The Stopping Place

Ruby works at the library. Shelving, mainly. Not in the archive; that’s Mrs Atkinson’s magical white-gloved domain, where she stands watch over the historical photos and the special files of the lost boys who went to war. Ruby would like to work in the archive of course, but there’s only one pair of white gloves—and anyway Martha’s the one being groomed for greatness. Martha of the flamboyant bohemian style and russet-toned beauty. And the Affairs.

Ruby can see the appeal of the Affairs; the heat, the danger. Ruby sees a lot, loitering there behind Geography 910. Enough to worry her. Maybe even enough to bring her out of hiding. And that could be a problem, because everyone has history—especially someone who’s trying to lose it.

Helen Slavin brought the afterlife to life in her funny, quirky first novel, The Extra Large Medium. With The Stopping Place she takes her delicious observational humour into darker and more mysterious territory, with the harrowing story of a woman whose past has compelled her to become invisible.

Praise for The Stopping Place:

‘The Stopping Place is a compelling novel that should equal the author’s previous successes. Its wry evocation of an all-female library with its gossip-mongering, obsessional habits and quiet solidarity is sharp-eyed and hilarious.’

Age

‘This quirky and impressively off-beat novel starts like a firework going off, all crackles and sparkles… Throughout, Helen Slavin’s racy and captivating style, laced with humour and elegance, never falters.’

Weekend Press

‘At times funny, moving and chilling, this is one of the most original novels I have read for some time.’

Canberra Times