“‘Clarke’ is illuminated with such wonderful, vivid characters. Rarely have I felt so deeply invested in a story - I loved this book so much. Throsby is a supremely gifted storyteller, and ‘Clarke’ truly is a wonder.”
On a hot morning in 1991 in the regional town of Clarke, Barney Clarke (no relation) is woken by the unexpected arrival of many policemen: they are going to search his backyard for the body of a missing woman.
Next door, Leonie Wallace and little Joe watch the police cars through their kitchen window. Leonie has been waiting for this day for six years. She is certain that her friend - Ginny Lawson - is buried in that backyard under a slab of suspicious concrete.
But the fate of Ginny Lawson is not the only mystery in Clarke. Barney lives alone in a rented house with a ring on his finger, but where is Barney's wife? Leonie lives with four-year-old Joe, but where is Joe's mother?
Clarke is a story of family and violence, of identity and longing, of unlikely connections and the comedy of everyday life. At its centre stands Leonie Wallace, a travel agent who has never travelled, a warm woman full of love and hope and grief, who must steer Joe safely through a very strange time indeed.
Join Holly in conversation with long-time Muse friend and supporter Deb Stevens.
Tickets: $10 (entry only) // $40 (includes a discounted copy of the book RRP $32.99)
A friendly suggestion that for the safety and well-being of yourself and other patrons, although face masks are not required, they are strongly encouraged while attending the event.
Holly Throsby is a musician and novelist. She has released five solo albums, a collection of original children's songs, two albums as part of the band Seeker Lover Keeper, and has been nominated for five ARIAs.
Holly's novels, Goodwood and Cedar Valley, were both critically acclaimed bestsellers. For her fiction, Holly has been shortlisted for the Barbara Jefferis Award, an Indie Book Award, two Australian Book Industry Awards, two Sisters in Crime Davitt Awards, and a Ned Kelly Award.
Deb Stevens worked as a book publisher's sales agent representing various companies to the ACT & SE NSW region, including 20 years for Allen & Unwin. Currently a board member with ACT Writers and always a passionate supporter of Australian writers and local bookshops.