The Last Illusion of Paige White - by Vanessa McCausland Hardcover

About the Book

"Follows a woman who has to travel back to her hometown--a small, lakeside community outside Sydney, Australia--after her childhood friend is discovered drowned. Due to an ominous selfie the night before, the question is: foul play or suicide?"--

Book Synopsis

A NEW YORK TIMES "BEST THRILLER OF THE YEAR (SO FAR)"

"Compelling, haunting, and beautifully written . . . a clever, page-turning modern mystery as well as a thoughtful exploration of female friendship, family dynamics, and the complex impact of social media on self-identity."--Liane Moriarty, #1 New York Times bestselling author

If you didn't post it, did it even happen?

"Maybe this limbo I'm in is me needing to atone for my sins. Maybe I need to go back and remember my life but be more honest with myself this time. Because, stuck in this hazy, perfect world of my own creation, I know that I haven't been all that honest."

Gorgeous, charismatic Paige White has always lived a picture-perfect life. Her meticulously curated social pages exude an old-fashioned, wholesome lifestyle set against a picturesque town in Australia. Images of breakfasts lakeside with her daughter, sunny afternoons in the family van, and romantic picnics with her husband are the envy of her thousands of followers.

But when a dark, brooding image pops up on Paige's page, where she appears waterlogged and disheveled--and shortly after she's discovered drowned--alarm bells go off.

Jane Masters, Paige's childhood best friend, has returned for the funeral. Jane left years ago to pursue a bigger life as a journalist in Sydney, putting everyone from her early days in the rearview mirror. But as Jane sinks deeper into the community she thought she'd never return to, she begins to discover that darker things lurk beneath the sparkle of the lake.

Told partially through Paige's reflections on her life from limbo, The Last Illusion of Paige White is a smart, introspective, impeccably-plotted mystery that will have readers second-guessing what is truth and what is illusion, and their own obsessions with their online worlds.

Review Quotes

"Compelling, haunting, and beautifully written, The Last Illusion of Paige White is a clever, page-turning modern mystery as well as a thoughtful exploration of female friendship, family dynamics, and the complex impact of social media on self-identity. You'll be thinking about it long after you turn the last page!"--Liane Moriarty, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"McCausland expertly weaves together multiple strands of a multilayered story, including the burdens of Paige's social-media persona and Jane's unsatisfying relationship with her boss-with-benefits in Sydney. . . . McCausland is a thoughtful, subtle writer with a deep understanding of her characters' psyches. What lends a special poignancy to the story are the chapters narrated by Paige, reflecting deep regret for her life's mistakes."--The New York Times

"A compelling, gothic-tinged novel . . . expertly portrays influencers' obsession with beauty and perfect photos . . . McCausland examines with a fresh eye the complicated and competitive relationships among teenage girls and their messy relationships with their parents. . . . It's an emotional mystery that McCausland fires up with forbidden romance, the heartbreak of a motherless child, and a surprising denouement. Social media takes a dark turn in this intriguing tale of regret."--Kirkus Reviews

"Sizzling . . . The death of an influencer shakes up a small Australian town in this mesmerizing whodunit from McCausland. . . . When the truth finally comes out, it's a gut punch. This works equally well as a mystery and a warning cry against the dangers of social media."--Publishers Weekly

"Vanessa McCausland probes boundaries between reality and illusion in this psychological crime, delivering both small-town mystery and an unnerving excursion into the hall of mirrors that is the world of social media."--The Sydney Morning Herald

"A compellingly gritty underbelly. . . . This is a perfect summer read."--The Daily Telegraph

"What an addictive read. Vanessa McCausland nimbly combines a twisty small-town mystery with a thoughtful critique of influencer culture, all set against the wild, irresistible beauty of the Australian coastal landscape."--Mikki Brammer, author of The Collected Regrets of Clover

"An original concept, poetic writing, and an astute commentary on the trap of social media, this book will haunt you long after you turn the last page. I loved it."--Pip Drysdale, author of The Sunday Girl and The Close-Up

About the Author

Vanessa McCausland studied English and Australian literature at Sydney University and graduated with honors in theater and performance studies. She worked as a journalist for nearly twenty years, including as a news and arts journalist for The Daily Telegraph, and her writing has appeared in numerous other publications. She's published five novels in Australia. Her third, The Beautiful Words, was shortlisted for the 2022 Davitt Awards for crime writing. She lives in Sydney with her husband and daughter.