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.

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:

Daylight

 

Long Road to Mercy

 

Mercy

 

Minute to Midnight

 

6:20 Man

Book Review: The Magpie's Sister by Kerri Turner

 The Magpie's Sister

by

Kerri Turner

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 2nd May 2023 

Genre: Historical Fiction 

Pages: 336

RRP: $32.99 (Trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: The Magpie's Sister 

Who doesn't love a circus! The Magpie's Sister is an evocative and moving story about an Australian circus and the performers' lives.

The Magpie's Sister focuses on two main characters, both given to the circus, under different circumstances, at a young age. The story is told in the dual narration of Maggie, who suffers from a facial deformity, and Charlotte, the beautiful tightrope walker. The pair start to become friends but lies and deceit will test the delicate line of trust they have developed.

Set in Australia in 1911 I found it heartbreaking at how cruel people could be. This was a time when the circus was the only place people with a deformity could live some semblance of a normal life. Not all circuses were as kind and benevolent as the one Kerri Turner depicts in The Magpie's Sister.

I loved all the descriptions of circus life, the moving from town to town, and the fact that not everyone was happy to have the circus in town. It was a hard life.

The story brought back many happy memories of attending circuses when I was young and also attending with my own children.

 

Kerri Turner has written a fascinating and heartfelt story of friendship and letting people in. Family is not always the one you are born into!

 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Kerri Turner is an Australian author of historical fiction. Her books and short stories focus on female roles throughout history that have been largely overlooked or forgotten, and often include elements of the performing arts. Her short stories have appeared in several national and international publications. With a Diploma of Publishing and an Associate Degree (Dance), she splits her time between writing, and teaching ballet and tap dancing to seniors.

Also by Kerri Turner: https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-daughter-of-victory-lights-by-kerri.html

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.

 

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.

The Perfumist of Paris by Alka Joshi

 The Perfumist of Paris

by

Alka Joshi

Publisher: Harlequin Australia

Publication date: 5th April 2023

Series: The Jaipur Trilogy #3

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 384

RRP: $32.99

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

 Review: The Perfumist of Paris

The Perfumist of Paris is the third book in The Jaipur trilogy by Alka Joshi. Not having read the first two books I did find my connection with the main character Radha was flimsy. However I never felt like I had missed something plot wise during my reading of the book.  

 

The Perfumist of Paris is set in 1974 with Radha forging a career in the perfume industry. A career she loves and is good at.

Through Radha, Alka Joshi portrays the guilt that all working mothers have. Whether it's having to work or wanting to work, as Radha did, the guilt that their children, and husband, are being neglected is all consuming. 

I've never really contemplated how perfume is developed and I found the process and the areas of inspiration that Radha followed was fascinating.

I loved both the setting of Paris and also that of India and how different each country was. It was easy to become immersed in the sites, smell and cuisine of both countries.

 

There is the addition of a compelling mystery worked through the plot and also a long held secret from Radha's past that catches up with her. 

The Perfumist of Paris is a fast, immersive read about being true to yourself, finding your passion and accepting past mistakes. I would however recommend reading the trilogy from the beginning.

My rating 3 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Alka Joshi was born in India and raised in the U.S. since the age of nine. She has a BA from Stanford University and an MFA from California College of Arts and runs an advertising and marketing agency. She has lived in France and Italy and currently lives in Pacific Grove, California, with her husband.

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