Bookseller note: This wonder of a book does what many non-fiction writers reach for and miss; it takes a microcosm or a single event and shows us how far reaching it truly is and its implications for the rest of society.

‘The Pies beat the Saints and the city of Melbourne was still cloaked in black and white crepe paper when the rumour of a pack rape by celebrating footballers began to surface. By morning, the head of the sexual crimes squad confirmed to journalists that they were preparing to question two Collingwood players … And so, as police were confiscating bed sheets from a townhouse in South Melbourne, the trial by media began.’

What does a young footballer do to cut loose? At night, some play what they think of as pranks, or games. Night games with women. Sometimes these involve consensual sex, but sometimes they don’t, and sometimes they fall into a grey area.

In the tradition of Helen Garner’s The First Stone comes a closely observed, controversial book about sex, consent and power. In Night Games, Anna Krien follows the rape trial of an Australian Rules footballer. She also takes a balanced and fearless look at the dark side of footy culture – the world of Sam Newman, Ricky Nixon, Matty Johns and the Cronulla Sharks.

Both a courtroom drama and a riveting piece of narrative journalism, this is a breakthrough book from one of the young leading lights of Australian writing.

Condition: Good