Bus on Thursday

The Bus on Thursday is a darkly funny tale about a woman's retreat to a remote Australian town and the horrors awaiting her. It is a black comedy about a woman's retreat to a remote Australian town and the horrors awaiting her, combining Bridget Jones meets Twin Peaks.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 18 October 2018
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Shirley Barrett's The Bus on Thursday: A Darkly Funny Tale of a Woman's Retreat to a Remote Australian Town

In her captivating second novel, Shirley Barrett takes readers on a thrilling and darkly funny journey into the depths of human resilience and the horrors that await in the most unexpected places. "Annihilation" meets "Bridget Jones" in this black comedy, as a woman embarks on a retreat to a remote Australian town, only to discover the horrors that lie in wait.

Eleanor Mellett's life was turned upside down not just by a bad breakup, but by the cancer that followed. One day, while scratching her armpit at work, she felt a small bump, and the next thing she knew, her breast was being removed by an inappropriately attractive doctor. She was bombarded with cupcakes, surrounded by judgmental support groups, and received hand-knitted sweaters from her mother. However, amidst the chaos, Eleanor discovers a glimmer of hope in Talbingo, a remote little town in need of a primary-school teacher.

Talbingo, however, is a town with a dark secret. It is not just the communion-wine-swigging priest who rants about the demons that cause cancer. Nor is it the unstable, overly sensitive kids who constantly obsess over Miss Barker and her amazing sticker system. It is the eerie feeling of living alone in a remote cabin, without phone service or Wi-Fi, wondering why there are so many locks on the front door and who is knocking on it late at night.

"The Bus on Thursday" is a riotously funny, deeply unsettling, and surprisingly poignant tale that will captivate fans of Maria Semple, Stephen King, and Henry James's "The Turn of the Screw." Barrett's writing is a masterclass in suspense and psychological depth, as she explores the darkest corners of the human mind and the resilience that lies within us.

This novel is a must-read for anyone who loves dark comedy, psychological thrillers, and stories that challenge the boundaries of what we think we know. Shirley Barrett has proven herself to be a talented writer with a unique voice, and "The Bus on Thursday" is a testament to her talent and creativity.

In conclusion, "The Bus on Thursday" by Shirley Barrett is a darkly funny tale that delves into the depths of human resilience and the horrors that await in the most unexpected places. With its captivating writing, suspenseful plot, and memorable characters, this novel is a must-read for fans of dark comedy, psychological thrillers, and stories that challenge the boundaries of what we think we know.

Weight: 412g
Dimension: 221 x 148 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780708898796