Winifred and Sylvie return with more wine, more secrets and far more trouble
I opened Lifting the Lid expecting more mischief from Winifred and Sylvie, but I wasn’t prepared for just how much trouble these two would get themselves into this time around. Somehow they’ve managed to make things even worse than they were, and I found myself grinning at the sheer audacity of it all. The story continues in Riviersvalleij, where the bookshop cafe is struggling financially and the women’s side hustle is getting more and more dangerous. Someone in the village knows too much of their extracurricular activities and that threat hangs over every scene.
Then a wine-themed reality TV show comes on the air and the whole place goes crazy. What should have been a distraction turns into a catalyst for chaos. Sylvie is instantly suspicious of the smooth presenter, while Winifred is bewildered by Skokiaan’s rapid transformation from mampoer king to organic wine darling. When a body is discovered in the leiwater, things get very high stakes very fast, and the question is just how far these two will go to keep their secret buried. The balance between cosy mystery and wicked humour is what worked so well for me. Espie runs with the absurdity of the situation without breaking the emotional thread between Winifred and Sylvie. Their dynamic is the book’s beating heart. Winifred’s polished, slightly anxious energy is a beautiful counterpoint to Sylvie’s earthy, Afrikaans-sprinkled commentary.
The story is told from both points of view, adding texture and making their partnership feel more lived in. There were times I really shouldn’t have laughed, but I did, and that’s part of the charm. Espie knows just how far to push the envelope before it crosses over into caricature.
Another highlight is the setting. Riviersvalleij feels deliciously familiar if you’ve ever spent any time in small South African towns. The gossiping, the competitiveness, the nosiness, the way everyone knows everyone else’s business when they shouldn’t. It’s just exaggerated enough to be fun but still recognisable. If you like dark humour served up in a cosy mystery, you will have a great time with this one. If you liked Making a Killing, this is a natural progression and even more assured in tone.
I’d still recommend reading them in order, as the relationship between Winifred and Sylvie is half the fun.
Lifting the Lid is deliciously twisted, sharp and funny. Espie has created a sequel that feels fresh but has all that made the first book so enjoyable. I closed it, wondering what sort of mess these two would manage to blunder into next. And without giving too much away, Bonnie Espie, how dare you? Really.
Thank you to Kwela/Jonathan Ball Publishers
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