New voice excites
Brandy Scott’s debut novel, Not Bad People, marks the arrival of an exciting new voice in the world of femalecentric literature, delivering a thoughtful, funny and plausible tale that goes beyond the usual shallow tropes of the genre.
The Wellington author, who is based in Dubai where she hosts a daily breakfast radio show, spent several months writing the novel at a writing retreat in Wairarapa — refining the story from an idea she originally conceived for her master’s degree.
The result is a compelling debut that balances humour, drama and intrigue while exploring the complexities of family and friendship.
Set in the fictional Australian town of Hensley, in rural Victoria, the story follows three friends as tragedy strikes the small country town and a lifetime of friendship is put to the test. So far, so melodramatic, but Scott manages to bypass the predictable, instead crafting a deeper, more substantial tale than the cover might suggest. (Okay, we shouldn’t judge. But we do.)
Aimee — with her handsome husband, angelic children and pristine country homestead — suffers from chronic mental illness; business mogul Melinda is desperately lonely and blinded by her success and solo mum Lou is bitter and angry after a lifetime of disappointments that just keep coming.
Together, they balance one another’s shortcomings but when their loyalties are tested, friendships fracture and they are all left vulnerable. Similar in style and tone to Lianne Moriarty, you can expect to hear more from Scott. I wouldn’t be surprised if a television adaptation doesn’t follow shortly. You heard it here first.