Title: The Missing Girl
Author: Kerry McGinnis
Published: July 2nd 2021
Publisher: Penguin Books Australia
Pages: 336
Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Crime, Mystery
RRP: $32.99
Rating: 4 stars
A highly evocative family mystery of secrets and betrayal from the bestselling author of Croc Country.
The darkest secrets are buried the deepest.
Meg Morrissey has just lost her job, and her partner to an overseas assignment, when she is called back to the family home of Hunters Reach in the picturesque Adelaide Hills. Her ailing grandmother, who raised her when she was orphaned as a child, has always been a formidable figure in her life, and this is hardly a welcome summons.
When Meg arrives at the ramshackle old homestead, she learns that the place is up for sale. She is expected to care for the property with its extensive garden, while packing up the contents of the house. As she begins the arduous work of bringing the grand old homestead back to its former glory, she is forced to examine the question that has plagued her all her life – why nobody loved her as a child.
As the house unfolds the history of an earlier age, it also spills out secrets Meg had never imagined – in particular, the discovery of an aunt she never knew, her mother’s twin sister, Iris. The discovery brings horror in its wake, as Meg learns the secrets of the missing girl and the truth behind a wicked heart where love simply never existed. The more she uncovers, the more questions she has. With her grandmother unwilling to share what she knows, Meg must seek out the truth for herself.
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Australian bush in summer, with the ever-present threat of bushfire at its back, this is a highly evocative story of secrets and betrayal from the bestselling author of Croc Country.
Review:
‘So why does nobody seem to know how she died, or where she’s buried? I thought Jake was crazy to suspect something, but I’m no longer so certain. It does make a weird sort of sense. People don’t just disappear.’
A gorgon grandmother, a racing mare named Meg and Australia’s 2020 bushfires all inspired The Missing Girl, the latest release from rural fiction novelist Kerry McGinnis. A tale of long buried secrets, societal rules, moral codes, family deception and the past defines the direction of The Missing Girl. I really enjoyed the chance to immerse myself in the mystery elements of this consuming new rural tale from Kerry McGinnis.
When we meet the lead character of The Missing Girl, we learn that Meg Morrissey has unfortunately lost her job. This sends Meg back to her Adelaide Hills family home. Meg’s grandmother waits for her at Hunter’s Reach, but even though she raised Meg, the two have a difficult relationship. When Meg reaches her old family home, she is shocked to discover that the property is up for sale. Meg is charged with the responsibility of caring for the house and its expansive grounds. While packing up the contents of the home, Meg revisits her difficult childhood, as her old family residence unveils secrets from the past. Two notable discoveries are made about an aunt Meg didn’t know existed, along with her mother’s twin sister. This shocks Meg to her very core and as she digs deeper into this family mystery, Meg uncovers a story involving a missing girl and a cruel act of concealment. As Meg begs her grandmother for answers, Meg knows it is up to her alone to expose the truth. As Meg inches closer and closer to the truth, the looming threat of bushfires draw near. Will this family finally be free of the betrayal and dark secrets that have surrounded them for years?
Australia’s voice of the bush returns with another rich land based tale, full of secrets and acts of betrayal. I consider myself a solid fan of Kerry McGinnis and her books. I have read and enjoyed most of this respected Australian novelist’s back list. I took The Missing Girl with me on a recent mini winter escape and I’m so glad I chose this book. The Missing Girl proved to be the perfect cold weather read.
The key location featured in this novel, the fictional town of Hunters Reach, is based in the Adelaide Hills region of South Australia. McGinnis has lived in this area for over forty years and this wealth of first-hand experience is utilised very well in The Missing Girl. As a result, we are presented with an authentic, credible and very vivid tale. I lapped up the generous landscape-based descriptions included in the main narrative. McGinnis has an implicit understanding of the land and life on the land, which is relayed with a strong sense of realism in The Missing Girl. Connected to this aspect of The Missing Girl is main character Meg’s work in revitalising the grounds of her family home. I appreciated the sequences that involved Meg’s work in restoring the gardens of her old home. I’m sure the keen gardeners out there will value this aspect of The Missing Girl.
Returning to her old home and packing up the contents of her family property kicks starts Meg’s investigation into some unanswered questions from her family’s past. I thought this area of the novel was intriguing and it compelled me to fly through the pages of The Missing Girl. The mystery of the girl, a well, unknown family members, a betrayal and a heartless act of self preservation marks this interesting family history. There are dark and unsettling elements to this area of the tale that kept me on my toes. Some components of the mystery side of the narrative proved to be quite unpredictable, while other areas were easier to guess. In general McGinnis tries to keep her audience in the dark, maintaining a strong line of suspense for as long as possible. I think McGinnis did a great job with this section of her novel, along with incorporating the rising threat of bushfires in the background, threatening to set everything alight.
With interesting characters who jump off the pages of this novel, The Missing Girl features plenty of drama, fractured relationships, friendships, emotional strains and serious situations for the cast to overcome. While Meg earns plenty of sympathy from the reader, her grandmother is a different kettle of fish! What a battle-axe this woman proved to be, but unlocking this character’s past secrets helps us to better understand her actions, but I still had trouble accepting her behaviour! The Missing Girl grinds to a startling conclusion, closing off this complicated multi-generational relationship tale in a satisfactory manner.
The Missing Girl is another rich Aussie yarn about family relationships and the land from a natural storyteller. Kerry McGinnis has produced a great story that I have no hesitation in recommending.
The Missing Girl by Kerry McGinnis was published on 2nd July 2021 by Penguin Books Australia. Details on how to purchase the book can be found here.
*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Missing Girl is book #69 of the 2021 Australian Women Writers Challenge
