The Last Illusion of Paige White

“Compelling, haunting, and beautifully written . . . a clever, page-turning modern mystery as well as a thoughtful exploration of female friendship, family dynamics, and the complex impact of social media on self-identity.”—Liane Moriarty, #1 New York Times bestselling author
 
A breathtaking novel about two women, a tragedy on the lake—and secrets beneath the surface.

Paige White has always lived a picture-perfect life, documented closely on her social media. The world she has curated exudes an old-fashioned, wholesome lifestyle set against a picturesque, lakeside town in Australia. Her page is littered with breakfasts shoreline with her daughter, sunny afternoons in the family van, and romantic picnics with her husband. 

Jane Masters was one of Paige’s childhood best friends, but she left her and their small town behind to pursue a bigger life in Sydney. When Paige’s death makes national news, Jane, now a journalist, finds herself reluctantly traveling back to where it all began. Struggling with the morality of covering her friend’s death, Jane must confront the friends and family she abandoned, and the secrets she left in her wake. But one thing Jane is sure about? This was not a suicide.

Readers will fall in love with The Last Illusion of Paige White, told through Paige’s perspective from the beyond, Jane’s present-day narration, an anonymous voice, and flashbacks to Paige and Jane’s high school days, all leading towards a shocking, gasp-worthy ending.“Compelling, haunting, and beautifully written, The Last Illusion of Paige White is a clever, page-turning modern mystery as well as a thoughtful exploration of female friendship, family dynamics, and the complex impact of social media on self-identity. You’ll be thinking about it long after you turn the last page!”—Liane Moriarty, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“What an addictive read. Vanessa McCausland nimbly combines a twisty small-town mystery with a thoughtful critique of influencer culture, all set against the wild, irresistible beauty of the Australian coastal landscape.”—Mikki Brammer, author of The Collected Regrets of CloverVanessa McCausland studied English and Australian literature at Sydney University and graduated with honors in theatre and performance studies. She worked as a journalist for nearly twenty years, including as a news and arts journalist for the Daily Telegraph, and her writing has appeared in numerous other publications. She's published four novels in Australia, and lives in Sydney with her husband and daughter.