In Conversation with Margaret Hickey

Margaret will be in conversation with writer Gregory Flood they will be talking about Margaret's new book Cold River.

Deep in the mountains, secrets grow deadly. Detective Constable Sally White knows how easily hikers can go missing in Victoria's high country. But there's something about the disappearance of Louis Taylor, a young man lost up Mount Viking, that's not sitting right with her. Louis was an aspiring journalist, researching the illegal tobacco trade – also known as chop chop – that was once so prevalent in the area. And the last person he interviewed before his hike has just met a gruesome end.

With no other leads, and with the search winding down, Sally is forced to accept the young man died in a tragic accident. Until she learns of another missing person case that bears striking similarities. Astrid Marlowe, a young lawyer, vanished in the same mountains two years before. Were Louis and Astrid simply unlucky hikers lost in the treacherous terrain? Or did they both stumble into something – or someone – they shouldn't?

Find out about other author talks at the Ballarat Mechanics' Institute on their website.