A portrait of life in the newly established coastal town of Desperance centres on the powerful Phantom family, whose members are are the leaders of the Pricklebush people. Winner of Miles Franklin Literary Award 2007.; Winner of Australian Literature Society Gold Medal 2007.; Winner of Victorian Premier's Literary Award - Vance Palmer Prize for Fiction 2007.; Shortlisted for Victorian Premier's Literary Award 2007.; Shortlisted for Queensland Premier's Literary Awards: Best Fiction Book 2007.