By Dominique Tassell
The Understudy by Julie Bennett, released earlier this year, is the new Australian book making waves.
Immersed in the underbelly of the theatre world in the gritty streets of Sydney in 1973, this addictive debut will have you wondering just how dangerous ambition – and love – can be.
It’s opening night. The stage is set, the houselights have dimmed and the handsome male lead is waiting. This is Sophie’s time. Her chance to prove she is so much more than the understudy.
She’s worked so hard and would have done almost anything to get here. But not what they are accusing her of – never that. It’s simply bad luck that Australia’s darling of opera has gone missing, throwing the spotlight on Sophie just as the whole world is watching history in the making.
But the show must go on and it’s all down to her. So she’ll take a deep breath and get ready to perform the role of her life.
The novel features a cast of characters with drastically different and interesting backgrounds, though a few remain infuriatingly enigmatic.
If Agatha Christie, Taylor Jenkins Reid, and Fiona McIntosh combined forces to write a book, this would be the end product. Full of twists and turns, this novel will keep you guessing until the very end.
With romance, mystery, power and betrayal all contained within these pages, this book should definitely go on your list.
While the writing took a little getting used to, this quickly becomes an addictive read.
The cast of characters, while interesting, aren’t necessarily that likeable but not enough to deter you from reading.
The descriptions of the city of Sydney and the workings of the Opera in 1973 are one of the best parts of this novel in my opinion, and will entertain anyone who has been there in modern times.
The Understudy by Julie Bennett is available at Southern Downs Regional Council libraries now.
