When Baz King and his wife Birdie arrive at a summer barbecue in Melbourne, it is clear they are unhappy in their relationship, but they aren’t to know this simple neighbourhood barbecue will end in shocking tragedy. Their lives will be changed forever, as will the other young families there.
Nine years on, Baz King goes missing. Although, as a reader, we know he is dead, the characters in the book don’t know this, and they expect him to turn up again at some point. After all, he’s charming, the life of the party, and he is used to getting what he wants in life. The story moves from past to present and back, and it also moves between different characters – Birdie, his ex-wife; his new wife, Maddison; his old lover Jess and her husband Richard; his work colleague Alex; his daughter; and many others. All of them have different secrets, and many of them have a motive for wanting Baz King out of the picture.
The Pool features an ensemble cast that is expertly constructed, creating a tapestry of people who are interconnected by tragedy, but the real puzzle is what has happened to everyone nine years on and how each of their lives has been altered. It’s a domestic noir novel with a great deal of depth that will provoke thought about the morality of everyday life – as well as being a gripping, multi-layered read.
Hannah Tunnicliffe is a talented novelist – go and find her other excellent novels to read also!
Reviewer: Karen McMillan
Ultimo Press