This is the most satisfying novel I've read all year. I can't wait to see what she does next.' BOOKSELLER AND PUBLISHER
What has happened to Ingrid? Julia, a student at Sydney University, is struggling with her unrequited love for her best friend, Ralph, when his recently orphaned cousin, Ingrid, is taken into his household. Ralph falls unhappily in love with beautiful Ingrid, but she leaves for New York after she comes into a large inheritance. there she marries the charismatic but sinister Gil Grey, an art dealer and father to child art prodigy Fleur. At 9 a.m. on September 11, 2001, Ingrid has an appointment downtown and is never seen again. Devastated and heartsick, Ralph entreats Julia to travel to New York to investigate Ingrid's disappearance. As Julia becomes entangled in Ingrid's enigmatic world, she is forced to confront her own conflicted feelings about her friends and herself. A compelling mystery as well as a deeply affecting meditation on the nature of art, truth, friendship, love and longing, the Legacy is a hypnotic debut from a formidable Australian talent. 'the Legacy is so accomplished ... It demands your full attention and only reluctantly releases you from its clutches to go about your daily life' Australian Literary Review 'tranter's writing is as rich and luxurious as heavy, expensive brocade' Kirkus Reviews
Industry Reviews
Praise for The Legacy
'Full of suave and stunning evocations of Sydney and Manhattan, this sparkling and spacious novel captures the smell and sap of young people half in love with everyone they′re vividly aware of, and groping to find themselves like the answer to an erotic enigma.' Peter Craven, THE MONTHLY
'THE LEGACY never lacks self-assurance or narrative drive' SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
'Tranter makes her splendid debut with this novel about friendship, love, abuse and deceit ... Tranter's writing is as rich and luxurious as heavy, expensive brocade. The characters′ names and many aspects of the plot will remind readers of Henry James' Portrait of A Lade ... It's a goldmine of literary references, and finding them can be both fun and challenging. A promising beginning to what will undoubtedly be a successful writing career." KIRKUS REVIEWS(starred)
'This hypnotic debut from Australian author Tranter pays homage to Henry James' Portrait of A Lade while offering a suspenseful story line worthy of Patricia Highsmith ... While Tranter′s sedate pacing avoids typical thriller antics and conventional crime plot twists, she raises some wickedly keen questions about art world wheeling and dealing.' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred)
'THE LEGACY is an entertaining literary thriller that skillfully describes the almost pleasurable pain of love and life denied′ WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
'A gripping and deeply moving novel' AUSTRALIAN LITERARY REVIEW
'The journey through this nuanced and assured novel is a compelling one' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
