I picked up this book after coming across it in the returns chute and was immediately intrigued by the idea of poetry being used to write a novel. Unfamiliar with the work of Dororthy Porter, I found the format easy to follow for those like me, who are easily distracted by the details.
The novel follows a private investigator, Jill, hired by the family of a missing teenager, using her skills as an outlier to find answers and suspects, she must navigate various social circles that test the limits of truth and deceit. I enjoyed the unfiltered characters, observers’ humour and the persistence of the main character to find closure in the case, for the sake of the missing girl who stashed her vulnerability with the wrong people.
Laced with Australian and LGBTQI+ culture of the 90s, I recommend this book to lovers of crime thrillers who are looking for a fast-paced mystery.
Content warnings, as this is suited for an 18+ audience.
-Ivora, Tumut Library
