Book Review One Hundred Years of Betty

One Hundred Years of Betty by Debra Oswald

Book Review

Betty begins her life story, on the eve of her hundredth birthday party and what a story it is.

From London to Australia and beyond, set against world events and social upheavals in history; Betty takes readers on a journey of self-discovery, love, pleasure, heartache, and everything in between.

Betty is sassy, independent, vulnerable and a feminist and I loved her character!

Betty’s story, told in her voice added so much to the overall enjoyment of the book, very masterful writing from Debra Oswald. While reading One Hundred Years of Betty, I felt like Betty was sitting right in front of me sharing her thoughts, memories, and feelings.

Anthea, Pearl, Leo, and Rex are just some of the many characters that feature in Betty’s life who readers are sure to fall in love with.

One Hundred Years of Betty made me angry, happy, and sad at various times throughout the book. When it came to the end of the book, I was crying and sniffling but happy at the same time. Any book that manages to do that to a reader is a rare find indeed.

For me One-Hundred Years of Betty was one of those rare books that you are still thinking about five days later; it will certainly be one of, it not my favourite book of the year! Another book to add to my yearly re-read list. I also cannot wait to listen to the eAudiobook version due for released on 1st May 2025, and will be available to listen to via our BorrowBox Library.

Happy Reading!

Jody

Discover more books by Debra Oswald.

Discussion questions are available from Allen and Unwin

January Five Star Reads

Well! 2025 has began with a bang! A bang of ‘Great Reads’.

Out of the 10 books I read in January these are my ‘Top 5’ five star reads. In no particular order.

Every Last Suspect by Nicola Moriarty

Manipulative, irresistible, monstrous.

Love or hate her, Harriet Osman is impossible to turn down. But someone in her life has finally snapped, leaving her face-down in a pool of her own blood. Harriet isn’t one to die quietly though, and she is determined to reveal her killer before she goes.

Was it her devoted husband, Malek, with a violent past? Her best friend and lover, Victoria, with a deadly secret only Harriet knew? Or the new woman in her life, fellow school mum Karen? The one with an impeccable reputation … or so she says.

Bullying, friendships and games (in and out of the bedroom) combine with envy, lust and revenge, creating a darkly twisted tale of drama and suspense where the question isn’t who killed Harriet, but why did it take them so long to do it?

Nicola Moriarty’s books just keep getting better, and better!


We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker

Thirty years ago, Vincent King became a killer.

Now, he’s been released from prison and is back in his hometown of Cape Haven, California. Not everyone is pleased to see him. Like Star Radley, his ex-girlfriend, and sister of the girl he killed.

Duchess Radley, Star’s thirteen-year-old daughter, is part-carer, part-protector to her younger brother, Robin – and to her deeply troubled mother. But in trying to protect Star, Duchess inadvertently sets off a chain of events that will have tragic consequences not only for her family, but also the whole town.

Murder, revenge, retribution.

This one stayed with me longer after I finished reading it.


The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

On a quiet street in Dublin, a lost bookshop is waiting to be found…

For too long, Opaline, Martha and Henry have been the side characters in their own lives.

But when a vanishing bookshop casts its spell, these three unsuspecting strangers will discover that their own stories are every bit as extraordinary as the ones found in the pages of their beloved books. And by unlocking the secrets of the shelves, they find themselves transported to a world of wonder… where nothing is as it seems.

Beautiful! Had me hooked from the very first page. I am officially a Evie Woods fan!


One Dark Night by Hannah Richell

He murdered her at the folly on their wedding day, left her body for the crows. They say she haunts the woods now, a girl in a white dress …

Everyone in the small town of Thorncombe knows the tales of the haunted woods where the birds don’t sing and a girl in a white dress roams, luring people to their deaths. But when a girl in white is found dead the morning after Halloween, her body carefully arranged at the bottom of an old stone folly, the community is thrown into turmoil.

With a teenage daughter of his own, police detective Ben Chase knows how high the stakes are. Was the girl the victim of a party prank gone wrong, or does her death represent something more sinister and ritualistic?

As the investigation unfolds and the noose tightens around Chase’s own family, the only thing anyone can be sure of is that no one is safe until this violent killer is caught.

How far can we run from the past, when the past seems doomed to repeat itself?

Hannah Richell never falls to write amazing stories.


The Ledge by Christian White

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 climax that will change everything you thought you knew. This is a mind-bending new novel from the master of the unexpected.

Another gripping thriller from Christian White.

I hope you find another great read to add to your TBR pile.

Happy Reading.

Jody

Book Review Storm Child

Storm Child by Michael Robotham

About the book

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.

Suddenly, 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.

Comments

This fourth book in the Cyrus Haven series did not disappoint our group.

The characterisations are believable and engaging and the plot has twists and turns which keep the reader guessing. Set in Scotland and involving ‘people in high places’, it is a story of abuse, people smuggling and greed. Evie’s repressed memories from her past abuse begin to resurface in this story and as Cyrus continues to help Evie resolve her past, he gains resolution of his own.

A thoroughly gripping and enjoyable read.

Read by Dundas Readers 8/10

Click here to discover more books by Michael Robotham

Spotlight on Australian Crime Authors

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

Book Review Snowed in for Christmas by Sarah Morgan

About the book

A family gathering

This Christmas the Miller siblings have one goal–to avoid their well-meaning family’s endless stream of prying questions. Ross, Alice and Clemmie have secrets that they don’t intend to share, and they are relying on each other to deflect attention.

An uninvited guest

Lucy Clarke is facing a Christmas alone and the prospect of losing her job. Unless she can win a major piece of business from Ross Miller, the season promises to be anything but festive. She’ll just deliver her proposal to his family home and then leave. After all, she wouldn’t want to intrude on the Miller family’s perfect Christmas.

A Christmas to remember

When Lucy appears on the Miller family’s snow-covered Highland doorstep, she’s mistaken for Ross’s girlfriend. By the time the confusion is cleared up, they’re snowed in–she can’t leave, even if she wants to! But does she want to? As secrets spill out like presents from an overstuffed stocking and the chemistry between her and Ross ignites, this is going to be either Lucy’s worst Christmas ever or the best mistake of her life.

Comments

A light hearted enjoyable read!

I loved the writing style of this book. It was nice to read a light hearted book. I sometimes find my reading can be quite deep. The character build-up was really good. Mainly, character growth over plot for this book.

Read by Maria – [Library Member, City of Parramatta Libraries]