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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Book Review: Love Objects by Emily Maguire

 Love Objects

by

Emily Maguire

 

A stunning, simply told story of great compassion and insight, from the author of the Stella Prize-shortlisted An Isolated Incident.  

 

 

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

 

Publication date: 30th March 2021

 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

 

Pages: 400

 

RRP: $32.99AUD

 

Format read: Uncorrected paperback proof

 

Source: Won
 

 

About the book

 

 Nic is a forty-five-year-old trivia buff, amateur nail artist and fairy godmother to the neighbourhood's stray cats. She's also the owner of a decade's worth of daily newspapers, enough clothes and shoes to fill Big W three times over and a pen collection which, if laid end-to-end, would probably circle her house twice.

The person she's closest to in the world is her beloved niece Lena, who she meets for lunch every Sunday. One day Nic fails to show up. When Lena travels to her aunt's house to see if Nic's all right, she gets the shock of her life, and sets in train a series of events that will prove cataclysmic for them both. 

 

My review

 

I have to mention the stunning cover of this book which perfectly depicts it's inner story of a woman totally consumed by her surroundings.

 

Nic is a middle-aged woman who has a whole consuming empathy for inanimate objects. She feels these objects have feelings of loneliness and rejection. Her obsession with collecting, or in her mind saving, these items has filled her home to the level that it is unsafe to live in.

 

Nic's niece Lena, at twenty, is experiencing life away from home, living in a Uni share apartment, when one disastrous relationship, with the Uni's hot jock, has her image plastered all over the internet. 

 

Emily Maguire gives her readers two very different story lines. Nic's hoarding was well written with her emotions and thoughts being openly and sensitively portrayed. Maguire took us right into Nic's head and it was easy to feel empathy for her. Whereas Lena's predicament related more to a young adult audience. Her narrative was crass and sexually explicit. I felt her problem wasn't as overwhelming as she made it. Explicit images put on the internet is not uncommon and I think young women know how to deal with this. Change your phone number for a start!!

 

I could appreciate Maguire's connection between what Lena did to Nic and what happened to Lena as both of them felt violated but I don't think Lena saw that connection which should have been the whole point of the story.

There is also a third narrative of Lena's brother, Will, trying to restart his life after a stint in jail and a relationship breakdown.

 

I enjoyed the themes of class, family, moving on and compromise but I felt Lena's problem was all wrapped up too neatly.

I was after a story on the psychology of hoarding and although I did get this I wasn't particularly interested in Lena's or Will's stories.

 

My rating 2.5-3 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐

 

About the author

 

Emily Maguire is the author of six novels, including the Stella Prize and Miles Franklin Award shortlisted An Isolated Incident, and three non fiction books. Her articles and essays on sex, feminism, culture and literature have been published widely, including in The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, The Observer and The Age. Emily works as a teacher and as a mentor to young and emerging writers and was the 2018/2019 Writer-in-Residence at the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney.

 

 

 
Challenges Entered: Australian Women Writers Challenge AWW2021

 

                                   Aussie Author Challenge #Aussieauthor21

 

 

 

Book Review: What Would LaVonda Robinette Do? by Kirsten Maron

What Would LaVonda Robinette Do?

by

Kirsten Maron 

 

Can she really get away with murder?

 

 

 

Publisher: Shawline Publishing Group

 

Publication date: May 2021

 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction 

 

Pages: 419

 

RRP: $24.95AUD 

 

Format read: Paperback

 

Source: Courtesy of Beauty & Lace Book Club

 

 

About the book

 

LaVonda Robinette likes to take charge, and yes, she can be a little bossy, because sometimes that is the only way to get things done. But lately, LaVonda's life is spinning out of her control: Her husband of twenty-five years walks out, she has a horrible run-in with a colleague, and to make matters worse, she experiences her first hot flush in a crowded supermarket. On her birthday.

It is enough to drive a person to murder.

After her colleague is accidentally, but conveniently killed, LaVonda is left in a bit of a state. The appropriate thing to do would be to confess and accept her punishment. And she will. But maybe she could put right a few wrongs first? Not everything is as straight-forward as LaVonda would like though and bumping people off is proving to be rather tricky.

Does she have what it takes?

Will her newfound interest put herself, and her family, in danger?

 

My review

 

Who would have thought menopause and murder would combine to make such a darkly funny and enjoyable read!

LaVonda has a lot to contend with at the moment; her husband has left her for a younger woman, she is being bullied and shut down by the new person at work, she is obligated to visit her elderly abusive mother and on top of all that she is stricken with hot flushes that descend without warning. It's little wonder LaVonda's thoughts turn to murder. Her life would be so much easier without these people.

 

Kirsten Maron's writing is entertaining as she builds intrigue through a witty narrative. LaVonda is extremely likeable even though she has a deviated moral sense, we see most of her dark thoughts through her internal monologue. 

 

Many of the books themes will resonate with middle-aged women; hot flushes, mood swings, forgetfulness, paranoia, perceived invisibility and murderous thoughts.

 

"I've become invisible, Ann. People keep bumping into me as though they can't see me."

"It's our age. We're not relevant to society anymore so we're overlooked ......... we're sliding into middle-aged obscurity."

"It makes me furious ....... Any minor irritation flares straight into rage these days."

 LaVonda's sisters Maxine and Ann are wonderful support characters and lend for some additional threads to the story.

What Would LaVonda Robinette Do? is an engaging and witty read filled with, fierce and fabulous females, a storyline that will have you laughing out loud and a twist that I didn't see coming.

4 / 5   ⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Kirsten Maron writes fictional stories and What Would LaVonda Robinette Do? Is her second completed book.  

 

Kirsten has been creating stories since she first learned to write and at 6 won her first literary and only award with a cunning retelling of Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are. 

The frustrations of middle age provided Kirsten with the authorial fuel for writing her second book, but of course, unlike LaVonda, she would never actually murder anyone. 

Kirsten lives in rural NSW with her husband and several bossy kangaroos. She is currently working on her third novel; a sequel called What LaVonda Robinette Did Next.

 

 Challenges Entered: Australian Women Writers Challenge AWW2021

 

                                   Aussie Author Challenge #Aussieauthor21

 

Book Review: The Other Side of Beautiful by Kim Lock

The Other Side of Beautiful

by

Kim Lock

 

What happens when fate says 'go'?

 

 

Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises Australia

 

Imprint: HQ - Fiction

Publication date: 7th July 2021

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Pages: 368

RRP: $29.99AUD

Format read: Paperback

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

About the book

 

Meet Mercy Blain, whose house has just burnt down. Unfortunately for Mercy, this goes beyond the disaster it would be for most people: she hasn't been outside that house for two years now.

Flung out into the world she's been studiously ignoring, Mercy goes to the only place she can. Her not-quite-ex-husband Eugene's house. But it turns out she can't stay there, either.

And so begins Mercy's unwilling journey. After the chance purchase of a cult classic campervan (read tiny, old and smelly), with the company of her sausage dog, Wasabi, and a mysterious box of cremated remains, Mercy heads north from Adelaide to Darwin.

On the road, through badly timed breakdowns, gregarious troupes of grey nomads, and run-ins with a rogue adversary, Mercy's carefully constructed walls start crumbling. But what was Mercy hiding from in her house? And why is Eugene desperate to have her back in the city? They say you can't run forever...

 

My review

 

In The Other Side of Beautiful Kim Lock takes the reader on a journey. Not only a vividly described journey by land from Spalding, South Australia to Darwin, Northern Territory (over 3000 kms) but also a journey of self discovery.

The reader takes this eventful ride right along side Mercy and her pet dachshund, Wasabi.

 

Inspired by the author's own experience with acute anxiety Mercy Blain is a true to life character and her crushing fear felt very real.

 

The Other Side of Beautiful shows how a series of tragedies, one after another, can trigger anxiety and lead to a breakdown. How easy would it be to just hide in your house! That's exactly what Mercy has been doing for the last two years and the book opens with Mercy's home burning to the ground.

 

This all sounds a bit depressing but the story isn't at all depressing as Kim Lock has sprinkled the storyline with humour and quite a few scenes had me laughing out loud. We get to cheer Mercy on as she fights her irrational dread and wild imagination and starts a trip, a bit by accident and a bit on purpose, to prove to herself that she is more than her fear.

Along the way she will face quite a few dramas, some mini meltdowns, an old nemesis and make new friends.

 

The Other Side of Beautiful is rich in humour and vivid imagery of outback  Australian roads, towns and landscapes. This is a sensitive, honest, insightful and heartfelt story, not to be missed.

 

5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

About the author

 

Credit: Goodreads

Kim Lock is an internationally published author of four novels. Her writing has also appeared in Kill Your Darlings, The Guardian, Daily Life and The Sydney Morning Herald online, among others. She lives in regional South Australia with her family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Challenges Entered: Australian Women Writers Challenge AWW2021

 

                                   Aussie Author Challenge #Aussieauthor21

 

 

 

Book Review: Big Book of Baby Knits by Marie Claire Editions

 Big Book of Baby Knits

by

Marie Claire Editions

 

80+ Garment & Accessory Patterns

 

Publisher: Fox Chapel Publishing

Publication date: 24th August 2021-US

                      4th November 2021-AUS

Genre: Non Fiction / Craft

RRP: $22.99US

Preorder on AmazonAU: $26.19AUD

Pages: 192

Format read: eBook

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley

 

My review

 

I can't go past a knitting book and The Big Book of Baby Knits has a gorgeous cover which would immediately entice me to pick it up and have a browse.

 

In the front of the book is a section on getting started with basic stitch terms and abbreviations.

Each finished item is beautifully photographed. 

The book includes a vast array of baby items including: 

Blankets

Booties/shoes/socks 

Hooded jackets

Toys

sleeping bags

Beanies

Pants

Tops

Tunics

Overalls/rompers

 

Patterns have instruction for age ranges: newborn to 6months or 3months to 12 months.

There are only two patterns that go beyond the 12 month age. 

 

The majority of patterns are simple stocking stitch pattern with a couple of cable stitch patterns and one Intarsia pattern. 

 

I loved that this book features a modern take on classic baby knitting patterns with the colours of grey and navy used. I also liked the hoodie patterns and the long knitted baby pants. I would probably buy this book just for these patterns.

 

There are 7 patterns for toys that each match one of the clothing patterns. They are a cute addition although I don't have any interest in knitting toys. 

 

As babies have moved from booties and bonnets to shoes and beanies The Big Book of Baby Knits features lots of up to the minute patterns for the modern baby.

 

As I looked through the patterns for something to knit I found that the instructions are not fully explained leaving a lot up to the assumption that the knitter knows what to do.

I'm a lazy knitter and I just want to follow a pattern stitch for stitch and not have to work out each step.

The stitch pattern is definitely for beginners but you may want to have an experienced knitter on hand to go through some of the instructions. One pattern I simply gave up on because I had no idea what the instructions meant.

 

 The jacket I knitted

 

3 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐

 

 

 

Winners of a copy of Mirror Man by Fiona McIntosh announced!!

 

Once again I would like to thank everyone who entered my giveaway for a copy of Mirror Man. The giveaway closed on the 25th July and the two winners were randomly selected (using Random org) from all correct entries. 

Congratulations to........   Liz Dorrington & Sharon Hill

 The winners have been notified and have seven days to provide a mailing address.

Please look under the giveaway tab for more chances to win great books.

 I would like to thank The Reading Nook for sponsoring this giveaway. The Reading Nook is an independent Australian online bookstore.

Stay tuned as I have a giveaway coming soon for copies of Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Mailbox Monday - July 26th

 Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

 

 

Happy Monday!

 

We are still in lock down in NSW, Australia. I think it's been five weeks (I've lost track of all time). We are allowed to walk for exercise within 5 km of our home so the two book fairy drops that had been schedule in July still took place, leaving books around the parks and walking tracks. However the August drop has been postponed.

 

I haven't been doing a lot of reading but have resumed my knitting. I am making an afghan throw for Jay with 24 squares completed and 11 to go. Each square has a picture knitted into it.

 

 I also finished a little baby jacket that I was knitting from a review knitting book due to be released in August.

Books I've received and purchased over the last two weeks.

Christians by Greg Sheridan

 

The Eighth Wonder by Tania Farrelly 

 

Birds of a Feather by Tricia Stringer (release date 29 Sept) 

 

The Unusual Abduction of Avery Conifer by Ilsa Evans (release date 1 Sept) 

 

The Riviera House by Natasha Lester (release date 1 Sept) 

 

Do any of the above peak your interest? What have you received in your mail box recently?