Australian storyteller extraordinaire Fiona Lowe brings us another gripping contemporary fiction. Set in the fictional town of Glingilly in the south-west of Victoria this story brings us love, heartbreak and betrayal and the devastating effects of being caught up in a huge financial scam.

The story follows four couples, all closely connected. The glamorous Izzy Harrington is married to business entrepreneur Brad Quin, but finding herself undervalued, disheartened and ready to leave. Suddenly her world falls apart when the police knock on her door looking for the missing Brad and the millions of dollars he has allegedly swindled from their friends and neighbours in a Ponzi scheme. His parents Bevan and Judy are away on a health retreat and suddenly the neighbours and media are all baying for Izzy’s blood.

Mike and Birdie Essen have been carefully saving up for their retirement dream of caravanning around Australia as “Grey Nomads” and are devastated to have lost their savings in Brad’s company. Their son Jack and daughter-in-law Lucy have also lost their dream of owning their own home and not having to be apart due to FIFO work. The story follows the couples all looking for answers and trying to solve the quandary they have suddenly found themselves in.

Despite the fact I have no interest in anything to do with money and business I found myself gripped by the story. Fiona has great insight into human interactions and relationship dynamics. Although ultimately many seemingly deeply entrenched problems seemed to dissolve rather readily with a good long heart-to-heart chat. A good read. I am always keen to read whatever this author comes out with next. ( )