Where to Start with Bianca Marais
Since Bianca Marais writes standalone novels rather than ongoing serials, there is no rigid narrative order you must follow. However, her books vary dramatically in genre, tone, and setting. Choosing the best starting point depends entirely on what kind of reading experience you are looking for.
For Historical Fiction Lovers (Recommended): Hum If You Don't Know the Words
If you want to experience the emotional depth and cultural insights that first put Marais on the literary map, start with her debut novel, Hum If You Don't Know the Words (2017). Set in South Africa during the turbulent 1976 Soweto Uprising, this novel alternates between the perspectives of a young white girl and a Black Xhosa mother. It is a stunning, heart-wrenching exploration of race, family, and unexpected bonds under the apartheid regime.
For a Post-Apartheid Generational Story: If You Want to Make God Laugh
If you loved her debut or prefer stories about complex female relationships navigating societal transitions, pick up her second novel, If You Want to Make God Laugh (2019). Set in post-apartheid South Africa, it follows three very different women whose lives collide. It tackles systemic racism, homophobia, and the early years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic with deep empathy and grace.
For Whimsical, Cozy Magic: The Witches of Moonshyne Manor
If you prefer lighthearted urban fantasy, sisterhood, and humor, start with The Witches of Moonshyne Manor (2022). This book marks a departure from her heavy historical fiction, focusing on five octogenarian witches fighting to save their modern-day sanctuary from foreclosure.
For Mystery and Puzzle Fans: A Most Puzzling Murder
If you enjoy classic locked-room mysteries, interactive structures, and brain-teasers, jump straight into A Most Puzzling Murder (2025). The novel stars a recluse enigmatologist, Destiny Whip, who travels to a remote island castle and must solve actual puzzles to prevent a murder before it happens.
Bianca Marais Books in Publication Order
For readers who want to follow Bianca Marais's evolution as a writer, reading in publication order is a great approach. It shows her transition from heavy, historically grounded South African narratives to lighter, speculative, and genre-bending works.
The Standalone Novels
- Hum If You Don't Know the Words (2017) — A poignant historical fiction novel set during the Soweto Uprising.
- If You Want to Make God Laugh (2019) — A multi-generational historical drama set in post-apartheid South Africa.
- The Witches of Moonshyne Manor (2022) — A magical realism and contemporary fantasy novel focused on aging witches.
- A Most Puzzling Murder (2025) — An interactive, puzzle-filled locked-room mystery novel.
Short Stories and Audio Novellas
- "The Savages Among Us" (2014) — Published in the crime anthology World Enough and Crime (edited by Donna Carrick). This short story was a finalist for the 2015 Arthur Ellis Award for Best Short Story.
- The Prynne Viper (2022) — A dystopian sci-fi audio novella released exclusively as an Audible Original. It explores predictive AI technology, reproduction rights, and control.
What to Know Before You Start
Bianca Marais is highly versatile. Her early novels are deeply personal, reflecting her upbringing in South Africa under apartheid and her volunteer work supporting children affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. These books are emotionally intense and deal with heavy themes of institutional racism, grief, and generational trauma.
In contrast, her later books showcase her love for genre experimentation. The Witches of Moonshyne Manor blends cozy fantasy with themes of aging and sisterhood, while A Most Puzzling Murder invites the reader to actively solve riddles alongside the characters. Knowing this helps set expectations: do not expect the whimsical, lighthearted tone of her 2022 and 2025 books when opening her historical dramas!
Additionally, aspiring writers might know Marais as the co-host of the highly popular podcast, The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, alongside literary agents Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra. Her commitment to the craft of writing and supporting new voices is woven into everything she does, including the Eunice Ngogodo Own Voices Initiative, which supports young Black female writers in Africa.