| The Ghostwriter
Nick Gadd
Judges report
The Ghostwriter packs a very strong narrative punch as it tells the story of a one-time respected investigative journalist who has stepped on the wrong toes. With his personal life and health falling apart around him, he is consigned to a suburban newspaper writing filler pieces around real estate and restaurant advertisements. Covering what appears to be a ‘run-of-the-mill’ but tragic suburban rail death, he becomes involved in a multi-tiered investigation that sees him raising the ire of leading figures in the art, business and political worlds. The novel touches cleverly on aspects of the history of modernism in Australian art, while always keeping the lives of the characters in the foreground. Strong dialogue, a tight structure, and an exceptional narrative voice take the reader on a journey to a provocative conclusion. |
