keen to read her writing. I quite enjoyed this! I especially enjoyed the South African setting and recognising places and sentiments.
I found the writing quite poetic. While I appreciated it, I think it was too consistent across the chapters, in that it didn't feel like the characters had individual 'voices'. I found their chapters to be idiosyncratically (is that a word?) similar.
You'll fly through the chapters because they're so short, and it's a fun way to make progress. I get the gimmick of the way they were delineated and demarcated, but there were times when I thought that a couple of chapters could've been merged.
Apart from the above, a few editing errors (e.g. 'recons' instead of 'reckons'), and the dubious ethics of a psychologist knowingly taking on couples as individuals, this was not a bad book at all, and I hope Nicky Greenwall keeps writing.
This was a bookclub book (thanks Michal!). I don't usually read murder mystery but I idolised Nicky Greenwall when I was growing up and was keen to read her writing. I quite enjoyed this! I especially enjoyed the South African setting and recognising places and sentiments.
I found the writing quite poetic. While I appreciated it, I think it was too consistent across the chapters, in that it didn't feel like the characters had individual 'voices'. I found their chapters to be idiosyncratically (is that a word?) similar.
You'll fly through the chapters because they're so short, and it's a fun way to make progress. I get the gimmick of the way they were delineated and demarcated, but there were times when I thought that a couple of chapters could've been merged.
Apart from the above, a few editing errors (e.g. 'recons' instead of 'reckons'), and the dubious ethics of a psychologist knowingly taking on couples as individuals, this was not a bad book at all, and I hope Nicky Greenwall keeps writing.
April 21, 2025
What, what a novel. The suspense nearly killed me. Everyone became a suspect the deeper the story unfolded. Tightly woven twists and turns. Cliffhangers that knotted together towards the end, Nicky did a thing there!!!!
September 8, 2024
Absolutely captivating! Loved the modern South African setting and thrilling little chapters.
September 22, 2024
Well-paced with a good dose of suspense and intrigue. Loved how the multiple POVs drove the story forward.
March 9, 2026
What do you mean, that's how it ended?????
August 15, 2024
Producer, entertainment journalist and former television presenter Nicky Greenwall has added another string to her bow – that of novelist! Her debut book ‘A Short Life’ is an unsettling tale of six friends whose lives are forever changed by two accidents on the same night. It sits in the genre of domestic noir, in the familiar setting of Cape Town, and the road to the truth is as twisting – and surprising - as the road where the accidents occurred…
Greenwall is a disciplined writer, by that I mean she knows when to ‘cliffhang’, when to delve deeper and when to reveal secrets. This had me turning the pages and holding my breath as the bends in the road got trickier.
Imagine you are out with friends celebrating an anniversary – old friends. You’ve grown up with them, worked with them. Lots of history here. There’s Charley - the driving force – a woman who is sure of what she wants with Sebastian, her husband and soulmate. They have a successful production company, two children and a house in Llandudno – could be called the golden couple. Franky, Charley’s bestie, friends since childhood, both creative but our Franky is a tad neurotic, insecure, a worrier, and oh so precise. Married to Nick – the smooth engineer – a contemporary chap who reflects his privilege. Finally, Adam (bit of a loser) and his younger wife, the gorgeous Maria with their three children. And then there is Franky’s widowed mother…
Tragedy strikes as two of the friends have separate accidents on the same stretch of road. One dies, is the other culpable?
The characters are layered, recognizable, and as the story unfolds, you’ll be surprised at their complexity, their secrets, their fears, and their real sense of friendship in finding the truth. It’s a real story – one of connections, loyalty, guilt and everything that goes with longstanding relationships. It’s dark and edgy – that twisting road is fraught with shadows and hidden places. And questions that throw doubt over a golden relationship. Do friends really know each other? Why was she driving away from home that night?
It’s a thriller that keeps surprising, not least at the end. Greenwall keeps you guessing and she drops a few red herrings – look out for the psychologist – which may have you heading in another direction. Whichever way you look at it this novel will resonate, it might have you wondering what you don’t know about your besties, but it will certainly stay with you. A sincere and well thought out debut novel, one which I think has legs and well, life is short, as we know only too well.
.
Greenwall is a disciplined writer, by that I mean she knows when to ‘cliffhang’, when to delve deeper and when to reveal secrets. This had me turning the pages and holding my breath as the bends in the road got trickier.
Imagine you are out with friends celebrating an anniversary – old friends. You’ve grown up with them, worked with them. Lots of history here. There’s Charley - the driving force – a woman who is sure of what she wants with Sebastian, her husband and soulmate. They have a successful production company, two children and a house in Llandudno – could be called the golden couple. Franky, Charley’s bestie, friends since childhood, both creative but our Franky is a tad neurotic, insecure, a worrier, and oh so precise. Married to Nick – the smooth engineer – a contemporary chap who reflects his privilege. Finally, Adam (bit of a loser) and his younger wife, the gorgeous Maria with their three children. And then there is Franky’s widowed mother…
Tragedy strikes as two of the friends have separate accidents on the same stretch of road. One dies, is the other culpable?
The characters are layered, recognizable, and as the story unfolds, you’ll be surprised at their complexity, their secrets, their fears, and their real sense of friendship in finding the truth. It’s a real story – one of connections, loyalty, guilt and everything that goes with longstanding relationships. It’s dark and edgy – that twisting road is fraught with shadows and hidden places. And questions that throw doubt over a golden relationship. Do friends really know each other? Why was she driving away from home that night?
It’s a thriller that keeps surprising, not least at the end. Greenwall keeps you guessing and she drops a few red herrings – look out for the psychologist – which may have you heading in another direction. Whichever way you look at it this novel will resonate, it might have you wondering what you don’t know about your besties, but it will certainly stay with you. A sincere and well thought out debut novel, one which I think has legs and well, life is short, as we know only too well.
.
November 3, 2024
Just no.
December 15, 2024
The jumping timeline got the better of me. The storyline is solid but the continuous interruption of the flow was annoying.
August 6, 2024
3.5 stars
This book started really compelling, but fell short at the end. I also dislike all the engineering slander, I don't understand why it was added?
This book started really compelling, but fell short at the end. I also dislike all the engineering slander, I don't understand why it was added?
January 4, 2025
Nicky Greenwall’s debut novel is nothing short of brilliant. I couldn’t put it down—the twists and turns add such depth that it leaves you craving more. I’ve had my eye on this book since its release because, as they say, local is lekker, and I’m thrilled to confirm that it truly is. Reading it felt even more special after visiting Cape Town. Although I didn’t explore the city in its entirety, taking the tour bus allowed me to see enough to feel transported by the story’s setting. This novel is exceptionally well-written, and there’s definitely potential for a sequel if Nicky chooses to go that route. While I loved the happy ending, the group of six characters was riddled with secrets, making their dynamic utterly fascinating.
August 27, 2024
4.25 ⭐️
This book really took me by surprise. Despite being a thriller, surrounding a murder mystery, it offered so much more.
If you are looking for likeable characters, this is not the book for you. The characters are flawed and the dynamics of some of the relationships are interesting to say the least. The book raises a lot of thought provoking thoughts.
The non-linear timeline threw me off at first, but at the end everything made sense. I also did not see the ending coming.
I loved that the book was set in Cape Town. It was fun to read a book based in my home country. The book captures the privileged lives that some millennials live.
It’s definitely worth a read.
This book really took me by surprise. Despite being a thriller, surrounding a murder mystery, it offered so much more.
If you are looking for likeable characters, this is not the book for you. The characters are flawed and the dynamics of some of the relationships are interesting to say the least. The book raises a lot of thought provoking thoughts.
The non-linear timeline threw me off at first, but at the end everything made sense. I also did not see the ending coming.
I loved that the book was set in Cape Town. It was fun to read a book based in my home country. The book captures the privileged lives that some millennials live.
It’s definitely worth a read.
March 27, 2026
This book was good. As a South African it was a pleasant surprise finding out this story is set in Cape Town. I love the way the surroundings are described and the aesthetics of the lives of upper-class South Africans.
I do feel like the story was dragged on a bit and there were chapters which you would feel were important but in the end didn’t really have anything to do with the mystery we were trying to unfold.
I was kept guessing until the very end though.
My favourite “twist” if i could call it that— “discovery” might be a more suited word— was the reason Charley left the house that night. It absolutely melted my heart.
I do feel like the story was dragged on a bit and there were chapters which you would feel were important but in the end didn’t really have anything to do with the mystery we were trying to unfold.
I was kept guessing until the very end though.
My favourite “twist” if i could call it that— “discovery” might be a more suited word— was the reason Charley left the house that night. It absolutely melted my heart.
October 6, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s not often I read a book set in South Africa and I could picture and know all the places in which the events took place.
The characters were people with whom I could identify, the mother Silvia being my age and her daughter Franky the same age as mine.
There were clever twists and unexpected outcomes. Each character had a first person opportunity, giving the reader better insight.
It’s frightening how life can change in an instant due to a freak accident. The ensuing speculation forms the skeleton of this novel.
The characters were people with whom I could identify, the mother Silvia being my age and her daughter Franky the same age as mine.
There were clever twists and unexpected outcomes. Each character had a first person opportunity, giving the reader better insight.
It’s frightening how life can change in an instant due to a freak accident. The ensuing speculation forms the skeleton of this novel.
August 4, 2025
Well done on your first novel Nicky. It was a real enjoyable read.
The writing is immersive and I was hooked from the start. The fact that I could not sit and binge it just made me more invested.
6 close friends. 2 car accidents. 1 dies. 1 survives. Only 2 people know exactly what happened.
The guessing almost drove me mad. What happened? Why did it happen? What is in the box. I thought I would never know, until the last page.
If you are up for the suspense this is a definite yes. You will be guessing and almost die wanting to find out what is going on.
The writing is immersive and I was hooked from the start. The fact that I could not sit and binge it just made me more invested.
6 close friends. 2 car accidents. 1 dies. 1 survives. Only 2 people know exactly what happened.
The guessing almost drove me mad. What happened? Why did it happen? What is in the box. I thought I would never know, until the last page.
If you are up for the suspense this is a definite yes. You will be guessing and almost die wanting to find out what is going on.
August 10, 2025
I went in with high expectations thanks to glowing reviews, but sadly it didn’t quite live up to the hype for me. While there were a few standout moments that genuinely shocked and intrigued me, they were few and far between, with much of the book feeling like filler. The shifting timelines, though sometimes frustrating, did add layers to understanding the characters. However, the pacing felt slow, taking far too long to get to the point. The reason behind her death was so deeply relatable it almost felt underwhelming, and the reveal of who caused it was more of an anticlimax than a twist.
August 29, 2024
Tense, thrilling and highly affecting, Nicky Greenwall's debut A Short Life is a masterclass in suspense. Greenwall manages to weave complex narratives of the secrets we keep, friendship, loyalty and belonging with a skill one does not often see in a thriller. You will fly through this brilliant novel.
March 16, 2025
This is my first read of the year and I loved it so much. I was thrilled every time I opened it to read. You don’t want to put it down with you pick it up. Being someone that had visited cape town a few times, I loved all the road references and places. Thank you Nicky for such an interesting read :). Recommend for all book lovers!!
May 21, 2024
I was lucky enough to have an early read of this book due to be released shortly. What a fabulous read. A real page turner with twists I never saw coming. A great psychological thriller set in beautiful Cape Town. Time so well spent.
February 21, 2025
Enjoyed this one. I loved the relatability of it being set in Cape Town. And the plot is gripping! I got a little bit confused between the different characters, and going back and forth across timelines but it does come together in the end.
November 3, 2024
As someone who lives in Cape Town, this really emphasises how small it really is 🤪 great premise but some of the characters just felt a bit surface level. Overall an enjoyable fast paced read
November 10, 2024
Excellent book and great to read. Set in Cape Town and the story unravels to reveal the events at just the right time to keep the suspense.
May 3, 2025
This one definitely gripped me. Loved it.
Mysterious ending..
Mysterious ending..
February 2, 2026
The storyline had so much potential, but it didn’t keep me captivated. It felt like the descriptive writing was focused on so much so that it overpowered the actual plot. Wouldn’t recommend.
August 26, 2024
I enjoyed the book. It took me a few chapters to grasp and keep track of all the characters, but once I got that under the belt, it was great! And the ending! Didn't see that coming!
June 23, 2025
This is local fiction at its absolute best. From the very first chapter, I was hooked. The setting in Cape Town, South Africa, is so vivid and atmospheric, and having just visited the city myself, I felt an even deeper appreciation for how beautifully it was brought to life on the page. It made the story feel all the more real and immersive — local truly is lekker ⛰️
The characters are incredibly well written — complex, flawed, and deeply human. No clear-cut heroes or villains, just people making messy, morally grey choices that kept me questioning everything. That emotional complexity gave the story real depth, and I found myself completely invested.
And the plot? 😱 Absolutely packed with twists and turns. Just when I thought I had it figured out, another surprise hit. It kept me guessing and genuinely on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The pacing is spot-on, and the suspense is handled brilliantly — never overdone, always compelling.
Nicky Greenwall has created something truly special with this book. It’s smart, gripping, and showcases just how powerful South African fiction can be. An unforgettable read that I’ll be recommending to everyone 📘
The characters are incredibly well written — complex, flawed, and deeply human. No clear-cut heroes or villains, just people making messy, morally grey choices that kept me questioning everything. That emotional complexity gave the story real depth, and I found myself completely invested.
And the plot? 😱 Absolutely packed with twists and turns. Just when I thought I had it figured out, another surprise hit. It kept me guessing and genuinely on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The pacing is spot-on, and the suspense is handled brilliantly — never overdone, always compelling.
Nicky Greenwall has created something truly special with this book. It’s smart, gripping, and showcases just how powerful South African fiction can be. An unforgettable read that I’ll be recommending to everyone 📘
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