Three Boys Gone, by Mark Smith

 When three school boys drown in a freak accident, a local community goes looking for a scapegoat.

Grace Disher is employed at an all boys Catholic School. As Outdoor Education teacher she is in charge of a school excursion to Juliet Beach, a notoriously volatile coastal stretch in Victoria. Three boys from the group - Jake, Harry and Roberto - take it upon themselves to strip off and run into the sea, for what reason no one knows. Before Grace can stop the boys, they are gone, swept out to sea. The remaining boys are instructed to keep quiet, until further notice, but immediately start sending messages to the outside world. Before Grace can properly grasp what has happened, the media have been alerted, and worse, social media has prematurely judged events. Grieving parents and an internet spiralling out of control turn the blame directly on Grace, who soon finds her own safety is at risk. 
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Three Boys Gone is the debut thriller from author Mark Smith. The novel has a compellingly realistic tone and addresses key issues such as workplace misogyny, trial by social media and outdated Catholic School social attitudes. The story quickly builds to an unexpected shock-horror climax, as Grace must evade someone intent on doing her harm. A genuine page-turner confronting urgent contemporary themes. 

Three Boys Gone, by Mark Smith. Published by Macmillan Australia. $34.99

March 25