Review: The Haunting of Mr & Mrs Stevenson by Belinda Lyons-Lee

It took me a few pages to get into this gothic mystery but once I did I couldn't put the book down. 

The Haunting of Mr & Mrs Stevenson is based on the true friendship of Robert Louis Stevenson and the charismatic Eugene Chantrelle. This page-turning mystery tells the story behind the people and events that inspired Stevenson's novel The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

Written in the voice of Fanny, Robert Louis Stevenson's wife, The Haunting of Mr & Mrs Stevenson is part gothic tale, part supernatural, part mystery. It tells the story of Fanny & Louis's unconventional marriage and explores the manner in which women were treated at the time and how forward thinking and assertive women were perceived by men.

I loved how Fanny could hold her own against the most  condescending of men. She didn't worry about convention, she was strong and self reliant.

Fanny is an engaging narrator which kept the story interesting.

Lyons-Lee expertly portrays not only the narrator's feelings but all the other characters' feelings and emotions. I find in a first person narration this can sometimes be difficult to execute.

Dark, atmospheric and thoroughly addictive, The Haunting of Mr & Mrs Stevenson is a skillful weaving of fact and fiction that is sure to delight readers.

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Transit Lounge

Publication date: 1st July 2025

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 368

RRP: $34.99AUD (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Quikmark Media

Review: The Private Island by Ali Lowe

The Private Island was Global Girls Online Book Club book of the month for September 2025.

I thought I had read previous books by Ali Lowe but apparently, after looking through Goodreads, I haven't read any of her books. So now I have a wonderful backlist to explore and she also has a new thriller coming out in March 2026.

Ali Lowe really pulled me into a twisty mystery with The Private Island. The resort lifestyle was perfectly rendered however for these holidaymakers it wasn't the idyllic break they were expecting.

Told through multiple narratives the reader gets a broad picture of what each character sees and as the story evolves we realise there is a lot going on behind the scenes.

The prologue opens with a body washed up on the shore but it is not revealed exactly who it is.

Nuanced characters are perfectly written, almost all have secrets and plenty are after revenge.... but would they kill for it?

I loved the way Ali Lowe tells the story right up to the discovery of the body and then goes back four months to fill in details that haven't previously been revealed. Each character's point of view sheds a little more light on the mystery.

The Private Island is a compelling mystery that exposes the complexity of greed and the need for closure via revenge. I was constantly surprised as the connections between the characters were slowly disclosed throughout the story. Cliff hanger chapter endings keep the pages turning. There is never a dull moment in The Private Island.

I also loved the addition of a cocktail recipe at the start of each chapter because what's an island holiday without cocktails!

The Private Island is a twisty tale of love, betrayal, family and secrets powered by money.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Publication date: 25th February 2025

Genre: Crime / Mystery

Pages: 398

Source: Own Copy

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Review: Better Than the Real Thing by Brooke Crawford

Have you ever read a book that has you racing through the pages to find out what happens next, then when you near the end you suddenly slow down because you actually don't want to say goodbye to the characters? Well, Better Than the Real Thing is that kind of book!

Netta is struggling with infertility. Whilst falling pregnant is her top priority she feels her partner, Pete, doesn't seem as invested and is becoming distant.

When finding the hidden diary of famous musician, Mo Mapleston, coincides with Netta breaking up with Pete, the $10,000 payment to return the diary, in person, is too good to refuse. However Mo lives in London and Netta left London behind with the demons that hounded her. Surely no one will remember her?

I immediately liked Netta and her struggle felt real. Better Than the Real Thing is filled with so many wonderful 'real'  characters. People that supported each other and welcomed strangers as if they were old friends. I loved them all which made Netta and Mo's story so rewarding.

Even though Mo is a mega star he is riddled with anxiety attacks and often self-deprecating. He is trying his best to change his life - but failing.

Brooke Crawford includes moments of light-hearted banter, emotional confessions, true friendships and a touch of spice to deliver a story that is emotional and heart wrenching, witty and heartwarming.

Netta's friendship with Freya is what struck me the most, it was pure and sincere. I'm getting teary just thinking about how much they supported each other.

The thing I love about romance is after all the heartache and bumps in the road there is always that HEA to look forward to.

Better Than the Real Thing delivers all the feels. I'm excited for its release to see how much everyone loves it!

Content: fertility struggles

               death of a parent

               drugs / overdose

               miscarriage

               spice factor 2/5

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: HQ Fiction

Publication date: 25th November 2025

Genre: Contemporary romance

Pages: 368

RRP: AU$32.99 (trade paperback)

Source: uncorrected proof courtesy of the publisher

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Review: One of the Family by Jess Ryder

I quite enjoyed One of the Family. It was an entertaining mystery read. However, for me, it lacked that shock value that I like in a thriller.

Rachel is a helicopter mum continually texting and calling her two daughters, Liv and Meg. Rachel thinks she is being a good mum connecting with her girls but she was even annoying me as she was checking in with them every 5 minutes.

Liv and her new boyfriend have recently graduated university and Rachel invites them to live with her and Liv's father. She is so happy to have Liv back in her old bedroom and to also have a new person to spoil.

One day Liv disappears and the boyfriend continues to live with the family. This causes a lot of arguments between Rachel and her husband and daughter Meg.

There is a separate plot of Meg being bullied and the story concentrates on this until the bullying is resolved before heading to Liv's disappearance and non-communication. This is where I had to suspend my disbelief as 'helicopter mum', who doesn't let her kids have a minute to themselves, doesn't demand the police check her daughter's phone instead giving her time (weeks) to return home.

Putting these little annoyances aside I was completely pulled into both mysteries which kept me invested in the story eager to see if the bully would be uncovered and also if Liv would be found..... alive.

One of the Family is a light entertaining read with a few unexpected twists that will have readers eagerly turning the pages to see what happens next.

My rating 3.5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐½

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication date: 30th October 2025

Genre: Mystery / Thriller

Pages: 366

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley

 

Review: The Sunbaker by P. A. Thomas

From the author of The Beacon comes another thrilling beachside murder mystery, bursting with local colour and humour. 

The Sunbaker is another page-turning success from Australian author P. A. Thomas.

I really enjoyed The Beacon and was looking forward to being back on the NSW North Coast with The Sunbaker. The Beacon is set in Byron Bay and The Sunbaker is set in the nearby town of Brunswick Heads. 

Journalist Jack Harris is back again and has been asked by a friend, forensic pathologist Nicola Fox, to help investigate the case of a dead body found lying on a sunlounge at her holiday house.

If you have read The Beacon you will know that Jack Harris is a journalist and runs the local newspaper. If you haven't read book one Thomas includes plenty of backstory on his main characters.

Inspector Begley is counting down the days until his retirement and an unidentified dead body turning up is an inconvenience he could do without. He calls in Jack to help dig up some information and assist with the investigation - strictly off the record.

I loved the eclectic mix of support characters that beautifully reflected the colourful range of residents of the Byron region. Plus the wonderful portrayal of Inspector Begley. He was tetchy, sweary and grumpy, with a dry personality dripping with sarcasm pitted against Harris who was light-hearted and a bit of a comedian.

Ricky is back to lend his hand at a bit of break-and-enter and get Jack out of a few scrapes.

P. A. Thomas is a medical specialist and around all the light-hearted fun he includes serious medical conditions and the ethical issues related to them.

Medical conditions, dark humour, murder and laugh-out-loud moments (mainly at Jack's expense) effortlessly come together to make The Sunbaker a compelling mystery read with plenty of twists to keep the reader engaged.

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 1st July 2025

Series: Jack Harris #2

Genre: Crime / Mystery

Pages: 384

RRP: AU$32.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Review: Lee Gordon Presents by Jeff Apter

 Lee Gordon Presents ... How one man changed Australian life forever is a thoroughly researched and mind-bending roller coaster ride that was the life of Lee Gordon.

About the book:

Post-war Australia didn't know what to make of promoter Lee Gordon. To some he was a typical Yank: crass, loud and outspoken, focused on just one thing - making money. But to others Lee Gordon was a mentor, a guru and a lifeline to the big time.

When Lee Gordon arrived in Sydney in September 1953, the only place Australians could see international stars like Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope was on the big screen. But over the next 10 years, Gordon would promote tours for almost 500 international acts, everyone from Sinatra to Sammy Davis Jr, Liberace to Bill Haley, Buddy Holly to shock comic Lenny Bruce.

By the time Gordon died in mysterious circumstances, alone in London, in 1963 - aged just 40 - he'd not only established the entertainment industry in Australia, but also changed the country's culture forever.

Review: 

Jeff Apter recounts the birth of the Australian live entertainment industry in this tell-all biography of Lee Gordon

Lee Gordon made big money and lost big money. He played hard and was generous to a fault. The wins, the losses, the successes and the flops it's all included in this nostalgic look at the birth of live entertainment in Australia.

Lee Gordon was a man larger than life, he was charismatic, a born salesman who didn't baulk at taking risks.

Lee Gordon Presents ... would be of interest to anyone interested in the music industry and its connection to Australian history.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 1st July 2025

Genre: Non Fiction / Biography

Pages: 272

RRP: AU$34.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Review: Life, and Death, and Giants by Ron Rindo

The inspiration for Life, and Death, and Giants came from the remarkable life of Robert Pershing Wadlow, the tallest man who ever lived. Ron Rindo wondered how the twenty-first century would react to such a giant of a man.

Gabriel Fisher is born weighing a remarkable eighteen pounds and an accelerated growth rate sees him at almost eight feet tall by age seventeen.

Life, and Death, and Giants follows the life of Gabriel, a gentle giant loved by everyone who met him. As Gabriel grows it is clear he has a special connection to animals and often works beside local vet and friend Thomas Kennedy. 

Raised by his Amish grandparents Gabriel is somewhat protected from society until he is discovered by a local football coach and he is soon acclaimed across the nation.

Life, and Death, and Giants is a sombre read, an unforgettable story about family, fame and community. I was immediately invested in Gabriel's life and the ups and downs of his family.

Gabriel's story is told through multiple narrators and the love each of these people had for Gabriel is very clear. Gabriel changed lives for the better.

I liked the inclusion of the Amish community and their strong belief in following the rules of the Amish and how anyone straying outside the rules is excommunicated.

I wasn't so invested in all the football talk however I'm sure many readers will enjoy this.

I found Life, and Death, and Giants to be a profoundly moving story about life, love and the strength to keep going against all odds.

The reveal at the end literally broke me.

Life, and Death, and Giants is a story that will stay with you long after you turn that last page.

Content: Suicide

My rating: 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Imprint: Picador

Publication date: 26th August 2025

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Pages: 325

RRP: AU$34.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher