A Beautiful Family

ABBEY'S BOOKSELLER PICK ----- Ten year old Ally and her family are holidaying at a popular coastal town for the summer of 1985-6. It isn't the usual sort of place they go to, as her Mum prefers holidaying in remote and isolated locations but insisted on this town, though she does keep disappearing on walks up the beach. Her older sister, nearly fifteen, doesn't want to be anywhere with her sister or parents; their father doesn't want to leave the TV cricket coverage. And the next-door neighbour is odd, though Ally doesn't have the language to describe what feels wrong about an older man who doesn't smile at little girls. She befriends Kahu, a Maori lad two years older than her, who tells her about the young girl who went missing from the beach a few years ago. Together they decide to search for her as a way to fill in the long summer days, but what they find isn't what they expected...

A powerful novel full of unspoken tensions told through Ally's eyes. She is watchful and observant, but also innocent and wanting to believe in the best, so that the reader, who can see what Ally has no way of knowing, is gripped by building dread – but also left with the unsettling but satisfying feeling that Ally has made a bigger difference that she will ever know.   Lindy

'I absolutely loved this page-turning family mystery and didn't want it to end. The author so effortlessly transported me to another place and time, and every character leapt off the page. An extraordinary, exquisitely written debut.' Liane Moriarty, author of Here One Moment 'An absolutely riveting read. A Beautiful Family held me captive from the first page to the last, both through Trevelyan's uncanny ability to maintain inexorable tension throughout, and her wholly believable narration of a ten-year-old trying to make sense of the adult world around her. I loved it.' Hannah Kent, author of Devotion 'Feels like an age since I sat down and read a book, cover to cover, so quickly. Loved A Beautiful Family by Jennifer Trevelyan. Amazing!' Jacinda Ardern 'This taut tale of mystery and suspense follows Alix as she begins to understand that some actions can have dire consequences. The novel's power lies in its slow reveal. The ending is both satisfying and unsettling. Trevelyan convincingly portrays how a perceptive yet lonely child can make sense of and come to terms with painful and threatening experiences that remain invisible to the adults around them.' Books + Publishing 'Occasionally a book comes into the office and it's so good, I want to tell everyone about it. Jennifer Trevelyan's debut, A Beautiful Family is that good. I've been telling everyone: you simply must read it. My heart was thumping hard as I read it. It's a thrilling book, and I really think you'll love it.' Caroline Overington, The Australian 'Taut yet tender, A Beautiful Family examines the precariousness of childhood through the lens of a long, hazy summer of secrets. Proving the maxim that all unhappy families are unhappy in their own way, Trevelyan has crafted a coming of age story that perfectly balances the nostalgia of summer holidays with a looming sense of danger. Find a sun-lit corner and devour this sensational debut in one session (like I did).' Jacqueline Bublitz, author of Before You Knew My Name and Leave the Girls Behind 'The haunting, captivating novel A Beautiful Family...Adored it.' Clare Stephens, author of The Worst Thing I've Ever Done 'With her imperfect understanding of the adult world and her longing to keep her family together, Alix is the perfect guide to a story in which so many things are unspoken and unexplained. The book trundles along at a deceptively languid pace until you realize that Trevelyan has expertly set up multiple mysteries that converge, stunningly, late in the game.' The New York Times 'Immersive....Alix grasps at the truth of things, but her perspective means only the reader parses the more adult story unravelling around her. This framing is craftily handled, with Trevelyan building suspense as the underlying narratives coalesce, delving into familial ties, a child's desire for harmony, and the pinballing of a child on the brink of adolescence.' Guardian 'A Beautiful Family is a clever and challenging book that manages to encompass a haunting depiction of innocence lost and a powerful family melodrama, while presenting us with a heinous crime and its discovery.' Sue Turnbull, The Conversation 'Jennifer Trevelyan's immersive debut is atmospheric and aching.' Laurie Frankel, New York Times bestselling author of Family Family 'Trevelyan's brilliant novel is at once a captivating mystery and a portrait of a family in crisis...' Sunday Life 'This novel, part mystery and part Bildungsroman, is gripping; every chapter brings an unexpected twist, further complicating and deepening each storyline.' Kirkus Reviews 'Trevelyan's taut thriller debut hauntingly captures the end of innocence through a child's eyes.' Booklist 'Skillful narrative control and vivid authenticity help make this local debut a winner. Jennifer Trevelyan has hit the jackpot with her nuanced, appealing tale. Simply structured and vividly executed, the novel deserves all the success coming its way.' NZ Listener 'Communicating the gaps in a family dynamic paired with significant plot points can be a challenging feat, but Trevelyan does it with enjoyable flair in A Beautiful Family, painting a multilayered narrative that must be devoured in one sitting.' ArtsHub