Spiral is a convoluted story about friendships and the changes inherent in coming-of-age. Elena and Jessica have been close friends since school days, but the end of school brings alterations: boyfriends for each, traveling for Jessica, new people and places and different events. Elena had long ago put paid to the concept of one right person for each individual, as a childhood spent in the fallout of constant parental arguments and the departure of her father early on soured her on male-female potential.

Even with her own friend, Sam, she remains envious of Jessica's boyfriend, Ashleigh and his "intrusion" into the time she would normally have spent with Jessica. It is Elena though who takes the much bigger step; Jessica took a month with family in New Zealand from their Australian home ground, but Elena has decided on an open-ended trip to Ireland on a work visa. And it is Sam, and later Elena's friend Del from Tasmania, not Jessica, who follow Elena to Ireland.

Spiral's descriptive settings bring the continent of Australia, specifically the Melbourne region, and the island of Ireland, to vivid life. The characters are quite detailed as well, and their friendships and relationships evolved. The unexpected plot turns will catch the reader quite by surprise, as well. Nikki Watson demonstrates a grasp of her geographic settings and makes the reader feel as if she or he is right in the middle of the setting and events of the story.