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The Beach Caves
‘Please. I’m in hell!’ The truth of that was in his face. The rims of his eyes were red-raw, his hair was matted, he hadn’t shaved since knocking at her door, when he’d been clean-shaven — one of the few details she remembered of that blurred encounter. ‘I know why you’re avoiding me. Whoever told the cops told you, too.’
It’s 1970, and young Annette Cooley is part of a small team working on an archaeological dig on the New South Wales south coast — a site that appears to prove that Aboriginal societies in the late Holocene were becoming less nomadic, even sedentary. The discovery is thrilling in its significance, and the atmosphere in the group is one of charged excitement. The team is led by a husband-and-wife pair, stars in their field, Aled Wray and Marilyn Herr, and working on their sites promises to be the making of Annette as an archaeologist.
On a new site, linked to the first, Annette starts to fall for a fellow student, Brian Harpur. But there are strange tensions and a hidden darkness within the group. Then one of their party mysteriously disappears. When police arrive, Annette makes a decision that will irrevocably mark her life, and Brian Harpur’s.
Written in simple, beautiful prose, and with great depth and moral complexity, The Beach Caves is a powerful story about jealousy, guilt, the choices we make, and the different paths our lives could have taken — shadow paths, which nevertheless leave a trace.
It’s 1970, and young Annette Cooley is part of a small team working on an archaeological dig on the New South Wales south coast — a site that appears to prove that Aboriginal societies in the late Holocene were becoming less nomadic, even sedentary. The discovery is thrilling in its significance, and the atmosphere in the group is one of charged excitement. The team is led by a husband-and-wife pair, stars in their field, Aled Wray and Marilyn Herr, and working on their sites promises to be the making of Annette as an archaeologist.
On a new site, linked to the first, Annette starts to fall for a fellow student, Brian Harpur. But there are strange tensions and a hidden darkness within the group. Then one of their party mysteriously disappears. When police arrive, Annette makes a decision that will irrevocably mark her life, and Brian Harpur’s.
Written in simple, beautiful prose, and with great depth and moral complexity, The Beach Caves is a powerful story about jealousy, guilt, the choices we make, and the different paths our lives could have taken — shadow paths, which nevertheless leave a trace.
352 pages, Paperback
Published February 2, 2021
4 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Trevor Shearston
12 books12 followersTrevor Shearston has published a story collection and seven novels. The last, Game, was longlisted for the Miles Franklin, and shortlisted for the Christina Stead and Colin Roderick awards. He lives in Katoomba.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 12, 2021
This novel built tension well in the first half, but I found the second part uninspiring. I also took issue with the fact that it's a novel about Aboriginal history that includes no Aboriginal characters.
June 15, 2021
I choose this book to read after listening to the ABC Book club podcast and it intrigued me. With an interest in history and archaeology, I read a lot of European and British books, but this is set in Australia with a team from ANU (the Australian National University in Canberra) discovering a significant Aboriginal site on the New South Wales southern coast in 1971.
Like a couple of books, I’ve read lately this is more of a literary crime novel than a page-turning thriller. The book is split in two parts with the first section focused on a husband-wife team Aled and Marilyn who are each well-known archaeologists within their field and lead the archaeological dig.
The story is told through the eyes of Annette, a young honours student who has a crush on Brian, an Engineering student who has joined the dig. He discovers a second more significant site, and this splits the group. Then one of the members of the group disappears presumably drowned. It was jolting to read a book set in a time period where there was no consultation with the Aboriginal people living in the community about these significant discoveries and the attitudes of the academics at that time.
The second part of the book fast forwards 34 years later to 2005 when the body of the missing group member is discovered. As I said, not a page turner, but literary fiction/crime that is really well-written and looks at ethics, guilt, jealousy, ambition and how our decisions can have life-long impacts on others.
Like a couple of books, I’ve read lately this is more of a literary crime novel than a page-turning thriller. The book is split in two parts with the first section focused on a husband-wife team Aled and Marilyn who are each well-known archaeologists within their field and lead the archaeological dig.
The story is told through the eyes of Annette, a young honours student who has a crush on Brian, an Engineering student who has joined the dig. He discovers a second more significant site, and this splits the group. Then one of the members of the group disappears presumably drowned. It was jolting to read a book set in a time period where there was no consultation with the Aboriginal people living in the community about these significant discoveries and the attitudes of the academics at that time.
The second part of the book fast forwards 34 years later to 2005 when the body of the missing group member is discovered. As I said, not a page turner, but literary fiction/crime that is really well-written and looks at ethics, guilt, jealousy, ambition and how our decisions can have life-long impacts on others.
June 20, 2021
This is a novel in two parts that interested in me in different ways. The first part, set in the 1970s, describes excavations by Canberra archeologists of prehistoric sites on the Clyde River and then on the beach north of Bateman’s Bay in New South Wales. I enjoyed the descriptions of places with which I am familiar. The interactions and tensions between the Aled Wray and his wife Marilyn Herr affected the students who were working with them. This interested me less than the excavations themselves, which showed stone dwellings from the Holocene era and a new discovery from the Pleistocene era. Although Shearston fictionalises these discoveries, there is some basis in archeological fact, if not in these areas. Given current debates about Australian Aboriginal societies before the arrival of European colonisers, this aspect fascinated me. This section ends with the disappearance of one of the group and a police investigation.
The second part of the novel, set in the first decade of the 21st century, describes the after effects of the disappearance on the lives of some of the main characters, particularly the student Annette and the extra hand, Brian. When the mystery appears to be solved, Annette seeks to assuage the guilt she has felt for so many years. This section was psychologically convincing and provided both tension and some surprises.
This is a good book though not a great one. It has an engaging story and a convincing historical and sociological background. Sometimes the writing seems a little awkward. Another thing that bothered me was the failure of the writer to acknowledge the traditional owners of the areas that were being excavated. Although archeologists in the 1970s were not overly concerned with the displacement of artefacts - and even skeletons - times have changed and I thought something should have been said in Shearston’s Acknowledgements at the end of the book.
The second part of the novel, set in the first decade of the 21st century, describes the after effects of the disappearance on the lives of some of the main characters, particularly the student Annette and the extra hand, Brian. When the mystery appears to be solved, Annette seeks to assuage the guilt she has felt for so many years. This section was psychologically convincing and provided both tension and some surprises.
This is a good book though not a great one. It has an engaging story and a convincing historical and sociological background. Sometimes the writing seems a little awkward. Another thing that bothered me was the failure of the writer to acknowledge the traditional owners of the areas that were being excavated. Although archeologists in the 1970s were not overly concerned with the displacement of artefacts - and even skeletons - times have changed and I thought something should have been said in Shearston’s Acknowledgements at the end of the book.
June 5, 2021
I discovered author Trevor Shearston through his previous novel Hare’s Fur, a beautiful and meditative literary story. His most recent book, The Beach Caves (Scribe 2021) is also well-crafted but is more of a literary crime, so in addition to the lilting language, intimately portrayed characters and gorgeous descriptions of landscape and environment, the story has the gripping thrill of an unsolved mystery.
Set in two sections, the novel begins in 1970, when Annette is a young woman working as part of a small team on an archaeological dig on the NSW south coast, discovering evidence that indigenous people were not as nomadic as white historians had always claimed, but perhaps lived in villages and conducted agriculture and fish farms. At the time, this was a significant and exciting ‘discovery’ to white academics (although of course, as we now know, not a surprise at all to Aboriginal people themselves, had anyone thought to ask, or to listen). In any event, the novel depicts the attitudes of scientists at that time, 50 years ago. The team is led by husband and wife duo Aled and Marilyn, both famous in their own rights for their professional work. Annette is thrilled to be chosen for the field trip and pleased for what it might mean for her own career.
The team begin to make some astounding discoveries, and Annette falls for a fellow student, Brian. But there is friction between Aled and Marilyn, with disagreements about what the priorities of the expedition should be, and more general conflict amongst the group of about 10, resulting in petty jealousies and misunderstandings.
One member of the group disappears, and when the police arrive to investigate, Annette makes a decision that will affect not only her life, but the lives of all involved.
The second part of the book is set years later, when a reckoning arrives, and Annette is finally held accountable for her actions.
This book is full of moral and ethical complexity, with a taut and suspenseful plot, written in beautiful and well-crafted language, with engaging characters. It explores guilt, betrayal, jealousy, ambition, and how the decisions we make affect the paths we subsequently travel, and how our choices create reverberations for those around us.
Set in two sections, the novel begins in 1970, when Annette is a young woman working as part of a small team on an archaeological dig on the NSW south coast, discovering evidence that indigenous people were not as nomadic as white historians had always claimed, but perhaps lived in villages and conducted agriculture and fish farms. At the time, this was a significant and exciting ‘discovery’ to white academics (although of course, as we now know, not a surprise at all to Aboriginal people themselves, had anyone thought to ask, or to listen). In any event, the novel depicts the attitudes of scientists at that time, 50 years ago. The team is led by husband and wife duo Aled and Marilyn, both famous in their own rights for their professional work. Annette is thrilled to be chosen for the field trip and pleased for what it might mean for her own career.
The team begin to make some astounding discoveries, and Annette falls for a fellow student, Brian. But there is friction between Aled and Marilyn, with disagreements about what the priorities of the expedition should be, and more general conflict amongst the group of about 10, resulting in petty jealousies and misunderstandings.
One member of the group disappears, and when the police arrive to investigate, Annette makes a decision that will affect not only her life, but the lives of all involved.
The second part of the book is set years later, when a reckoning arrives, and Annette is finally held accountable for her actions.
This book is full of moral and ethical complexity, with a taut and suspenseful plot, written in beautiful and well-crafted language, with engaging characters. It explores guilt, betrayal, jealousy, ambition, and how the decisions we make affect the paths we subsequently travel, and how our choices create reverberations for those around us.
April 5, 2021
Not my usual fare. This was an interesting read set in a world I know very little about (archaeology) however parts of it made me very uncomfortable. It was set in the 1970s so I guess that was the time however I feel like it could have been handled with a bit more sensitivity. We know better now.
July 27, 2021
Just patchy, so this novel is maybe 3.5. I was impressed with the author’s exquisite writing in Hares’ Fur, felt this one was good in parts, sometimes just plain overworked. Ditto the plot, it’s an ambitious one, two stories linked by one thing and a few people. It kept my interest though and I give up very quickly these days. I liked the scenes describing coastal NSW bush vegetation, and the archeological focus was a different and intriguing feature. There’s worthwhile reflection on guilt, regret, their role in the failure or success of relationships. Characters were a sticking point - they were patchy in development. None were likeable.
May 7, 2021
The Beach Caves is initially set in 1970 and Annette Cooley and other archaeology students from the ANU are working on a site on the NSW South Coast which seems to show that Indigenous people were becoming less nomadic and more sedentary. A larger group moves on to a new site to excavate beach caves. The dig is being led by a husband and wife team - Aled Wray and Marilyn Herr.
Annette begins to develop feelings for one of the other students Brian Harpur. Soon however a second site is found which creates a strange and unsettling dynamic as the group abruptly and acrimoniously splits in two with each professor taking a site. Then one of the group disappears and Annette makes a decision which forever changes her life and that of Brian’s.
The book then switches to 2005. When the mysterious disappearance from the beach caves site is pushed back into the spotlight, Annette is forced to relive the past, examining her part in it and grappling with the memories of the guilt, jealousy and betrayal she felt.
Firstly I loved the setting of this book! For this Canberran it was a little bit thrilling to have Annette running across Barry Drive from the ANU and for the digs to be located on the South Coast. I also found the topic of archaeology and the questions raised about the use of the land by the local Indigenous people to be fascinating but not overwhelming with too much detail.
The Beach Caves is a mystery but of the slow burn and character driven type. The mystery itself isn’t particularly shocking or dramatic but the tension is built slowly and carefully and by the end I found it hard to put down.
The characters were a bit hard to keep track of initially and Brian Harpur was always acknowledged using his full name which gave a strange serious tone to the interactions between him and Annette. Neither he nor Annette come across as particularly likeable but I think the portrayal of flawed characters really added to the books examination of morality and the impact of guilt over the course of a life.
I enjoyed reading The Beach Caves. Thank you @scribepub for my #freegift copy.
Annette begins to develop feelings for one of the other students Brian Harpur. Soon however a second site is found which creates a strange and unsettling dynamic as the group abruptly and acrimoniously splits in two with each professor taking a site. Then one of the group disappears and Annette makes a decision which forever changes her life and that of Brian’s.
The book then switches to 2005. When the mysterious disappearance from the beach caves site is pushed back into the spotlight, Annette is forced to relive the past, examining her part in it and grappling with the memories of the guilt, jealousy and betrayal she felt.
Firstly I loved the setting of this book! For this Canberran it was a little bit thrilling to have Annette running across Barry Drive from the ANU and for the digs to be located on the South Coast. I also found the topic of archaeology and the questions raised about the use of the land by the local Indigenous people to be fascinating but not overwhelming with too much detail.
The Beach Caves is a mystery but of the slow burn and character driven type. The mystery itself isn’t particularly shocking or dramatic but the tension is built slowly and carefully and by the end I found it hard to put down.
The characters were a bit hard to keep track of initially and Brian Harpur was always acknowledged using his full name which gave a strange serious tone to the interactions between him and Annette. Neither he nor Annette come across as particularly likeable but I think the portrayal of flawed characters really added to the books examination of morality and the impact of guilt over the course of a life.
I enjoyed reading The Beach Caves. Thank you @scribepub for my #freegift copy.
Read
April 6, 2021An archaeological thriller that has a real sense of lived experience. Written with beautiful exactitude by a natural writer.
Joan London
Uplifting and satisfying.
Books+Publishing
Meditative … the unfolding of the plot is moving without ever sinking into sentimentality.
Sydney Morning Herald
An enchanted tale about the power of making things and the unexpected remaking of a life.
Amanda Lohrey
An archaeological thriller set on a dig in southern NSW.
Geordie Williamson, The Australian
The Beach Caves is a fascinating book that left me eager to find out what happened next.
Suzanne Steinbrucker, Readings
An intriguing book … The Beach Caves will attract readers wanting an insight into the academic mind and procedures. Other readers will enjoy it for its mystery.
Michael McKernan, The Canberra Times
The Beach Caves examines the impact that young relationships and instinctive reactions can have on the course of a life … A moody, evocative novel that brings the rugged south coast of New South Wales to life.
Andrew McLeod, Australian Book Review
The Beach Caves is a deceptively innocent title: this is a novel that reeks of jealousy, betrayal, and guilt. … Trevor Shearston writes beautiful prose, and is master of the landscape he portrays … This is a superb novel, which I expect to see in shortlists in due course.
Lisa Hill, ANZ LitLovers
What The Beach Caves does well is to explore the very human dimensions of the archaeological endeavour of the time. To capture the intensity of obsession, both personal and professional, and the very real consequences when those obsessions are allowed to get out of control.
Robert Goodman, Pile by the Bed
Joan London
Uplifting and satisfying.
Books+Publishing
Meditative … the unfolding of the plot is moving without ever sinking into sentimentality.
Sydney Morning Herald
An enchanted tale about the power of making things and the unexpected remaking of a life.
Amanda Lohrey
An archaeological thriller set on a dig in southern NSW.
Geordie Williamson, The Australian
The Beach Caves is a fascinating book that left me eager to find out what happened next.
Suzanne Steinbrucker, Readings
An intriguing book … The Beach Caves will attract readers wanting an insight into the academic mind and procedures. Other readers will enjoy it for its mystery.
Michael McKernan, The Canberra Times
The Beach Caves examines the impact that young relationships and instinctive reactions can have on the course of a life … A moody, evocative novel that brings the rugged south coast of New South Wales to life.
Andrew McLeod, Australian Book Review
The Beach Caves is a deceptively innocent title: this is a novel that reeks of jealousy, betrayal, and guilt. … Trevor Shearston writes beautiful prose, and is master of the landscape he portrays … This is a superb novel, which I expect to see in shortlists in due course.
Lisa Hill, ANZ LitLovers
What The Beach Caves does well is to explore the very human dimensions of the archaeological endeavour of the time. To capture the intensity of obsession, both personal and professional, and the very real consequences when those obsessions are allowed to get out of control.
Robert Goodman, Pile by the Bed
January 29, 2024
In 1970 Annette is doing her honours thesis in archeology. Her supervisor is Professor Aled Wray. Annette and her housemate work on sites with and his archeologist wife, Dr Marilyn Herr. In Australia the Liberal (conservative) party has been in power since WWII, the White Australia policy is still in force, young men are being drafted for the Vietnam War, corruption is rife in politics and police, and the idea of civil rights for anyone who is not a wealthy white male is laughable.
Against this background, Annette and her cohort join a series of digs with Aled and Marilyn on the NSW South Coast, near Batemans Bay. The dig is hugely successful and becomes even more so when one site leads to another and they make finds that will change the current narrative of ancient Australian history and challenge the conservative certainties underpinning power.
But tensions rise as there are arguments about who owns (and takes credit for) the work, and ethical and legal obligations are ignored. Annette and Brian are developing into a 'thing' until the group is split into two by the arguments. Annette and Brian land on different sides and Annette's housemate is with Brian and Marilyn. At the same time Brian has fallen into a huge crush on the very beautiful Marilyn. Then a member of the dig disappears. Is it a drowning or something more sinister? The police are looking for information and Annette has to make a decision - what she has to say could be irrelevant or may even solve the mystery. The decision she makes will be crucial.
The second half of the book is set in 2006. The mystery has remained unsolved until now when a body is found. Annette's whole life trajectory had been changed by the loss of her colleague and all the suspicions surrounding it. Now she is dragged into reviewing her actions and motives, and trying to make sense of the past.
I found this book quite absorbing and interesting. I'm interested in history and archeology and the sections describing the digs seemed very authentic. It's easy to catch the excitement. Also I loved the lyrical descriptions of the bush and the beaches.
Many reviewers have commented on the lack of Aboriginal people involved in the story but I find that very typical of the time. Racism, overt and covert, was rampant and there was little awareness that it was a problem. What I do find impossible to believe was that there was no discussion of who these people were. Archeologists of the time would definitely have known the nations and mobs and what the differences would be between different groups and Aled would surely have commented on this during his mini lectures. Also the book was published in 2021 and there is no acknowledgement of country or the people who lived there. That's a bit shocking in this day and age.
The theme for the second part of the book could be old sins have long shadows. The consequences for Annette and others on the dig were enormous. Sadly, I felt let down in the way these were portrayed. There was a narrative of action but little introspection. So the themes of guilt, grief, and isolation were really not explored in depth. The book was a bit bipolar in that the approach was completely different in each section. I think there was a missed opportunity in the second half to explore both the differences in characters and society between the 70s and the 2010. We find that Annette looks back and doesn't particularly like who she was in the 70s but there is no exploration of whether this knowledge created change in her or her relationships.
I've given this 3.5 stars and rounded it up to 4 because I was engrossed to the end.
Against this background, Annette and her cohort join a series of digs with Aled and Marilyn on the NSW South Coast, near Batemans Bay. The dig is hugely successful and becomes even more so when one site leads to another and they make finds that will change the current narrative of ancient Australian history and challenge the conservative certainties underpinning power.
But tensions rise as there are arguments about who owns (and takes credit for) the work, and ethical and legal obligations are ignored. Annette and Brian are developing into a 'thing' until the group is split into two by the arguments. Annette and Brian land on different sides and Annette's housemate is with Brian and Marilyn. At the same time Brian has fallen into a huge crush on the very beautiful Marilyn. Then a member of the dig disappears. Is it a drowning or something more sinister? The police are looking for information and Annette has to make a decision - what she has to say could be irrelevant or may even solve the mystery. The decision she makes will be crucial.
The second half of the book is set in 2006. The mystery has remained unsolved until now when a body is found. Annette's whole life trajectory had been changed by the loss of her colleague and all the suspicions surrounding it. Now she is dragged into reviewing her actions and motives, and trying to make sense of the past.
I found this book quite absorbing and interesting. I'm interested in history and archeology and the sections describing the digs seemed very authentic. It's easy to catch the excitement. Also I loved the lyrical descriptions of the bush and the beaches.
Many reviewers have commented on the lack of Aboriginal people involved in the story but I find that very typical of the time. Racism, overt and covert, was rampant and there was little awareness that it was a problem. What I do find impossible to believe was that there was no discussion of who these people were. Archeologists of the time would definitely have known the nations and mobs and what the differences would be between different groups and Aled would surely have commented on this during his mini lectures. Also the book was published in 2021 and there is no acknowledgement of country or the people who lived there. That's a bit shocking in this day and age.
The theme for the second part of the book could be old sins have long shadows. The consequences for Annette and others on the dig were enormous. Sadly, I felt let down in the way these were portrayed. There was a narrative of action but little introspection. So the themes of guilt, grief, and isolation were really not explored in depth. The book was a bit bipolar in that the approach was completely different in each section. I think there was a missed opportunity in the second half to explore both the differences in characters and society between the 70s and the 2010. We find that Annette looks back and doesn't particularly like who she was in the 70s but there is no exploration of whether this knowledge created change in her or her relationships.
I've given this 3.5 stars and rounded it up to 4 because I was engrossed to the end.
April 7, 2021
Inflight reading this evening: "The Beach Caves" was an interesting read. Almost a play on words, many characters seemed to submit to take particular actions under pressure. On the surface this was about Aboriginal archaeological findings along coastline in the 1970s, and a tragic turn of events that seemed to snowball and become complicated on so many levels.
Puzzled by the closure Annette was seeking throughout the book, she was a character that was hard to warm to. Through her eyes we Sue in this light, but I wonder again if this was just naivety of a young student in the 70s, or just a young woman uncomfortable in the void. Annette seemed so resistant to argue and fight for what she wanted, more from the pressure of her inner monologue.
Relationships seemed to also be a key theme in this story. Deeper down, we see the relationship between Annette and Sue, where even Annette remarked that she had to be the one to initiate a connection with Sue: although they were both PhD colleagues, there was some hidden competition maintaining their separation. There seem to be an unbalanced give and take between Alec and Marilyn, and Annette seemed to give way to an opportunity with Brian. The Aboriginal village findings reflected on theories of seeking to be more grounded,in opposition to the obsessive behaviours of the two professors, and also the unspoken antagonism between Sue and Annette.
Puzzled by the closure Annette was seeking throughout the book, she was a character that was hard to warm to. Through her eyes we Sue in this light, but I wonder again if this was just naivety of a young student in the 70s, or just a young woman uncomfortable in the void. Annette seemed so resistant to argue and fight for what she wanted, more from the pressure of her inner monologue.
Relationships seemed to also be a key theme in this story. Deeper down, we see the relationship between Annette and Sue, where even Annette remarked that she had to be the one to initiate a connection with Sue: although they were both PhD colleagues, there was some hidden competition maintaining their separation. There seem to be an unbalanced give and take between Alec and Marilyn, and Annette seemed to give way to an opportunity with Brian. The Aboriginal village findings reflected on theories of seeking to be more grounded,in opposition to the obsessive behaviours of the two professors, and also the unspoken antagonism between Sue and Annette.
January 28, 2021
The Beach Caves is a deceptively innocent title: this is a novel that reeks of jealousy, betrayal, and guilt. Part I begins in the summer of 1970-71 with a team of archaeologists working a dig on the New South Wales South Coast. They are poised to make remarkable discoveries about Aboriginal lifestyles in the late Holocene era. Aled Wray and Marilyn Herr, a husband-and-wife collaboration, lead the team which includes their PhD students Annette Cooley and Sue Klima. The outsider is Brian Harpur, who’s an engineering student fulfilling his parents’ ambitions, not his own.
It is Brian who by chance discovers the new site offering exciting possibilities, but the find fractures the cohesion of the team along fault-lines determined by Aled and Marilyn’s professional competitiveness. Shearston depicts with forensic precision Aled’s assumption that he should dominate: this is the 1970s when men in western societies were having their precedence challenged by feminism, and those of us who were challenging the same assumptions on the domestic front as well as at work, will remember that not all concessions were made gracefully, and some men could not cope with being challenged at all.
Annette and Sue have to make their choices knowing that their PhD supervision is at stake. And when one of the team goes missing and the team breaks up in distress, some of the group have their choices constrained by the Vietnam conscription ballot: they could defer their national service only for as long as they are students. Dropping out of university means being forced to serve in a war that by this time is generally recognised as morally wrong. (Conscription and Australia’s participation in the war ended in 1972 when the ALP came to power after 25 years of Liberal Party rule).
However, it is Annette’s decision to intervene in the police investigation that drives the novel. By chance she sees something that might or might not be relevant, but her behaviour is driven not by any moral imperative but by jealousy. She had thought that Brian was interested in her. She wants to punish him.
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2021/01/28/t...
It is Brian who by chance discovers the new site offering exciting possibilities, but the find fractures the cohesion of the team along fault-lines determined by Aled and Marilyn’s professional competitiveness. Shearston depicts with forensic precision Aled’s assumption that he should dominate: this is the 1970s when men in western societies were having their precedence challenged by feminism, and those of us who were challenging the same assumptions on the domestic front as well as at work, will remember that not all concessions were made gracefully, and some men could not cope with being challenged at all.
Annette and Sue have to make their choices knowing that their PhD supervision is at stake. And when one of the team goes missing and the team breaks up in distress, some of the group have their choices constrained by the Vietnam conscription ballot: they could defer their national service only for as long as they are students. Dropping out of university means being forced to serve in a war that by this time is generally recognised as morally wrong. (Conscription and Australia’s participation in the war ended in 1972 when the ALP came to power after 25 years of Liberal Party rule).
However, it is Annette’s decision to intervene in the police investigation that drives the novel. By chance she sees something that might or might not be relevant, but her behaviour is driven not by any moral imperative but by jealousy. She had thought that Brian was interested in her. She wants to punish him.
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2021/01/28/t...
April 6, 2021
This is an intriguing and unexpected read. Featuring much scientific jargon (mostly archaeological) the story is set in 1970 and also 2005-2006 - firstly at an archaeological dig site on the south coast of New South Wales, Australia and latterly in Canberra. The coastal setting in the first part of the book is beautifully described by author Shearston who obviously knows much about his science - which although very detailed actually enhances the story.
Shearston has nailed academic life in the 1970s. Again this is integral to the story which centres on the archaeological dig and the dynamic between husband and wife archaeologists who have a professional rivalry as observed by student Annette Cooley. There are other students including engineer Brian Harpur who grew up in the dig area and uses his local knowledge to his advantage.
A key member of the group disappears and the suspicions, jealousies, secrets and guilt all begin to surface, like the fossils and artefacts at the dig. A compelling thriller at its core, this is recommended reading indeed.
Shearston has nailed academic life in the 1970s. Again this is integral to the story which centres on the archaeological dig and the dynamic between husband and wife archaeologists who have a professional rivalry as observed by student Annette Cooley. There are other students including engineer Brian Harpur who grew up in the dig area and uses his local knowledge to his advantage.
A key member of the group disappears and the suspicions, jealousies, secrets and guilt all begin to surface, like the fossils and artefacts at the dig. A compelling thriller at its core, this is recommended reading indeed.
April 6, 2025
Slightly interesting because of 1970s Australian archaeology when there was no consultation with Aboriginal groups. Difficult to warm to any of the characters. I found it confusing at the beginning to remember who all the crew at the dig are. The main character acts partly out of jealousy, but would it have been ethical to conceal what she saw. She continues to feel guilt over implicating Brian, a field hand. This is not plot driven murder mystery fiction. Didn't resonate with me. But I think if it had been nonfiction true crime, I may have been more engaged, eg the effect on Brian of the police investigation and the reaction of his family and his community which is mainly referred to in the second half.
May 9, 2022
Just finished & not sure what I think - I found the first 2/3 of the book a bit boring & bland, but the last 1/3 quite good. Maybe the character development in the first phase was so subtle & nuanced that I missed it, because it (almost) all made sense in the end. I started with very high expectations (having loved "Hare's Fur", "Game" & "Tinder"), so maybe I'm marking this a bit harder than usual?
January 31, 2021
A huge thank you to @scribepub for sending me a copy of this book to review, I was incredibly excited and intrigued when I first learned what this book was about! This novel will be released on the 2nd of Feb 2021!
First of all, I absolutely love that this book was set in Australia. Another thing that really pulled me towards this book was that it was set during an archaeological dig. I don’t know a whole lot about archaeology, but I think that’s partly what made me so intrigued. 🥰
Despite the title sounding quite wholesome and innocent, this story turns out to be quite a mystery filled with jealousy and guilt whilst it explores the choices that certain characters made.
Towards the start of the novel I found it hard to determine who each character was and their relation to everyone else, and I did find myself feeling a little lost in certain parts of the story. However, the ending tied everything together nicely and explained everything which is great.
First of all, I absolutely love that this book was set in Australia. Another thing that really pulled me towards this book was that it was set during an archaeological dig. I don’t know a whole lot about archaeology, but I think that’s partly what made me so intrigued. 🥰
Despite the title sounding quite wholesome and innocent, this story turns out to be quite a mystery filled with jealousy and guilt whilst it explores the choices that certain characters made.
Towards the start of the novel I found it hard to determine who each character was and their relation to everyone else, and I did find myself feeling a little lost in certain parts of the story. However, the ending tied everything together nicely and explained everything which is great.
May 19, 2021
dnf, I'm sad this book didn't hold attention - I really enjoyed my previous Trevor Shearston 'Hare's Fur'. this was just toooo slow, the characters did not appeal, I lost interest in what should have been a truly exciting novel.
February 8, 2022
I was slightly disappointed with this, as I absolutely loved Hare's Fur. I found a few sentences hard to make sense of; the meaning was not clear and I had to try and guess what he was trying to say. I did, however, enjoy the beautifully described coastal Australian setting
July 14, 2021
More of a slow-burn than a page-turner, and not quite the thriller that was described. But the archaeology setting in Australia was novel and I did want to see how the story was resolved.
March 3, 2022
Mystery death, teenagers attempt to solve
March 24, 2022
Loved the atmosphere and the sparse prose.
June 4, 2022
Began well but seemed to lose it’s way.
Read
June 8, 2022local author
October 15, 2022
This book kept me reading. Who killed the woman "What part did each play? What happened then?
I recommend this to all my friends.
I recommend this to all my friends.
April 5, 2023
I jumped in but didn’t start to enjoy until a few chapters had been read. I really enjoyed the strong story telling which kept me intrigued in the characters and story line.
September 29, 2024
Love his writing!
February 6, 2021
“A section of the cliff face was lower and darker, its lip fat with ferns. She turned a slow circle, silently rebuking herself for being in such a hurry to get to this cave that she was forgetting the basics. Fresh – if ephemeral – water, the ocean, a lake, roos, muttonbirds and their bones, stone. It was all here, the Holocene supermarket.”
Annette, a 20-year-old student, and her friend Sue spend their weekends at archeological excavations. As Honours students, they have been asked to spend their summer holiday on a dig in New South Wales, the Beach Cave. Their supervisors, Professor Aled Wray and his wife Marilyn, are leading the excavations. As one spectacular discovery after another is made, cracks begin to appear in their marriage. Meanwhile, Annette and Brian, an engineering student who also signed up to take part in the dig, develop a special connection. But as tensions mount, Annette sees something she will never be able to forget. And when one of the dig's participants disappears, she makes a decision that will permanently change Brian’s life.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I thought the setting in Australia in the '70s was interesting and the vivid descriptions of the beaches made me forget about the current gloomy winter weather in the Northern Hemisphere. I never read a novel about archeology before and I enjoyed getting to know a bit more about the process. However, this also leads to my biggest complaint: many of the discoveries that were made were never mentioned again! I guess the book is centered on the mystery surrounding the disappearance, but I found it disappointing that answers were lacking regarding the archeological digs.
Although my curiosity wasn’t fully satisfied, I am really happy to have read this book. Still, I do think there are some extra points of improvement. For one, I thought that Annette seemed to switch between being almost childish and behaving more like an adult. I did most of the characters in this novel though as they felt very real and had some mysterious tendencies. A more crucial thing that stood out to me is that this book wasn’t actually very thrilling. Yes, I wanted to know what happened next, but I don’t think the author was entirely successful in creating a suspenseful mood. Combining this with the fact that the mystery of the disappearance was never fully explained, I really wish the ending of the story had been different.
To conclude, I would recommend this book if you are interested in archeology or looking for a beach read with substance, but I think it is less appropriate for those who are looking for a thriller.
Annette, a 20-year-old student, and her friend Sue spend their weekends at archeological excavations. As Honours students, they have been asked to spend their summer holiday on a dig in New South Wales, the Beach Cave. Their supervisors, Professor Aled Wray and his wife Marilyn, are leading the excavations. As one spectacular discovery after another is made, cracks begin to appear in their marriage. Meanwhile, Annette and Brian, an engineering student who also signed up to take part in the dig, develop a special connection. But as tensions mount, Annette sees something she will never be able to forget. And when one of the dig's participants disappears, she makes a decision that will permanently change Brian’s life.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I thought the setting in Australia in the '70s was interesting and the vivid descriptions of the beaches made me forget about the current gloomy winter weather in the Northern Hemisphere. I never read a novel about archeology before and I enjoyed getting to know a bit more about the process. However, this also leads to my biggest complaint: many of the discoveries that were made were never mentioned again! I guess the book is centered on the mystery surrounding the disappearance, but I found it disappointing that answers were lacking regarding the archeological digs.
Although my curiosity wasn’t fully satisfied, I am really happy to have read this book. Still, I do think there are some extra points of improvement. For one, I thought that Annette seemed to switch between being almost childish and behaving more like an adult. I did most of the characters in this novel though as they felt very real and had some mysterious tendencies. A more crucial thing that stood out to me is that this book wasn’t actually very thrilling. Yes, I wanted to know what happened next, but I don’t think the author was entirely successful in creating a suspenseful mood. Combining this with the fact that the mystery of the disappearance was never fully explained, I really wish the ending of the story had been different.
To conclude, I would recommend this book if you are interested in archeology or looking for a beach read with substance, but I think it is less appropriate for those who are looking for a thriller.
February 23, 2021
This book was such a surprise! I went into this one excited but cautious as I know zip all about archeology and was worried with it being the setting of the book I would miss important information. But, that was not the case at all! I was pulled into the story instantly and found the science very readable. I also really enjoyed the mystery element, although I do wish it was brought into the story a bit earlier in the book as around the 100 page mark I started to get a bit antsy and felt like I was waiting for something to happen. The ending was interesting and more straight forward than I thought it was going to be but I enjoyed that! I enjoyed that the mystery didn’t have twists and turns and was much more of a realistic mystery. Overall I really enjoyed reading this one so a big thank you to @ for sending it my way!
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