Reviewed by Rod McLary The basic premise for this novel is a rather daunting one. D – his full name is never revealed – is a psychopath held in a secure facility for crimes which also are never revealed. He has been asked by his psychiatrist to write down his thoughts, admissions and uncertainties. What
Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve Liane Moriarty’s books are undeniably popular. Over 20,000,000 copies have sold worldwide. She has been crowned the modern Jane Austen in her ability to capture modern urban life in all its variety, lacing this with her perceptive wit. Her writing is not ‘chick lit.’ escaping into a stereotypical world. Plots are
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke This novel by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding is set in the Hamptons in the United States. This setting is important as it describes the changing face and expectations of people now flocking to this area especially for the holiday season. Though enjoying the benefits these new people bring, the locals
Reviewed by Rod McLary The Youngest Son tells the story of the three Leach siblings – John, Maureen and Bob [the titular youngest son] – and the lives they make for themselves. In a sprawling tale spanning fifteen years [1929 to 1944] and the Great Depression and a World War, the action takes place on
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Readers of books by Australian author Léonie Kelsall will already be familiar with the fictional town of Settlers Bridge and the businesses Ploughs and Pies and Tractors and Tarts. What they may not know is that her latest book, The Homestead in the Eucalypts, was in fact the first book set
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke When reading this latest book by Fiona McArthur, I was reminded of segments from Macca’s Sunday programs and his book, Why I Live Where I Live: Australia All Over by Ian McNamara. Back to Birdsville certainly shows how this isolated location in outback Queensland, where the state abuts both the Northern
Reviewed by Rod McLary Serial killers are not common in Australia with the exception of two infamous examples who won’t be named here. So when crimes of this nature occur, perhaps more attention is given to them than would be in [say] the United States. The heinous crimes affect many people – the friends and
Reviewed by Richard Tutin When Australian radio was in its “Golden Age” during the 1940s and 50s, one of the mainstays of programming were drama plays and serials. People gathered around the sets of the day to listen to their favourite shows. They were keen to find out more about the fortunes of their favourite
Reviewed by Rod McLary There are some novels which defy easy categorisation – and Oblivion is one such novel. It is a lyrical and strangely moving story of an unnamed narrator as he travels through the East on an unspecified and rather mysterious task. The narrator spends his time in those detached places such as
Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve The winner of The Australian/Vogel prize for young hitherto unpublished authors of fiction is eagerly awaited, for it has launched some of our finest writers, amongst them, Tim Winton. First Year tells in convincing detail of the life of a very young drama student who has left her Gold Coast home
Reviewed by Rod McLary The alliterative title of this debut novel gives some indication of its nature – a tender, heartwarming and whimsical look at the borrowed life of Frederick Fife. But what does ‘borrowed life’ mean? Well, that is the theme of the novel. The setting up of the situation takes a little time.
Reviewed by Rod McLary From time-to-time, there are novels which grab the reader from the first line and never let go. When these novels come along – and there are so many of them – they are a joy to read; even more so when it is a debut novel. Anyone’s Ghost is such a
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Previously I have not had the pleasure of reading any of the work by Australian author, Petronella McGovern, and found her latest book, The Last Trace, to be a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I have since discovered that Petronella’s first novel, Six Minutes, was published in July 2019 and debuted on the
Reviewed by Rod McLary The evocative title and cover image – a teenage boy with bloodied knuckles – offers a preview of what will be found within the book’s covers. This debut novel by Daniel Tamone explores the far-reaching effects of family violence and the challenges inherent in any attempt to leave them behind. The
Reviewed by Rod McLary This debut novel by Jordan Prosser falls within a genre named ‘cyberpunk’ – that is, a novel set in a dystopian future with a combination of ‘lowlife and high tech’ and one where society is collapsing into a state of decay. The setting for the novel is a barely recognisable Australia