The Name of the Sister

I’ve read most of Gail Jones’ works. She certainly is one of our most prolific writers and The Name of the Sister is her 11th novel. I’ve loved everything of hers that I’ve read; her books are intelligent, sophisticated, and cosmopolitan. The Name of the Sister has all of those qualities, too, but is more rooted in Australia and stylistically is, I feel, quite different from her earlier works. It has all the suspense and tension of a thriller and reminded me of Charlotte Wood’s The Natural Way of Things.

On a lonely road in the bush outside Broken Hill, an emaciated, terrified woman stumbles into the headlights of a car; she cannot or won’t speak, and has no identifying papers or marks. Sydney-based freelance journalist Angie is intrigued, sensing that there might be an opportunity for a big story. Pictures of the unknown woman, ‘Jane Doe’, are circulated, and the police are inundated with people claiming that Jane is known to them. By coincidence, Angie’s childhood friend, Bev, is the lead officer on the case and leaks information to Angie, including details of people who have come forward about Jane. By default, Angie becomes a contact point for people who have lost loved ones and now view Angie as a possible source of hope. ‘Can you help?’ they ask. ‘I’m only a journalist,’ she replies.

Her growing obsession with Jane highlights the distance between Angie and her husband. When Bev is sent to Broken Hill and suggests Angie follow her, the journalist becomes much more than an objective observer and turns into an active participant in the case, which leads to an uneasy and disturbing resolution. Gail Jones is a great writer and this thrilling, intriguing book will delight her admirers but also garner the attention of those yet to discover her.