Reviewed by Rod McLary In 1990, Patricia Cornwell in her first book Postmortem introduced the world to Dr Kay Scarpetta – a forensic pathologist. Thirty-two years later, Dr Scarpetta appears in the 26th book featuring her along with her [now] husband Benton Wesley, her investigator Pete Marino, her niece Lucy and her sister Dorothy with
Reviewed by Ian Lipke Professor Frank Bongiorno has produced a political history of Australia by focusing on people types, those he can loosely call dreamers and some that are schemers, the assumption being that individuals fall into one character type or the other. Alternatively, he must argue that those falling outside these typologies must have
Reviewed by Gerard Healy This is a racehorse-centred crime novel by Felix Francis, younger son of Dick Francis, the late great exponent of horse-racing mysteries. The central character is Sid Halley, retired champion jockey and investigator of racecourse intrigues. He was a character in four of Dick’s novels, starting with Odds Against (1965) and the
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Told in the first person, this book covers the life of a young Korean girl who came to Australia for her education and ended up a singing sensation. Eight pages of photographs divide the book into two sections. The first part highlights her life before she reached the grand final of
Reviewed by Ian Lipke John Grisham cannot help himself. No sooner has one legal thriller been dispensed with than he is into another. His latest, The Boys from Biloxi, is not to be taken too seriously but is a story of good versus villainous in the context of something called justice. Biloxi is pitched as
Reviewed by Rod McLary Alex Miller is one of Australia’s finest writers – and is the winner of Miles Franklin Literary Awards for The Ancestor Game [in 1992] and Journey to the Stone Country [in 2003] and has won several other awards. A Brief Affair is his fifteenth novel and, as he does in his
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Anh Do is a Vietnamese-born Australian author, actor, comedian, and artist. He has appeared on many Australian TV shows. He is probably best known for his book The Happiest Refugee, and his TV show Anh’s Brush with Fame. But this talented man has written over thirty children’s books in several series.
Reviewed by Margaret Elizabeth Today, right now, you could be living or working next to a woman suffering from domestic violence. A woman who needs your help. Daughters of Durga: Dowries, Gender Violence and Family in Australia (2022) exposes the causation of dowry-based violence perpetrated against women from Southeast Asia. Women living in Australia. Professor
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke The Wonder of Little Things is the life story of Ngadjuri Elder, Vince Copley, who in his 85 years helped make life a little better for First Nations people. At the urging of his wife, Brenda, he embarked on this writing with the help of Irish-Australian Lea McInerney who also grew
Reviewed by Margaret Elizabeth ‘Right is Right’ proclaims the political slogan of the Delegation, forever associated with the image of sixteen-year-old Sonya Kantor. Suddenly, a revolution turns fame to infamy and Sonya is imprisoned in the Aperture for life, transformed from feted Poster Girl to the living symbol of the evils of the old regime.
Reviewed by Norrie Sanders Tim Faulkner is one of those blokes in the green gear who mesmerises kids with his stories about Australian wildlife, while demonstrating how to milk a venomous snake or grab an enraged croc. He channels decades of similar characters – from Harry Butler to Steve Irwin and Ranger Stacey – who
Reviewed by Richard Tutin Oppression is rife in the world. It always has been and probably always will be. History indicates that there has never been a moment when oppression has been totally eradicated. If that is the case, then oppressive actions and desires need to be managed. However, oppression has an equally insidious companion
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke This 29×26 cm hard covered book with dust jacket is a life in pictures and words from the Banjo Paterson Family Archive. All types of personal memorabilia have been brought together for the first time by Banjo’s great-grandson, and sole executor of the poet’s literary estate, Alistair Campbell, with intimate commentary
Reviewed by Ian Lipke A book of essays by Colm Tóibín is a perfect reason for excitement. His latest, A Guest at the Feast, provides warm support to the reputation this international writer enjoys. Colm Tóibín was born in Ireland in 1955. He is the author of Nora Webster, and seven other novels, including The Blackwater Lightship, The
Reviewed by Ian Lipke When Adam Brewster, the protagonist of John Irving’s new novel, The Last Chairlift finds himself enmeshed in an incestuous affair with his unmarried mother, all the signs flash “Beware! This book may not be worth the time needed to read it.” The fleshpots are further indicated by the naming of the