If you thought J.P. Pomare's Call Me Evie was a slow-burning psychological thriller, his latest book, In the Clearing, is a cracking rollercoaster of a read!

Amy has only ever known life in the Clearing. She knows what's expected of her. She knows what to do to please her elders, and how to make sure the community remains happy and calm. That is, until a new young girl joins the group. She isn't fitting in; she doesn't want to stay. What happens next will turn life as Amy knows it on its head.

Freya has gone to great lengths to feel like a 'normal person'. In fact, if you saw her go about her day with her young son, you'd think she was an everyday mum. That is, until a young girl goes missing and someone from her past, someone she hasn't seen for a very long time, arrives in town.

As secrets of the past bubble up to the surface, this small town's dark underbelly will be exposed and lives will be destroyed.

What our readers thought:

The new novel by J P Pomare is as full of twists and thrills as his debut, but made even more haunting by the fact that it features stolen children and a sinister cult. Freya is living out her life quietly with her young son and her yoga studio, desperate to hide from the troubles in her past. But when a young girl is snatched off the street, she discovers her past is coming to find her. Amy loves her mother and would do anything for her family, including kidnapping a new sister so the family can be complete. But how far will she be willing to go? And what if she can never come back?

Told in alternate chapters from each characters point of view, this novel builds and builds to a shocking revelation. Pomare's writing is full of suspense and malice, the characters desperation as their situations get worse is gripping and the twist at the end will leave you breathless. Another awesome read from the New Zealand author.

Shannon, QBD Rockingham

An intriguing and intricate thriller told from the perspective of a child in the throes of a Victorian survivalist cult and a woman who has escaped her past and is attempting to rebuild her identity. This novel was fast paced and I found myself so emotionally invested in these two characters. It was a such a page turner and I was blown away!

Trish, QBD Bondi