In Barbara Hanrahan's The Frangipani Gardens, nothing is as it seems. Set amidst the tropical beauty of a South Australian estate, this twisted fairytale unveils a world of hidden menace and corrupted innocence. Watercolour painter Doll lives a prim, respectable existence, belying her wildest fantasies. But when her young niece and nephew come to stay, Doll's true self threatens to be exposed.
As family secrets unravel and repressed desires surface, the boundaries between reality and nightmare blur. Will Doll be able to protect the innocent from the darkness that lurks beneath the surface? Or will the seductive power of the frangipani gardens claim them all? For readers of Australian literature, gothic novels, and character-driven stories exploring complex themes of identity and morality.