On the title page of Careless is a photo of Fallingwater, that iconic dwelling built on a waterfall by Frank Lloyd Wright, whose life was marred by personal tragedy. Pearl copies this image as she waits in her therapist’s office, tending a tragedy of her own. Robertson’s considered debut novel is peopled with honestly complex characters whose lives and deaths intersect in a contemporary, urban, Australian setting. As its title suggests, Careless is a novel that examines the ways people care for one another and their children and extols the profound effect our carelessness can have on the lives of others. Shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award. Justine Douglas is from Readings Port Melbourne