Malla Duncan

Biography

Malla Duncan lives in Cape Town and writes across a variety of genres from 'women-in-jeopardy' to romantic adventure, children's fantasy and humorous books for African children. Her suspense novels are fast-paced, contemporary full-length stand-alone reads which introduce ordinary, flawed women characters caught in extraordinary circumstances.

Where to find Malla Duncan online

Books

The Ghost Road
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 61,410. Language: English. Published: November 3, 2017 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Dark, Fiction » Adventure » Action
What if you were lost in a land of dead people? And you were there to rescue the one person you hated more than any other? In the Ghost Road, Elspeth has returned to Rutherford’s school where she hopes to forget her experiences in the Shadow Garden. But a terrifying event in the geography class reminds her that the strange lands she traveled, and the weird people she met, were real.
The Shadow Garden
Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 48,590. Language: English. Published: August 31, 2017 . Categories: Fiction » Children’s books » Action & Adventure / Survival Stories, Fiction » Fantasy » Contemporary
(4.00 from 1 review)
An entirely new edition of The Vampire Castle, now released as The Shadow Garden. Lost in her grandfather's mysterious garden, Elspeth is forced to travel through space and time to find her way home. Scary, quirky, funny and fast-paced, The Shadow Garden is a juvenile scifi fantasy that will take your imagination to the end of the universe and back. Are you ready for the journey?
One Night
Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 75,180. Language: English. Published: November 17, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Psychological thriller, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Women Sleuths
What frightens you? Really? Casey Blaydon is about to find out. Still smarting from the breakup with her boyfriend, she finds herself alone and looking after a friend's dog for one night. But Barton Cottage is lonely and nothing has prepared Casey for the events that converge on her doorstep - events which unleash a terrifying mystery that follows her home like a shadow.
Miki and the Soccer Ball
Series: Miki, Book III. Price: $1.50 USD. Words: 12,330. Language: English. Published: November 3, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Children’s books » Sports & Recreation / Football
Another hilarious story about Miki and his mad family in Cape Town. This time Miki is given charge of a new soccer ball – but needlessly to say, things do not go according to plan. Winning the big football match against the Gugs team is paramount – except something has happened to the ball. And fixing it will take a dog, a hairdresser and a pudding. It doesn’t get any crazier.
Fat Chance
Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 66,720. Language: English. Published: February 8, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Humor & comedy » General, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Women Sleuths
(4.50 from 2 reviews)
A comedy thriller. Marsha and Milly visit the Amalfi coast in Italy for a holiday where they find themselves embroiled in the search for a serial killer who prefers fat women as his victims. Marsha decides to take on the role of sleuth herself - much to the dismay of the handsome Italian inspector. Thrills, spills, food and intrigue galore! A great holiday read.
Miki and the Boxing Gloves
Series: Miki, Book II. Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 9,740. Language: English. Published: July 8, 2011 . Categories: Fiction » Children’s books » Fiction, Fiction » Humor & comedy » General
A fun story for African and all children aged 8 - 14. In yet another hilarious romp with Miki’s family, Zap Mazela, local Cape Town boxing champion, asks Miki to look after his new boxing gloves. But when Granny Noo finds them, everything goes wrong. With the big match approaching, Miki is desperate. But a newcomer steps into the ring and sets the crowd to fever pitch.
Miki and the Cricket Bat
Series: Miki, Book I. Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 12,720. Language: English. Published: June 8, 2011 . Categories: Fiction » Children’s books » Fiction, Fiction » Humor & comedy » General
A fun family story set in Cape Town and suitable for African and all readers aged 9 – 14. When Miki borrows an old cricket bat, he hopes it might turn out to be a ‘magic’ bat. Unfortunately, after the embarrassing interference of his family, it seems that the bat will ruin his cricketing dreams. But Miki has no idea that the bat will eventually bring him luck in ways he can’t imagine.
Catchee Monkey
Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 69,980. Language: English. Published: April 26, 2011 . Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Psychological thriller, Fiction » Mystery & detective » General
(4.00 from 1 review)
What if the perfect man you were about to marry wanted you dead? When Elise Collette discovers a dark side to the urbane Jeff Braithwaite – a history of women either dead, missing or injured – she wants to clear him of suspicion and sets out to uncover the truth. But truth and lies are difficult to unravel when you are playing a deadly pawn game with a ruthless mind.

Smashwords book reviews by Malla Duncan

  • Heart's Promise on Feb. 05, 2012

    Timeless story of young teenage love cleverly woven around more serious issues of religious differences, nationality, family discord,jealousy, friendship and loyalty. Told from Milly's point of view in perfect tone, we get to feel the full range of her burgeoning young emotions as she progresses from her 11-year old infatuation to adult love. Deceptively gentle, this is a story for young and old. Definitely recommend.
  • Death and the Dream on March 19, 2012

    Beautifully written, perfectly balanced and paced, each story is different and completely compelling; poignant, disturbing, shocking and subtly underpinned with touches of pure horror. All fourteen stories are of equal calibre – so it’s hard to choose a favourite. I think I would go for Rabbit Nightmare for its creepy off-centre feeling of vulnerability, loneliness and sense of loss. Mouse Chimera is way up there for the truly horrific told in a rather matter-of-fact manner by a scientist slowly losing her mind in the pitiless nature of her work. But then I loved Rain Dance – a clever, unsettling story with the feeling of imminent disaster and the gentle sway of one too many glasses of red wine! This is top class professional work from a writer who has mastered the delicate and difficult art of the short story. Highly recommend.
  • Moondrops & Thistles on April 23, 2012

    'Moondrops & Thistles' takes you with detail, care and honesty into the private emotions of two people falling in love. This is not a romance about petulant misunderstandings and froths of pink happiness. Set against the background of army life, the book reveals the stress of military life: the sacrifices, the separations, the horror of war but also the valor, the honor and the weight of responsibility. The men who go to war in good cause deserve our respect, and the women who love them, our admiration. This key aspect lifts this book way above the average romance. It has been beautifully and meticulously crafted in a way that the values and attributes of these two people will not be forgotten. If you love romance that is thoroughly realistic and carries a message, then this book is for you.
  • Candy's Man on Oct. 07, 2012

    'Candy's Man' by Jeanette Hornby has all the bells and whistles: snappy, slick, with a well-planned plot laden with passion, twists and thwarted desire. There are beautiful people, beautiful cars, beautiful houses and beautiful clothes. Not to mention the shoes. And enough emotion, tension and unhappy confusions to keep you glued to the story. Will Candy get her man? Rather ask, will Candy's Man get her? The twists and turns are so adroitly planned, I could not stop reading - I had to know the answers to these questions. Well-written, well-paced, it is both heart-warming and heated, intriguing and satisfying. If you're a lover of traditional romance novels, then this one's for you.
  • The Last Legend on March 11, 2013

    This story is beautifully done, full of myth, mystery and history. If you want to visit 14th century Ireland, this is the route. Historical buffs will love it - but for me, personally and very subjectively, I found it at times, too slow. I prefer writing with more pace, tension and edge, so perhaps it wasn't a book for me and hence the 3 stars instead of the 4 stars I would have liked to have given. That said, I would say that those who enjoy historical detail, strong characters, a sense of fantasy and fairytale mixed with lyrical writing, this book is for you.