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Alyson
The only bookshop worker who reads crime/thrillers... so definitely ask Alyson for her recommendations.
More about me
1. Who are your auto-buy (you'll buy absolutely anything they write - even their shopping list) authors?
Sally Hepworth, Kate Grenville, Stacey Halls, David Sedaris, and Nigel Slater - an eclectic bunch that would feed all my appetites.
2. What's your favourite genre/s?
Right this minute it's historical crime fiction with female protagonists. I'm deep in the Edwardian era at the moment!
3. Do you judge a book by its cover?
I do even thought I should know better and I'm always happy to be shown the error of my ways.
4. What's your most anticipated release of 2024?
Whatever Gabbie Stroud and Stacey Halls have coming up.
5.How do you organize your personal bookshelves?
TBR/borrowed books/books I am keeping and I won't let out of my sight ever/reference books/books I'm saving for full immersion/Books for giving away.
6. What books are high on your TBR (to be read pile) this year?
Any of Gabbie Stroud's books, A Room Made of Leaves, The Benevolent Society of Ill Mannered Women (so much gothic fun), Shuggie Bain (devastating).
Favourites of 2024 so far:
The Ledge, Christian White
HUGE return from bestselling author Christian White, his twistiest thriller yet!
When human remains are discovered in a forest, police are baffled, the locals are shocked and one group of old friends starts to panic. Their long-held secret is about to be uncovered.
It all began in 1999 when sixteen-year-old Aaron ran away from home, drawing his friends into an unforeseeable chain of events that no one escaped from unscathed.
In The Ledge, past and present run breathlessly parallel, leading to a cliff-hanger nobody will see coming. This is a mind-bending new novel from the master of the unexpected.
When human remains are discovered in a forest, police are baffled, the locals are shocked and one group of old friends starts to panic. Their long-held secret is about to be uncovered.
It all began in 1999 when sixteen-year-old Aaron ran away from home, drawing his friends into an unforeseeable chain of events that no one escaped from unscathed.
In The Ledge, past and present run breathlessly parallel, leading to a cliff-hanger nobody will see coming. This is a mind-bending new novel from the master of the unexpected.
The Institute, Stephen King
'It does everything you'd expect of a masterpiece - and it is one' Sunday Express
'Hums and crackles with delicious unease' Independent
'Captivating' The Sunday Times
'An absorbing thriller' Mail on Sunday
NO ONE HAS EVER ESCAPED FROM THE INSTITUTE.
Luke Ellis, a super-smart twelve-year-old with an exceptional gift, is the latest in a long line of kids abducted and taken to a secret government facility, hidden deep in the forest in Maine.
Here, kids with special talents - telekinesis and telepathy - like Luke's new friends Kalisha, Nick and Iris, are subjected to a series of experiments.
There seems to be no hope of escape. Until Luke teams up with an even younger boy whose powers of telepathy are off the scale.
Meanwhile, far away in a small town in South Carolina, former cop Tim Jamieson, looking for the quiet life, has taken a job working for the local sheriff. He doesn't know he's about to take on the biggest case of his career . . .
THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY OUT.
'An epic tale of childhood betrayal and hope regained... an immersive tale full of suspense and thrills that will keep readers up late at night racing towards a heartbreaking yet glorious finale... a dazzling achievement' - Daily Express
'Hums and crackles with delicious unease' Independent
'Captivating' The Sunday Times
'An absorbing thriller' Mail on Sunday
NO ONE HAS EVER ESCAPED FROM THE INSTITUTE.
Luke Ellis, a super-smart twelve-year-old with an exceptional gift, is the latest in a long line of kids abducted and taken to a secret government facility, hidden deep in the forest in Maine.
Here, kids with special talents - telekinesis and telepathy - like Luke's new friends Kalisha, Nick and Iris, are subjected to a series of experiments.
There seems to be no hope of escape. Until Luke teams up with an even younger boy whose powers of telepathy are off the scale.
Meanwhile, far away in a small town in South Carolina, former cop Tim Jamieson, looking for the quiet life, has taken a job working for the local sheriff. He doesn't know he's about to take on the biggest case of his career . . .
THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY OUT.
'An epic tale of childhood betrayal and hope regained... an immersive tale full of suspense and thrills that will keep readers up late at night racing towards a heartbreaking yet glorious finale... a dazzling achievement' - Daily Express
The Good Liars, Anita Frank
From the author of stunning historical fiction books comes a Sunday Times bestselling new story of crime, deceit, and murder, set in the early 1920s…
‘Ingenious’ Sunday Times
‘The Good Liars is not only a superb book, it’s a clever book… claustrophobic, addictive and utterly compelling; I absolutely loved it. Highly recommended’ MW Craven
In the summer of 1914, a boy’s disappearance is overshadowed by looming war.
Six years later, Detective Sergeant Verity arrives at Darkacre Hall armed with new evidence regarding the boy’s case – evidence which throws the spotlight firmly upon the once-esteemed Stilwell family.
Darkacre’s grandeur has faded, and the Stilwells no longer command the respect they once took for granted. While brothers Maurice and Leonard carry the physical and mental scars of their war service, Maurice's wife, Ida, longs for the lost days of privilege and parties.
As Verity digs deeper into the events of that final halcyon summer, he uncovers dark secrets with far-reaching consequences. And as he does so, Darkacre Hall becomes an unlikely battlefield – one that not all will survive.
The Good Liars is the Sunday Times bestselling murder mystery from Anita Frank.
Praise for The Good Liars:
‘Exquisitely written, this haunting tale of guilt and grief treads a perfect line between chilling ghost story and gripping mystery’ Tom Hindle
‘A modern classic… I couldn’t put it down’ Claire Dyer
‘Dripping with claustrophobic tension and absolutely unputdownable. I loved it' Rebecca Netley
‘A range of characters alternately agreeable and repellent, and yet all entirely readable, in a blend of history and mystery. A real page-turner’ Mandy Robotham
‘A fabulous book… full of twists and turns and heartbreaking revelations with a sprinkling of spookiness on top’ Laura Shepherd-Robinson
‘A real page-turner… Layers upon layers of secrets and lies… Bravo!’ Liz Hyder
‘A cleverly structured story, with twist after twist… Excellent’ Ragnar Jonasson
‘An absolute gulp of a read… it grabs hold and doesn’t let go’ Fíona Scarlett
‘This clever claustrophobic page-turner delivers in spades’ Carolyn O’Brien
‘Ingenious’ Sunday Times
‘The Good Liars is not only a superb book, it’s a clever book… claustrophobic, addictive and utterly compelling; I absolutely loved it. Highly recommended’ MW Craven
In the summer of 1914, a boy’s disappearance is overshadowed by looming war.
Six years later, Detective Sergeant Verity arrives at Darkacre Hall armed with new evidence regarding the boy’s case – evidence which throws the spotlight firmly upon the once-esteemed Stilwell family.
Darkacre’s grandeur has faded, and the Stilwells no longer command the respect they once took for granted. While brothers Maurice and Leonard carry the physical and mental scars of their war service, Maurice's wife, Ida, longs for the lost days of privilege and parties.
As Verity digs deeper into the events of that final halcyon summer, he uncovers dark secrets with far-reaching consequences. And as he does so, Darkacre Hall becomes an unlikely battlefield – one that not all will survive.
The Good Liars is the Sunday Times bestselling murder mystery from Anita Frank.
Praise for The Good Liars:
‘Exquisitely written, this haunting tale of guilt and grief treads a perfect line between chilling ghost story and gripping mystery’ Tom Hindle
‘A modern classic… I couldn’t put it down’ Claire Dyer
‘Dripping with claustrophobic tension and absolutely unputdownable. I loved it' Rebecca Netley
‘A range of characters alternately agreeable and repellent, and yet all entirely readable, in a blend of history and mystery. A real page-turner’ Mandy Robotham
‘A fabulous book… full of twists and turns and heartbreaking revelations with a sprinkling of spookiness on top’ Laura Shepherd-Robinson
‘A real page-turner… Layers upon layers of secrets and lies… Bravo!’ Liz Hyder
‘A cleverly structured story, with twist after twist… Excellent’ Ragnar Jonasson
‘An absolute gulp of a read… it grabs hold and doesn’t let go’ Fíona Scarlett
‘This clever claustrophobic page-turner delivers in spades’ Carolyn O’Brien
Don't Tell Alfred, Nancy Mitford
Don't Tell Alfred is the wickedly funny sequel to Nancy Mitford's The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate.'I believe it would have been normal for me to have paid a visit to the outgoing ambassadress. However the said ambassadress had set up such an uninhibited wail when she knew she was to leave, proclaiming her misery to all and sundry and refusing so furiously to look on the bright side, that it was felt she might not be very nice to me.'Fanny is married to absent-minded Oxford don Alfred and content with her role as a plain, tweedy housewife. But overnight her life changes when Alfred is appointed English Ambassador to Paris. In the blink of an eye, Fanny's mixing with royalty, Rothschilds and Dior-clad wives, throwing cocktail parties and having every indiscreet remark printed in tomorrow's papers.But with the love lives of her new friends to organize, an aristocratic squatter who won't budge and the antics of her maverick sons to thwart, Fanny's far too busy to worry about the diplomatic crisis looming on the horizon. . . Don't Tell Alfred continues the histories of the characters Nancy Mitford introduced in The Pursuit of Love. 'A comic genius' Independent on Sunday'Deliciously funny' Evelyn Waugh
The Creeper, Margaret Hickey
The chilling new mystery novel from the award-winning author of bestsellers Cutters End, Stone Town and Broken Bay.
Victim ... or killer?
For the last decade, the small mountain town of Edenville in Victoria's high country has been haunted by the horrific murders of five hikers up on Jagged Ridge.
Also found dead near the scene was Bill 'Creeper' Durant, a bushland loner, expert deer-hunter, and a man with a known reputation for stalking campers . . .
Conclusion- murder-suicide. Case closed.
But as the ten-year anniversary of the massacre draws near, Detective Constable Sally White - the only officer at Edenville's modest police station - finds herself drawn into the dark world of the notorious Durant family.
Lex Durant, in particular, has started to publicly protest his brother's innocence and accuse the police of persecution.
As Sally combs the investigation to prove him wrong, it becomes all too clear that each murdered hiker had skeletons in their closet - and possible enemies in their past . . .
Victim ... or killer?
For the last decade, the small mountain town of Edenville in Victoria's high country has been haunted by the horrific murders of five hikers up on Jagged Ridge.
Also found dead near the scene was Bill 'Creeper' Durant, a bushland loner, expert deer-hunter, and a man with a known reputation for stalking campers . . .
Conclusion- murder-suicide. Case closed.
But as the ten-year anniversary of the massacre draws near, Detective Constable Sally White - the only officer at Edenville's modest police station - finds herself drawn into the dark world of the notorious Durant family.
Lex Durant, in particular, has started to publicly protest his brother's innocence and accuse the police of persecution.
As Sally combs the investigation to prove him wrong, it becomes all too clear that each murdered hiker had skeletons in their closet - and possible enemies in their past . . .
The Ministry Of Time, Kaliane Bradley
The Instant New York Times and Sunday Times Bestseller
A 2024 literary highlight in the Sunday Times, BBC, Grazia, Dazed, Sunday Express, GQ, i-D, Stylist, Bookseller and Literary Friction
'Outrageously brilliant' ELEANOR CATTON
'Make room on your bookshelves for a new classic' MAX PORTER
'Thought-provoking and horribly clever' ALICE WINN
'Funny, moving, original, intelligent, beautifully written' NATHAN FILER
'Electric, charming, whimsical and strange' EMILY HENRY
'Within the first couple of pages I was gripped' KATE MOSSE
A BOY MEETS A GIRL. THE PAST MEETS THE FUTURE. A FINGER MEETS A TRIGGER. THE BEGINNING MEETS THE END. ENGLAND IS FOREVER. ENGLAND MUST FALL.
In the near future, a disaffected civil servant is offered a lucrative job in a mysterious new government ministry gathering 'expats' from across history to test the limits of time-travel.
Her role is to work as a 'bridge': living with, assisting and monitoring the expat known as '1847' - Commander Graham Gore. As far as history is concerned, Commander Gore died on Sir John Franklin's doomed expedition to the Arctic, so he's a little disoriented to find himself alive and surrounded by outlandish concepts such as 'washing machine', 'Spotify' and 'the collapse of the British Empire'. With an appetite for discovery and a seven-a-day cigarette habit, he soon adjusts; and during a long, sultry summer he and his bridge move from awkwardness to genuine friendship, to something more.
But as the true shape of the project that brought them together begins to emerge, Gore and the bridge are forced to confront their past choices and imagined futures. Can love triumph over the structures and histories that have shaped them? And how do you defy history when history is living in your house?
A 2024 literary highlight in the Sunday Times, BBC, Grazia, Dazed, Sunday Express, GQ, i-D, Stylist, Bookseller and Literary Friction
'Outrageously brilliant' ELEANOR CATTON
'Make room on your bookshelves for a new classic' MAX PORTER
'Thought-provoking and horribly clever' ALICE WINN
'Funny, moving, original, intelligent, beautifully written' NATHAN FILER
'Electric, charming, whimsical and strange' EMILY HENRY
'Within the first couple of pages I was gripped' KATE MOSSE
A BOY MEETS A GIRL. THE PAST MEETS THE FUTURE. A FINGER MEETS A TRIGGER. THE BEGINNING MEETS THE END. ENGLAND IS FOREVER. ENGLAND MUST FALL.
In the near future, a disaffected civil servant is offered a lucrative job in a mysterious new government ministry gathering 'expats' from across history to test the limits of time-travel.
Her role is to work as a 'bridge': living with, assisting and monitoring the expat known as '1847' - Commander Graham Gore. As far as history is concerned, Commander Gore died on Sir John Franklin's doomed expedition to the Arctic, so he's a little disoriented to find himself alive and surrounded by outlandish concepts such as 'washing machine', 'Spotify' and 'the collapse of the British Empire'. With an appetite for discovery and a seven-a-day cigarette habit, he soon adjusts; and during a long, sultry summer he and his bridge move from awkwardness to genuine friendship, to something more.
But as the true shape of the project that brought them together begins to emerge, Gore and the bridge are forced to confront their past choices and imagined futures. Can love triumph over the structures and histories that have shaped them? And how do you defy history when history is living in your house?
Storm Child, Michael Robotham
'A brilliant book from an absolute master of the craft. Deeply felt, utterly memorable and sharp as a razor. I challenge you to put it down' DERVLA MCTIERNAN
'Storm Child is a riveting and absorbing masterpiece - a cancel-your-social-plans and ignore-your-family kind of book. Michael Robotham never lets me down!' CHRISTIAN WHITE
'Jaw-dropping' SUNDAY TIMES
SOME MEMORIES ARE BURIED FOR A REASON. . . The compulsively readable new thriller by the #1 bestselling and award-winning master of crime
The most painful of Evie Cormac's memories have been locked away, ever since she was held prisoner as a child - a child whose rescue captured hearts and headlines.
Forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven's mission is to guide her to something near normality. But today, on a British beach, seventeen bodies wash up in front of them. There is only one survivor, with two women still missing. And Evie's nightmares come roaring back . . .
Whatever happened all those years ago lies at the core of this new tragedy. Because these deaths are no accident. The same dark forces are reaching out, dragging her back into the storm.
Evie must now call upon Cyrus's unique skills, and her own, in their search for the missing pieces of this complex and haunting puzzle. But will that be enough to save them? And who will pay for the past?
'Robotham is a master storyteller at the peak of his powers. Storm Child once again proves why he's the world's most bankable crime writer' TIM AYLIFFE
'Robotham is not just among the world's top thriller writers, he is without question the best when it comes to characters whose pain we feel. Storm Child is a great read with something important to say' LINWOOD BARCLAY
'Robotham has yet again delivered a brilliant tale, fizzing with fascinating characters and shocking plot twists. I couldn't take my eyes off the page' ROSE CARLYLE
'A razor-sharp and emotionally charged thriller that explores both the darkness of men's hearts and the resiliency of human spirit' LISA GARDNER
'I couldn't put this down. Complex characters, plenty of twists and turns, Storm Child left me breathless' SIMON McCLEAVE
'Tension and tenderness - Michael Robotham is that rare thing, a writer who does both brilliantly. And that makes Storm Child an utterly thrilling emotional ride. I enjoyed it hugely' WILLIAM SHAW
'Robotham is one of our best crime writers' WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
'One of crime's smartest practitioners' THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S WEEKLY
'The guy can't write a bad book' STEPHE
'Storm Child is a riveting and absorbing masterpiece - a cancel-your-social-plans and ignore-your-family kind of book. Michael Robotham never lets me down!' CHRISTIAN WHITE
'Jaw-dropping' SUNDAY TIMES
SOME MEMORIES ARE BURIED FOR A REASON. . . The compulsively readable new thriller by the #1 bestselling and award-winning master of crime
The most painful of Evie Cormac's memories have been locked away, ever since she was held prisoner as a child - a child whose rescue captured hearts and headlines.
Forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven's mission is to guide her to something near normality. But today, on a British beach, seventeen bodies wash up in front of them. There is only one survivor, with two women still missing. And Evie's nightmares come roaring back . . .
Whatever happened all those years ago lies at the core of this new tragedy. Because these deaths are no accident. The same dark forces are reaching out, dragging her back into the storm.
Evie must now call upon Cyrus's unique skills, and her own, in their search for the missing pieces of this complex and haunting puzzle. But will that be enough to save them? And who will pay for the past?
'Robotham is a master storyteller at the peak of his powers. Storm Child once again proves why he's the world's most bankable crime writer' TIM AYLIFFE
'Robotham is not just among the world's top thriller writers, he is without question the best when it comes to characters whose pain we feel. Storm Child is a great read with something important to say' LINWOOD BARCLAY
'Robotham has yet again delivered a brilliant tale, fizzing with fascinating characters and shocking plot twists. I couldn't take my eyes off the page' ROSE CARLYLE
'A razor-sharp and emotionally charged thriller that explores both the darkness of men's hearts and the resiliency of human spirit' LISA GARDNER
'I couldn't put this down. Complex characters, plenty of twists and turns, Storm Child left me breathless' SIMON McCLEAVE
'Tension and tenderness - Michael Robotham is that rare thing, a writer who does both brilliantly. And that makes Storm Child an utterly thrilling emotional ride. I enjoyed it hugely' WILLIAM SHAW
'Robotham is one of our best crime writers' WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
'One of crime's smartest practitioners' THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S WEEKLY
'The guy can't write a bad book' STEPHE
The King's Witches, Kate Foster
The fate of one is the fate of all . . .
Denmark, 1589. Princess Anne is betrothed to King James VI of Scotland - a geo-political royal marriage designed to forever unite the two countries. But first, she must pass the trial period: one year of marriage in which she must prove herself worthy of being Scotland's new Queen. If the King and the Scottish royal court find her wanting, she faces disgraced and permanent exile. Determined to fulfil her duties to King and country, Anne resolves to be the perfect royal bride. Until she meets Lord Henry.
By her side is Kirsten, her loyal and pious lady's maid. But whilst tending to Anne's every need, she has her own motives for the royal marriage to be a success . . .
On the other side of the border in North Berwick, a young housemaid by the name of Jura is dreaming of a new life. With an abusive master and a soured relationship with a young farmer's son, she secretly practises the charms taught to her by her mother. When the tension reaches breaking point, Jura makes a run for it: to Edinburgh. But it isn't long before she finds herself caught up in the witchcraft mania that has gripped the capital, and her freedom and her future are on the line.
Will Anne, Kirsten and Jura be able to save each other, and in doing so save themselves?
Denmark, 1589. Princess Anne is betrothed to King James VI of Scotland - a geo-political royal marriage designed to forever unite the two countries. But first, she must pass the trial period: one year of marriage in which she must prove herself worthy of being Scotland's new Queen. If the King and the Scottish royal court find her wanting, she faces disgraced and permanent exile. Determined to fulfil her duties to King and country, Anne resolves to be the perfect royal bride. Until she meets Lord Henry.
By her side is Kirsten, her loyal and pious lady's maid. But whilst tending to Anne's every need, she has her own motives for the royal marriage to be a success . . .
On the other side of the border in North Berwick, a young housemaid by the name of Jura is dreaming of a new life. With an abusive master and a soured relationship with a young farmer's son, she secretly practises the charms taught to her by her mother. When the tension reaches breaking point, Jura makes a run for it: to Edinburgh. But it isn't long before she finds herself caught up in the witchcraft mania that has gripped the capital, and her freedom and her future are on the line.
Will Anne, Kirsten and Jura be able to save each other, and in doing so save themselves?
Clarke, Holly Throsby
A compelling new novel from the bestselling author of Goodwood and Cedar Valley.
On a hot morning in 1991 in the regional town of Clarke, Barney Clarke (no relation) is woken by the unexpected arrival of many policemen: they are going to search his backyard for the body of a missing woman.
Next door, Leonie Wallace and little Joe watch the police cars through their kitchen window. Leonie has been waiting for this day for six years. She is certain that her friend - Ginny Lawson - is buried in that backyard under a slab of suspicious concrete.
But the fate of Ginny Lawson is not the only mystery in Clarke. Barney lives alone in a rented house with a ring on his finger, but where is Barney's wife? Leonie lives with four-year-old Joe, but where is Joe's mother?
Clarke is a story of family and violence, of identity and longing, of unlikely connections and the comedy of everyday life. At its centre stands Leonie Wallace, a travel agent who has never travelled, a warm woman full of love and hope and grief, who must steer Joe safely through a very strange time indeed.
Praise for Holly Throsby:
'This is a masterful novel...readers who loved Goodwood will find even more to love here.' Books + Publishing on Cedar Valley
'So much truth, so much aching and pain by humour. What a wonderful book.' Lindy Morrison on Goodwood
'Stunning...a distinctly Australian coming-of-age story...balancing carefully evoked dread with genuine warmth, it's an assured and singular debut.' The Big Issue on Goodwood
'Sparkles with humanity and descriptive power...By the end of the beautiful and humble Cedar Valley, you may yearn for another dot on the map of Throsby's imagination.' - Sydney Morning Herald
'Throsby's rich characterisation leaves you feeling as though you'd made lifelong friends by the final page.' - Sunday Times on Cedar Valley
On a hot morning in 1991 in the regional town of Clarke, Barney Clarke (no relation) is woken by the unexpected arrival of many policemen: they are going to search his backyard for the body of a missing woman.
Next door, Leonie Wallace and little Joe watch the police cars through their kitchen window. Leonie has been waiting for this day for six years. She is certain that her friend - Ginny Lawson - is buried in that backyard under a slab of suspicious concrete.
But the fate of Ginny Lawson is not the only mystery in Clarke. Barney lives alone in a rented house with a ring on his finger, but where is Barney's wife? Leonie lives with four-year-old Joe, but where is Joe's mother?
Clarke is a story of family and violence, of identity and longing, of unlikely connections and the comedy of everyday life. At its centre stands Leonie Wallace, a travel agent who has never travelled, a warm woman full of love and hope and grief, who must steer Joe safely through a very strange time indeed.
Praise for Holly Throsby:
'This is a masterful novel...readers who loved Goodwood will find even more to love here.' Books + Publishing on Cedar Valley
'So much truth, so much aching and pain by humour. What a wonderful book.' Lindy Morrison on Goodwood
'Stunning...a distinctly Australian coming-of-age story...balancing carefully evoked dread with genuine warmth, it's an assured and singular debut.' The Big Issue on Goodwood
'Sparkles with humanity and descriptive power...By the end of the beautiful and humble Cedar Valley, you may yearn for another dot on the map of Throsby's imagination.' - Sydney Morning Herald
'Throsby's rich characterisation leaves you feeling as though you'd made lifelong friends by the final page.' - Sunday Times on Cedar Valley
The Deed, Susannah Begbie
MEET THE EDWARDS FAMILY
Tom Edwards is dying, and cranky. He's made his peace with the dying part. But he'd bet his property - the whole ten thousand acres of it - that there'd be no wailing at his funeral. His kids wouldn't be able to chop down a tree, let alone build a coffin to bury him in.
Then Tom has an idea ...
Christine is furious, David ashen-faced, and Sophie distracted. Only Jenny listens carefully as Vince Barton, of Barton & Sons, reads their father's will. Either they build his coffin - in four days - or they lose their inheritance. All of it.
A perceptive and unforgettable debut novel, The Deed explores the messy, sometimes volatile, complications that only the best and worst of family can bring. Sometimes greed can be good.
'Splendidly told through a rich layering of characterisation . . . Funny, heartfelt and unforgettable' SYDNEY ARTS GUIDE
'From its richly evoked rural landscape to its complex, loveable characters, The Deed is a dazzling debut full of humour and heart about one man's legacy, four fractious siblings and all that can
divide or unite a family. This is a wonderful, hugely entertaining,
thoroughly Australian novel from an exciting new talent.' HANNAH RICHELL, bestselling author and Richell Prize judge
Tom Edwards is dying, and cranky. He's made his peace with the dying part. But he'd bet his property - the whole ten thousand acres of it - that there'd be no wailing at his funeral. His kids wouldn't be able to chop down a tree, let alone build a coffin to bury him in.
Then Tom has an idea ...
Christine is furious, David ashen-faced, and Sophie distracted. Only Jenny listens carefully as Vince Barton, of Barton & Sons, reads their father's will. Either they build his coffin - in four days - or they lose their inheritance. All of it.
A perceptive and unforgettable debut novel, The Deed explores the messy, sometimes volatile, complications that only the best and worst of family can bring. Sometimes greed can be good.
'Splendidly told through a rich layering of characterisation . . . Funny, heartfelt and unforgettable' SYDNEY ARTS GUIDE
'From its richly evoked rural landscape to its complex, loveable characters, The Deed is a dazzling debut full of humour and heart about one man's legacy, four fractious siblings and all that can
divide or unite a family. This is a wonderful, hugely entertaining,
thoroughly Australian novel from an exciting new talent.' HANNAH RICHELL, bestselling author and Richell Prize judge
The Last Victim, Tracy Hall, Summer Land
In 2017, Tracy Hall's life went from fact to fiction overnight when she discovered the man she'd been dating for nearly two years, Max, was actually one of Australia's most prolific con men - Hamish McLaren. Also known as Hamish Watson. Also known as Hamish Maxwell.
Suddenly 'Max' was gone, along with the $317,000 in life savings Tracy had given him to invest. As for her ability to trust? Hamish had stolen that too.
Through speaking with investigators and playing an instrumental role in The Australian's hit podcast, Who the Hell is Hamish?, Tracy would soon discover she was not Hamish's only victim - just his last. Hamish, and his Colgate-commercial-worthy smile, had been honing his confidence game for decades.
The Last Victim shares the full story of what happened before, during, and after Tracy unknowingly swiped right on a man who'd reportedly swindled people around the world out of an estimated $70 million through investment and business scams.
Fast-paced and empowering, The Last Victim is in many ways a warning siren because, as Tracy shows, it doesn't matter where you're from, how you were raised and educated, or how intuitive you think you are - anyone can fall victim to a scam. At the same time, it's searing, defiant proof that it is possible to create an even better life after experiencing the ultimate emotional and financial betrayal.
Suddenly 'Max' was gone, along with the $317,000 in life savings Tracy had given him to invest. As for her ability to trust? Hamish had stolen that too.
Through speaking with investigators and playing an instrumental role in The Australian's hit podcast, Who the Hell is Hamish?, Tracy would soon discover she was not Hamish's only victim - just his last. Hamish, and his Colgate-commercial-worthy smile, had been honing his confidence game for decades.
The Last Victim shares the full story of what happened before, during, and after Tracy unknowingly swiped right on a man who'd reportedly swindled people around the world out of an estimated $70 million through investment and business scams.
Fast-paced and empowering, The Last Victim is in many ways a warning siren because, as Tracy shows, it doesn't matter where you're from, how you were raised and educated, or how intuitive you think you are - anyone can fall victim to a scam. At the same time, it's searing, defiant proof that it is possible to create an even better life after experiencing the ultimate emotional and financial betrayal.
Educated, Tara Westover
'An amazing story, and truly inspiring. The kind of book everyone will enjoy. IT'S EVEN BETTER THAN YOU'VE HEARD.' - Bill Gates
Selected as a book of the year in THE TIMES, SUNDAY TIMES, GUARDIAN, NEW YORK TIMES, THE ECONOMIST, NEW STATESMAN, VOGUE, IRISH TIMES, IRISH EXAMINER and RED MAGAZINE
AMAZON.COM's BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
________________________
Tara Westover and her family grew up preparing for the End of Days but, according to the government, she didn't exist. She hadn't been registered for a birth certificate. She had no school records because she'd never set foot in a classroom, and no medical records because her father didn't believe in hospitals.
As she grew older, her father became more radical and her brother more violent. At sixteen, Tara knew she had to leave home. In doing so she discovered both the transformative power of education, and the price she had to pay for it.
________________________
Shortlisted for the 2018 BAMB Readers' Awards
Recommended as a summer read by Barack Obama, Antony Beevor, India Knight, Blake Morrison and Nina Stibbe
'A memoir to stand alongside the classics by the likes of Jeanette Winterson and Lorna Sage ... compelling and ultimately joyous' Sunday Times
Selected as a book of the year in THE TIMES, SUNDAY TIMES, GUARDIAN, NEW YORK TIMES, THE ECONOMIST, NEW STATESMAN, VOGUE, IRISH TIMES, IRISH EXAMINER and RED MAGAZINE
AMAZON.COM's BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
________________________
Tara Westover and her family grew up preparing for the End of Days but, according to the government, she didn't exist. She hadn't been registered for a birth certificate. She had no school records because she'd never set foot in a classroom, and no medical records because her father didn't believe in hospitals.
As she grew older, her father became more radical and her brother more violent. At sixteen, Tara knew she had to leave home. In doing so she discovered both the transformative power of education, and the price she had to pay for it.
________________________
Shortlisted for the 2018 BAMB Readers' Awards
Recommended as a summer read by Barack Obama, Antony Beevor, India Knight, Blake Morrison and Nina Stibbe
'A memoir to stand alongside the classics by the likes of Jeanette Winterson and Lorna Sage ... compelling and ultimately joyous' Sunday Times
The Night She Disappeared, Lisa Jewell
From the global number one bestselling author of The Family Upstairs- an unsolved mystery, family secrets, a boarding school for difficult teenagers and an unidentified body. It can only be Lisa Jewell!
The brand new thriller from Lisa Jewell
It's nearly midnight and you're home alone with only your baby grandson for company. Your daughter and her boyfriend have gone out to a party; the first time they've been out since their son was born. And now you are waiting for them to come home.
But they don't.
The next morning, frantic, you ring your daughter's friends, and you're told that she was last seen heading to a party in an isolated village known as Dark Place ...
An unsolved mystery, family secrets, a boarding school for difficult teenagers, and an unidentified body - watch out for the brand new Lisa Jewell hardcover in July 2021!
The brand new thriller from Lisa Jewell
It's nearly midnight and you're home alone with only your baby grandson for company. Your daughter and her boyfriend have gone out to a party; the first time they've been out since their son was born. And now you are waiting for them to come home.
But they don't.
The next morning, frantic, you ring your daughter's friends, and you're told that she was last seen heading to a party in an isolated village known as Dark Place ...
An unsolved mystery, family secrets, a boarding school for difficult teenagers, and an unidentified body - watch out for the brand new Lisa Jewell hardcover in July 2021!
Sarah Thornhill, Kate Grenville
From the beginning Jack and I was friends. Somehow our way of looking at things fitted together. He never called me Dolly, the way the others did, only my full and proper name. Sarah Thornhill is the youngest child of William Thornhill, convict-turned-landowner on the Hawkesbury River. She grows up in the fine house her father is so proud of, a strong-willed young woman who's certain where her future lies. She's known Jack Langland since she was a child, and always loved him. But the past is waiting in ambush with its dark legacy. There's a secret in Sarah's family, a piece of the past kept hidden from the world and from her. A secret Jack can't live with. A secret that changes everything, for both of them. Kate Grenville takes us back to the early Australia of The Secret River and the Thornhill family. This is Sarah's story. It's a story of tangled secrets, a story of loss and unlooked-for happiness, and a story about the silent spaces of the past. This powerful novel will enthrall readers of Kate Grenville's bestselling The Secret River, winner of the Commonwealth Writers Prize.
The Rosie Project, Graeme Simsion
The international bestseller. Over three million copies sold worldwide.
Don Tillman is getting married. He just doesn't know who to yet.
But he has designed the Wife Project, using a sixteen-page questionnaire to help him find the perfect partner. She will most definitely not be a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker, or a late-arriver.
Rosie Jarman is all these things. She is also fiery and intelligent and beautiful. And on a quest of her own to find her biological father—a search that Don, a professor of genetics, might just be able to help her with.
The Wife Project teaches Don some unexpected things. Why earlobe length is an inadequate predictor of sexual attraction. Why quick-dry clothes aren't appropriate attire in New York. Why he's never been on a second date. And why, despite your best scientific efforts, you don't find love: love finds you.
'An extraordinarily clever, funny, and moving book about being comfortable with who you are and what you're good at. I'm sending copies to several friends and hope to re-read it later this year. This is one of the most profound novels I've read in a long time.' Bill Gates
Winner, Australian Book Industry Awards, Book of the Year, 2014
Winner, Australian Book Industry Awards, General Fiction Book of the Year, 2014
Winner, Victorian Premier's Award for Best Unpublished Manuscript, 2012
Shortlisted, ABA Nielsen BookData Booksellers Choice Award, 2014
Shortlisted, Fiction Book of the Year, Indie Awards, 2014
Shortlisted, Waverton Good Read Award, 2014
Longlisted, International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, 2015
Don Tillman is getting married. He just doesn't know who to yet.
But he has designed the Wife Project, using a sixteen-page questionnaire to help him find the perfect partner. She will most definitely not be a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker, or a late-arriver.
Rosie Jarman is all these things. She is also fiery and intelligent and beautiful. And on a quest of her own to find her biological father—a search that Don, a professor of genetics, might just be able to help her with.
The Wife Project teaches Don some unexpected things. Why earlobe length is an inadequate predictor of sexual attraction. Why quick-dry clothes aren't appropriate attire in New York. Why he's never been on a second date. And why, despite your best scientific efforts, you don't find love: love finds you.
'An extraordinarily clever, funny, and moving book about being comfortable with who you are and what you're good at. I'm sending copies to several friends and hope to re-read it later this year. This is one of the most profound novels I've read in a long time.' Bill Gates
Winner, Australian Book Industry Awards, Book of the Year, 2014
Winner, Australian Book Industry Awards, General Fiction Book of the Year, 2014
Winner, Victorian Premier's Award for Best Unpublished Manuscript, 2012
Shortlisted, ABA Nielsen BookData Booksellers Choice Award, 2014
Shortlisted, Fiction Book of the Year, Indie Awards, 2014
Shortlisted, Waverton Good Read Award, 2014
Longlisted, International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, 2015
The Painter's Daughters, Emily Howes
SELECTED FOR THE BBC RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB
WINNER OF THE MSLEXIA NOVEL COMPETITION
'Beautifully written . . . I raced through it' HILARY MANTEL
'As exquisitely and tenderly rendered as a Gainsborough painting' TRACY CHEVALIER
'A wonderfully powerful and haunting novel with a hugely gripping plot' DEBORAH MOGGACH
'A rich evocation of secrets, art, sisterhood and class' i PAPER
1759, Ipswich. Sisters Peggy and Molly Gainsborough are the best of friends and do everything together. They spy on their father as he paints, they rankle their mother as she manages the books, they tear barefoot through the muddy fields that surround their home. But there is another reason they are inseparable: from a young age, Molly has had a tendency to forget who she is, to fall into confusion, and Peggy knows instinctively that no one must find out.
When the family move to Bath, Thomas Gainsborough finds fame as a portrait artist, while his daughters are thrown into the whirl of polite society. Here, the merits of marriage and codes of behaviour are crystal clear, and secrets much harder to keep. As Peggy goes to greater lengths to protect her sister, she finds herself falling in love, and their precarious situation is soon thrown catastrophically off-course. The discovery of a betrayal forces her to question all she has done for Molly - and whether any one person can truly change the fate of another . . .
Inspired by true events and told with irresistible vibrancy and wit, Emily Howes' award-winning debut is a captivating and deeply moving novel about art, sisterhood and the price we pay for love.
'Vividly imagined and exquisitely brought to the page' RACHEL JOYCE
'A beautiful debut' JO BROWNING WROE
'An incredible first novel that'll leave you scouring the real-life paintings for clues' STYLIST
'Fascinating' WASHINGTON POST
WINNER OF THE MSLEXIA NOVEL COMPETITION
'Beautifully written . . . I raced through it' HILARY MANTEL
'As exquisitely and tenderly rendered as a Gainsborough painting' TRACY CHEVALIER
'A wonderfully powerful and haunting novel with a hugely gripping plot' DEBORAH MOGGACH
'A rich evocation of secrets, art, sisterhood and class' i PAPER
1759, Ipswich. Sisters Peggy and Molly Gainsborough are the best of friends and do everything together. They spy on their father as he paints, they rankle their mother as she manages the books, they tear barefoot through the muddy fields that surround their home. But there is another reason they are inseparable: from a young age, Molly has had a tendency to forget who she is, to fall into confusion, and Peggy knows instinctively that no one must find out.
When the family move to Bath, Thomas Gainsborough finds fame as a portrait artist, while his daughters are thrown into the whirl of polite society. Here, the merits of marriage and codes of behaviour are crystal clear, and secrets much harder to keep. As Peggy goes to greater lengths to protect her sister, she finds herself falling in love, and their precarious situation is soon thrown catastrophically off-course. The discovery of a betrayal forces her to question all she has done for Molly - and whether any one person can truly change the fate of another . . .
Inspired by true events and told with irresistible vibrancy and wit, Emily Howes' award-winning debut is a captivating and deeply moving novel about art, sisterhood and the price we pay for love.
'Vividly imagined and exquisitely brought to the page' RACHEL JOYCE
'A beautiful debut' JO BROWNING WROE
'An incredible first novel that'll leave you scouring the real-life paintings for clues' STYLIST
'Fascinating' WASHINGTON POST
Pheasants Nest, Louise Milligan
A gripping, propulsive and brilliantly original debut by award-winning investigative journalist and writer Louise Milligan.
She wonders if they have discovered she is missing yet? Has it broken as a story? Who has been assigned to cover it? Have they started spooling through her social media to pull out photographs? Constructing a narrative about who she is and what possible reason any person might have to kidnap or (let's be frank) kill her? She tries not to let out the whimper that is building in her sternum, at the thought that he might. Kill her, that is. He might kill her.
Kate Delaney has made the biggest mistake of her life. On a girls' night out, she picked the wrong sleazy guy to publicly humiliate in a bar and now she is living every woman's worst nightmare.
She finds herself brutalised, bound and gagged in the back of a car being driven god knows where by a man whose name she doesn't know, and petrified about what is in store for her.
As a journalist who is haunted by the crimes she's had to report over her career, Kate is terrifyingly familiar with the statistics of women who go missing - and the fear and trauma behind the headlines. She knows only too well how those stories usually end.
Kate can only hope the police will find her before it's too late, but she's aware a random crime is hardest to solve. As the clock ticks down, she tries to keep herself sane by thinking about her beloved boyfriend and friends, escaping into memories of love and happy times together. She knows she cannot give way to despair.
As the suspense escalates, Kate's boyfriend Liam is left behind, struggling with his shock, fear and desperation as the police establish a major investigation. The detectives face their own feelings of anguish and futility as they reflect on the cases they didn't solve in time and the victims they couldn't save. They know Kate's chances of survival diminish with every passing hour.
Acclaimed and award-winning writer and journalist Louise Milligan has written a stunning and surprising thriller with a gigantic heart: a gripping, propulsive and brilliantly original debut.
She wonders if they have discovered she is missing yet? Has it broken as a story? Who has been assigned to cover it? Have they started spooling through her social media to pull out photographs? Constructing a narrative about who she is and what possible reason any person might have to kidnap or (let's be frank) kill her? She tries not to let out the whimper that is building in her sternum, at the thought that he might. Kill her, that is. He might kill her.
Kate Delaney has made the biggest mistake of her life. On a girls' night out, she picked the wrong sleazy guy to publicly humiliate in a bar and now she is living every woman's worst nightmare.
She finds herself brutalised, bound and gagged in the back of a car being driven god knows where by a man whose name she doesn't know, and petrified about what is in store for her.
As a journalist who is haunted by the crimes she's had to report over her career, Kate is terrifyingly familiar with the statistics of women who go missing - and the fear and trauma behind the headlines. She knows only too well how those stories usually end.
Kate can only hope the police will find her before it's too late, but she's aware a random crime is hardest to solve. As the clock ticks down, she tries to keep herself sane by thinking about her beloved boyfriend and friends, escaping into memories of love and happy times together. She knows she cannot give way to despair.
As the suspense escalates, Kate's boyfriend Liam is left behind, struggling with his shock, fear and desperation as the police establish a major investigation. The detectives face their own feelings of anguish and futility as they reflect on the cases they didn't solve in time and the victims they couldn't save. They know Kate's chances of survival diminish with every passing hour.
Acclaimed and award-winning writer and journalist Louise Milligan has written a stunning and surprising thriller with a gigantic heart: a gripping, propulsive and brilliantly original debut.
The Glass House, Anne Buist, Graeme Simsion
A compelling, addictive novel for readers of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine told with heart, humour and insight by Anne Buist and The Rosie Project's Graeme Simsion
Psychiatry registrar Doctor Hannah Wright, a country girl with a chaotic history, thought she had seen it all in the emergency room. But that was nothing compared to the psychiatric ward at Menzies Hospital.
Hannah must learn on the job in a strained medical system, as she and her fellow trainees deal with the common and the bizarre, the hilarious and the tragic, the treatable and the confronting. Every day brings new patients: Chloe, who has a life-threatening eating disorder; Sian, suffering postpartum psychosis and fighting to keep her baby; and Xavier, the MP whose suicide attempt has an explosive story behind it. All the while, Hannah is trying to figure out herself.
With intelligence, frankness and humour, eminent psychiatrist Anne Buist tells it like it is, while co-writer Graeme Simsion brings the light touch that made The Rosie Project an international bestseller and a respected contribution to the autism conversation.
'Highly engaging. Brings alive the frontline of mental health care' PROFESSOR PATRICK MCGORRY AO, AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR 2010
'Embraces a standout cast of characters - patients, clinicians and family members are so beautifully individuated and the story overflows with compassion, insight and humour. Entertaining, enlightening, it embraces the complexity of what it means to be human' MEREDITH JAFFE
'A remarkable expose about mental illness and its treatment . . . told with an engaging, light touch reminiscent of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and Simsion's The Rosie Project. The Glass House is a timely, innovative book' BOOKS + PUBLISHING
'Gripping, rich and insightful, and brimming with compassion. Shines a light on the grit and dedication of frontline workers, while giving a voice to everyone impacted by mental illness' ARIANE BEESTON, author of Because I'm Not Myself, You See
'A great read that combines laugh-out-loud moments as well as bringing tears to your eyes. Anne Buist skilfully writes from her own experiences and co-author Graeme Simsion adds his inimitable Rosie Project style. An honest, sensitive look into mental health care in Australia' PROFESSOR JAYASHRI KULKARNI AM, Psychiatrist, Monash University
Psychiatry registrar Doctor Hannah Wright, a country girl with a chaotic history, thought she had seen it all in the emergency room. But that was nothing compared to the psychiatric ward at Menzies Hospital.
Hannah must learn on the job in a strained medical system, as she and her fellow trainees deal with the common and the bizarre, the hilarious and the tragic, the treatable and the confronting. Every day brings new patients: Chloe, who has a life-threatening eating disorder; Sian, suffering postpartum psychosis and fighting to keep her baby; and Xavier, the MP whose suicide attempt has an explosive story behind it. All the while, Hannah is trying to figure out herself.
With intelligence, frankness and humour, eminent psychiatrist Anne Buist tells it like it is, while co-writer Graeme Simsion brings the light touch that made The Rosie Project an international bestseller and a respected contribution to the autism conversation.
'Highly engaging. Brings alive the frontline of mental health care' PROFESSOR PATRICK MCGORRY AO, AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR 2010
'Embraces a standout cast of characters - patients, clinicians and family members are so beautifully individuated and the story overflows with compassion, insight and humour. Entertaining, enlightening, it embraces the complexity of what it means to be human' MEREDITH JAFFE
'A remarkable expose about mental illness and its treatment . . . told with an engaging, light touch reminiscent of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and Simsion's The Rosie Project. The Glass House is a timely, innovative book' BOOKS + PUBLISHING
'Gripping, rich and insightful, and brimming with compassion. Shines a light on the grit and dedication of frontline workers, while giving a voice to everyone impacted by mental illness' ARIANE BEESTON, author of Because I'm Not Myself, You See
'A great read that combines laugh-out-loud moments as well as bringing tears to your eyes. Anne Buist skilfully writes from her own experiences and co-author Graeme Simsion adds his inimitable Rosie Project style. An honest, sensitive look into mental health care in Australia' PROFESSOR JAYASHRI KULKARNI AM, Psychiatrist, Monash University
The Frozen River, Ariel Lawhon
From the bestselling author of Code Name HÉlÈne comes a gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who investigates a shocking murder that unhinges her small community.
Maine, 1789: When a man is found entombed in the frozen Kennebec River, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As the local midwife and healer, Martha is good at keeping secrets. Her diary is a record of every birth, death and debacle that unfolds in the town of Hallowell. In that diary she has also documented the details of an alleged rape that occurred by one of the town’s most esteemed gentlemen – the same man who has now been found dead in the ice.
While certain townspeople are eager to put both matters to rest, Martha suspects that the two crimes are linked, and that there is more to both cases than meets the eye. Over the course of one long, hard winter, whispers and prejudices mount, and Martha’s diary lands at the centre of the scandal, threatening to tear both her family and her community apart.
In her newest offering, Ariel Lawhon brings to life a brave and compassionate unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice on behalf of those no one else would protect. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense and tender story of a remarkable woman who had the courage to take a stand, and in the process wrote herself into history.
Maine, 1789: When a man is found entombed in the frozen Kennebec River, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As the local midwife and healer, Martha is good at keeping secrets. Her diary is a record of every birth, death and debacle that unfolds in the town of Hallowell. In that diary she has also documented the details of an alleged rape that occurred by one of the town’s most esteemed gentlemen – the same man who has now been found dead in the ice.
While certain townspeople are eager to put both matters to rest, Martha suspects that the two crimes are linked, and that there is more to both cases than meets the eye. Over the course of one long, hard winter, whispers and prejudices mount, and Martha’s diary lands at the centre of the scandal, threatening to tear both her family and her community apart.
In her newest offering, Ariel Lawhon brings to life a brave and compassionate unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice on behalf of those no one else would protect. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense and tender story of a remarkable woman who had the courage to take a stand, and in the process wrote herself into history.
Bone Lands, Pip Fioretti
The origin story of outback noir: a dark, gritty and suspenseful dive into Australia's past, through the eyes of an unforgettable narrator
'Isn't it your job to stop people being murdered?'1911, on a winter's night in arid New South Wales wool country, mounted trooper Augustus Hawkins discovers the bodies of three young people. They are scions of the richest family in the district, savagely murdered on a road that Hawkins should have been patrolling, had he not been busy bedding the local schoolteacher.
Detectives arrive from Sydney and the disgraced Hawkins, a traumatised veteran of the Boer War, comes under fierce scrutiny. With his honour and sanity at stake, he becomes hell-bent on finding the murderer. But as ever darker secrets are revealed about the people he thinks of as friends, Hawkins is forced to confront an uncomfortable question: who is paying the price for the new nation's prosperity?
'Isn't it your job to stop people being murdered?'1911, on a winter's night in arid New South Wales wool country, mounted trooper Augustus Hawkins discovers the bodies of three young people. They are scions of the richest family in the district, savagely murdered on a road that Hawkins should have been patrolling, had he not been busy bedding the local schoolteacher.
Detectives arrive from Sydney and the disgraced Hawkins, a traumatised veteran of the Boer War, comes under fierce scrutiny. With his honour and sanity at stake, he becomes hell-bent on finding the murderer. But as ever darker secrets are revealed about the people he thinks of as friends, Hawkins is forced to confront an uncomfortable question: who is paying the price for the new nation's prosperity?
The Husband Poisoner, Tanya Bretherton
**Shortlisted for the 2021 Ned Kelly Award for True Crime**
Shocking real-life stories of murderous women who used rat poison to rid themselves of husbands and other inconvenient family members. For readers of compelling history and true crime, from critically acclaimed, award-winning author Tanya Bretherton.
After World War II, Sydney experienced a crime wave that was chillingly calculated. Discontent mixed with despair, greed with callous disregard. Women who had lost their wartime freedoms headed back into the kitchen with sinister intent and the household poison thallium, normally used to kill rats, was repurposed to kill husbands and other inconvenient family members.
Yvonne Fletcher disposed of two husbands. Caroline Grills cheerfully poisoned her stepmother, a family friend, her brother and his wife. Unlike arsenic or cyanide, thallium is colourless, odourless and tasteless; victims were misdiagnosed as insane malingerers or ill due to other reasons. And once one death was attributed to natural causes, it was all too easy for an aggrieved woman to kill again.
This is the story of a series of murders that struck at the very heart of domestic life. It's the tale of women who looked for deadly solutions to what they saw as impossible situations. The Husband Poisoner documents the reasons behind the choices these women made - and their terrible outcomes.
Shocking real-life stories of murderous women who used rat poison to rid themselves of husbands and other inconvenient family members. For readers of compelling history and true crime, from critically acclaimed, award-winning author Tanya Bretherton.
After World War II, Sydney experienced a crime wave that was chillingly calculated. Discontent mixed with despair, greed with callous disregard. Women who had lost their wartime freedoms headed back into the kitchen with sinister intent and the household poison thallium, normally used to kill rats, was repurposed to kill husbands and other inconvenient family members.
Yvonne Fletcher disposed of two husbands. Caroline Grills cheerfully poisoned her stepmother, a family friend, her brother and his wife. Unlike arsenic or cyanide, thallium is colourless, odourless and tasteless; victims were misdiagnosed as insane malingerers or ill due to other reasons. And once one death was attributed to natural causes, it was all too easy for an aggrieved woman to kill again.
This is the story of a series of murders that struck at the very heart of domestic life. It's the tale of women who looked for deadly solutions to what they saw as impossible situations. The Husband Poisoner documents the reasons behind the choices these women made - and their terrible outcomes.
Bright Young Women, Jessica Knoll
January 1978. A serial killer has terrorized women across the Pacific Northwest, but his existence couldn't be further from the minds of the young women at the top sorority on Florida State University's campus in Tallahassee. Tonight is a night of promise, excitement, and desire, but Pamela Schumacher, president of the sorority, makes the unpopular decision to stay home, a decision that unwittingly saves her life. Startled awake at 3 a.m. by a strange sound, she makes the fateful decision to investigate. What she finds behind the door is a scene of implausible violence-two of her sisters dead; two others, maimed. Over the next few days, Pamela is thrust into a terrifying mystery inspired by the crime that's captivated public interest for more than four decades.
On the other side of the country, Tina Cannon has found peace in Seattle after years of hardship. A chance encounter brings twenty-five-year-old Ruth Wachowsky into her life, a young woman with painful secrets of her own, and the two form an instant connection. When Ruth goes missing from Lake Sammamish State Park in broad daylight, surrounded by thousands of beachgoers on a beautiful summer day, Tina devotes herself to finding out what happened to her. When she hears about the tragedy in Tallahassee, she knows it's the man the papers refer to as the All-American Sex Killer. Determined to make him answer for what he did to Ruth, she travels to Florida on a collision course with Pamela, and one last impending tragedy.
On the other side of the country, Tina Cannon has found peace in Seattle after years of hardship. A chance encounter brings twenty-five-year-old Ruth Wachowsky into her life, a young woman with painful secrets of her own, and the two form an instant connection. When Ruth goes missing from Lake Sammamish State Park in broad daylight, surrounded by thousands of beachgoers on a beautiful summer day, Tina devotes herself to finding out what happened to her. When she hears about the tragedy in Tallahassee, she knows it's the man the papers refer to as the All-American Sex Killer. Determined to make him answer for what he did to Ruth, she travels to Florida on a collision course with Pamela, and one last impending tragedy.
A Room Made Of Leaves, Kate Grenville
Kate Grenville's latest bestselling novel, now in a smaller format and featuring a beautiful updated cover design
What if Elizabeth Macarthur-wife of the notorious John Macarthur, wool baron in the earliest days of Sydney-had written a shockingly frank secret memoir? And what if novelist Kate Grenville had miraculously found and published it?;;Marriage to a ruthless bully, the impulses of her heart, the search for power in a society that gave women none- this Elizabeth Macarthur manages her complicated life with spirit and passion, cunning and sly wit. Her memoir lets us hear-at last!-what one of those seemingly demure women from history might really have thought.;;A Room Made of Leaves is set in the past, but it's just as much about the present, where lies have the dangerous power to shape reality. This book is historical fiction turned inside out, a stunning sleight of hand by one of our most original writers.;
What if Elizabeth Macarthur-wife of the notorious John Macarthur, wool baron in the earliest days of Sydney-had written a shockingly frank secret memoir? And what if novelist Kate Grenville had miraculously found and published it?;;Marriage to a ruthless bully, the impulses of her heart, the search for power in a society that gave women none- this Elizabeth Macarthur manages her complicated life with spirit and passion, cunning and sly wit. Her memoir lets us hear-at last!-what one of those seemingly demure women from history might really have thought.;;A Room Made of Leaves is set in the past, but it's just as much about the present, where lies have the dangerous power to shape reality. This book is historical fiction turned inside out, a stunning sleight of hand by one of our most original writers.;
The Foundling, Stacey Halls
From the bestselling author of The Familiars, and set against the vibrant backdrop of Georgian London, The Foundling explores families, secrets, class, equality, power and the meaning of motherhood.
From the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Familiars.
London, 1754. Six years after leaving her illegitimate daughter Clara at London's Foundling Hospital, Bess Bright returns to reclaim the child she has never known. Dreading the worst - that Clara has died in care - the last thing she expects to hear is that her daughter has already been reclaimed - by her. Her life is turned upside down as she tries to find out who has taken her little girl - and why.
Less than a mile from Bess' lodgings in the city, in a quiet, gloomy townhouse on the edge of London, a young widow has not left the house in a decade. When her close friend - an ambitious young doctor at the Foundling Hospital - persuades her to hire a nursemaid for her daughter, she is hesitant to welcome someone new into her home and her life. But her past is threatening to catch up with her and tear her carefully constructed world apart.
From the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Familiars.
London, 1754. Six years after leaving her illegitimate daughter Clara at London's Foundling Hospital, Bess Bright returns to reclaim the child she has never known. Dreading the worst - that Clara has died in care - the last thing she expects to hear is that her daughter has already been reclaimed - by her. Her life is turned upside down as she tries to find out who has taken her little girl - and why.
Less than a mile from Bess' lodgings in the city, in a quiet, gloomy townhouse on the edge of London, a young widow has not left the house in a decade. When her close friend - an ambitious young doctor at the Foundling Hospital - persuades her to hire a nursemaid for her daughter, she is hesitant to welcome someone new into her home and her life. But her past is threatening to catch up with her and tear her carefully constructed world apart.
A Bride's Story, vol. 1, Kaoru Mori
Acclaimed creator Kaoru Mori (Emma, Shirley) brings the nineteenth-century Silk Road to lavish life, chronicling the story of Amir Halgal, a young woman from a nomadic tribe betrothed to a twelve-year-old boy eight years her junior. Coping with cultural differences, blossoming feelings for her new husband, and expectations from both her adoptive and birth families, Amir strives to find her role as she settles into a new life and a new home in a society quick to define that role for her.
Currently Reading:
Strong Female Character
By Fern Brady
BRITISH BOOK OF THE YEAR: AUDIOBOOK WINNER 2024
NERO BOOK AWARDS WINNER 2023
WINNER, NON FICTION BOOK 2023, BOOKS ARE MY BAG AWARDS
SHORTLIST, BOOKSHOP.ORG INDIE CHAMPIONS
SHORTLIST, AMAZON NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR
SHORTLIST, GOODREADS CHOICE BOOK OF THE YEAR
Audible Books of the Year 2023
The Times Books of the Year 2023
Apple Best Audiobooks of 2023
BOOKSHOP.ORG Book of the Month January 2024
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
'I tore through this hilarious, smart, sad, revealing book' - Bob Odenkirk
'Funny, sharp and has incredible clarity' - Jon Ronson
'An absolute riot. I'm literally going to read it again once I've finished, and I'm a miserable bastard...it's a belter' - FRANKIE BOYLE
'Strong Female Character is a testament to the importance of self-knowledge.' - Rachael Healy, The Guardian
A summary of my book:
1. I'm diagnosed with autism 20 years after telling a doctor I had it.
2. My terrible Catholic childhood: I hate my parents etc.
3. My friendship with an elderly man who runs the corner shop and is definitely not trying to groom me. I get groomed.
4. Homelessness.
5. Stripping.
6. More stripping but with more nervous breakdowns.
7. I hate everyone at uni and live with a psycho etc.
8. REDACTED as too spicy.
9. After everyone tells me I don't look autistic, I try to cure my autism and get addicted to Xanax.
10. REDACTED as too embarrassing.
'Fern's book, like everything she does, is awesome. Incredibly funny, and so unapologetically frank that I feel genuinely sorry for her lawyers.' - PHIL WANG
'Of course it's funny - it's Fern Brady - but this book is also deeply moving and eye-opening'
- ADAM KAY
'It made me laugh out loud and broke my heart and made me weep...I hope absolutely everyone reads this, and it makes them kinder and more curious about the way we all live' - DAISY BUCHANAN
'Glorious. Frank but nuanced, a memoir that doesn't sacrifice voice or self-awareness. And it has brilliant things to say about being autistic and being funny' - ELLE MCNICOLL
'A set text for all of us in 2023' - DEBORAH FRANCES-WHITE
'Fern is a brilliant, beautiful writer with a unique voice and even more unique story. Astute, honest and very, very funny.' - LOU SANDERS
'So funny and brilliant' - HOLLY SMALE
'Witty, dry, and gimlet-eyed, Strong Female Character is a necessary corrective. Brady offers a compelling, messy, highly resonant portrait of what masked Autism feels like.' - Devon Price, author of Unmasking Autism
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