Nest

Shortlisted for The Australian Literature Society (ALS) Gold Medal 2015

Longlisted for The Miles Franklin Literary Award 2015

Longlisted for The Australian Literary Studies Gold Medal 2015

Longlisted for The Stella Prize 2015


A gripping and thought-provoking novel about finding the lost child in all of us.

Once an artist and teacher, Jen now spends her time watching the birds around her house and tending her lush sub-tropical garden near the small hinterland town where she grew up. The only person she sees regularly is Henry, who comes after school for drawing lessons.

When a girl in Henry's class goes missing, Jen is pulled back into the depths of her own past. She lost her father and her best friend Michael when she was Henry's age. They also went missing - in the same week. The whole town talked about it then, and now, nearly forty years later, they're talking about it again.

Everyone is waiting - for the girl to be found and the summer rain to arrive. At last, when the answers do come, like the wet, it is in a drenching, revitalising downpour.


'entrancing' - Adelaide Advertiser

'a story full of intrigue' - Herald Sun

'Nest is a thoroughly enjoyable, uplifting read from one of the most creative nature writers of our time' - MiNDFOOD

'This gentle, introspective novel will delight bird lovers and possibly introduce the joys of the avian world to others.... Inga Simpson writes wondrously simple prose about the natural world' - Good Reading

'a testament to her talent as a nature writer' - The Saturday Age