Alexander is autistic. When he is nine years old he is found dead in a bath of water. The only other person in the house at the time is his mother Ingrid. The circumstances arouse suspicion and the police take Ingrid into custody. Did she murder her child? And who could blame her if she did? She has had nine years of hell with her uncontrollable child, all those she cares about have deserted her, and not even the church has come to her assistance. Her efforts to find help for Alexander have left her bankrupt and she is emotionally and physically depleted. If it were not for Miriam and Gunter, she would surely never have endured the nine years... In this haunting novel Annelie Botes exposes the tragedy of autism and its devastating effect on families. Searingly honest, it...
Annelie Botes is based in the Eastern Cape and writes in both English and Afrikaans. She is the author of a number of works, some of which have been translated into foreign languages. Riddle Child was published in August 2003, and the Afrikaans version of Riddle Child, Raaiselkind, has been prescribed as a setwork at schools in the Western Cape.
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