A Great Hope

Jessica Stanley: Picador, $33

Nominally, this is a book about John Clare – the powerful head of the ACTU and a key to Kevin Rudd’s election as PM – and how he died. But it’s mostly a story of the women close to him: his frustrated wife, Grace; his unmoored but brilliant daughter, Sophie; his fierce mistress, Tessa; the teenage neighbour, Girl, who sees the Clares’ home as her refuge; and the early girlfriend he lost touch with, Helen. The story swirls through past and present, slowly revealing the forces that led to his death, and looking at the impact on those closest to him. More powerful family drama than murder mystery, it ends a bit neatly, but getting there is a fascinating and insightful journey through these women’s lives. A strong debut for the Australian writer.