The Little Clothes is the first novel by Australian author, Deborah Callaghan. At almost thirty-nine, despite her seniority, hard work and dedication, Audrey Mendes has again bee passed over for partnership. Apparently, she’s “not a team player”, perhaps a product of her tendency to speak directly, without any filter, her low tolerance for superficiality, and her impatience with the political and social machinations at work.

Audrey is still single, lives alone with her white Rex rabbit, Joni, goes to Trivia Night at the pub on Tuesdays, has Sunday lunch with her parents, and regularly buys baby clothes which she keeps in a new wardrobe in her spare room. But when she is ignored, disregarded, relegated to a menial task once too often, she begins to react in tiny, subversive ways, and the results are unexpected.

The heartthrob of trivia night brings a girlfriend, emphasising in her mind, Audrey’s single status; family lunch, always a reminder of her sorely-missed dead brother, also recalls a traumatic incident from her youth when diaries are brought home; engagement, wedding and baby celebrations at work remind her of the ongoing activities of a serial sexually-harassing senior colleague; and a new neighbour, a single man with a prison record, ex-crim friends and a muscular mastiff, has her worried for her safety.

But her small acts of rebellion have far-reaching effects: people sit up and take notice. One impulsive act, though, might just bring her undone…

Callaghan gives the reader an interesting cast of complex characters, the sort encountered in various walks of life, from which they will likely pick some as favourites and others to despise. Most will consider Audrey lucky to have Eustace for a father, a necessary counter for her callous mother, and Maggie for a friend. Callaghan’s debut is thought-provoking and blackly funny, and more from this author will be eagerly anticipated.