An NYC based conflict resolution specialist named Astrid returns to her home of Tasmania after the controversial bridge to Bruny is bombed during its construction. There she works with her twin brother, the premier and her elder sister the opposition leader to unravel who could be responsible and have the resources to destroy the bridge that divides the island rather than joining it. When the Chinese workforce are brought in to meet the construction deadline of Election Day things become worse. Astrid may be used to defusing conflict but she quickly finds herself juggling her responsibilities as a professional, her responsibilities to her family and her responsibilities as a Tasmanian, all of which appear to be in conflict.
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I loved this book, it was subversive, well researched, creative and shocking. I can appreciate that as a Tasmanian I got a little something more out of the way Rose describes the scenery and sense of community, but irrespective of my own experiences with the locale I found it a highly engaging thought provoking read.
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I found the way Rose tackled some heavy themes especially around racism very deftly done, calling on the reader a number of times to really self assess and consider their own interpretation of some of the events.
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An absolute page turner, I’d recommend it to anyone who loves Tasmania or wants a political read that asks the question - where are we heading?