AustLit

'Jerilderie-born Rosalie Ham, author of The Dressmaker's Secret (out now from Picador) and the bestselling The Dressmaker, joins this month's Guardian Australia's Rural Network book club hosted by deputy rural editor, Michael Burge.

'It is 1953 and Melbourne society is looking forward to coronation season, the grand balls and celebrations for the young queen-to-be. Tilly Dunnage is, however, working for a pittance in a second-rate Collins Street salon. Her talents go unappreciated, and the madame is a bully and a cheat, but Tilly has a good reason to prefer anonymity. Meanwhile, Sergeant Farrat and the McSwiney clan have been searching for their resident dressmaker since she left Dungatar in flames. And they aren't the only ones. The inhabitants of the town are out for revenge (or at least someone to foot the bill for the new high street). So when Tilly's name starts to feature in the fashion pages, the jig is up. Along with Tilly's hopes of keeping her secrets hidden ...' (Introduction)