As it was published, this is a 4 maybe, rather than a 3.5, but I can’t help but thinking the success of this novel is by accident, not what the author intended, especially after reading about the editor’s role in the missing chapter. So I’m rating it as the complete piece the author meant to publish, including the missing chapter. Picnic at Hanging Rock is definitely a masterpiece of eerie, subtle mystery. There are so many little pieces of information given along the way that in any other novel would mean something, but here they don’t. Or it’s not clear what they do mean. Which leaves every situation and relationship and path unanswered. I like the light, natural feel of the setting against that dark unknown. It reminds me of Midsommar in that respect. Definitely worth a read, and an excellent bookclub pick - has the potential for unending discussion!!