The Final Chapter

Benjamin Stevenson meets Nine Perfect Strangers in a story about writerly ambition, self-discovery and – of course – revenge. Sharp, fresh, bold, thrilling and gothic – gripping suspense from a spectacular new Australian talent.

An opportunity a writer would die for …

Desley Barron is ready to prove her doubters, and herself, wrong about her flagging writing career. She’s won a spot at an exclusive writing retreat in the Blue Mountains. Only instead of feeling creative, Desley finds her insecurity increases while the ghost stories about the house have her jumping at shadows.

This secluded house is the last place anyone will think to look for high-profile author Colette Halifax, which is perfect as she hides from a looming scandal. Unfortunately, someone here is threatening to ruin the one part of her life that isn’t already a shambles.

Meanwhile, Maia McKenzie has plans that don’t involve writing at all. She’s schemed to ensure the one person she wants to see is here – the man who almost killed her mother.

All have a secret. All will do anything to keep it hidden. And they’re not alone. The retreat is perched on the edge of a forest steeped in the horrors of Australia’s worst serial killer – and no one knows just who is watching.

When a storm unleashes its fury and they’re trapped, a body is left in the snow … and any one of them could be next.

PRAISE:

‘Gilchrist hooked me good and proper. Creepy closed-in setting? Enough secrets and suspense to fill a body bag? Twisty narratives and the twisted psyches of we writers who weave them? Yes, don’t mind if I do! I could check out from The Final Chapter any time I liked, but I could never leave. What a cracking mystery debut!’ Trent Dalton

‘A pacy and unpredictable thriller, dripping with atmosphere and sharp observations. With an eerie isolated house and the deteriorating relationships between a cast of distinct and nuanced characters, each with their own agenda, the stage is set for a page-turning, chill-inducing gallop to the finish line.’ – Jo Dixon, author of A Shadow at the Door and The House of Now and Then

‘This story of writers-behaving-badly on a deadly retreat from hell gripped me from the start with its intensely dramatic setting and ghostly goings on. Gilchrist is a bold and confident new voice in the world of gothic fiction – her prose leaps off the page like the storms that plague the retreat. Strap yourself in for a thrilling ride.’ – Cassie Hamer, author of The Stranger at the Table

‘Deviously clever and wickedly sharp – this is one writer’s retreat you’ll be glad you only visited on the page.’ – Kylie Orr, Australian author of The Eleventh Floor

Author Biography

January Gilchrist is a Brisbane-based mystery author, single mum, and former performing arts professional.

She holds a Bachelor of Creative Arts, majoring in Literature and Performing Arts, was longlisted for the 2019 Richell Prize, and her debut thriller, The Final Chapter, is inspired by her time at the Varuna Writers’ House. Balancing her time between writing, running a Pilates studio, and raising two sons, January draws on her varied life experiences to create authentic, nuanced characters. Fascinated by puzzles, especially the mysteries of human behaviour, January explores the stories we tell, the secrets we keep, and the truths we hide – even from ourselves.