Whew, nothing like moving out of your home of eighteen years and into a small log cabin that forces one to take a break from one’s passion and hobby! But I’m back, as I’m sure my many fans will be happy to hear, haha. What is it about Australian writers of fiction that makes them so good at what they do? A speculation as I was reading this excellent family drama (one of many put out by this author, as far as I’m concerned) and as I ponder other Australian writers like Liane Moriarty and Jane Harper. This novel features two sisters: Tully, the mother of two young boys and Rachel, a professional baker, who are the daughters of Stephen, a genteel and respected physician. Or so it seems. The novel opens as he is marrying a woman younger than his daughters and also while his previous wife (who is suffering from Alzheimer’s) is present. We learn immediately that something tragic happens behind the scenes at the wedding, but we don’t know what or to whom. The story then takes us back in time as Stephen meets Heather, the younger wife and into the lives of the two sisters and their dementia addled mother. We learn that this family is excellent at not only presenting a perfect image to the world but the women in this family have a history of doubting their instincts: A mistake that proves to be dangerous. A water bottle stuffed with a hundred thousand dollars and the name of a woman written on a slip of paper lead the two sisters to uncovering the truth. This is a delicious and unputdownable book!
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