Magpie

A tender journey into the broken heart of Australia

By: Alan Ryan

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Paperback | 7 July 2021

At a Glance

Paperback
406 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
22.86 x 15.24 x 2.29

Paperback

$28.60

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*BOOK OF THE YEAR, IRISH CAP AWARDS 2023*

Dive into a gripping adventure of survival, mystery, and the transformative power of the Australian wilderness.

Jim Macken talks to trees. He dances around the fire and has made peace with the flies. In a bid to escape a mundane life, the broken-hearted Irish backpacker has gone walkabout in the West Australian Goldfields. The scorched land is hurting. The summer rains never came and the temperatures soar.

On a rare trip to a remote inn, an assault brings Jim's day to a premature close. He sleeps outside, sprawled across the wide front seat of his beat-up truck. Nearby, a body lies in the dirt. The evidence, much of it fabricated, paints Jim as a killer and Kelly Porcini, the disillusioned barmaid, as his accomplice.

Fearing for their lives, Jim and Kelly flee into the hostile interior of the continent. Along the way, the young couple find a beautiful but damaged country. There is the possibility of love and the opportunity for betrayal. Ultimately, an ancient and indigenous Dreamtime landscape may decide how their stories end.

Industry Reviews

Winner Irish Carousel Aware Prize 2023

'A beautifully written and told story.' Irish Scene Magazine Australia

'Loved the descriptions of life in the outback in an Irish voice - the prose flowed beautifully. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!'

'A wonderful word picture of the Australian outback. The story seems based loosely on actual events in the area. The local references and the period references add to the good yarn. I would recommend this book to everyone.'"A fantastic read! Have never been to Australia but felt like I was there. Beautifully descriptive writing, deftly plotted, with characters to both love and hate. Highly recommend."

"I was completely absorbed by this well told story that transported me to the wild, hostile beauty of Western Australia. Populated by expertly drawn and relatable characters, the novel is tense, atmospheric and well paced. I highly recommend this gripping book!"

"An intriguing page-turner, well worth your time, highly recommended."

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