When Thuli reveals her secret - that she can see up to seven days into the future - to seasoned local journalist Helen, the latter is highly sceptical of the student's claims. But as Thuli truly believes that #FeesMustFall protest leader, Hector, will be assassinated by a sinister force, Helen starts to look into the matter.

And what she finds is some very odd behaviour by the police sent to “keep the peace” on campus. Police sent by Noné, South Africa's President and Most Impressive Leader, who wants no trouble from pesky students while she plans the launch of her zoo of creatures with extraordinary abilities.

One thing is certain: If what Thuli has seen is true, they have only seven days to change the future …

This book has haiku that describe what it is really like to work in retail. Jen Thorpe wrote these haiku in her head while smiling at customers who were behaving badly in the book store she worked in. If you work in retail, you might find yourself relating to these haiku of frustration.

Phobias abound at the Centre for Improved Living, where Nazma goes for help. She's crazy about baking and desperately wants to become a pastry chef, but her fear of driving keeps her stuck working in a train-station kiosk, where she sells stale food to commuters while dreaming of butter croissants and fresh strudel. The Centre is also a lifeline for Sam, who is scared to death of being robbed and spends his days in his pyjamas in front of his computer, his house alarm always armed. Like the rest of the patients, Nazma and Sam want to face their fears, but will four weeks at the Centre be enough to change their lives? And will the two allow their budding romance to bloom without letting their phobias get in the way? Meanwhile, the Centre risks losing its funding, a fear that Ruby, the Centre's eccentric director, must face while she tries to manage the patients' fears. Set in a Cape Town as peculiar as its characters, The Peculiars is Jen Thorpe's heart-warming and humorous debut.