WHERE THE LIGHT FALLS

Where the Light Falls tells the story of Andrew, a photographer in his 30s who comes back to Australia when he hears that his former girlfriend has disappeared. By the time he gets back, her body has been found, and everything points to suicide, though the coroner's findings are left open.

As Andrew unravels the mystery of her death, he puts his current relationship at risk for reasons he barely understands. At the same time he meets a teenage girl with a damaged face whom he knows will be a riveting subject for his new series of photos. As he struggles to understand why his ex's death has affected him so viscerally, Andrew finds himself re-evaluating his past, his art, and what he wants his life to mean. This is a stunning, intelligent, gripping and deeply moving novel from a young writer whose star is on the rise. Reminiscent of the early work of Helen Garner, Joan London and Charlotte Wood, Gretchen Shirm's debut novel will be talked about, widely reviewed and will attract a passionate following. GRETCHEN SHIRM is a writer and lawyer. She has been published in The Best Australian Stories, Etchings, Wet Ink and Southerly. She was named one of The Sydney Morning Herald's Best Young Australian Novelists for her collection, Having Cried Wolf.