Before You Knew My Name by Jacqueline Bublitz

Two young women fleeing their past end up in New York. Alice Lee leaves her country town and an affair with a schoolteacher lured by the exotic city. Ruby Jones leaves Australia and an affair with a soon-to-be-married man. Alice has stolen a Leica camera from the teacher and falls in love with photographing the city. Tragically it is while taking pictures that she is murdered in Riverside Park. Ruby out jogging discovers Alice’s body and so their lives become inextricably linked. Ruby becomes compelled to find Alice’s murderer and the ‘spirit’ of Alice quietly nudges her in the right direction. A very accomplished debut novel from a writer who lives in Australia and New Zealand.

- Noelle