An Isolated Incident
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3.7 • 155 Ratings
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2017 MILES FRANKLIN LITERARY AWARD
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2017 STELLA PRIZE
"Forebodingly rhythmic ... a harrowing, fascinating, compelling work" The Australian
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.
An Isolated Incident 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.
MORE PRAISE FOR EMILY MAGUIRE
"At the heart of ... Emily Maguire's work lies an urgent need to pull away at the interconnecting threads of morality, society and human relationships." Sydney Morning Herald
"what you get, along with a sharp mind and a keenness to investigate cultural confusions, is an engaging ability to put the vitality of the story first." Weekend Australian
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
If Emily Maguire’s first four novels escaped your attention, this riveting thriller is a great introduction to a young Australian talent. It follows the brutal murder of Bella Michaels, a beloved nurse’s aide from Strathdee. Maguire shifts narrative perspectives to build suspense, focusing primarily on Bella’s grieving, tough big sister, Chris—who quickly finds herself doubting the police investigation and questioning who she can trust in her small-town community. An Isolated Incident is a white-knuckle page-turner, but Maguire has more on her mind than a simple whodunit. Her story touches upon the misery and horror stirred up in a culture that demeans and violates women.
Customer Reviews
Disappointing
Characters lacked depth. Too long winded.
Beautiful and harrowing
A novel that focuses on the repercussions of crime. Beautiful writing and great characterisations
Brilliant
Emily Maguire's 'An Isolated Incident' is one of the best books I've read in the last year. It was so new to read a book about a murder, told from the point of view of the family and those who loved her the most. Usually it's always a Police or investigative procedural. This book has real heart. Incredibly well written. A triumph.