Heather Rose (1) (1964–)

Astrid Coleman's twin JC is the Liberal Premier of Tasmania, coming up to an election in less than 6 months. Their old sister is the leader of the Labor opposition. The focus of JC's activity has been a huge bridge to connect mainland Tasmania to the island of Bruny. But now someone has bombed the nearly completed bridge. JC asks Astrid to come home. He wants her to manage public relations while he gets the re-building of the bridge agreed to. Initially she refuses but then gets an instruction from her bosses to go.

People find it very difficult to understand why the bridge is being built. It has Federal Government backing, and then JC announces that he has secured a workforce of about 300 Chinese workers to be available for the re-build immediately, and Astrid wonders what the Chinese are getting out of the deal.

This is a thought provoking novel in many ways. Astrid's parents are suffering from dementia and final-stage cancer and this adds another dimension to the story.

Rose has some interesting comments on Australian attitudes.

Awards:

Shortlisted, Best Fiction, Indie Book Awards, 2020, AU
Longlisted, Best Designed Commercial Fiction Cover, Australian Book Design Awards, 2020, AU
Winner, General Fiction Book of the Year, ABIA Awards, 2020, AU
Shortlisted, Adult Fiction Book of the Year, ABA Booksellers' Choice Awards, 2020, AU
Shortlisted, Best Crime Fiction, Davitt Awards, 2020, AU
Longlisted, Nib Literary Award, 2020, AU… (meer)

This novel is a far cry from The Museum of Modern Love, and was something very different to what I expected. It's a political thriller where Ace Coleman is summoned home from her job as a UN conflict negotiator by her twin brother, the Tasmanian Premier. The bridge being built to Bruny Island has been bombed, and it is essential that the various interest groups be dealt with so that the build can be completed to the original schedule. Ace's brother asks her to do that job.

Complicating matters is that Ace's sister Max is the Opposition Leader. This aspect of the book is something I found a stretch myself; it strained credulity beyond my limits. Still, the plot was very good, with twists that I didn't see coming, and a clever nod towards Tasmania's history.… (meer)