Meet Bronte, who posted a drunken rant online that went viral. She’s now jobless, friendless and broke! In an attempt to escape the online trolling and in-person harassment, she takes refuge as a volunteer carer on a rural property. She’s hoping to lay low until the unwanted attention passes.
However, she soon finds herself immersed in a world of paranoia, conspiracy theories and secrets.
Catherine crafts an unsettling atmosphere, heightened by the eccentric character of Velda, a sovereign citizen with a dangerously loyal following. Rejecting the authority of the state, she refuses to even register her car. But are they harmless eccentrics with wild conspiracy theories, or dangerously paranoid extremists?
Meanwhile, Nell’s dementia hints at a dark, buried truth. The setting intensifies the suspense, leaving you to question whether Bronte’s unease is due to genuine danger or her own desperation?
Catherine deftly explores themes of trust, manipulation and survival in an increasingly polarised world. It is a thought-provoking look at the intersection of personal trauma and societal disconnection. Panic is a gripping thriller with a tense narrative and you’ll be hooked until the last page. If you enjoy psychological thrillers, Panic should be on your reading list!
Catherine Jinks is an award winning Australian writer. Follow Catherine online.
Reviewer: Andrea Molloy
Text Publishing