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The Cane

By Maryrose Cuskelly
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3.54 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 1,193 ratings, 166 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Cane by Maryrose Cuskelly is a riveting tale set in a rural Australian community shaken by the mysterious disappearance of a teenage girl. As the local residents grapple with unease and suspicion, deeply buried tensions and secrets come to light. The story explores the complexities and intricacies of human relationships and the small-town dynamics, leading to unexpected revelations.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're interested in gripping mysteries deeply rooted in a rural Australian setting. It offers a haunting exploration of small-town secrets and community dynamics, perfect for readers who appreciate a suspenseful narrative with rich character development.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Nail-biting, atmospheric, and unputdownable, the brilliant new thriller for fans of Wimmera and The Dry.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

ONE MISSING GIRL.

NO SUSPECTS.

A TOWN ABOUT TO IGNITE.

Quala, a North Queensland sugar town, the 1970s.

Barbara McClymont walks the cane fields searching for Janet, her sixteen-year-old daughter, who has been missing for weeks. The police have no leads. The people of Quala are divided by dread and distrust. But the sugar crush is underway and the cane must be burned.

Meanwhile, children dream of a malevolent presence, a schoolteacher yearns to escape, and history keeps returning to remind Quala that the past is always present.

As the smoke rises and tensions come to a head, the dark heart of Quala will be revealed, affecting the lives of all those who dwell beyond the cane.

The Cane is an evocative and atmospheric thriller, and announces an exciting new voice in Australian crime writing.

'A fine, brave, perceptive writer.' - Mark Dapin, journalist and author of Public Enemies

'A stunning piece of Australian rural noir.' - Mark Brandi, bestselling author of Wimmera and The Rip

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Cane by Maryrose Cuskelly is highly praised for its atmospheric setting and gripping narrative. Reviewers appreciate its vivid depiction of rural Queensland, engaging character development, and the way it weaves a compelling mystery. The book's ability to combine suspense with social commentary has been noted, making it an admired work in general fiction.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781760879853

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 February 2022

Country: Australia

Imprint: Allen & Unwin

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 406g

Pages: 336

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Maryrose Cuskelly

About the Author

Maryrose Cuskelly is a writer of fiction and non-fiction. She has lived in Melbourne for many years, but she was born in Queensland, where, in the early 1970s, there were several high-profile child abductions and murders. The disappearance of Mackay schoolgirl Marilyn Wallman, in particular, made a lasting impression on her. In 2016, Maryrose was awarded the New England Thunderbolt Prize for Crime Writing (non-fiction) for her essay 'Well Before Dark' about Marilyn's disappearance and the way it percolated through her own childhood and later life. The Cane returns to some of the themes and preoccupations of that essay.

In 2019, Maryrose's book Wedderburn: A true tale of blood and dust (Allen & Unwin, 2018) was longlisted for Best Debut and Best True Crime in the 2019 Davitt Awards. She is also the author of Original Skin: Exploring the marvels of the human hide (Scribe, 2010) and The End of Charity: Time for social enterprise (with Nic Frances, Allen & Unwin, 2008), which was the winner of the Iremonger Award.

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