In the Clearing - by Jp Pomare (Paperback)

About the Book

Amy has only ever known what life is like in the Clearing. She knows what's expected of her. She knows what to do to please her elders, and how to make sure life in the community remains happy and calm. That is, until a new young girl joins the group. She isn't fitting in; she doesn't want to stay. What happens next will turn life as Amy knows it on its head. Freya has gone to great lengths to feel like a 'normal person'. In fact, if you saw her go about her day with her young son, you'd think she was an everyday mum. That is, until a young girl goes missing and someone from her past, someone she hasn't seen for a very long time, arrives in town. As Amy and Freya's story intertwines the secrets of the past bubble up to the surface. This rural Aussie town's dark underbelly is about to be exposed and lives will be destroyed.

Book Synopsis

Set against a ticking clock, this "haunting" and "atmospheric" thriller that inspired the Hulu miniseries "The Clearing" pits a ruthless cult against a mother's love, revealing that our darkest secrets are the hardest ones to leave behind (Sally Hepworth, New York Times bestselling author of The Good Sister).

Four days to go
Amy has only ever known life in the Clearing, amidst her brothers and sisters--until a newcomer, a younger girl, joins the "family" and offers a glimpse of the outside world.
Three days to go Freya is going to great lengths to seem like an "everyday mum," even as she maintains her isolated lifestyle, hoping to protect her young son and her dog.
Two days to go When news breaks of a missing girl--a child the same age as Freya's son, Billy--Amy and Freya find themselves headed for a shocking collision.
One day to go

Review Quotes

"A dark, chilling, atmospheric thriller populated with mysterious and wonderfully flawed characters."--Christian White, author of The Nowhere Child

"A pared-back firecracker where the danger is clear and present--even if its exact shape remains opaque until the book's climax and final gasp-inducing twist."
--Books & Publishing (Australia)

"A riveting read that kept me locked in from page one. Textured, complex, and equally fast-paced and memorable, JP Pomare weaves together cults, the plight of motherhood, and family strife to create a book that will linger with you long after you've read it. The past is ever-present here, in ways both relatable and surprising. Don't miss this one."--Alex Segura, authorof Blackout and Miami Midnight

"A story of motherhood, damage, and a nightmarish cult . . . An outstanding and compulsive read."--Jen Conley, author of Cannibals

"Past and present collide in this taut and unpredictable thriller ... Twist follows twist and nothing is as it seems."--Chris Hammer, author of Scrublands

"Pomare captivates in this haunting novel, In The Clearing. I was utterly gripped with the stories of Amy and Freya from start to finish, and fascinated by the unexpected way the two came together.Thrilling, atmospheric and with twists abounding, this book held me in its spell long after the final page. A sure-fire bestseller."--Sally Hepworth, bestselling author of The Mother-in-Law

"Sets its hooks on page one and doesn't let go until the final, chilling line."--Chris Holm, author of The Killing Kind

"There's no doubt about it: Pomare is a master of the carefully constructed, impeccably paced psycho-thriller."--Weekend Australian

"Bombshell-laden . . . Pomare is a writer to watch."--Publishers Weekly

"Spine-tingling . . . Pomare is able to pull off red herrings galore and crafty, satisfying twists. A heart-pounding novel made heart-rending by its reflection of real-life events."--Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

J.P. Pomare has always been drawn to the dark. He grew up on a horse-racing farm in small town New Zealand with two brothers, a sister, two cats, and two border collies. He lives with his wife in Australia, where he works in marketing, writes fiction, and hosts a literary podcast (guests have included Joyce Carol Oates, Jonathan Safran Foer and E. Lockhart). His debut novel, Call Me Evie, was published in 2019.