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

 

Review: Eva Reddy's Trip of a Lifetime by Fiona McKenzie Kekic

Eva Reddy's Trip of a Lifetime is an outrageously entertaining coming-of-middle age story. I was totally invested in Eva's story, she is a likeable character that doesn't take herself too seriously.

Eva wakes on her 50th birthday to a call from her boss telling her she has been retrenched from her job of 25 years. She then receives an anonymous message that her husband is having an affair.

A character losing their job, husband and, quite often, their house is a well worn trope and Fiona McKenzie Kekic uses it to perfection.

I really warmed to Eva which made the book so easy to read. She has two dear and loyal friends that are always on her side and an eccentric mother who causes Eva no end of anxiety, and embarrassment, but has Eva's best interest at heart.

While Eva's life is falling apart at great speed she gets a call that her parents have gone missing from their organised tour of India. Eva books a flight and heads straight there determined to bring her wayward parents home to Australia.

What follows is a hilarious cat-and-mouse chase as Eva's mother leaves clues of their whereabouts via TikTok videos.

Eva Reddy's Trip of a Lifetime is not only a highly relatable tale of women and middle age, it is also a fabulous tour of the sights, sounds and food of India. Armchair travel at its hilarious best!

Eva's travels, and awakening to her current life situation, are interspersed with journal entries from a younger, passionate and driven Eva.

Fiona McKenzie Kekic expertly portrays how our hopes and dreams when younger don't always pan out and how, as women, those dreams are often waylaid to support a husband's career.

Eva Reddy's Trip of a Lifetime is charming, witty and memorable and is sure to resonate with many readers.

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: HQ Fiction AU

Publication date: 29th July 2025

Genre: Contemporary Fiction 

Pages: 352

RRP: AU$32.99

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Review: Blue Skies by Fleur McDonald

I first discovered Fleur McDonald's books nine years ago when I read and reviewed Indigo Storm in 2016 (before I started this blog). I was immediately taken with Fleur's character of Detective Dave Burrows (as were hundreds of other readers).

I couldn't wait for each book to come out. I've recently been making my way through Fleur's backlist. Click on the title to read my review of her debut novel Red Dust.

Fleur McDonald is a farmer at heart and she writes what she knows which comes across on the page as real and authentic.

Blue Skies is narrated through a dual timeline.

In 2001 - Amanda is trying to work with her father to save the family farm Kyleena. Just out of Ag College with a degree in Agribusiness she is full of new ideas and eager to implement them. Her father is old school and they often lock horns.

In 1934 - Michael Greenfield arrives from England to start a new life in Australia, acquiring land and building Kyleena from the ground up.

Blue Skies is rich in drama. Both timelines involve heartache and miscommunication making Blue Skies a riveting read. There is plenty of mystery and strange happenings that kept me immersed in the story and eagerly turning pages.

I enjoyed the historical timeline involving the Greenfield family history, the mystery surrounding Michael Greenfield and the building of Kyleena.

The modern day timeline features women in farming and how alone and vulnerable Amanda felt at times.

Fleur includes themes of family skeletons, revenge, gas-lighting and sabotage all wrapped around a compelling mystery.

I enjoyed Blue Skies and can also see how far Fleur McDonald's writing has come over the years.

My rating 3.5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐½

Note: Dave Burrows is not in this novel

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 1st January 2010

Genre: Fiction / Small Town Fiction 

Pages: 328

Source: Own Copy

Review: Summer, in Between by Holly Cardamone

Summer, in Between is the pitch perfect debut novel by Australian author Holly Cardamone. 

Seventeen-year-old Cat Kelty is counting down the days before she starts year 12. The most important year of her life! As all her friends have gone away for the holidays, she plans to bury herself in her books. She needs top marks in her final year to get into University and out of the small beachside town she calls home.

Summer, in Between will bring back all the feels of that first summer romance. The sun, sand and hot chips on the beach. The story follows Cat as she falls for walking surfer god Paul Lightwood when he is employed by her father to work on their house renovations and follows the ups and downs of their relationship during the summer break.

I loved Cat's family! Her parents were affectionate, loud and often embarrassing. Her brothers were such typical little brothers, annoying and obnoxious, but loveable.  Cat's nonna was outspoken and cantankerous. The quintessential Italian grandmother. She was my favourite character.

Cat does come across as very judgy of her peers, and yes, actually stuck up, as she attends a private school and thinks she is better than the public school students. She complains about them calling her names but also has derogatory names for them. I'll just put that down to teenage self centredness.

I loved Cat's fiery temper and determination. Her teenage hormones were all over the place especially where Paul was concerned.

Summer. in Between is a funny and heartfelt read and I found it hard to put aside, and read it in a day, as I became involved in the lives of Cat's whole family.

I was eager for Cat to have her forever with Paul but also attain her dream of going to University.

Holly has given her readers an honest portrayal of teens. They like to party and indulge in underage drinking. They overreact, make bad decisions and spread gossip.

Holly leaves the story beyond the story up to the reader. What happens after that final page? I would love a sequel when Holly and Paul are a bit older - they are characters I didn't want to let go of.

I did think there should have been more phone use included. Teens are never off them, snapchat, tiktok, taking photos, sending texts. I felt a bit like they were living in the 90's.

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Content: underage drinking

               alludes to consensual sex

Publisher: Hawkeye Publishing

Publication date: 16th September 2025

Genre: Young Adult / Romance

Pages: 270

RRP: AU$29.99

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Review: The Berlin Agent by Stephen Ronson

The Berlin Agent is book #2 in Stephen Ronson's John Cook series. 

John is working his farm but has also been assigned as a special agent, simply told he will be contacted  when needed.

The Berlin Agent is set in John's hometown of Uckfield in Sussex. The townsfolk are preparing for, what they see as, an imminent German invasion.

Ronson's writing is visually descriptive and his almost poetic prose bring the story to life on the page.

The small country town is riddled with war propaganda, air raids, enemy infiltrations, Nazi sympathisers and covert operations.

The War Ag Dept is reviewing farm outputs and has complete control over every aspect of food production, taking over farms that don't comply.

John is a wonderful protagonist. He cares for the people of his village and feels he needs to help everyone. Protecting his small village whilst also working for his country against the Germans.

The Berlin Agent had more of a political lean than The Last Line which was more of a murder mystery with the war as a backdrop. Although there were a few mysteries at play which kept me engaged with the story.

The Berlin Agent is a work of fiction, however Stephen Ronson states that many aspects of the book are based on fact and I found the whole concept of the plot very believable.

The Berlin Agent is suspense filled, fast-paced and rich in political intrigue.

Highly recommended for any readers who enjoy books on WWII.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Publication date: 7th November 2024

Series: John Cook #2

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 345

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley

My review of THE LAST LINE

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