Tuesday 19 March 2024
Book Review: Devil's Lair by Sarah Barrie
Friday 8 March 2024
Book Review: The Accident by Fiona Lowe
The Accident
by
Fiona Lowe
Review: The Accident
Saturday 2 March 2024
Book Review: The Beacon by P. A. Thomas
The Beacon
by
P. A. Thomas
Review: The Beacon
Sunday 21 January 2024
Book Review: Her Time to Shine by Fiona McCallum
Her Time to Shine
by
Fiona McCallum
Review: Her Time to Shine
Saturday 6 January 2024
Book Review: The Milliner of Bendigo by Darry Fraser
The Milliner of Bendigo
by
Darry Fraser
Review: The Milliner of Bendigo
Friday 29 December 2023
Book Review: Fat, Fifty & Fu*ked by Geoffrey McGeachin
Fat, Fifty & Fu*ked
by
Geoffrey McGeachin
Review: Fat, Fifty & Fu*ked
Wednesday 8 November 2023
Book Review: Voices in the Dark by Fleur McDonald
Voices in the Dark
by
Fleur McDonald
Review: Voices in the Dark
Friday 15 September 2023
Book Review: Sleepless in Stringybark Bay by Susan Duncan
Sleepless in Stringybark Bay
by
Susan Duncan
Review: Sleepless in Stringybark Bay
Wednesday 6 September 2023
Book Review: Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor
Dirt Town
by
Hayley Scrivenor
Review: Dirt Town
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: The Summer Place by Janette Paul
The Summer Place
by
Janette Paul
Review: The Summer Place
Book Review: Mole Creek by James Dunbar
Mole Creek
by
James Dunbar
Review: Mole Creek
Sunday 20 August 2023
Book Review: One Good Thing by Alexandra Potter
One Good Thing
by
Alexandra Potter
Review: One Good Thing
Wednesday 26 July 2023
Book Review: Four Dogs Missing by Rhys Gard
Four Dogs Missing
by
Rhys Gard
Review: Four Dogs Missing
Wednesday 12 July 2023
Book Review: The Dry by Jane Harper
The Dry
by
Jane Harper
Review: the Dry
Sunday 2 July 2023
Book Review: The Stolen Hours by Karen Swan
The Stolen Hours
by
Karen Swan
Review: The Stolen Hours
Saturday 1 July 2023
Book Review: After the Smoke Clears by Kylie Kaden
After the Smoke Clears
by
Kylie Kaden
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.
Friday 9 June 2023
Book Review: The Money Club by Fiona Lowe
The Money Club
by
Fiona Lowe
My review of The Money Club
Tuesday 16 May 2023
Book Review: Into the Night by Fleur McDonald
Into the Night
by
Fleur McDonald
Publisher: Allen & Unwin