Monthly Archives: February 2024

Spotlight on Australian Crime Authors

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Australian Crime Fiction

My advice to those people who are yet to discover the wonderful world of Australian Crime fiction is, do yourself a favour and make Australian crime fiction your next obsession!

Over the last couple of months, I have read some amazing Australian Crime fiction. Chris Hammer’s latest book, The Seven started me off. I loved the characters and nuances of small-town life, not to mention the mystery of who committed the murders.

After finishing The Seven and then re-reading all of Chris Hammer’s other books I decided to look for new Australian Crime authors to explore, and now I am two months in and can’t seem to stop! Strange though it might seem I find them relaxing.

So, in the hopes that you to, may find something new and interesting to read here, are some of my favourite Australian Crime reads to get you started or, assist longtime fans discover something new.

Happy reading!

Jody

Margaret Hickey

For those of you who are yet to discover award-winning Australian Crime author Margaret Hickey, you are in for a treat! Cutters End, Stone Town and Broken Bay all featuring Detective Mark Ariti are, simply put, unputdownable!

The pace, setting, dialogue and interaction of the characters is what makes Margaret Hickey’s books standout.

Margaret Hickey’s new book, The Creeper is due for can’t wait]. To read more about The Creeper and Margaret Hickey’s other books check out https://www.penguin.com.au/authors/margaret-hickey

Gary Disher

Hirsch Series

Paul Hirschhausen is one of my favourite characters! I re-read this series every year. Jody

For further information about Gary Disher and his incredible books check out his website.

You can even read a chapter of Sanctuary Gary’s new stand alone novel coming out later this year. Place a Hold now!

Christian White

Chris Hammer

Mark Brandi

Jane Harper

Darcy Tindale

Kyle Perry

Dinuka McKenzie

Sarah Bailey

Michael Trant

Lyn Yeowart

Candice Fox

Peter Temple

Nikki Mottram

Emma Viskic

Kerry McGinnis

Ben Hobson

Aoife Clifford

Fiona McIntosh

Jack Heath

Brian Brown

Barry Maitland

Book review The rising tides by Ann Cleeves

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About the book

Fifty years ago, a group of teenagers spent a weekend on Holy Island, forging a bond that has lasted a lifetime. Now, they still return every five years to celebrate their friendship, and remember the friend they lost to the rising waters of the causeway at the first reunion.

Now, when one of them is found hanged, Vera is called in. Learning that the dead man had recently been fired after misconduct allegations, Vera knows she must discover what the friends are hiding, and whether the events of many years before could have led to murder then, and now . . .

But with the tide rising, secrets long-hidden are finding their way to the surface, and Vera and the team may find themselves in more danger than they could have believed possible . .

Comments

This ‘whodunnit’ has neatly interwoven characters, time and events. The story revolves around Vera Stanhope’s team as they investigate 2 murders on Holy Island in Northumbria, both connected to a group of old school friends who were present at the time, as they were 50 years earlier for another death.

None of us warmed to Vera, who manipulates those around her, carries her own baggage and is bound to achieve a successful outcome solving the crimes.

The story is a sad one with mankind’s meaner aspects coming to the fore and none of the characters are happy people.

There is no doubt that Ann Cleves is a competent and literate writer but we all laboured through this story, none of us enjoyed it and some found it boring.

6/10

Read by Dundas Readers