The following version of the novel was used to create this study guide: Higginson, Craig. The Dream House. Picador Africa, March 1, 2013. Kindle.

In the novel The Dream House by Craig Higginson, South African native Phiwayinkosi Ndlovu, best known as Looksmart, works for a land development company in charge of building a gated community on the farm where Looksmart was born and raised. Looksmart makes a trip to the farm to confront Patricia Wiley, a White woman who took a special interest in him. She ensured that he had the schooling he needed to be a success in life. Despite the advantages Patricia gave Looksmart, an event occurred when a South African native named Grace suffered a cruel death. Richard, Patricia’s husband, intentionally set loose a dog to maul Grace. The death of Grace makes Looksmart realize that Patricia is a racist like her husband. Looksmart visits Patricia intending to make her understand how her behavior impacted him.

With the help of their South African maid and cook, Beauty, Patricia and Richard are packing to leave the farm on which they have lived since they were married. They will move to the house where Patricia grew up, a house by the sea in Durham. Workers have already begun to demolish farm outbuildings and construct new houses on the farm. Because Richard is suffering with senility, Patricia has told him little about the move. Their marriage has not been happy. They married because Patricia was pregnant. The baby, whom they named Rachel, was stillborn. Patricia was unable to get pregnant again. Richard had multiple affairs through the course of their marriage. Patricia had one affair that lasted through most of their union.

Patricia is surprised when Looksmart visits her on the evening before she and Richard are to move. She is hurt because Looksmart shows off how successful he has become and appears to be intentionally rude. Patricia is surprised when Looksmart tells her that he wants to talk to her about Grace and the way she died. Patricia admits that she does not remember much about that day. In fact, she did not even remember that Looksmart had still been on the farm when Grace died. She agrees that Looksmart was there only after Beauty confirmed that Looksmart was the one who took Grace to the hospital.

Looksmart tells Patricia that before Grace died, Richard had been raping her. He says that Richard intentionally let the dog loose, hoping that it would hurt Grace. Looksmart told Patricia that he and Grace were in love and were planning to get married. He explains he left the farm after Grace died because he feared that he would kill Richard if he did not. He tells Patricia that he realized she was racist as a result of that situation because she hesitated when Looksmart wrapped Grace in a blanket to take her to the hospital in Patricia’s car. He claims he could see in Patricia’s eyes that she did not want Grace’s blood on her seats and suggested they take the truck instead. The truck, however, was gone. By the time enough blankets had been laid in the back seat of the car to satisfy Patricia, Grace had bled to death before Looksmart arrived at the hospital with her.

Looksmart has returned because he wants Patricia to recognize her role in Grace’s death, a role that Patricia does acknowledge. Looksmart intends to hurt Patricia when he shows her the plans he has for the houses in the gated community. Each will be a copy of the house in which Patricia and Richard live with only slight variations. Patricia realizes Looksmart’s obsession with their house demonstrates the impact that her role in his life had on him. She also believes that his need to replicate the house illustrates the way he is replicating his pain.

The following morning, when Looksmart is gone, Patricia asks Beauty to tell her the truth about the relationship between Grace, Looksmart, and Richard. Beauty tells Patricia that Grace did not love Looksmart and did not want to marry him. Richard was paying Grace to have sex with him. She wanted to go on earning that money, but she became pregnant with Richard’s baby. Beauty says that Grace had told Richard she was pregnant on the day she died. Beauty overheard Grace say that she had to keep the baby because of her religious beliefs. She watched as Richard hit Grace and then Grace ran away. Richard unchained the dog and ordered it to go after Grace. Patricia decides at that point that when she and Richard arrive in Durham, she will arrange for him to stay in a nursing home, an option she would not consider previously.