Cass Moriarty (Author of The Promise Seed)

Cass Moriarty rated a book it was amazing In a Common Hour by Sita Walker	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I opened this book and could not put it down. IN A COMMON HOUR (Ultimo Press 2026) by Sita Walker is a remarkable novel that immediately connects readers to characters and setting, and explores themes of coming of age, education, class, racism, menta ...more
Feb 20, 2026 05:02PM · like · see review
Cass Moriarty rated a book it was amazing The Cross Thieves by Alan Fyfe (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Superficially the story of one night of action-packed drama and suspense, THE CROSS THIEVES (Transit Lounge 2026) by Alan Fyfe is a deeply thoughtful exploration of issues such as food insecurity, homelessness, addiction, institutionalised abuse, vio ...more
Feb 13, 2026 10:58PM · 1 like · like · see review
Cass Moriarty rated a book it was amazing Two Islands by Ian Kemish	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Ian Kemish’s debut fiction TWO ISLANDS (UQP 2026) is a fast-paced, emotionally charged thriller informed by his experience as a former Australian diplomat, particularly his work in the Balkans in the 1990’s. He combines this with an engrossing, evoca ...more
Feb 09, 2026 09:39PM · 4 likes · like · see review
Cass Moriarty rated a book it was amazing The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I’ve eaten fish eyes in Japan (would not recommend) but I don’t think I could ever do so again after reading this subtle family drama / horror novel THE EYES ARE THE BEST PART (Hachette 2024) by Monika Kim. The story begins in a chaotic but harmlessl ...more
Feb 08, 2026 10:55PM · 1 like · like · see review
Cass Moriarty rated a book it was amazing Like, Follow, Die by Ashley Kalagian Blunt (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Ashley Kalagian Blunt has done it again with her third psychological crime thriller LIKE FOLLOW DIE (Ultimo Press 2026) – she immerses the reader into a world of techno-crime and the dark spaces of the internet that frighten us all. If you enjoy a we ...more
Jan 13, 2026 08:20PM · like · see review
Cass Moriarty rated a book it was amazing Bodies of Light by Jennifer Down	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
What an extraordinary writer is Jennifer Down, and her novel BODIES OF LIGHT (Text 2021) is a triumph. (Please remember that any books older than a few years may not be stocked by bookstores because of space restrictions – but your local indie bookst ...more
Jan 06, 2026 08:44PM · 1 like · like · see review
Cass Moriarty rated a book really liked it Lay Your Body Down by Amy Suiter Clarke (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
If you enjoy a mystery suspense novel but without the blood and gore that often accompanies murder stories, LAY YOUR BODY DOWN (Text 2023) by Amy Suiter Clarke will fit the bill. Gripping, compelling and nuanced, the terrible violence of this book is ...more
Jan 05, 2026 06:39PM · like · see review
Cass Moriarty rated a book it was amazing Wild Dogs (Gabe Ahern #1) by Michael Trant (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I bought this novel as recommended by Fiona Stager from Avid Reader when it was released three years ago; life intervened and it has sat patiently on my TBR pile ever since. It finally rose to the top (as do all good things) and WOW, what a ride. Mic ...more
Jan 01, 2026 06:54PM · like · see review
Cass Moriarty rated a book it was amazing Silence is my Habitat: ecobiographical essays by Jessica White	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jessica White’s literary essay, auto-fiction, non-fiction exploration of sound, loss, history, the natural world, memory, climate change and disability is a well-researched, moving account of her life at this time – after the death of her mother; nav ...more
Dec 22, 2025 06:28PM · like · see review
Cass Moriarty rated a book it was amazing What Lies Between Us by John Marrs (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
WHAT LIES BETWEEN US (Thomas and Mercer 2020) by John Marrs is an extraordinary, chilling, suspenseful and constantly surprising psychological thriller that almost defies description because of the sheer number of twists and turns in the plot. Almost ...more
Dec 18, 2025 04:30PM · 4 likes · like · see review

Cass Moriarty rated a book it was amazing

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I opened this book and could not put it down. IN A COMMON HOUR (Ultimo Press 2026) by Sita Walker is a remarkable novel that immediately connects readers to characters and setting, and explores themes of coming of age, education, class, racism, menta I opened this book and could not put it down. IN A COMMON HOUR (Ultimo Press 2026) by Sita Walker is a remarkable novel that immediately connects readers to characters and setting, and explores themes of coming of age, education, class, racism, mental health, ambition, desire, love, friendship and loyalty. It features flawed people with broken hearts and broken dreams, kind people who will do whatever it takes to save their friends, lost people who become found, and malignant memories that are finally put to rest.

The entire novel is set over one hour during a high school lunch break. (Yes! One hour!) The skill of the author in developing the narrative and characters to the extent that she can sustain tension and pace over only an hour is extraordinary. Of course, there are flashbacks and backstory, but the pivotal plot takes place almost in one scene.

The setting is Parks State High School and as readers we are given the perspectives of several characters. Oliver Fish is literally a fish out of water – keen on philosophy, literature and poetry, he hides a secret relationship. Conservative and religious Maryam Fadel is academically brilliant and seemingly unaware that Dev Patel is obsessed with her; as ‘in love’ as a teenage boy can be. The other characters such as Freedom, Zoe, Solomon, Cameron and Warren – just to name a few – are all richly layered and unforgettable, an insightfully observed cast, each with their own backstory, ambitions and conundrums.

All these characters revolve around the central figure in the story, Paul Bush, a teacher with a complicated past who gets caught up in a student prank that might finally shock him into reality. Can’t say much without spoilers but the development of Paul Bush and his history is crafted with expert care.

Themes include parenting and motherhood, the development of our personalities and what shapes our dreams, the shackles and joys of raising children, the unrelenting slog of being a teacher (especially a good teacher), adolescent coming-of-age issues, religious parameters, and the smarts of young people (both in tech-savvy ways and also emotional capacity).

The wonderful aspect of this novel is the structure. While the main narrative takes place over one hour, intermittent chapters take the reader back to 45 years ago, then the previous week, five years ago, 17 years ago, 10 years ago, eight years ago, two years ago, 12 years ago, 13 years ago and the previous night. Each section adds an interesting perspective on a particular character and shines a light on why they are where they are in their life right now.

I loved the white space in this book. The author allows the reader plenty of latitude to think around the events and themes themselves. She hints at incidents or refers to them in an offhand or shorthand manner, so that the reader must do some work to put the pieces of the puzzle together. There are some quiet but beautiful revelations towards the end, and a harmonious circular detail that brings the resolution to its surprising but inevitable conclusion.

Walker writes teenage characters with skill and authenticity but also demonstrates the state of adult characters’ lives because of what has come before.

IN A COMMON HOUR is funny, wise, poignant, tender, surprising, clever and thought-provoking. It will break your heart then reinstate your belief in people’s intrinsic goodness. ...more

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The Cross Thieves
by Alan Fyfe (Goodreads Author)

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Superficially the story of one night of action-packed drama and suspense, THE CROSS THIEVES (Transit Lounge 2026) by Alan Fyfe is a deeply thoughtful exploration of issues such as food insecurity, homelessness, addiction, institutionalised abuse, vio Superficially the story of one night of action-packed drama and suspense, THE CROSS THIEVES (Transit Lounge 2026) by Alan Fyfe is a deeply thoughtful exploration of issues such as food insecurity, homelessness, addiction, institutionalised abuse, violence, poverty and powerlessness.

Two young brothers, Gark and Pell, are living rough on the outskirts of a small town, squatting in an abandoned structure, hungry most days, with government support miniscule and unreliable, and no support at all from family or friends. They are on their own. They get by, just.

In this almost mythical, fairytale story of revenge, one night the boys steal a homemade cross, a memorial to someone they don’t think deserves any remembering. As they run through the night, hungry, thirsty, and chased by a series of people meaning to do them harm, they remember their life before, their family, their dashed hopes.

There are points of kindness and joy during this night, and during their remembering of past interactions, but not enough to douse the rage, anger and revenge boiling in their souls.

On this same night, a local pastor drives across town to spend some time with a dying parishioner. The connection between the two stories becomes gradually apparent.

The story is interspersed with letters between two women that also shed some light on the current circumstances.

This slim, fast paced novel presents a highly original voice, whip-smart humour, tenderness, poignancy and visceral brutality. Gark and Pell are unforgettable characters, tied by blood and familiarity and loyalty, tested by everything the world throws at them. This is humanity on the page: religion, class, race, poverty and power. The brothers champion the spirit of the underdogs and we as readers cheer them on at every step.

With the mysteries of philately, stories of constructing buildings and of tearing them down, myths and legends about carnivals and beliefs and the difference between right and wrong, THE CROSS THIEVES is an unputdownable read that is thoughtful, gripping and shocking, with some unexpected twists and surprises and an (in hindsight) inevitable and satisfying denouement. Highly recommend. ...more

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Two Islands
by Ian Kemish

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Ian Kemish’s debut fiction TWO ISLANDS (UQP 2026) is a fast-paced, emotionally charged thriller informed by his experience as a former Australian diplomat, particularly his work in the Balkans in the 1990’s. He combines this with an engrossing, evoca Ian Kemish’s debut fiction TWO ISLANDS (UQP 2026) is a fast-paced, emotionally charged thriller informed by his experience as a former Australian diplomat, particularly his work in the Balkans in the 1990’s. He combines this with an engrossing, evocative portrait of the isolated Western Isles of Scotland, from where he has strong family history.

I recently reviewed Gretchen Shirm’s OUT OF THE WOODS, and TWO ISLANDS deals with similar themes around the work of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, established in The Hague in the Netherlands. Both books explore the horrific war crimes and genocide of that period through the hindsight of investigators, pathologists and prosecutors from around the world who have taken a secondment role in the proceedings over many years. This enforcement team is tasked with locating, charging and punishing the guilty, and offering some sense of closure or justice for the survivors and their families.

In TWO ISLANDS, Kemish creates a sophisticated and resonate story, with fully formed characters, and he captures the emotional intensity of the situation. He also manages to write a page-turning suspense thriller – a terrifying game of cat and mouse that threatens not only the main protagonist but those who choose to help him. (Much as in times of war, brave civilians put their lives on the line to protect the innocent and oppressed.)

Niko is literally running for his life and wants to be as far away as possible from his (new) home in London when he realises his witness protection guarantee has been compromised, and ruthless people are willing to chase him around the world to avoid him giving testimony at The Hague. He fears too for his family and friends. Niko was only a teenager when he saw terrible crimes committed. He understands what is at stake. On a whim, he chooses the loneliest part of Scotland, a tiny, isolated island off the coast. At first, he is desperate to escape the busyness of larger cities but then he wonders if he has made himself a target by settling as a strange newcomer in a small community. People have long memories, however, and some characters are connected to Niko in ways he could not have predicted.

The other protagonist is Australian Anita, who is on leave in her home country to visit her sick father when she receives the news that her star witness – Niko – has disappeared. This is out of character for him, and she fears the worst, either that he has been killed or is being pursued. The other option is that he has simply decided not to testify after all, which would be devastating for her case against the notorious war criminal Arkan.

Through the perspectives of Anita and Niko, plus a couple of local Scottish characters, the narrative is thrilling and unputdownable, as Niko evades detection from both Anita (whom he trusts, but has been unable to reach) and the goons that have been ordered to silence him.

TWO ISLANDS is set in the shadow of the Bosnia-Herzegovina tragedy, but it mirrors the genocides and horrors of post-World War Two atrocities including Rwanda, Ukraine, Gaza, The Northern Ireland Troubles and Afghanistan. Kemish makes the specific universal through his enormous compassion and understanding of these conflicts, and he introduces easily relatable characters that remind readers of our shared humanity. TWO ISLANDS is informative, insightful and page-turning. ...more

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The Eyes Are the Best Part
by Monika Kim (Goodreads Author)

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I’ve eaten fish eyes in Japan (would not recommend) but I don’t think I could ever do so again after reading this subtle family drama / horror novel THE EYES ARE THE BEST PART (Hachette 2024) by Monika Kim.

The story begins in a chaotic but harmlessl ...more

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Like, Follow, Die
by Ashley Kalagian Blunt (Goodreads Author)

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Ashley Kalagian Blunt has done it again with her third psychological crime thriller LIKE FOLLOW DIE (Ultimo Press 2026) – she immerses the reader into a world of techno-crime and the dark spaces of the internet that frighten us all. If you enjoy a we Ashley Kalagian Blunt has done it again with her third psychological crime thriller LIKE FOLLOW DIE (Ultimo Press 2026) – she immerses the reader into a world of techno-crime and the dark spaces of the internet that frighten us all. If you enjoy a well-crafted psychological suspense full of twists, this book delivers. It will also appeal to those exploring the themes of the recent hit drama Adolescence: boys becoming men; ‘toxic masculinity’; men’s rights activists’ groups; online influencers; the discussion around the causes and mindsets behind mass shootings and radicalisation; the media and ideologies; the vulnerabilities of young people, especially those isolated or suffering mental health issues; and the concept of whether society inevitably contributes to the actions of individuals. LIKE FOLLOW DIE is scary because it is truth masquerading as fiction – highly relatable, plausible and seemingly more commonplace now than ever.

The structure of the story is clever and page-turning. The main narrative happens over only a few hours of one day, when ‘the most hated woman in Australia’ opens her door to a homicide detective. Corinne Gray’s life has been reduced to monotony, isolation and vitriol after her teenage son, Ben, committed an atrocious act of violence. At first, we are unaware of what tragedy has occurred, and we don’t know if Ben is missing, in hiding, in prison, estranged or dead, but it is clear he and his mother are no longer in contact. It is also clear that every Australian, fuelled by the media’s coverage of events, considers Corinne to be the very worst mother in every possible way. The sins of the son have become the neglect or terrible upbringing of his mother.

The second part of the narrative focuses on the homicide detective, Kyle Nazarian, in the few days before, and the day of, the climax. A newly minted detective, Kyle is keen to impress but immediately conflicted by the rough and ready attitude of his partner, DS Duff, who is highly regarded and respected but also takes a few liberties with scene of crime procedural policies and chain of evidence rules. Kyle knows he must demonstrate utmost loyalty to be trusted, but his conscience is tested several times by Duff’s decisions.

The third part of the story includes Ben’s diary entries, firstly handwritten as a 12-year-old boy, and then uncovered later (through police investigations) as a private digital journal. These entries reveal the slow unravelling of Ben’s thoughts, beliefs and resentments as he grows from a sweet boy to a troubled adolescent. These epistolary interludes add colour, interest and insight into the boy we never meet except off the page.

There are further human complications. DS Duff has cancer and this could be his last case – everyone on the force wants him to go out on a high with a successful closure rate. And Kyle’s wife Seda is at the tail end of a high-risk pregnancy. This is perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of the story, as Kyle is constantly torn between wanting to be there for his wife, and needing to be one hundred percent focussed at work.

Kyle and his wife have a fascinating backstory related to their Armenian family, their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. The author has previously included references to the history of the Armenian genocide and its ongoing repercussions in her other novels (and also written non-fiction essays on the subject). This issue is not really mentioned in this novel until towards the end, but when it is included, it certainly packs a punch and explains a lot of Kyle’s indecision and conflicted emotion. There is one line, about his feelings when he sees his beloved wife’s pregnant stomach ballooning with new life, that will haunt me forever. It is a testament to Kalagian Blunt’s writing skills that she can incorporate such poignant human tenderness and fragility into the meat of a crime novel.

Because it IS also a crime novel, even though I have barely discussed that yet! Kyle and DS Duff are investigating the deaths of two people, murdered in gruesome ways and with identifying clues intentionally left behind by the killer. There appears to be no connection, Duff is keen to close the cases before his illness catches up with him, and Kyle is also keen to wrap them up so he can be home before Seda gives birth.

But the climactic day arrives, when Corinne and Kyle meet face to face, and Corinne is invited – and keen – to speak about her sweet-natured son Ben, a boy who loved history and his dog, a teenager dreaming of being an Olympic swimmer. She wants to explain and she wants to understand herself, how her gentle child could become the monster he is now known as; a monster lured to the dangerous shadows of the internet, or perhaps created and nurtured by those spaces. The truth is important to Corinne, and while she doesn’t expect sympathy, she wants – no, she needs – to warn others of how easily parenting can go horribly wrong.

As with all great thrillers, there are many red herrings, clues, twists and turns in LIKE FOLLOW DIE, the most significant at the end which, when you read it, upturns everything you have read before. The end of that chapter has dialogue by both Corinne and Kyle that is a heartbreaking demonstration of the parental bond. But the author goes even further, adding a final unexpected chapter that give us yet another astonishing reveal, this one tying together all the threads throughout the book, and explaining several plot points that didn’t seem important until this explanation resolves them all and gives us information that was hiding in plain sight all along.

LIKE FOLLOW DIE will be released in February but you can pre-order now from your local independent bookstore. A little bird told me that pre-orders may even be gifted something special for being so keen. (A used murder weapon? A secret dark web code? A body disposal suit? Who knows …) ...more

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Bodies of Light
by Jennifer Down

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What an extraordinary writer is Jennifer Down, and her novel BODIES OF LIGHT (Text 2021) is a triumph.

(Please remember that any books older than a few years may not be stocked by bookstores because of space restrictions – but your local indie bookst What an extraordinary writer is Jennifer Down, and her novel BODIES OF LIGHT (Text 2021) is a triumph.

(Please remember that any books older than a few years may not be stocked by bookstores because of space restrictions – but your local indie bookstore or any bookstore will always happily order a book in for you if you like the sound of it. Or the library is a great alternative too.)

BODIES OF LIGHT is an epic saga of a novel about the life of a woman who has led multiple existences. She has been known by many names; she has survived a traumatic and abusive childhood; she has worked a hundred different jobs; she has been clean and sober (and not); she has experienced motherhood and the worst pain a mother can endure; she has loved and lost; she’s travelled around the world; and she’s spent most of her life trying to find herself, the real centre of herself, the beating heart of who she is and what she wants and how to interpret her relationships with others.

The tagline for the book (narrated by, let’s call her Maggie), emphasises that a single old photograph, gone viral for all the wrong reasons, shines a spotlight on Maggie, as an acquaintance from years earlier tries to get in touch via Facebook. But Maggie doesn’t want to be found, especially with allegations of child-killing in her resume. In a story full of tragedy and heartbreak, emotion and tenderness, ruthlessness and banality, anger, loyalty, betrayal, love, desire, truth and lies, this broken woman must constantly decide whether to run and hide from her past or confront the devastating details that define her and choose another path.

It is impossible to describe the beauty of this book despite its tragic themes. The language is exquisite, the dialogue authentically rendered, the descriptions vivid and lacerating and evocative, the themes deep, thought-provoking and meaningful. Down writes with purpose, with a lightness of touch that hides a complex and complicated narrative that is years in the making. Brutality and trauma co-exist with empathetic dignity and heart, and Maggie is a character who will leave footprints on your heart. BODIES OF LIGHT won the 2022 Miles Franklin Award. ...more

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Lay Your Body Down
by Amy Suiter Clarke (Goodreads Author)

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If you enjoy a mystery suspense novel but without the blood and gore that often accompanies murder stories, LAY YOUR BODY DOWN (Text 2023) by Amy Suiter Clarke will fit the bill. Gripping, compelling and nuanced, the terrible violence of this book is If you enjoy a mystery suspense novel but without the blood and gore that often accompanies murder stories, LAY YOUR BODY DOWN (Text 2023) by Amy Suiter Clarke will fit the bill. Gripping, compelling and nuanced, the terrible violence of this book is off the page; the reader does not have to confront it face-on but rather must unpick the moral and practical consequences of the characters and their actions.

The story centres around Del Walker, a young woman who years earlier fled her small hometown, mostly to escape the cult-like features of its church, The Messiah, which holds a determined grip on the inhabitants of Bower, Minnesota. The head of the flock, Pastor Rick, has his fingers in every pie in Bower and the immediate surrounds – the businesses, the sports and extra-curricular activities, the youth groups, the financial systems and of course, with his ‘confidential prayer sessions’, he is inside the heads of almost every community member.

Del is drawn back to Bower in the first pages because her ex-boyfriend – and local church leader – Lars, dies in a tragic hunting accident and Del wishes to attend the funeral, despite the anxiety this brings. She is ambivalent about seeing her parents, with whom she has had no contact for years. She is nervous about returning to the town with which she was once so familiar. And mostly, she is worried about coming face-to-face with Eve, once her best friend and recently Lars’ wife. But out of respect, she returns, only to find that there are perhaps more secrets in Bower than even she previously realised.

Eve was semi-famous in that when she was 15, she began writing a blog about being a Noble Wife, the ultimate biblical female partner, submissive in all ways to your husband. As the years passed, and Eve matured and eventually married, her blog grew in popularity from her small, local church to an online outreach program of many tens of thousands, all supported by Pastor Rick, who considered Eve his formal mouthpiece in terms of Noble Wife philosophy and how it supported The Messiah Church structure.

But when Del returns, she discovers that Eve isn’t grieving in quite the way expected, Pastor Rick’s teachings have become even more evangelical, patriarchal and insidious, and the more she learns about Lars’ death, the more she is convinced it was not an accident. Determined to unearth the truth and uncover the lies, Del is mysteriously threatened by someone keen for her to get the hell out of Dodge. Complicating matters is the fact that Del has her own buried memories, guilt and remorse and pain from past incidents that involved her and that she was made to confess to the Church. Digging into the current predicament only serves to uncover more of what she’d rather forget.

The sections written about the cult-like (but ostensibly perfectly harmless and in fact godly) aspects of the church, and the conduct of its leaders, are seamless and authentic. I suspect the author has had some similar dealings in the past. I grew up in a religious (protestant) family, and some of the interactions and instructions she describes could certainly have been my own experience. These shocking episodes are enhanced by the very real nature in which they are described, not only meetings with church leaders, but the far reaches of the church into a small society, and the knowledge that the leaders and youth pastors know everything about everyone.

As with her first novel (which utilised a podcast in an epistolary nature), the author uses blog posts and diary entries from both Eve and Del to accompany the main narrative. These glimpses into the past help develop the current scenario and the characters’ backstories. LAY YOUR BODY DOWN exposes the dangers of close-minded, closed (and close) religious communities where to expose truths or to dare to leave is a risk not many are willing to take. And as I said earlier, a great example of a gripping suspense novel that leaves the gory details off the page and only in the reader’s imagination.

And remember, if you want to read a book but it was published a couple of years ago, your local bookstore is always happy to order a copy in for you, or you can request it at your local library. ...more

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Wild Dogs (Gabe Ahern #1)
by Michael Trant (Goodreads Author)

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I bought this novel as recommended by Fiona Stager from Avid Reader when it was released three years ago; life intervened and it has sat patiently on my TBR pile ever since. It finally rose to the top (as do all good things) and WOW, what a ride. Mic I bought this novel as recommended by Fiona Stager from Avid Reader when it was released three years ago; life intervened and it has sat patiently on my TBR pile ever since. It finally rose to the top (as do all good things) and WOW, what a ride. Michael Trant’s WILD DOGS (Penguin Random House 2022) is like the book version of a car chase scene in an action movie, but at a sustained pace throughout the entire novel. Tense, atmospheric, gripping, high stakes, emotional, timely themes – this book has it all.

Set in drought-ridden Western Australia, the story centres around Gabe Ahern, a wild dog trapper (or ‘dogger’) who lives off the land and the cash he makes by trapping and shooting the wild dog pests who harm livestock. His life is solitary and haunted by the part he played in his wife’s death some years earlier. He is a deeply flawed but highly likeable character. Others call him a ‘good man’, something he disputes. He is certainly a complex person and the author puts him through his paces with some extremely dicey and morally complicated scenarios.

The novel begins when Gabe accidently saves a young Afghan man, Amin, from execution. To say too much would be a spoiler, but the circumstances of Amin’s situation in Australia, and that of his family, ensure that the stakes could not be higher for whatever happens next. And what happens next is an extremely fast-paced and dangerous situation with twists and turns and unexpected surprises (some of them tender and some decidedly grim).

Not only are Gabe (and Amin) fleeing from people smugglers but also from the outlaw Chase Fowler, a kangaroo hunter with wiles and bush smarts to match Gabe in every way. These two grisly hunters who’ve both led harsh lives have much in common, but also have key differences, mostly that underneath his gruff exterior, Gabe has a heart, and every now and then the common sense (or naivety) to follow it.

Although I have no interest in dogging or roo hunting, this book had me hooked from the first page and I could not put it down. The underlying themes of people trafficking, illegal activities and the deprivations of outback life (including First Nations dry communities) add layers of interest and depth to this outstanding cat and mouse tale. With several key characters at risk, the constant ethical tightrope-walking and the relationships built up over only a matter of days, WILD DOGS is a fantastic read that will clutch you and not let you go.

And remember, if you want to read a book but it was published a couple of years ago, your local bookstore is always happy to order a copy in for you, or you can request it at your local library. ...more

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Silence is my Habitat: ecobiographical essays
by Jessica White

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Jessica White’s literary essay, auto-fiction, non-fiction exploration of sound, loss, history, the natural world, memory, climate change and disability is a well-researched, moving account of her life at this time – after the death of her mother; nav Jessica White’s literary essay, auto-fiction, non-fiction exploration of sound, loss, history, the natural world, memory, climate change and disability is a well-researched, moving account of her life at this time – after the death of her mother; navigating the world as a non-hearing person; maintaining an intimate relationship; losing herself in the world of academia; and her many interactions with plants and animals and the environment – as she relates the significant incidents of her life over recent years and combines this with childhood memories and ideas about First Nations people and the harsh beauty and resilience of this country we call Australia. SILENCE IS MY HABITAT (UpSwell Publishing 2025) is billed as a collection of Ecobiographical Essays, a term I had not heard before, but which very much describes White’s content.

The book consists of loosely connected essays, each structured in small vignettes. While each has a representative title: Hostile Architecture; We Were All Deaf in the Pandemic; The Breath Goes Now; On the Wing; or Balancing, for example, even the information covered in each particular essay continues to return to her persistent themes: navigating the world as a deaf woman; making choices about family and relationships; her inextricable connection to the natural world; her work as a teacher, academic and writer.

She uses the original Indigenous names for place and is mindful and respectful of the way she moves through this country (and others) and the footprint she leaves behind. She grew up on a farm but knows much about traditional Indigenous agriculture. She lost her hearing at the age of four after a bout of meningitis – a devastating blow that obviously has presented her with great challenges but has also – to her mind – given her opportunities and heightened other senses to compensate. Her lifelong study of the nineteenth-century botanist Georgiana Molloy, and her compelling hybrid memoir HEARING MAUD, show her dedication and respect for historical figures who have paved the way before her, and her frequent mentions of the inspiration and accomplishments of contemporary (often deaf) writers demonstrate the unyielding and meticulous strands of her many research webs, and her admiration for the work of others. White is a generous writer, a contemplative and gentle writer, an author who thinks deeply and questions constantly.

Punctuating her research and factual findings are intermittent musings on her own life, loves, ambitions, disappointments, successes, misunderstandings, regrets and joys. A rich, luscious, evocative and enveloping collection, SILENCE IS MY HABITAT is a delightful and thought-provoking read. ...more

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What Lies Between Us
by John Marrs (Goodreads Author)

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WHAT LIES BETWEEN US (Thomas and Mercer 2020) by John Marrs is an extraordinary, chilling, suspenseful and constantly surprising psychological thriller that almost defies description because of the sheer number of twists and turns in the plot. Almost WHAT LIES BETWEEN US (Thomas and Mercer 2020) by John Marrs is an extraordinary, chilling, suspenseful and constantly surprising psychological thriller that almost defies description because of the sheer number of twists and turns in the plot. Almost nothing of the narrative can be revealed because there is a twist early on, and then another, and another, and they keep coming thick and fast, and to say much at all about the plot would be to give away secrets that are revealed all the way through the novel.

I can say that this is a story about two women, Maggie and Nina, who live in a house full of secrets. I can reveal that every second night, the two women have dinner together. And I can say that every night, one of these women chains the other up and confines her to the attic. Creepy, right?

From the opening pages, we think we know who is villain, who is victim. But as the narrative progresses, every chapter reveals something new about each of these women, something they did, or did not do, in their past, that casts them in a new light. Our sympathies swing from one to the other like a pendulum. Just when we believe we know the history of this house and its secrets, some other terrible atrocity is revealed, and our empathies shift again and again from Maggie to Nina, from Nina to Maggie, and back again. Both women have done unforgiveable things. And yet both have also carried unimaginable burdens. Neither can ever leave this house.

Marrs writes pacy dialogue and evokes the atmospheric and haunting environment of a locked room scenario. Time swings from the present to 25 years ago, to two years ago, when the most dramatic of actions occurred. In this way, he brings us up to speed on the lives of these women and how they have come to be in the situation in which they find themselves. They are bonded, connected and loyal, yet also broken, torn and desperate to be free. A remarkably great thriller that surprises at every turn. Just when you think you know everything, you realise you had no idea of historical events. ...more

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Aussie Readers: Autumn Challenge - 1st March-31st May 2018	334	271	Jun 01, 2018 09:27PM
Australian Women ...: Completed! (77 reviews for 2018)	91	31	Dec 21, 2018 07:39PM

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