For those of us who’ve recently settled in Australia (say, in the last 230 years or so), there exists a contradictory love for the beauty of this continent, but also a deep fear of its capacity to destroy. Sally Piper adroitly navigates this tension in The Geography of Friendship, where the Australian bush is a terrifying but beautiful backdrop for this unsettling story.

The book centres around three women now in their 40s: Sam, Lisa and Nicole. As teenagers, they were inseparable. However, after a traumatic turn of events while on a hike, they became estranged. Twenty years later they agree to attempt the bushwalk again as a way of making peace with the past. As the women hike, we learn how they became friends, the regrets that haunt them and what actually happened 20 years ago that changed their lives.

The chapters alternate between each woman’s perspective and the narrative weaves together the past and the present. Piper is adept at drip-feeding tantalising snippets, making this a fast-paced and pretty gripping read. Tension is intensified by the latent malevolence of the Australian bush.

Although pitched as an exploration of female friendship, I found the examination of male violence and its repercussions more original and engaging. There were several of scenes where I literally stopped breathing for a moment; quite an achievement for an author!

A lot like Jane Harper, a little bit like Emma Visic, Sally Piper has joined a group of Australian writers offering up the Australian landscape as a character in its own right. Importantly coupled with this is a compelling plot and contemporary commentary. It may not stick with you forever, it’s an entertaining and satisfying read.

Reviewed by Louise Falconer