Elderly and in poor health, Mary has lived in Hobart a long time. But when a letter is delivered to her house by someone she hoped never to see again, she knows she must return to Bruny Island to live out her last days with only her regrets and memories for company.

Years before, her husband was the lighthouse keeper on Bruny and she raised her family on the windswept island, until terrible circumstances forced them back to civilisation. Now, the secret that has haunted her for decades threatens to break free and she is desperate to banish it before her time is up. But secrets have a life of their own and, as Mary relives the events of her life, she realises her power over the future may be limited.

Back in Hobart, Mary's adult children are respectively outraged, non-committal and sympathetic about her escape from their care. But no amount of coaxing will shake her resolve. Her youngest son Tom loves Bruny, and can understand her connection to that wild island, a place of solitude, healing and redemption for them both.

As Mary's secret threatens to tear her apart, both she and Tom must face their pasts in ways they couldn't even begin to imagine. Mary finds that the script she's written to the end of her life has taken a few twists of its own.

A woman at the end of her life. A man unable to restart his. A history of guilty secrets and things left unsaid. A powerful, moving novel that will steal your heart.

About the Author
Karen Viggers was born in Melbourne, Australia, and grew up in the Dandenong Ranges riding horses and writing stories. She studied Veterinary Science at Melbourne University, and then worked in mixed animal practice for seven years before completing a PhD at the Australian National University, Canberra, in wildlife health. Since then she has worked on a wide range of Australian native animals in many different natural environments, including Antarctica. She lives in Canberra with her husband (an ecologist also passionate about wildlife) and two children. As well as writing, she works part-time in a veterinary practice and provides veterinary support for biologists studying native animals. Visit www.karenviggers.com

Reviews
This is a poignant and beautiful work from a promising Australian author. * Australian Women Online *
This is an engrossing, often moving but never mawkish read. * Adelaide Advertiser *
Karen Viggers sets the scene in a family dynamic filled with regret, loss and love. Poetic in its treatment, it's a novel of parallels and, ultimately, hope. * Australian Women's Weekly *


Awards
Winner of Prix Litteraire: Les Petits Mots des Libraires - Discovery Novel Category 2016 (France).



Book Information
ISBN 9781743310397
Author Karen Viggers
Format Paperback
Page Count 408
Imprint Allen & Unwin
Publisher Allen & Unwin
Weight(grams) 355g
Dimensions(mm) 200mm * 130mm * 30mm