Therese lives what most would call a privileged life. One of comfortable luxury. The novel opens with her looking to open her first shop in Sydney, the first in Australia. With multiple stores in New Zealand, Therese’s brand has been popular and successful. Therese is the second wife of her much older husband, Trevor, who is a wealthy property developer working on his final development before retiring.
Trevor’s adult children have never warmed to Therese, never making a sincere effort to welcome her into the family. Despite this, Therese feels that her life has been, while not exactly exciting, comfortable and safe, building her brand over the last 30 years. However, allegations of fraud and the threat of an investigation into her husband’s latest property development force a shift in Therese’s perception. The investigation and possible incarceration of her husband threatens to unravel her life.
She starts to wonder if her happiness and contentment are a façade, and if, while living the life she chose when marrying Trevor, she has given up personal freedoms. As the investigation looms, Therese realises that she is alone. That is, apart from her neighbour Claire, who lives in the apartment downstairs.
Claire seems to have found freedom and balance in her life that Therese now craves. As Therese starts spending more time with Claire, the more questions arise for Therese, and Perkins explores this developing friendship and both women’s thoughts and perceptions.
The title ‘Lioness’ refers to two statues that Claire has in her apartment, but it also refers to Therese herself. Although living in Trevor’s shadow, protected by his financial aegis, the possibility of Trevor going to prison makes Therese realise that she has power and control of her life.
In Lioness, Perkins explores Therese’s and Claire’s developing friendship, their thoughts, and perceptions with skill. The result is a terrific novel about self-doubt and changing life.
Reviewed by Neale Lucas
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