Thursday 31 October 2024

Book Review: The Paris Mystery by Kirsty Manning

The Paris Mystery is a cosy crime novel set in 1930's Paris, on the cusp of WWII. It is the first book in Kirsty Manning's Charlotte 'Charlie' James series.
 
Journalist Charlie James leaves Australia for a position at The Times Paris. She purposefully calls herself Charlie to circumvent preconceived notions of women in journalism.

Charlie is sent to cover a ball held by socialites Lord & Lady Ashworth. When a prominent Parisian is found murdered in the grounds of the ball, Charlie seizes the opportunity to interview attendees hoping this will be the scoop that will prove to her boss that she can do this job.
 
The Paris Mystery is an enthralling mystery. I had no idea who had murdered the victim and as Charlie, together with the police, interview each person we find that many people disliked the man enough to kill him.
 
An eclectic group of characters are introduced from many different countries that make up the Parisian community.
 
Kirsty Manning lusciously describes the beautiful gowns worn by Charlie and her friend Violet and evokes the sense of a flamboyant Paris before the hardships of war. The food, clothes and extravagant balls are all enchantingly described to bring the setting alive. 
 
As The Paris Mystery is the first in a series the pace is slow as the reader gets to know Charlie and the circumstances that led her to Paris.
 
Kirsty Manning takes her readers to 1930's Paris, to a world of luscious gowns, extravagant balls, illicit affairs, blackmail, murder and spirited females.
 
My rating 3 / 5   ⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Publication date: 30th August 2022
Series: Charlotte 'Charlie' James #1
Pages: 320
Source: Own copy


 

Tuesday 29 October 2024

Book Review: Murder of a Suffragette by Marty Wingate

I enjoyed this cosy murder mystery set in the 1920’s and around a meeting of suffragettes.

The murder is discovered quite early in the book and as the investigation unfolds the mystery builds. Our protagonist Mabel Canning calls in her friends from the London Ladies Murder Club. Murder of a Suffragette is book 4 in a series but I didn’t feel like I had missed anything by not reading the previous books.

 
Murder of a Suffragette is a slow burn, character driven story. A nice easy read to sit down in a comfy seat with a cup of tea.
 
A few red herrings had me guessing and double guessing who the murderer was. I never did get it right.
 
Murder of a Suffragette is a light read with an engaging mystery, a touch of humour and memorable characters ( especially Gladys the dog). Perfect to escape into for a few hours.
 
My rating: 3 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐ 

Publisher: Bookouture
Publication date: 28th October 2024
Genre: Cosy Mystery
Pages: 331
Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley
 
 

 

Saturday 26 October 2024

Book Review: Can't Buy Me Love by Jane Lovering

I read Can't Buy Me Love for the #DymocksReadingChallenge and it also qualifies for my TBR challenge.
 
When Willow's grandfather dies she is in line for a substantial inheritance. Then when an old University crush, Luke, arrives in town and asks her out it seems all her dreams are coming true.
 
Not long after Willow and Luke start dating she meets computer geek Cal, her brother's friend. They get on so well and have the same quirky sense of humour but Cal seems to be hiding something and Luke keeps disappearing for days at a time on vague work meetings. Willow finds herself struggling with who she can trust.

Can't Buy Me Love is such a fun story! Jane Lovering has given her readers characters to love and characters to hate.
I liked that she has included a character with a disability and shown them as smart, capable and fun.
 
There are mysteries surrounding both Cal and Luke and the odd misunderstanding, and of course there is going to be one that you hope Willow will end up with. 
 
Can't Buy Me Love is a fun, easy read filled with heart and humour. Recommended for a lazy afternoon's reading. 
 
My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
 
Publisher: Choc Lit
Publication date: 9th May 2017
Genre: RomCom
Pages: 288
Source: own copy 

Friday 25 October 2024

Book Review: Head for the Hills by Tricia Stringer

 I'm finding Head for the Hills very hard to review. Whilst I enjoyed the storyline, and it kept me reading and engaged, I didn't enjoy the characters. For me, the story needed at least one character that was fun and cheerful.
 
When a local of Jesserton, a small town in the Adelaide Hills, dies unexpectedly the sale of his land to a large hotel chain divides the community and causes animosity between sisters Margot and Roslyn.
 
Margot is very much against the idea of the hotel and decides to gather the community together to voice their concerns. However as the hotel's sales team start to sweet talk the local business owners' allegiances move, causing conflict in the community. 

The story of the development revolves around a side story of relationships within Margot's own family. Which includes her children, their partners, her sister and sister-in-law.

There were lots of secrets being kept and I felt Roslyn seemed to undermine Margot by not being open with her about the things she was doing. The sisters were close; they lived next door to each other and there was plenty of opportunity to be honest and upfront.

I found all the characters to be very judgy of each other. The adult children came across as entitled and Margot's husband really got my ire up.

There is also a theme of homelessness when Roslyn is coerced into taking in a homeless teen who is escaping an abusive relationship. Amber is angry with the whole world but Roslyn starts to warm to her as she sees that Amber is really trying to make a go at life. This leads to Roslyn looking into what more she can do for the homeless and disadvantaged.
 
I did love the menu chapter headings for the family dinner nights.

Head for the Hills is a story about small towns, progress, homelessness and family. It would make for a great holiday read.

My rating 3 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐
 
Publisher: Harlequin Australia
Publication date: 2nd October 2024 
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 464
RRP: AU$34.99 (paperback)
Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Books I've read and rated 5 stars by Tricia Stringer

Also worth a read
 

Monday 21 October 2024

Book Review: Shadow Lives by Neil A White

Shadow Lives is an unforgettable and moving story. I was completely enamoured with Matt by the end of the book. His growth from a man who only thought of himself to someone who risked his life for a woman he didn't even know was so realistic and well plotted.
 
Addicted to prescription drugs and having an open contempt for authority Matt has no trouble getting himself into, and out of, life or death situations. This makes for a suspenseful and action packed story.
 
Foreign Correspondent Matt Latham is in Ukraine to interview Russian Billionaire philanthropist Arkady Voronin. A bomb goes off as he is about to enter the club in which the interview was to take place, killing his interpreter Katya Formina and causing Matt to end up in hospital with memory loss.
 
Feeling responsible for Katya's death Matt visits her parents and finds out Katya has been searching for her sister who left home two years ago for a modelling job. Matt decides he will find Nadiya and bring her home.

What starts out as an exclusive interview with a Russian Billionaire soon turns into a story of spys, human trafficking, rape, abuse, political intrigue and corruption. 
 
Shadow Lives is at times hard to read, especially the chapters on the trafficked teenage girls.
 
Fans of noir fiction will love this flawed protagonist. Matt Latham is both frustrating and endearing in equal measures.
 
I found Shadow Lives to be gripping, tension filled and highly engaging.
 
My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
 
Content: rape, abuse, drug use, suicide. 

Publisher: Echo Publishing
Publication date: 30th July 2024
Genre: Crime / Thriller
Pages: 325
RRP: AU$32.99 (paperback)
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 

Book Review: Prize Catch by Alan Carter

I've always enjoyed Alan Carter's writing and Prize Catch is no exception. Not only are his characters engaging the settings are always evocative and beautifully described.
 
With Prize Catch Alan Carter has mixed a cleverly crafted plot with superb character development.
 
Sam Willard is a complex mixture of hero and villain. I haven't come across such a likeable anti-hero as Sam since Jack Dunne in Outrider.

Prize Catch is rich in suspense and although I found the beginning slow the pace soon picked up and I became totally immersed in the story.

I liked that it was set during the early days of Covid lockdowns which made an isolated Tasmania the perfect setting for a manhunt.
 
With dual plot lines of activists against a big salmon farm and war crimes in Afghanistan, I was eager to see how these two vastly different areas would come together.
 
Prize Catch is a riveting crime novel but I think it was the fabulous characters that really stood out to me. 

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Fremantle Press
Publication date: 1st October 2024
Genre: Crime
Pages: 312pp
RRP: AU$34.99
Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Good Reading Magazine

*This review appeared first for the Good Reading Early Bird reviews.

Other Alan Carter books I've reviewed:
 
 

Friday 18 October 2024

Book Review: Shadow City by Natalie Conyer

Shadow City is my first book by Natalie Conyer and as soon as I'd finished I was searching out more of her work.
Shadow City is set in both Sydney, Australia and Cape Town, South Africa. Conyer keenly portrays her characters' love for their hometowns and expertly depicts how hard it is to leave your home even when the situation is dire.
 
DS Jackie Rose is called after the discovery of the body of a young woman. The death is at first thought to be a drug overdose but as the pathologist examines the body it becomes clear this is a case of ongoing abuse and questions of people trafficking and enslavement arise.

Veteran Detective Schalk Lourens, disillusioned with life, and suspended from duty pending an ongoing inquiry, decides to visit his daughter in Australia. A friend asks him if he can look into the disappearance of a young South African woman who went to Australia a few months ago on a scholarship. Schalk is then introduced to Jackie and her team in Homicide.
 
I was swept away with this whole story. The police procedural was compelling and moved along at a fast pace as they pieced together snippets of information and CCTV footage.
 
I loved that the story wasn't all about the crime. We got to know the characters on a personal level and I enjoyed that lovely bit of chemistry between Schalk and Jackie.
Conyer has a sharp instinct for character rendering them real and likeable. I could see how I was cleverly steered to like or dislike the characters.
 
I was impressed by how Conyer adds diversity to her story and characters without it ever feeling contrived.
 
Shadow City always has plenty happening which keeps the pages turning and I have to say, 'I couldn't put this book down!"  The suspense builds slowly and the atmosphere sizzles with menace making Shadow City an utterly addictive read.
 
My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
 
Content: There are mentions of people trafficking, enslavement and abuse however it isn't overly graphic.
 
Publisher: Echo Publishing
Publication date: 3rd September 2024
Genre: Crime / Suspense
Pages: 325
RRP: AU$32.99 (paperback)
Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Tuesday 15 October 2024

Book Review: The Medusa Situation by Gabiann Marin

 Lovers of Greek Mythology will probably get a lot more from this humorously witty story than I did. However, even though I'm not totally clued up on Greek Mythology I still know enough to see how funny The Medusa Situation by Gabiann Marin was. Google helped me out with some of the gods' back stories.
 
In The Medusa Situation Gabiann Marin places the gods of old in today's world, living out their immortality in Western Sydney whilst watching reality TV. They still have their differences and petty battles but life isn't as luxurious as when they were revered by mortals.

Medusa's head has been stolen and her sisters ask Hera for help to find who stole it. What follows is a hilarious romp through different realms uncovering the regrets, animosity and squabbles of the top echelons of Greek gods.
 
Gabiann Marin uses an omniscient narrative style which is so well executed the story flows effortlessly.

The Medusa Situation is Greek Mythology with a feminist twist. This very witty, humorous and ungodlike satirical take on Greek Mythology will appeal not only to mythology enthusiasts but anyone with a sense of humour.

My rating 4 /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Clan Destine Press
Publication date: 1st July 2024
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 260
RRP:AU$36.95 (paperback)
Source: courtesy of the publisher
 
 

Saturday 28 September 2024

Book Review: The Leaves by Jacqueline Rule

The Leaves

by

Jacqueline Rule

Publisher: Spinifex Press
Publication date: 1st May 2024
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 176
RRP: AU$26.95 (paperback0
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 

Review: The Leaves

Thank you to Spinifex Press for sending me this unforgettable debut novel; The Leaves by Jacqueline Rule.
 
Faith and Evelyn are close friends, neighbours, and single mothers of Luke and Mitch - and both bear the scars of trauma of the stolen generations. When Faith dies unexpectedly, a chain of events unfolds that will forever alter the lives of those left behind.
 
The Leaves follows the life of Luke and the events that pull this, much loved, little boy away from his heritage and into a spiral of cruelty in the broken social welfare system as he goes from foster care to being homeless then to a youth detention centre. By the age of 15 Luke has been in 18 different foster homes whilst all this time his mother's best friend Evelyn has been denied care. Evelyn never gives up the fight until Luke is completely lost to her in the system.
 
Jacqueline Rule's writing is evocative and poetic. Beautiful in its execution, devastating in its content. Much of the novel is written in poetry.
 
Luke is not just one boy but an embodiment of hundreds of boys and girls being failed by the system. 
Even though The Leaves is small at 176 pages it had a massive impact on me. Luke's story is one that will stay with me forever.

My rating 5 / 5  💔💔💔💔💔

Whilst working at a legal organisation Jacqueline Rule became aware of the frequent interrelation between the foster system, homelessness and imprisonment. She hopes The Leaves might play a small role in advocating for a more empathetic and humane approach to how our society reforms young offenders.

The Leaves can be purchased from Spinifex Press: https://www.spinifexpress.com.au/shop/p/9781922964021
 

Friday 27 September 2024

Book Review: The Seachangers by Meredith Appleyard

 The Seachangers

by

Meredith Appleyard

It's never too late for a new beginning.

Publisher: Harlequin Australia
Publication date: 4th September 2024
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 400
RRP: AU$32.99
Source: Courtesy of the publisher 
 

Review: The Seachangers

The Seachangers by Meredith Appleyard is a beautiful story about ageing, retirement and new beginnings.
 
Ruth is in her early 60's and after 5 years running Rosie's Cafe in Cutlers Bay she has become tired and worn down. She is reluctant to retire, as all her money is tied up in the cafe, but can't see herself continuing at this pace without her health being compromised.
 
Hamish, now retired, has a big flash city apartment and plenty of time to play golf but finds himself bored and lonely. When his father dies he travels to Cutlers Bay to clear out the house and sell it. Being back in the house brings back memories and regrets but he also finds a friendly atmosphere in the town he's never felt in the city.
 
The Seachangers is a clever and engaging story about life's problems and how we cope with change as we age.
 
Meredith Appleyard highlights the difficulties faced with self-employment, especially in the hospitality industry when patrons expect you to be open everyday, and the difficulty of finding reliable staff in a small town.
 
I loved that there was a romance element with an older couple. The romance evolved slowly and natural with no gushing or angst, making it very believable. 
 
The Seachangers is a wonderful contemporary fiction story that delves into the everyday questions of when to stop working, do I have enough money and what to do after retirement.
I know some of my friends are grappling with this right now.
 
My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Book Review: The Venice Hotel by Tess Woods

 The Venice Hotel

by

Tess Woods

Publisher: Penguin Random House
Publication date: 3rd September 2024
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 380
RRP: AU$34.99
Source: Own purchase
 

Review: The Venice Hotel

I loved the setting of The Venice Hotel! Tess Woods takes her readers on an evocative tour of Venice whilst also including the environmental concerns of the citizens with rising water levels and pollution from cruise ships.
 
The Venice Hotel is told through multiple narrations.
Sophie, a writer for a food magazine, is in Venice to interview Loretta Bianchi, owner and celebrity chef of the Hotel Il Cuore.
Loretta at 66 dedicates her whole life to the hotel and its guests and she has no plans of retiring.
Elena has returned to Venice with her Australian husband to attend her father's funeral.
Gayle and her husband have travelled from America to spend Christmas in Venice.
 
There was way too much drama in this story for me. Every character had some sort of drama going on in their life. There was lots of Christian bashing. The Christians in the story were either fire and brimstone, hypocrites or homophobic. The protagonist was even named Christian!
Maybe I'm being too sensitive but it got my ire up.
 
I did love that the women banded together to help each other and there was a little side romance story.
 
There are lots of 5 star reviews for this one but it was just an okay read for me.
 
My rating 3 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐

Saturday 14 September 2024

Book Review: The Hidden Girl by Lucinda Riley

 The Hidden Girl

by

Lucinda Riley

with Foreword by Harry Whittaker
 
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Publication date: 10th September 2024
Genre: Historical Fiction / Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 576
RRP: AU$34.99
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 

Review: The Hidden Girl

I wasn't quite prepared for how dark The Hidden Girl was. I have read a few books by Lucinda Riley and I don't remember them having so much heavy content.
 
The Hidden Girl is narrated through multiple timelines and multiple characters spanning generations.
 
Present Day: Rose and David are estranged siblings however reconnect when David asks Rose to take his 16yo son for the semester break. Brett has a brief holiday romance with village girl Leah who years later will take the modelling world by storm.

The Hidden Girl is a generational saga going back to David and Rose's parents, the concentration camps of WWII and to the present day.

From Yorkshire to London to the catwalks of Milan then on to New York, the hectic and not so glamorous life of a top model is riddled with competition, obsession and sabotage.

The Hidden Girl is a big book, over 500 pages, refreshed and updated by Lucinda's son Harry Whittaker. There is also an informative foreword by Harry.

With themes of the concentration camps of WWII, murder, allusions to child abuse, sexual abuse, domestic abuse, obsession, suicide,  male dominance, servitude, gaslighting and rape. The Hidden Girl is not for the faint hearted.
 
I have to say though, the story had me glued to the pages even though I was continually shocked by the content, the twists were many and just when I thought I couldn't be shocked anymore I was hit by another twist.

My rating 3 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐
 
 

Wednesday 11 September 2024

Book Review: Murder by Milkshake by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo

 Murder by Milkshake

by

Elizabeth Maria Naranjo

Publisher: Self Published
Publication date: 15th July 2024
Series: Sweet Dreams Mysteries #1
Genre: Cosy Crime / Mystery
Pages: 220
RRP: AU$4.44 (kindle)
Source: Courtesy of the author via WOW! Women on Writing
 

Review: Murder by Milkshake

Murder by Milkshake is the first in a cosy murder mystery series set around an ice-cream parlour.

Genevieve Winterland is our 17 year-old amateur sleuth who decides to investigate the disappearance of her favourite teacher.

I really like the relationship between Genevieve and her best friend Brandon. It shows teens that girls and boys can be friends without any romantic attachment.

Murder by Milkshake is a very sweet read and Genevieve is a likeable protagonist. I didn't know before I read it that it is a young adult read and it is perfectly suited to this age group of 12 - 18 years. Perfect for readers who like a sweet mystery with a spoonful of suspense and an extra scoop of ice-cream.

There are lots of mentions of ice-cream flavours focusing on Genevieve's work at the ice-cream parlour and how she mixes her own flavours. I would have liked some of Genevieve's secret recipes, they sounded delicious.

Light themes of following your dreams and teens as carers. A few red-herrings are included to throw the reader off the trail.

If you are after something not too taxing Murder by Milkshake is the perfect read; light and cosy it can be read in one sitting.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ages 12 - 18 years
 

Tuesday 10 September 2024

Book Review: All You Took From Me by Lisa Kenway

 All You Took From Me

by

Lisa Kenway

Publisher: Transit Lounge Publishing
Publication date: 1st August 2024
Genre: Crime / Thriller
Pages: 336
RRP: AU$32.99 (paperback)
Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Quikmark Media
 

Review: All You Took From Me

All You Took From Me is a compelling debut novel from Lisa Kenway. Cleverly plotted to slowly release vital information which kept me eagerly turning the pages to find out what Clare had blocked from her memory.
 
Clare Carpenter wakes in UCI in a Sydney hospital to be told she had been in a car accident in which her husband died. She has been in a coma for months and can't remember the accident or the months leading up to it.
 
After being released from hospital and returning to her isolated Blue Mountains home Clare finds she is being stalked and someone is leaving threatening notes. Feeling she must solve the mystery behind her memory loss Claire, an anaesthetist herself, believes an anaesthetic drug may help her remember, but she will be putting her life and career in danger.
 
I quite often struggle with a first person narration and I did struggle with this one. Clare is erratic and complicated. I couldn't warm to her. But that aside, I found the story was gripping, tension filled and carried an overarching sense of menace. Clare's memories, revealed through hypnosis and anaesthetic, were vivid and suspense filled. I loved the slow reveal.
 
All You Took From Me is a powerful debut which explores the world of repressed memory. 
 
My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Book Review: Codename Parsifal by Martin Roy Hill

 Codename Parsifal

by

Martin Roy Hill

A WWII Thriller

Publisher: 32-32 North
Publication date: 4th September 2023
Genre: Military Thriller
Pages: 221
RRP: AU$11.99 (kindle)
Source: eBook courtesy of the author
 

Review: Codename Parsifal

The Spear of Destiny. The Roman Legionnaire's lance that pierced Christ's body as he hung on the cross.
Legend claims whomever possesses it will become a great conqueror.

Martin Roy Hill has taken this legend and developed a compelling read that intricately weaves themes of betrayal, myth and WWII into the high-stakes world of special services as the Americans, Germans and Russians all race to find the legendary spear.
 
Codename Parsifal has a masterful blend of action and character development as we get to know the thoughts and actions of soldiers from each side of the war.
 
Hill skillfully portrays the psychological effect of belief as the spear is sort after for its power.
 
Set against the backdrop of the final days of WWII Hill uses vivid imagery and meticulous attention to detail to give a believable portrayal of the special services mission to find the authentic spear.
Hills expertise in crafting engaging action sequences is complemented by his ability to develop a rich, believable plot line.
 
Codename Parsifal is a thought provoking exploration of the idea of talismans, superstition and mysticism. 
 
my rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Saturday 7 September 2024

Sisters in Crime’s 24th Davitt Awards winners announced!!

 
 
Debut books triumphed at Sisters in Crime’s 24th Davitt Awards for best women’s crime and mystery books held on 31 August 2024.
Four of the six winning crime and mystery books were first-time forays into the genre.

Ruth Wykes, the judges’ coordinator, said that there had been a seismic shift with debut books.

 Increasingly, debut books are polished and sophisticated. There is nothing at all amateurish about them,” she said.

 Wykes said that judging the Davitts gives you “a front-row seat to the wonderful entertainment that is Australian women’s crime stories. This year, we travelled the world through the pages of 153 books: from an isolated house in Tasmania, to a road trip to the Kakadu National Park and all the way to a posh boarding school in Switzerland; and a hundred places along the way. We met some rather colourful characters; some who made us laugh out loud, others who left us in tears. And we had moments where we were secretly rooting for the bad guy,” she said.
 
 This year’s themes seemed darker than last year. There were several stories that revolved around close family dramas, many that sadly reflected the darker, more hidden side of real-life Australia. Family violence and dysfunction, or long-buried secrets were the basis for many stories. Several authors wove their stories around mental health issues, a theme that has been taboo; deliberately avoided or watered down for many years. But this is perhaps a realistic reflection of the impact of COVID and those life-changing lockdowns we experienced in 2020. Our worlds changed, and so did the worlds of our storytellers.”

 CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS!

BEST ADULT NOVEL
 
When One of Us Hurts by Monica Vuu
Pan Macmillan Australia
 

 

Monica Vuu was born in Langley, British Columbia, and moved to Tasmania in 2019 with her Australian partner. When One of Us Hurts came out of a 90-day novel writing course and Vuu says it was inspired by the remoteness of rural Tasmania.

The judges said that it “takes courage to write a story like When One of Us Hurts and to portray a small, tight-knit community in a way that is at times familiar to readers of crime fiction, and at other times it’s uncomfortably confronting. Richly gothic at heart and fuelled by a multitude of masterful misdirects, When One of Us Hurts is a chilling foray into simmering small-town secrets, family tensions, and mental illness.” 
       
 
BEST YOUNG ADULT NOVEL
 
Eleanor Jones is Not a Murderer by Amy Doak
Penguin Random House Australia 


Eleanor Jones Is Not a Murderer, the YA-winning novel by Amy Doak, features Eleanor, the new girl at high school, who is falsely accused of stabbing another student and sets out to clear her name. The judges “all connected with Eleanor and loved her banter with the reader throughout the book. She was such a terrific character: bolshie and cynical, yet secretly vulnerable”. The sequel, Eleanor Jones Can’t Keep a Secret, was released in July.
 
 
BEST NON-FICTION BOOK 
 
The Schoolgirl , Her Teacher and His Wife by Rebecca Hazel
Vintage Press

Justice and the voices of women were at the heart of Rebecca Hazel’s Non-Fiction winner –The Schoolgirl, Her Teacher and His Wife. The judges reported, “This book focuses on ‘The Schoolgirl’ JC and Lynette Simms, the victims of Chris Dawson, now convicted of the murder of his first wife Lynn. Without Hazel’s curiosity and groundwork – conversations with JC when they worked together at a women’s refuge – Dawson would never have come to account for his crimes.

 Rebecca Hazel spent more than a decade researching this compelling case. She hit roadblock after roadblock, yet never gave up."


DEBUT AWARD

The Half Brother by Christine Keighery
Ultimo Press

The prospect of turning 60 prompted Christine Keighery (who also writes as Chrissie Perry) to try her hand at an adult novel. She is the author of more than thirty-five novels for children and Young Adults, including 13 books in the hugely successful Go Girl! Series. Her work has been published in ten countries, including the US, UK, Spain, Brazil, Slovenia, and Korea.
 
 The judges described The Half Brother as “a gripping story set in modern Australia, full of psychological suspense, gaslighting, new developments, and a well-handled final section that we didn’t see coming. The quality of her characters, the joys of her twisting plot, her control of pacing and pay-off merited this award.”
 
 
 BEST CHILDREN"S NOVEL
 
Boris in Switzerland by Lucinda Gifford
Walker Books Australia

The judges were thoroughly entertained and impressed by Lucinda Gifford’s children’s book, Boris in Switzerland, “an original take on the traditional boarding school mystery with the addition of an endearing family of anthropomorphic wolves. With witty, expressive illustrations on almost every page, it is jam-packed with the talent, passion, and esteem for readership of author-illustrator Lucinda Gifford."

Gifford said that as a life-long lover of mysteries and elaborate literary twists, she had been plotting for years to ‘move into crime’.
 
 
READER'S CHOICE AWARD
 
The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman
 

 

Alison Goodman is the author of eight novels including her latest release The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies which was a Washington Post and an Amazon Best Mystery Book of 2023. Set in the Regency era, its sleuths are two clever older women solving crimes by using skills and knowledge they have developed through their lives.

 “Lady Gus and Lady Julia were born from my own desire to read stories about older women having adventures,” Goodman said. “For me, this is a particularly sweet win — voted by readers from the Sisters in Crime membership. You, the readers, are why we plot and write and rewrite. You are why we strive to create the delight, whether that delight be the comfort of a cosy crime or the terror of a thriller or the fascination of a police procedural.” 
 

The 2024 Davitt Awards were again supported by the Swinburne University of Technology

The Davitts are named after Ellen Davitt, the author of Australia’s first mystery novel, Force and Fraud, in 1865. The awards are handsome wooden trophies featuring the front cover of the winning novel under perspex. No prize money is attached.

Tuesday 3 September 2024

Book Review: Murder in the Scottish Highlands by Dee MacDonald

Murder in the Scottish Highlands

by

Dee MacDonald

Publisher: Bookouture
Publication date: 2nd September 2024
Series: An Ally McKinley Mystery #1
Genre: Cosy Mystery
Pages: 282
Source: eBook courtesy of the publisher
 

Review: Murder in the Scottish Highlands

Murder in the Scottish Highlands is the first in a new cosy mystery series by Dee MacDonald.
 
Ally McKinley has opened the guesthouse of her dreams in the tiny village of Locharran in the Scottish Highlands. Just when she feels she is settling into the village and making friends, one of her guests, an American tourist, is found murdered in the courtyard.
Not having much faith in the local police, Ally can't resist launching her own investigation to find the murderer. The list of suspects mounts and has Ally even questioning her new friends.
 
Murder in the Scottish Highlands is a fun read. Ally is a likeable main character and the imagery of the delightful Scottish village is superb.
As this is the first in a series there is lots about getting to know the supporting characters as Dee MacDonald introduces each of the residents of the village and how they interact with each other.
There are a mixed lot of characters who all had a good reason for wanting the tourist dead.
 
I did feel like the murder investigation slowed through the middle of the book until the end when it was all wrapped up very quickly.
 
Lots of humour, cups of tea, local gossip and the introduction of a love interest for Ally make this a fun and entertaining read. I finished this eager for the next book.
 
My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 



 
 

Tuesday 27 August 2024

Book Review: A Single Lifeline by Heidi Coupland

A Single Lifeline

by

Heidi Coupland

Publisher: Echo Publishing
Publication date: 2nd July 2024
Genre: Memoir
Pages: 256
RRP: AU$34.99
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 

Review: A Single Lifeline

I'm not a big memoir reader but I really should broaden my reading and seeing as I was sent A Single Lifeline by the publisher I thought I would give it a go. Well, I read A Single Lifeline in one sitting. I very rarely do this, even with crime thrillers.
 
Heidi Coupland's memoir is filled with heart and love. Written whilst her husband was undergoing cancer treatment some years ago and although published now it is narrated in real time.
 
From her husband's diagnosis with Leukaemia through to the treatments, the ups and many downs Heidi shows a strength that comes from the deep love she and her husband have for each other.
Pete's journey through chemo, bone marrow transplant and setback after setback is harrowing and the human will to survive against insurmountable odds is amazing.

Heidi Coupland doesn't try to wring the emotion, preferring to focus on her and Pete's strength through love. It was the generosity of friends and strangers that brought tears to my eyes. Everyone pitching in to help out with their children.

Heidi also covers their early life together, meeting, having children and how their different personalities complement each other.

A Single Lifeline is a raw and honest read as Heidi recounts the emotional as well as the physical journey after a cancer diagnosis.

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐