First published 2026
Phil MacBride swerves to avoid a kangaroo on a lonely road in remote Western Australia. In seconds, his family's life on their million-acre sheep station, Meredith Downs, changes forever. The 1958 accident shatters the MacBrides, who have worked this vast stretch of arid land for generations. More tragedy follows when consequences from that day claim one sibling's life and force another to abandon everything for an innocent child. Matt, the youngest MacBride, must navigate an impossible situation with no clear path forward. Family secrets surface, forcing him to choose between love and duty, between sacrifice and his own happiness. The weight of decisions that cannot be undone presses down on him as he struggles to find direction when no right answer exists. Matt's journey becomes a test of what the heart can bear when love demands the ultimate price.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, mystery, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: family-drama, sacrifice
Setting: Western Australia, Meredith Downs
Period: 1958
448 pages · Paperback · RANDOM HOUSE UK