Lauren’s Review
Described as “compelling, haunting and beautifully written” by Liane Moriarty, I knew The Last Illusion of Paige White would check all my boxes before beginning my descent into the world of Paige – a beautiful mother who documented her life for her thousands of followers through lakeside picnics with her daughter, sunny afternoons in the family van and romantic dinners with her husband. But as we soon learn, not all is as it seems, and her body is discovered in the lake.
What I first loved about this novel is that we straight away hear from Paige herself, reflecting on her not so Instagram worthy reality, setting the scene of her life as it once was. With the theme of religion and higher power present throughout the novel, conveyed through Paige’s Pastor father and religious upbringing, McCausland invites us to reflect on the notion of an afterlife via Paige’s lamentations while trapped in a hot caravan- a symbolic feature of the book.
“Maybe God has given me this time – maybe I’m suspended between heaven and hell. To reflect on all the things I did wrong in life.”
The book then alternates perspective each chapter, from Paige’s alive self, to Jane, Paige’s childhood best friend. Jane, now a journalist in Sydney, is tasked with uncovering the truth behind Paige’s death. Her return to The Lakes – the town where she grew up alongside Paige and Audrey, another pivotal character – forces her to confront old memories and the evolving dynamics of their friendship. McCausland’s choice to alternate perspectives, weaving together the trio’s childhood and adult lives, was a highlight for me – consistently leaving me in suspense, my brain urging me to read more.
Throughout the novel, reflections from an unnamed mystery character is featured, illuding to be Paige’s “killer”. At first, I became frustrated as it seemed obvious who this unnamed character was. I thought it was too easy, predictable and yearned for a twist… which is indeed what I got towards the end of the novel. The way McCausland toyed with my mind, dangling hints only to subvert expectations at the last minute, just as I felt confident needs to be celebrated. The twist was truly something I was not expecting, and I loved it.
This novel was so eloquent yet chilling, inviting us to explore the concepts of relationships, power, religion, the dangers of social media and the notion of a “picture-perfect” life and I loved every second of this journey. The Last Illusion of Paige White is the perfect summer novel, and I guarantee you, you will devour it.
Rating: 5/5
Alisha’s Review
Vanessa McCausland’s novel The Last Illusion of Paige White is an atmospheric and vibrant portrayal of the modern media industry and the way we perceive others’ lives. Set in a small lakeside town bursting with secrets, the characters are full of secrets and rich histories intertwined with one another.
Jane Masters is a journalist in Sydney, ambitious and hardworking. She doesn’t let emotions get in the way of her work, until she is called to report on a mystery involving the death of a big-time influencer. Who, it so happens, is one of her childhood best friends. Jane reluctantly returns to the lake and the town she grew up in, afraid to face her past and the future that comes with it.
Going back and forth through time to show the actions of Jane’s sixteen-year-old self and her current day reflections, the book oscillates between Jane and Paige’s story, as well as Audrey, their other childhood friend. Another mystery voice adds their own chapters, and the intrigue of working out the timeline, the way each perspective fits together and whose secrets are whose is immersive and compelling.
While I found the novel captivating, and the mystery held me right until the end of the novel, there were a few moments where I felt like the story was a bit tell not show, for example at the beginning of the book where Jane states ‘’I miss my family’’ instead of exploring that through demonstrations rather than explanations. These instances were few and far between and did not take away from my overall enjoyment of the novel.
I did like the unreliability of Jane’s character, and the fact that she had secrets too. If she were simply a bystander to the action, the story would have been less compelling, but her involvement in every aspect of it made her character richer. My favourite element was the critique of social media and the modern media industry, how competitive it is, and how it sacrifices genuine connection and compassion for likes and shares. I feel this is quite apt, especially now as all the social media bans and laws are being considered for children. Analysing the effects of social media and a public and invasive media environment through a mystery novel is an interesting and poignant way to get the point across.
Overall, I believe The Last Illusion of Paige White is an excellent addition to the Australian mystery shelf and has insightful and haunting critiques of the media industry. McCausland is a very talented and lyrical writer to say the least!
Rating: 4/5
Thank you to Vanessa McCausland and Harper Collins for the advanced reader copy.
Purchase a copy of The Last Illusion of Paige White here.
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