6 ratings | 6 reviews | avg rating:4.83

Michael’s Year In Books

Michael’s 2025 Year in Books

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Michael Chalk

Goodreads Author

Born

in Durban, South Africa

Website

https://www.authormichaelchalk.com/

Genre

Historical Fiction, Fiction

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 fracture and historical upheaval. After studying law in Scotland, he returned to Rhodesia, working as a prosecutor and serving as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Rhodesian African Rifles. Those formative experiences shaped his first two novels, The Unravelling and A Moment of Madness, which examine Rhodesia’s collapse and Zimbabwe’s turbulent transition through deeply personal stories of identity, allegiance, and loss.
In Zachary’s Cry, Michael turned to contemporary Australia, telling the ...more

Combine Editions
Michael Chalk’s books

Average rating: 4.67 · 15 ratings · 8 reviews · 3 distinct works

	Zachary's Cry: A Novel of Trauma, Justice, and Redemption 4.70 avg rating — 10 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
	The Unravelling: A Story of Love and Betrayal in a Nation at War 4.50 avg rating — 4 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
	A Moment of Madness it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating	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

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

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Michael’s Recent Updates

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
Michael Chalk rated a book it was amazing A Moment of Madness by Michael Chalk (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
One country in turmoil. One regime tightening its grip. One family caught in the storm. From Ian Smith’s Rhodesia to Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe, A Moment of Madness plunges into 1980–1986: hope giving way to fear as the Gukurahundi begins and a one-part ...more
Dec 18, 2025 03:43AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of A Moment of Madness by Michael Chalk. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — A Moment of Madness by Michael Chalk <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael Chalk rated a book it was amazing Zachary's Cry: A Novel of Trauma, Justice, and Redemption by Michael Chalk (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
Zachary’s Cry is a hauntingly beautiful and morally complex novel that will stay with you long after the final page. Set in rural South Australia, the story opens with a shocking birth — a young woman alone, terrified, and hiding a devastating secret ...more
Jul 15, 2025 12:45PM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Zachary's Cry by Michael Chalk. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Zachary's Cry by Michael Chalk <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">