Book Review: Needle in a Haystack by Karly Lane

I love Karly Lane's novels. They are filled with country heart and relatable, fun characters.

Every one of Karly's books has been an absolute pleasure to read and she has done it again with her latest rural fiction novel, Needle in a Haystack.

 

Lottie returns to her hometown of Banalla to take over the running of the family's antique shop. An amateur lover of history Lottie is writing a book on her family's history and the rumour that they may be related to the infamous bushranger Jack McNally.

Damian is an expert on colonial history and has been asked to be keynote speaker at Banalla's upcoming festival. He has decided this is the perfect opportunity to combine this trip with research on the mysterious disappearance of Catherine Compton in the 1800's.

 

I loved the different personalities of the residents of the town of Banalla. They were an eclectic mix of flamboyant and stalwart and each character added a layer of richness to the story. 

 

The mystery of Catherine's disappearance was well plotted as Lottie and Damian pieced together snippets of information from old letters and newspapers as they navigate both their relationship and the mystery they're trying to solve.

 

Karly Lane brings the two separate plots of the heirloom opal ring Lottie's mum believed to be cursed and the disappearance of Catherine together in a believable way with a few chapters in bushranger Jack's point of view to clear up the mystery.

 

Have you ever read a book that while you can't turn the pages fast enough you also don't want it to end? Needle in a Haystack is that kind of book!

 

Needle in a Haystack is an engaging rural fiction with a heartwarming romance woven within a compelling mystery read.

 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 29th April 2025

Genre: Rural Romance

Pages: 372

RRP: AU$32.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher