Review: Twisted River by James Dunbar

 I really enjoyed Mole Creek by James Dunbar and Twisted River is even more compelling!

With Twisted River James Dunbar had me riveted to my seat until I'd finished the book.

I love a book that can grab me from the prologue and hold my attention all the way through.

When charity worker Cate and website designer Rory, a married couple in their thirties, return from their European holiday, they make a nightmare discovery. Their credit cards have been cancelled, their bank account has been emptied, and their phones and internet have been cut off. They finally arrive home to find their house-sitter has disappeared along with their dog. But this is only the beginning, their lives are about to get much messier and they have no idea why someone is targeting them.

James Dunbar does a superb job of getting the reader to like his main characters before dropping some revealing information about them.

There are twists galore in this edge of your seat thriller.

While I found myself holding my breath at times there are also some laugh-out-loud moments rich in dark humour. I also loved getting the dog Iris's point of view. Such fun!

The setting of Kiama on the south coast of New South Wales has its own starring role with Dunbar's evocative descriptions of the town and its surrounds.

I love a good revenge story and Twisted River is plotted to perfection. I couldn't put the book down as I was pulled deeper and deeper into this gut wrenching mystery.

Twisted River is a tense, edge of your seat thriller that will have you second guessing having a stranger house-sit for you.

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 30th September 2025

Genre: Crime / Thriller

Pages: 310

RRP: $32.99AU (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Book Giveaway: The Ironbark Promise by Leonie Kelsall

 I recently received two paperback copies of The Ironbark Promise from Allen & Unwin so I am giving one copy away. 

I haven't had time to post my review yet but I can assure you it is a five star read.

The Ironbark Promise by Leonie Kelsall giveaway

Blurb:

When a series of threats force fiercely independent lawyer Jemma Di Angelis to step away from her high-flying career, the last place she wants to be is her father's cottage near Settlers Bridge. But with her security threatened and her routine in tatters, she has little choice. She'll stay just long enough to plan her next move.

Laid-back local farmer Hamish MacKenzie has a roguish charm, a bad-boy reputation and an artistic soul he keeps carefully hidden. From the moment he meets Jemma, sparks fly—he sees a tightly wound snob and she sees a shallow womaniser.

But when Jemma finds herself in real danger, it's Hamish who steps in—unexpectedly gentle, infuriatingly protective and nothing like she imagined. As tangled secrets surface and loyalties are tested, Jemma must decide whether justice always follows the rules—and whether she's willing to risk giving her heart to a man who has made a habit of keeping his hidden.

GIVEAWAY

Enter here to win a paperback copy of The Ironbark Promise. The giveaway is open to Australian addresses only and entries close at 6pm AEDT on 12th February 2026

Enter via the form below or HERE

Review: The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller

 I enjoy books set in isolated, freezing places which is why I requested The Land in Winter through Netgalley.

See my review of A Cold Season which was also a rich portrayal of character and a story I loved.

The Land in Winter is Literary fiction. It was shortlisted for the 2025 Book Prize, winner of the

2025 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction and the 2025 Winston Graham Historical Prize for Fiction.

I did enjoy the story however I found it slow going and quite weird. I really struggled with it at times. I think Andrew Miller was going for weird and he succeeded on that level.

The Land in Winter is a character driven story about loneliness, depression and past trauma.

"December 1962: In a village deep in the English countryside, two neighboring couples begin the day. Local doctor Eric Parry commences his rounds in the village while his pregnant wife, Irene, wanders the rooms of their old house, mulling over the space that has grown between the two of them.


On the farm nearby lives Irene’s mirror witty but troubled Rita Simmons is also expecting. She spends her days trying on the idea of being a farmer’s wife, but her head still swims with images of a raucous past that her husband, Bill, prefers to forget."

I do find literary fiction hard going and this book was grave and depressing.

I am sure many other readers will love it. The Land in Winter currently has 2,334 5 star reviews and 4,537 4 star reviews on Goodreads.

My rating 3 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Europa Editions

Publication date: 11th November 2025

Genre: Literary Fiction / Historical Fiction

Pages: 268

Source: eCopy from the publisher via Netgalley

Review: The Road Trip by Tricia Stringer

The journey of a lifetime - what could go wrong? Everything. 

The Road Trip is another fun read from Australian author Tricia Stringer. It's a laugh-out-loud tragicomedy.

I love how Tricia Stringer can bring all the fun, tragedy, surprises and setbacks of a holiday trip to life on the page.

The Road Trip is armchair travel at its best. I could laugh, groan and follow along with Sharyn and Kathleen's dramas and mishaps without having to leave my seat.

Light and fun, this dual narrative story will have you hooked from the beginning.

 

Sharyn has her big 60th birthday coming up and she is sure her husband Barry will get it right this time. Sharyn is expecting a luxury overseas holiday. However Barry gets it wrong once again and surprises her with a new caravan and a planned trip through Australia from Adelaide to Broome.

What Sharon doesn't know is Barry's best friend Raymond and his sister Kathleen are also coming.

Sharyn is mortified. How will she tell her friends? Sharyn decides to fake it with lots of carefully positioned fun photos posted in the chat group. They will never know.

I love how Sharyn and Kathleen's friendship slowly developed and how both opened up and could see how changes in their life could be a good thing.

There are a couple of little mysteries running through the plot which are an added bonus to a thoroughly entertaining story.

With wonderful descriptions of the Aussie outback and the eclectic characters they meet along the way The Road Trip is an utterly entertaining read. The perfect way for me to experience a road trip. 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Harlequin Australia

Publication date: 1st October 2025

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Pages: 480

RRP: $34.99AU (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

#theroadtrip #triciastringer #newrelease #ausbookbloggers #contemporaryfiction #bookreview #australianauthor 

Other books I've read by Tricia Stringer

TABLE FOR EIGHT

KEEPING UP APPEARANCES

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

BACK ON TRACK

HEAD FOR THE HILLS

Review: Nemesis by Patricia Wolf

 Nemesis is another tension-filled DS Walker thriller from Aussie expat Patricia Wolf. I thoroughly enjoyed the first three books and Nemesis did not disappoint.

Right from the opening pages Nemesis delivers a foreboding atmosphere.

The story moves from Canberra, Australia to Berlin and the fictional town of Mildersee , Germany. I loved all the visually descriptive scenes of Germany told through DS Walker's eyes.

Det Barbara Guerra features heavily in this book and it's good to be back with her and see how she and her sister Rita are coping after their ordeal in book 1, Outback.

The DS Walker series is much more immersive if read in order. Each book has a separate crime that is investigated and solved; however they also have a common plot concerning an outlaw bikie gang running through the four books.

I enjoy Wolf's style of writing with short, sharp sentences. It makes for a fast read.

Barbara is working on a case where a dead body is found adrift in a rowboat in an exclusive lakeside holiday area. The murder plot kept me intrigued and the more Barbara investigated the death the suspect list kept getting longer. A few well-placed red herrings made sure I was kept guessing all the way through.

DS Walker is in Berlin on an investigation of his own which also gives him time to meet up with Barbara and give them both the chance to work out their feelings for each other.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 29th July 2025

Series: DS Walker Thriller #4

Genre: crime / Thriller

Pages: 406

RRP: $32.99AU (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Reviews of other books in the series:

OUTBACK

PARADISE

OPAL

Review: Crimson Light, Polished Wood by Monica Raszewski

Crimson Light, Polished Wood is a poignant, literary fiction novel about love, acceptance, inheritance and the things we leave behind.

It explores all areas of inheritance, not only property, but the handing down of stories, culture, knowledge and the unintended inheritance of pain.

Leonora, a British teacher, has relocated to Melbourne and falls in love with Margaret, a fellow female teacher who three years later dies of cancer. While still grieving for Margaret, Leonora meets and befriends Anna, the Polish woman who lives next door.

Crimson Light, Polished Wood is narrated through various timelines, before and after Leonora's death.

Before: we are introduced to Leonora's story as she migrates from England and falls in love with Margaret, her pain over Margaret's death and the burgeoning friendship with Anna and her daughter Lydia.

Leonora's character was perfectly portrayed as the dour English woman who found it hard to open up to people. She was abrupt and withdrawn. I found her hard to like.

After: this takes place after Leonora's death and we follow Lydia as she cleans out Leonora's house. Lydia is eager to learn more about this enigmatic woman and as she sorts her belongings a picture of love, loss and a yearning for acceptance and understanding starts to evolve.

Monica Raszewski's sensitive and lyrical prose perfectly portray the mood of the book. However, as with most literary fiction, I found myself lost at times. Also I never do well with shifting timelines. The characters are complex and nuanced and I never quite got a hold on them. 

Even though I found Crimson Light, Polished Wood a hard read I still quite enjoyed it.

My rating 3 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Transit Lounge

Publication date: 1st August 2025

Genre: Literary Fiction

Pages: 224

RRP: $32.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Quikmark Media

Winner of a copy of Rumour has It Announced!!

 A huge thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway for a paperback copy of Rumour Has It by Karly Lane.  The giveaway closed on the 10th January 2026 and the winner was randomly selected (using Wheelofnames) from all correct entries. 

Congratulations to........ 

The winner has been notified and has seven days to provide a mailing address.

 

Thank you to Allen & Unwin who will sending out the prize. 

 

Please check under the Giveaway tab for more great giveaways!