When 25-year-old Bella Michaels is brutally murdered in the small town of Strathdee, the community is stunned and a media storm ensues. Unwillingly thrust into the eye of that storm are Bella’s beloved older sister, Chris, a barmaid at the local pub, and May Norman, a young reporter sent to cover the story.

Chris’s ex-husband, friends and neighbours do their best to support her. But as the days tick by with no arrest, her suspicion of those around her grows. And as May attempts to file daily reports, she finds herself reassessing her own principles.

An Isolated Incident is a humane and beautifully observed tale of everyday violence, the media’s obsession with the murder of pretty young women and the absence left in the world when someone dies.

It is a psychological thriller about everyday violence, the media's obsession with pretty dead girls, the grip of grief and the myth of closure, and the difficulties of knowing the difference between a ghost and a memory, between a monster and a man.

SHORTLISTED: Miles Franklin Literary Award 017
SHORTLISTED: Stella Prize 2017
SHORTLISTED: Ned Kelly Prize for Best Crime Novel 2017
SHORTLISTED: ABIA Literary Fiction Book of the Year 2017

Emily's articles and essays on sex, religion, culture and literature have been published widely including in The Sydney Morning Herald, The Griffith Review, The Financial Review, The Observer and The Age.

quite possibly the best book i have read this year

x

happy reading

;)

Thankyou for this lovely bag of books, LadyIndigo.

When 25-year-old Bella Michaels is brutally murdered in the small town of Strathdee, the community is stunned and a media storm descends.

Unwillingly thrust into the eye of that storm is Bella's beloved older sister, Chris, a barmaid at the local pub, whose apparent easygoing nature conceals hard-won wisdom and the kind of street-smarts only experience can bring.

As Chris is plunged into despair and searches for answers, reasons, explanation - anything - that could make even the smallest sense of Bella's death, her ex-husband, friends and neighbours do their best to support her. But as the days tick by with no arrest, Chris's suspicion of those around her grows.

Sent to jean-sol from the OzVBB

OZ VBB book received today thank you catsalive. I have been wanting to read this one since its release 5 years ago. On Mt TBR it goes!

Finally read this novel during an overseas holiday. A bit uneven, with some parts meandering at length but balanced by some really powerful comments around violence towards women, grief and very strong and well-fleshed characters. It will be released here in the UK before I head back home to Melbourne.

Left on the bookshelves amongst all the other books. It is in good company!

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