Magpie: A tender journey into the broken heart of Australia

by Alan Ryan

*BOOK OF THE YEAR, IRISH CAP AWARDS 2023*Once upon a time in the outback...It’s 1990 and Jim Macken talks to trees. He dances around the fire and has made peace with the flies. In a bid to escape a mundane life, the broken-hearted Irish backpacker has gone walkabout in the West Australian Goldfields. The scorched land is hurting. The summer rains never came and the temperatures soar.On a rare trip to a remote inn, an assault brings Jim’s day to a premature close. He sleeps outside, sprawled across the wide front seat of his beat-up truck. A body lies in the dirt. The evidence, much of it manufactured, suggests Jim is a killer, and Kelly Porcini, the disillusioned barmaid, is an accessory to murder.Fearing for their lives, Jim and Kelly flee into the hostile interior of the continent. Along the way, the young couple find a beautiful but damaged country. There is the possibility of love and the opportunity for betrayal. Ultimately, an ancient and indigenous Dreamtime landscape may decide how their stories end.

406 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 7, 2021

About the author

Alan Peter Ryan was an American author and editor, known for his work in the horror genre in the 1980s.

Reviews

[Anne Frehill · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the opening sentence this book hooked me! The author paints a vivid picture of "the real" Australia with it`s flora and fauna while at the same time delving into the dark underbelly of more remote parts. What I like most about this book is that there is no attempt to conform to formulaic styles as sometimes happens with novels in this genre. The dedication of the writer to allow his story to unfold in an unhurried manner alongside his passion for Australia shines through!

[Dolphine David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a GREAT book!! LOVE ❤️ it!

[John Roach, · Rating 5 out of 5]

great story

[Jenny Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Fantastic story, beautifully told. I particularly enjoyed the sense of place in the descriptions of the Outback and of the people’s lives influenced by its many challenges. It really takes you there. Highly recommend.

[Kirsty Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! Highly recommended, enjoy!!!!

[Julie Hesketh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read