[2] Tom Loxley is holed up in a remote bush shack trying to finish his book on Henry James when his beloved dog goes missing.

In what follows the novel loops back and forth in time to take the reader on a journey into worlds far removed from the present tragedy.

Reviewing the novel for The New Statesman, Jane Shilling noted: "Reading The Lost Dog, one is torn between contradictory urges - to race ahead, in order to find out what happens, and to linger in admiration of de Kretser's ravishing style.

"[3] In The Guardian, Carmen Callil stated her opinion upfront: "This is my favourite kind of novel.

It is full of incident and character, tells a gripping story, has many touches of brilliance and can make you laugh and wonder.