Whisky Valley

by Joan Sauers

From the intriguing Echo Lake, Rose McHugh, curious historian-turned-detective, returns to solve her next compelling mystery in the moody Southern Highlands.

After nearly being murdered last year, Rose battles anxiety as she uses her investigative skills to find her son's best friend, a famous violinist who is missing along with his priceless violin.

As floodwaters rise, Rose uncovers secrets and lies among the missing man's fellow musicians, as well as their patron and her enigmatic psychologist husband.

But when a body is found, can Rose shield her son from suspicion?

Praise for Echo Lake:

'As cosy as it is compulsive, Sauers brings the eerie beauty of winter in the Southern Highlands to life. A highly recommended, vivid read!' Jacqueline Bublitz, author of Leave the Girls Behind

'Not just a whodunnit, Echo Lake also contemplates what makes for a good life, reminds the reader of the importance of historical truth and throws in a ghost story for good measure.' Maryrose Cuskelly, author of The Cane

'Move over Miss Marple. With its indefatigable heroine, mist-shrouded setting, cast of quirky characters and as many trips to the pub as there are mysteries to solve, Echo Lake is cosy crime at its dynamic, atmospheric best - and Sauers is certainly a writer to watch.' Anna Downes, author of The Shadow House

'Full of atmosphere; the very landscape echoes both freedom and foreboding. Rose McHugh, middle-aged and newly single, is a convincing, compelling and intelligent protagonist who stumbles onto a mystery and won't let it go.' Vikki Petraitis, author of The Unbelieved

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction, Australia

Kindle Edition

Published June 3, 2025

About the author

Born in New York and working in film and television in NY, London and Los Angeles, Sauers has lived in Australia for the last twenty-five years. She is the author of twelve books including Mothers & Daughters, Ageing Disgracefully, and Sex Lives of Australian Women. She is a consultant and lecturer in screenwriting in Australia, Europe and Morocco, and lives in Sydney with her talented cat, Blossom.

Reviews

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Southern Highlands in NSW is such a beautiful part of the world and I loved reading Whisky Valley, the second book to star historian Rose. In the first book, Echo Lake, she found herself in dire straits and she is still not recovered. Rose is suffering severe anxiety and is finding it hard to go back to a normal life. She is buoyed by a visit from her son Sam and sister for along weekend of classical music, featuring her son’s best friend from high school. But of course, things go wrong and one of the musicians goes missing.

Once again Rose cannot help but try to help the investigation. Her opinions are not always welcomed but she does look at things in a different way. It was an intriguing case, with many possibilities. It is easy to picture the gorgeous tree lined streets and little cafes of the region, along with the bitter cold and wildlife. A very enjoyable read, and one that I learnt a lot by reading.

I did not know that there was a whiskey distillery down there! the day after ai finished the book, my husband and I went on a road trip to Joadja Distillery and Historic Site which features in this book. The descriptions of the narrow and rugged road into the estate was spot on and we even saw a little kangaroo on the road who quickly got out of our way. I took. My copy of the book with me and spoke with the owners who are thanked in the author’s notes. I loved that they are Spanish and that Joan has created a Spanish owner in the book called Diego, who was a fabulous character. We had a tour of the distillery and the historical sites and ai could see scenes from the book playing out. And of course we had to have a taste test and it was delicious.. 2 bottles came home with us.

So if you love a small town mystery then please do grab a copy of Whisky Valley on June 3rd. And if you don’t mind a whiskey, a vodka or a gin, then check out Joadja … you will not be sorry.

Thanks so much to Allen and Unwin for my advanced copy of this fabulous book to read, and to the author Joan, for our chats about the book and the area in which it is set.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having previously read Echo Lake I couldn't wait to dive into this one. It certainly didn't disappoint. If you are a lover of classical music, you will love this one.

Just like the first book, Rose is obsessed with finding out the truth just like Miss Marple! The book is told by her POV.

It's a slow burn mystery but the last 1/4 moves at a fast pace as we get close to solving the case. The ending was brilliant and was actually my favorite part of the book. This book is all about the who. Although I did guess the who Joan still made me second guess myself.

It was nice to see Rose in love. Shes such a great character. Finally, I loved how you mentioned historical aspects such as the Snowy Mountains scheme and DNA Ancestry.

[bookswithpaulette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Echo Lake so was super keen to pick up this gem and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Rose is back and she is on a mission to uncover the truth. This story we have a small country town music festival. Rose is excited to attend with her son Sam, his friend is one of the musicians performing at the event.

When the musician goes missing and a valuable violin worth millions the police investigate and Rose is drawn into the investigation, she needs to discover what happened. The missing musician is her sons friend. We follow along as little snippets of what happened are revealed, with red herrings, secrets revealed this was a fun read. I did guess the main reveal but I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend.

[EmG ReadsDaily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aussie crime fiction, set in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. I enjoyed the return of Rose, historian-turned-detective, as well as some of the other characters from Echo Lake.

This was another great read from Australian author Joan Sauers!

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Deborah (debbishdotcom) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whisky Valley by Joan Sauers is the second in the enjoyable series featuring semi-retired historian Rose McHugh. In my review of the first book in the series, Echo Lake , I commented that—as an historian and a background in research—she's a feasible amateur (citizen) detective. Sauers also reintroduces characters from the first book, including Rose's son Sam and her sister Kim, and local friends George and Detective Inspector Joe Blackmore and his wife Grace. I also commented on [Echo Lake] being an atmospheric read, based in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, and again here the song sense of 'place' resonates.

This centres around the disappearance of a young musician, visiting as part of a music festival and childhood friend of Sam’s. But when he and his very expensive violin go missing and Sam becomes a suspect Rose is again forced to turn her hand to sleuthing. Despite the trauma she suffered during her last (successful) attempt.

I'm really enjoying this series. I noted in my review of Echo Lake that Sauers was a screenwriter and I think that's evident here as well as she's able to bring scenes, characters and actions to life.

Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like this year is the year for coming home to old friends and this is definitely the case with Whisky Valley.

Whisky Valley is book two in the Rose McHugh series. This time we have a missing musician and a very priceless violin worth millions. To make things even more interesting, the musician is friends with Rose's son, Sam. Rose cannot stay away from the investigation and finds herself involved - especially when the musician turns up murdered.

I can safely say I enjoyed book two in the series. I found the writing and the atmosphere on point. The rural setting was perfect. I found this book very hard to put down. I enjoyed reading about all the characters in this book and trying to piece together the murder mystery.

A massive thank you to Allen and Unwin for gifting me a copy of Whisky Valley for my honest book review.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the second novel in the Rose McHugh series, though I suspect you could dive into this, as the author does provide some background from book #1.
Again, it was set in the Southern Highlands, with the author noting some locations are fictional and some are real with fictional elements. This location is so captivating.
Rose needs to use her investigative skills after her son's best friend, Billy, goes missing, along with his priceless violin. But when a body is found, Rose needs to increase her search for the killer and shield her son from suspicion.
The atmosphere in this one was fabulous, with the rural location and rising floodwaters, adding to the dangers. The characters were intriguing and I enjoyed the sub-plots woven into this one. Another engaging novel by the author and I look forward to more.

Thank you to Allen and Unwin and the author for this gifted review copy.

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one as I really enjoyed the first instalment, Echo Lake. I enjoyed it, but I do feel the original was better. This had a lot of fantastic elements that the original had: an incredible, well-researched and authentic location, some great details about the history of the local area, and the same awesome characters. I loved seeing Rose, George, and Blackmore again, as well as the new cast of characters who were in this book. One thing I’ve really enjoyed about this series is the escapism it provides, dealing with heavy subject matter appropriately but still immersing me in the idealistic rural country world. I did feel a little let down by the plot. It wasn’t bad by any means. It started off really strong, and I enjoyed the romance subplot between Diego and Rose. I just thought that there was a lull in the middle as the pieces were put together, and that lull went on for a little too long. Things did pick up at the end for the conclusion, but I felt my interest wane here. I will say that the book did a great job of making Rose’s son seem like a suspect, but I wasn’t particularly excited about discovering the conclusion because of how long the lull was. I also felt a little disappointed in the way that the romance subplot ended. (Will not say any more because of potential spoilers)


Overall, while this didn’t reach the heights of the first book in the series, I still found that it was a good read. I would love to pick up more of this series or by this author, and hope there’s more to come.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

A missing violinist. A rising flood. A race against time.

This is a book that has a little bit of everything! Mystery, drama, intrigue, romance and dogs…yay!

✨Rose is a curious historian-turned-unofficial detective, determined to solve this mystery. She is a very observant protagonist and often approaches people and situations a bit like a bull in a china shop in order to get her questions answered!

The standout for me was the setting and the atmosphere of Whisky Valley. Sauers captures the small town vibe and beauty of the Southern Highlands through vivid and relatable storytelling. It’s a cosy read, filled with fun and quirky characters, romance and mystery.

I haven’t read book one in the series, Echo Lake, and while this was a great standalone read, I’d recommend reading that book first to get a better understanding of Rose’s character and her backstory.

Thank you to @allenandunwin for an advanced copy to read.

[Elisa]

I thought I’d try a ‘cozy crime’ and see if the genre is for me but I’m guessing not from this book. Got 30% through listening as an audio book and couldn’t continue. By one third in there’d been more about visiting the dog park and what they ate and drank than any crime. And none of the characters really fleshed out at all. And I just wasn’t interested enough to know any more!

[Brooke, · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

I think Rose is great. She feels like a real, fully thought out character. There were a couple of moments though where Sauers lack of knowledge stood out but they were minor in the overall scheme of the book. Definitely recommend but read Echo Lake first.

[Lisa (Insta: serenity.of.books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review To Come

[Anna Loder · Rating 5 out of 5]

My type of thrill; a amateur sleuth who is in bed reading by 9.15, loves pastry and has a knack for letting people talk…it’s completely perfect for snuggling under and getting swept up in classical music, whiskey and the southern highlands..sure there is a murder and a missing priceless violin but I think I’ll be remembering the tea and cinnamon buns! Loved it!! Thanks Allen and Unwin for my arc, so appreciate the opportunity to read it ahead of it’s June 3rd publication!!!

[Jane (Avid reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this - now I want to visit Joadja - who doesn’t love a ghost town - especially one with an operational distillery that makes whisky and gin - and also St Jude cafe in Redfern.

[Ally Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joan Sauers has given readers another cosy Australian mystery with “Whiskey Valley” the second novel in the Rose McHugh series. Set in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Rose lives a life with PTSD and anxiety after the traumatic event in Echo Lake. When a classical music festival comes to town Rose looks forward to a weekend of enjoying the festival with her son Sam and sister Kim. But when Billy Mah, a world-renowned violinist and Sam’s childhood friend, disappears along with his multimillion-dollar instrument, “The Mick” the festival takes a dark turn. Rose is drawn back into her amateur sleuthing ways when suspicion falls on Sam when Billy Mah’s body is found.

Joan Sauers draws the reader to the Southern Highlands with loving detail. You feel the chill in the air, see the tree-lined streets, and taste the strong coffee and cinnamon buns that Rose and her community frequently enjoy. I really enjoy a book that has true sense of location, and I will now hopefully one day visit the Joadja Distillery and all Sauers descriptions will come alive for me.

I did struggle to stay engaged with the frequent classical music references as it is not a topic that I am connected to or am knowledgeable about. I also struggled with the frequent reference to food and what the characters were eating. It felt like these details were a word count filler, disrupted the flow and didn’t enhance the story.

It wasn’t until I was halfway through the novel that I realised that this book was part of a series, and while I never felt lost, I do think knowing Rose’s full backstory would have deepened my understanding of her trauma and relationships. As there are some unresolved threads, particularly in the romantic subplot, I am sure there is the opening for a third book for this series.
Whisky Valley is a gentle mystery set within small-town charm. It’s ideal for readers who enjoy stories with gentle pacing, cosy mystery and a strong sense of place.

[rachel x]

finally, a new joan sauers! i'm so keen!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Whisky Valley” by Joan Sauers is set vividly in the Southern Highlands of NSW. In this strongly depicted landscape we follow Rose McHugh as she makes discoveries about herself, and investigates a murder at the same time.

My one complaint about this novel is something that some others will regard as a plus. That is, the murder is so off-stage that Rose often feels emotionless about it. The murder, the discovery of the body, even the funeral, are all conducted “off-stage”, so to speak. Fans of cosy mysteries will appreciate this, as a lack of gore is a fundamental element for that sub-genre.

I’m no fan of unnecessary violence or gore myself, but here it seemed to take the emotions off stage as well. Rose just didn’t seem to have strong emotions about the murder of a young man she’d once known well. I acknowledge that there was a lot going on in her life, but this one element still felt a little wrong to me.

In contrast, other elements of Rose’s life were vividly and realistically portrayed. I think it’s true that a murder wouldn’t necessarily consume an amateur detective’s entire life. Rose is also distracted by a new romance, friends, family conflict, her son’s needs, her job, and her difficulties with anxiety. Sauers balances all these well, leaving us with a strong picture of a busy and full life.

Other characters are also strong, although not always as fully drawn. The setting is also vivid and almost a character in itself. The sense of place is strong, and the setting is critical to multiple plot points. The two are well interwoven.

The plot is well worked out and will ring true to most readers. The pacing is realistic; investigations like this would take time.

I hesitate to call this a crime novel, because it feels like much of the novel is preoccupied with other elements of Rose’s life. However you classify it, I found it enjoyable and vivid.

If you enjoyed this review, please visit www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog to read more.
An edited version of this review first appeared on www.beautyandlace.net as part of their bookclub.

[Fran Dishon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whisky Valley by Joan Sauers is a mystery set in the picturesque setting of the NSW Southern Highlands, where Historian Rose McHugh finds herself using her skills to uncover the truth. A music festival goes wrong, the star a famous violinist Billy Mah goes missing, he is a friend of her son Sam, who ends up becoming the main murder suspect. Rose cannot help herself; she needs to find out the truth and starts carrying out her own enquires to find the murderer. She also is on a personal journey to deal with her own overwhelming and crippling at times anxiety brought about by a recent traumatic Incident at Echo Lake.

It is a murder mystery, a personal journey of overcoming trauma and anxiety, a history lesson, a love story, a story of classical musicians, and friendships. This book has a lot going on in it, and as lovely and delightful as it is, the reference to food and additional story lines is distracting and annoying. I love the part where she sets out on her own investigations, her conversations and uncovering of clues interesting, and her almost nosey and impulsive urge Rose has to get in there and find out the truth, despite the risks. I loved her own person journey, with her own anxiety and romance. I found the start of the book slow, however when the star musician Billy goes missing, the story gets interesting, and I feel invested to keep reading. Thank you to Better Reading for a review copy of this book, it was an enjoyable and meandering read, and I gave it 3 out of 10 stars.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is cosy Aussie crime at its atmospheric best.
I’ll place emphasis on cosy- apart from the first 100 pages and the last 50 pages it’s a pretty gentle, meandering pace.
No stress. Ample time for coffee and croissants throughout.
The mid section actually pivoted to a budding bush romance which was quite nice for the old heartstrings.
Historian Rose McHugh is recovering emotionally from last years’ near death experience (must read Echo Lake to know more). She’s very settled into life in her Southern Highland Community. Her museum is thriving, her life is safe and predictable.
A music festival sees her son Billy reunite with his childhood friend Billy Mah, a virtuoso in possession of ‘The Mick’ a multimillion dollar violin.
So it’s very unfortunate that the next day Billy and his violin are missing.
And even more unfortunate when it turns into a murder investigation.
Can Rose find the killer to clear any suspicion from her son?
I loved Rose. She likes dogs and ghosts and wine and flaky pastries and is turned on by men who notice museum lighting. She’ll teach you a lot about classical music and subtle sleuthing. And her ‘rather just stay at home and read’ vibe is pretty relatable.
I wasn’t completely invested in the whodunit component here; I was just happy to be lost in this beautiful part of Australia.
An enjoyable, slow burn thriller.

Thank you to @betterreadingau for the advanced copy as part of Better Reading Preview #brpreview AD-PR

[Mercedes · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know how some books take a bit of time to get into, and others draw you in instantly? This one was the latter. Within pages I was drawn back into the Southern Highlands setting Joan established in her first book, Echo Lake, and back amongst the fabulous characters she created, especially her protagonist, historian Rose McHugh.

We catch up with Rose who’s still dealing with the psychological repercussions of what occurred in Echo Lake (no spoilers - go read it!) but the drama is never far from her doorstep. This time it comes in the form of a visiting classical music entourage which includes the now-famous young violinist, Billy Mah, who was best friends with Rose’s son, Sam.

When Billy turns up murdered and his priceless violin missing, several suspects are revealed, including Rose’s son, Sam.

I almost loved the subplot of this story more though, which involves an anonymous love letter Rose finds in a book about the Scottish shale miners who came to the Southern Highlands in the 1870s and whose abandoned community is today considered a ghost town.

Joadja is a very real part of the book, researched by Joan in such detail that she brings this forgotten history to life - this history nerd was consumed!!

If you read Echo Lake, you will love how Joan further develops Rose’s story and brings the Southern Highlands to life. I’m so intrigued, I’m planning a weekend in the area to tour the ghost town, which as a bonus, now has a boutique whisky distillery on site!

[Rina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

After nearly being murdered last year, Rose McHugh battles anxiety as she uses her investigative skills to find her son's best friend, a famous violinist who is missing along with his priceless violin. As floodwaters rise, Rose uncovers secrets and lies among the missing man's fellow musicians, as well as their patron and her enigmatic psychologist husband. But when a body is found, can Rose shield her son from suspicion?

This was a long awaited sequel to Echo Lake, which I ended up loving. I was so happy to dive back into Rose’s world, and this book did not disappoint! It was also lovely to see the return of many characters from the first book. I was definitely intrigued to see Rose’s continuing dynamics with Joe, given her friendship with his wife.

I loved that we got to know Sam a lot more in this book. Rose’s relationship with her son really tied the main plot together. I really enjoyed the time spent exploring the mother-son relationship and the changes over the years.

The murder mystery was layered and I had a lot of fun guessing the whodunnit - no, I didn’t figure it out because I was too busy enjoying the drama instead. I really hope we’ll get to see book three soon, especially with that ending!

(Thanks to Allen & Unwin for a gifted review copy)

See my bookstagram review.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whiskey Valley by Joan Sauers is a wonderfully descriptive mystery set in the Southern Highlands of Australia.

Rose McHugh is no stranger to mystery. One year ago, Rose was the main character of her own drama, Echo Lake. Now, Rose is happily settled in her home, job and friendships. Until her son’s best friend Billy goes missing, along with his historical, priceless musical instrument.

Along with a newfound love interest, Rose is determined to find out what has happened to Billy, especially when her son comes under police suspicion. However, Rose uncovers more than she bargains for. Not only does she discover her own family secrets, but also those of a close friend. These secrets have the potential to break family bonds, but Rose’s gentle nature manages to support healing rather than major rifts.

Sauers style of writing had me hooked from the beginning. The descriptions of the Higlands, museums, Joadja and various locations had me wanting to research and plan a trip to see everything for myself.

Each chapter had twists that kept me guessing at the outcome. I could quite happily have sat through another 100+ pages for more details. In the end, the mystery was solved, and most questions answered.

Although Whiskey Valley follows Rose and her family one year after Echo Lake, it is a brilliant stand-alone novel.

Thank you to Better Reading, Allen & Unwin and Joan Sauers for my ARC copy of Whiskey Valley.
Publication date June 2025

[Caroline O'Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an incredible read, a beautiful atmospheric murder mystery that had me turning the pages from start to finish.

This is actually book two in this series and I have not read book one, after reading this I’d say go grab book one too. However I don’t feel like I missed out on anything and not reading it didn’t stop this being the great read it was.

This book is about a lady called Rose McHugh, she was almost murdered a year ago and is struggling trying to get her life back on track. Then someone she knew very well died and it turned her life completely upside down. We spend most of this book trying to work out who killed him and why, and what a ride that was.

This book had something for everyone, thriller, mystery and even a little romance flung in. I really enjoyed the relationships and friendships we saw throughout this book, I loved how Rose had this wonderful community surrounding her, it was really special.

Rose was a wonderful person, very intuitive and aware of her surroundings, she loved hard and was very happy in her life, finally getting back what she lost last year.

Loved the imagery throughout, Highlands sounds like an absolutely beautiful place in the world to be.

I thought the storyline was brilliant, it had a perfect pace and was beautifully done.

Go grab this book, you will love it.

[Liisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Southern Highlands are back—and so is Rose McHugh. 🕵️‍♀️

After the chilling events of Echo Lake, historian-turned-sleuth Rose finds herself drawn into another mystery, this time involving a missing violinist, a priceless instrument, and floodwaters that threaten to swallow the truth.

Sauers writes the landscape so vividly that the Southern Highlands feels like another character—moody, misty, and full of secrets. 🌿 The atmosphere is gorgeous, textured, and deeply evocative.

Rose remains one of the most believable amateur detectives I’ve come across. Her historian’s eye for detail and research background make her credible, grounded, and wonderfully human. I also love that the police here aren’t hapless or bumbling—they’re competent and collaborative, which makes the whole investigation feel real. 👮‍♀️👏

We’re reintroduced to familiar faces—Sam, Kim, George, and Detective Inspector Joe Blackmore (whose quiet chemistry with Rose continues to simmer… though there’s now dishy whisky distiller Diego in the mix 🥃✨).

Sauers balances mystery, emotion, and tension with real skill. The rising flood mirrors the mounting pressure, and by the end, I was completely absorbed.

An atmospheric, heartfelt follow-up that cements this as one of my favourite Australian mystery series. Bring on book three! 🙌

[Lee McKerracher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rose McHugh has faced more than a few challenges in her life, including an attempted murder. But here she is, a year on, with her life starting to settle down in the glorious Southern Highlands of NSW. But unpleasant things seem to follow Rose around, and she is soon immersed in the sudden disappearance of a famous violinist, who happens to be an old friend of her son Sam.

As the police investigation continues, Rose can't help carrying out her own enquiries to uncover what has happened to the violinist and the 10-million-dollar violin that has disappeared with him.

Rose has to face her own anxieties and fears, while making discoveries about the investigation that shakes her to her core. Who can she trust? Is she in danger? Is the killer someone she has known all her life?

It is a story full of mystery, amateur sleuthing and of course, a smoldering romance with a local distillery owner who seems a little too good to be true.

How will Rose's life change during this time?

Many thanks to Better Reading and Allen and Unwin for an advance copy to read.

[JB book reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rose lives in the sanctuary of the Southern Highlands south of Sydney in NSW. When her son’s friend is murdered, Rose and her insecurities are set into spin.

If you love a local Suburban mystery, this is for you! Let me just say I related to this book so much, spending my childhood in the region and Rockdale which gets a mention! As well as the roots, the immigration story told inbetween the main story!

There are many subplots throughout this story playing out. They all have their own themes so this read actually cover alot about mental health, love, life, separation and raising children.

Did I lose myself from time to time, yeah. Just a bit too many characters I needed to write them down. However, the ending *chefs kiss* what a way to link it all together.

I did not pick the ending at all! That’s always something I want in a mystery. It wasn’t even on my radar!

I didn’t know about Joan Sauers until this book. I’m definitely looking for her other novel next time when I’m lost in a bookshop.

If you enjoyed, scrublands you’ll enjoy Whisky Valley.

JB ✨

[Karyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This new title ‘Whisky Valley’ by Joan Saunders is a sequel to ‘Echo Park’ where the reader is first introduced to Rose McHugh. ‘Whisky Valley’, however, can be read as a stand alone title but I would recommend reading ‘Echo Point’ as it is a great read.
Rose, a historian, is the protagonist of the book and is suffering anxiety/panic attacks due to a horrific event in her life.
Her son Sam, who is at University and her sister Kim, visit from Sydney one weekend to attend a music festival where one of Sam’s old school friends, Billy, is the star event. Billy is a renowned violinist and plays a violin worth over $10million. Billy goes missing and is found dead and Rose cannot help but become involved in the search for his killer, especially as her son is the last person to see him.

‘Whisky Valley’ is set in the beautiful Southern Highlands and if you know the area you will feel as if you are part of the story. The author delivers an engaging read with wonderful characters and a terrific small town mystery that will keep you reading into the night.

[Ash · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibes: Cosy Crime, Small Town Secrets, Musical Murder

- - -
As a big fan of Aussie crime fiction, I was excited when this one landed in my mailbox, especially with that eye catching cover.

As with all my reads, I went into this blind but after some comments in the first few pages, I realised there was a first book in this series. While Whisky Valley does hold up as a standalone, I’d recommend starting with book one to get a better feel for the main character and her backstory.

The standout for me here was landscape and setting, it actually outshone the plot a little, but still added great atmosphere to the story. The pacing moved quickly from event to event, which I appreciated as it avoided too much repetitive dialogue.

This felt more like a cosy, amateur detective style read rather than high stakes suspense, so if you’re after edge of your seat thrills, maybe adjust your expectations. But if you love stories set in rural Australia with a plucky protagonist and layered community dynamics, this might just hit the spot.

Thanks to Allen and Unwin for the advance copy!

[Julie Garner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
Book two about Rose and her family picks up after Echo Lake. Rose is experiencing some after effects of almost being murdered, let's be honest, who wouldn't. She is working on her self and spending time with family and friends when a new tragedy comes knocking at her door. We all know Rose won't sit back and wait to hear what is happening, she needs to know. It's like this insatiable thirst for knowledge that keeps her finding herself in harms way.
This one was a little bit of a slow burn and build up as we get over the ramifications of Echo Lake and Rose tries to resettle. Once the action gets going however, it doesn't stop. Will Rose get her happy back? Will it all become too much and overwhelm her completely?
Well written and nice and cosy murder mystery for those wanting to sit by the fire and get some reading done. Lose yourself in the Southern Highlands of NSW with a nice whisky and get set to enjoy