Before the Storm by Di Morrissey, the bestselling author of twenty-seven novels.
When Ellie Conlan is double-crossed by a fellow project manager she decides to leave the work that has been consuming her life for far too long.
After encouragement from her good friend, Mike, a former colleague, she decides to take a break and quit Melbourne to check up on her elderly Grandfather. Patrick still runs the local paper in Storm Harbour, a small, picturesque, Victorian beach town.
There, she is made welcome by Patrick, his old dog, Sam, and the staff of “The Storm Harbour Chronicle”. Feeling much revived by the sea air and friendly residents of the town, she begins to relax and enjoy her new-found freedom.
It is soon to be town matriarch, Kathryn O’Neill’s, 95th Birthday, and Patrick asks Ellie to interview her and write a feature for the newspaper. Married into the influential O’Neill family, Kathryn still lives at Craigmore, the family home, and developed the wonderful Botanic Gardens on land provided by her husband.
Ellie also meets and becomes involved with the town mayor, Meredith Havelock, who has been hearing gossip regarding a possible development of land in the area. Both are concerned that something underhand is happening. Ellie also suspects that Meredith has her secrets.
The town becomes divided by rumours and tension rises.
While residents join together to celebrate Kathryn’s birthday they are warned that a severe storm front is approaching.
As the wind and torrential rain rage outside, Ellie is forced to face her nemesis. Will she be able to deal with the trauma in her past and move on?
Before the Storm is another sensitive and sometimes confronting novel from this well-loved author. It deals with many issues, both in the workplace and society in general. People, especially women in power, are still judged by their pasts no matter what they have achieved since.
Above all it sends the message that family, friends and quality of life are more important than money and prestige. Often the pressures put upon a person aren’t worth the price paid in the long run.
Another great read for 2020!
ISBN: 9781760781736
Before the Storm is available in hardback, audiobook and e-book
About Di Morrissey
Di Morrissey AM is one of the most successful and prolific authors Australia has ever produced, publishing twenty-seven bestselling novels. She trained as a journalist, working in newspapers, magazines, television, film, theatre and advertising around the world. Her fascination with different countries, their cultural, political and environmental issues, has been the catalyst for her novels, which are all inspired by a particular landscape.
Di is a tireless and passionate advocate and activist for many causes. She is an avid supporter of Greenpeace, speaking out on issues of national and international importance. She established The Golden Land Education Foundation in Myanmar (Burma), and is an Ambassador for Australia’s Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children. Di also publishes and edits a free community newspaper, The Manning Community News.
In 2017, in recognition of her achievements, Di was inducted into the Australian Book Industry Awards Hall of Fame with the prestigious Lloyd O’Neil Award. In 2019, she was made a Member of the Order of Australia.
Leave a Reply