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David Francis, Stray Dog Winter

(Allen & Unwin; 300pp paperback; $32.95)

I wondered why there was so much time spent on what seemed gratuitous sexual encounters in the early parts of this book, until I saw that the sexuality of the naive and exploitable young artist Darcy Bright was key to both parts of the story.

In the present, Darcy is enticed to icy midwinter Moscow by half sister Fin, an unsettling presence who has dominated his imagination since her abrupt arrival in his adolescent life, her equally abrupt disappearance a few years later and through to her unexpected return.

Darcy is unworldly and un-alert to the murky Russian underground conspiracies that are unfolding around him and drawing him to a nightmare conclusion. He is exploited, worst of all by Fin who despite her obsessive reasons, cannot be forgiven for the callous treatment of her kin.

In the past, we discover the reasons for the present. Darcy’s dysfunctional and cruel mother, his weak and distracted father, and the disoriented evangelist, who all contribute to his confused and restless state.

It might take just a little while to be drawn in to this story, but before long it becomes gripping and compelling reading.