Showing posts with label Mystery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mystery. Show all posts

Tuesday 19 March 2024

Book Review: Devil's Lair by Sarah Barrie

 Devil's Lair

by

Sarah Barrie

A lonely widow, a sinister act, a darkness rising from the past.

Publication date: 17th June 2019
Series: Calico Mountain #2
Genre: Crime / Thriller
Pages: 448
RRP: $29.99AU (trade paperback)
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 

Review: Devil's Lair  

I just found out whilst posting my review that this is book 2 in a series! I can confidently say it reads well as a standalone. 

Devil's Lair opens with a ritualistic cult-like killing and I initially thought the story might be too dark for me however it soon settles into a compelling mystery with dark elements, allusions to paranormal activity and some nice creepy stalking. There are more killings but they are spread throughout the book and by this time I was hooked on the mystery.

Devil's Lair is a taut, gothic small town thriller and the perfect setting of a Tasmanian winter adds to the atmosphere of seclusion. I enjoyed the light romance thread that ran through the novel. It gave me some relief from the spine-tingling drama that had me on the edge of my seat.

Sarah Barrie pulled me into the world of gothic Tasmania and when the jaw-dropping twists started revealing themselves I was totally addicted.
 
If you enjoyed The Dry and The Dark Lake you will love Devil's Lair

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you haven't read Sarah Barrie before I highly recommend her Lexi Winter series.

 
#tbrchallenge

Friday 8 March 2024

Book Review: The Accident by Fiona Lowe

The Accident

by

Fiona Lowe

She thought their life was perfect.  She was wrong.
 
Publication date: 6th March 2024
Genre: Contemporary fiction
Pages: 480
RRP: $32.99AU (paperback)
Source: courtesy of the publisher
 

Review: The Accident

Trying my best at a spoiler free review here as it's best to go into this story with a limited idea of what unfolds. 
 
I was pulled into the story right from the prologue. The Accident opens with a tragic car accident but the reader is left in the dark as to who is in the accident and the details.
What ensues is a heart-wrenching and thought-provoking story rich in female-centric and emotive issues such as; posthumous IVF, women's choice to have, or not to have children, the many ways childless women are judged and child neglect.
 
Freya & Ryan and Hannah & Jamie are the best of friends however when one of them dies those left behind start questioning their own lives and each other. Lies and secrets surface and all their lives are irrevocably changed.
 
The Accident is a page-turning and thought-provoking story. Fiona Lowe thrusts her characters into moral dilemmas. The plot had me on a roller-coaster of emotions, tears, anger, a what would I do moment and delight. 
 
The Accident is a taut and absorbing mystery that is sure to be a huge hit with Fiona Lowe's fans and also with readers who enjoy Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth. 
 
My rating 4 /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Saturday 2 March 2024

Book Review: The Beacon by P. A. Thomas

 The Beacon

by

P. A. Thomas

Publisher: Echo Publishing
Publication date: 30th January 2024
Genre: Crime / Mystery
Pages: 416
RRP: $ 32.99AU (paperback)
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 

Review: The Beacon

Jack Harris, son of media giant Malcolm Harris, is sent from his high profile Melbourne office of Harris Media to their lowest regional newspaper, The Beacon, at Byron Bay. His father wants him to learn the business from the ground up but Jack thinks it may be punishment for questioning some of his father's actions.
 
Jack is eager for some journalistic work but when he arrives his mentor, Patrick O'Shaughnessy, is nowhere to be seen. Jack soon meets the colourful Caitlin O'Shaughnessy, Patrick's daughter. 
Patrick's body is found days later looking very much like the victim of a shark attack. Some things about the death don't add up for Jack so he and Caitlin decide to do some investigating of their own and soon find there are a few people that Patrick had managed to get on the wrong side of via his journalistic reporting.
 
The Beacon is such an entertaining page-turner. Set in the beach-side town of Byron Bay. P. A. Thomas cleverly portrays Byron's beauty and its flaws. Showcasing Bryon's eclectic and diverse cast of residents and their relationship with the missing reporter.
Thomas includes lots of fun banter, a main protagonist who can be a bit naive at times and a compelling mystery that kept me intrigued with plenty of twists and numerous antagonists. I was eager to see how the story would end.
 
Jack is the type of character you will find hard to let go of. He's honest, funny and a bit naive at times. He gets himself in and out of plenty of sticky situations. I closed the book hoping we would be seeing more of Jack Harris in the future. 
 
My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ plus an extra ⭐ because there was a character named Veronica 💖

Friday 23 February 2024

Book Review: Kaikoura Rendezvous by Stephen Johnson

 Kaikoura Rendezvous

by

Stephen Johnson

Publication date: 1st October 2023
Series: A Melbourne Spotlight Mystery
Genre: Crime / Mystery
Pages: 240
RRP: $36.95AU (paperback) $11.95AU (ebook) 
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 

Review: Kaikoura Rendezvous

In Kaikoura Rendezvous Stephen Johnson takes his reader on a roller coaster ride through New Zealand.
He has included a plethora of interesting characters who all play an important role in the development of the story.
 
Surveillance professional Heath Michel is under orders to watch fisherman and ex-con Gordie Tulloch and report on his movements.
Gordie, recently released from prison, has been offered the deal of a lifetime. Simply pick up a package dropped off-shore and exchange it for a generous sum of money.
Kim Prescott, TV reporter for Melbourne's Spotlight current affairs show, is suffering severe PTSD after being attacked on the job. She is given an ultimatum, go on a holiday with co-worker Jo Trescowthick or go into therapy.
Cyclone Gita is also brewing and intensifying, her course is not destined for New Zealand, so no-one is taking her too seriously.
 
The story starts with three separate story lines and multiple points of view. I found each of the story lines interesting and each were given equal voice throughout the book.
 
Kim and Jo's tour through New Zealand in a motorhome was well portrayed and brought back memories of a trip I had done many years ago.
Ex-Con Gordie was an interesting character, greedy and unscrupulous, but I kinda liked him.
 
I was intrigued to see how the different plots would come together; the reporters on holiday, Gordie's contraband pick-up, Heath's surveillance operation plus cyclone Gita twisting, turning and changing course. And when they did it was a fast-paced crescendo of heart-racing action on all fronts.
 
My rating 4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thursday 30 November 2023

Book Review: Deep in the Forest by Erina Reddan

Deep in the Forest

by

Erina Reddan

What lies behind the walls of the Sanctuary? 
 
Publisher: Pantera Press
Publication date: 28th November 2023
Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Mystery/Thriller
Pages: 296
RRP: $32.99AU (trade paperback)
Source: Courtesy of the publisher via DMCPRMedia
 

Review: Deep in the Forest

Deep in the Forest by Erina Reddan is a fascinating story rich in secrets, lies and betrayal. Filled  with simmering menace it has me hooked from start to finish.

Town pariah Charli Trethan is fed up with being blamed for a crime she didn't commit and plans to leave Stone Lake for a new life overseas.
A gruesome discovery just a few weeks before she is due to leave sees her under police scrutiny again. Then Charli finds a hidden message, a cry for help, from someone within the nearby closed community called The Sanctuary. 

Narrated in first person by Charli who has bouts of depression, I found myself questioning her actions and reasoning. Erina Reddan had me reeling back and forward with who could be trusted and what the truth was.

Reddan digs deep into communal living and exactly how voluntary joining a cult is when they prey on the vulnerable.

Deep in the Forest starts out at a slow pace as the scene is set but as the story twists and turns and the suspense ramps up it had me questioning what I thought was true right up to the adrenaline fuelled ending.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Wednesday 11 October 2023

Book Review: Girl in the Rearview Mirror by Kelsey Rae Dimberg

 Girl in the Rearview Mirror

by

Kelsey Rae Dimberg

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Publication date: 25th June 2019
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Pages: 384
RRP: $29.99AU (trade paperback)
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 

Review: Girl in the Rearview Mirror

I wasn't sure how I would enjoy this when I first started reading, as it had a political lean, but I surprised myself and raced through it in a day!
 
Finn Hunt moves to Arizona to invent a new life and leave her past behind. After a chance meeting with Philip Martin, the son of a US Senator, she is offered a position as nanny to Amabel, Philip and Marina's 4 year old daughter. Ensconcing herself into their luxury lifestyle Finn is besotted with the charismatic Philip and would do anything to protect him.

There was a lot going on in this story; media hype, stalkers, parties and plenty of lies and secrets.

I did find Finn to be extremely annoying, she made lots of bad decisions. However I did feel sorry for her as she thought she was part of the family, not simply an employee. I do think if her character had been a bit better fleshed out this would have been a five star read.

Dimberg slowly feeds the reader snippets of Finn's past which builds on the mystery whilst at the same time Finn's obsession with Philip has her digging into his past bringing up information that the family would rather leave buried.

The Girl in the Rearview Mirror has a twisty plot where the lines of what is truth and what is false blur into each other. A totally addictive story that kept me reading until the final dramatic ending. 

The Girl in the Rearview Mirror is a fabulous debut. I'm looking forward to Kelsey's next novel.

My rating 4 / 5   ⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Kelsey Rae Dimberg received an MFA from the university of San Francisco and studied at the Barrett Honors College of Arizona Sate University, where she was editor-in-chief of the literary magazine Lux, and received the Swarthout Award in Fiction. Girl in The Rearview Mirror is her first novel. Kelsey has lives in eight states and currently resides in Milwaukee.

Monday 25 September 2023

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.


Saturday 23 September 2023

Book Review: Simply Lies by David Baldacci

 Simply Lies

by

David Baldacci

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Publication date: 28th march 2023
Series: Mickey Gibson #1
Genre: Crime / Mystery
Pages: 400
RRP: $34.99 (trade paperback)
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 

Review: Simply Lies

I'm sorry to say that Simply Lies was not my favourite David Baldacci novel!
I absolutely loved the Atlee Pine series and couldn't get enough of her. I was sorry to see the series end.
 
Simply Lies is the first book in a new series featuring protagonist Mickey Gibson. Gibson is a former detective now working for private investigation company ProEye, tracking down the hidden assets of the extremely wealthy who have mounting debts.
 
Gibson is conned into investigating the death of a known criminal and once she is in, there is no backing out.
Simply Lies has a very complicated plot and I couldn't understand Mickey's motivation to become so involved in this case.
There weren't a lot of characters in the novel but everyone had two, sometimes three, different names. Baldacci includes lots of dialogue and internal monologue - two of my pet hates.

I did enjoy the unexpected twists in the story and I have to admit the plot wasn't at all predictable.
I definitely plan on giving the next Mickey Gibson novel a try as I know Baldacci can write a compelling five star worthy novel.

My rating 2 / 5 ⭐⭐

About the author

David Baldacci is one of the world’s bestselling and favourite thriller writers. A former trial lawyer with a keen interest in world politics, he has specialist knowledge in the US political system and intelligence services, and his first book, Absolute Power, became an instant international bestseller, with the movie starring Clint Eastwood a major box office hit. He has since written more than forty bestsellers featuring, most recently, Amos Decker, Aloysius Archer, Atlee Pine and John Puller. David is also the co-founder, along with his wife, of the Wish You Well Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting literacy efforts across the US.
 
Other books I've read by David Baldacci:
 
 
 
 

Wednesday 20 September 2023

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.
 

Friday 15 September 2023

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.


Wednesday 6 September 2023

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
 

Thursday 31 August 2023

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.


Sunday 27 August 2023

Book Review: The Murders at Fleat House by Lucinda Riley

 The Murders at Fleat House

by

Lucinda Riley

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Publication date: 31st may 2022
Genre: Crime / Mystery
Pages: 576
RRP: $32.99AU (trade paperback)
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 

Review: The Murders at Fleat House

The Murders at Fleat House is one of three books Riley originally wrote in 2006 and she never had the opportunity for extensive rewrites. Her son, Harry Whittaker, decided to publish the book with only the bare minimum of edits to preserve Lucinda's voice.
 
I did notice The Murders at Fleat House wasn't as polished as previous Lucinda Riley books I have read. That aside, it was still a compelling mystery read with many of the characters hiding secrets.
 
DI Jazmine Hunter moves to Norfolk leaving her career at the police force behind after a devastating marriage breakup. Encouraged by her superior to take on more case before she resigns, Jazz is sent to investigate the suicide of Charlie Cavendish, a student at Fleat House.
 
As Jazz tries to unravel the night of Charlie's death, more and more mysteries emerge. The chapters ending on little cliff hangers had me eager to read on.
There are quite a few characters in this story and plenty had a reason to dislike Charlie. They all have some mystery or secret surrounding them which had me jumping from one suspect to another. Secrets run deep in the closed community of Fleat House boarding school and DI Jazz Hunter must dig deeper to uncover them. I was totally hooked!
 
The Murders at Fleat House is a compelling murder mystery and a wonderful addition to Lucinda Riley's works.
 
My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
 
About the author
 
 Lucinda Riley was born in Ireland and, after an early career as an actress in film, theatre and television, wrote her first book aged twenty-four. Her books have been translated into thirty-seven languages and sold thirty million copies worldwide. Lucinda's The Seven Sisters series, which tells the story of adopted sisters and is inspired by the mythology of the famous star cluster, has become a global phenomenon. The series is a number one bestseller across the world and is currently in development with a major TV production company.  Lucinda was diagnosed with cancer in 2017 and died in June 2021.


Wednesday 26 July 2023

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.

Wednesday 12 July 2023

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.

Saturday 1 July 2023

Book Review: After the Smoke Clears by Kylie Kaden

 After the Smoke Clears

by

Kylie Kaden

A family. A small town. A lifetime of secrets.
 
Publisher: Pantera Press
Publication date: 2nd May 2023
Genre: Crime / Rural
Pages: 320
RRP: $32.99AU (paperback)
Source: courtesy of Beauty & Lace Book Club

This review first appeared on Beauty and Lace Book Club
 

Review: After the Smoke Clears

School teacher Lotti finds herself falling for August Nash and his 6 year old son Otto. Auggie has a bad boy outer shell but a mushy and gentle heart although he refuses to open up about his past. When August heads back to his hometown after receiving an urgent call for help from a friend, Lotti along with Otto decides to follow him.

As she asks around in Auggie’s hometown she starts to wonder if she really knows the man at all. What dark secrets is he hiding?

After the Smoke Clears, narrated by both Auggie and Lotti in present day 2009 and also by Auggie in 1989, is a compelling mystery read that slowly unfolds over both timelines.

Kylie Kaden has written a small country town mystery with themes of institutionalised abuse, mental illness, feeling of shame and victimisation.

I loved all the 80’s nostalgia throughout the story and Kaden’s depiction of small town policing and bullying were well portrayed. I did however find the story a bit too angst ridden for my liking and I felt the plot kept running round in circles and not moving forward fast enough for me. Still, a compelling read.

 
My rating 3.5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐½ 

About the author

Kylie Kaden has an honours degree in psychology, was a columnist at My Child Magazine, and now works in the disability sector.
She knew writing was in her blood from a young age when she snuck onto her brother's Commodore 64 to invent stories as a child. Raised in Queensland, she spent holidays camping with her family on the Sunshine Coast.
With a surfer-lawyer for a husband and three spirited sons, Kylie can typically be found venting the day's thoughts on her laptop, sometimes in the laundry so she can't be found.
After the Smoke Clears is her fifth novel.

You can read my review of One of Us by Kylie Kaden at this link: https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogspot.com/2022/07/spotlight-on-other-books-ive-read-this.html
 

Saturday 17 June 2023

Book Review: The Ghost of Gracie Flynn by Joanna Morrison

 The Ghost of Gracie Flynn

by

Joanna Morrison

Publisher: Fremantle Press
 
Publication date: 5th October 2022
 
Genre: Crime / Mystery
 
Pages: 288
 
RRP: $32.99AU (Paperback)
 
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 

My review of The Ghost of Gracie Flynn

I raced through this book! It is such a great read!
Don't let the title deter you, The Ghost of Gracie Flynn is not a paranormal story.
 
 Narrated in second person by Gracie's ghost as she is telling the story to baby Isla, the daughter of her onetime friend Sam.
Gracie's second person omniscient point of view did take me a couple of chapters to get used to but I quickly became immersed in the story.

The novel opens with a death, but it's not Gracie, so I was immediately thrown into a double mystery.
A chance meeting of old college friends Sam, Cohen and Robyn brings up old memories and reopens old wounds. They haven't seen each other since Gracie died and they each went their own separate ways almost two decades ago. The four friends were inseparable at Uni.

Through the dual timeline narration we get a sense of how the three are now and how close they all were when younger.
The plot is easy to follow, even though it jumps between then and now, it is easy to read and flows well. The mystery of Gracie's death kept me invested and gives an extra layer of connection when narrated by Gracie herself.

Each of the three friends went on to be quite successful in life, but not in love, and the chance meeting comes at a time when their lives seem to be falling apart.
With themes of love, happiness, loss, unrequited love and obsession The Ghost of Gracie Flynn is a story full of simmering menace. Compulsive reading!

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Joanna Morrison has a background in journalism and a PhD in Creative Writing. Her short fiction has appeared in Australian literary journals and anthologies. In 2020, The Ghost of Gracie Flynn was shortlisted for the City of Fremantle Hungerford Award. Joanna lives in Perth with her husband, two sons and a miniature schnauzer, Scout.


 
 
 

Tuesday 16 May 2023

Book Review: Into the Night by Fleur McDonald

 Into the Night

by

Fleur McDonald

Arson, suicide or worse? Detective Dave Burrows investigates his most mystifying case.
 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 4th April 2023 
 
Genre: Crime / Rural
 
Pages:  352
 
RRP: $29.99AU (paperback)
 
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 

My review of Into the Night

Fleur McDonald has delivered another compelling crime novel with Into the Night.
 
Det. Dave Burrows is called in to assist with investigations into the disappearance of a farmer after his farm goes up in flames.
 
I'm always excited when I hear another Dave Burrows novel is coming out. It's not by chance that Dave is loved by readers all over Australia. Fleur McDonald writes authentic characters with relatable problems and Dave may be tough but he wears his heart on his sleeve.
 
I was quickly pulled into the mystery of Leo's disappearance and with chapters ending on little cliffhangers I was urged to read that 'one more chapter', as the mystery deepens and the story becomes all the more engrossing.
 
Running through the police investigation Fleur includes many themes relating to farming and small rural communities. Such as; small towns dying off when there is no work, the risk of fires, marriage problems due to the relentless work hours of farmers, sibling rivalry and cash flow problems.
 
I loved the way Dave and his mentor, Bob Holden, bounce off each other and the clear affection that they have for each other.
Dave Burrows is the quintessential Aussie hero. Into the Night is a must read for rural crime fans!
 
My rating 5 / 5   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
 
About the author
 
Fleur McDonald has lived and worked on farms for much of her life. After growing up in the  small town of Orroroo in South Australia, she went jillarooing, eventually co-owning an 8000-acre property in regional Western Australia.
Fleur likes to write about strong women over-coming adversity, drawing on inspiration from her own experiences in rural Australia. She has two children and an energetic kelpie.
 
www.fleurmcdonald.com