The backdrop for this psychological thriller is the growing divide between ‘the haves’ and ‘the have-nots’. Pine Ridge is an idyllic coastal retreat for London’s affluent class, where they idle away the summer drinking and partying. Their stunning clifftop beach houses that pulse with life when the sun’s shining, then sit locked and desolate for the rest of the year.
This is the place that London neighbours, Charlotte and Amy, consider their holiday oasis, despite the rivalry between their husbands, the stress of renovation work and concerns for Amy’s teenage daughter, Beattie, a girl addicted to instant gratification, no matter the casualties or consequences. But Pine Ridge is also a place rife with poverty and,in the midst of a housing crisis, the caravan park is the only accommodation option. The bitterness of homelessness creates the rebel crew Not Just For August.
Robbie, the charismatic leader, and his handsome best mate Tate, spearhead the campaign. Through small acts of vandalism directed at the “second home” owners, the group attracts media attention and the tension grows. The town is split as the vandalism intensifies.
Candlish creates a rich tapestry of secrets, jealousy, adultery, crime, social justice and unexpected alliances. It’s not just the second home owners flocking to Pine Ridge this August. Death is also paying a visit.
This is Hampson’s second foray into the lives and intrigues of a group of older tea ladies. Set in mid-sixties Sydney, the main protagonists are Hazel, Betty and Irene who have very different personalities, backgrounds and life skills. However, together they form a formidable team.
We learn about their work lives, and their family circumstances, but little prepares the reader for just how determined, brave, maybe even foolhardy, and certainly courageous these ladies and their friends can be. With humour, aplomb and tenacity the ladies manage to solve mysteries, help their co-workers, fight for their own jobs, and even stop an act of terrorism. The characters are genuine to themselves, but not always adverse to bending the law, to achieve what they and many others would consider for the right reason.
An engaging, evocative trip down memory lane, with just the right amount of action, with these remarkable women. It’s not hard to imagine their lives, which are explained so exquisitely – a credit to New Zealand-born Hampson..
