Into the Darkness – Robin Bowles

Scribe Publications 2016 Reviewer: Jane Jago Synopsis On 2 December 2010, the body of 24-year-Pheobe Handsjuk is found at the bottom of the rubbish chute in the luxury Balencea apartments, in St Kilda Road, Melbourne, where she lived with her boyfriend, Antony Hampel. It emerges that Phoebe was a beautiful, damaged young woman embroiled in …

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Fatal Crossing – Lone Theils

Echo, Imprint of Bonnier Publishing, Melbourne, 2017 Reviewer:  Jessie Byrne Synopsis When a picture of two Danish girls who disappeared on a boat bound for England in 1985 emerges many years later in an old suitcase from a British second-hand dealer, the journalist Nora Sand’s professional curiosity is immediately awakened.But before she knows it, she …

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Backwoods Ripper – Anna Willett

The Book Folk – eBook 2016 Reviewer – Deb Bodinnar Synopsis   A country drive quickly turns into a nightmare for newly-weds Paige and Hal Loche When their car gets a flat tire in the Australian outback, it should be a simple job for capable Hal to fix. His wife pregnant, he sets to it. …

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The Way Back – Kylie Ladd

Allen and Unwin, 2017 Reviewer: Deb Bodinnar Synopsis All she wanted was to escape. But why does she still feel trapped. Charlie Johnson is 13 and in her first year of high school. She loves her family, netball and Liam, the cute guy who sits next to her in Science – but most of all …

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Darkest Place – Jaye Ford

Bantam, 2016 Reviewer: Christina Lee   Synopsis Carly Townsend is starting over after a decade of tragedy and pain. In a new town and a new apartment she’s determined to leave the memories and failures of her past behind. However that dream is shattered in the dead of night when she is woken by the …

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Beneath The Skin – Melissa James

Harlequin Mira, 2017 Reviewer – Deb Bodinnar Synopsis Flying Doctor Elly Lavender has spent years on the run from a violent stalker. Her obsessive former patient will do anything and threaten anyone in his campaign to force her to love him. When her most recent cover is blown, she runs for help to the childhood …

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Blame – Nicole Trope

Allen and Unwin 2016 Reviewer: Brenda Richards Synopsis Caro and Anna are best friends… they were best friends. Over a decade, Caro and Anna have bonded while raising their daughters, two little girls the same age but living two very different lives. The women have supported each other as they have shared the joys and …

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Dead Again – Sandi Wallace

Atlas Productions, 2017 Reviewer: Isobel Blackthorn Synopsis:  It is almost two years since wildfires ravaged the tiny town of Bullock, and Melbourne journalist, Georgie Harvey, is on assignment in the recovering town to write a feature story on the anniversary of the tragedy. In nearby Daylesford, police officer, John Franklin, is investigating a spree of …

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The Girl in Kellers Way – Megan Goldin

Penguin (Michael Joseph) 2017 Reviewer: Karen Manwaring Synopsis When Laura West was murdered, Julie gained everything – her husband, her child, her house. Now, Julie West lives the good life. She is mother to 3yr old Alice and married to Matt, a charismatic professor of psychology. Yet Julie is stifled, by the memory of Laura, …

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Dig Two Graves – Carolyn Morwood

Hybrid publishers 2017 Reviewer: Jacquie Byron Synopsis  Six international artists are invited to a residency in southern Spain. One falls in lust. Two fall in love. One talks only about New York. One makes installations out of feathers and stones. And one is left for dead on the side of a mountain.   Review by …

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