Reviewed by E. B. Heath Apparently, human brains are drowning in an ocean of distraction; our focus is being commandeered by modern technology. For this reason, Johann Hari completely unhitched himself from the rigging of his digital life and sailed off to Provincetown, Cape Cod, to live as a pre-cyber-age man. His goal was to
Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve Children’s books are responsible for some of the best writing available today. Such is their quality that many which were published decades ago (Harry the Dirty Dog is just one example) are still very much loved today. One that is bound to join the group is the recently published August &
Reviewed by Gail McDonald Sheila Hancock is one of Britain’s most highly regarded and popular actors. Sheila received a Damehood for services to drama and charity in 2021; and only following the death of her husband John Thaw in 2002 took up writing. A memoir of their marriage The Two of Us was a number
Reviewed by Richard Tutin It is said that there are two certainties in life – death and taxes. While we are able to navigate to a certain extent the mysteries of the Tax Office, we are less knowledgeable about death. As a society we fear death even though it is part of how life is
Reviewed by Rod McLary Many older readers would readily recall the 1970s and 1980s in Queensland. Corruption seemed to be everywhere despite university students – and others – marching and protesting. Who can forget the sight of a police officer striking a young protester on the head during a street march in Brisbane? Who can
Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve The Murder Rule, which follows Dervla McTiernan’s previous three crime novels, is likely to enthrall her many fans. This novel is different however from The Ruin, The Scholar and The Good Turn in that it is set in Virginia, U.S.A. and winds its way convincingly through a background of American law.
Reviewed by Antonella Townsend The Registrar reads like a report from the trenches of an unremitting war. Thinly disguised as a novel, Dr. Neela Janakiramanan has written about her experiences as a trainee surgeon. Dr Neela Janakiramanan is a reconstructive plastic surgeon with expertise in hand and wrist surgery. She has worked extensively in both
Reviewed by Ian Lipke Victoria Aveyard was born and raised in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts but moved to Los Angeles to earn a BFA in screenwriting at the University of Southern California. She writes both books and sheet music. Aveyard’s Blade Breaker shows that she has the breadth of vision to imagine and produce a hefty
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Therese Anne Fowler is a contemporary American author, best known for her novels about strong women from history whose stories either have been mistold or are largely untold. She took advantage of the shutdowns during the pandemic to try her hand at something different; and tells the reader at the beginning
Frank Chalmers – Conviction Monday 18 July 2022 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM In store at Avid Reader Bookshop / ZOOM Online A town ruled by fear. A cop who won’t be broken. Ben Hobson is in-conversation with Frank Chalmers discussing his crime novel Conviction. A pulse-pounding debut thriller that pulls no punches. Queensland in 1976
Reviewed by Ian Lipke Blake Crouch is not only a novelist but a screenwriter as well. His books reveal a distinctively visual effect. He raises the question: what would be the effect on the human body if man were capable of accessing the next stage in human evolution? In the book under discussion, he proposes
Reviewed by Ian Lipke Readers can always rely on a fast-paced, intelligently-written and interesting thriller when Michael Robotham posts a new book. Following on When She Was Good and When You Are Mine comes his latest publication Lying Beside You, a thriller involving the kidnapping of young women. The advertising on the covers does its
Reviewed by Rod McLary This engaging novel, The Rider on the Bridge, opens with the narrator re-telling a story told to him of a young boy riding his bike – for a fee – blindfolded across a bridge. The narrator informs the reader that ‘the absence of truth does not diminish the story’ [8]; the
Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve David Walliams never fails to strike an irresistible and funny chord with young children. His latest series of books, including The World’s Worst Parents, The World’s Worst Teachers and The World’s Worst Children, have sold millions of copies and establishes him as one of the most successful children’s writers of all
Shortlist for the 2022 Ned Kelly Awards. The shortlisted titles in two of the categories are: Best debut crime fiction Sweet Jimmy (Bryan Brown, A&U) * Shadow Over Edmund Street (Suzanne Frankham, Journey to Words Publishing) Cutters End (Margaret Hickey, Penguin) Banjawarn (Josh Kemp, UWA Publishing) * Best crime fiction The Enemy Within (Tim Ayliffe, S&S) The Others (Mark Brandi, Hachette)