Reviewed by Clare Brook
Writers are advised to begin a work with a strong ‘hook’ – an intriguing sentence designed to incite reader curiosity. Sarah Bluett has managed to do this in the title of her debut novel, The Other Side of Death, who among us would not want a peek behind that particular curtain.
Within the genre of a murder mystery novel Sarah has used the well-known, but little understood, phenomena of the mental, or perhaps spiritual, connection between twins and extended it beyond the grave. In this she has created a liminal space between life and death, whereby the living twin accesses the last memories of her murdered sister. These ‘communications’ appear as brief, misty mirages, like a television receiving intermittent signals. Sarah has written this well, rather than having to suspend disbelief it felt plausible, albeit somewhat other-worldly. I began to wonder if research has, or should, be done!
The novel is set in a small cane-farming town in Northern NSW.
Helen has married Derek and settled in the place of his birth, Cooinda. She is beautiful, envied by many for her looks, nevertheless she has issues regarding her identity, and is still coping with sad childhood memories. In this she always had the support of her twin sister, but now for the first time in her life, she is separated from Rebecca who is currently working in New York. It is now more than ever that she needs Rebecca’s support as her marriage is difficult – Derek is a controller. Using the relationship between Helen and Derek, Sarah weaves into the plot elements of coercive control giving readers an idea of how victims suffer psychological damage.
When Helen does not return from her nightly jogging session, Tom Turner and his partner Constable Louise Hunt are called to investigate.
And that is as much as this review should mention regarding the plot for fear of triggering a spoiler alert. Suffice to say there are some unexpected twists and turns along the way. The setting is fully described allowing readers to feel ‘there’ and the main characters are well drawn, readers become involved as they cope with grief and fear. But above all, like all crime novels, the plot is paramount and Sarah keeps the action moving at a fair pace inciting reader curiosity.
Sarah Bluett currently lives in South Brisbane with her husband and four children, but she spent many years living in Northern NSW, and as her writing shows, still feels connected to that landscape. Sarah teaches high school English, enjoys composing poetry, and reading true crime. She is currently working on a second novel.
The Other Side of Death
by Sarah Bluett
(2025)
Other Side Publishing
ISBN: 978 1 7643 3290 3
$32.99; 362pp