Sally Partridge's Blog

Cape Town, South Africa – April 3, 2025 – Acclaimed South African author Sally Partridge is set to captivate young adult readers once again with the release of her latest novel, “Slaying in Sedgefield,” on May 12, 2025.

This eagerly awaited sequel to “The Witches of Hogsback” continues the thrilling adventures of teenage sleuth Zelda Scott.

In “Slaying in Sedgefield,” Zelda is persuaded by her friend Song to spend the holidays at a secluded lakehouse on a private island in Sedgefield. The invitation comes from Megs, a childhood friend of Song’s who has risen to fame as a social media influencer. What promises to be a retreat filled with glamour and festivities soon turns ominous as the group becomes isolated by sabotage and a raging fire. Zelda must unravel the mystery and identify the unseen threat before it’s too late.

This novel marks Partridge’s second foray into the young adult mystery genre featuring Zelda Scott. Fans will be pleased to know that Marius, a character from the first book, makes a return in this installment. The cover of “Slaying in Sedgefield” was unveiled on December 1, 2024, generating significant excitement among readers.

Reflecting on her previous work, “The Witches of Hogsback,” Partridge drew inspiration from the enchanting town of Hogsback in the Eastern Cape. The novel received praise for its vivid setting and engaging narrative. As Partridge noted, the resurgence of teen crime capers has allowed her to contribute her unique voice to the genre.

“Slaying in Sedgefield” promises to deliver the same blend of suspense, dynamic characters, and atmospheric settings that readers have come to expect from Partridge’s work.

The novel will be available in bookstores and online retailers nationwide starting May 12, 2025.

I have some news to share! I can finally reveal the cover for my next novel, Slaying in Sedgefield, due to hit shelves May 2025.

Slaying in Sedgefield is the sequel to The Witches of Hogsback, where once again Zelda Scott finds herself on the hunt for a killer – this time in the beautiful Garden Route.

Following on from the events in Hogsback, Zelda is convinced by Song to accompany her to a private island lakehouse in Sedgefield over the holidays. Song was invited by the mysterious Megs, a childhood friend she hasn’t seen in years who is now a popular social media influencer. It promises to be a getaway filled with beautiful people, non-stop partying, and wild behaviour – everything Zelda hates.

But Zelda soon finds that there is more to these beautiful strangers, and with sabotage and a raging fire trapping the teens on the island, she has to act fast before she and Song fall victim to an invisible enemy.

This is my second YA whodunnit featuring Zelda Scott. And for those who read the first one – yes, Marius does make a return in the second

Here is the cover. I would love to know what you think!

I’m thrilled to share that Leo Jantjies and the Esports World Championship has been shortlisted for the Otto Foundation Children’s Book Awards in the Chapter Books & Graphic Novels category!

This recognition not only celebrates the hard work behind the story but also highlights the power of creativity and perseverance in the world of competitive esports.

Here is the full list of nominees in that category:
Chapter Books & Graphic Novels


Hector: A Boy, A Protest, and the Photograph that Changed Apartheid by Adrienne Wright

Pearl of the Sea by Anthony Silverston

The Legend of Mamlambo by Charles Siboto

Leo Jantjies and the Esports World Championship by Sally Partridge

Rodentia by Luke Calder

Tilly & Thandeka: The Star Siblings by Nicole Rimensberger

Marked by Gillian D’achada

One Step at a Time by Gregory Maqoma

The shortlisted titles will be included in the Otto Foundation’s Reading Relay, which is hosted among six schools in the District Six area in Cape Town. Book reviews submitted by participating learners during the relay process will be considered in the final selection of the award winners by an advisory panel.

The Otto Foundation Book Award winners will be announced in January 2025.

Read more here

My murder mystery novel, The Witches of Hogsback, has been longlisted for the 204 South African Literary Award for Best Youth Novel.

It’s a bumper longlist this year, featuring 31 incredible youth novels–including some of my favourites!

Congratulations to all the nominees!

Happy New Year!

I can’t think of a better way to start the new year than to share some good news.

A new year means new stories to enjoy! And this year I am excited to have a short story included in a new anthology for kids – Apocalypse at the end of the street, out this February from Lapa.

This collection is choc-a-block with short stories, poems, and even new South African folklore from over 30 local authors including Elizabeth Wasserman, François Bloemhof, Mia Arderne, Nathan Trantraal and Fanie Viljoen.

My short story, Thandi and the Dragon, explores what might happen if a dragon decided to land on Table Mountain. I won’t say more than that, but it’s a fun adventure I’m sure younger readers will love! I certainly loved writing it. The idea popped into my head as I was flying home from the Kingsmead Book Fair in Johannesburg – a plane is really just a giant metal dragon isn’t it?

If you want to find out what happens, keep an eye on the shelves this February.

It’s been a good few months since The Witches of Hogsback was published, so I decided to do a little Googling to see what readers have had to say about it.

Here are a couple of reviews I found online, Goodreads and Instagram.

Litnet

The story is a teenage mystery and adventure with a gothic undertone, depicted by the isolated town, witches and dark forests, although the story is never really scary or dark. … it is an exciting young adult novel written with a fast pace and good, believable dialogue and events. Like a typical teenager, Zelda often makes impulsive decisions that put her in danger.

Favorite parts of the book are the descriptions of the arboretum, a garden with massive Californian redwood trees, oaks and Japanese cedars as well as other exotic trees, all already over a hundred years old.

Roelia Reads

The novel is a captivating and tense read that will keep you hooked until the end. The author creates a vivid and atmospheric setting that blends the natural beauty of Hogsback with the spooky and supernatural elements of the story. Having visited Hogsback myself, I could so clearly picture all the scenes.

The Witches of Hogsback is a novel that will appeal to fans of mystery, thriller and paranormal genres. It is a book that will keep you entertained, intrigued, in suspense and inspired. It is a book that will make you think about the hidden mysteries and magic of the world around you. It is aimed at the Young Adult market, and it is a good fit. It is always lovely to read this genre in a South African milieu.

Teen Librarian

The story had just the right amount of holiday rebound romance, mystery and uncertainty; the aura of menace hooked me and kept me reading through the night. For me the real star of the story was the landscape (I can’t help it – I miss South Africa, and this novel took me home for a few hours).

Overall I found The Witches of Hogsback to be an incredibly satisfying read, the ending felt like a beginning for Zelda and he new-found friends rich with hope and excitement.

Se7en.org.za

This is such a great teen read, this author climbs right into the head space of our teenage heroine. Zelda is a little bit of an antihero, she cannot let a wrongdoing go past without investigating and as a result she is very unpopular at school. Also, she has had a horrible breakup from a boy she realises “now” wasn’t actually the best ever… She manages to manipulate her way onto the school-hiking-club annual adventure to the Hogsback. Hogsback is one of South Africa’s premier adventure spots, a wild mountainous area for exploring, adventuring and the wild outdoors.
Nobody believes Zelda, is there to hike, she hasn’t even take hiking boots… she has no intention of appreciating the great outdoors, she is there to heal her broken heart. BUT, Zelda is actually a girl with a passion for getting to the bottom of a crime, and when a local teen is killed, in a “fall” off a cliff, she is not going to believe the local newspaper when they mention “unfortunate accident.” In just a few days, Zelda manages to get under the skin of the locals, provoke them into revealing shadows of truth… there are twists there are turns… it is a great read. Not a sweet read, if you have a teen into dark crime and creepy stories, then this a really, really good one for them!!!

Goodreads

Rozanne Visagie
Outcasts, whodunit and cottagecore descriptions – I loved it all! The chapters are short and fast-paced and it’s interesting to see the group dynamic. I think teenagers will enjoy this read as they will be able to relate to the group of teenagers.

This book surprised me in so many ways and is definitely on my list of YA book recommendations. Spooky season is around the corner and this would be a great addition to any spooky TBR.
I think many South African readers will appreciate this book as there are familiar names and some readers who might have visited Hogsback will be able to experience the story on a different level as they are familiar with the area.

Shelves_by_sim
I absolutely loved this short story. I haven’t read much South African literature so I wasn’t sure what to expect from it but I saw that cover and I knew I had to read it. The read was fast and so well written. So many little things that made it authentically South African without being tacky. I absolutely loved the storyline, it took me right back to high school, it was immersive and nostalgic. There was so much mystery revolving around the plot that I wanted to keep reading until I knew everything!

Shalane Louw
This was such a page-turner. I loved that the book was descriptive and so atmospheric, the woods, the mist, the little town… I could so easily picture all of it. I loved reading about South African characters in a small SA town setting, there was something so ‘familiar’ about it The side characters were just as great. Zelda was not perfect but a very ‘real’ character to route for.

Instagram

catjuggles
The Witches of Hogsback is a great read for teenagers that crave an alternative to the usual reading material available to that age group. I would love to see another book where ZElda gets the chance to solve another murder.

Exciting news. My kid’s book, Leo Jantjies and the Esports World Championship, has made it onto the Exclusive Books Homebru list. 

Every year, Exclusive Books chooses a list of recent South African titles to promote in its Homebru catalogue. It’s an amazing opportunity for local writers to get their books promoted in stores front and centre across the country for a whole month. I get lightheaded just thinking about it.

I’m excited for readers who don’t know my work to meet and go on an adventure with Leo, my thirteen-year-old esports hero from Cape Town. If you love myths and legends and esports then this is for you.

Plus all Homebru titles are eligible for double Fanatics points till the end of September.

Check out the Homebru catalogue here.

My first children’s book for ages ten and up, Leo Jantjies and the Esports Championship, is coming out in August 2023 from Human & Rousseau and features amazing illustrations by Johann Strauss.

Leo Jantjies loves playing Theatre of Gods and Heroes (TOGAH). He’d play all day and night if he could – if it weren’t for nuisances like school and chores. The game has quickly become part of the professional esports scene where teams from around the world compete for millions of dollars in prize money. When a clip of Leo playing TOGAH goes viral, he doesn’t expect to be branded the best King Shaka player in the world. And he certainly doesn’t expect to get a call from a pro team to recruit him for the Esports World Championship in Paris! But soon Leo, his best friend Fiks, and his sister Lauren jet off to Europe for an adventure none of them thought was possible. 

The launch is happening on Saturday 5 August 2023 at 12:00 Exclusive Books V&A Waterfront. ACGL will have gaming setups available for kids to play games like FIFA, Brawlhalla, Rocket League and Minecraft, plus there will be plenty of snacks to keep everyone energised. It’s going to be a blast.

RSVP to events@exclusivebooks.co.za

To celebrate the publication of my eighth novel, The Witches of Hogsback, I created a murder mystery game based on the book. I’ve been running the game at a few Exclusive Books stores and they’ve gone so well I’ve decided to offer it as a free download for anyone who wants to play it at home.

Who Killed Stefan Dale? takes place in the picturesque mountain town of Hogsback. The arrival of a hiking group from Cape Town coincides with a terrible accident that shocks the town. As the host, it’s up to you to gather everyone who had a motive or opportunity and give them a chance to clear their names before you call in the police.

The suspects include members of the hiking group, a wannabe detective, the three members of the Hogsback coven, and a handful of locals who knew Stefan well. All suspects are based on characters from the book and the game follows the central plot.

Up to ten players can play, but you can do it with six or seven too (You can remove Gareth, Tumi, and Rose). There are five clues to collect, which can help players make their final decision.

Once everyone has had a chance to interrogate each other and study the clues, it’s time for a round of accusations as one-by-one, players reveal who they think did it and why. Then, in true Agatha Christie style, as the host it’s up to you to make the final reveal.

Here it is. Take it, it’s free!

Have fun and please let me know what you think!!! We’ll be running the game again on Saturday 15th July at Exclusive Books Somerset Mall at 16:30. Feel free to join! You can RSVP to events@exclusivebooks.co.za

If you want to buy the book you can find it at the following stockists:

Takealot
Exclusive Books
Wordsworth Books
Readers Warehouse
Book Lounge

The Witches of Hogsback is officially haunting bookshop shelves and online stores nationwide. The book transports readers to the atmospheric mountain town of Hogsback in the Eastern Cape. And while I’m all for immersive storytelling, I really wanted to bring the pages to life. So, I wrote a murder mystery game based on the book.

My publisher Lapa, together with Exclusive Books, has arranged a host of events in July for readers to come have some fun and discover for themselves… who killed Stefan Dale.

If you find yourself lost in the deep dark woods… I mean, in a mall… come join the fun!

These are the scheduled events taking place at Exclusive Books in July.

1 July
Murder Mystery Game & Teen Crime Quiz
Exclusive Books Cavendish Square

1 July
Teen Witch Dress up
Exclusive Books Nicolway

2 July
Free Teen Writing Workshop
Exclusive Books Canal Walk

2 July
Teen Crime Quiz & Teen Witch Dress up
Exclusive Books V&A Waterfront

8 July
Teen Crime Quiz
Exclusive Books Cresta

15 July
Teen Crime Quiz
Exclusive Books Canal Walk

15 July
Murder Mystery Game
Exclusive Books Somerset West

1 August
Teen Crime Quiz
Exclusive Books Constantia

Sadly, I do not own a time-turner or a broom, and won’t be able to attend every event, but you better believe the ones I’m coming to I’ll be bringing free bookmarks and books. I heard a rumour there’ll be some bewitching snacks available too.

RSVP is essential to events@exclusivebooks.co.za