Broome 2023: when Saskia's free-spirited mother leaves her a caravan in her will, it doesn't make sense. Saskia is a schoolteacher, tied to plans and schedules, even if they are beginning to feel restrictive. Then she finds clues in the van about her mother's mysterious past, setting her on a journey to Tasmania with her young daughter Anouk, who shares her late grandmother's fascination with birds.

In 1968, teenager Greta De Winter seeks solace in the Stanley wetlands, a swamp that attracts all manner of wildlife. Her father is the local councillor and her mother a taxidermist, working to create bird dioramas for the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. But while the De Winter household seems harmless from the outside, a dark secret hides within.

When Saskia and Anouk arrive in Stanley, they search for the missing pieces to the puzzle of Greta's tragic childhood. In the process of uncovering her family history, Saskia realises that her mother's final act might also enable her to rediscover who she really is, and what she is truly capable of.

Set in the breathtaking landscape of Tasmania's majestic north-west, this is a moving and highly evocative novel of family bonds and betrayals, by the bestselling author of The Secrets of the Huon Wren.


'A beautiful story of heartbreak, hope and the long flight home - I loved every moment.'
- Anthea Hodgson

'This dual-time narrative of mother and daughter on journeys of self-discovery, who learn what's worth fighting for as they encounter love and betrayal, secrets and hope, is as evocative as it is beautiful. Claire van Ryn has a real gift for creating a sense of wonder when it comes to the natural landscape. You feel it, you inhale it. You ache for it. As for emotional heart, this book has a huge one. I wept, I laughed, I air-punched, I gasped; I couldn't put it down.' Karen Brooks