Astronomer Lucy Rutherford is celebrating the refurbishment of the 100-year-old telescope in the Yarra Valley town of Bowness, Victoria. Her husband, Justin, is running for parliament, on a platform of responsibility and progress.
But Lucy isn’t interested in being a politician’s wife. And after twenty years, she plans to leave Justin. Once he’s won the election. Lucy’s biggest concern is how her eleven-year-old daughter, Gabby, will take the news. Or does Gabby already know? She has a habit of listening in on conversations she shouldn’t.
A week before polling day Lucy takes the family dog for a walk and doesn’t return. Justin is convinced Lucy has left him but Gabby is certain her mother is missing and in trouble. Why isn’t her father looking?
As the days go by, tensions rise between Gabby and her father. Desperate to contact her mother, Gabby takes matters into her own hands. On the day of the election Bowness is faced with a decision, and so is each member of the Rutherford family.
Kimberley Starr is an accomplished Australian writer whose previous novels include critically acclaimed titles Torched and The Kingdom Where Nobody Dies. Her latest offering is The Map of Night, a gripping and unique drama that investigates complex family dynamics and political intrigue, all set in a small-town community.
The Map of Night moves between the perspectives of Lucy, Justin and their curious daughter Gabby, allowing for a multi-layered look into this family in crisis. Who can be trusted is the question which persists throughout. The main characters are far from perfect, and will have you questioning all of their motives. The small-town Yarra Valley setting is evocative and unusual for a mystery. Lucy’s insights into the wonders of the night sky add a beautiful natural touch to this novel.
For anyone who likes the sound of a cracking mystery that sets itself apart from many in the genre, The Map of Night will be right up your alley.
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