Book Review: Snotlings by Tarryn Mallick

 Snotlings

by

Tarryn Mallick

Illustrated by Nahum Ziersch

 

 Can you survive the snotpocalpyse?

 

Publisher: Self published

Publication date: 25th October 2021

 

Genre: Middle Grade / Fiction

 

Pages: 298

 

RRP: $21.50AUD (Amazon)

 

Format read: Paperback 

 

Source: Courtesy of the author

 

About the book

 

Jackson Hart loves picking his nose. But when he finds a tiny warrior in his booger, everything turns WEIRD and DANGEROUS! Not only does he have a civilisation of snotlings up his nose . . . one wants revenge.

Mucuszar and his awful germ army have conquered both nostrils and Jackson’s world is next!

Can Jackson and his friends stop the snotpocalypse? Or will Mucuszar’s deadly creation destroy the planet?  

My review

 

Snotlings is an adventure filled story about a tiny civilisation that lived in Jackson's nostril. They ate dust and battled germs. When one of the snotlings, Mucuszar, goes rogue and enlists the germs to take over Jackson's Immune system he spends a  lot of time home sick.

Mucuszar is not happy only making Jackson sick, he wants to take over the world starting with Sydney.

Snotlings is the highly imaginative and extremely descriptive debut novel by Tarryn Mallick. This science fiction tale brings the snotlings and their world into the world of Jackson and his friends.

Snot and boogers feature highly in Snotlings with names like Crust, Goober, Igunk, Vomitor, Razorthroat and Fluefector eliciting many giggles from my young reading  buddy. It may not be for those with a sensitive stomach. I was personally grossed out but Dot thought it was hilarious.

Tarryn Mallick has included themes of bullying and empathy and mentions of the healing power of Chinese herbal medicines.

Written in alternating chapters between Jackson and the snotlings. There is plenty of action and danger in both narratives to keep the reader entertained.

A fun addition to the story is finding the tiny illustrated snotling hidden in each chapter.

Will Jackson and his friends save themselves and the planet before they are all covered in snot?

My review copy came with germ collector cards with pictures and stats of the germs, a giant magnifying glass and a jar of slime. You can order this magnificent gift box from Tarryn's website.

 

 

Recommended age 7 - 12 years

Dot's rating 4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

 About the author

  

Tarryn became a writer because she had a story to tell. A story about snot! It may seem strange to write a book about boogers, but growing up, her little brother tormented her with his snot every… single… day!

She obtained a degree in Creative and Professional Writing and studied numerous courses and books, applying everything she had learnt to her first book. It took a short six years and now Snotlings is ready to be shared with everyone.

 

Challenges Entered: Australian Women Writers Challenge AWW2021

 

                                   Aussie Author Challenge #Aussieauthor21

Book Review & Giveaway: The Curlew's Eye by Karen Manton

The Curlew's Eye

by

Karen Manton 

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

 

Publication date: 14th September 2021

 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Mystery

 

Pages: 352

 

RRP: $32.99AUD

 

Format read: Uncorrected Paperback

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

About the book

 

Greta's partner Joel grew up with five brothers and a sister in a feisty household on an isolated NT property. But he doesn't talk about those days-not the deaths of his sister and mother, nor the origin of the scars that snake around his body.

Now, many years later, he returns with Greta and their three young boys to prepare the place for sale. The boys are quick to settle in, and Joel seems preoccupied with work, but Greta has a growing sense of unease, struggling in the build-up's oppressive heat and living in the shadow of the old, burned-out family home. She knows she's a stranger in this uncanny place, with its eerie and alluring landscape, hostile neighbour, and a toxic dam whose clear waters belie its poison. And then there's the mysterious girl living rough whom Greta tries to befriend.

Determined to make sense of it all, Greta is drawn into Joel's unspoken past and confronted by her own. Before long the curlew's haunting cry will call her to face the secrets she and Joel can no longer outrun.  

My review

Greta, Joel and their three sons lead a nomadic life moving from town to town wherever Joel finds work. When he gets a job repairing the shack on his childhood property Greta is looking forward to learning more about Joel and his family.

As they settle into the area and meet other residents Greta can feel the pull of the place. It calls to her and the history of the area seeps into her being.

 

Karen Manton's prose are eerie and haunting. She uses short, sharp sentences that hold within themselves a hint of impending menace.

Single page chapters from the past are dotted throughout revealing a malevolent presence that once lurked.

 

I liked how Karen Manton set the novel in the modern day however there was only brief mentions of mobile phones and email. The three young boys ran around the bush collecting things, fishing and amusing themselves. They were happy, outgoing, friendly boys despite living a nomadic life.

Greta and Joel are slowly being destroyed by secrets held within them and secrets held from them.

Everything is brought to life in this gothic style tale of secrets kept hidden. The vegetation, trees, bird-life are all watching, judging.

Water and its alluring beauty and danger is a large presence running through the novel. The poison lake at the property holds secrets within its depths and the ocean of Greta's childhood holds memories of despair and loss.

Karen Manton has expressed this foreboding style of narration with an expertise that makes it look effortless. The gloom, despair and horror as it built to the climax did however overwhelm me. The Curlew's Eye is a highly emotional read.

My rating 4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Karen Manton lives in Darwin and Batchelor in the Northern Territory, with her husband, two sons, and their two dogs and a turtle. She has short stories published in various anthologies. The Curlew's Eye is her first novel.

 

Giveaway 

I  have one copy of The Curlew's Eye to give away to one lucky reader. Entries close at Midnight on 14th November 2021. (Australian addresses only)

 

This giveaway is closed - The winner was announced here

Book Review: Déjà Vu by Bobby Twidale

 Déjà Vu 

by

Bobby Twidale

Publisher: Cherry Publishing

 

Publication date: 30th April 2021

 

Genre: Romance

 

Pages: 253

 

Format read: eBook

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

About the book

 

Connie Bentley is not your average Newly Qualified Teacher. Moving back to live with her parents while working at St George's Independent Day School for boys is not how she imagined her life would be at thirty-two.

Art teacher Matt Turner is not average in any way. A relationship with a colleague eight years ago didn't lead to the happy outcome he'd expected — he’s now older, wiser, and warier.

When Connie and Matt meet, the spark of attraction is immediate and mutual. Although neither is going to admit to that because the more they learn about each other, the more they're both getting an uncomfortable feeling of déjà vu.

Will past hurt, raw wounds, and unexpected twists stand between them, or will they both get a second chance at love?

 

My review

 

Connie is back in her childhood home and on the bottom rung of a teaching career after a long term relationship ended badly.

I found the first half of this story really slow as it went through Connie's day to day life and her classes at the school. I did enjoy the slow burn romance with Matt, the sports teacher at the school. Matt was so sweet. He had been burnt before and was hesitant to open his heart.

 

I didn't warm to Connie at all and felt she was self-centred. Every decision she made was with herself in mind and she had done something previously that I just couldn't come to terms with.

 

With plenty of hurdles for the couple to negotiate there is also a big metoo moment in the story and I applaud Connie's courageousness where reporting this and following through was concerned.

 

Deja Vu is a slow burn romance story about starting afresh, making new friends and moving on with your life.

 

My rating 3 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐

 

 

 

Spotlight: The Order of Time by Scott Southall

 

To celebrate his Readers Favorite Gold Medal win in the Children's Mythology/ Fairy Tale category Scott Southall has The Order of Time discounted on Amazon Kindle until October 3rd 2021.

 

 About the book

 

Anastasia and Edward Upton are eleven years old twins who are different in almost every way. Despite this they are inseparable and the best of friends. They tackle the highs and lows of sixth grade together whether they are fending off bullies at the elite Blake Academy or examining rare antiquities as the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Then: life gets complicated.

They discover that their friend and mentor, Dr. Gregorian, is part of a secret society called the Order of Time. It turns out that time is not fixed, it's a fluid continuum where changes to the past can create ripples all the way through to the present. It unwittingly falls to the twins to travel back through time to ancient Egypt where they must overcome deadly assassins, evil high priests and vengeful gods in order to prevent disaster. Together Anastasia and Edward must navigate all obstacles to preserve the past and find their way back home.

 

Publisher's age recommendation - 8 - 12 years

 

You can read my 5 ⭐ review HERE 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review and Blog Tour: The Sound of Violet by Allen Wolf

 The Sound of Violet

by

Allen Wolf

 

Now a major motion picture

 

Publisher: Morning Star Publishing

Publication date: 21st September 2021

 

Genre: Romantic Comedy

 

Pages: 226

 

RRP: $10.80AU (Kindle edition)

          $ 7.96US (Kindle edition)

 

format read: eBook

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

About the book

 

 Desperate to find his soulmate, Shawn goes on one awkward date after another until he encounters the alluring Violet. He starts dating her, but his autism keeps him from realizing that she’s actually a prostitute.

Shawn thinks he’s found a possible wife while Violet thinks she’s discovered her ticket to a brand new life. This hilarious and dramatic award-winning story takes all kinds of twists and turns and has been adapted into a major motion picture.

 

My review

 

The Sound of Violet reminded me a lot of Muriel's Wedding, an Australian movie about a girl obsessed with the idea of getting married.

 

Shawn has wedding photos in his room, on his phone and around his desk at work. He is desperate to find 'the one'. His openness and lack of tact due to his neurodiversity   has all his dates running for the hils after an hour. Until he meets Violet, a sex worker. She knows Shawn doesn't understand what she does for a living but she is drawn to him as he is the only person who has ever been kind to her.

The Sound of Violet is a heart-breaking story of family breakdown but at the same time it also highlights the love of family through Shawn's garndmaother who would do anything to protect him and his brother Colin who teaches Shawn how to act in front of people.

When Shawn was around people he had to continually think about his words and his mannerisms. I can only imagine how hard it must have been for him in social situations.

Both Shawn and Violet had the common connection of people judging them before they got to know them.

Wolf highlights the real problem of human trafficking and how young girls are trpped into the sex-trade with no means of escape.

The writing is simplistic and the authors history with sceenplays is evident as the scenes and actions are highly visual. I could picture this on the screen as I was reading. It had a cinematic feel to it.

I was expecting The Sound of Violet to be a story about an autistic man looking for love but it was much more than that. It was a story about kindness, acceptance and healing. I can't wait to see it on the screen!

My rating  3.5 / 5    ⭐⭐⭐½

About the author

llen Wolf is an award-winning novelist, filmmaker, and game creator. He is also the host of the popular Navigating Hollywood podcast.

His debut novel “The Sound of Violet” has won multiple accolades and is described as “Entertaining, well-paced, and highly visual” by Kirkus Reviews. It is now a major motion picture. (www.TheSoundOfViolet.com)

He has won 39 awards for his games that are available as books, including You’re Pulling My Leg! and You’re Pulling My Leg! Junior. They’ve brought smiles to hundreds of thousands of people around the world.

As a filmmaker, Allen wrote, directed, and produced “In My Sleep,” which was released worldwide, won multiple film festivals, and is available on iTunes and Amazon Prime. Hollywood Reporter raved, “In My Sleep never rests, a credit to the tight, psychologically astute pacing of filmmaker Wolf.”

Allen graduated from New York University’s film school. He married his Persian princess, and they are raising two kids together. He enjoys traveling around the world and hearing other people’s life stories. Allen also cherishes spending time with his family, eating chocolate, and visiting Disneyland.

 

 

 

 

Book Review & Giveaway: The Banksia House Breakout by James Roxburgh

The Banksia House Breakout

by

James Roxburgh

 

Some adventures are worth waiting for

 

Publisher: Ventura Press

 

Publication date: 15th September 2021

 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

 

Pages: 315

 

RRP: $32.99AUD

 

Format read: Paperback

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via DMCPRMedia

 

About the book

 

When Ruth Morris is moved into Banksia House by her workaholic son Michael, she is eighty-one years young, mourning her loss of independence, and missing her best friend Gladys terribly.

So when she learns Gladys is dying a state over in Brisbane, Ruth is determined to say goodbye. Enlisting the help of her fellow residents, Ruth makes a daring departure from Banksia House alongside renowned escape-artist Keith, and her formidable new friend Beryl.

The journey from Sydney is far from straightforward, featuring grimy hotels, hitchhiking, and a mild case of grand theft. This unlikely trio finds themselves on the trip of a lifetime, where new connections blossom amidst the chaos. But the clock is ticking and Gladys awaits – will they make it across the border in time?

 

My review

 

The Banksia House Breakout is a refreshing debut about ageing, friendship and independence.  

 

Ruth's son Michael has taken over her life assuming she is unable to care for herself after a fall. He sells the family home and drops Ruth at Banksia House, the nursing home he has chosen for her. Michael is much too busy to be worrying about his mother and at 81 she couldn't possibly be lucid enough to care for herself.

The story starts out quite ominous with Ruth's ill treatment by her son and a villainous careworker who makes life miserable for all the residents However once we get to meet some of the other residents, escape artist Keith and tech savvy Joan, the feeling of the story lightens.

 

Ruth is rather timid and she lets her son dominate her but she is making new friends in Banksia House and these  women may be elderly but they haven't lost their sense of adventure.

 

When Michael tells Ruth he is much too busy to take her to Brisbane to visit her dying firend Gladys the women hatch a plan to steal a car and get Ruth there to see Gladys one last time. They would only be gone a few days, no one would notice.

So begins an hilarious road trip which involves plenty of hiccups and detours, an encounter with a bikie gang, backpackers, working odd jobs at a hostel and managing to evade police at the last minute.

 

James Roxburgh smashes stereotypes in this debut novel as Ruth, Beryl and Keith prove during their trip that they are anything but senile. They manage to work their way through many sticky situations whilst also handing out sage advise learnt through years of experience. 

 

I loved the mentions of all the stops along the coast on the way from Sydney to Brisbane. Many of the places they visited brought back memories of family holidays.

I also enjoyed Ruth's transformation. The more she did the more confident she became in her own abilities. 

 

The Banksia House Breakout is a fun, heart-warming read. I found myself cheering for Ruth along the way and I couldn't read fast enough to find out if Ruth would make it to see Gladys on time.

 

If you enjoyed Joanna Nell's Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village you will love The Banksia House Breakout!

 

My rating 5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

 

About the author

 

James Roxburgh is an audiologist who specialises in the care of the elderly with hearing loss. He combines his passion for writing and the experiences he has shared with his patients to create heart-warming and captivating characters who defy the norms of ageing. James has worked as a ski instructor, owned a number of small businesses and lives in Sydney with his wife and two daughters. The Banksia House Breakout is his first novel. 

 

https://twitter.com/TheBurgeBkshelf/status/1438670597588852737?s=20

 

 Giveaway:

James has kindly offered a giveaway of one signed paperback copy of The Banksia House Breakout.

 

Enter via the form below. Entries close at midnight on  28th September 2021.  

 

This giveaway has now closed and the winner was announced here. 

Book Review: Exit Through the Gift Shop by Maryam Master

Exit Through the Gift Shop

by

Maryam Master

Illustrated by Astred Hicks

 

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Imprint: Pan Australia

Publication date: 27th July 2021

Genre: Children's / Teen

Pages: 216

RRP: $16.99AUD

Format read: paperback

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

 

About the book

 

Anahita Rosalind Ghorban-Galaszczuk (yes, that really is her name but you can call her Ana) is discovering that life is absurd. As if dying of cancer at the age of 12.5 isn't bad enough, she still has to endure daily insults from her nemesis, Alyssa (Queen Mean) Anderson.

 

Ana's on a wild roller-coaster of life and death, kindness and cruelty, ordinary and extraordinary.

 

And she's got a few things to do before she exits.....

 

My review

 

Exit Through the Gift Shop is Ana’s story. Ana is a 12.5 year old girl with cancer. She writes the book as an English assignment about the last year of her life.

Can I say this is a fun book! Cancer and dying are tough topics but at no time does Maryam Master try to wring the emotion out of her readers.
We follow Ana through what she is told will be her final year of life as she contemplates her own mortality, succumbs to cancer treatments, takes a last hope trip to the USA and faces a ruthless bully.

Ana is very down to earth and philosophical. She has accepted her fate and is ready to make the most of the time that she has. She has quite a sense of humour and her story is written in a dramatic (comedic) way with lots of big bold words and sketches on the pages.

There is a best friend, Al, by her side to support and cheer her up. He is also a little bit silly and not worried about what people think of him. And what’s a teen novel without a nemesis! Here, Alyssa takes the cake with relentless bullying which Ana expects to stop when Alyssa finds out she has cancer. Ana has already graciously decided to forgive her. Alyssa would have to be the embodiment of bullying. I think Alyssa's character is over dramatic but isn't that what a teen novel is all about, the drama!

Maryam Master has written an entertaining novel that will be ideal as a school study novel with the inclusion of metaphors, alliteration and exaggeration. Alyssa, the bully, would be a good case study and excellent discussion point.

Recommended for ages 12 – 16 years

 

My rating  4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

 

About the author

 

Maryam Master was born in Iran and moved to Australia when she was nine. She is a screenwriter and playwright who loves creating shows for young audiences.
She began her career in TV, writing for shows like Home and Away, Blinky Bill and the Jim Henson Company's Bambaloo, in 2011 she was selected by Sesame Workshop as the writer for Elmo's tour of Australia.
Exit Through the Gift Shop is her first novel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Challenges Entered: Australian Women Writers Challenge AWW2021

 

                                   Aussie Author Challenge #Aussieauthor21 

 

Book Review: Love, in Theory by Elodie Cheesman

 Love, in Theory

by

Elodie Cheesman

There's an algorithm for everything else, so why not love?

 

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

 

Publication date: 25th May 2021

 

Genre: Contemporary fiction

 

Pages: 352

 

RRP: $32.99AUD

 

Format read: Paperback

 

Source: courtesy of the publisher

 

 About the book

When 24-year-old lawyer Romy learns that she is at her 'optimal stopping point' (the mathematically designated point at which one should select the next 'best person' who comes along in order to have the best chance at happily ever after), she knows it's time to get serious about her love life.

Ruthlessly rational, with a belief in data over destiny, Romy knows that reliability and consistency are dependable options, while passion and lust are transitory and only bring pain and disillusionment.

That's why sensible Hans the engineer is the right choice, as opposed to graphic designer James who exhibits the kind of behaviour that has got her into trouble before. Isn't he?

 

My review

 

Love, in Theory follows 24 year old law student Romy as she struggles to find 'the one'.

 

I enjoyed the snippets of  the employment law cases that Romy worked on and how Cheesman put a humorous spin on them.

Romy's mother tells her about a dating theory she had read about based on algorithms, called the optimal stopping theory. Romy goes on Tinder date after Tinder date until she meets Hans who is somewhat staid and very unlike the fun, spontaneous James, but Romy isn't after fireworks, she's after stability. It's clearly a matter of head over heart.

I loved all the mentions of sights and bars around Sydney and being my hometown it was easy to imagine Romy and her friends there. Love, in Theory is a light read, a fun rom-com and I read it at a time when I needed something light, cheery and with a happy ending. In this way it certainly delivered. I will have to say though I think the story would be better appreciated by the under thirties.

Elodie Cheesman has written a delightful debut about the conundrum of dating in the modern era and the old adage of whether to follow your heart or your head.

My rating 3 / 5     ⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Elodie Cheesman grew up in Canberra. She studied law at the University of Sydney and the University of Oxford, and was an Associate to the Honourable Chief Justice Susan Kiefel AC at the High Court of Australia. She works as a lawyer in Sydney. Love, in Theory is her first novel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Challenges Entered: Australian Women Writers Challenge AWW2021

 

                                   Aussie Author Challenge #Aussieauthor21

Book Review: The Eighth Wonder by Tania Farrelly

The Eighth Wonder 

by

Tania Farrelly

 

 

 

Publisher: Penguin Books Australia

 

Publication date: 2nd July 2021

 

Genre: Historical Fiction 

 

Pages: 416

 

Format read: Paperback

 

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

 

 

About the book

 

New York, 1897. The richest city in the world.

Beautiful, young and privileged, Rose Kingsbury Smith is expected to play by the strict rules of social etiquette, to forfeit all career aspirations and to marry a man of good means. But she has a quietly rebellious streak and is determined to make her own mark on Manhattan’s growing skyline. When the theft of a precious heirloom plunges the Kingsbury Smiths into financial ruin, Rose becomes her family’s most tradeable asset. She finds herself fighting for her independence and championing the ideal of equality for women everywhere.

Enigmatic Ethan Salt’s inglorious circus days are behind him. He lives a quiet life on Coney Island with his beloved elephant Daisy and is devoted to saving animals who’ve been brutalised by show business. As he struggles to raise funds for his menagerie, he fears he will never build the sanctuary of his dreams … until a chance encounter with a promising young architect changes his life forever.

Just when Rose is on the verge of seeing her persistence pay off, the ghosts of her past threaten to destroy everything she holds dear. In the face of heartbreaking prejudice and betrayal, she must learn to harness her greatest wonder within.

 

My review

 

I really enjoyed this historical fiction set in the late 1880's. The Eighth Wonder is set during the emergence of the women's  suffragette movement with the main character, Rose, not prepared to settle as a rich man's wife, rather looking to a career in architecture as her future. We see great conflict here from her traditionalist mother who yearns for her spot in high society due to her daughter's marriage to the 'right man'. Her father is quietly supportive however I did wonder if he would have been as supportive of Rose if he had a son who could have taken over the architecture company.

 

A second story line is that of Ethan Salt, an orphan who runs away and joins a circus. Ethan becomes an advocate for abused animals, not only from the circus but those used in fighting rings for entertainment.

 

The Eighth Wonder is a captivating character driven novel. There are plenty of hurdles for the characters to navigate and one man's obsession with Rose will become highly dangerous.

 

There is an added mystery of stolen jewellery which gives rise to themes of classism. Rose joins the fight for better working conditions and rights for the workers in the manufacturing industry.

 

Tania Farrelly has brought 19th Century Manhattan, in all its glory and brutality, alive on the page. 

 

My rating   4/5   ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

About the author

 

Photo credit: © Tania Farrelly

 
Tania is an award-winning advertising strategist who has spent over twenty-five years working in Australia’s leading advertising agencies, telling stories for the world’s biggest brands. She has more recently built her own successful, brand consultancy, and has now turned her hand from brand stories to human stories with the help of creative writing courses at RMIT and Fiona McIntosh’s Masterclass. 

Tania was raised in Adelaide and has lived the majority of her professional life in Melbourne. She now lives with her husband on Victoria's Bellarine Peninsula.

 

 

 

Challenges Entered: Australian Women Writers Challenge AWW2021

 

                                   Aussie Author Challenge #Aussieauthor21

                                   Historical Fiction Challenge 

 

Book Review: Catch Us the Foxes by Nicola West

Catch Us the Foxes

by

Nicola West 

 

 Some secrets you try to hide. Others you don’t dare let out …

 

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

 

Publication date: 7th July 2021

 

Genre: Crime / Mystery

 

Pages: 384

 

RRP: $ 32.99AUD

 

Format read: Uncorrected Proof Paperback

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher 

 

 About the book

 Ambitious young journalist Marlowe ‘Lo’ Robertson would do anything to escape the suffocating confines of her small home town. While begrudgingly covering the annual show for the local paper, Lo is horrified to discover the mutilated corpse of Lily Williams, the reigning showgirl and Lo’s best friend. 

 

Seven strange symbols have been ruthlessly carved into Lily’s back. But when Lo reports her grisly find to the town’s police chief, he makes her promise not to tell anyone about the symbols. Lo obliges, though it’s not like she has much of a choice – after all, he is also her father.

When Lily’s murder makes headlines around the country and the town is invaded by the media, Lo seizes the opportunity to track down the killer and make a name for herself by breaking the biggest story of her life.

What Lo uncovers is that her sleepy home town has been harbouring a deadly secret, one so shocking that it will captivate the entire nation. Lo’s story will change the course of her life forever, but in a way she could never have dreamed of.

 

My review

 

It's very hard to say anything about the plot of Catch Us the Foxes without giving spoilers. There are twists, upon twists, upon twists.

 

The book starts with Marlowe attending an on stage interview at The Sydney Opera House. She is famous for solving the murder of her best friend, and Kiama showgirl, Lily seven years ago.

The story then moves to Marlowe's book that she has written about the case. A book within a book!

 

There  is plenty of action in this story that mentions cults, mental illness and small town secrets. The moments of suspense had me holding my breath as they ramped up during Marlowe's investigation. Even though the twists when they were revealed didn't give me that 'oh my gosh' moment, I was totally immersed in Marlowe's story and read the book in two days. West's short sharp chapters make it easy to say 'just on more chapter' over and over.

 

Catch Us the Foxes is a cleverly plotted murder mystery and fantastic debut from up and coming crime novelist Nicola West. I am genuinely looking forward to her next offering 

 

My rating 4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

About the author

 

Nicola West grew up in Kiama, flipping through crime scene photos left out by her policeman father.  After moving to Sydney to pursue a career in journalism, she vowed to be as far removed from both her hometown and her father’s profession as possible—that is until she found herself writing a novel about both topics. In addition to being one of eight young writers chosen to take part in Express Media’s 2018 Toolkits: Fiction program, Nicola was also selected for the Australian Society of Authors’ 2019 Award Mentorship Program. She was a mentee of bestselling author Monica McInerney. Catch Us the Foxes is Nicola's first novel. She lives in Sydney.

 

 

Challenges Entered: Australian Women Writers Challenge AWW2021

 

                                   Aussie Author Challenge #Aussieauthor21

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