The Arsonist

On the scorching February day in 2009 that became known as Black Saturday, a man lit two fires in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley, then sat on the roof of his house to watch the inferno. In the Valley, where the rates of crime were the highest in the state, more than 30 people were known to police as firebugs. But the detectives soon found themselves on the trail of a man they didn’t know.The Arsonist takes listeners on the hunt for this man, and inside the strange puzzle of his mind. It is also the story of fire in this country, and of a community that owed its existence to that very element. The command of fire has defined and sustained us as a species – understanding its abuse will define our future.A powerful real-life thriller written with Hooper’s trademark lyric detail and nuance, The Arsonist is a reminder that in an age of fire, all of us are gatekeepers.

'Gripping, gritty and unsparing but never gratuitous in its details, this is true crime writing at its best. But Hooper goes beyond the procedurals and the scene setting to examine the greater context of the tragedy.' -- The Saturday Paper
'The Arsonist, is an enthralling and deeply fascinating story about a huge tragedy that befell a small community, one that not only conveys the horror of a fire that cremated all before it, but asks questions about guilt, remorse and responsibility.' -- Better Reading
'In Hooper's sure hands the grimmest details become exquisite imagery.' -- The Sydney Morning Herald

Chloe Hooper's most recent book is the bestselling The Arsonist: A Mind on Fire. The Tall Man: Death and Life on Palm Island won the Victorian, New South Wales, West Australian and Queensland Premiers’ Literary Awards, as well as the John Button Prize for Political Writing, and a Ned Kelly Award for crime writing. She is also the author of two acclaimed novels, A Child’s Book of True Crime and The Engagement. Sibylla Budd is an Australian actress who trained at the Victorian College of the Arts. She has extensive experience in TV, film and theatre, and was nominated for an AFI for her performance in the feature film The Bet and was also nominated for a Logie for her role in The Secret Life of Us. In 2005 she joined the cast of All Saints and has also appeared in other TV series including The Doctor Blake Mysteries, Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries, Rake and Winners and Losers. It is this vast experience and talent that makes Sibylla such a strong force as a voice artist and audiobook narrator.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.