The colorful cover design of Elizabeth Wasserman’s The fantastic Mrs Smit is just the beginning of a delightful reading experience that awaits readers.
“Writing is always fun for me, but creating Mrs. Smit’s story was a double pleasure for me,” says Elizabeth with a laugh.
The story begins with Mrs Smit’s arrival in Aaronspoort, a fictional town that Elizabeth loosely modeled on Montagu in the Western Cape, which causes a great stir.
Not only does she spend her first night in police custody as a result of feigned “unacceptable behaviour”, but upon entering she comes across a dead body on her kitchen floor.
Neither Mrs Smit nor the residents of Aaronspoort know what will happen to them when all sorts of intrigues unfold after this. However, Mrs. Smit is determined to catch the killer, no matter how many toes she steps on or how many of the town’s shames she uncovers. As the death rate rises, she is becoming more and more unpopular in this close-knit small-town community.
The fantastic Mrs Smit become as a snuggle (cosy mystery), which is a subgenre of the crime novel. What readers can therefore expect is a detective story that maintains a lighter tone throughout.
Elizabeth Wasserman, author of ‘The Fantastic Mrs Smit’. (Photo: Peter van Noord)
Elizabeth is known for popular children’s series such as Detective dog Willem, Anna Atoom, Covering land (under the pseudonym Betsie Vos), and the Elf died-travel stories for teenagers. The Fantastic Mrs Smit is her first fiction book for mature readers.
Elizabeth does not want to reveal too much about a follow-up book, only that there are future possibilities for Mrs Smit and the residents of Aaronspoort.
“I think if the story continues, Mrs. Smit will probably continue to cause trouble and involve herself deeper in the town. She has not yet completely shaken off her past, so there is still a chance that it may catch up with her.
“What Mrs. Smit will also have to learn is to be a good aunt who is a little more involved in the community,” jokes Elizabeth.
The fantastic Mrs Smit cost R290 (price subject to change). Click here to add the book Graffiti Books to acquire.
- At the top of the article, listen to the full interview with Elizabeth Wasserman, author of The fantastic Mrs Smit. She elaborates on the joys, highlights and process of writing the story.
- Elizabeth Wasserman talks about her book at various launches in Gauteng in April: on April 13 at 18:00 at Exclusive Books in Centurion, on April 14 at 10:00 at Alkantrant Library in Lynnwood, and on April 15 at 11:00 at The Book Keeper Shop in Equestria and at 3pm at the Vryeweekblad festival in Cullinan.
