The Last Illusion of Paige White Spotlight

a look at how Vanessa McCausland keeps us turning the page

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Hello Substackers

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and are getting to enjoy some down time over the break. I recently read The Last Illusion of Paige White and absolutely loved it! I couldn’t put it down and I thought it would be a great choice for the monthly writing spotlight I do here on Writes4Women. If it hasn’t come under your radar yet, here’s the blurb:

About the Book

'Compelling, haunting and beautifully written. You'll be thinking about it long after you turn the last page!' Liane Moriarty

Two women. A tragedy on the lake. And secrets beneath the surface ... The lyrical, haunting new novel from the author of The Beautiful Words

For fans of The Lovely Bones, Before You Knew My Name and Everything I Never Told You

Paige White kayaked across the lake each morning at dawn. Someone was watching her. Many someones watched her online. But was anyone with her the day she was found?

Paige White's beautiful life is documented closely for her thousands of followers: lakeside picnics with her daughter, sunny afternoons in the family van, and romantic dinners with her husband. So when she posts an ominous image, and her body is shortly after discovered in the lake, everyone immediately wonders - suicide or foul play?

Paige finds herself suspended in a strange, idyllic place that resembles her most 'liked' Instagram post, forced to watch as life continues without her.

When Paige's death makes national news, Jane Masters, a journalist who was close to Paige in childhood, reluctantly travels home. Struggling with the morality of covering her friend's death, Jane will confront the town she left behind and the dark undercurrents that she's always known run underneath.

'Compelling, haunting and beautifully written, The Last Illusion of Paige White is a clever, page-turning modern mystery as well as a thoughtful exploration of female friendship, family dynamics and the complex impact of social media on self identity. You'll be thinking about it long after you turn the last page! ' Liane Moriarty

If you’d like to listen to my chat with Vanessa on Writes4Women you can find it here

Find out more about Vanessa here

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In this post for paid subscribers, Pam delves into a few pages from Vanessa McCausland’s gripping novel, 'The Last Illusion of Paige White.' The story revolves around an Instagram influencer whose mysterious death raises questions of suicide or foul play.

The narrative unfolds from two main perspectives: Jane, a journalist and childhood friend of Paige, and Paige herself who observes from an afterlife limbo resembling her favourite Instagram posts.

Pam highlights the descriptive style, the use of sensory details, character development, and creating a narrative structure that features multiple viewpoints. She also discusses how the story's mystery and pacing keep readers engaged, comparing it to the suspense found in 'The Lovely Bones.'

00:00 Introduction to the story

00:17 Overview of Paige White's Story

01:02 Jane Masters' Perspective

01:35 Narrative Techniques and Writing Style

02:31 Sensory Details and Descriptions

04:40 Character Emotions and Reactions

06:39 Building Tension and Atmosphere

09:18 Interactions and Dialogue

16:42 Backstory and Character Development

23:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

If you’re a paid subscriber you’ll find the full video analysis below (nb: this was recorded during a writing class so you’ll see the class members at the top of the screen).

I hope you enjoy this holiday bonus. Would love to hear your thoughts.