The highs (and lows) of publishing: Bronwyn Rodden

Childhood writing games, shelves of books, and a sister who became a librarian and introduced Bronwyn Rodden to the Blue Mountains helped in the creation of her book series set there. As a child, her family stayed at the old art deco hotels. They seemed so luxurious, after growing up in a fibro house on the fringes of the city. The breathtaking natural scenery also made an impact.

Read more

SA Chapter: Rebecca Heath with Michelle Prak

The first SA Chapter event for 2026. Internationally published SA-based author Rebecca Heath will be in conversation with Michelle Prak about her latest book, The Last Encore, a sweltering, claustrophobic thriller in which a former band reunites for a one-night-only show broadcast from a private island . . . but not everyone is there to enjoy the music.

Read more

Win a copy of Dove or Dead Heat

Penguin Books is generously donating ten copies of Dove, and ten copies of Dead Heat for the Crime Stack for March.
Dove, the new novel by Georgia Harper, the winner of the 2025 Davitt award for best debut novel, revolves around a provocative question. ‘What would you do if you had a whole day on earth free of men?’ Dead Heat, the explosive new thriller from Sunday Times bestselling author Sabine Durrant, is set over one blazing Mediterranean summer. Join now and be in the running.

Read more

Sisters in Crime and Allen & Unwin present Dark Deeds & Dramatic Reads

This special event showcases the remarkable talents of three Melbourne women crime writers – Sarah Bailey, Mali Cornish, and Riley James. Sarah will talk to fellow crime author, Tanya Scott, about her latest thriller, Click. Mali Cornish and Riley James will read briefly from their forthcoming novels – The Missing Mother and The Wreck.

Read more

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 …

Read more

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.

Read more

Death at Booroomba cover art on a black and red background

Death at Booroomba

Death at Booroomba is a historical murder mystery set in rural Australia, but also a war story. It’s a tale about the consequences of a split second decision to save a man’s life. Sounds like a good decision? And it was… except… it also wasn’t.

Read more

Lumps and bumps, blue eyes and small heads: Laraine Stephens

Laraine Stephens first novel, The Death Mask Murders, was inspired by her work as a volunteer guide at the Old Melbourne Gaol. In the cells are displayed death masks of executed felons. This gave her the impetus for a story line: What if the psychopath in The Death Mask Murders had developed a fixation with death masks and created them as ‘trophies’ of his victims?

Read more