A Beautiful Family

'I absolutely loved this page-turning family mystery and didn't want it to end. The author so effortlessly transported me to another place and time, and every character leapt off the page. An extraordinary, exquisitely written debut.' Liane Moriarty, author of Here One Moment

'An absolutely riveting read. A Beautiful Family held me captive from the first page to the last, both through Trevelyan's uncanny ability to maintain inexorable tension throughout, and her wholly believable narration of a ten-year-old trying to make sense of the adult world around her. I loved it.' Hannah Kent, author of Devotion

In the past we had always spent our summer holidays in remote places. That had always been my mother's preference. This year was different...

As the summer holiday stretches ahead, with her older sister more interested in boys, her mother disappearing on long walks and her father, beer in hand, watching the cricket, the youngest in the family often finds herself alone. At the beach, she meets Kahu, a boy who tells her a tragic story about a little girl who disappeared a couple of years ago, presumed drowned. Suddenly, the summer has purpose—they will find the missing girl and become local heroes.

Between dips in the ocean, afternoon barbecues and lazy sunbaking, their detective work brings to the surface shocking discoveries and dark secrets, even about her own beautiful family. Jennifer Trevelyan magnificently captures the confusion and frustration of childhood, the fraught but unshakeable bond between sisters, and the dangers that lurk in the white lies we tell—especially about the people we love most.

'This taut tale of mystery and suspense follows Alix as she begins to understand that some actions can have dire consequences. The novel's power lies in its slow reveal. The ending is both satisfying and unsettling. Trevelyan convincingly portrays how a perceptive yet lonely child can make sense of and come to terms with painful and threatening experiences that remain invisible to the adults around them.' Australian Bookseller Publisher

'Taut yet tender, A Beautiful Family examines the precariousness of childhood through the lens of a long, hazy summer of secrets. Proving the maxim that all unhappy families are unhappy in their own way, Trevelyan has crafted a coming of age story that perfectly balances the nostalgia of summer holidays with a looming sense of danger. Find a sun-lit corner and devour this sensational debut in one session (like I did).' Jacqueline Bublitz, author of Before You Knew My Name and Leave the Girls Behind

'Jennifer Trevelyan's immersive debut is atmospheric and aching.' Laurie Frankel, New York Times bestselling author of Family Family

'This novel, part mystery and part Bildungsroman, is gripping; every chapter brings an unexpected twist, further complicating and deepening each storyline.' Kirkus Reviews

'Trevelyan's taut thriller debut hauntingly captures the end of innocence through a child's eyes.' Booklist