Griefdogg (Michael Winkler, Text)

Miles Franklin–shortlisted author Michael Winkler (Grimmish) returns with his anticipated new novel, Griefdogg. Jeffrey is a hydrologist in Mildura who, after inheriting a small fortune, decides to abandon his adult responsibilities and live instead as the family pet. Jeffrey’s withdrawal reverberates through the lives of those around him, with sections narrated from the perspectives of his wife Martine, his son Bern, and his doctor Anuraj. Through these shifting viewpoints, Winkler captures the emotional fallout of Jeffrey’s choice, examining love, loss, acceptance and rejection with a sharp eye for domestic realism. As Jeffrey steps away from the noise and obligations of everyday life, his awareness of others becomes heightened. The novel edges into a subtle form of magical realism through his sensitivity to the hidden griefs of those around him, a device that deepens the emotional inquiry without disrupting the book’s grounded tone. At once absurd and unsettling, Griefdogg is an exploration of modern masculinity, existential despair, self-awareness and guilt, circling persistent questions about freedom and the meaning of a life well lived. Winkler’s premise is deliberately peculiar, yet the novel is consistently thought-provoking, prompting readers to reflect on their own relationships to obligation, expectation and escape. Fans of Robbie Arnott and Max Porter will find much to admire in Griefdogg, as will readers drawn to literary fiction that explores free will, escapism, losing oneself, family tensions and alternative ways of existing.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Nikki Taylor is an avid reader and reviewer. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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