A young woman grapples with the arrival of a once-in-a-lifetime comet and its tumultuous consequences in a debut novel that blends mystery, astronomy and romance, perfect for fans of Tracey Lien, Emma Cline and Mireille Juchau.

Best Books of 2024 Publisher's Weekly

Best Thrillers of 2024 The New York Times

**Best Books of 2024 The New Yorker

'There's a soothing, near-mystical quality to the book's language, a sense of being borne along on unseen currents… What is on the page holds up a mirror to what is in the sky — luminous, unusual, unexpected… Todd has a brilliant trick up her sleeve […] — a feint that brings Bright Objects to a remarkable conclusion as unexpected as it is poignant, and more original and human than any conventional cult story.' The New York Times**

'Engaging and wise . . . darkly humorous and witty. That this is Todd's first book bodes well for Australian literature.' Australian Book Review

'An intoxicating debut… a lyrical and inventive literary mystery from an author whom readers will hope returns far sooner than any visiting comet.' Publisher's Weekly starred review

January 1997: In the small town of Jericho, New South Wales, Sylvia Knight is losing hope that the person who killed her husband will ever face justice. Since the night of the hit-and-run, her world has been shrouded in hazy darkness—until she meets Theo St John, the discoverer of a rare comet soon to be visible above Jericho.

As the comet begins to brighten, visitors flock like pilgrims into town. Supermarkets run out of canned goods; campgrounds fill to capacity. And more and more people are drawn into the orbit of Joseph Evans, an enigmatic local who believes the comet's arrival is nothing short of a divine message. But Sylvia will soon realise that she isn't the only one haunted by the past. While everyone else is looking to the night sky for answers, her quest to uncover her husband's killer will unearth long-held secrets with far-reaching consequences.

A novel about the search for meaning in a bewildering world, the loyalty of love and the dangerous lengths people go to in pursuit of the truth, Bright Objects is a luminous, masterfully crafted literary thriller.

Praise for Bright Objects:

* A New York Times Editors' Choice Pick*

'[A] smart, propulsively readable debut novel about a brilliant comet, a grieving widow, a troubled romance and a burgeoning cult... [Todd's] prose is elegant but accessible, her narrative embraces both mystery and quick plot pivots, and her protagonist, though flawed, remains sympathetic. And Todd's grip only tightens as the story turns downright chilling.' The Los Angeles Times

'A little bit thriller, a little bit mystery, the novel's genre elements are commendably propulsive . . . Todd's confidence and talents augur a bright future.' The Washington Post

'Gorgeously written . . . the prose burns bright.' New York Times Book Review

'A literary mystery of consummate elegance and gravity. Bright Objects traces a graceful orbit around the phenomena of human grief and love.' Jessica Au, author of Cold Enough for Snow