Glenn’s debut novel is a well-crafted domestic thriller that keeps you absorbed from the first page to the last.
A couple (Jennifer and Jon) and their son, Jasper, leave their home on the Northern Beaches for a fresh start in Far North Queensland. A recent car accident has left Jennifer traumatised. Although she’s physically unhurt, the occupants of the other car were not so lucky. A young pregnant woman and her baby are killed, and the husband is injured. Jennifer’s driving record and good character help her escape jail.
Jon leaves before Jennifer to begin a job as CEO of the Greater Daintree Council. The area is being targeted by developers, and the government is planning a merger between council and state which could threaten the environment.
On arrival Jennifer is unsettled about how much Jon has achieved in the month they’ve been apart. He’s chosen their house, had it decorated, bought new cars, and hired staff. We sense that he’s over-protective, if not controlling.
Jennifer immerses herself in her new community, discovering lovely places and people but she also grapples with lingering guilt over the accident as well as Jon’s increasingly erratic behaviour. Where previously he had behaved like a petulant teenager, he has become violent. Her marriage starts to crumble and at the same time she’s obsessed with how she can atone for her part in the accident.
There is a real edge to this story, with twists and turns that keep you in suspense. The ending is both surprising and shocking. This is a real page-turner.
Reviewed by Sue Stanbridge
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Susannah Glenn is an Australian author and former journalist. Her works explore themes of domestic noir and psychological suspense. Her debut novel, Between Husbands and Wives, was published by Pantera Press in mid 2024.
A lifelong lover of travel and far horizons, Susannah has called many places home. Currently, she divides her time between a farm on the mid north coast of New South Wales and city digs in Adelaide, South Australia. She is married to Stuart and together they share a big, beautiful blended family, which includes Susannah’s two adult children.
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