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3 ratings | 3 reviews | avg rating:4.67

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Michael Chalk

Goodreads Author

Born

in Durban, South Africa

Website

https://www.authormichaelchalk.com/

Genre

Historical Fiction, Fiction, Thriller

Member Since

October 2023

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/michael-chalk

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Michael Chalk writes novels that explore moral choice under pressure—the quiet decisions made when personal loyalty collides with institutional power.

Born in Durban, South Africa, in 1955 and raised in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Michael came of age amid political upheaval and the final years of the Rhodesian Bush War. After studying law in Scotland, he returned to Rhodesia, where he worked as a prosecutor and served as a Second Lieutenant in the Rhodesian African Rifles.

Those experiences shaped The Unravelling and its sequel, A Moment of Madness, which follow individuals and families caught up in Rhodesia’s collapse and Zimbabwe’s turbulent transition. In Zachary’s Cry, Michael turned to contemporary Australia and the moral and medico-legal q ...more

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Michael Chalk’s books

Average rating: 4.79 · 28 ratings · 5 reviews · 5 distinct works • Similar authors

	Zachary's Cry 4.83 avg rating — 24 ratings — published 2024	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Unravelling: A Story of Love and Betrayal in a Nation at War 4.33 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2023	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	No Clean Exit: Someone Always Pays it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2026	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Moment of Madness 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2024	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	An Ordinary Life in Extraordinary Times: Seven Decades of Sekuru's Stories 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Michael Chalk…

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Michael Chalk's Blog: News and Reflections

Zachary's Cry

What happens when one irreversible moment changes a life forever — and who should bear responsibility for the consequences? Longlisted for BookViral's 2025 Millennium Book Award Zachary's Cry is a contemporary Australian novel about trauma, medical responsibility, justice, and the extraordinary capacity of ordinary people to love a child whose life begins in the most difficult of circumstances. Se Read more of this blog post »

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Published on August 12, 2026 22:02

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Series by Michael Chalk

Rhodesia–Zimbabwe Duology (2 books)
by

Michael Chalk (Goodreads Author)

4.33 avg rating — 3 ratings

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Michael’s Recent Updates

Michael Chalk made a comment in the group Goodreads Librarians Group — Please create Rhodesia–Zimbabwe Duology topic " Hello, I am the author of these two novels and confirm that they form a two-book series. Could you please create the following series and link the book ...more "
17 hours, 25 min ago
Michael Chalk joined the group Goodreads Librarians Group
17 hours, 36 min ago · like
Michael Chalk is accepting questions on their profile page.
Aug 17, 2026 10:19PM · Be the first to ask Michael Chalk a question
Michael Chalk rated a book it was amazing War Cry (Courtney publication, #15; Courtney chronological, #16) by Wilbur Smith	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Wilbur Smith is one of my favourite authors and once again he has delivered a riveting book - but this time set in Europe during the lead up to WW2.
Mar 15, 2026 05:41AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of War Cry by Wilbur Smith. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — War Cry by Wilbur Smith <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael Chalk rated a book it was amazing The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I loved this book from page one to the end. A captivating story about the trials of a young school boy who is born with ocular albinism (red pupils).
Mar 15, 2026 05:35AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael Chalk rated a book really liked it Cry of the Fish Eagle by Peter Rimmer	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sweeping historical fiction of southern Arica from 1900. The story was great but the editing needed some improvement.
Mar 15, 2026 05:33AM · like · see review