When her mother dies from a snake bite, Comity Pinny's life in the middle of the Australian outback changes for ever. Her father, Herbert, retreats into his work trasmitting telegrams, abandoning Comity when she needs him most. Comity turns to Fred, the young Aboriginal yard boy and he becomes her only friend. But then a new assistant arrives who delights in playing cruel games. Soon Comity struggles to hold things together as events begin to spiral dangerously out of control. A gripping tale with an explosive climax from award-winning storyteller, Geraldine McCaughrean.
"Geraldine McCaughrean is an awe-inspiring writer with a miraculous talent for bringing to life past times and faraway lands." - The Sunday Telegraph
- Women's Prize For Fiction 2025
- Spring - just because they have Spring in the title
- Booker Prize - winners & nominees
- Royal Society Science Book Prize - winners & nominees
- Wainwright Prize - winners & nominees
- Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller Histories
- Bluemoose Books & Local Authors
- Death Positive Libraries collection
- Libraries of Sanctuary Collection
- See all ebooks collections
- Women's Prize For Fiction 2025
- Spring - just because they have Spring in the title
- Business Information collection
- Death Positive Libraries collection
- Libraries of Sanctuary Collection
- Royal Society Science Book Prize - winners & nominees
- Wainwright Prize - winners & nominees
- See all audiobooks collections