COMP CLOSED | Book Giveaway | Girl of the Mountains

We are very pleased to be giving away two copies of Trish McCormack’s book ‘Girl of the Mountains’, to our GrownUps members.

All you need to do to enter the draw is be a GrownUps member, make sure you’re signed up to our newsletter and fill in your details near the bottom of the page!

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About Girl of the Mountains

This multi-layered novel from New Zealand author Trish McCormack is a compelling mystery set in the beautiful Southern Alps, inspired by real-life history.

All she had to do now was disappear.

The Hermitage Mt Cook 1946. When the volatile Stella is hired as a mountain guide she vows never to return to a life of domesticity below the snowline. With her mentor Philip and troubled returned soldier Jim she roams the Southern Alps finding freedom in her unconventional career. But Stella and her friends are powerless to prevent a tragedy which will shatter their lives.

2019. Veteran Wellington journalist Kath walks out of her life leaving behind some puzzling old mountaineering photographs. Her daughters, small-town reporter Robin and alpine guide Helen, learn of a deathbed confession made by their grandmother Sarah decades earlier. But they don’t know if it is linked to Kath’s disappearance. In searching for their mother, they uncover the twisted story of the ill-fated Stella, Philip and Jim and expose the lie at the heart of their family.

A sensitive portrayal of family relationships while also confronting the expectations society places on women both now and in the past. The mountains, a source of both solace and danger, are hauntingly portrayed as the women strive for freedom, independence and refuge. Paddy Richardson – author of Through the Lonesome Dark

A multi-layered story that skilfully moves between the decades to gradually solve a mystery disappearance in the Southern Alps. This book has everything: great characters, knowledgeable descriptions of alpine guiding and a totally unexpected ending – perfect! Tina Clough – author of The Chinese Proverb

Author Note

‘The Franz Josef Glacier was my childhood playground; my favourite days were spent scrambling over the ice in hob-nailed boots learning climbing techniques from my father, a guide. My other great passion was reading, especially mystery novels, and I had an eye for real-life mysteries as well. My friends and I spent hours on the glacier peering into crevasses looking unsuccessfully for a man who had disappeared a few days before. Then there were the climbers themselves, emerging hungry and sunburnt from various expeditions and making landfall at my parents’ place. I didn’t appreciate having to share my meals with them and it wasn’t until much later in life that I realised I’d met some acclaimed mountaineers. This included a host of strong- women who – unlike many of the men – didn’t talk much about what they had climbed.

Years later I spent a weekend snowbound at Mt Cook village with one of these legendary women – Junee Ashurst who had guided people all over the Southern Alps only to be sacked after the Second World War by a chief guide who didn’t want a woman on his team. I was studying for a Master of Arts in History and doing a research paper on women climbers. Junee was a mountain historian with a host of stories to share.

Around this time my heroine Stella emerged in my imagination, storming up the Hooker Valley in the rain. I didn’t know why she was angry, but she intrigued me. I’ve always loved stories with roots in the past, where people do things that leave their descendants with mysteries to solve. With all of this in mind I sat down and wrote Girl of the Mountains.’

About the Author

Wellington archivist and former journalist Trish McCormack grew up in Franz Josef. Her Philippa Barnes crime novels, including Ngaio Marsh Awards nominated Cold Hard Murder, are set in South Island national parks.

Her book Jack’s Journey is based on the letters of a great uncle killed in the First World War.

Girl of the Mountains is Trish’s fourth novel.

Terms and conditions

1. 1. You must be a GrownUps member and receive our newsletter to be eligible to win.
   2. Competition closes on the 17th April 2024, winners will be notified via email by 18th April 2024.
   3. It is your responsibility to ensure you correctly enter a New Zealand postal address where the prize can be sent. GrownUps will not take responsibility for prizes sent to incorrect addresses.
   4. Winners are drawn at random by the GrownUps administration team.
   5. GrownUps employees and family are not eligible to enter.
   6. By entering the giveaway, you approve for GrownUps to use your name on social media as winner of the competition.
   7. One entry per household.
   8. Prize in non transferrable.
   9. You must reside in New Zealand – the prize can only be redeemed within New Zealand.
   10. You must be over 50 years of age to enter, please check your details are correct in your membership dashboard.