Such a haunting and unique story. The imagery her writing evokes is clear. It operates as a thriller, but I was also really moved by it, something that rarely happens for me with this genre. I started out liking this book, enjoying the beautiful descriptions of this small town in Tasmania and engaging with recluse Ana and her canine companion River. A Lonely Girl Is a Dangerous Thing follows Jena Lin, a former child prodigy who, as a young adult, now uses men to fill the void left by fame. Had this exposure taken place, then I would border on offering this novel 4 stars. Set in the foothills of Tasmania’s Mt Wellington, this is a crime/mystery that will have you turning the pages long into the night to find out just what really did happen. I felt too much was made of the old dog, and the descriptions of being captured in the basement were just over the top. A truly visceral psychological thriller, stunningly brave and I hope McCarthy continues to cultivate her uncompromising and unique voice! And, I'm glad I did. There’s plenty to discuss. VERY clever. Ana, the main character, is dealing with issues from the past. The author’s debut work of fiction, A Lonely Girl Is a Dangerous Thing, aims to recharge discussion on sex, power, race and loneliness Katie Cunningham Wed 1 Jul 2020 … The imagery her writing evokes is clear. Later she studied law, until realising that profession wouldn’t allow her to speak her mind – but writing would. Love Stephen Kings 'Misery'? When the only character I actually liked was the dog and all the others are damaged and unlikeable in some way it is hard to tell whose version of the story is actually true. There is something about this novel, and the way that it is written which garners my respect for the author. Ana takes the man captive and holds him as her prisoner in her basement in the hope she can get the truth out of him. I feel like if I had read more characters that were Asian women when I was younger, I would probably be a more confident woman today.”, And to that point: “I probably will never read another fiction book by a straight white male author and I’m happy for you to publish that, even if that pisses people off,” Tu says, laughing. This book is extremely visual, dark and disturbing... would make an excellent film! Then this is the novel for you. The relationship between Ana and the man she holds captive is far from clearly defined and kept surprising me at every turn. “I really wanted to write a story that can broaden the conversation around what sex really means and the power of sex to damage each other,” she says.