The resonance of war

1945. World War II has finally come to an end, and the world is rejoicing. But for Herbert, the celebration feels hollow. Two years earlier, he and his best friend signed up to fight the Axis powers in Sicily, only for a devastating bombing to level their compound. As the sole survivor, Herbert returns to South Africa a decorated hero with a broken heart, struggling to settle back into the quiet life of a simple barber. Years pass, and then the notes begin to arrive, mysterious, chilling, and increasingly personal. No one can identify who is sending them, but with his family&#rsquo;s safety at stake, Herbert can no longer look away. As the police investigate, outlandish reports flood the station, all describing the same haunting figure: a one-legged man lurking in the shadows, leaning heavily on a crutch. What began as eccentric hearsay is now a terrifying certainty, one with deadly consequences.

Author profile: Kim Appelgryn

Kim Appelgryn is an author, historian, and pianist whose work explores memory, conflict, mythology, and human resilience through emotionally driven storytelling.