A Great Hope

by Jessica Stanley

John Clare was a titan in Australian politics. The head of a powerful union and a key player in the election of Kevin Rudd as prime minister in 2007, he had long been tipped as a future leader himself. Supporting him in his push for power were his elegant wife Grace, his troubled children Sophie and Toby, and Tessa, the mistress he thought would stay secret.

But now John has fallen, brutally, to his death. A terrible accident - or was it?

In the wake of losing John, his inner circle mourn and rage, remembering and trying to forget the many ways he'd loved and disappointed them. An adoring and unreliable father; a grateful and selfish husband; a besotted and absent lover; an authoritative and compassionate leader; a failed politician in an era when party politics failed a nation. As those around him reassess everything they knew of and felt for John, a new idea of what love and power really mean begins to emerge - as does the true cause of his death.

Gripping, propulsive and ambitious, A Great Hope untangles the mystery of John's fall through the eyes of those who knew him best - or thought they did. Deftly displaying the clash of the political and the personal, this is a novel for our times, from a brilliant and forceful new Australian writer.

Genres: Fiction, Politics

416 pages, Paperback

Published February 22, 2022

About the author

I’m Jessica Stanley, an Australian novelist living in London.

I grew up in Melbourne, studied in Canberra, and worked in journalism, on the set of the TV show Neighbours, for the trade union movement, and in advertising.

Since moving to the UK in 2011, I’ve been working as a freelance copywriter while writing fiction. My Australian first novel A Great Hope was published in 2022.

My new novel Consider Yourself Kissed will be published internationally in Spring/Summer 2025.

I live in East London with my husband and our three children.

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

A debut novel by Aussie author Jessica Stanley, A Great Hope is a most promising literary fiction. When John Clare, a Labour MP falls to death from his roof, his nearest and dearest are forced to confront who he really was. It is set in the city of Melbourne and the historic timeframe of the Rudd/Gillard Federal Government (2007-10). It is a revealing expose of John Clare, his past and how his relationships affect those he loved. The narrative conveys a powerful imaginary and nuanced exploration of people, life changes and the political backdrop of current day Australia. A most enjoyable literary tale that makes for a four star read rating. As a new writer to be aware of, Jessica’s next book is keenly anticipated. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.

[Jaclyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you still have complicated and unresolved feelings about Rudd and that 2007 period this is the book for you. If you enjoy political intrigue, interior design, the trade union movement, deeply complicated and interesting characters, with a murder mystery thrown in for good measure this is the book for you. If you want to indulge some deep nostalgia for everything Rudd and Gillard promised and wallow in the inevitable disappointments we endured you can do that here. If you read and loved Nathan Hill’s THE NIX you will be as delighted as I am to have an Australian equivalent. This is a unique debut and I loved it. The question on the cover might be who killed John Clare but what I want to know is how the hell did Jessica Stanley pull this off in her first book out of the gate? Also it has to be said Sophie is the most fun love-to-hate character I have read for ages.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic. It was a good family drama set against a familiar and actual political drama that was very real (Kevin '07 and beyond). This interplay between fiction and recent history made me feel the whole time like I was getting a deep insight into a family I thought I should know. A really well crafted story from multiple perspectives that kept me totally hooked the whole time. I couldn't get enough.

I will admit that I started reading this wanting to like it cause I like and know the author, but beyond my bias it was an excellent, compelling and impressive debut novel.

[Unseen Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of A Great Hope from Pan Macmillan Australia to review.

Rating of 3.5.

Intriguing new author Jessica Stanley produces a compelling Australian political drama, A Great Hope, an intense read that looks at the impact of the mysterious death of a politician on his family, set to the backdrop of a turbulent time in Australian politics.

This was an excellent novel which I think did a great job telling a unique story by exploring some of the more controversial elements of recent Australian politics. A Great Hope’s story is a great blend of personal drama, political intrigue and contemporary historical fiction, with a little bit of mystery thrown in as various characters attempt to understand the death of John Clare and the impact he had on the world.

Telling the story from a variety of different perspectives, including those of his family, his mistress, and other related figures, Stanley presents a complex and winding narrative that proves to be very compelling at times. Initially set one year after the death of John Clare, the story jumps around the various point-of-view characters, and the readers are shown not only their present situations and opinions but also the origins of the characters as well as the full events that led up to the night John Clare died. While this does produce a cluttered story with a few odd moments (such as the unnecessary and graphic sex scenes), the reader is soon treated to a unique story that cleverly builds up to the finale while also exploring the various key characters. You get a real sense of everyone featured in the novel, especially those closest to John Clare, and their complex lives and relationships with the political heavyweights. Unfortunately, most of these characters are pretty terrible people who are fairly insufferable and hard to enjoy. While this was no doubt the intent, to show the strain and ugliness a political life brings out, there are barely any relatable or redeemable figures here (honestly the only character I particularly liked was the mistress, Tessa, which is a bit odd when you think about it).

While this lack of likeable characters did slow the flow and my enjoyment of the story a little, I managed to power through the last 200 pages in a single sitting. There are some interesting resolutions and revelations towards the end, and I enjoyed seeing some of the storylines come full circle, especially those that are set up in the present and then expanded on in the flashbacks. The resolution of who or what caused the death of John Clare was pretty interesting and a little surprising, but it fit nicely into the unique feel and storytelling of A Great Hope.

One of the most distinctive elements of A Great Hope was the author’s intense and in-depth examination of Australian politics in the early 21st century, particularly around the 2007 and 2010 elections. This is mainly because the author, Jessica Stanley, was herself involved in some of these campaigns, particularly in 2007, when she served as one of the party’s social media consultants (similar to main character Tessa). As such, this book contains some compelling and fascinating insights into the election campaign, candidates, and voters, particularly those associated with Australia’s major left-wing party (the Labor party), which really added to my enjoyment of the book. Some of the more intriguing and compelling political moments of this period are scattered throughout A Great Hope, and I deeply enjoyed seeing the author’s take on what happened and why. The author also examines the growing impact of social media during this time, as well as other intriguing elements about campaigns and party politics. However, readers should be warned that these political elements do start to get very upsetting as the book continues, especially as Stanley dives into the failures of government, the increased political hostility, the rejection of climate change by the opposition, and the inherent sexism that defined the era between 2007 and 2010. This stirred up some unpleasant memories of the political landscape of the time, but I did find this to be an interesting and captivating part of the novel, and I really appreciated how much these unique and realistic inclusions added to the story.

Fantastic new author Jessica Stanley got off to a great start here with A Great Hope, producing an intriguing and distinctive novel that makes excellent use of the author’s political insights. While I had some issues with the story and characters, A Great Hope ended up being quite an entertaining book, and I was very interested in seeing how everything came together, as well as all the clever political inclusions. I look forward to seeing what Stanley writes in the future, especially as there are so many memorable moments in Australian politics to set a story around.

An abridged review of this book also ran in the Canberra Weekly on 17 March 2022:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2023/01/24/...

For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/

[Willow · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cozy and very neighbourhood-specific Melbourne nostalgia had me hooked from the beginning, and I grew to love each of these women as the book went on and I got to know them. So many sharp observations, so many feelings perfectly captured. And Sophie had me literally laughing out loud so many times. Fingers crossed for a prestige Australian TV adaptation.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Uncertain whether this was brilliant or atrocious. Feeling conflicted and disturbed. On one hand the story is unsettling and tells a political story, but it also gives the story of the wife, the lover, the husband, the son, the daughter and the neighbour. POV jumps around so much, but with character voices barely differentiated to the point where, at times, I forgot who was telling this part of the story. The sex descriptions were painfully graphic and jarring. Grace, or Disgrace as her children privately call her, is fairly unlikely - she was a high flying lawyer and had a baby then turned into a nastie pastie who couldnt show kindness. Would have been more believable if she had stayed depressed. Divorce would have been more likely with her behaviour. Didn't buy it. I picked this up thinking it was a crime, but the crime was weak, and not central to the story. It did get airplay at the end but it limped across the line.

[Steve Papadopoulos · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Great Nope... This book takes a triumphant and in-depth political moment in Australian and turns it into a trashy novel with shallow characters. Other than boring underdeveloped characters and a nonsensical plot, a major sticking point is a cheap murder mystery with no depth.

[Cass · Rating 4 out of 5]

not what I was expecting but still a delight!

[Lee Kofman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deeply immersive, powerful, polished and ‘big-ideaed’ novel almost until the end. Sadly, the end spoiled my experience, but I won't reveal anything here not to spoil your reading experience. I don’t know why this otherwise utterly gifted writer faltered like this.... But otherwise, she reminded me of Franzen and Tsiolkas. Great complex characters, wonderful language and gripping narrative.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a saga! I was all in from the first few pages. The opening scene is compelling and I was intrigued by Grace and her lifestyle. Then I found myself getting a bit confused by all of the characters and had trouble keeping track. The timeline and POV changes a lot, which added to my confusion. But I never lost my interest in what had happened to John and still found all of the Grace bits fascinating. I think this could have been shorter. A slightly tighter narrative would have really ramped up the suspense. Despite that, it was a gripping read at times and I couldn't put it down until the mystery had been unravelled!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great debut novel by Jessica Stanley.

I found A Great Hope to be a wonderful blend of Australian politics, domestic relationships, and a bit of mystery thrown in.

The book immediately grabbed me, and I found its premise so intriguing. It took me a while to warm up to the characters, and I found the middle section dragged a bit and was not as strong as the start. But as I got to know the characters better, I wanted them to do well and find their way through the challenges they faced.

I thought it had a great ending and was overall a very rewarding read.

I would love to read more from this author!

[AnneS · Rating 1 out of 5]

A Great Hope ..more like a great disappointment. Marketed as a political thriller it was not that. Sure it was set at an interesting time in our history - Labor PMs Rudd and Gillard - but all that was only incidental and nothing we were not already familiar with from the time. I would liken it more to a “Days of our Lives” saga than a thriller. I read to the last 2 pages albeit scanning many pages throughout the latter part. Don��t know why I bothered to finish the book

[Shazza Hoppsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

The political setting was the hook for me right now, with Australia on the precipice of change of government. Just goes to show I don’t like the same books as Annabel Crabb even if I admire her writing. Do you have to like characters to remain engaged? I didn’t like the old bloke smitten smart sassy pretty girl bit - my wife doesn’t understand me LOL. I will never know how he died. 100 page rule.

[Pip Snort · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was so chaotic and mostly awful. The characters were unpleasant, Sophie especially was just dreadful, I shudder for any girls out there like her or who think that an unpruned boundary less life is good or gratifying or worthwhile. The storyline was also ugly and messy and difficult to engage with or enjoy. There were some good moments of clarity and reasonable writing, but mostly it was sordid and shallow and meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

[Janette Porter · Rating 1 out of 5]

A Great Hope is a great disappointment. The synopsis sounded promising but the novel did not deliver. The historical context was scantily developed and the characters were unconvincing. The author appears to be uncertain/conflicted about what she wanted to achieve with this novel. It left me feeling totally unsatisfied.

[Maud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bit of a moreish book- devoured it in two days. Loved the references to real events and places, made it all the more vivid. Very frustrated with John’s character- narcissistic, selfish and deceitful but still gets so much love and praise from those around him. Worth a read though

[Josephine De Costa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is that perfect thing - a fundamentally kind of trashy romance/crime novel but with perfectly drawn characters and excellent dialogue. I feel like it's rare to read a book that describes Australian/Melbourne life so well.

[Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

My first comment would be : why necessary to be 400pp??? Way too long.
Another debut novel that would have benefitted from EDITING !!!
This story was okay but dragged...the characters were so so :

[Jessica Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

😊😊😊😊😊

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

An easy to read domestic drama, Australian readers will enjoy the recent political setting and Melbourne location.

[The Honest Book Reviewer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up to read because of it being short listed in the MUD Awards. The blurb would have you believe it's a political thriller. It's not - well, maybe if you draw a very long bow. It is however, a mystery. I would have preferred if it concentrated on the mystery more. Instead, it concentrates on the dramatic lives of the five main characters, including the deceased, and for the most part the details have nothing to do with the death of John Clare.

I've got to say I feel a bit peeved that the political thriller aspect basically amounted to nothing.

Despite me not enjoying this story, I do think Jessica Stanley shows she can write well. There are moments that did draw me in briefly and I appreciate the writing style. However, I have to say that there are many scenes that have no place in this book. I don't know why they are there, other than maybe an attempt for shock value. It felt like watching an action movie where they throw in an unnecessary sex scene that has no relevance to the plot. That happens more than once in this book.

Characters in this book are difficult to like and enjoy. The drama becomes melodrama a little too often, and I struggled to engage with Sophie, who the author seems to write as constantly out of control. It becomes a case of too much too often. I'm not even sure if this book made me care for the characters in any way. Maybe Ingrid, who was John's assistant.

I did like the conclusion, the explanation for the death of John Clare. I don't know if I agree with the author's choice of response from the characters, but it did bring one character into the foreground and explained that character's behaviour. Sadly, it distanced the book further away from being a political thriller, despite it being satisfactory.

[Lea Hadley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book delves into a family’s life where politics played a large part. It involves the end of Malcolm Turnbull’s time and that of Rudd and Gillard. The father is a unionist of a high level, who eventually stands for parliament. The narrative covers the many family issues involved in a father never around, a mother who has many issues and two children with problems of their own. Gradually over the course of the book the reasoning behind each characters life choices is revealed. There is tragedy, deceit, love, disappointment, betrayal and ultimately truth in this narrative. The author’s perspective on politics is throughout the book and from a labor philosophy. A good read and although at times it got bogged down, it unfolded into a real understanding of what drives people, especially those dictated by their life experiences.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Clare suicides after a devastating loss in a federal election. He has a wife, daughter and son who are at a loss to understand his death. His daughter in particular starts to obsess over it. The story covers the tumultuous period in Australian politics of Kevin Rudd’s electoral win in 2007 until about a year after Julia Gillard’s win in 2010. The first part of the book there are a lot of flashbacks to explain where we are in the story and I found them difficult to keep track of. The daughter Sophie is quite a mess. The book finishes well as the story is told in a more linear way. I did see the resolution of John’s death coming.

[Saturday's Child · Rating 1 out of 5]

The great hope I had for this novel is that I would been entertained while reading it. If it had not been a Book Group read this one would have been a DNF for me. None of the characters (which there were too many of) appealed to me. They were mostly horrible people doing horrible things. The political element/theme bored me. For me the plot seemed scattered and jumped all over the place. There were too many different events going on, but none of them ever really seemed rounded out. Unfortunately for me the time I spent reading this novel is time that I missed out on reading something that I would have enjoyed far more.

[David Allwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

This new novel by a new writer was marketed as a new-type of political thriller. Unfortunately, it gets old fast. ‘A Great Hope’ is a bland, drawn-out family soap opera based around the sudden death of the patriarch (which has already occurred when the novel begins). The characters are indistinguishable and the drama is tired and uninteresting. The writing style is easy to read, but this is tested because the story is lengthy and ultimately unrewarding. Rather than a political thriller, this is more like a drab routine episode of ‘Neighbours’ or ‘Home and Away’. Yes, it’s really that unremarkable.

[Annette Chidzey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first read about this book in a recent Saturday Age publication. Always interested to discover a new Australian author, I sought this book at a variety of outlets and finally came across it.

While I enjoyed much of the narrative, parts of it felt unnecessarily cumbersome. It felt at these times like each of the flawed characters who featured in the novel were competing for priority focus and thus it was hard to stay contemplating what had caused John Clare’s death- a mystery that had been promoted as the central focus of the text when absorbing the initial blurb on the dusk jacket.

[Shelley Kinash · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I enjoyed Stanley’s writing style and the book held my attention. I particularly enjoyed the interweaving of fact and fiction. The contextualisation in contemporary Australian politics was particularly effective. The main male character was so believable that I looked him up to confirm that he was indeed fictional. I also appreciated exploration of issues such as sexual harassment and drinking culture in residential colleges. The who-dunnit was too obvious. Some of the characters were overdone as characatures. Some of the storylines were belaboured and became boring.

[Suzie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fell entirely into this book. I loved the various narratives for different reasons, and think the author balanced the contemporary setting with the backstory of each character well. I also liked the timeframe in which it was set, which was such a pivotal time in Australian politics. From the opening page of the book, I found the story intriguing and wanted to get to the end to hopefully find out the answers to who killed John Clare.

[Lyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This didn’t resonate with me. The premise was good. I enjoyed some of the characters, but found Sophie and Toby shallow and crass. Although the ending was a twist, it seemed a bit unlikely. The Girl character, ( why not use her name) was annoying. I liked the portrayal of the marriage and how things soured, and the development of John's affair. However, I also didn’t find it convincing that Ingrid would write something like that on Grace's wall.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read the synopsis of this book I was not overly interested but because of the reviews I decided to give it ago. It turned out to be a very clever fiction story written to meld with a factual story and the characters were vibrant and so very real. I normally don’t enjoy stories about politics but this was very engaging and had me guessing until the end. No wonder it took many years to write as there was so much research involved. Entertaining and enjoyable.