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Where the Birds Call Her Name
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  • Published: 4 March 2025
  • ISBN: 9781761349515
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 400

Where the Birds Call Her Name

The evocative new novel by the bestselling author of The Secrets of the Huon Wren

Formats & editions
Paperback
11 Nov 2025
Tr. Paperback
4 Mar 2025
EBook
4 Mar 2025
Audiobook
4 Mar 2025
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The highly anticipated new novel by the bestselling Australian author of The Secrets of the Huon Wren

Broome 2023: when Saskia’s free-spirited mother leaves her a caravan in her will, it doesn’t make sense. Saskia is a schoolteacher, tied to plans and schedules, even if they are beginning to feel restrictive. Then she finds clues in the van about her mother’s mysterious past, setting her on a journey to Tasmania with her young daughter Anouk, who shares her late grandmother’s fascination with birds.

In 1968, teenager Greta De Winter seeks solace in the Stanley wetlands, a swamp that attracts all manner of wildlife. Her father is the local councillor and her mother a taxidermist, working to create bird dioramas for the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. But while the De Winter household seems harmless from the outside, a dark secret hides within.

When Saskia and Anouk arrive in Stanley, they search for the missing pieces to the puzzle of Greta’s tragic childhood. In the process of uncovering her family history, Saskia realises that her mother’s final act might also enable her to rediscover who she really is, and what she is truly capable of.

Set in the breathtaking landscape of Tasmania’s majestic north-west, this is a moving and highly evocative novel of family bonds and betrayals, by the bestselling author of The Secrets of the Huon Wren.

'A beautiful story of heartbreak, hope and the long flight home – I loved every moment.'
– Anthea Hodgson

'This dual-time narrative of mother and daughter on journeys of self-discovery, who learn what’s worth fighting for as they encounter love and betrayal, secrets and hope, is as evocative as it is beautiful. Claire van Ryn has a real gift for creating a sense of wonder when it comes to the natural landscape. You feel it, you inhale it. You ache for it. As for emotional heart, this book has a huge one. I wept, I laughed, I air-punched, I gasped; I couldn’t put it down.' Karen Brooks

  • Published: 4 March 2025
  • ISBN: 9781761349515
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 400
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About the author

Claire van Ryn

Claire van Ryn is an awarded writer who began her career as a newspaper journalist, but has also filled roles as magazine editor, communications specialist, writing teacher, blueberry picker and shoe fitter. She lives in Tasmania and extensive travels have only affirmed her love for Australia’s southernmost island state. She recently spent a year travelling Australia with her husband and two children in a caravan. Creating is Claire’s favourite thing: whether with words, watercolours or whatever else is close at hand.

portrait photo of Claire van Ryn

Also by Claire van Ryn

The Secrets of the Huon Wren
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Praise for Where the Birds Call Her Name

A beautiful story of heartbreak, hope and the long flight home – I loved every moment.

Anthea Hodgson

Claire Van Ryn weaves a poignant story of loss and renewal, where every bird's song and every rushing river guides Saskia towards a truth she never realised she was seeking. This is a novel about the courage to face your shadows – and the light waiting on the other side.

Megan Rogers

I warmed to not only the characters but also to the beautifully written Tasmanian landscape. Claire Van Ryn’s book is a great ambassador for Tasmania and its wildlife and made me want to visit and explore the beautiful land. This novel also taught me not to waste time. Be brave and go seek out adventures that you have been wanting to accomplish.

Good Reading

A sublime novel about women taking flight across generations and landscapes to find their true selves ... Gorgeously written, this book is as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside.

Natasha Lester

What an absolutely beautifully written book. It reminds me of Where the Crawdads Sing.

Global Girls Online Book Club

A dual timeline novel set in Tasmania, where a family's secrets are uncovered forcing more than one journey of self-discovery. A story of love, hope and courage ...a wonderful read.

Tricia Stringer

This dual-time narrative of mother and daughter on journeys of self-discovery, who learn what’s worth fighting for as they encounter love and betrayal, secrets and hope, is as evocative as it is beautiful. Claire van Ryn has a real gift for creating a sense of wonder when it comes to the natural landscape. You feel it, you inhale it. You ache for it. As for emotional heart, this book has a huge one. I wept, I laughed, I air-punched, I gasped; I couldn’t put it down.

Karen Brooks