She kayaked across the lake each morning before taking a moment alone to meditate on the shore. But this morning, someone was watching her as tragedy unfolded.
Paige’s beautiful life is carefully curated for her thousands of social media followers: lakeside picnics with her daughter, sunny afternoons in the family van and romantic dinners with her husband. So when she shares a haunting final image by the lake and her body is then discovered shortly after, everyone wonders - suicide or foul play?
When her death makes national headlines, journalist Jane reluctantly returns to her childhood home, a quiet Australian coastal town. As she navigates the challenge of reporting on her friend’s tragic passing, she is forced to confront the town’s secrets and uncover the truth about what really happened that fateful morning.
The Last Illusion of Paige White is a clever, page turning mystery. It explores family dynamics, female friendships and the complex impact of social media on identity. Vanessa delves into the glittering facade of social media and the hidden truths behind the perfect image. Her critique of social media examines the highly produced illusions vs reality and what this means for influencers and their followers.
“I hope it makes people think and opens up discussion about this medium that has permeated our lives for better and worse. But that’s the beauty of fiction - it allows for the grey, the in-between to breathe and take up space in our minds. I am immensely proud of this book. It’s raw and dark and I hope also beautiful.”
Vanessa McCausland studied English and Australian literature and dreamed of one day writing fiction. She worked as a journalist for 20 years including news, medical, entertainment and arts reporting for the Daily Telegraph. She lives in Sydney with her family. Follow Vanessa online.
Reviewer: Andrea Molloy
HarperCollins