Siren by Rachel Matthews was sent to me by Transit Lounge and proves uncomfortable reading for its exploration of sexual assault through the eyes of a teenage girl. And yet, despite the discomfort, it’s important reading because it challenges readers to think about a) the necessity of speaking out against sexual violence and b) the…
The Making of Christina by Meredith Jaffe is the first I’ve read by this author, but will not be the last. She’s taken the story of an intense, all-consuming affair to a confronting, evocative level. Here’s the blurb: Interior designer Christina Clemente is caught off guard by an intense affair with her charismatic client, Jackson…
It’s been quite a wait, but Philip Pullman fans can expect new work from the author of the hugely successful His Dark Materials series. The first volume of the highly-anticipated The Book of Dust will be La Belle Sauvage. The book will be published simultaneously on 19 October 2017 by Penguin Random House Children’s and David Fickling Books…
A Boston-born Jew in Montreal and a Gaza-born Palestinian in Melbourne have just published the first English-language anthology worldwide in any genre of drama, prose or poetry by Jewish and Palestinian writers. The winner of Canada’s prestigious biennial 2017 Patrick O’Neill Award, Double Exposure: Plays of the Jewish and Palestinian Diasporas is edited by award-winning playwrights…
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Cameron Raynes’ young adult novel, First Person Shooter. The blurb didn’t grab me, and I don’t read a great deal of YA fiction, but I gave it a go. I encourage YA readers and schools to do the same. Here’s the blurb: Jayden lives with his father on the edge…
I quite enjoy a good crime read, so when author Sandi Wallace approached me to review her debut novel, Tell Me Why, I found myself agreeing despite a heavy review shelf. What attracted me initially was the setting – this book is set in rural/small-town Victoria, a place I’m familiar with. Tell Me Why is the first…
I knew very little of the Shakers before I read The Visionist … and if you’d asked what I knew, I would have said furniture. Yes, the Shakers are well known for their simple, practical but beautifully made furniture, but less is known about the religious movement itself. Reading The Visionist provided me with some insight into the movement,…
Sally Hepworth’s latest novel, The Mother’s Promise, should come with a “Tissues needed” warning. I cried. More than once. Chances are you will, too. Here’s the blurb: The bestselling author of The Secrets of Midwives delivers her most powerful novel yet. Alice and her daughter Zoe have been a team of two all their lives. With no family…
It’s been a while since I’ve immersed myself in some Scandi crime … what a terrific book to start with. Stefan Ahnhem is a new author to me, but he clearly has what it takes to deliver a gripping read. Two countries in the grip of winter. On the coldest day of the year, Sweden’s…
Sara Foster is one of my favourite writers – she combines suspense and mood in a way that never fails to keep me captivated. Keeping her secret may save her family. But telling it may save her life. Arabella Lane, senior executive at a children’s publisher, is found dead in the Thames on a frosty…
