As an award-winning investigative journalist, Louise Milligan has reported on her fair share of heinous crimes. She draws on that experience to write her first novel PHEASANTS NEST, focusing on the all too familiar experience of violence against women. It follows protagonist Kate Delaney who is raped and kidnapped after a night out with friends.
It’s a plot that is not unfamiliar to readers of crime fiction and to those who watch the evening news. Readers can’t help but draw upon the real-life murders that made headlines, reminding us of our vulnerabilities where personal safety is concerned. In particular, the story of Jill Meagher, who was raped and murdered as she made her way home after a night out in the Melbourne suburb of Brunswick. Twelve years later, such brutal attacks remain fresh in the mind, and CCTV images of her final moments still haunt any woman making her way home at night.
The novel starts with Kate, lying in the back seat of her assailant’s car. It’s soon established that she is being driven towards Pheasants Nest, where a bridge that crosses the Nepean River sets the tone for a chilling read. The landmark is well-known for the grim discovery of the bodies of two teenage boys back in the 1990’s, and bridges in the area are a notorious place where others have met their deaths. From this point, we learn that it is a seemingly inconsequential encounter that has led to this moment. And it is a moment that is all too relatable for any women who has wanted to enjoy a night out with friends, uninterrupted.
As a journalist, Kate is quick to assess her situation. She considers her chances of being found alive and imagines how her own abduction might be reported through the media. Milligan chooses to ensure that ‘The Guy’ goes unnamed through the novel, limiting his role to instead focus on Kate and the other characters affected by his crimes. He is making mistakes that Kate hopes will lead to her rescue, but she knows statistically, that isn’t very likely. While he may be ‘an idiot’, Kate is all too aware that he is still dangerous, and at his mercy, she is left to consider the best strategies to stay alive.
Milligan shows the decision to enact violence as having ramifications beyond that of the initial victim. Using alternate perspectives, we see how Kate’s boyfriend Liam, an affable lawyer, is caught off-guard by the inexplicable disappearance of his girlfriend. Initially a suspect, Milligan draws out the all too familiar scenario and she explores how false allegations not only affect the innocent, but also delay investigations into finding the real culprit. One the one hand, he knows he should follow the advice he would offer his own clients and yet as the realisation dawns that he is the prime suspect, he can’t help but blather awkwardly, making the situation worse as he incriminates himself and the investigation is led astray.
As the story unfolds, Milligan draws attention to other factors that inform the investigation of serious crimes. Social media comes under the spotlight, as both a hindrance and a help to finding Kate. Post traumatic stress as experienced by police officers is also explored as we gain insight into the ongoing trauma experienced those tasked with investigating such unspeakable acts.
PHEASANTS NEST is an affecting read, but it has its flaws. Some moments of humour miss the mark, and characterisation of Kate’s best friend Sylvia is reduced to silliness at times. There are also moments where the story deviates, clouding the focus of the main storyline. But overall, it sustains interest and delivers what it sets out to achieve.