The Farm (Jessica Mansour-Nahra, Hachette)

Atmospheric and quietly unnerving, The Farm is a haunting debut by Jessica Mansour-Nahra. The psychologically taut novel steadily draws the reader into its isolated setting and the protagonist’s unravelling reality. After a medical procedure, 37-year-old Leila agrees to relocate with her partner, James, to his family’s remote property near Bathurst. As Leila attempts to recover, the farm becomes a site of eerie disturbances: strange sounds, smells, visions and a growing sense that something isn’t right. Mansour-Nahra masterfully builds suspense, using the unsettling quiet of the bush and Leila’s slow physical and mental decline to cultivate a mood of creeping uncertainty. The novel thrives on ambiguity, leaving readers second-guessing every interaction, motive and memory. This tension is sustained through to a conclusion that, while abrupt after a long, slow build, lingers with questions and unease for readers. The Farm is steeped in contemporary issues – infertility, addiction, gaslighting and emotional abuse – while exploring the intersections of race, womanhood and identity. These themes are handled with care and restraint, but may still be emotionally confronting for some readers. With clear, evocative prose and a strong command of tone, this is a compelling read that will appeal to fans of slow-burn crime and suspense, such as Jane Harper (The Dry, Force of Nature), and character-driven contemporary fiction. The Farm announces Jessica Mansour-Nahra as an exciting new voice in Australian fiction.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Jess Lomas is reviews editor for Books+Publishing. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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