The debut thriller by First Nations author Graham Akhurst is an engaging coming-of-age tale about a young Indigenous Australian man discovering who he is and what he stands for. When studying at performing arts school, Jono and his best friend Jenny are picked for an amazing opportunity shooting a documentary in the Western Queensland desert. Never mind that they are actually promoting a mining operation, he’s just thrilled to get the money and the exposure for his career. He also has strong feelings for Jenny, and maybe the time away together will allow a relationship to develop. But when they arrive in Gambari, the small town they are filming in, the reality is vastly different from his expectations.

Strangely, Jono and one of the other women on set are having visions of a pale man with sharp teeth who is both terrifying and very real. Jono discovers that he has a powerful connection to country and is being warned by the spirits that mining is making it sick. The fracking in the area is having environmental impacts on the land and waterways. With the help of a local elder, Jono must make some decisions about what he believes in, and try to heal his country.

A powerful debut that signals a talented writer with great potential, this story with strong characterisation and a horror theme is suitable for readers aged 14+.