The Magpie Summer

Ellen lives just over the fence from Tom. They're neighbours but they don't really know each other.

For instance, Ellen doesn't know that Tom once went to prison for accidentally shooting his cousin. And Tom doesn't know about Ellen's little business, creating nativity scenes – with mice. But when a raft of small problems overwhelms Ellen, Tom finds himself drawn to the family next door in ways he could not have predicted.

Set in rural New Zealand, The Magpie Summer is a novel about forgiveness, second chances and taxidermy.