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Lowbridge
Where everybody knows everyone, how can somebody just disappear?
A missing girl. Decades of silence. A secret too big to bury.
1987: It’s late summer and a time of change when 17-year-old Tess Dawes leaves the local shopping centre in the sleepy town of Lowbridge and is never seen again.
Tess’s unsolved disappearance is never far from the town’s memory. There’s those who grew up with Tess, and never left. And those who know more than they’re saying …
It just takes an outsider to ask the right questions.
2018: Katherine Ashworth, shattered by the death of her daughter, moves to her husband’s hometown. Searching for a way to pick up the pieces of her life, she joins the local historical society and becomes obsessed with the three-decades-old mystery.
As Katherine digs into that summer of 1987, she stumbles upon the trail of a second girl who vanished when no one cared enough to see what was happening in plain sight.
Her trail could lead right to Katherine’s door.
In a town simmering with divisions and a cast of unforgettable characters, Lowbridge is a heart-wrenching mystery about the girls who are lost, the ones who are mourned and those who are forgotten.
A missing girl. Decades of silence. A secret too big to bury.
1987: It’s late summer and a time of change when 17-year-old Tess Dawes leaves the local shopping centre in the sleepy town of Lowbridge and is never seen again.
Tess’s unsolved disappearance is never far from the town’s memory. There’s those who grew up with Tess, and never left. And those who know more than they’re saying …
It just takes an outsider to ask the right questions.
2018: Katherine Ashworth, shattered by the death of her daughter, moves to her husband’s hometown. Searching for a way to pick up the pieces of her life, she joins the local historical society and becomes obsessed with the three-decades-old mystery.
As Katherine digs into that summer of 1987, she stumbles upon the trail of a second girl who vanished when no one cared enough to see what was happening in plain sight.
Her trail could lead right to Katherine’s door.
In a town simmering with divisions and a cast of unforgettable characters, Lowbridge is a heart-wrenching mystery about the girls who are lost, the ones who are mourned and those who are forgotten.
380 pages, Paperback
First published July 5, 2023
36 people are currently reading
661 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
July 13, 2023
I love an Australian crime book, and Lucy Campbell has knocked it out of the park with her debut, Lowbridge. There is so much going on in this dual timeline story and it kept me up late on a school night as I just had to finish it. Just outstanding.
It is 2018, and a Katherine and her husband have moved to Lowbridge where her husband grew up, to give themselves so time and space after an horrific event in their lives. Katherine is really depressed, and needs something to focus her energies on. She discovers the local historical society and volunteers with them, helping to digitise their records and organise events.this is where she learns about the disappearance of teenager, Tess Dawes, in 1987. This was when her husband was at school here and he has never spoken about it. She needs to learn more, and starts to upset the locals by asking questions. How can a girl just vanish in a small town, where everyone knows everyone else?
If you are a fan of mysteries, small town stories and just great writing, then you must read this book. It surprised me so many times which where the story went and I was engrossed. Realistic and not always likeable characters, fabulous scenery and a clever story, this book has it all and was easily 5 stars for me.
Thanks so much to Ultimo Press and Benson Publicity for my advanced copy of this book to read. Get it on your TBR.
It is 2018, and a Katherine and her husband have moved to Lowbridge where her husband grew up, to give themselves so time and space after an horrific event in their lives. Katherine is really depressed, and needs something to focus her energies on. She discovers the local historical society and volunteers with them, helping to digitise their records and organise events.this is where she learns about the disappearance of teenager, Tess Dawes, in 1987. This was when her husband was at school here and he has never spoken about it. She needs to learn more, and starts to upset the locals by asking questions. How can a girl just vanish in a small town, where everyone knows everyone else?
If you are a fan of mysteries, small town stories and just great writing, then you must read this book. It surprised me so many times which where the story went and I was engrossed. Realistic and not always likeable characters, fabulous scenery and a clever story, this book has it all and was easily 5 stars for me.
Thanks so much to Ultimo Press and Benson Publicity for my advanced copy of this book to read. Get it on your TBR.
December 12, 2023
This debut was remarkably well written. I was on a zoom book club meeting where the author discussed her work and her way of writing, and her research. I was quite taken that this was her first piece of work. This book discusses the times of 1987, and I felt like I was there. References to the clothes, the food, the music, and the thought processes of teenagers and being in high school. It was all so real.
The story goes back and forth between these more (seemingly) innocent times of the 80’s to the more current of 2018. It is tragic circumstances in both periods, two young women losing their lives, on the cusp of womanhood. One death being accounted for, and the disappearance of Tess in 1987 still being unsolved. Both narratives reek of the common themes of toxicity, gendered violence, the rights of women and the privilege of the wealthy.
Small town and crime are always a good mix, so if you like this combination you will not be left wanting. 2018 brings us a mother mourning the loss of her daughter. Katherine cannot get past the loss and finds herself involved in the historical society, which brings her to the 1987 case of Tess. Unhappy with the interest his wife is showing here, I quickly realised there was more to this than meets the eye.
He is not the only one to be pressuring Kathleen to drop this interest, Kathleen is adamant to have a remembrance of the disappearance of Tess and Tess’s family could not be happier. The plan is to stir memories of this awful case and to even find answers.
Movements become sinister as the story slowly unfolds, causing much guess work and a good dose of manipulative characters. The town of Lowbridge is shrouded in secrecy, and simmers in the secrets of the past. This mix is effective and makes for an atmospheric Australian crime novel in a rural locale.
Well narrated by Anthea Greco which I listened to via the BorroBox platform and my public library.
The story goes back and forth between these more (seemingly) innocent times of the 80’s to the more current of 2018. It is tragic circumstances in both periods, two young women losing their lives, on the cusp of womanhood. One death being accounted for, and the disappearance of Tess in 1987 still being unsolved. Both narratives reek of the common themes of toxicity, gendered violence, the rights of women and the privilege of the wealthy.
Small town and crime are always a good mix, so if you like this combination you will not be left wanting. 2018 brings us a mother mourning the loss of her daughter. Katherine cannot get past the loss and finds herself involved in the historical society, which brings her to the 1987 case of Tess. Unhappy with the interest his wife is showing here, I quickly realised there was more to this than meets the eye.
He is not the only one to be pressuring Kathleen to drop this interest, Kathleen is adamant to have a remembrance of the disappearance of Tess and Tess’s family could not be happier. The plan is to stir memories of this awful case and to even find answers.
Movements become sinister as the story slowly unfolds, causing much guess work and a good dose of manipulative characters. The town of Lowbridge is shrouded in secrecy, and simmers in the secrets of the past. This mix is effective and makes for an atmospheric Australian crime novel in a rural locale.
Well narrated by Anthea Greco which I listened to via the BorroBox platform and my public library.
July 17, 2023
Katherine is seeking oblivion from guilt and grief with sleeping pills and vodka. She has returned with her husband to his sleepy hometown of Lowbridge, an hour’s drive from Sydney, distancing themselves from the family tragedy that occurred there. Jamie’s threat of rehab finally gets her out of the house, slowly and incrementally, to the Historical Society where her interest in the local lore becomes troubling for Jamie: the fundraiser for the Rural Fire Service is well received, the celebration of the Women’s Centre more contentious, the 30 year old cold case of missing 16 year old Tess Dawes fractious.
Is Jamie’s concern for fragile Katherine, or is he afraid of the past?
Lowbridge High, 1986: pranks on teachers, grape bubble gum, liquid paper painted fingernails. How to sneak out of home to party with bad boys is the high drama of naïve year 11 classmates Tess, Sim and Luisa’s lives. Establishment of the controversial and divisive Women’s Centre, by Sim’s parents, ushers in a darker side. There are death threats, and an awakening to the true horrors of DV, the class divide, stealing and dealing. The girls are pushing boundaries, and someone with something to hide is pushing back.
In ‘Lowbridge’ the 80’s colour sets the scene with entertaining realism (and some top class knick-names). The dual timeline story telling teases out this small town’s secrets with finesse.
Is Jamie’s concern for fragile Katherine, or is he afraid of the past?
Lowbridge High, 1986: pranks on teachers, grape bubble gum, liquid paper painted fingernails. How to sneak out of home to party with bad boys is the high drama of naïve year 11 classmates Tess, Sim and Luisa’s lives. Establishment of the controversial and divisive Women’s Centre, by Sim’s parents, ushers in a darker side. There are death threats, and an awakening to the true horrors of DV, the class divide, stealing and dealing. The girls are pushing boundaries, and someone with something to hide is pushing back.
In ‘Lowbridge’ the 80’s colour sets the scene with entertaining realism (and some top class knick-names). The dual timeline story telling teases out this small town’s secrets with finesse.
July 16, 2023
When the story finally gets underway, it ends up being a bit convoluted. Lowbridge just doesn’t quite hit the beats, even though all of the essential elements are there (missing girl, suspicious locals, politics, gender roles, wealth divide). The prose (especially the dialogue) is clunky, and exposition-heavy. When the resolution came around, it was exactly what you’d expect, with no surprises or curve-balls.
My full review of Lowbridge is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
My full review of Lowbridge is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
December 8, 2023
Lowbridge is the first novel by Australian author, Lucy Campbell. Moving to her husband’s hometown of Lowbridge was meant to help Katherine Ashworth come to terms with her profound grief over the loss of their teenaged daughter without being constantly confronted by well-meaning people who know the story. But it’s not really working: she’s just about hibernating in the Hayward house, while Jamie commutes to Sydney daily for work.
When she leans a bit too heavily on alcohol and sleeping tablets, Jamie issues an ultimatum, and her vows to get out, to interact, to do more, accidentally find her at the Lowbridge and District Historical Society, where her interest in the town is piqued. Employing her promotional skills results in a successful bushfire awareness campaign, but the focus of her next campaign has Jamie concerned.
He claims to be worried that bringing the early 1987 in broad daylight disappearance of sixteen-year-old Tess Dawes, back into the pubic eye, may hinder Katherine’s recovery, but she eventually learns there’s something he’s not sharing. He tries to discourage her from looking into it, but Tess’s mother Julianne welcomes any action that will put her daughter’s name on people’s lips: maybe someone will remember something, even thirty years on.
Soon enough, Katherine learns of another teen whose earlier disappearance never raised the same degree of concern: Jacklyn Martin was from the wrong side of the tracks, a motherless teen whose father was an abusive drunk, and everyone accepted without question the story they were told. But now, the answers that Katherine’s queries invoke put that in doubt, while several people in town would rather she didn’t dig up the past.
Campbell effortlessly evokes her era and setting with popular culture references and topical issues of the time. She populates her tale with players whose emotions and reactions are easily credible, whose dialogue is natural, and many of whom have appeal, for all their very human failings.
The dual-timeline narrative alternates between Katherine’s narrative and the events of summer 1986/7 mostly from Tess’s perspective. Campbell certainly keeps the reader guessing right up to the final reveal, offering up plenty of potential suspects who could have stopped to give Jac and later, Tess, a lift. This is an outstanding Australian rural crime debut.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Ultimo Press.
When she leans a bit too heavily on alcohol and sleeping tablets, Jamie issues an ultimatum, and her vows to get out, to interact, to do more, accidentally find her at the Lowbridge and District Historical Society, where her interest in the town is piqued. Employing her promotional skills results in a successful bushfire awareness campaign, but the focus of her next campaign has Jamie concerned.
He claims to be worried that bringing the early 1987 in broad daylight disappearance of sixteen-year-old Tess Dawes, back into the pubic eye, may hinder Katherine’s recovery, but she eventually learns there’s something he’s not sharing. He tries to discourage her from looking into it, but Tess’s mother Julianne welcomes any action that will put her daughter’s name on people’s lips: maybe someone will remember something, even thirty years on.
Soon enough, Katherine learns of another teen whose earlier disappearance never raised the same degree of concern: Jacklyn Martin was from the wrong side of the tracks, a motherless teen whose father was an abusive drunk, and everyone accepted without question the story they were told. But now, the answers that Katherine’s queries invoke put that in doubt, while several people in town would rather she didn’t dig up the past.
Campbell effortlessly evokes her era and setting with popular culture references and topical issues of the time. She populates her tale with players whose emotions and reactions are easily credible, whose dialogue is natural, and many of whom have appeal, for all their very human failings.
The dual-timeline narrative alternates between Katherine’s narrative and the events of summer 1986/7 mostly from Tess’s perspective. Campbell certainly keeps the reader guessing right up to the final reveal, offering up plenty of potential suspects who could have stopped to give Jac and later, Tess, a lift. This is an outstanding Australian rural crime debut.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Ultimo Press.
July 6, 2023
Lowbridge. A small town not far from Sydney. Briefly famous for the disappearance of 17 year old Tess Dawes in 1987, last spotted in the local shopping centre and never seen again.
Fast forward thirty years and Katherine Ashworth and her husband James, move to Lowbridge. It’s James’ hometown and as they are both reeling from the recent death of their daughter, figure it will be a place to attempt to recover and come to terms with their grief. But Katherine finds it impossible - until a chance incident brings her to the door of the local historical society and she learns of the unsolved mystery of Tess Dawes. Finding out more about Tess’ tragic disappearance gives Katherine purpose. There may be thirty years between the loss of these two young girls, but the grief and emptiness remains the same…
An absolutely mesmerising debut novel. Set over two timelines of 1987 and 2018, it was fascinating to witness how this small town once was. And to see what it had become. Rich in imagery, colloquialisms and memories, the 1987 timeline is brilliantly evocative. As a brit who was absolutely obsessed with the early years of Home & Away, I could picture all those Lowbridge kids as clear as day; in their school uniforms, pashing at parties, and desperate for a little fun and adventure to liven up their dull existence. The characters within this town are vivid, evocative and relatable, which makes the mystery all the more compelling.
A truly wonderful depiction of small town Australia and a great and well written plot makes this a winner for me.
Fast forward thirty years and Katherine Ashworth and her husband James, move to Lowbridge. It’s James’ hometown and as they are both reeling from the recent death of their daughter, figure it will be a place to attempt to recover and come to terms with their grief. But Katherine finds it impossible - until a chance incident brings her to the door of the local historical society and she learns of the unsolved mystery of Tess Dawes. Finding out more about Tess’ tragic disappearance gives Katherine purpose. There may be thirty years between the loss of these two young girls, but the grief and emptiness remains the same…
An absolutely mesmerising debut novel. Set over two timelines of 1987 and 2018, it was fascinating to witness how this small town once was. And to see what it had become. Rich in imagery, colloquialisms and memories, the 1987 timeline is brilliantly evocative. As a brit who was absolutely obsessed with the early years of Home & Away, I could picture all those Lowbridge kids as clear as day; in their school uniforms, pashing at parties, and desperate for a little fun and adventure to liven up their dull existence. The characters within this town are vivid, evocative and relatable, which makes the mystery all the more compelling.
A truly wonderful depiction of small town Australia and a great and well written plot makes this a winner for me.
July 6, 2023
⭐️4 Stars⭐️
I’m always up for an Aussie crime read and I couldn’t wait to read this debut. Lowbridge by Lucy Campbell was full of mystery and tension and the characters were realistic, I found it very haunting and unforgettable.
Set in 1987 and 2018 the plot weaves together the story of two lost teenage girls from different timelines. Tess Dawes 17, disappeared from Lowbridge in 1987 and some thirty years later she is still missing!
The story is set in a small conservative fictional town in NSW. Katherine Ashworth has recently moved to Lowbridge with her husband, it’s also her husband’s hometown. Prior to the move they lost their daughter tragically and Katherine is trying to get her shattered self back together.
Katherine stumbles across the local historical society and finds it has given her a new obsession and a mystery to solve.
The story looks at rich folks and those that are poor and struggling. There are many people hiding secrets in Lowbridge and everyone knows each other. Katherine is asking the towns people too many questions and their secrets are starting to come out slowly.
A ripper of a debut and an entertaining read that will have you hooked wanting to discover what happened to Tess Dawes! Themes of abuse, poverty, drugs, loss of a child and women’s rights.
Publication day 05 July 2023
Publisher Ultimo Press
A huge thanks to Benson Publicity and Ultimo Press for an advanced copy of the book 🙏🏻
I’m always up for an Aussie crime read and I couldn’t wait to read this debut. Lowbridge by Lucy Campbell was full of mystery and tension and the characters were realistic, I found it very haunting and unforgettable.
Set in 1987 and 2018 the plot weaves together the story of two lost teenage girls from different timelines. Tess Dawes 17, disappeared from Lowbridge in 1987 and some thirty years later she is still missing!
The story is set in a small conservative fictional town in NSW. Katherine Ashworth has recently moved to Lowbridge with her husband, it’s also her husband’s hometown. Prior to the move they lost their daughter tragically and Katherine is trying to get her shattered self back together.
Katherine stumbles across the local historical society and finds it has given her a new obsession and a mystery to solve.
The story looks at rich folks and those that are poor and struggling. There are many people hiding secrets in Lowbridge and everyone knows each other. Katherine is asking the towns people too many questions and their secrets are starting to come out slowly.
A ripper of a debut and an entertaining read that will have you hooked wanting to discover what happened to Tess Dawes! Themes of abuse, poverty, drugs, loss of a child and women’s rights.
Publication day 05 July 2023
Publisher Ultimo Press
A huge thanks to Benson Publicity and Ultimo Press for an advanced copy of the book 🙏🏻
December 9, 2023
Lowbridge is the first novel by Australian author, Lucy Campbell. The audio version is narrated by Anthea Greco. Moving to her husband’s hometown of Lowbridge was meant to help Katherine Ashworth come to terms with her profound grief over the loss of their teenaged daughter without being constantly confronted by well-meaning people who know the story. But it’s not really working: she’s just about hibernating in the Hayward house, while Jamie commutes to Sydney daily for work.
When she leans a bit too heavily on alcohol and sleeping tablets, Jamie issues an ultimatum, and her vows to get out, to interact, to do more, accidentally find her at the Lowbridge and District Historical Society, where her interest in the town is piqued. Employing her promotional skills results in a successful bushfire awareness campaign, but the focus of her next campaign has Jamie concerned.
He claims to be worried that bringing the early 1987 in broad daylight disappearance of sixteen-year-old Tess Dawes, back into the pubic eye, may hinder Katherine’s recovery, but she eventually learns there’s something he’s not sharing. He tries to discourage her from looking into it, but Tess’s mother Julianne welcomes any action that will put her daughter’s name on people’s lips: maybe someone will remember something, even thirty years on.
Soon enough, Katherine learns of another teen whose earlier disappearance never raised the same degree of concern: Jacklyn Martin was from the wrong side of the tracks, a motherless teen whose father was an abusive drunk, and everyone accepted without question the story they were told. But now, the answers that Katherine’s queries invoke put that in doubt, while several people in town would rather she didn’t dig up the past.
Campbell effortlessly evokes her era and setting with popular culture references and topical issues of the time. She populates her tale with players whose emotions and reactions are easily credible, whose dialogue is natural, and many of whom have appeal, for all their very human failings.
The dual-timeline narrative alternates between Katherine’s narrative and the events of summer 1986/7 mostly from Tess’s perspective. Campbell certainly keeps the reader guessing right up to the final reveal, offering up plenty of potential suspects who could have stopped to give Jac and later, Tess, a lift. This is an outstanding Australian rural crime debut.
When she leans a bit too heavily on alcohol and sleeping tablets, Jamie issues an ultimatum, and her vows to get out, to interact, to do more, accidentally find her at the Lowbridge and District Historical Society, where her interest in the town is piqued. Employing her promotional skills results in a successful bushfire awareness campaign, but the focus of her next campaign has Jamie concerned.
He claims to be worried that bringing the early 1987 in broad daylight disappearance of sixteen-year-old Tess Dawes, back into the pubic eye, may hinder Katherine’s recovery, but she eventually learns there’s something he’s not sharing. He tries to discourage her from looking into it, but Tess’s mother Julianne welcomes any action that will put her daughter’s name on people’s lips: maybe someone will remember something, even thirty years on.
Soon enough, Katherine learns of another teen whose earlier disappearance never raised the same degree of concern: Jacklyn Martin was from the wrong side of the tracks, a motherless teen whose father was an abusive drunk, and everyone accepted without question the story they were told. But now, the answers that Katherine’s queries invoke put that in doubt, while several people in town would rather she didn’t dig up the past.
Campbell effortlessly evokes her era and setting with popular culture references and topical issues of the time. She populates her tale with players whose emotions and reactions are easily credible, whose dialogue is natural, and many of whom have appeal, for all their very human failings.
The dual-timeline narrative alternates between Katherine’s narrative and the events of summer 1986/7 mostly from Tess’s perspective. Campbell certainly keeps the reader guessing right up to the final reveal, offering up plenty of potential suspects who could have stopped to give Jac and later, Tess, a lift. This is an outstanding Australian rural crime debut.
December 28, 2023
In early 1987, Tess Dawes disappeared without a trace after leaving her job at the shopping centre.
In 2018, Katherine Ashworth has moved to Lowbridge, her husband's hometown, after the death of her daughter. She is not coping, existing on a diet of vodka and sleeping pills. Husband Jamie tells her to shape up or he'll book her into rehab. So Katherine starts making an effort, and becomes involved with the local historical society. She eventually learns about Tess Dawes' disappearance and becomes preoccupied with it. The blurb states that an outsider's questions start uncovering secrets, but not really.
Somewhere inside of this book was a better story about a grief-stricken mother latching onto another tragedy of a young girl as a way of processing her own turmoil. Instead, we get a rather underwhelming, very slowly paced mystery drama that is more concerned with teen drama than it is with the various themes it is trying to address.
Lowbridge clumsily tries to draw various modern issues into its narrative: climate change, abortion, women's rights, bodily authority, class divide, toxic masculinity...all stuff I love to see addressed in a book, but wastes soooo much time on the 1986/1987 timeline with Tess and her friends that it all gets frittered away with the book's focus on teen trivialities. Seriously, I'm supposed to be reading an adult thriller, aren't I? I'm not interested in teen drama! So many books are doing this these days and it's getting infuriating! I don't read adult books to read about teenagers!
This heavy focus on the 1986/1987 teen timeline also detracts from the modern-day storyline. Katherine never actually discovers anything for herself. It's up to characters to randomly come clean to her, or for the antagonist to literally out themselves for no reason at all, for Katherine to be able to fill in the gaps. The motive for murder is weak and completely out of left field. Basically, the two timelines are different stories very tenuously linked, especially because it takes nearly half the book for Katherine to even learn about Tess!
Katherine was a complex character done surprisingly well. She's not always likable, but she is believable. The friendship she develops with the members of the historical society are a highlight. I wavered between 1 and 2 stars, because as a mystery thriller it completely failed, and I had to force myself to finish it (otherwise it would have taken me two weeks), but the characterisation was strong. But if you decide to give this one a go, set your expectations...low.
In 2018, Katherine Ashworth has moved to Lowbridge, her husband's hometown, after the death of her daughter. She is not coping, existing on a diet of vodka and sleeping pills. Husband Jamie tells her to shape up or he'll book her into rehab. So Katherine starts making an effort, and becomes involved with the local historical society. She eventually learns about Tess Dawes' disappearance and becomes preoccupied with it. The blurb states that an outsider's questions start uncovering secrets, but not really.
Somewhere inside of this book was a better story about a grief-stricken mother latching onto another tragedy of a young girl as a way of processing her own turmoil. Instead, we get a rather underwhelming, very slowly paced mystery drama that is more concerned with teen drama than it is with the various themes it is trying to address.
Lowbridge clumsily tries to draw various modern issues into its narrative: climate change, abortion, women's rights, bodily authority, class divide, toxic masculinity...all stuff I love to see addressed in a book, but wastes soooo much time on the 1986/1987 timeline with Tess and her friends that it all gets frittered away with the book's focus on teen trivialities. Seriously, I'm supposed to be reading an adult thriller, aren't I? I'm not interested in teen drama! So many books are doing this these days and it's getting infuriating! I don't read adult books to read about teenagers!
This heavy focus on the 1986/1987 teen timeline also detracts from the modern-day storyline. Katherine never actually discovers anything for herself. It's up to characters to randomly come clean to her, or for the antagonist to literally out themselves for no reason at all, for Katherine to be able to fill in the gaps. The motive for murder is weak and completely out of left field. Basically, the two timelines are different stories very tenuously linked, especially because it takes nearly half the book for Katherine to even learn about Tess!
Katherine was a complex character done surprisingly well. She's not always likable, but she is believable. The friendship she develops with the members of the historical society are a highlight. I wavered between 1 and 2 stars, because as a mystery thriller it completely failed, and I had to force myself to finish it (otherwise it would have taken me two weeks), but the characterisation was strong. But if you decide to give this one a go, set your expectations...low.
November 7, 2024
Not a bad read. Small town whodunnit. Never really sure who did it till late in the book. Liked the use of repetition .
October 14, 2023
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
Leading edge Australian publisher Ultimo Press presents Lowbridge, a debut novel by Lucy Campbell. A murder mystery with themes of wealth, power, gender choices, small town politics and grief, Lowbridge is a gripping quintessential Aussie crime fiction tale.
Crossing the time periods of both 1987 and 2018, Lowbridge follows the devastating fallout of a crime that occurs that rocks a small Australian township. The inhabitants of Lowbridge are shocked when a seventeen year old girl disappears from a local shopping haunt and never returns home. This tragic and unexplained loss hits the local area hard. Young Tess Dawes’ case becomes etched in the minds of the locals. But there are some members of this community who would rather keep the details of this case under wraps. Moving forward in time to over three decades later, Katherine Ashworth is grieving after the loss of her daughter. Time back in her partner’s hometown gives Katherine some much needed time to convalesce and investigate the cold case involving Tess Dawes. Katherine’s search for new answers to an old case leads her to find a vital connection between Tess’ case and another missing girl. These two linked disappearances could hold an essential clue to cracking more than one crime case. But Katherine’s search leads her to uncover some uncomfortable personal truths. What will Katherine find?
Lowbridge has authentic Australian crime written all over it. I immediately felt like this book was almost a true crime, not a fiction tale. Lucy Campbell’s debut is definitely one that has catapulted her into the category of rural Australian crime fiction, a genre that continues to flourish. I really hope we hear more from Lucy Campbell, she is a fantastic new voice in Australian fiction.
I must say I found a quick connection to the setting and time frame of Lowbridge. The dual timelines seem to work for me as this one features both a 1987 and a 2018 narrative. Both these timelines were covered well and I found myself equally invested in both time pockets. I really enjoyed the nostalgic 1987 period, it felt quite haunting to me being a 1980s born child. In the present day, we have a fairly dominant character who makes some interesting moves. Campbell ensures that she balances her cast out with some agreeable but also a few unlikeable characters. Readers will be drawn to the almost suffocating small-town setting, complete with some unspoken rules and expectations. Within Lowbridge, Campbell examines themes of wealth distribution, the vulnerable, welfare, women’s rights, violence and suppression. Toxicity is a huge overlapping conflict in the novel, highlighting some pertinent points for the audience to consider. However, at the heart of Lowbridge is the core murder mystery. I loved the mechanics of the case and I enjoyed being a part of this complicated investigation.
Lowbridge is a worthy addition to your TBR pile. I look forward to seeing what Lucy Campbell releases next.
*Thanks is extended to Ultimo Press for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Leading edge Australian publisher Ultimo Press presents Lowbridge, a debut novel by Lucy Campbell. A murder mystery with themes of wealth, power, gender choices, small town politics and grief, Lowbridge is a gripping quintessential Aussie crime fiction tale.
Crossing the time periods of both 1987 and 2018, Lowbridge follows the devastating fallout of a crime that occurs that rocks a small Australian township. The inhabitants of Lowbridge are shocked when a seventeen year old girl disappears from a local shopping haunt and never returns home. This tragic and unexplained loss hits the local area hard. Young Tess Dawes’ case becomes etched in the minds of the locals. But there are some members of this community who would rather keep the details of this case under wraps. Moving forward in time to over three decades later, Katherine Ashworth is grieving after the loss of her daughter. Time back in her partner’s hometown gives Katherine some much needed time to convalesce and investigate the cold case involving Tess Dawes. Katherine’s search for new answers to an old case leads her to find a vital connection between Tess’ case and another missing girl. These two linked disappearances could hold an essential clue to cracking more than one crime case. But Katherine’s search leads her to uncover some uncomfortable personal truths. What will Katherine find?
Lowbridge has authentic Australian crime written all over it. I immediately felt like this book was almost a true crime, not a fiction tale. Lucy Campbell’s debut is definitely one that has catapulted her into the category of rural Australian crime fiction, a genre that continues to flourish. I really hope we hear more from Lucy Campbell, she is a fantastic new voice in Australian fiction.
I must say I found a quick connection to the setting and time frame of Lowbridge. The dual timelines seem to work for me as this one features both a 1987 and a 2018 narrative. Both these timelines were covered well and I found myself equally invested in both time pockets. I really enjoyed the nostalgic 1987 period, it felt quite haunting to me being a 1980s born child. In the present day, we have a fairly dominant character who makes some interesting moves. Campbell ensures that she balances her cast out with some agreeable but also a few unlikeable characters. Readers will be drawn to the almost suffocating small-town setting, complete with some unspoken rules and expectations. Within Lowbridge, Campbell examines themes of wealth distribution, the vulnerable, welfare, women’s rights, violence and suppression. Toxicity is a huge overlapping conflict in the novel, highlighting some pertinent points for the audience to consider. However, at the heart of Lowbridge is the core murder mystery. I loved the mechanics of the case and I enjoyed being a part of this complicated investigation.
Lowbridge is a worthy addition to your TBR pile. I look forward to seeing what Lucy Campbell releases next.
*Thanks is extended to Ultimo Press for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
June 11, 2023
I was recently auto-approved by Ultimo Press, a small Australian publishing house. This is the third book I have read from them and I have to say I have been very impressed so far.
In this novel, Kat moves to Lowbridge, her husband's hometown, after suffering a significant trauma. Retreating into depression and alcohol, Kat searches for something to give her life meaning and stumbles across the Lowbridge historical offices and becomes involved in various projects which highlight the history of the small town. One of these projects is the disappearance decades earlier of a young girl, but when investigating this disappearance, Kat stumbles across a second girl, one who no-one has really missed.
What happened to those two girls, what secrets are this small town hiding and what does her husband know about the missing girls?
Like I say, I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. The sense of the small town and its people really came through and the pacing of the novel was brilliant as it moved between past and present, bringing them together with an exciting conclusion. No great over-the-top drama, no suspension of realism, just a really good story, well told.
Definitely an author I will look out for in the future.
Thanks to Netgalley and Ultimo Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
In this novel, Kat moves to Lowbridge, her husband's hometown, after suffering a significant trauma. Retreating into depression and alcohol, Kat searches for something to give her life meaning and stumbles across the Lowbridge historical offices and becomes involved in various projects which highlight the history of the small town. One of these projects is the disappearance decades earlier of a young girl, but when investigating this disappearance, Kat stumbles across a second girl, one who no-one has really missed.
What happened to those two girls, what secrets are this small town hiding and what does her husband know about the missing girls?
Like I say, I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. The sense of the small town and its people really came through and the pacing of the novel was brilliant as it moved between past and present, bringing them together with an exciting conclusion. No great over-the-top drama, no suspension of realism, just a really good story, well told.
Definitely an author I will look out for in the future.
Thanks to Netgalley and Ultimo Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Read
July 2, 2023Loved it. A great page turner!
July 18, 2023
I loved the dual time-line, set between 1987 and 2018, with 1987 resonating more with me, as I was the same age as the girls in the story back then. Although set in the fictional, sleepy Australian town of Lowbridge, everything rang true of the time setting and the author captured the era perfectly.
As a mother myself, I totally felt Katherine’s anguish at the death of her daughter and the feelings of grief and personal sorrow she was experiencing. The reliance on alcohol and the potential breakdown of her marriage was very believable and I enjoyed reading how she finally developed the strength to move on with her life. I felt pride in her dedication in continuing her self help by assisting with the local historical society. By organising historical anniversary events, Katherine becomes embroiled in a three decades old mystery of a missing seventeen year old girl. As we read the alternating chapters between the time lines we finally learn what actually happened in 1987, with the pieces accurately being put together and revealed in 2018. This had me thoroughly addicted and I really couldn’t put the book down. Easy to read, simple to follow, with no complicated plot lines or intricate characters, just a well written and entertaining read with a heart breaking theme to both time lines.
What I took from this book was the survival and resilience of broken women and their surprising strength to carry on…..and never to be belittled or under estimated. Well done Lucy Campbell on your debut novel, a five star read for me!
#Lowbridge - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
As a mother myself, I totally felt Katherine’s anguish at the death of her daughter and the feelings of grief and personal sorrow she was experiencing. The reliance on alcohol and the potential breakdown of her marriage was very believable and I enjoyed reading how she finally developed the strength to move on with her life. I felt pride in her dedication in continuing her self help by assisting with the local historical society. By organising historical anniversary events, Katherine becomes embroiled in a three decades old mystery of a missing seventeen year old girl. As we read the alternating chapters between the time lines we finally learn what actually happened in 1987, with the pieces accurately being put together and revealed in 2018. This had me thoroughly addicted and I really couldn’t put the book down. Easy to read, simple to follow, with no complicated plot lines or intricate characters, just a well written and entertaining read with a heart breaking theme to both time lines.
What I took from this book was the survival and resilience of broken women and their surprising strength to carry on…..and never to be belittled or under estimated. Well done Lucy Campbell on your debut novel, a five star read for me!
#Lowbridge - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 15, 2023
This is one of those books where you go in expecting one thing and discover something else entirely, but in a very good way.
After the death of her teenaged daughter, Katherine moves to the sleepy village of Lowbridge where her husband grew up. Needless to say that after such a devastating event, Katherine is struggling to move on with her life. Most of it consists of pills and vodka. Until one day she ventures out and has a funny turn right outside the building of the local historical society. Katherine quickly finds a friend in Margaret and, in trying to find a way to pick up the pieces of her life, she decides to help Margaret with filing and archiving of old documents. It is in doing so that Katherine comes across the mystery of two girls who went missing in 1987 and were never seen again.
Sim, Tess and Luisa were three high school friends in Lowbridge in the late eighties. These three girls couldn't possibly be any more different if they tried. Tess comes from a loving and supportive family, Luisa is the daughter of the Italian immigrants who run the local trattoria, and Sim seems to have it all. Except maybe the love and attention of her parents, who are far too busy trying to make a mark. One of these girls will go missing without a trace. But she won't be the only one. What happened to them? And why?
There are plenty of secrets to discover. There are people who are hiding things, one or two who know more than they're willing to share. The disappearance of the girls happened during a rather tumultuous time for the town of Lowbridge. Sim's mother had plans to open a women's centre, a decision that left the residents extremely divided. Especially surrounding the topic of abortion. It's not quite a period many look back on fondly.
As so often happens, I was mostly interested in the chapters set in the eighties. I thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with the three girls, watching them navigate the tough teenage years while still trying to have fun along the way. All this in a town where everybody knows everyone else's business. In the present chapters, Margaret and her friends, Colleen and Sylvie, were also quite likeable. But I couldn't at all connect to Katherine or her husband, although I'm not entirely sure why.
'Lowbridge' is not just a mystery and if you're going in expecting a thriller or a rollercoaster ride, this isn't it. It is not just about finding out what happened to the missing girls. This is very much a character driven story, which tackles some immensely difficult topics along the way. These are characters whose lives were turned upside down, who had to find a way to carry on somehow. 'Lowbridge' isn't full of twists to dazzle you, it doesn't require you to suspend disbelief, it doesn't rely on big theatrics or drama. It is "just" a really good story, with that small town setting I adore, with characters that feel realistic and believable, with a well thought-out plot, and a reveal that I didn't see coming.
A thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying debut by Lucy Campbell. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more from her.
After the death of her teenaged daughter, Katherine moves to the sleepy village of Lowbridge where her husband grew up. Needless to say that after such a devastating event, Katherine is struggling to move on with her life. Most of it consists of pills and vodka. Until one day she ventures out and has a funny turn right outside the building of the local historical society. Katherine quickly finds a friend in Margaret and, in trying to find a way to pick up the pieces of her life, she decides to help Margaret with filing and archiving of old documents. It is in doing so that Katherine comes across the mystery of two girls who went missing in 1987 and were never seen again.
Sim, Tess and Luisa were three high school friends in Lowbridge in the late eighties. These three girls couldn't possibly be any more different if they tried. Tess comes from a loving and supportive family, Luisa is the daughter of the Italian immigrants who run the local trattoria, and Sim seems to have it all. Except maybe the love and attention of her parents, who are far too busy trying to make a mark. One of these girls will go missing without a trace. But she won't be the only one. What happened to them? And why?
There are plenty of secrets to discover. There are people who are hiding things, one or two who know more than they're willing to share. The disappearance of the girls happened during a rather tumultuous time for the town of Lowbridge. Sim's mother had plans to open a women's centre, a decision that left the residents extremely divided. Especially surrounding the topic of abortion. It's not quite a period many look back on fondly.
As so often happens, I was mostly interested in the chapters set in the eighties. I thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with the three girls, watching them navigate the tough teenage years while still trying to have fun along the way. All this in a town where everybody knows everyone else's business. In the present chapters, Margaret and her friends, Colleen and Sylvie, were also quite likeable. But I couldn't at all connect to Katherine or her husband, although I'm not entirely sure why.
'Lowbridge' is not just a mystery and if you're going in expecting a thriller or a rollercoaster ride, this isn't it. It is not just about finding out what happened to the missing girls. This is very much a character driven story, which tackles some immensely difficult topics along the way. These are characters whose lives were turned upside down, who had to find a way to carry on somehow. 'Lowbridge' isn't full of twists to dazzle you, it doesn't require you to suspend disbelief, it doesn't rely on big theatrics or drama. It is "just" a really good story, with that small town setting I adore, with characters that feel realistic and believable, with a well thought-out plot, and a reveal that I didn't see coming.
A thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying debut by Lucy Campbell. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more from her.
December 24, 2023
I was hooked into the story from the first page. The chapters following, until about the 40% point, slowly develop the characters, context, and tension. For some, this section may not appreciate the slow build, but I rather enjoyed following the story through the 1986/7 and 2018 timelines.
Lucy Campbell tells a heartbreaking yet compelling story around an interweaving of powerful themes of depression, addiction, women's rights, power, control, class, and grief. Hope shines in the epilogue.
Lucy Campbell tells a heartbreaking yet compelling story around an interweaving of powerful themes of depression, addiction, women's rights, power, control, class, and grief. Hope shines in the epilogue.
July 30, 2023
- thanks to @ultimopress for my #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review
To say that I was beyond excited to read Lowbridge is an understatement. I heard about its publication months ago, and I could not believe my luck when it appeared at my door unannounced. Nobody can tell me I am not living the dream.
I was fully invested in the mystery behind the disappearance of a young woman in Lowbrige at the end of the '80s, and I was delighted to put any other reads on hold until I could get to the end of this novel and find out what happened. Is she alive after 32 years since she was last seen? Is she dead? Who was responsible for her disappearance? These questions motivated me like no deadline ever had. What can I say? I'm curious by birth.
Apart from the to-be-answered thrilling questions that kept arising as I read, I also enjoyed how Campbell integrated parental negligence, rape and abortion into the narrative, giving the different timelines a heavy and necessary dose of realism.
However, although I cared very much about the teenagers living in a small town in the '80s in this story, I did not care about nor like most of the adult characters driving the present timeline. I have seen too many Katherines protagonising thrillers before, and I was not impressed by this Katherine or her husband.
I was also unpleased about Campbell's intent to divert attention and possible guilt to a particular character: I am confident any experienced reader can see through the deception from kilometres away. Unfortunately, I do not personally enjoy predictable author-reader mind games, especially when it comes to Thrillers.
Sadly, Campbell undid the excellent build-up of tension and concern with the ending. I thought about it hard, but there was no way I could justify that resolution with plausible logic.
Overall, Lowbridge is an unusual novel full of controversial themes worthy of exploration. The author's execution of the genre conventions did not convince me entirely, but I am sure it will be a right fit for many lovers of Aussie thrillers.
To say that I was beyond excited to read Lowbridge is an understatement. I heard about its publication months ago, and I could not believe my luck when it appeared at my door unannounced. Nobody can tell me I am not living the dream.
I was fully invested in the mystery behind the disappearance of a young woman in Lowbrige at the end of the '80s, and I was delighted to put any other reads on hold until I could get to the end of this novel and find out what happened. Is she alive after 32 years since she was last seen? Is she dead? Who was responsible for her disappearance? These questions motivated me like no deadline ever had. What can I say? I'm curious by birth.
Apart from the to-be-answered thrilling questions that kept arising as I read, I also enjoyed how Campbell integrated parental negligence, rape and abortion into the narrative, giving the different timelines a heavy and necessary dose of realism.
However, although I cared very much about the teenagers living in a small town in the '80s in this story, I did not care about nor like most of the adult characters driving the present timeline. I have seen too many Katherines protagonising thrillers before, and I was not impressed by this Katherine or her husband.
I was also unpleased about Campbell's intent to divert attention and possible guilt to a particular character: I am confident any experienced reader can see through the deception from kilometres away. Unfortunately, I do not personally enjoy predictable author-reader mind games, especially when it comes to Thrillers.
Sadly, Campbell undid the excellent build-up of tension and concern with the ending. I thought about it hard, but there was no way I could justify that resolution with plausible logic.
Overall, Lowbridge is an unusual novel full of controversial themes worthy of exploration. The author's execution of the genre conventions did not convince me entirely, but I am sure it will be a right fit for many lovers of Aussie thrillers.
June 9, 2023
Rounding up to three stars.
Sadly this one didn't really work for me.
I felt no sense of mystery or connection to any character.
I didnt predict the ending, so that's always good.
I just wasn't the right person, for this book at this time.
Sadly this one didn't really work for me.
I felt no sense of mystery or connection to any character.
I didnt predict the ending, so that's always good.
I just wasn't the right person, for this book at this time.
July 13, 2023
Cover: I like it! The vintage vibe is spot on.
A good Aussie thriller—I’m pleased!
Lowbridge is a small town. Everyone knows everyone while gossips, rumors, old, and new crimes make the rounds. One of those old crimes? Tess’ disappearance back in the eighties. A new crime? A detestable type of blackmailing.
As you can tell, there’s a dual timeline, a literary device that works well here; I’ll admit I wasn’t that thrilled with the eighties parts at first, as they drag a little while establishing the characters. From the party onwards, however, the rhythm picks up.
Good, good job on Jamie. It’s hard to define him at first, then he acts like an asshole here and there—the drinking part had me going, ‘whoa, do as I say, not as I do much?’ This is not to say I despise him as a character. On the contrary, I followed him with interest because I wanted to see how deep was the hole he was digging for himself.
Katherine is an odd main counterpart, and she reads well just because of her idiosyncrasies. Her grief is the fuel that both pushes her and pulls her down, but she is relentless when she wants to get informations. She doesn’t bend to social expectations, not really, and that’s a refreshing take. Miscommunications or fake politeness work both in fiction and in real life; someone who speaks her mind when needed works better.
The red herring Campbell drops around mid-book deserves a mention, too. I figured out it was a red herring as it would have been 1. too soon and 2. too obvious to just follow that route, yes. Despite that, though, it has been crafted with care.
The only detail I didn’t like? Descriptions. Knowing about clothes or hairdos, when they’re not relevant to the plot, is unnecessary at best and boring at worst.
Grammar and syntax are correct, the pacing is good. An enjoyable book overall, one that’ll enter my 2023 top twenty with ease.
4 stars on GR.
[Want more? Check out Bookshelves & Teacups]
A good Aussie thriller—I’m pleased!
Lowbridge is a small town. Everyone knows everyone while gossips, rumors, old, and new crimes make the rounds. One of those old crimes? Tess’ disappearance back in the eighties. A new crime? A detestable type of blackmailing.
As you can tell, there’s a dual timeline, a literary device that works well here; I’ll admit I wasn’t that thrilled with the eighties parts at first, as they drag a little while establishing the characters. From the party onwards, however, the rhythm picks up.
Good, good job on Jamie. It’s hard to define him at first, then he acts like an asshole here and there—the drinking part had me going, ‘whoa, do as I say, not as I do much?’ This is not to say I despise him as a character. On the contrary, I followed him with interest because I wanted to see how deep was the hole he was digging for himself.
Katherine is an odd main counterpart, and she reads well just because of her idiosyncrasies. Her grief is the fuel that both pushes her and pulls her down, but she is relentless when she wants to get informations. She doesn’t bend to social expectations, not really, and that’s a refreshing take. Miscommunications or fake politeness work both in fiction and in real life; someone who speaks her mind when needed works better.
The red herring Campbell drops around mid-book deserves a mention, too. I figured out it was a red herring as it would have been 1. too soon and 2. too obvious to just follow that route, yes. Despite that, though, it has been crafted with care.
The only detail I didn’t like? Descriptions. Knowing about clothes or hairdos, when they’re not relevant to the plot, is unnecessary at best and boring at worst.
Grammar and syntax are correct, the pacing is good. An enjoyable book overall, one that’ll enter my 2023 top twenty with ease.
4 stars on GR.
[Want more? Check out Bookshelves & Teacups]
August 10, 2023
Katherine Ashworth and her husband Jamie move to the small Australian town of Lowbridge, Jamie's hometown, to get over their teenage daughter's death. Katherine is depressed and numbs her grief with alcohol, hardly ever leaving her house. One day, by chance, she gets involved with the local historical society and becomes fascinated by the history of Lowbridge. While doing some research for a local event, she stumbles upon a three-decade-old mystery about Tess, a teenage girl who went missing in 1987, and becomes obsessed with finding the truth. A truth that might even involve her husband Jamie...
The story is told in a dual timeline, one set in 1987, the other in 2018. The 1987 timeline focuses on the missing girl Tess and her friends, the dynamics of their friendships and on what life was generally like for teenagers at that time in a small town, giving the readers the necessary background information to understand why Tess might have become dangerous to someone.
The 2018 timeline focuses on Katherine, who manages to overcome her depression by trying to solve the mystery surrounding Tess and her disappearance. I loved the character of Katherine, a strong woman in crisis, struggling to get on with her life after the loss of her daughter and finally succeeding in finding purpose in life again.
But the focus of this mystery is not only on the crime itself but also on how difficult it was (and still is) for women in a society that made it hard for them to live autonomous lives.
"Lowbridge" by Lucy Campbell is a great debut novel, a fascinating Australian small town mystery that kept me hooked most of the time. It has a set of very individual and complex characters, a nice setting and a plot with lots of twists and surprises.
(4.5/5 stars)
The story is told in a dual timeline, one set in 1987, the other in 2018. The 1987 timeline focuses on the missing girl Tess and her friends, the dynamics of their friendships and on what life was generally like for teenagers at that time in a small town, giving the readers the necessary background information to understand why Tess might have become dangerous to someone.
The 2018 timeline focuses on Katherine, who manages to overcome her depression by trying to solve the mystery surrounding Tess and her disappearance. I loved the character of Katherine, a strong woman in crisis, struggling to get on with her life after the loss of her daughter and finally succeeding in finding purpose in life again.
But the focus of this mystery is not only on the crime itself but also on how difficult it was (and still is) for women in a society that made it hard for them to live autonomous lives.
"Lowbridge" by Lucy Campbell is a great debut novel, a fascinating Australian small town mystery that kept me hooked most of the time. It has a set of very individual and complex characters, a nice setting and a plot with lots of twists and surprises.
(4.5/5 stars)
July 18, 2023
I love a dual timeline and one set in the 80’s (the best decade in my opinion) was always going to be a time I could relate to as I was also a teenager then.
However it was the 2018 timeline that gripped me, mostly due to the incredible character of Katherine. The heart wrenching portrayal of a woman who has lost her only child and her daily struggle of living a life without her. It was raw and difficult to read at times but so beautifully written.
It is a fortuitous encounter with the local historical society that finally gives Katherine a purpose and leads her to a mystery. This is where the book took a real change and I found it read like a true crime, having to remind myself it was fiction as it was so real and believable.
Tackling many female issues that are still prevalent today. How certain young women are viewed by society, having autonomy over our own bodies and how towns can be split over a women’s centre and the not in my backyard mindsets.
This is not only a crime/mystery novel it is also a book dominated by great female characters that have a very powerful message to tell you.
However it was the 2018 timeline that gripped me, mostly due to the incredible character of Katherine. The heart wrenching portrayal of a woman who has lost her only child and her daily struggle of living a life without her. It was raw and difficult to read at times but so beautifully written.
It is a fortuitous encounter with the local historical society that finally gives Katherine a purpose and leads her to a mystery. This is where the book took a real change and I found it read like a true crime, having to remind myself it was fiction as it was so real and believable.
Tackling many female issues that are still prevalent today. How certain young women are viewed by society, having autonomy over our own bodies and how towns can be split over a women’s centre and the not in my backyard mindsets.
This is not only a crime/mystery novel it is also a book dominated by great female characters that have a very powerful message to tell you.
July 2, 2023
Katherine (Kat) and her husband Jamie move back to his hometown of Lowbridge, after suffering a devastating loss of the death of their daughter. As Kat struggles to get through each day she literally stumbles upon the towns historical society and becomes involves in some of their projects, giving her renewed hope. One of the projects involves the disappearance of a young girl and Kat links the girl to another missing girl from the same time. As she digs further into the mystery, Kat finds some unexpected connections and secrets that some people will do anything to protect.
I thoroughly enjoyed the two timelines in this one, with the author revealing small pieces of the past of the missing girls, as Kat works her way through the mystery. I love a small town setting and the backstory with the significant events in the towns history added to the intrigue. This was a fabulous debut and I look forward to more by this author. 4.5*
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Ultimo Press for this gifted review copy.
I thoroughly enjoyed the two timelines in this one, with the author revealing small pieces of the past of the missing girls, as Kat works her way through the mystery. I love a small town setting and the backstory with the significant events in the towns history added to the intrigue. This was a fabulous debut and I look forward to more by this author. 4.5*
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Ultimo Press for this gifted review copy.
July 13, 2023
Told through dual timelines about missing girls, this brilliant Aussie crime thriller had me on the edge of my seat. Brilliantly written, I loved every moment reading this one. Lucy Campbell is an author I will definitely be looking forward to reading more from.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
January 1, 2025
A solid 3.5
September 1, 2025
i don’t get it, what even was the storyline? how’d she figure it all out? and what happened to angus?
July 16, 2023
This historical crime novel by Lucy Campbell set in a Australian country town follows a dual story line which I found effective. Katherine Ashworth, struggling to cope with the death of her teenage daughter, has moved with her husband back to his family home. A chance meeting outside the local Historical Centre leads to a mild obsession with a decades old missing girl case. Or make that two missing girls….one well publicised, from the right side of the tracks, the other from a disadvantaged background who seemed to slip through the system.
I enjoyed reading about the schoolgirls from the 80’s, the backgrounds rang true and the furore about a women’s centre (along with all it entailed) being built was believable.
My problem was with Katherine, self absorbed and unlikeable along with pretty much every male character. I would have liked more exploration of who they were and why they behaved as they did. The resolution just seemed a little forced and unbelievable.
Nonetheless I enjoyed the story telling and look forward to the next offering. Thanks to Better Reading for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed reading about the schoolgirls from the 80’s, the backgrounds rang true and the furore about a women’s centre (along with all it entailed) being built was believable.
My problem was with Katherine, self absorbed and unlikeable along with pretty much every male character. I would have liked more exploration of who they were and why they behaved as they did. The resolution just seemed a little forced and unbelievable.
Nonetheless I enjoyed the story telling and look forward to the next offering. Thanks to Better Reading for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2023
My Review.....
Huge thanks have to go to James at Ultimo Press Uk for very kindly sending me a review copy of Lowbridge.
Lowbridge is a debut novel by Lucy Campbell, and it's one she should be very proud of.
This is a deep dive into a small town's psyche, how a missing girl years before still affects its residents today and the bubbling secrets that nestle beneath the surface.
I found Lowbridge to be gripping, the easy-to-read chapters are punchy and kept my attention all the way to its excellent and not what I expected conclusion! I would describe Lowbridge as a claustrophobic read, the way Lucy Campbell has described the events and people of this small Aussie Town, made me feel like I was reading a locked-room thriller. Exceptional writing that brings the cast of characters to life, with all their underlying secrets that have shaped Lowbridge.
I'm not giving any of the plots away, as it's a fabulous and gripping read, and I want you to find out yourselves! Another excellent debut from an Australian author brought to us by Ultimo Press UK.
A 5 Star read.
Huge thanks have to go to James at Ultimo Press Uk for very kindly sending me a review copy of Lowbridge.
Lowbridge is a debut novel by Lucy Campbell, and it's one she should be very proud of.
This is a deep dive into a small town's psyche, how a missing girl years before still affects its residents today and the bubbling secrets that nestle beneath the surface.
I found Lowbridge to be gripping, the easy-to-read chapters are punchy and kept my attention all the way to its excellent and not what I expected conclusion! I would describe Lowbridge as a claustrophobic read, the way Lucy Campbell has described the events and people of this small Aussie Town, made me feel like I was reading a locked-room thriller. Exceptional writing that brings the cast of characters to life, with all their underlying secrets that have shaped Lowbridge.
I'm not giving any of the plots away, as it's a fabulous and gripping read, and I want you to find out yourselves! Another excellent debut from an Australian author brought to us by Ultimo Press UK.
A 5 Star read.
May 27, 2024
(2.5 stars)
"Girls don’t disappear into thin air, you know. Someone is responsible. And one day it’ll come out who that person is." Of the three missing person books I have read in a row, Only Daughter, Gone and Lowbridge, Lowbridge was the worst. It takes a long time to get going. There are two timelines, 1987 where you're leading up to the missing girl, 17-year-old Tess Dawes who vanishes on the way home from a shopping centre in a small twn into a car with someone she knew, and 2018 where you meet Katherine: "A sad, middle-aged alcoholic whose whole life has been defined by a single tragedy." Katherine is trying to reestablish her life after the death of her daughter: "No matter what else you do in the world, you’ll always be the childless mother of a poor, dead girl." It takes a long time to learn how and why her daughter died. I was hard pressed to pick which timeline I hated more.
"Maggie would never grow old; that she, like Tess, would be stuck forever in a dated photo laden with sentiment because it was all that was left of her." The writer, Lucy Campbell, tries to draw parallels between different experiences of losing daughters, but really they're quite different: one knows what and where her daughter is, the other has to live with an unexplained absence: "It’s a life in limbo." The final chapter is a hot mess of telling not showing. It's not a surprising end, but I hated how it was told to me. It felt like a twee episode of British crime drama, Vera.
The only bit I did like was the difficulty in establishing a women's health centre in a small town who clearly though abortions should only happen elsewhere: "Mounthaven had its share of unwanted pregnancies, but there was a gentlemen’s agreement among the doctors here to send women to Sydney. No abortion doctors in our town, thank you very much."
"Girls don’t disappear into thin air, you know. Someone is responsible. And one day it’ll come out who that person is." Of the three missing person books I have read in a row, Only Daughter, Gone and Lowbridge, Lowbridge was the worst. It takes a long time to get going. There are two timelines, 1987 where you're leading up to the missing girl, 17-year-old Tess Dawes who vanishes on the way home from a shopping centre in a small twn into a car with someone she knew, and 2018 where you meet Katherine: "A sad, middle-aged alcoholic whose whole life has been defined by a single tragedy." Katherine is trying to reestablish her life after the death of her daughter: "No matter what else you do in the world, you’ll always be the childless mother of a poor, dead girl." It takes a long time to learn how and why her daughter died. I was hard pressed to pick which timeline I hated more.
"Maggie would never grow old; that she, like Tess, would be stuck forever in a dated photo laden with sentiment because it was all that was left of her." The writer, Lucy Campbell, tries to draw parallels between different experiences of losing daughters, but really they're quite different: one knows what and where her daughter is, the other has to live with an unexplained absence: "It’s a life in limbo." The final chapter is a hot mess of telling not showing. It's not a surprising end, but I hated how it was told to me. It felt like a twee episode of British crime drama, Vera.
The only bit I did like was the difficulty in establishing a women's health centre in a small town who clearly though abortions should only happen elsewhere: "Mounthaven had its share of unwanted pregnancies, but there was a gentlemen’s agreement among the doctors here to send women to Sydney. No abortion doctors in our town, thank you very much."
July 18, 2023
All the best mysteries have dual timeline so both the truth about the missing person and the present theories are seen concurrently and this is no exception. Both threads of the puzzle kept me engaged and turning the page. Tess’s POV because of the teenage dynamics between the trio of friends and wondering how events would to lead to her disappearance and Katherine’s because of her personal growth arc as she delves into the past and through the crippling paralysis of grief. With many of Tess’s cohorts still living in the Lowbridge locality, it was good to see how much Tess’s disappearance had changed their lives and the overall consequences of one event.
Tess’s POV provided a blast from the past with my own memories of childhood around that time and all the characters were individuals with their own secrets and backstory propelling them to rebel against their parents and expectations to varying degrees. Tess was the glue holding the friendship group into a more grounded place, making her disappearance more impactful.
With a small town atmosphere with a brooding undercurrent, Katherine’s thread provided the contrast between the past and the present, especially in relation to the family planning clinic that the town was protesting about during Tess’s time. The uproar about the possibility of it providing abortions in a conservative area versus the flourishing enterprise it was now was stark but knowing the current events in this area, it highlighted how far things have changed for women only to be looping back. If this novel had been published four years ago, it wouldn’t have been as impactful and thought provoking as it was.
The ending arrived quicker than expected and I longed for more detail, but despite the clues hiding throughout it was one I didn’t guess.
Tess’s POV provided a blast from the past with my own memories of childhood around that time and all the characters were individuals with their own secrets and backstory propelling them to rebel against their parents and expectations to varying degrees. Tess was the glue holding the friendship group into a more grounded place, making her disappearance more impactful.
With a small town atmosphere with a brooding undercurrent, Katherine’s thread provided the contrast between the past and the present, especially in relation to the family planning clinic that the town was protesting about during Tess’s time. The uproar about the possibility of it providing abortions in a conservative area versus the flourishing enterprise it was now was stark but knowing the current events in this area, it highlighted how far things have changed for women only to be looping back. If this novel had been published four years ago, it wouldn’t have been as impactful and thought provoking as it was.
The ending arrived quicker than expected and I longed for more detail, but despite the clues hiding throughout it was one I didn’t guess.
July 9, 2023
WOW! Two stories that intertwine, one set in 1987 about a young girl, who goes missing and her group of friends. The other about Katherine who comes to her husbands hometown to recover from the shocking death of her daughter by a hit and run drugged driver.
Lowbridge is a mystery and a healing, as pieces of a jigsaw are finally put together and the people involved get closure and can move on. #BRPreview
Lowbridge is a mystery and a healing, as pieces of a jigsaw are finally put together and the people involved get closure and can move on. #BRPreview
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