On The Java Ridge - Tapa blanda

Praise for On the Java Ridge 'Devastatingly brilliant...an emotionally grueling mix of high-octane action, life-and-death political maneuvering and, at its heart, an anguishing portrayal of worldwide refugee crises...Beautiful, mournful, infuriating and brimming with tension, On the Java Ridge is utterly incomparable.'--Shelf Awareness 'Serong creates a sense of foreboding from the very start of his third novel, and then constantly ratchets up the tension with a keen sense of pacing.'--Books + Publishing 'Terrifying, compelling.'--ABR 'This is the mastery of Serong's novel, understanding that fictional dystopias are at their most profound when they take the everyday and tilt it towards the darkness...it is a deeply considered novel that steers us to the logical conclusion of an entrenched system rooted equally in brutality and silence.'--The Monthly 'Serong has his finger firmly on the pulse of current events: this is a thoroughly credible hypothetical, a truly intriguing and frighteningly believable "what if?" that is brilliantly executed, acutely topical and extremely relevant.'--Bookmooch 'You might want to clear the decks before you start Jock Serong's third thriller, because the odds are you won't be able to put it down.'--SA Weekend Praise for The Rules of Backyard Cricket 'A deeply interesting novel about sibling rivalry, family, masculinity, and the game of cricket...Serong is a talented storyteller, and he brings this unusual world to life.'--Booklist; 'Beautifully written and acutely observed...a noir tour de force.'--Sydney Morning Herald; 'Serong writes pithy, pin-sharp dialogue...The book is expertly plotted, and its noirish climax with its dark drama and its final twists, is devastating. Get out and buy this book; it is the best new novel I've read this year.'--Crime Time [UK; 'A novel of suspense, I heartily recommend it.'--Shots [UK]; 'Serong's writing displays wit, insight and occasionally, splendor.'--Books + Publishing Praise for Quota 'IPitch-perfect dialogue, and a strong sense of place about this small town in particular. The characters there are particularly believable and...actually quite likeable (a bonus). All of these elements combine to make for a very engaging, and extremely realistic debut novel.'--Reviewing The Evidence

In the nation’s capital, the Minister for Border Integrity is set to announce a hardline policy about offering assistance to asylum-seekers in boats. A group of Australian surf tourists have anchored their vessel, Java Ridge, beside an idyllic reef off the Indonesian coast. A few kilometers away, the Takalar is having engine trouble. Among the passengers fleeing from persecution are Roya and her pregnant mother. The storm now closing in on the two vessels will mean catastrophe for them all.