The Good Daughter

Longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award 2011, and shortlisted for the 2011 Barbara Jefferis Award

'With her first novel, Red Queen, Brown arrived on the Australian literary scene as a force to be reckoned with; reading her second, it's easy to see why. There's something shatteringly archetypal about The Good Daughter, as though Brown has somehow hit an artery in the soul.' Pick of the Week, Sydney Morning Herald

Rebecca Toyer and Zach Kincaid each live on the outskirts of town, but come from very different sides of the tracks. When Zach's wealthy mother goes missing, Rebecca – the truckie's daughter – is implicated in her disappearance.

In the weeks that follow, Rebecca and Zach are drawn into a treacherous, adult world. Eager to please, Rebecca finds herself in danger of living up to the schoolyard taunts she so hates, while Zach channels his feelings through the sights of his gun.

In the fading summer light, grudges are nursed and tempers fray, and as old lies unravel it seems nobody can be relied on. But beyond the fallout, the hard lessons in love and betrayal have not been wasted. Rebecca and Zach realise that judgements can be flawed – and that trust is better earnt than given.

Original, unsettling and compelling, The Good Daughter is the much-anticipated second novel from Honey Brown.

PRAISE FOR HONEY BROWN'S PRIZE-WINNING DEBUT, RED QUEEN:

'Riveting, atmospheric and tautly written, Red Queen is a remarkable debut.' Michael Robotham

'These characters are superbly drawn and Brown's manipulation of her stylish, erotic, unusual cinematic story firmly places this novel into the welcome league of must-reads.' Courier-Mail

'HM Brown's Red Queen is a cracker.' Vogue