Barren Cape (Michelle Prak, S&S)

Take one remote, abandoned site, a pack of unhinged teenagers, some drug-fuelled young adults, and an escaped convict – what could possibly go wrong? Welcome to Barren Cape, the latest thriller from Michelle Prak (The Rush). Set along the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia, Barren Cape introduces flatmates Mac and Erika, who find themselves in a desperate situation after their lease is not renewed. After days of couch surfing, Mac discovers a derelict building by the ocean – a failed resort development. It becomes her makeshift home and solo sanctuary until she’s forced to share it with other lost souls. Among them is the unnerving schoolgirl Brex, whose presence makes Mac’s couch-surfing days seem idyllic by comparison. With its eerie, atmospheric setting and a plot filled with twists, Barren Cape is well-suited for TV or film adaptation – fittingly, as Erika remarks, ‘this is the beginning of a true crime podcast’. While some sections of dialogue can slow the pacing, Prak’s writing remains direct and authentic, with some particularly touching scenes and dialogue between Mac and Erika. Erika’s evolution into an unlikely heroine is a standout, and the scene where she stumbles on Mac’s makeshift home in the resort is genuinely moving. The insight into and commentary on Australia’s current housing crisis and the risks people take to secure a roof over their heads is confronting and thought-provoking. While not as tightly fraught as The Rush, Barren Cape’s plot steadily gains momentum and layers. Fans of Jane Harper or Margaret Hickey will find plenty of jump scares and twisty plot turns here to keep them entertained.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Michelle Atkins is a communications professional and published educational author. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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