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It Takes a Town
Everyone dies famous in a country town, but glamorous Vanessa Walton was a shining star. A celebrity since a television commercial when she was a child, Vanessa is back on the front page for all the wrong reasons; after a terrible storm she has been found dead at the bottom of her stairs.
At first her death seems to be a simple accident, but anonymous letters are discovered that suggest otherwise – and when 16-year-old Jasmine Landridge claims it is murder, she suddenly disappears. As the police begin to investigate, secrets are exposed and friendships unravel.
At first her death seems to be a simple accident, but anonymous letters are discovered that suggest otherwise – and when 16-year-old Jasmine Landridge claims it is murder, she suddenly disappears. As the police begin to investigate, secrets are exposed and friendships unravel.
342 pages, Paperback
First published April 3, 2024
50 people are currently reading
770 people want to read
About the author
Aoife Clifford
9 books107 followersAoife Clifford is the author of the novel All These Perfect Strangers, published in Australia and the United Kingdom by Simon & Schuster and by Penguin Random House in the United States.
Born in London of Irish parents, she grew up in New South Wales, studied Arts/Law at the Australian National University, Canberra and now lives in Melbourne.
Aoife has won two premier short story prizes for crime fiction in Australia - the Scarlet Stiletto (2007) and the S.D. Harvey Ned Kelly Award in 2012, among other prizes. She has also been short listed for the UK Crime Association's Debut Dagger. In 2014 she was awarded an Australian Society of Authors mentorship for her novel, All These Perfect Strangers.
(source: Amazon)
Born in London of Irish parents, she grew up in New South Wales, studied Arts/Law at the Australian National University, Canberra and now lives in Melbourne.
Aoife has won two premier short story prizes for crime fiction in Australia - the Scarlet Stiletto (2007) and the S.D. Harvey Ned Kelly Award in 2012, among other prizes. She has also been short listed for the UK Crime Association's Debut Dagger. In 2014 she was awarded an Australian Society of Authors mentorship for her novel, All These Perfect Strangers.
(source: Amazon)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
June 17, 2024
Small towns are hotbeds of gossip and opinion and when tragedy takes place, particularly when notable town members are involved, everyone has something to say about it. And it’s against this backdrop that the small town thriller It Takes A Town is set, complete with hidden scandals, personal vendettas that could very well be hiding any number of sordid motives for murder.
Vanessa Walton, the most famous person to come out of the town of Welcome is found dead in her home. It looks very much like an accident, a tumble down the stairs in her home, and the coroner indeed rules it an accidental death.
It’s tragic, her best friend Frankie is distraught but accepts that accidents happen. But when she goes to her friend’s house to help clear it out, there are a few disturbing finds that suggest perhaps Vanessa’s death wasn’t quite as accidental as first thought.
Sergeant Carol Duffy is new to the town and is prepared to take the scene at face value. However, with an outsider’s view, she is also troubled by a few anomalies that are unearthed as she sifts through the case. Learning more about the various townsfolk and their association with the dead woman throws up a bunch of questions that need satisfactory answers.
And then Jaz Langridge, stepdaughter of one of the wealthiest men in Welcome, suddenly goes missing one day after school. The town is thrown into even greater turmoil, school kids grow uneasy at the thought that one of their own has been snatched off the street and the small police force is now stretched precariously thin.
Small town crime investigations always seem to have a special feel to them. Everyone knows everybody else, relationships are complicated by familiarity, lifelong friends are involved and it’s possible that deep-seated resentments could have caused any one of the locals to have snapped. In other words, we’re dealing with a whole town full of possible suspects and numerous potential witnesses who may not necessarily provide reliable accounts of what they’ve seen.
And speaking of the “whole town”, early on in the story it felt as though we were in the process of meeting every person in the town of Welcome. It was a little overwhelming trying to keep up with who was who and how they fit in with the rest of the town…and how they related to the story. Fortunately, things settled down, the more central characters quickly became familiar and the small town drama unfolded quite rapidly.
Frankie, as the central figure in the story, proves to be a level-headed woman, well suited to her job as a secondary school teacher. She manages to use her lifelong knowledge of the town and the people living there to her advantage as she tries to get to the bottom of Vanessa’s death. She tends to form a dynamic duo-type relationship with her lifelong friend Mer, both proving bold enough to confront just about anyone in town.
Aoife Clifford manages to combine a smattering of political intrigue with the petty bickering of local differences in such a way that it all merges together seamlessly. As well as getting to the bottom of a suspicious death and a missing person case, the story provides insight into the day to day life of a typical Australian small town. The machinations can be somewhat tricky no matter the size of the place. Apparently, according to Ms Clifford, Welcome is based on the NSW town of Bathurst - and, having spent quite a lot of time there, I can see that.
Vanessa Walton, the most famous person to come out of the town of Welcome is found dead in her home. It looks very much like an accident, a tumble down the stairs in her home, and the coroner indeed rules it an accidental death.
It’s tragic, her best friend Frankie is distraught but accepts that accidents happen. But when she goes to her friend’s house to help clear it out, there are a few disturbing finds that suggest perhaps Vanessa’s death wasn’t quite as accidental as first thought.
Sergeant Carol Duffy is new to the town and is prepared to take the scene at face value. However, with an outsider’s view, she is also troubled by a few anomalies that are unearthed as she sifts through the case. Learning more about the various townsfolk and their association with the dead woman throws up a bunch of questions that need satisfactory answers.
And then Jaz Langridge, stepdaughter of one of the wealthiest men in Welcome, suddenly goes missing one day after school. The town is thrown into even greater turmoil, school kids grow uneasy at the thought that one of their own has been snatched off the street and the small police force is now stretched precariously thin.
Small town crime investigations always seem to have a special feel to them. Everyone knows everybody else, relationships are complicated by familiarity, lifelong friends are involved and it’s possible that deep-seated resentments could have caused any one of the locals to have snapped. In other words, we’re dealing with a whole town full of possible suspects and numerous potential witnesses who may not necessarily provide reliable accounts of what they’ve seen.
And speaking of the “whole town”, early on in the story it felt as though we were in the process of meeting every person in the town of Welcome. It was a little overwhelming trying to keep up with who was who and how they fit in with the rest of the town…and how they related to the story. Fortunately, things settled down, the more central characters quickly became familiar and the small town drama unfolded quite rapidly.
Frankie, as the central figure in the story, proves to be a level-headed woman, well suited to her job as a secondary school teacher. She manages to use her lifelong knowledge of the town and the people living there to her advantage as she tries to get to the bottom of Vanessa’s death. She tends to form a dynamic duo-type relationship with her lifelong friend Mer, both proving bold enough to confront just about anyone in town.
Aoife Clifford manages to combine a smattering of political intrigue with the petty bickering of local differences in such a way that it all merges together seamlessly. As well as getting to the bottom of a suspicious death and a missing person case, the story provides insight into the day to day life of a typical Australian small town. The machinations can be somewhat tricky no matter the size of the place. Apparently, according to Ms Clifford, Welcome is based on the NSW town of Bathurst - and, having spent quite a lot of time there, I can see that.
November 20, 2024
This book is best described as a small-town murder mystery, which leans towards the 'cozy' style as there isn't any graphic crime details etc. Local star Vanessa is found dead in an assumed accident, except it appears all is not what it seems in this little town. The character perspectives regularly alternated between a few different people which meant multiple POVs providing a bigger picture of what's going on. I didn't really connect with any of the characters so didn't find myself racing through the pages, but I also didn't mind the story as it was quite an easy read.
Overall: an enjoyable enough Australian crime mystery novel.
Overall: an enjoyable enough Australian crime mystery novel.
July 5, 2024
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🏢The kind folks at @ultimopress gifted me a copy of It Takes a Town back in April. As you can see, I’m grossly overdue with my reviews and this is just one of an endless stacks of books that deserve some attention. Having enjoyed Aoife Clifford’s previous stories I was keen to delve into this new tale. It Takes a Town is a small-town cosy mystery whodunnit with a distinct Aussie twang.
🏢We work to solve the mysterious death of a famous star named Vanessa Walton who died at the bottom of her stairs following a dramatic storm in the country town of Welcome. Initially ruled as an accident, Vanessa’s case dredges up plenty of suspicion as the authorities probe further into her death. What emerges is a case filled with secret communication, fractured relationships, challenging friendships and the connected crime of a missing teen girl. Will the truth emerge and what will it reveal about both Vanessa and the little town of Welcome?
🏢It seems that the Aussie book market is pretty heavy with crime novels, so it is good to see a local novelist release a book that falls just outside the box with a small-town murder mystery tale. I’ve followed Aoife Clifford since her debut and I was intrigued by this one. I have to stay I appreciated the well-rendered small-town setting, it made you feel as though you were a part of the fabric of this town. I think this is where Clifford has excelled. However, I will say that although the plot was carefully considered and I didn’t pick the culprit or eventualities, I did struggle with the cast. It Takes a Town is wide in scope when it comes to characters. There are multiple voices drawn in this tale that did bamboozle me somewhat. But if you have no trouble keeping track of a variety of protagonists in your murder mystery novels, especially when it comes to dealing with a number of red herrings, then this will no doubt suit your tastes.
🏢A borderline read for me, some really good bits and other areas didn’t quite work for me. 3 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
🏢The kind folks at @ultimopress gifted me a copy of It Takes a Town back in April. As you can see, I’m grossly overdue with my reviews and this is just one of an endless stacks of books that deserve some attention. Having enjoyed Aoife Clifford’s previous stories I was keen to delve into this new tale. It Takes a Town is a small-town cosy mystery whodunnit with a distinct Aussie twang.
🏢We work to solve the mysterious death of a famous star named Vanessa Walton who died at the bottom of her stairs following a dramatic storm in the country town of Welcome. Initially ruled as an accident, Vanessa’s case dredges up plenty of suspicion as the authorities probe further into her death. What emerges is a case filled with secret communication, fractured relationships, challenging friendships and the connected crime of a missing teen girl. Will the truth emerge and what will it reveal about both Vanessa and the little town of Welcome?
🏢It seems that the Aussie book market is pretty heavy with crime novels, so it is good to see a local novelist release a book that falls just outside the box with a small-town murder mystery tale. I’ve followed Aoife Clifford since her debut and I was intrigued by this one. I have to stay I appreciated the well-rendered small-town setting, it made you feel as though you were a part of the fabric of this town. I think this is where Clifford has excelled. However, I will say that although the plot was carefully considered and I didn’t pick the culprit or eventualities, I did struggle with the cast. It Takes a Town is wide in scope when it comes to characters. There are multiple voices drawn in this tale that did bamboozle me somewhat. But if you have no trouble keeping track of a variety of protagonists in your murder mystery novels, especially when it comes to dealing with a number of red herrings, then this will no doubt suit your tastes.
🏢A borderline read for me, some really good bits and other areas didn’t quite work for me. 3 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 26, 2024
It Takes A Town is a standard small-town crime novel, complete with the blow-in detective from the big city. I definitely didn’t pick the baddie from the beginning, so it’s a well-plotted mystery in that regard. The thing is, it’s a bit hard to keep all the players straight. There are a lot of characters, their ages and characterstics are vague, and given that their relationships to each other are central to understanding the plot, it makes for quite a chaotic read.
My full review of It Takes A Town is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
My full review of It Takes A Town is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
May 19, 2024
It Takes A Town to solve a murder… and the town of Welcome is more than happy to stick their noses in and help the investigation.
At first, the death of minor celebrity, Vanessa Walton, appears to be a tragic accident. The new sergeant in town, Carol Duffy is called to the scene after the storms have hit the small town. Nothing suspicious here. But others in town feel differently. Vanessa might have been the most famous person to have come out of Welcome, but not everyone was a fan. And then a high school girl goes missing. Just what is happening here?
I do love a small town murder mystery, and this fictional town of Welcome certainly has some interesting characters. This was funny at times, dark in others, making for an entertaining story.
Thanks to Ultimo Press for my copy of this book to read.
At first, the death of minor celebrity, Vanessa Walton, appears to be a tragic accident. The new sergeant in town, Carol Duffy is called to the scene after the storms have hit the small town. Nothing suspicious here. But others in town feel differently. Vanessa might have been the most famous person to have come out of Welcome, but not everyone was a fan. And then a high school girl goes missing. Just what is happening here?
I do love a small town murder mystery, and this fictional town of Welcome certainly has some interesting characters. This was funny at times, dark in others, making for an entertaining story.
Thanks to Ultimo Press for my copy of this book to read.
April 1, 2024
It Takes a Town by Aoife Clifford is centred around the death of a small town celebrity. Initially (former child-star) Vanessa's death is ruled an accident but soon threatening notes are revealed and it's discovered she was coming into some money.
Vanessa's childhood friend Frankie is suspicious, as are a couple of local girls who try to get the police to investigate Vanessa's death but they're not successful until one of them disappears and the two events appear to be linked.
Although I struggled a little with the number of characters in this book I liked that ultimately there are multiple scenarios here so lots of red herrings and very much loved that the truth, when eventually revealed, is a complex one laced with nuance and moral quandaries.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
Vanessa's childhood friend Frankie is suspicious, as are a couple of local girls who try to get the police to investigate Vanessa's death but they're not successful until one of them disappears and the two events appear to be linked.
Although I struggled a little with the number of characters in this book I liked that ultimately there are multiple scenarios here so lots of red herrings and very much loved that the truth, when eventually revealed, is a complex one laced with nuance and moral quandaries.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
June 27, 2024
rated: 2.5 stars
tbh... this was kind of boring. the writing style was really plain and simple which didn't really keep me engaged but also made it easy to tune in and out of the audiobook and still know exactly what was going on. the plot twist at the end was so lame and not foreshadowed at all - it was lazy writing instead of being creative. and the fact that we only cared about the murder in the last 30 mins. the whole rest of the plot of this book was just so irrelevant??? barely anything happened at all!!!
there were also just random bits of like??? leftist propaganda??? idk how else to say that without coming across like im some sort of right-wing conspiracy theorist talking about how there's microchips in the water, but at random occasions in this book were there like solid pages talking about how important masking is and how covid isn't over and how evil housing developers were in a way that was so jarring and did not mesh well with the book or the writing. wtf!!!
tbh... this was kind of boring. the writing style was really plain and simple which didn't really keep me engaged but also made it easy to tune in and out of the audiobook and still know exactly what was going on. the plot twist at the end was so lame and not foreshadowed at all - it was lazy writing instead of being creative. and the fact that we only cared about the murder in the last 30 mins. the whole rest of the plot of this book was just so irrelevant??? barely anything happened at all!!!
there were also just random bits of like??? leftist propaganda??? idk how else to say that without coming across like im some sort of right-wing conspiracy theorist talking about how there's microchips in the water, but at random occasions in this book were there like solid pages talking about how important masking is and how covid isn't over and how evil housing developers were in a way that was so jarring and did not mesh well with the book or the writing. wtf!!!
December 11, 2024
The first third of this book was heading for a DNF but she turned it around in the second half. Everyone was the protagonist at some point, so it really did take a town to solve this murder.
October 6, 2024
DNF...interest fizzled with so many ridiculous characters.
April 21, 2024
Set in a small Australian town named Welcome, which is home to the famous former child star Vanessa Walton.
While she isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, she does brings a bit of celebrity to the town.
Sergeant Carol Duffy has been posted to Welcome to help coordinate an emergency response to possible flooding in town.
However as soon as Sergeant Duffy arrives she is alerted to a dead body that has been found after the storms. The body of Vanessa Walton was found at the bottom her stairs. A first it is believed to be a horrible accident, however anonymous letters suggesting there is more to it start to appear. And when a popular local high school girl goes missing Sergeant Duffy starts to question what is really going on in town
If you are after a murder mystery in a small town with some of the most interesting characters then this is the book for you!
I absolutely loved It Takes A Town, the small town setting, filled with the fabulous locals plus the newly appointed Sergeant Carole Duffy. An enjoyable page turner thanks to the great mix of crime and mystery. I was guessing until the very end
While she isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, she does brings a bit of celebrity to the town.
Sergeant Carol Duffy has been posted to Welcome to help coordinate an emergency response to possible flooding in town.
However as soon as Sergeant Duffy arrives she is alerted to a dead body that has been found after the storms. The body of Vanessa Walton was found at the bottom her stairs. A first it is believed to be a horrible accident, however anonymous letters suggesting there is more to it start to appear. And when a popular local high school girl goes missing Sergeant Duffy starts to question what is really going on in town
If you are after a murder mystery in a small town with some of the most interesting characters then this is the book for you!
I absolutely loved It Takes A Town, the small town setting, filled with the fabulous locals plus the newly appointed Sergeant Carole Duffy. An enjoyable page turner thanks to the great mix of crime and mystery. I was guessing until the very end
April 3, 2024
Vanessa Walton became famous as a child but now back in her small country town, she is found dead at the bottom of her stairs.
Her death is ruled as an accident but 16-year-old Jasmine believes it’s murder. Then Jasmine disappears and the new Sergeant to the town Carole steps up to investigate.
I really had no idea how this was going to come together and just had to keep turning the pages as more secrets were exposed.
Her death is ruled as an accident but 16-year-old Jasmine believes it’s murder. Then Jasmine disappears and the new Sergeant to the town Carole steps up to investigate.
I really had no idea how this was going to come together and just had to keep turning the pages as more secrets were exposed.
November 23, 2025
Idk it was super boring and there were 6 povs which made it confusing. The writing style was really simple and non descriptive. I read the majority of the book, but honestly couldn't finish it bc my attention span is miniscule. The plot was mainly in the second half of the book and wasn't that interesting.
But I like the cover of the book. It looks nice.
But I like the cover of the book. It looks nice.
March 24, 2025
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibes: Small Town, Murder Mystery
- - -
This book had me hooked from the start with its fun graphic cover and catchy title.
We all know small towns love gossip - fact. But add in a local murder and this book perfectly captures that with drama, fun and just the right amount of suspense. It also highlights the power of community spirit, kindness and the complexities of people - flaws and all.
I’ll admit, I got a little lost at first with the large cast of characters but as the story unfolded, each one played a great role. I also don’t mind a book that starts slow but finishes in a way that makes it impossible to put down.
There were plenty of red herrings, lots of suspects (the big character list helped here) and hidden clues sprinkled throughout.
This was a fun murder mystery and would be perfect when you need a little palate cleanser between heavier reads.
Vibes: Small Town, Murder Mystery
- - -
This book had me hooked from the start with its fun graphic cover and catchy title.
We all know small towns love gossip - fact. But add in a local murder and this book perfectly captures that with drama, fun and just the right amount of suspense. It also highlights the power of community spirit, kindness and the complexities of people - flaws and all.
I’ll admit, I got a little lost at first with the large cast of characters but as the story unfolded, each one played a great role. I also don’t mind a book that starts slow but finishes in a way that makes it impossible to put down.
There were plenty of red herrings, lots of suspects (the big character list helped here) and hidden clues sprinkled throughout.
This was a fun murder mystery and would be perfect when you need a little palate cleanser between heavier reads.
May 22, 2024
This book literally fell into my life (I mean, it literally fell off the bookshelf in the bookstore), and in a way, I'm glad it did.
I love a who done it mystery like the next person, but this book is different. It's full of twists that you never really expected, but then it all makes sense in the end. The characters are so real, and you can easily relate to them. Some of the characters reminded me of family members and friends. But most of all, this book is about community, loyalty, and kindness, but also that it's better to come out with the truth. No matter how much it hurts, it's better to rip the bandaid off, look it in the face, and move on, however long that takes. It's definitely a 4.5 star book for me ✨️
I love a who done it mystery like the next person, but this book is different. It's full of twists that you never really expected, but then it all makes sense in the end. The characters are so real, and you can easily relate to them. Some of the characters reminded me of family members and friends. But most of all, this book is about community, loyalty, and kindness, but also that it's better to come out with the truth. No matter how much it hurts, it's better to rip the bandaid off, look it in the face, and move on, however long that takes. It's definitely a 4.5 star book for me ✨️
May 23, 2024
It's okay as far as murder mysteries go, nothing too earth-shattering but it puts plot twists over character development and that made it hard for me to engage. Also, I hate the trope of the beautiful woman who is sex-crazed and just the absolute worst without a single ounce of nuance to back it up. The other characters were a whole bunch of meh and this could have been shorter if we had cut several chapters where literally nothing happens.
September 9, 2024
There were 6 POVs (maybe more) in this book, which took away from any suspense or mystery. There was minimal climax and low stakes, it was very predictable and the ‘Easter eggs’ were just blatantly dropped and obvious.
Sad this was my holiday book :((
Sad this was my holiday book :((
March 25, 2024
Great read. Review pending.
May 31, 2024
So it started out ordinary and built up into a full cast of good characters. A really good book for a few cold evenings. I’m so glad there our people out there who like writing and do it well. Very satisfying.
March 11, 2025
To be honest, it didn't really grab my attention at first, I was going to stop reading. Then WHAM I was hooked and couldn't put it down until I had finished reading the whole thing 😅
June 4, 2024
A compelling small town mystery set somewhere in Australia; the actual location and any identifiable landmarks are never mentioned. Political ambition, step families, family connections, child stardom, cancer, lifelong friendships, family life, teenagers and school connections and police procedures all feature in an intriguing and well written story. I certainly didn’t pick the murderer and the reasons behind the murder.
July 20, 2025
It was ok. Home & Away. Meets Blue Heelers.
March 24, 2025
It Takes a Town by Aoife Clifford
Former child star Vanessa Walton returns to her hometown in country Australia, where she's a glamorous big fish in a small, shabby chic bowl. One night, after a big storm, Vanessa is found dead at the bottom of her stairs.
Sergeant Carol Duffy is new to town and has just begun her investigation when Jaz Langridge, stepdaughter of one of the wealthiest men in Welcome, suddenly goes missing one day after school. Is there an influential crime ring in town? Well-known locals Frankie and Mer join forces, long-held secrets are exposed, and friendships unravel.
Although this is not technically a cosy mystery, it does have some pretty cosy elements. The cover art is beautiful, with little vignettes of story elements, including the staircase, a nosy neighbour peering out a window, and a brilliant use of colour.
Thumbs up 👍 If you like books set in small towns with plenty of quirky characters, I think you'll like this one.
Go read a book!
Body count: 1—possibly more, but I can't tell you because it would be a spoiler.
Former child star Vanessa Walton returns to her hometown in country Australia, where she's a glamorous big fish in a small, shabby chic bowl. One night, after a big storm, Vanessa is found dead at the bottom of her stairs.
Sergeant Carol Duffy is new to town and has just begun her investigation when Jaz Langridge, stepdaughter of one of the wealthiest men in Welcome, suddenly goes missing one day after school. Is there an influential crime ring in town? Well-known locals Frankie and Mer join forces, long-held secrets are exposed, and friendships unravel.
Although this is not technically a cosy mystery, it does have some pretty cosy elements. The cover art is beautiful, with little vignettes of story elements, including the staircase, a nosy neighbour peering out a window, and a brilliant use of colour.
Thumbs up 👍 If you like books set in small towns with plenty of quirky characters, I think you'll like this one.
Go read a book!
Body count: 1—possibly more, but I can't tell you because it would be a spoiler.
June 4, 2024
Aussie author Aoife Clifford’s It Takes A Town (2024) is a light-hearted gentle crime mystery. The town of Welcome has one famous actor, Vanessa Walton who is a part-time drama teacher at the local school. She is discovered dead at the bottom of her stairs, believed to be an unfortunate accident. Then local teenager, Jasmine Langridge is kidnapped after she calls Vanessa’s death a murder. The narrative unfolds through the lives of four local friends, Frankie, Mer, Mundare and Jacqui, as Sergeant Carole Duffy investigates the death of Vanessa. The small rural town of Welcome hides secrets and its locals are not all they seem. There are the usual red herrings and surprise twists, yet the overall mundane feel of the tale makes for a three star read rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without inducement.
October 23, 2025
Small-town, somewhat cosy crime book.
Dead body, check. Out of town cop new to a small town, check. Busybody townspeople, check.
Child starlet Vanessa returns to a rural Australian town/regional centre after her career takes a downturn and begins teaching at the local school. Although everyone loves her (non-spoiler spoiler: noone really does), she ends up dead. It looks like an accident until a high profile local politician's daughter ends up kidnapped.
For such a small town, there were a lot of characters in this book. My biggest criticism would be that I kept getting them confused with each other. The pacing of the book was okay, the story was fine, I didn't pick the killer, but seeing as there seemed to be 7 million people living in this town of 5 people, it was a bit confusing for me.
Decent book though.
Dead body, check. Out of town cop new to a small town, check. Busybody townspeople, check.
Child starlet Vanessa returns to a rural Australian town/regional centre after her career takes a downturn and begins teaching at the local school. Although everyone loves her (non-spoiler spoiler: noone really does), she ends up dead. It looks like an accident until a high profile local politician's daughter ends up kidnapped.
For such a small town, there were a lot of characters in this book. My biggest criticism would be that I kept getting them confused with each other. The pacing of the book was okay, the story was fine, I didn't pick the killer, but seeing as there seemed to be 7 million people living in this town of 5 people, it was a bit confusing for me.
Decent book though.
May 27, 2024
I loved this book. It is a set in a small country town where you get to know the locals intimately and follow their stories through a page turning series of dramatic events. Even though I've never lived in a small town I felt like this is exactly what it would be like - oppressive but ultimately authentically supportive. The characters are beautifully drawn with nuance and subtlety. I found myself laughing in the midst of several dark scenes as unexpected observations were made. I finished it off in less than a week as I was happily drawn back each night to the collection of relatable, mostly female, characters. I miss it already.
September 29, 2024
The attendance at her funeral is huge for a small town and the word on everybody's lips is "murder". But the local police, in the first case for the new station head, and the local coroner, both pronounce that it was an accident. The woman who brought fame to the town was hated by many. But she was adored by many, and there are those who think the investigation into her death has not been thorough enough.
Secrets come to light, and relationships are tested. A wonderful array of believable charcaters. An excellent read.
Secrets come to light, and relationships are tested. A wonderful array of believable charcaters. An excellent read.
January 6, 2025
Welcome is a small and tight knit community which is perfect for a murder mystery to unravel in.
Whilst I enjoyed a lot of the novel, there were a few things which pushed the rating down.
I LOVE a good plot twist, but what I don’t love is when it happens within the last 20 pages.
I feel as though there was so much more space in the book where the plot twist could have been explored, rather than cramming it in at the end.
It also took awfully long to reach the conclusion, reading what felt to be filler words.
Whilst I enjoyed a lot of the novel, there were a few things which pushed the rating down.
I LOVE a good plot twist, but what I don’t love is when it happens within the last 20 pages.
I feel as though there was so much more space in the book where the plot twist could have been explored, rather than cramming it in at the end.
It also took awfully long to reach the conclusion, reading what felt to be filler words.
October 28, 2025
Slow burn as plot digs into layers of relationships in this country town
This intricate story builds through the eyes of three women. Two are best friends, one the sensible teacher, one the ‘loose cannon’. The third is the new police sergeant. Is her constable’s lifelong knowledge of the townfolk a help or a hindrance, when rumours suggest the death of the town’s prodigal daughter might not have been an accident?
This is a sympathetic character study of everyday people. It drew me in as their layers were revealed by trauma, shaking loose secrets to test their bonds.
This intricate story builds through the eyes of three women. Two are best friends, one the sensible teacher, one the ‘loose cannon’. The third is the new police sergeant. Is her constable’s lifelong knowledge of the townfolk a help or a hindrance, when rumours suggest the death of the town’s prodigal daughter might not have been an accident?
This is a sympathetic character study of everyday people. It drew me in as their layers were revealed by trauma, shaking loose secrets to test their bonds.
May 9, 2024
It Takes a Town by Aoife Clifford is a the story of a murder set in a small town. The victim is Vanessa Walton, a celebrity since she was a child. At first it is thought that she fell down the stairs but when 16-year-old Jasmine Langridge claims it is murder and then disappears it will take the whole town to solve the crime. And, the town holds its secrets close. It Takes a Town kept me turning the pages until the very last page.
May 20, 2024
A fantastic read. A child leaves a country town to become a child star and continues that work into adulthood. Back in the town her family runs a dance school. Finally the star returns and is found dead on the front steps of her house.
The story is interwoven with a policeman, wife and his stepdaughter, childhood friends of rhe star now adults and other members of the town.
I really enjoyed this read.
The story is interwoven with a policeman, wife and his stepdaughter, childhood friends of rhe star now adults and other members of the town.
I really enjoyed this read.
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