Reviews - Sisters in Crime Australia

Broken Country

From the very opening lines of Broken Country, the reader is faced with unravelling the mystery of who has been murdered, why and as the narrative continues, just who is on trial for murder. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Broken Country, and whilst there were times where I felt the devastating loss that Beth was experiencing, the uplifting ending and the chance to experience happiness once again, left me feeling very satisfied, and as though I was leaving the characters in a better place than when I found them. Amazon book of the year.

The Mushroom Tapes

The case that stopped a nation? How can it be written about in a way that is not exploitative or voyeuristic? Well, like this. This is a sensitive, compelling and elegantly written narrative, ‘looked at’ in a way that is simultaneously familiar and ground-breaking. This is ‘bearing witness’ that is indeed more than ‘just perving’.

The Last Encore

The setup was reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s novels where just when you think you know who the villain is, they also end up dead. There’s a lot to keep track of in this story, and I did want to feel afraid for at least one of the characters, but mostly it was like a jigsaw puzzle, with pieces gradually coming together towards the finale.

Smoke in Berlin

A beautiful, atmospheric detective story set in Berlin during the Second World War. Smoke in Berlin is a celebration of the unquenchable flame of hope and humanity that persists even in the face of evil acts and dark times.

What You Don’t Know

by Sandi Wallace Publisher: Next Chapter Reviewer: Kay Weller What You Don’t Know is the perfect title for this serpentine novel, where it becomesincreasingly difficult to untangle the underlying truth from the knot of strange and sinisterevents that surround the main character, Tess. Tess and Joe live on an island, where the small community looks …

Flashlight

“Flashlight is an epic journey that will hold you fascinated every step of the way” says our reviewer. Not a conventional crime novel, it’s more literary fiction, which unfolds like a complex jigsaw puzzle. What happened to her father all those years ago?

No One is Safe

Ellie Marney’s first adult fiction novel, and her thirteenth published novel, No One is Safe was high on my list of most anticipated reads for 2026. Highly recommended reading.

Death of a Diplomat: Fiji Islands Mysteries 6

Crime fiction is a genre that’s especially suited to offering the reader an armchair tour of a town or country, and for anyone who’s interested in spending time in an exotic location, B.M. Allsopp has written a series of novels set in the tropical islands of Fiji. This is a gentle novel — despite the murder — told at a gentle pace and with a light touch (no heavy descriptions of violence or gore). The reader is left feeling entertained and relaxed, and hopeful that there are still heroes like Joe Horseman in the world.

On The Edge

Kate Horan’s skills create a compelling read and this reviewer says the book is phenomenal. A woman returns to her home town after Something Happened many years ago… and secrets begin to be revealed.

The Washup

Can you index this as Outback Noir when the setting is a lush tropical island off the coast of Queensland? Why not! Small community, ‘accidental deaths’ and a protagonist who won’t take no for an answer, and ends up uncovering secrets that are long, long buried.