Dissection

Dr Anna McBride’s life is starting to unravel. The mother of two boys and a dedicated GP, she is being sued for medical negligence—a case of delayed diagnosis. Deeply ashamed of her mistake, she doubts her abilities at work and retreats into family life, only to find that her husband seems preoccupied with a younger colleague. As the date for mediation draws closer and the lawyers’ demands become ever more pressing, Anna also senses someone else’s cries for attention—someone who wishes her harm.

First published in 2008 to critical acclaim, Dissection remains as relevant as ever. This absorbing novel reveals the uncompromising world of the medical profession, and the psychological toll it inflicts on one woman.

Jacinta Halloran is the author of the novels Dissection, shortlisted for the 2007 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for an Unpublished Manuscript; Pilgrimage, shortlisted for the 2014 Barbara Jefferis Award; and The Science of Appearances. Her new novel, Resistance, will be published in March 2023. She is a former board member of the Stella Prize, and was a GP for many years.

‘A bracing and beautiful novel...I recommend it as an unputdownable and richly rewarding read.’ Helen Garner

'Dissection reads like a moral thriller, a bulletin from the war zone that is modern living. You’ll never think of your GP in the same way again.’ Amanda Lohrey, Monthly

‘Well paced, spare, concentrated.’ Brenda Niall, Age

‘From page one, [Halloran’s] prose has the unmistakable ring of authenticity…A pleasure to read.’ Sydney Morning Herald

‘A tiny gem of a novel…Deeply empathetic.’ Herald Sun

‘This is a thoughtful and revealing portrait of a woman’s mid-life descent into a mire of self-doubt, and her first hesitant steps towards a new equilibrium.’ Canberra Times