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Magpie
It’s 1990. Jim Macken talks to trees. He dances around the fire and has made peace with the flies. The broken-hearted Irish backpacker has gone walkabout in the Western Australian bush. The scorched land is hurting. The summer rains never come and temperatures soar.
On a rare trip to a remote inn, an assault brings Jim’s day to a premature close. He sleeps outside, 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.
On a rare trip to a remote inn, an assault brings Jim’s day to a premature close. He sleeps outside, 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, Hardcover
Published September 27, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 24, 2024
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!
April 5, 2023
This is a GREAT book!! LOVE ❤️ it!
December 28, 2025
great story
May 25, 2022
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.
July 28, 2021
Great read! Highly recommended, enjoy!!!!
March 11, 2025
Great read
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews