Second Sight

When Eliza Carmody returns to her hometown after a destructive wildfire, she witnesses a crime that draws her back into the mysteries of a childhood she thought she’d left behind for good.

When the biggest legal case of her career brings Eliza Carmody back to Kinsale, the hometown she thought she had left forever, she witnesses an old friend commit a crime that sends her on a dangerous quest to uncover the mysteries of her childhood that the rest of the town seems willing to ignore.

With her friend on the run and the police investigating the bones on an unidentified dead body at a historic homestead near town, Eliza becomes convinced that the truth lies in her memories of the New Year’s Eve years ago when her friend Grace disappeared from Kinsale forever.

With the town still reeling from the devastating fire and powerful local families determined to protect young men from the consequences of their actions, Eliza begins to suspect that no one – even those she needs to trust the most – is telling the truth.

‘This brilliantly crafted crime novel takes a plunge into driving thriller territory. A writer to watch.’ Starred review, US Publishers Weekly

'Fans of Jane Harper’s mysteries will feel right at home.’ Booklist

‘The tension is high, the pace rapid.’ The Australian

‘Incisive prose that establishes Clifford as something of a stylist. Trouble and teenagers are at the heart of this fine crime novel that introduces us to Melbourne lawyer Eliza Carmody ... Nice work.’ Sydney Morning Herald

‘I read Second Sight like I was on fire. I couldn't get enough of Eliza Carmody.’ Sarah Bailey, bestselling author of The Dark Lake

‘A compelling story about secrets, small town loyalties, and lies.’ Emma Viskic, author of Resurrection Bay

‘Brilliant’ Emily Maguire, author of An Isolated Incident

'A shrewdly paced account of a young litigation lawyer's investigations into a suspicious fire and her own troubled history.' Garry Disher

'One=e of our most talented crime writers.' Anna George

Second Sight is a beautifully crafted tale of treachery, tangled perceptions, and family dysfunction. Clifford masterfully packages skewed realities and hard-held grudges in a ride that breathlessly picks up speed until its last shocking conclusion. Impossible to put down! Julie McElwain Author of A Murder in Time

'When you rake over old embers, you risk rekindling fires, and that is what happens in Aoife Clifford’s accomplished Second Sight, a terrific addition to the tradition of tough Australian crime writing, a la Garry Disher and Peter Corris. Clifford has a gentler touch, but her observations of the small-town psyche are every bit as insightful.' Listener