Customer Reviews

As Far as You Can Go

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If you are planning a trip to the Australian outback, you might want to give this book a wide berth! For everyone else, it's highly recommended.

Cassie and Graham's relationship is not really going anywhere. Then Cassie sees an advert for a job on an Australian farm and they decide to go for it. This might not have been such a great plan! You can feel the isolation and heat of the outback in this gripping and tense book - they are cut off from the outside world and modern communications (handy, that - but a believable scenario) so when their employer Larry and his mentally disturbed wife, Mara turn out to be not quite what Cassie and Graham are expecting, they are trapped. When Larry suggests that Cassie apply some personality altering medication to achieve what she wants from Graham you know it's gone too far.

Glaister's plotting is superb and she's particularly strong on relationships (as evidenced in her other books) and this is a frightening and gripping ride. It's one of my favourite Glaister books - and that's high praise as she is always reliably thrilling as a writer.

Cassie and Graham's relationship is on the rocks - Graham's infidelity is a cover-up for his immaturity and lack of self-esteem. He is haunted by the fear that he's not good enough for Cassie and frustrated that his career has never worked out as planned. When Cassie answers an ad for a position in Australia that requires a live-in couple it initially sounds like the opportunity of a lifetime. They leave their lives in England behind, set off for Australia and that's when the trouble starts.

For starters, the farm is far more isolated than they were led to believe. The wife of their boss, Larry, behaves strangely. Is she genuinely mentally ill or does Larry keep her drugged? Mail from home never seems to arrive and the feeling of being watched never leaves them. . .

I really enjoyed this book, Glaister excels at building up a creeping feeling of unease which keeps you turning the pages. I'd never heard of this author before but I'll definitely check out her back catalogue. I suggest you do the same!