Possible Springs (Samantha Ross, Penguin)

In Possible Springs, Samantha Ross blends magical realism with rural noir in Australia across the late 1980s and 1990s. The novel follows Jimny Adams, who, after an accident at age 11, discovers she can read minds through music. Already a misfit, Jimny must keep her ability hidden from her small-town community and her mother, who is desperate to see her conform. As she moves into early adulthood, a spate of terrible crimes unsettles the town, forcing Jimny to choose between fitting in and standing out. Ross’s premise – music as a catalyst for psychic ability – is strikingly original, reinforced by chapters named after songs from the era. The novel sits within a relatively small field of Australian magical realism, further distinguished by its integration of crime elements. Comparisons can be drawn to Trent Dalton’s Lola in the Mirror, while Ross’s tone carries touches of the sharp wit and nostalgia of Gabrielle Carey and Kathy Lette’s Puberty Blues. Shifts in point of view, including perspectives from other townspeople and a Sydney-based journalist and love interest, add texture to the narrative. While the characters feel grounded and believable, the exposition at times interrupts the flow, and occasional gratuitous coarse language may feel unnecessary to some readers, momentarily pulling them out of the story. Possible Springs is a unique and entertaining debut, with an unpredictable twist as the central crime is resolved.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Tara Lee is a creative technologies support officer at the City of PAE Libraries. When she's not running a workshop teaching the community how to create using technology, she's crafting or reading a great book. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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