Reviewed by Wendy Lipke
Australian author, Kate Solly, has published two novels in her ‘Paradise Heights’ mystery fiction series. The latest, The Paradise Heights Miniature Railway Bust-up, was released in April 2026. Her first book – Tuesday Evenings with the Copeton Craft Resistance –was a stand-alone novel.
These stories are based around a craft group who meet regularly at the Many Hands craft shop. As well as being a social get together for young mums, the members try to work out ways to promote the store. Like most such social groups it is made up of people with diverse personalities and things do not always run smoothly. The reader is likely to identify some of these personalities in their own groups and the one-up-manship that often surfaces.
The main character, Fleck Parker, has ADHD and gets frustrated with being tied down by housework and child-raising activities. She has three young children, one still a baby. She is often bored and needs to get out of the house, so she enjoys catching up with others. Although this is a craft group, Fleck is more interested in solving problems and considers herself an amateur sleuth. She has had success in the past.
ADHD, according to the author, comes with a persistent drive to create, an ability to see patterns and make connections, and flexible thinking. Her husband, who volunteers at the Miniature Railway, has told Fleck about merchandise which appears to have gone missing. This is just the kind of mystery Fleck likes to try to solve.
She is helped by her good friend Trixie and Fleck’s male neighbour, Ranveer, an accountant. They make an unlikely trio. As she delves deeper into the role of information collecting the reader learns more about the characters and their motivations. The cover of the book depicts key elements of this story in craft form. Each chapter is accompanied by a sketch of miniature train engine.
In this book the pace is quite tranquil until the last chapter when Fleck’s realisation of what has been happening and why, is accompanied by fear, danger and dramatic action.
This series of stories is presented in the style of the Miss Marple, Agatha Christie books. However, Fleck is not working with the police. They become involved after the mystery is solved if the situation requires them, as is the case in this story.
Other books in this series are Tuesday Evenings with the Copeton Craft Resistance and The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-Up.
In writing circles, authors talk about people being ‘plotters’ (write a plan first, then write your book) or ‘pantsers’ (fly by the seat of your pants). Kate Solly probably falls somewhere in the middle between these two extremes. As a result, her writing is quite humorous and full of everyday domestic occurrences.
Readers may have come across other more serious work by this author under the name of Kate Moriarty. She is a happily married mother of six, freelance columnist, author and reviewer.
The Paradise Heights Miniature Railway Bust-up
(2026)
by Kate Solly
Affirm Press (Simon & Schuster)
ISBN: 9 781922 863058
$34.99; 288pp