Wonderful Australian story. Loved the character development, the creative story line and the essence of Australia. Tess Evans is a great author!!

“Banjo Crossing pulsed with news and activity. Everyone had an idea or knew someone who had an idea or remembered something they had read or seen on the telly. It was as though The Plains had revealed a long-invisible heart that began to pump oxygen and purpose from its trunk to its farthest extremities. Over the back fence or shop counter, in the streets and paddocks, pubs and buses: speaking face to face, using technology old and new, the people of The Plains connected.”

The Ballad Of Banjo Crossing is the fourth novel by Australian author, Tess Evans. Young widow and mother of two, Mardi Lawrence keeps herself busy with The Drover’s Wife café and is very involved with her town, Banjo Crossing. It has been five years, and she still misses him: “Tom had brought richness to her life, and now it was depleted. Her days were full, but once the children were settled, the nights in her hollow lounge room, her neat, feminine bedroom, were long. She missed the casual intimacy of touch, the small exchange of the day’s news, the silly, shared jokes.”

When a newcomer with a backpack walks into her cafe, the last thing on her mind is romance. But he keeps coming back and, despite his reticence about his past, they form a friendship. Jack McPhail has plenty to hide, but he is practiced at deflecting personal questions, and before long the town seems to accept him. And it feels like a good place to settle. He begins to care about these sincere and unpretentious country people, and a certain café owner, in particular.

When two cagy strangers turn up in Banjo Crossing and set up shop, the rumour mill does overtime, with the townsfolk speculating that a MacDonald’s or a shopping centre is in the pipeline. These prospects are divisive enough, but when the truth becomes known, the town is split by the environmental and social issues raised. Jack soon finds himself as deeply involved as long-time residents. But can they win against big business?

The country town that Evans serves up with her evocative descriptions is easily recognisable to anyone who has spent time in a rural area. She gives the reader a cast of townspeople who are, despite their faults and failings, their weaknesses and idiosyncrasies, their insecurities and personal agendas and, in some cases, their deep, dark secrets, essentially good folk.

There are many appealing characters but perhaps the star of the show is Felicia Compton-Ballard: “In her glamorous and privileged youth she had swept into a room and despite the walking stick and almost sensible shoes, still expected the same reaction from her audience. She stood in the doorway and surveyed the café, finally staring down her hawkish nose at the strange man sitting in her place by the window. ‘I think you’ll find that’s my table,’ she said, enunciating each vowel, crisping her consonants like lettuce.”

Within a beautifully apt cover, Evans touches on subjects both topical and age-old: controversial land development, farm succession, the plight of carers, and the power of a united community (with a modern twist). Emotions run high, and guilt, grief and mourning and, of course, love, all feature. There’s a good dose of humour, with many laugh-out-loud moments, but also sadness: only the most stoic reader will fail to develop a lump in the throat or have tears well up at a certain point of the story. Evans has a talent for marvellous descriptive prose. This heart-warming tale may just be Evans best yet.
With thanks to Harper Collins Australia and the author for this uncorrected proof copy to read and review.