1980: When Rose and Ian Kelly arrive in the small South Australian town of Barker, Rose worries that despite Ian's impending fatherhood he remains a drifter who dreams of the open road.

2020: As Detective Dave Burrows witnesses the Australian Federal Police make a shocking arrest in Barker, he is certain there is more to the story than meets the eye.

Journalist Zara Ellison is finally ready to make a commitment to her boyfriend, Senior Constable Jack Higgins. But when she's assigned to investigate the Barker arrest, Jack begins to believe that Zara is working against him.

It takes a series of unconnected incidents in Zara's digging to reveal an almost forgotten thread of mystery.

'Nobody does rural fiction quite like Fleur McDonald.' Weekly Times

'Another intelligent, poignant, engaging mystery from this great writer of small town Australian novels. Detective Dave Burrows is my hero!' Reading, Writing and Riesling

'Fleur McDonald weaves her magic once again . . . The Shearer's Wife is spellbinding.' Blue Wolf Reviews