Sisters in Crime Australia is dedicated to promoting women who write crime. Here are reviews of crime books (fiction and true crime) written by women.
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This is what good crime books do: delve into secrets and human flaws, exposing the things that have shaped us, or show that what the characters once believed to be true are complete lies. That someone is always trying to manipulate things or cover up secrets. It’s what makes this a powerful book, as there is no easy answer to justice. And when it’s a cold case, if the perpetrator is caught, how is justice served after four decades of living free?
I don’t know how to describe how real this story felt to me, and as a result how important I have come to view it. I think the telling of stories such as this in a novelistic form have the power to reach a broader audience because it’s entertaining, but more importantly it may show someone who needs it they are not alone.
This is a character-driven story that is beautifully written. It explores themes around the pressure of being a woman and what it costs many of us, medical malpractice and the reality of life in small communities. Told from multiple points of view it leaves you thinking about some challenging issues. The story leaves the reader wanting more and demanding action for an end to male violence towards women. Dove might make you angry, frustrated and sad at times but it also leaves you feeling that we’re not going to accept this any more.
When I read true crime, I often have to remind myself that this is a real person’s life. They lived and breathed, loved and were loved. This was not a problem in The Vanishing of Vivienne Cameron. Vikki Petraitis never loses sight of the women. They are why she is writing and why she has doggedly pursued this case for decades. I’m grateful for the work that she has done and the grace with which she has done it.
Whilst on the surface, Smother is a legal thriller, it is way more than that. The book looks at relationships that come in all shapes and sizes and how we need to nurture these at all stages of life. This is a must-read – an enjoyable and thought-provoking story.
Like, Follow, Die was hard to put down. A thrilling exercise of dot connecting to work out who was responsible, and for what. I was mesmerised from the first page, but the climax was so intense, I couldn’t read quickly enough. I flew through the pages, my heart pounding, cooking dinner totally forgotten. I thoroughly recommend you read Like, Follow, Die, not just for an incredible crime story, but also as a reminder. Beware.
As I write its only March, but I am willing to bet that Good Boy will be one of my top reads for this year. I doubt that any other book will break my heart so very exquisitely – and that is not a spoiler re the ending, for there is heartache and redemption seeded through every page.
The Reunion is a fantastic debut novel by Bronwen Rivers. It’s is about friendship, the connection between mother and child, and the lengths and depths someone will go to protect their secret and hide their true identity from not only themselves, but those closest to them. A truly captivating and spellbinding read.
Murder in the Cathedral has Kerry’s familiar light touch, her humour, and her love of history. It is a book to be read slowly and savoured. Then when you have finished, find a copy of Cocaine Blues and take the journey with the Honorable Phryne Fisher all over again.
In Melbourne, autumn is around the corner and winter is closing in. Lucky crime readers! This is a corker – the kind of book that says: fire up the kettle or uncork the wine, whatever’s your jam, turn on the reading lamp, curl up and devour. It really is a lot of fun.