Book Review: Undefendable by Sulari Gentill & Sarah Kynaston

 Undefendable

Edited by

Sulari Gentill & Sarah Kynaston

The story of a town under fire

 

Publisher: Clan Destine Press

Publication date: 26th November 2022

Genre: Non Fiction

Pages: 178

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: Undefendable: The Story of a Town Under Fire 

As we approach another dry, hot summer who can forget the summer Australia burned.

 

In the summer of 2019/2020 the township of Batlow in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains was declared ‘undefendable’ from the fire megafront. While most evacuated, many stayed to fight. In the end, the undefendable town was saved by volunteers – by farmers, teachers, electricians, retirees, and boys barely out of high school.

Sulari Gentill and Sarah Kynaston have delivered a heart-warming collection of poems, recollections and photographs from the very people who were on the ground during the fires of the summer of 2019/2020.

Sulari Gentill is herself a resident of the small close-knit community of Batlow - the town that was declared undefendable against the fires.

With a united front the residents, the Bush Fire Brigade and the Town Brigade banded together to do everything possible to save their town. They took on the fire and they won!

Everyone tells the story of their own personal experiences during that time. Most of the stories are in a conversational tone and told almost two years after the fires the awe and pride the story tellers feel comes through in the prose.

I really enjoyed Edmund Gentill's recollections. His writing is eloquent and with the resilience of youth his words are laced with humour.

Undefendable is a heart-felt anthology that showcases a town united, coming together and surviving when all odds were against them.

My rating 5/ 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the editors

 

Sarah Kyneston is a berry grower, beekeeper and (as Sulari says) the person in Batlow who knows everyone.

Sulari Gentill is also the author of the 10-book Rowland Sinclair mysteries series, The Hero Trilogy (YA); and two standalone crime novels, Crossing the Lines, and The Woman in the Library.

 

Book Review: Force of Nature by Jane Harper

 Force of Nature

by

Jane Harper

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Publication date: 26th September 2017

Series: Aaron Falk #2

Genre: Crime / Suspense 

Pages: 384

Source: Own purchase

 

Review: Force of Nature

Force of Nature is book two in the Federal Agent Aaron Falk series. Jane Harper's debut novel The Dry was a huge success so Force of Nature had huge shoes to fill. I found it was every bit as atmospheric and pagerturnerish (that's a real word) as the first book.

Five women enter the Giralang Ranges on a team building event and only four return; late, muddy and distressed. Alice Russell is missing and everyone is assured she will be found cold but safe. Only Aaron knows she is a whistleblower in a major fraud case.

 

The story moves from the present day search for Alice to the four days the women spent in the bush. The chapters are short and the move between the two time frames is quick, which keeps the story moving along at a fast pace.

Through conversations between Aaron and his partner Carmen we get to know more about them and their personal lives.

 

Harper's writing is engaging and the hostile environment of the Australian bush is perfectly rendered to keep the suspense level high. 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author (from front of book)

Jane Harper is the author of the international bestseller The Dry, The Lost Man, The Survivors and Exiles. Her books are published in forty territories worldwide. Jane has won numerous top awards including the Australian Book Industry Awards Book of the Year, the Australian Indie Awards Book of the Year, the CWA Gold Dagger Award for Best Crime Novel, and the British Book Awards Crime and Thriller Book of the Year. Jane lives in Melbourne with her husband, two children and two cats.

Book Review: The Magpie's Sister by Kerri Turner

 The Magpie's Sister

by

Kerri Turner

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 2nd May 2023 

Genre: Historical Fiction 

Pages: 336

RRP: $32.99 (Trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: The Magpie's Sister 

Who doesn't love a circus! The Magpie's Sister is an evocative and moving story about an Australian circus and the performers' lives.

The Magpie's Sister focuses on two main characters, both given to the circus, under different circumstances, at a young age. The story is told in the dual narration of Maggie, who suffers from a facial deformity, and Charlotte, the beautiful tightrope walker. The pair start to become friends but lies and deceit will test the delicate line of trust they have developed.

Set in Australia in 1911 I found it heartbreaking at how cruel people could be. This was a time when the circus was the only place people with a deformity could live some semblance of a normal life. Not all circuses were as kind and benevolent as the one Kerri Turner depicts in The Magpie's Sister.

I loved all the descriptions of circus life, the moving from town to town, and the fact that not everyone was happy to have the circus in town. It was a hard life.

The story brought back many happy memories of attending circuses when I was young and also attending with my own children.

 

Kerri Turner has written a fascinating and heartfelt story of friendship and letting people in. Family is not always the one you are born into!

 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Kerri Turner is an Australian author of historical fiction. Her books and short stories focus on female roles throughout history that have been largely overlooked or forgotten, and often include elements of the performing arts. Her short stories have appeared in several national and international publications. With a Diploma of Publishing and an Associate Degree (Dance), she splits her time between writing, and teaching ballet and tap dancing to seniors.

Also by Kerri Turner: https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-daughter-of-victory-lights-by-kerri.html

Book Review: A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao

A Disappearance in Fiji

by

Nilima Rao

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 6th June 2023

Series: Akal Singh #1

Genre: Historical Fiction / Mystery

Pages: 276

RRP: $32.99 (Trade paperback)

Source: courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: A Disappearance in Fiji

A Disappearance in Fiji is a fabulous depiction of life in Fiji during the indentured Indian Servitude Program where lower class Indians were brought to Fiji to work on the sugar cane plantations.

Set in 1914 the story follows Sikh Indian police officer Akal Singh who has been sent to work in Suva after an "incident" in Hong Kong which left him disgraced.

I immediately warmed to Akal, he was so gentle and always wanted to do his job as best he could. Akal always believed in doing the right thing and he was faced with some moral dilemmas throughout the book.

The mystery surrounding his transfer was always at the back of my mind.

 

Nilima Rao perceptively portrays the prejudices that existed in the early 1900's against the Indian workers in the servitude program. A program that was little more than slavery under a different name. Even with his standing as a police officer Akal Singh found himself on the receiving end of racist remarks.

The mystery of a young woman's disappearance from a sugar cane plantation was weaved through the facts of the horror of the plantation workers' conditions and treatment. 

Set over a five day period in October 1915, I loved the keenly described scenes and the eclectic cast of characters, both good and bad, each had me totally immersed in their lives.

A well researched addition to the story was the newspaper articles that preceded each chapter. The author later explains that these were real clippings from the Fiji Times published during the era. Much of the story is based on real historical fact with some liberties taken for the purpose of the story.

A Disappearance in Fiji is an impressive debut and a great start to a new series. I am looking forward to the next Akal Singh mystery.

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Nilima Rao is a Fijian Indian Australian who has always referred to herself as ‘culturally confused’. She has since learned that we are all confused in some way (and has been published on the topic by Australia’s Special Broadcasting Service as part of the SBS Emerging Writers Competition, so now feels better about the whole thing). When she isn't writing, Nilima can be found wrangling data (the dreaded day job) or wandering around Melbourne laneways in search of the next new wine bar. A Disappearance in Fiji is her first novel, and she is currently working on the second in the series.

 

Book Review: Sleepless in Stringybark Bay by Susan Duncan

 Sleepless in Stringybark Bay

by

Susan Duncan

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 29th August 2023

Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Cosy Mystery

Pages: 389

RRP: $32.99AU (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: Sleepless in Stringybark Bay

Sleepless in Stringybark Bay was such a pleasure to read! The characters' colloquial Australian language did take a little getting used to but once I settled into the style I could appreciate it being perfect for the narrative.

 

In Sleepless in Stringybark Bay we revisit the offshore community of Cook's basin and the eclectic group of characters that were first featured in The Briny Cafe.

 

Interest is aroused when a group  of retirees move into the bay calling their newly renovated residence GeriEcstasy. When one of the group is found dead a few days after moving in the police pass it off as an accident. However, former journalist Kate feels it's much more and is certain there is a story behind the group moving to The Bay, isolated from society.

At the heart of this endearing story is a close-knit community that is genuine, wholehearted and takes pride in taking care of its own.

I haven't read The Briny Cafe but I immediately loved every character in this engaging story full of heart and humour.

Sleepless in Stringybark Bay features a captivating mystery, a life threatening storm, a bush birth, a picturesque setting and a quirky community of lovable characters. 

 

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Susan Duncan took up a cadetship on the Melbourne Sun which led to a 25-year career spanning radio, newspapers and magazines. She quit journalism after her husband and brother died within three days of each other and eventually wrote the best-selling memoir Salvation Creek. Later branching into fiction, she wrote about good communities creating a sense of belonging and leading to contentment.

Susan now alternates between boats on Pittwater and raising cattle at Wherrol Flat with her second husband Bob, writing occasionally for The Australian Women's Weekly.

Book Review: Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor

Dirt Town

by

Hayley Scrivenor

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Publication date: 31st May 2022

Genre: Crime / Mystery

Pages: 368

RRP: $32.99AU (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher 

 

Review: Dirt Town

I wasn't sure how I was going to go with this book with its unusual narrative style but I found I was totally hooked.

 

The bulk of Dirt Town is narrated over a four day period during the search for missing twelve-year-old Esther Bianchi.

Written through the alternating points of view of Esther's school friends Ronnie and Lewis, D.S. Sarah Michaels who is heading the case and Constance, Esther's mother. There is also the unusual and unique narration of the town's collective of children, past and present.

Hayley Scrivenor delves into small town nuances. A place where everyone touches everyone else in some way. Many have grown up together as have their parents before them. A case of domestic violence is met with the statement "everyone knew". A blind-eye is turned to any unpleasantness.

I had picked the perp right from the start however Scrivenor's excellent plotting had me second guessing myself all the way through.

Dirt Town is a propulsive debut mystery novel that had me glued to the book until the heartfelt ending.

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Plus an extra⭐ for a character named Veronica 💖

About the author

Hayley Scrivenor is a former Director of Wollongong Writers Festival. Hayley has a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Wollongong on the south coast of New South Wales. Dirt Town is her first novel and has been shortlisted and won many awards.

WINNER OF THE ABIA GENERAL FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023
WINNER OF THE 2023 CWA ILP JOHN CREASEY (NEW BLOOD) DAGGER AWARD
WINNER OF THE LAMBDA LITERARY AWARD FOR LGBTQ+ MYSTERY 2023
WINNER OF THE DAVITT AWARDS DEBUT CRIME BOOK 2023
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2023 MARGARET AND COLIN RODERICK LITERARY AWARD
SHORTLISTED FOR THE NED KELLY AWARD FOR BEST DEBUT CRIME FICTION 2023
SHORTLISTED FOR THE INDIE BOOK AWARDS 2023 FOR DEBUT FICTION
SHORTLISTED FOR THE ABIA THE MATT RICHELL AWARD FOR NEW WRITER OF THE YEAR 2023
SHORTLISTED FOR THE DAVITT AWARDS ADULT CRIME NOVEL 2023
FINALIST FOR THE 2023 ITW THRILLER AWARDS FOR BEST FIRST NOVEL

 

Book Review: Jillaroo from Jacaranda by Mandy Magro

 Jillaroo from Jacaranda

by

Mandy Magro

Falling in love was never part of her plan....

Publisher: Harlequin Australia 

Imprint: HQ

Publication date: 5th October 2022

Genre: Romance / Contemporary

Pages: 320

RRP: $29.99AU (paperback) 

Source: courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: Jillaroo from Jacaranda 

Jillaroo from Jacaranda is a delightful slow-burn romance read.

Whilst trying to come to terms with her beloved great-grandmother's death Rose's fiance breaks up with her. Rose is heartbroken but could see they had different ideas of what their future would be.

Moving back home to Jacaranda Farm Rose decides to concentrate on her writing and her riding school business to give herself time to heal. A chance meeting with bull-rider Ty Parker gives her the opportunity to stay on his cattle station to write and reflect.

I loved Ty and Rose's banter, it was fun and flirty. Their slow-burn romance came across as natural. Ty had demons of his own and an ex-wife to deal with so neither of them were after a relationship.

I did feel like I had missed something whilst I was reading as there was no backstory and I had a lot of unanswered questions as I hadn't read Jacaranda, which was the first story about the Jones family.

I did find Rose flighty, saying one thing and doing another. This story was a bit too mushy for me and I would have preferred the prologue to be left off because it contradicted everything Rose believed in.

Overall I enjoyed the story and Magro's descriptions of bull-riding and life in rural Australia. I am planning to read the first book, Jacaranda, and have some of my questions answered. I think then I will find Jillaroo from Jacaranda will be a lot more enjoyable.

my rating 3 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Mandy Magro lives in Cairns, Far North Queensland, with her daughter, Chloe Rose, and their adorable toy poodle, Sophie. With pristine aqua-blue coastline in one direction and sweeping rural landscapes in the other, she describes her home as heaven on earth. A passionate woman and a romantic at heart, Mandy loves writing about soul-deep love, the Australian rural way of life, and the wonderful characters who call the country home.

Book Review: The Summer Place by Janette Paul

 The Summer Place

by

Janette Paul

Three women, lives adrift, and a life-changing beach

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Publication date: 26th April 2023

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Pages: 384

RRP: $34.99AU (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: The Summer Place

The Summer Place is a thoroughly enjoyable, heartwarming story about love, healing and friendship.

 

Told through the perspective of three women, each broken in different ways. I like that Janette Paul portrayed each woman's obstacle with equal importance because for each of them their hurt was equally debilitating.

 

Erin is recovering from a near-fatal accident, holding tight to all her grief and anger. She is constrained by her PTSD and the scars that riddle her body.

Cassie, recently widowed, cannot seem to move on from her grief and regrets. 

Jenna has been secretly in love with Blake for years, and now she has been invited to his wedding.

 

All three women have been invited to a wedding at Hope Head, a place that holds memories, in much happier times, for each of them.

I loved every character in this uplifting story. The three main characters' problems all came across as real and the supporting characters were just that; supportive and honest, edging Erin, Jenna and Cassie to make decisions towards happiness and healing. 

 

The fictitious Australian town of Hope Head on the mid north coast of New South Wales was beautifully described and a fitting location to have an epiphany on life and moving forward.

 

The Summer Place is sentimental and sweet, with HEAs all round, it filled my heart with joy.

 

The Summer Place is the perfect beach read.

 

My rating 5 happy stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

 

About the author

 

Janette Paul is an internationally published author of contemporary women's fiction and romantic comedy, and is the alter ego of award-winning suspense author Jaye Ford. Her first novel won two Davitt Awards for Australian women crime writers and her books have been translated into nine languages. She is a former news and sports journalist, and ran her own public relations consultancy before turning to fiction. She now writes from her home in Newcastle, New South Wales.

Book Review: Mole Creek by James Dunbar

Mole Creek 

by

James Dunbar

A hellish war. A deadly secret. 

Fifty years on, in a small Tasmanian town, 

the truth unfolds and the killing begins again....

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 1st August 2023

Genre: Crime / Mystery

Pages: 352

RRP: $32.99AU (paperback)

Source: courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: Mole Creek

Mole Creek is an edgy murder mystery. The story alternates between present day Tasmania and Vietnam 50 years ago, during the Vietnam war.

 

Journalist and crime writer Xander McAuslan hears that his grandfather, a retired cop and Vietnam Veteran, has taken his own life in the small town of Mole Creek in Tasmania. A place he and his grandfather had spent many holidays together.

Feeling as though he failed his grandfather, Xander travels to Tasmania to ease his own mind and to find out what happened.

 

Mole Creek is a fast paced read. Xander has a few enemies of his own and they seem to have followed him across the Strait. It's only his cunning and skill that get him out of a few deadly situations and his dry humour and wisecracks that get him into those situations.

 

I couldn't connect with the scenes in Vietnam, feeling they were unnecessarily taking me away from the present-day action.

Mole Creek is a complex mystery with a few red herrings thrown in. I was shocked at the unexpected ending and I certainly didn't see it coming. 

The richly described Tasmanian landscape is a treat within itself; evocative, dangerous and remote.

James Dunbar has written a compelling crime novel with Mole Creek, which has me looking forward to his next offering.

My rating 4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

James Dunbar is a journalist, television scriptwriter, travel writer, university lecturer and website editor. Mole Creek is his first venture into the serious crime thriller and espionage genre.

Book Review: Unsolved Australia - Lost Boys, Gone Girls by Justine Ford

Unsolved Australia: Lost Boys, Gone Girls

by

Justine Ford

Publisher: Macmillan Australia

Publication date: 25th June 2019

Genre: Non Fiction

Pages: 283

RRP: $32.99AU (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: Unsolved Australia: Lost Boys, Gone Girls. 

I don't read a lot of non-fiction however I find reading about true crime can be quite intriguing and Unsolved Australia: Lost Boys, Gone Girls is filled with intrigue and mystery.

Lost Boys, Gone Girls is written by journalist and true crime writer Justine Ford.

Ford has picked thirteen cold cases where people have gone missing or found murdered and the cases are still unsolved, many from decades ago. She explains how cases are never closed, however they are reviewed over time with fresh eyes and using the latest technology hoping to find that extra clue that solves the case.

There are not only facts on the investigations into the disappearances and murders but also interviews with the people involved in trying to solve these cases; detectives, investigative journalists, private investigators, criminologists and a criminal psychologist.

Lost Boys, Gone Girls is written with compassion and understanding for the victims and their families.

To make the stories more entertaining we are not purely given known facts but the author has also added some assumptions and speculation on people's thoughts.

Justine Ford hopes that getting all the available information out to the public will spark a memory in someone's mind that may ultimately lead to solving a case.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Justine Ford is a true crime author, TV producer and journalist. Her first forays into crime were as a reporter on the top-rated Australia's most wanted.

In her long-spanning career, Justine has covered scores of chilling homicides and missing persons cases, winning the trust of families who are victims of crime and developing deep access to police all over Australia.

Challenges: Non-Fiction challenge & Mount TBR challenge

Book Review: Time After Time by Karly Lane

 Time After Time

by

Karly Lane

Two dreams. One impossible choice.

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 2nd May 2023

Genre: Rural Romance

Pages: 408

RRP: $29.99AU (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Review: Time After Time

It's always such a pleasure to sit down with the latest book from a well loved author and Karly Lane didn't disappoint with Time After Time.

 

Alice Croydon has a knack for fashion design, but to follow this dream she must give up her dream of becoming Finn's wife. Finn doesn't believe there is any chance in a long distance romance. 

Alice has the heartbreaking decision of following her dreams or her heart.

I loved Alice's large, noisy family. Her four siblings, parents and grandparents are all full of love and advice. However I didn't manage to get a solid connection with Alice and would have liked more detail and emotion.

The story jumps over a vast amount of time where there are a few major events in her life however we get no details, only passing mentions.

Even though part of the book is set in the London fashion industry, Karly still manages to impart her passion for the land and the struggles of farmers and small communities. It is this passion that has endeared many readers to her books.

Time After Time moves from a small country town in Australia to the red carpet of London and Karly Lane has woven a story of dreams, fashion, fame and second chances.

Rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Karly Lane lives on the beautiful mid-North Coast of New South Wales, and she is the proud mum of four children and an assortment of four-legged animals.

Before becoming an author, Karly worked as a pathology collector. Now, after surviving three teenage children and with one more to go, she's confident she can add referee, hostage negotiator, law enforcer, peacekeeper, ruiner-of-social-lives, driving instructor and expert-at-silently-counting-to-ten to her resume.

She has published over twenty books with Allen & Unwin.

Book Review: The Connection Game by S. S. Turner

 The Connection Game

by

S. S. Turner

Publisher: The Story Plant

Publication date: 21st March 2023

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 336

Source: Courtesy of the author

 

Review: The Connection Game

I'm not sure what to say about this book. It was one crazy ride and most of it went way over my head.

 

Benny Basilworth was a genius, a trivia whiz and could easily pick connections between random items. He uses this gift to win a large amount of money on a quiz show and then loses it all through online theft (you will have to suspend your disbelief here a little. The guy was a computer genius!)

He and his family move to a basement flat and he spirals into depression, watching the feet of passersby.  

 

This is where the story got weird for me. For months Benny watches shoes passing by his window and names people by the shoes they wear. He starts to concoct a conspiracy theory involving these people. I was completely baffled but I pushed on. It isn't until the end of the story that the reader is told what the whole thing is about. Then, it all made sense.

 

If you love conspiracy theories and madcap characters The Connection Game is the perfect read. I'm afraid it was a little too offbeat for me. 

3 / 5   ⭐⭐⭐

About the author

SS Turner is the author of Secrets of a River Swimmer, an inspirational and humorous novel about finding the right pathway forward amidst the challenges of modern life. The novel was inspired by his experiences of swimming in the River Tweed when he lived in Scotland.

SS Turner worked in the global fund management sector for many years. But it wasn't for him. In recent years he's been focused on inspiring positive change through his writing. He now lives in Australia with his wife, daughter, son, one playful dog, two bossy cats, and ten fluffy chickens.

 

 

Book Review: Reaching Through Time by Shauna Bostock

 Reaching Through Time

by

Shauna Bostock

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 4th July 2023

Genre: Non-Fiction

Pages: 352

RRP: $34.99AU (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: Reaching Through Time

With Reaching Through Time Shauna Bostock has delivered an extensively researched family history going back generations, with interesting facts on Indigenous and Australian history included.

I love family research and genealogy and it doesn't just have to be my own. I can pore over anyone's family tree for hours. Births, deaths, marriages and connections between families fascinates me.

Shauna includes a family tree at the front of the book and I kept turning back to it to see where each relative came in.

You never know what you will find when you start researching your ancestry and Shauna did discover that one ancestor was a slave trader in England. I liked that this book was an honest account of her ancestry and the bad wasn't covered up or omitted.

I enjoyed every aspect of Shauna's book. Her writing is very personable and open. I was astounded by how much research, travel and time went into uncovering all the details and there are pages and pages of sources listed in the back which is a testament to this fact.

Pages of photo inserts are included which give an added connection whilst reading. Thank you Shauna for sharing your precious family photos. They are a beautiful addition to the book.

Reaching Through Time is perfect for readers who enjoy Aboriginal history, Australian history and exploring the past.

4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

A formaer primary school teacher, Shauna Bostock's curiosity about her ancestors took her all the way to a PhD in Aboriginal history.

Book Review: Don't Make a Fuss: It's only the Claremont serial killer by Wendy Davis

 Don't Make a Fuss

It's only the Claremont serial Killer

by

Wendy Davis

Publisher: Fremantle Press

Publication date: 1st June 2022

Genre: Non-Fiction (memoir)

Pages: 216

Source: own copy

 

Review: Don't Make a Fuss: It's only the Claremont Serial Killer

Don't Make a Fuss is a brave and courageous memoir highlighting the ongoing culture of women's unimportance and  suppression.

 

Wendy was attacked at her workplace by Bradley Edwards. Wendy's attack was minimised and her account ignored by both police and authorities. Edwards went on to murder two, possibly three, women in the Claremont area which sparked a police investigation spanning decades.

Wendy Davis tells her story in this important novel broken up between present-day and the current investigation, and at the time of the attack 30 years ago and how it affected her.

I was appalled how the initial attack on Wendy had little consequence for the perpetrator, brushed under the carpet. However, it affected Wendy's life for years to come.

The story made me angry how crimes against women are being downplayed and because Wendy had a strong personality her trauma was devalued. She was expected to just get on with it.

I can't even fathom the monumental stress she has had to live with during the dragged out court case with years passing from arrest to sentence of this evil man.

I do hope that writing this book has been cathartic for Wendy. However, I am sure that the events of 1990 will be with her forever.

Thank you Wendy for this insightful memoir. We need to make a fuss and not only be heard but also actioned upon appropriately 

4 /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Book Review: Four Dogs Missing by Rhys Gard

 Four Dogs Missing

by

Rhys Gard

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 4th July 2023

Genre: Crime

Pages: 324

RRP: $32.99 (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: Four Dogs Missing

Four Dogs Missing is the riveting debut crime novel by Rhys Gard.

 

Oliver is a recluse living in the small rural town of Mudgee, where everyone wants to know your business, he is viewed as unfriendly and standoffish however no-one can deny that he makes award winning wines. Oliver has a family history that he would prefer no-one knew about.

I was immediately pulled into the mystery as Theo, Oliver's identical twin brother, arrives at the vineyard after 15 years of no contact.

There are multiple mysteries running through the storyline and as the body count starts to mount with no clear motive for the murders,all clues point to Oliver.

Four Dogs Missing has an intricate and twisty plot. I was bouncing back and forward as to who I thought the murderer was.

Rhys's characters are complex and we are given a huge insight into their individual thoughts and personalities. This gave me an added connection to the characters which in turn had me eager for another book involving the same characters. Let's just say I'm not ready to let them go just yet.

Rhys Gard portrays an astute sense of the remoteness and solitude the area evokes which adds to the overall atmosphere of the story.

Four Dogs Missing is not your typical police procedural crime novel as Oliver, the winemaker, does all the detective work himself, leaving the police mostly in the dark.

If you like your crime with a splash of good wine, this is the book for you!

5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Rhys Gard is a writer and a chef. Between careers, he studies English and Film at the University of New South Wales. He has worked as a journalist, marketer, wine writer and restaurateur. He lives in Mudgee. Four Dogs Missing is his first novel.

Book Review: The Bookshop on Jacaranda Street by Marlish Glorie

 The Bookshop on Jacaranda Street

by

Marlish Glorie

Publisher: Fremantle Press

Publication date: 2nd May 2023

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Pages: 304

RRP: $32.99AU (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Beauty and Lace Book Club

 

My review of The Bookshop on Jacaranda Street

The Bookshop on Jacaranda Street was originally published in 2009 and has been re-released by Fremantle Press with a new, modern updated cover.

The book opens on quite a dramatic scene as Helen has  had enough of her husband's hoarding and living with dead people's belongings, she drags her bed outside and attacks it with an axe.

Helen, hoping to start a new life, eventually leaves her husband and with the help of her long-time neighbour, Astrid, she buys an old rundown bookshop. 

I quite enjoyed this quirky and poignant story about the messiness that is family. Glorie shows how serious hoarding can destroy relationships. Helen and Arnold's two sons had left home to get away from the mess and they very rarely saw them but when they heard their mother had actually left their father, both boys found their way home.

Marlish Glorie's writing is witty and candid. I felt this story was a bit of a tragi-comedy. It's a story of love, loss and grief, of second chances and doing the best you can. I loved the finely nuanced characters, all inexplicably tied to each other. The story is funny at times and at other times quite profound.

I'm a bit of a hoarder myself, not to the extent that Arnold hoards, but I love teacups and teapots. And of course books!

This quote in the book had me in stitches, because this is exactly what I tell my children. 🤣🤣

"One day, all this will be yours. And Vivian's. It's your inheritance. I've been thinking about your future."

 The Bookshop on Jacaranda Street may not be to everyone's liking, but I loved it!

5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

About the author

 

Marlish Glorie is a novelist, short story writer, mentor and teacher of creative writing. Her short stories have been published in national anthologies. Marlish lives in Perth, Western Australia with her husband. She is currently working on another novel, and also volunteers at Trillion Trees.

 

Book Review: The Willow Tree Wharf by Léonie Kelsall

 The Willow Tree Wharf

by

Léonie Kelsall

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 4th July 2023

Genre: Rural Romance

Pages: 420

RRP: $29.99AU (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: The Willow Tree Wharf

With The Willow Tree Wharf Léonie Kelsall has written a slow-burn romance with depth and compassion. 

All Léonie's books read well on their own however if you read them in order you get that extra level of character connection.

I absolutely loved being back in Settlers Bridge with old friends from Léonie's previous books; Roni, Jack, Lucie, Gabrielle, Tracey and Christine. This is one fabulous community and I love feeling a part of it whilst I read.

Samantha is in an abusive relationship and her husband has gaslighted her so much she is afraid to open her mouth. She had no self worth and was very insecure.

"After so many years she should have known better than to provoke him."

These are the thoughts of someone who has been spoken down to all their married life. 

Kelsall brings the whole community together as they close ranks around Samantha. Small towns are known for their gossipers but they also know how to protect their own. 

 

Pierce is a city boy, he has spent his life appeasing his parents and working in their restaurant with their rules. He would love to branch out and live his own dream but feels trapped by obligation.

 

I enjoyed the parallels between Sam's and Pierce's lives. Even though their circumstances were poles apart they were both forfeiting their dreams and happiness for someone else.

Lots of road bumps and misunderstandings made for an immersive read that had me eagerly reading knowing that all will come good in the end. That's what I love about romance!

Léonie's novels are extra special because they have layers of depth as well as the happy endings I expect.

 

 5 / 5   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

About the author

 

Raised initially in a tiny, no-horse town on South Australia's Fleurieu coast, then in the slightly more populated wheat and sheep farming land at Pallamana, Léonie Kelsall is a country girl through and through. Growing up without a television, she developed a love of reading before she reached primary school, swiftly followed by a desire to write.

Léonie entertained a brief fantasy of moving to the big city (well, Adelaide), but within months the lure of the open spaces and big sky country summoned her home. Now she splits her time between the stark, arid beauty of the family farm at Pallamana and her home and counselling practice in the lush Adelaide Hills.  

 

Reviews of Léonie's other books:

https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogspot.com/2020/10/book-club-book-review-farm-at.html 

 

https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogspot.com/2022/06/book-review-wattle-seed-inn-by-leonie.html 

 

https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogspot.com/2022/09/book-review-river-gum-cottage-by-leonie.html 

Book Review: The Dry by Jane Harper

 The Dry

by

Jane Harper

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Publication date: 31st May 2016

Series: Aaron Falk #1

Genre: Crime

Pages: 339

Source: Own book

 

Review: the Dry

My enjoyment of this book was probably ruined by seeing the movie before reading the book. And with almost 222,000 rating on Goodreads I think I may be the only person, in Australia, who hasn't read the book.

Aaron Falk arrives back in his hometown of Kiewarra to attend the funeral of his friend Luke, Luke's wife and son. It has been deemed by all as a murder-suicide. It's been hard times for farmers and many have reached breaking point.

The Dry is set during a lengthy drought and Harper never lets her readers forget how stifling hot it is and how dangerously dry the land is.

As Falk spends more time in his hometown and delves further into Luke's life he is also forced to confront his past and the reason he left town 20 years ago.

Harper shows us the darker side of a close-knit community, with lies and secrets being held for decades, victimisation and bullying by police.

With flashbacks in italics the story moves smoothly between now and then.

I would have liked there to be more people to suspect as I couldn't see anyone had a motive to murder the family. Some strategically placed red herrings would have made the story more immersive.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

#dymocksreadingchallenge

#tbrchallenge

About the author

Jane Harper is the internationally bestselling author of the The Dry, Force of Nature, The Lost Man and The Survivors. Her books are published in forty territories worldwide, and The Dry has been adapted into a major motion picture starring Eric Bana. Jane has won numerous top awards including the Australian Book Industry Awards Book of the Year, the Australian Indie Awards Book of the Year, the CWA Gold Dagger Award for Best Crime Novel, and the British Book Awards Crime and Thriller Book of the Year. Jane worked as a print journalist for thirteen years both in Australia and the UK, and now lives in Melbourne with her husband and two children.