An Unexpected Party

By: Editor Seth Malacari ISBN: 978 1760992699 Fremantle Press (2023) “An Unexpected Party” is an anthology of short stories with a speculative fiction bent. Each also features one or more characters who are LGBTQIA+. Thematically, the anthology hangs together well, and the quality of the stories is very consistent. Although this is subtitled “queer speculative … Continue reading An Unexpected Party →

A Shadow at the Door

By: Jo Dixon ISBN: 9781867250326 HQ Fiction (2024) This is Jo Dixon’s second novel. It’s an engrossing psychological thriller, and, as with her first, strong characters give the reader something to care about. Remi Lucan lives a reclusive life in Hobart, focused on restoring her beloved house. After a brutal attack ended her TV career … Continue reading A Shadow at the Door →

Not Here to Make Friends

By: Jodi McAlister ISBN: 978 1761109348 Simon & Schuster (2023) I loved this rom com, just as I loved the two novels which preceded it in this loose series. It’s full of heart and humor, with just the right dash of cynicism to keep it grounded. All three novels are set within the one season … Continue reading Not Here to Make Friends →

The Iron Prince

By: Julie Kagawa ISBN: 978-1-8672-8362-1 HQ Fiction (2023) This novel was originally published as “The Lost Prince”. The renaming creates consistency with the broader series that it’s part of, and comes with a redesigned cover. This is the fifth book in The Iron Fey. As well as the four pervious novels, there are two more … Continue reading The Iron Prince →

Kill Your Husbands

By: Jack Heath ISBN: 978 1 76106 758 7 Allen & Unwin (2023) Over the years I’ve read quite a bit of Heath’s work, enjoying it to varying degrees. Some was a bit under developed, and other novels just failed to strike the right chord with me. “Kill Your Husbands”, however, was particularly enjoyable. It’s … Continue reading Kill Your Husbands →

Anna O

By: Matthew Blake ISBN:978-0-00-860779-1 HarperCollins Publishers (2023) “Anna O” is a fascinating thriller which utilises a frontier of science that most people don’t know a lot about: sleep science. Blake has crafted a strong thriller with multiple mysteries at its’ heart, all of which will strongly engage readers. Dr Benedict Prince has spent years building … Continue reading Anna O →

Vendetta

By: Sarah Barrie ISBN: 9781867274544 HQ Fiction (2023) The third book in the Lexie Winter series is a fast paced crime novel with characters who’ll engage your interest. Reformed – well, that’s what she tells her boss – hacker and vigilante, Lexi is struggling to establish herself as a police officer. Her background works against … Continue reading Vendetta →

Resurrection

By: Roger Simpson ISBN: 9 781761 102530 Simon & Schuster (2023) “Resurrection” is the second Jane Halifax novel from Roger Simpson. As a crime novel, it’s somewhat run of the mill, but as a character study of someone recovering from significant emotional and physical trauma, it’s excellent. Simpson is also a screenwriter, and originated the … Continue reading Resurrection →

A Country Vet Christmas

By: Alissa Callen/ Pamela Cook/ Penelope Janu/ Lily Malone/ Stella Quinn ISBN: 9 781867 281566 HQ Fiction (2023) The Christmas season can be emotionally fraught for many people, and this is just the kind of comfort read that they may gravitate to. Five established Australian romance writers present novellas set at Christmas time. Several return … Continue reading A Country Vet Christmas →

Curious Tides

By: Pascale Lacelle ISBN: 978-1- 3985-2776-8 Simon & Schuster (2023) “Curious Tides” is an interesting and original fantasy novel that I enjoyed a great deal. A note of warning, however: this is the first of a duology, so don’t expect every question to be answered or every plot point resolved. The novel is set at … Continue reading Curious Tides →