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The Dead Bed
Patrick is about to spend his first Christmas alone after separating from his wife, Claire. Their adult son, Ben, took off in another direction around the same time. A family in bits all over Sydney.
They are plunged back into crisis when Ben reappears with a new girlfriend, Annie.
'But she's dead, ' Ben says. 'That's what I wanted to ask you about.'
The police follow one angle on Annie's death, but Patrick thinks they've got it wrong and stumbles dangerously towards the truth.
As Sydney swelters towards Christmas, things spin out of control. Patrick wants his broken family back together again, but can he convince Claire and save Ben?
They are plunged back into crisis when Ben reappears with a new girlfriend, Annie.
'But she's dead, ' Ben says. 'That's what I wanted to ask you about.'
The police follow one angle on Annie's death, but Patrick thinks they've got it wrong and stumbles dangerously towards the truth.
As Sydney swelters towards Christmas, things spin out of control. Patrick wants his broken family back together again, but can he convince Claire and save Ben?
260 pages, Paperback
Published November 23, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 1, 2023
Light hearted thriller
An outstanding first novel by Robert Edsall.
The story of an Australian family during a time of crisis. It is set in Sydney’s pre Christmas “build up” adding to the tension and emotions of this page turner.
An outstanding first novel by Robert Edsall.
The story of an Australian family during a time of crisis. It is set in Sydney’s pre Christmas “build up” adding to the tension and emotions of this page turner.
February 5, 2023
Captivating and easy to read!
This is the first book I've read in years due to a poor attention span!
Great book, great story and so so easy to read!
Thank you for inspiring me to read again!
This is the first book I've read in years due to a poor attention span!
Great book, great story and so so easy to read!
Thank you for inspiring me to read again!
December 28, 2022
This promising first novel by Australian Robert Edsall is a whodunnit leavened with the feel of summer in Sydney. A good Christmas holiday read.
December 28, 2022
Absolutely could not put this book down.
I love the imagery that Robert constantly creates with so few words. I laughed. I nodded. I recognised parts of these characters in myself and others in my life. It’s a very human story with plenty of twists.
A beautiful blend of light and dark, of tragedy and humour all set in my hometown of Sydney. The bars of Glebe, the streets of Newtown, RPA hospital, Sydney uni. Having lived away for a decade now, this book took me right back there. It felt warm and cosy despite its plot around a mysterious and tragic death.
It beautifully weaves together themes of mental health, marital complexities, the intense love for your child and the very real human failings that most of us carry in various ways.
Loved it ! An incredible debut novel
I love the imagery that Robert constantly creates with so few words. I laughed. I nodded. I recognised parts of these characters in myself and others in my life. It’s a very human story with plenty of twists.
A beautiful blend of light and dark, of tragedy and humour all set in my hometown of Sydney. The bars of Glebe, the streets of Newtown, RPA hospital, Sydney uni. Having lived away for a decade now, this book took me right back there. It felt warm and cosy despite its plot around a mysterious and tragic death.
It beautifully weaves together themes of mental health, marital complexities, the intense love for your child and the very real human failings that most of us carry in various ways.
Loved it ! An incredible debut novel
January 19, 2023
I wrote it, so of course I like it! Please give it a try and let everyone know what you think.
April 30, 2025
An interesting whodunit that has me scratching my head until the end.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews