Wintering

When Jessica’s partner disappears into the dark Tasmanian forest, there is of course the mystery of what happened to him—the deserted car, the enigmatic final image recorded on his phone. There is the strange circle of local women, widows of disappeared men, with their edgy fellowship and unhinged theories. And the forest itself: looming hugely over this tiny settlement on the remote tip of the island. But for Jessica there is also the tight community in which she is still a stranger and Matthew was not. What secrets do they know about her own life, that she doesn’t. And why do they believe things that should not—cannot—be true. For her own sanity, Jessica needs to know two things. Who was Matthew? And who—or what—has he become? Krissy Kneen is the award-winning author of memoir—Affection—and fiction: An Uncertain Grace, Steeplechase, Triptych, The Adventures of Holly White and the Incredible Sex Machine, as well as the Thomas Shapcott Award-winning poetry collection Eating My Grandmother. She has written and directed broadcast documentaries for SBS and ABC Television. ‘At once a supernatural thriller and a sharp meditation on the legacy abusive men leave behind.’ Readings ‘Kneen’s writing, by turns playful and elegant, is never less than stimulating, in the literal and figurative senses of the word.’ Stella Prize 2017 Judges’ Report ‘Endlessly curious and inventive, provocative and inspiring.’ Sydney Morning Herald ‘[A] taut new novel...Wintering uses [a] closed community to examine some disturbing aspects of Australian culture: parochialism, machismo, an unwillingness to face up to the past...Kneen also finds room for strength and kindness in this sleek and gripping novel.’ Australian ‘This book is a surprise, [with] drama and twists that leave you exhilarated...Kneen has jumped, unafraid, into many shades of rough territory.’ Courier Mail ‘Thought-provoking...satisfying and compelling.’ Herald Sun ‘One of Australia’s hidden literary gems. With each new book, I find myself hoping that readers will finally discover her quirky, sexy and incredibly beautiful writing.’ Books+Publishing ‘Highly unusual, very ambitious...but I think Krissy Kneen achieves it.’ Radio New Zealand