Review: Dark Sanctuary by Sarah Barrie

 I loved Sarah Barrie's Lexi Winter series, five star reads for me. (Links to those reviews below.) Barrie takes ordinary people and puts them in extraordinary situations and pushes them to their limits.

Dark Sanctuary starts with what seems to be three completely separate plots and it did take me a few chapters to get a feel for all the different characters and story lines. 

Beth Thompson is working through problems with her ex husband. She loves her job working at a nursing home caring for the residents.

Detective Sergeant Hex Rexford is staring down retirement. He is passionate about the case of a serial killer named the Witch Doctor whose victims have never been found.

Eve Harrington is a podcaster, her current investigative story is about mental healthcare and she is particularly interested in a local institute, Coast Sanctuary, and its practices.

Barrie's characters are passionate about what they do which makes them likeable. She pushes them all to their limits.

Dark Sanctuary is one dark, creepy story. As the three main characters' lives began to merge and the death count rose I was totally gripped by the story.

Dark Sanctuary is not only a gritty police procedural it also highlights domestic abuse, stalking and mental health care. Barrie raises pertinent questions such as, are serial killers born or raised and when is a mental health patient deemed fit enough to re-enter society.

Dark Sanctuary is filled with suspense and jaw-dropping twists. If you like your crime dark, verging on horror, Dark Sanctuary is a must read.

My four star rating reflects the fact that this was just a little too gory, freaky, scary for me. 😨

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: HQ Fiction

Publication date: 28th April 2026

Genre: Crime

Pages: 368

RRP: $32.99AU

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Other books I've read by Sarah Barrie

Unforgiven

Retribution

Vendetta

Devils Lair

Endgame

#darksanctuary #sarahbarrie #hqinsiders #aussieauthor #ausbookbloggers #crimefiction #aussiecrime

Review: What the Bones Know by Kirstyn McDermott

The descriptive country setting of the prologue, a farmer rescuing his bull from a flooded creek, did not prepare me for what was to come. What the Bones Know is a searing, gothic tale of past ghosts, family and long held secrets.

Set on the cusp of COVID lockdowns, Jude has returned home over concerns of her mother's declining cognitive health. Her return to the farm coincides with the discovery of a child's bones.

Plagued by nightmares that feel frighteningly real, Jude feels like she is on the brink of a breakdown.

McDermott pulls the reader ever deeper into the mystery with a foreboding air hanging over the story. The dark gothic/supernatural element gives an eerie feeling.

Jude is dealing with an ex-partner, an aging parent, the remoteness of country life and the COVID lockdown and its tribulations, all causing stress and anxiety.

Told in the present and also through breath-holding, suspense filled flashbacks. I was plunged into Jude's nightmare and the cliff-hanger chapter endings kept the pages turning.

Evocatively written with a beautifully described country setting What the Bones Know had me engaged from start to finish.

What the Bones Know is a haunting exploration of suppressed memory and family obligation.

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Harlequin Australia

Publication date: 1st March 2026

Genre: Mystery / Gothic

Pages: 307

RRP: $32.99AU

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Review: Piper at the Gates of Dusk by Patrick Ness

 Piper at the Gates of Dusk is a return to Patrick Ness' iconic world of Chaos Walking.

If you have read the Chaos Walking trilogy; The Knife of Never Letting Go, The Ask and the Answer and Monsters of Men, you will know the how and why the humans have inhabited this new world. If, like me, you haven't read the previous books you will have a lot of questions and be chomping at the bit to read the previous three books.

Piper at the Gates of Dusk takes place twenty odd years on from the Chaos Walking books. Viola and Todd are still very much around and part of the community but this series is about their sons, Ben and Max, and is narrated in the alternating point of view of the two boys.

Strange things are seen far off in the sky and burning monsters have appeared in the forests. A new threat is coming! The humans and lands live together but all is not harmonious as suspicion and racism abound.

Piper at the Gates of Dusk is rich in action, intrigue and politics. There is a desperate attempt to save the only world they now have and the only world the young people have ever known.

Patrick Ness has a sharp eye for teenage fears and hopes. His teen-aged protagonists struggle to be heard over overbearing adults who brush them off as too young to have valid solutions to the problems presented.

I raced through this book with its never ending action and intrigue.

With themes of activism, social justice, racism, disability and gender dysphoria Piper at the Gates of Dusk is a book for our times.

The book ends on a super cliffhanger that has me eager for the next book.

I absolutely have to read the previous trilogy as I have a multitude of questions. Did humans invade the New World? Were the Land indigenous to the planet? Did they start out working together, or was there always animosity? Did the humans learn nothing from the history of the Earth!!??

My rating 4.5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

Recommended age:12 - 18 years (quite suitable for the younger end of this age group)

Publisher: Walker Books

Publication date: 7th April 2026

Series: New World Trilogy #1

Genre: Young Adult / Sci Fi / Dystopian

Pages: 384

RRP: $29.99AU (paperback)

Source: ARC courtesy of the publisher

Review: Blue Skies by Fleur McDonald

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

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

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

Blue Skies is narrated through a dual timeline.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My rating 3.5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐½

Note: Dave Burrows is not in this novel

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 1st January 2010

Genre: Fiction / Small Town Fiction 

Pages: 328

Source: Own Copy

Review: The Wrong Daughter by Dandy Smith

I loved The Wedding Vow by Dandy Smith. It was addictive and fast paced full of red herrings and jaw dropping twists. The Wrong Daughter is every bit as addictive. I read it in one cold, wet, rainy day.

 

Smith pulls her readers straight into the mystery with a prologue showing how 13 year old Olivia is taken from her bedroom.

 

One plot line follows Caitlin sixteen years after Olivia's kidnapping. Caitlin is now twenty-six and she still isn't coping with the loss.

 

A second plot-line follows Elinor and Heath living on a secluded country estate. This plot has an overriding foreboding feeling that something isn't quite right. I was intrigued to see how these two very different plots would connect.

 

When Olivia suddenly shows up at their parents door Caitlin is ecstatic but as the weeks pass she is more and more convinced this woman is not Olivia.    

 

The Wrong Daughter is an addictive story of manipulation. Filled with adrenaline inducing suspense, a compelling mystery, and a few red-herrings to sift through. I thought I had it all worked out but, of course, I was wrong, and I love that!

 

The Wrong Daughter is definitely a roller coaster ride. It had me gripped right until the thrilling ending.

 

my rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

The Wrong Daughter by Dandy Smith 

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 3rd June 2025

Genre: Crime / Psychological Thriller 

Pages: 368

RRP: AU$22.99 ( B format paperback) 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

My review of The Wedding Vow: 

 https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogspot.com/2025/05/book-review-wedding-vow-by-dandy-smith.html

 

 

Book Review: After the Great Storm by Ann Dombroski

In After the Great Storm Ann Dombroski has created a dark apocalyptic world with violent storms that lash Sydney's CBD. 

Alice's husband Daniel is in prison charged with causing a derailment on the city's transport system resulting in lives lost. Anna believes Daniel is innocent and is gathering information to prove his innocence. 

I was immersed in a world where Alice is not only battling the catastrophic weather she is also trying to manage the mounting bills alone whilst contacting lawyers and gathering information about the faulty transport system. I could feel her desperation as she came up against corruption everywhere she looked for help. The number of people Alice could trust was shrinking fast.

 

When a woman arrives on her doorstep on the brink of death Alice can not turn her away and finds herself embroiled in the murky world of human experimentation. 

 

Set in 2075, After the Great Storm is a speculative fiction novel with an environmental lean. It is never explained why the violent storms are destroying the city and it appears that country areas were not affected. I would have liked more information on why this was happening.

 

I found the different plot-lines didn't feel cohesive although they did eventually come together.

 

The world of After the Great Storm has many areas of moral ambiguity as Alice chides a doctor for accepting bribes then offers him a bribe to perform her IVF procedure whilst her husband is in prison. 

With themes of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, human experimentation, biomimetic material for organ transplants, self drive pods and companion robots, it is a future world that is not unbelievable.

 

The beautifully described scenes and foreboding suspense kept me reading, eager to see how Alice would get her life back on track. 

After the Great Storm is the perfect read for fans of science fiction and apocalyptic novels.

 

My rating 3 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Transit Lounge

Publication date: 2nd February 2025

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 304

RRP: AU$32.99 (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher  

Book Review: Out in Nowhere by Fleur McDonald

 Out in Nowhere is the novel where we say goodbye to Detective Dave Burrows, the country detective who wears his heart on his sleeve. Readers have been through much with Dave and it's sad to see him hang up his hat. However, Barker Police Station looks to be in good hands with Constable Mia Worth.

 

Mia really proved she's got what it takes to be a great country cop in Out in Nowhere.

Fleur McDonald knows how to pull her readers into a story and I was fully invested within the first few pages.

A young farmer is found dead at the bottom of a windmill. It is written off as a farming accident by everyone including Dave, but Mia is not so sure and thinks more questioning and more digging needs to be done. I loved Mia's tenacity and drive!

When the deceased's old Uni friends gather for the funeral another of their group is found dead after a terrible accident.

 

With a compelling, tension filled mystery and cliff-hanger chapter endings Out in Nowhere is a book I found impossible to put down. I read it in one day.

 

Fleur McDonald writes about the hardships, remoteness and isolation of rural life with an authentic rural voice.

Out in Nowhere is a fitting, suspense filled ending to the Det Dave Burrows series.

 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 29th October 2024

Genre: Crime / Mystery / Suspense

Pages: 336

RRP: AU$32.99 (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher 

 

Other books I've read by Fleur McDonald

RED DUST

THE SHEARER"S WIFE 

BROAD RIVER STATION

VOICES IN THE DARK 

INTO THE NIGHT

DECEPTION CREEK 

WITHOUT A DOUBT

RED DIRT COUNTRY 

SOMETHING TO HIDE 

RISING DUST

SHOCK WAVES 

 

Book Review: The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth is a compelling mystery thriller centred around two married couples, Pippa & Gabe and Amanda & Max, and their unconventional love stories.

The Soulmate had me totally hooked right from the start! Sally Hepworth highlights all the messiness of marriage in this domestic suspense novel, and questions what makes the perfect marriage.

This is one of those stories where everyone is behaving badly and all the main characters have something to hide. So be prepared for unlikeable characters.

There is lots of back and forth with the then and now timelines which did cause some disconnection with the story for me.

The omniscient point of view of a character after they had died was a novel idea and I loved it!

The Soulmate is an  entertaining read filled with twists and turns. A story about love, family, betrayal, secrets and forgiveness. Sally Hepworth raises the question; What lengths would you go to for your soulmate?

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Content: suicide, postnatal depression, infidelity, mental illness.

Publisher: Macmillan Australia

Publication date: 25th October 2022

Genre: Mystery / Thriller

Pages: 320

Source: Own copy

Other books I've read by Sally Hepworth

THE MOTHER-IN-LAW

 

Book Review: Shadow City by Natalie Conyer

Shadow City is my first book by Natalie Conyer and as soon as I'd finished I was searching out more of her work.

Shadow City is set in both Sydney, Australia and Cape Town, South Africa. Conyer keenly portrays her characters' love for their hometowns and expertly depicts how hard it is to leave your home even when the situation is dire.

 

DS Jackie Rose is called after the discovery of the body of a young woman. The death is at first thought to be a drug overdose but as the pathologist examines the body it becomes clear this is a case of ongoing abuse and questions of people trafficking and enslavement arise.

Veteran Detective Schalk Lourens, disillusioned with life, and suspended from duty pending an ongoing inquiry, decides to visit his daughter in Australia. A friend asks him if he can look into the disappearance of a young South African woman who went to Australia a few months ago on a scholarship. Schalk is then introduced to Jackie and her team in Homicide.

 

I was swept away with this whole story. The police procedural was compelling and moved along at a fast pace as they pieced together snippets of information and CCTV footage.

 

I loved that the story wasn't all about the crime. We got to know the characters on a personal level and I enjoyed that lovely bit of chemistry between Schalk and Jackie.

Conyer has a sharp instinct for character rendering them real and likeable. I could see how I was cleverly steered to like or dislike the characters.

 

I was impressed by how Conyer adds diversity to her story and characters without it ever feeling contrived.

 

Shadow City always has plenty happening which keeps the pages turning and I have to say, 'I couldn't put this book down!"  The suspense builds slowly and the atmosphere sizzles with menace making Shadow City an utterly addictive read.

 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Content: There are mentions of people trafficking, enslavement and abuse however it isn't overly graphic.

 

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 3rd September 2024

Genre: Crime / Suspense

Pages: 325

RRP: AU$32.99 (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Book Review: Murder by Milkshake by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo

 Murder by Milkshake

by

Elizabeth Maria Naranjo

Publisher: Self Published

Publication date: 15th July 2024

Series: Sweet Dreams Mysteries #1

Genre: Cosy Crime / Mystery

Pages: 220

RRP: AU$4.44 (kindle)

Source: Courtesy of the author via WOW! Women on Writing

 

Review: Murder by Milkshake

Murder by Milkshake is the first in a cosy murder mystery series set around an ice-cream parlour.

Genevieve Winterland is our 17 year-old amateur sleuth who decides to investigate the disappearance of her favourite teacher.

I really like the relationship between Genevieve and her best friend Brandon. It shows teens that girls and boys can be friends without any romantic attachment.

Murder by Milkshake is a very sweet read and Genevieve is a likeable protagonist. I didn't know before I read it that it is a young adult read and it is perfectly suited to this age group of 12 - 18 years. Perfect for readers who like a sweet mystery with a spoonful of suspense and an extra scoop of ice-cream.

There are lots of mentions of ice-cream flavours focusing on Genevieve's work at the ice-cream parlour and how she mixes her own flavours. I would have liked some of Genevieve's secret recipes, they sounded delicious.

Light themes of following your dreams and teens as carers. A few red-herrings are included to throw the reader off the trail.

If you are after something not too taxing Murder by Milkshake is the perfect read; light and cosy it can be read in one sitting.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ages 12 - 18 years

 

Book Review: Codename Parsifal by Martin Roy Hill

 Codename Parsifal

by

Martin Roy Hill

A WWII Thriller

Publisher: 32-32 North

Publication date: 4th September 2023

Genre: Military Thriller

Pages: 221

RRP: AU$11.99 (kindle)

Source: eBook courtesy of the author

 

Review: Codename Parsifal

The Spear of Destiny. The Roman Legionnaire's lance that pierced Christ's body as he hung on the cross.

Legend claims whomever possesses it will become a great conqueror.

Martin Roy Hill has taken this legend and developed a compelling read that intricately weaves themes of betrayal, myth and WWII into the high-stakes world of special services as the Americans, Germans and Russians all race to find the legendary spear.

 

Codename Parsifal has a masterful blend of action and character development as we get to know the thoughts and actions of soldiers from each side of the war.

 

Hill skillfully portrays the psychological effect of belief as the spear is sort after for its power.

 

Set against the backdrop of the final days of WWII Hill uses vivid imagery and meticulous attention to detail to give a believable portrayal of the special services mission to find the authentic spear.

Hills expertise in crafting engaging action sequences is complemented by his ability to develop a rich, believable plot line.

 

Codename Parsifal is a thought provoking exploration of the idea of talismans, superstition and mysticism. 

 

my rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Book Review: All the Colours of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

 All the Colours of the Dark

by

Chris Whitaker

Publisher: Hachette Australia

Imprint: Orion

Publication date: 25th June 2024

Genre: Crime/ Mystery/ Thriller

Pages: 580

RRP: $32.99AU (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Good Reading

 

Review: All the Colours of the Dark

When Teenager Joseph 'Patch' Macauley is kidnapped his best friend Saint Brown makes it her mission to find him. Long after the authorities have given up Saint relentlessly looks for clues.

 

All the Colours of the Dark is a compelling crime read. I loved the short chapters that kept the story moving along at a fast pace and the 500+ pages flew by in no time.

 

The story starts with the abduction of a young teen and soon turns into a fast-paced mystery thriller that had me totally captivated.

 

A small town setting, flawed nuanced characters, lyrical prose and perfect imagery make All the Colours of the Dark an immersive and emotional read that spans almost three decades.

 

All the Colours of the Dark is an epic love story that will change the lives of two people forever, steering them towards an unknown destiny filled with heartache and despair. 

 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Book Review: You Me Her by Sue Watson

 You Me Her

by

Sue Watson

ONE MARRIAGE       THREE PEOPLE        ONE MURDER

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication date: 3rd June 2024

Genre: Thriller

Pages: 390

RRP: $4.99AU (Kindle eBook)

Source: eCopy courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: You Me Her

Rachel has recently moved to their new family home with her four-year-old son. Her husband Tom has been renovating the house over the last few months whilst Rachel sold their flat in Manchester. It was her husband's dream to live by the sea in Cornwall however past demons have caused Rachel to be terrified of water and overprotective of her son.

Maybe I've simply read too many domestic thriller books (the gas-lighting husband, devoted wife, crazy ex scenario) as I did find the plot of You Me Her to be a little predictable and I guessed the ending quite early.

 

That little quibble aside, I found Sue Watson's writing utterly addictive. I was totally creeped out by the story and even found myself holding my breath at times.

 

The suspense escalates throughout the book and I found myself jumping back and forward with who to believe.

I liked that  there were mentions of COVID and isolation and the effect this had on some people's mental health.

 

You Me Her is filled with chilling suspense which kept me glued to the page.

If you enjoy a gripping psychological thriller You Me Her will not disappoint.

 

My rating 3.5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐½ 

 

 

Book Review: Shock Waves by Fleur McDonald

Shock Waves

by

Fleur McDonald

When a bomb blast rips apart a quiet country town Detective Dave Burrows kicks into action.

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 3rd April 2024

Series: Detective Dave Burrows

Genre: Crime / Thriller / Suspense

Pages: 352

RRP: $32.99AU (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: Shock Waves

Shock Waves opens with gripping suspense right from the first page when a bomb is set off in a quiet country town. I was pulled straight into the mystery and I loved that Fleur McDonald didn't divulge too many clues making it nigh on impossible to guess the final reveal.

Fleur highlights many issues that are faced by farmers today and the bureaucracy they must all deal with via laws that have no leeway for compassion, driving some farmers over the edge.

Dave's greatest struggles in this novel are his own personal demons. The plot not only deals with the issues of farming and the bomb investigation but also Dave's psychological problems over not seeing his young daughters. We also see the heartfelt interactions between Dave and his boss, Bob Holden, as Bob struggles with ongoing medical treatment and letting go of his working career.

Shock Waves is another brilliantly written novel that champions farmers and remote communities whilst also giving readers a great dose of drama and suspense.

If you've read the later Dave Burrows novels we see a strong, resilient Dave sure of himself and happily married to Kim but he wasn't always like that. In Shock Waves we learn more about the young Dave, heartbroken after his marriage breakdown, he wears his heart on his sleeve.

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Reviews for other Fleur McDonald books I've read:

DECEPTION CREEK

INTO THE NIGHT

RED DUST 

RED DIRT COUNTRY

RISING DUST 

THE SHEARER'S WIFE 

SOMETHING TO HIDE

VOICES IN THE DARK

WITHOUT A DOUBT 

 

 

 

Book Review: Where the Dead Go by Sarah Bailey

 Where the Dead Go

by

Sarah Bailey

A MISSING GIRL. HER MURDERED BOYFRIEND. A COP ON THE EDGE.

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 4th August 2019

Series: Gemma Woodstock #3

Genre: Crime / Mystery

Pages: 464

RRP: $22.99AU (B format paperback)

Source: Uncorrected proof from publisher

 

Review: Where the Dead Go

As Into the Night wasn't a big hit with me I was eager to read the next Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock novel. Can Sarah Bailey recreate the atmosphere and suspense from The Dark Lake? Well that was a resounding Yes! I could not put this book down! I read it in two days picking it up every spare minute I had.

 

Where the Dead Go hooked me right from the prologue. A young teen out late at night after a fight with her boyfriend disappears without a trace.

 

In Into the Night Gemma was living in Melbourne and we find out she has since been living in Sydney with a new love interest, Mac. She is visiting her hometown of Smithson when a report of a murder and a missing teen, in a small town just north of Byron Bay, comes through. Gemma is keen to take the case and get away for a while.

 

Gemma is still full of self-doubt and crippling anxiety and has flash-backs of another missing teen case that didn't end well.

I love how Sarah Bailey portrayed the small seaside town of Fairhaven where everyone knew each other but there was still the underlying feeling that people were being evasive and secretive. I was quick to think many of the characters were a bit suspect and that Gemma shouldn't trust anyone.

 

Where the Dead Go was well plotted with plenty of drama that kept me turning the pages. 

The story ends with a bombshell from Gemma which I am sure will be played out in the next book. 

 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

 

THE DARK LAKE REVIEW

INTO THE NIGHT REVIEW

 

Book Review: Vendetta by Sarah Barrie

 Vendetta

by

Sarah Barrie

COP OR CRIMINAL? UNDERCOVER, THE LINES ARE A LITTLE BLURRY

 

Publisher: Harlequin Australia

Publication date: 15th November 2023

Series: Lexi Winter #3

Genre: Crime / Thriller

Pages: 400

RRP: $32.99AU (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: Vendetta

The much anticipated Lexi Winter #3 is here! 

In Vendetta by Sarah Barrie Lexi finds herself with no one to turn to for help, once again relying on her hacking skills to keep herself alive. It is not only Lexi's life that is at stake.

Dawny is back in book 3 and she is in fine form. Her quick wit and sarcasm cracks me up.

Lexi is still not sure if the police force is the right job for her when people from her past pop up again in her life.

Lexi didn't disappoint! She was tough and wanted it all her way, she doesn't concede to anyone, police or criminal.

The suspense ramps up as the pages turn and I was worried this could be the case that destroys Lexi.

The book ends on a teaser which makes me feel that the next book is  going to be even more heart-stopping - if that's possible!!

Vendetta is fast-paced and suspenseful, readers following the Lexi Winter series will not be disappointed.

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Other books in the series:

https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogspot.com/2022/01/book-review-giveaway-unforgiven-by.html

https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogspot.com/2023/02/book-review-retribution-by-sarah-barrie.html

 

 

Book Review: Voices in the Dark by Fleur McDonald

Voices in the Dark

by

Fleur McDonald

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 31st October 2023 

Genre: Rural / Suspense

Pages: 368

RRP: $32.99AU (trade paperback) 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via DMCPR

 

Review: Voices in the Dark 

I always eagerly await each new release by Fleur McDonald. Her knowledge of and dedication to small communities, farming and the problems they face shines through in her stories.

Voices in the Dark is a stand alone rural suspense novel featuring country cop Dave Burrows however he is not the main character in this story.

Sassi Stapleton is driving to Barker after a late night call asking her to come immediately as her grandmother is seriously ill. When Sassi doesn't arrive at the expected time, her uncle notifies Dave and the police get into action.

Fleur McDonald packs an emotional punch as the police, ambulance and emergency services work together in a harrowing rescue scene.

Voices in the Dark focuses on the Stapleton family and their struggles to reconnect and get over the demons of the past. There are lots of appearances from characters I have grown to love from previous books. Mia the young constable, Dave and Kim all have strong parts in this story. Lots of well placed backstory keeps new readers up to speed.

Fleur writes magnificent stories about country people, farming and the problems remote areas face but also highlights the special bond small communities have. Even though the gossip abounds they will do anything to help each other.

Voices in the Dark is a story about family secrets, elder abuse, letting go of resentments, moving forward and starting over. 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Book Review: Out of Breath by Anna Snoekstra

 Out of Breath

 by

Anna Snoekstra

Publisher: Harlequin Australia

Publication date: 6th July 2022

Genre: Suspense / Thriller

Pages: 320

RRP: $32.99AU (trade paperback)

Source: courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: Out of Breath

Out of Breath fell a little flat for me. There were a lot of scenes were a sense of foreboding built and then everything was fine. I felt maybe the author was trying to tease the reader with suspense building throughout the novel but it didn't really work for me.

 

The pace was slow however I did find the plot intriguing. Jo is on a working holiday in Australia and to maintain her Visa she must work as a fruit picker in the outback for a specified number of weeks. When the charismatic Gabe suggests she find the commune he is living on she leaves the farm but Jo soon finds she is in way over her head and she doesn't know who she can trust.

Reader empathy for the main character, Jo, is built up early in the novel and I found myself interested in her journey and wanting her to find peace within herself.

 

There are many wonderfully described moments throughout; with time on a mango farm, a trip through the Australian outback and deep diving for oysters. I think it was these moments, and the excellent sense of place that Snoekstra evokes, that saved the novel for me.

 

Out of Breath is an evocative read if you want to experience the remoteness of outback Australia, but I wouldn't really call it a thriller. 

3.5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐½

About the author

Anna Snoekstra is the author of Only Daughter, Little Secrets and The Spite Game. Her novels have been published in over twenty countries and sixteen languages. She has written for The Guardian, Meanjin, The Griffith Review, Lindsay, LiHub and The Saturday Paper.

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.