By Tom Cottrell
A literary crime novel and multi-generational family saga, blending mystery, history and psychological depth with touches of magical realism.
A family curse. A murder without justice. A man without answers.
Millwood reveals a curse that refuses to stay buried
Tom Cottrell grew up in suburban Johannesburg. In 2013, he found himself drawn unwillingly into the unsolved murder of his cousin. However, the search for answers stirs something older and darker. It awakens an inheritance of guilt and shame that stretches back to 1876. That was the year his great-great-grandfather committed a single act. The consequences haunted the Osborne-Cottrell family for generations.
From the Knysna gold rush to modern Johannesburg, Millwood weaves together mystery, memoir and magical realism. It delivers a sweeping tale of love, betrayal and the unquiet past.
The hyena that stalks the family in dreams and daylight is only the most visible sign that the curse is real. It will not rest until the truth comes to light. Some stories end with a death. This one begins there. Throughout Millwood, the past refuses to remain buried. Instead, it reaches into the present and demands accountability.
About the author
Tom Cottrell is a South African author whose work explores endurance, meaning, and the turning points that reshape a life. His writing spans memoir, sporting history and literary fiction. Each book draws on personal experience and reflects his fascination with how ordinary people navigate extraordinary moments.
His debut, Five Hour Pilgrim, chronicles a year-long journey of reinvention. During that journey, he ran a marathon on every continent at the age of 50 while raising funds for Hospice. He followed this work with Comrades Marathon – 101 Years of Highlights & Heroes. The book pays tribute to South Africa’s most iconic race and examines its role in the country’s collective story. His latest work, Millwood, is a sweeping historical novel set across 140 years, blending family saga, mystery, myth and the long shadow of addiction.
- PUBLISHER | TMC Publications |
- ISBN | 978-0-6399825-2-6 |
- Recommended Retail Price | R310.00 |
- Classification | Fiction |
For more information | Janine Daniel | +27 (0)83 327 3393 | mail me |
