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A Woman’s Voice
When violin virtuoso Laura Hartley’s priceless instrument is stolen, more than just her celebrated European career disintegrates. Her rare gift of seeing music in colour fades to grey, crushing the sense of self she’s always expressed through her performances.
Fleeing to her grandmother’s home in the Australian outback, Laura discovers an extraordinary legacy woven through sheets of music – a powerful symphony born from the revolutionary hearts of suffragettes who refused to be silenced, their defiant voices rising above the doomed decks of the Titanic.
But as Laura traces each note of this forgotten masterpiece, she uncovers more than just music. She finds a story of women who dared to smash society’s chains, claim their own destiny and fight for a world where every voice can be heard.
When scandal rocks the tight-knit community of Gungderring, Laura must confront the question that has haunted generations of women before will she remain safely in the wings, or step forward and fight?
In this soaring tale of inheritance, courage and the fierce bonds between women across time, we’re reminded that the most powerful revolutions often begin with a single voice – and that true freedom lies in finding the courage to become who we were always meant to be.
'lyrical, a little haunting and completely unputdownable' - Better Reading
Fleeing to her grandmother’s home in the Australian outback, Laura discovers an extraordinary legacy woven through sheets of music – a powerful symphony born from the revolutionary hearts of suffragettes who refused to be silenced, their defiant voices rising above the doomed decks of the Titanic.
But as Laura traces each note of this forgotten masterpiece, she uncovers more than just music. She finds a story of women who dared to smash society’s chains, claim their own destiny and fight for a world where every voice can be heard.
When scandal rocks the tight-knit community of Gungderring, Laura must confront the question that has haunted generations of women before will she remain safely in the wings, or step forward and fight?
In this soaring tale of inheritance, courage and the fierce bonds between women across time, we’re reminded that the most powerful revolutions often begin with a single voice – and that true freedom lies in finding the courage to become who we were always meant to be.
'lyrical, a little haunting and completely unputdownable' - Better Reading
480 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 22, 2025
9 people are currently reading
181 people want to read
About the author
Alli Sinclair
9 books217 followersAlli Sinclair is an Australian multi-award winning author published who has lived in Argentina, Peru, and Canada. She’s climbed some of the world’s highest mountains and worked as a tour guide in South and Central America. Australia has always been close to Alli’s heart as she loves the diverse landscapes and the rich multicultural heritage of this wonderful land.
Alli’s books explore history, culture, love and grief, and relationships between family, friends and lovers. She captures the romance and thrill of discovering old and new worlds and loves taking readers on a journey of discovery. When not writing novels, Alli works as a producer and screenwriter for TV and cinema.
Alli’s books explore history, culture, love and grief, and relationships between family, friends and lovers. She captures the romance and thrill of discovering old and new worlds and loves taking readers on a journey of discovery. When not writing novels, Alli works as a producer and screenwriter for TV and cinema.
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July 20, 2025
1965. Laura Hartley is a world famous virtuoso, when her violin is stolen and she’s notified her grandmother has passed away, Laura's fiancé doesn’t understand, and her music career is in tatters. Laura has a gift of seeing music in colours or synaesthesia, without her violin she can’t write or preform and her world is grey.
Laura travels to the Australian outback and Queensland, to a little town called Gungderring, to sort out her Nana’s affairs and with the plan to return to Germany in six weeks. Laura meets the locals and that's an experience she will never forget, and as she slowly goes through Elizabeth things she discovers sheets of music, while her grandmother encouraged Laura to excelled at the violin and she had no idea she was musical herself.
The story has a dual timeline, it’s set in 1965 and 1911 and is easy to follow and ties together perfectly.
1911. Ida Naber is a luthier, since her mother passed away six months ago her father has banned her from making and repairing violins and instead she has to be his housekeeper. He’s a selfish man, doesn’t care about Ida’s feelings or happiness, and she secretly attends The German Association for Women’s Suffrage meeting and is inspired by these women. When her father announces he wants her to marry a man she hates and he has no idea she’s fallen in love with another and she has to fight for her freedom and take a big risk.
I received a copy of A Woman’s Voice from Penguin Random House and NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Alli Sinclair’s new novel takes you on a journey to Berlin and Vienna, and London and Australia and it includes many important and significant historical events and topics, such as the suffragette movement and rights for women, the launching and sinking of the Titanic.
Interwoven in this are real 1960’s issues including society’s attitudes towards contraception and unwed mothers, indigenous Australian’s and women not being allowed in the front bar of a pub, and men having non-masculine hobbies such as singing, playing a musical instrument and cooking.
I loved the close knit community of Gungderring and the people who lived there and for me the characters were interesting and diverse, funny and annoying and very realistic.
The message I gained from the story was the power of music and performing no matter the size of the crowd, and secrets always come out in the end, live authentically and be yourself. Well done Alli Sinclair, I was captivated by your dual timeline saga, it’s one of the best books I've read, perfect in every way and I cheered and cried, while I adored and booed some of the characters and five stars from me.
Laura travels to the Australian outback and Queensland, to a little town called Gungderring, to sort out her Nana’s affairs and with the plan to return to Germany in six weeks. Laura meets the locals and that's an experience she will never forget, and as she slowly goes through Elizabeth things she discovers sheets of music, while her grandmother encouraged Laura to excelled at the violin and she had no idea she was musical herself.
The story has a dual timeline, it’s set in 1965 and 1911 and is easy to follow and ties together perfectly.
1911. Ida Naber is a luthier, since her mother passed away six months ago her father has banned her from making and repairing violins and instead she has to be his housekeeper. He’s a selfish man, doesn’t care about Ida’s feelings or happiness, and she secretly attends The German Association for Women’s Suffrage meeting and is inspired by these women. When her father announces he wants her to marry a man she hates and he has no idea she’s fallen in love with another and she has to fight for her freedom and take a big risk.
I received a copy of A Woman’s Voice from Penguin Random House and NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Alli Sinclair’s new novel takes you on a journey to Berlin and Vienna, and London and Australia and it includes many important and significant historical events and topics, such as the suffragette movement and rights for women, the launching and sinking of the Titanic.
Interwoven in this are real 1960’s issues including society’s attitudes towards contraception and unwed mothers, indigenous Australian’s and women not being allowed in the front bar of a pub, and men having non-masculine hobbies such as singing, playing a musical instrument and cooking.
I loved the close knit community of Gungderring and the people who lived there and for me the characters were interesting and diverse, funny and annoying and very realistic.
The message I gained from the story was the power of music and performing no matter the size of the crowd, and secrets always come out in the end, live authentically and be yourself. Well done Alli Sinclair, I was captivated by your dual timeline saga, it’s one of the best books I've read, perfect in every way and I cheered and cried, while I adored and booed some of the characters and five stars from me.
July 8, 2025
It was Berlin, Germany in 1911, and only six months since Ida Naber's mother had passed. Her job, working with her father on repairing and making violins, had immediately ceased as she now had to keep house for him. Ida was devastated. She was almost finished the violin she'd been making for her mother when she died, so needed to finish it in her honour. But her father banned her from the workshop, his rough abuse heartbreaking. A new neighbour appeared, Johann Weiss, and soon they were more than friends. But knowing that she had to keep it from her father made it difficult. It was after Johann had gone to London to play in the orchestra that her father ordered her to marry the man he had chosen. Ida refused and the night before the wedding, she escaped.
In 1965 Laura Hartley had her beloved violin stolen. It was the one her grandmother had gifted her, and the concerts far and wide - Berlin, Vienna and further afield - saw audiences enamoured by her music. But the loss of her violin, at the same time she learned her grandmother had died, shattered her; her music was gone, her ability to make music, as well as write it, taken from her. Devastated by grief, Laura made her way to Australia, heading for the small town her grandmother had called home, to sort out her estate, pack up the house to sell, then return to Europe. But with Laura's discovery in the house, she began to learn secrets from her past; secrets she'd had no idea existed. Was her whole life a lie?
A Woman’s Voice is a spectacular historical novel, well researched, fiction based on fact which I adored. Aussie author Alli Sinclair always manages to hit the right notes for me; the suffragette movement which spread from Berlin, to London, to America - all women helping one another, protesting their rights. I thoroughly enjoyed both time frames (often it's only one over the other) with both Ida and Laura's stories equally poignant. It's been awhile between books for Alli Sinclair but this one was well worth the wait! Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley & Penguin AU for my digital ARC to read and review.
In 1965 Laura Hartley had her beloved violin stolen. It was the one her grandmother had gifted her, and the concerts far and wide - Berlin, Vienna and further afield - saw audiences enamoured by her music. But the loss of her violin, at the same time she learned her grandmother had died, shattered her; her music was gone, her ability to make music, as well as write it, taken from her. Devastated by grief, Laura made her way to Australia, heading for the small town her grandmother had called home, to sort out her estate, pack up the house to sell, then return to Europe. But with Laura's discovery in the house, she began to learn secrets from her past; secrets she'd had no idea existed. Was her whole life a lie?
A Woman’s Voice is a spectacular historical novel, well researched, fiction based on fact which I adored. Aussie author Alli Sinclair always manages to hit the right notes for me; the suffragette movement which spread from Berlin, to London, to America - all women helping one another, protesting their rights. I thoroughly enjoyed both time frames (often it's only one over the other) with both Ida and Laura's stories equally poignant. It's been awhile between books for Alli Sinclair but this one was well worth the wait! Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley & Penguin AU for my digital ARC to read and review.
August 16, 2025
We have waited a long time for a new Alli Sinclair book and it was worth it, I loved this one so much from start to finish it pulled me in, I felt all of the emotions as I traveled from 1911 Berlin to England and then in 1965 from Venice to Australia, a must read for any lover of historical fiction.
Ida Naber lives in Berlin it is 1911, her father is a luthier and he has taught her to be one as well she is creating a special violin for her mother but not quite finished her mother passes away and Ida’s life changes, not for the better in a world were woman have no voice Ida stands her ground and fights hard for herself and other woman, she joins the suffragette movement and finds herself escaping to London where he life again will be changed.
1965 Laura Hartley is a violin virtuoso, who has traveled the world playing in concerts she also writes beautiful music with her fiancé Jeremy, her precious violin was given to her by her dear grandmother, Elizabeth when she was just five years old and she and the violin are joined with love and a special magic so when her violin is stolen it is like Laura has lost her heart for music, add to that the death of her grandmother, heart broken and grieving she leaves Jeremy and makes her way to her grandmother’s home in outback Queensland, Gungderring what she discovers is another world altogether a story through snippets of music written by her grandmother about the strength and courage of woman fighting to be heard all those years ago.
Laura is soon finding her way around in her grandmother’s home town, making true friends for the first time but music seems so far away until she is asked to help with a choir this starts to help her and the fact that she has found someone who really cares for her pilot Rhys, could her life change so much, after all she has discovered, secrets that have been kept for so many years, is it time for Laura to make changes in her life?
This is a beautifully told story starting with fact about suffragettes it is well researched and then moving onto a story with such awesome characters and beautiful settings, I do highly recommend this one, an amazing story that kept me turning the pages, cheering them on and crying emotional tears.
Ida Naber lives in Berlin it is 1911, her father is a luthier and he has taught her to be one as well she is creating a special violin for her mother but not quite finished her mother passes away and Ida’s life changes, not for the better in a world were woman have no voice Ida stands her ground and fights hard for herself and other woman, she joins the suffragette movement and finds herself escaping to London where he life again will be changed.
1965 Laura Hartley is a violin virtuoso, who has traveled the world playing in concerts she also writes beautiful music with her fiancé Jeremy, her precious violin was given to her by her dear grandmother, Elizabeth when she was just five years old and she and the violin are joined with love and a special magic so when her violin is stolen it is like Laura has lost her heart for music, add to that the death of her grandmother, heart broken and grieving she leaves Jeremy and makes her way to her grandmother’s home in outback Queensland, Gungderring what she discovers is another world altogether a story through snippets of music written by her grandmother about the strength and courage of woman fighting to be heard all those years ago.
Laura is soon finding her way around in her grandmother’s home town, making true friends for the first time but music seems so far away until she is asked to help with a choir this starts to help her and the fact that she has found someone who really cares for her pilot Rhys, could her life change so much, after all she has discovered, secrets that have been kept for so many years, is it time for Laura to make changes in her life?
This is a beautifully told story starting with fact about suffragettes it is well researched and then moving onto a story with such awesome characters and beautiful settings, I do highly recommend this one, an amazing story that kept me turning the pages, cheering them on and crying emotional tears.
July 24, 2025
I love Australian historical fiction books and Alli Sinclair is one of my favourite authors in this genre. I have loved all of her books and A Woman’s Voice was just spectacular. It had me enthralled from the very beginning, with the dual timelines, so invested in both Laura’s and Idas lives.
In 1911 we meet Ida Naber, a talented craftswoman who is unable to live her dream. It was a time when women had so few rights and their fathers had the right to marry them off to whoever they chose. Ida is a strong woman and find the suffragette movement right when she needs it. She wants more from her life, to live how she wants to and to spend her life doing what she loves and enjoys.
In 1965, Laura Hartley is a famous violinist in Europe when her life is turned upside down. Not only has her beloved grandmother died, but the violin that she gave her and has used all her life is stolen. She suddenly finds herself unable to play or write music and is in a deep depression of grief. She travels to out
Back Queensland to sort out her grandmothers estate and home in an effort to find the joy in life again.
2 strong and determined women in 2 very different times. Both are stubborn and will not settle for anything less than they feel they deserve. They have lived incredible lives and are similar in so many ways. I loved them both and found their stories absolutely fascinating. It was an eye opening read, learning about the women who fought for the rights that have today.
There is just so much to love about A Woman’s Voice. It made ma laugh, made me cry, made me angry and made me thankful to be alive in this day and age.
Just brilliant once again Alli. A must read.
Thank you so much to Penguin Books Australia for sending me this book to read. Out now.
In 1911 we meet Ida Naber, a talented craftswoman who is unable to live her dream. It was a time when women had so few rights and their fathers had the right to marry them off to whoever they chose. Ida is a strong woman and find the suffragette movement right when she needs it. She wants more from her life, to live how she wants to and to spend her life doing what she loves and enjoys.
In 1965, Laura Hartley is a famous violinist in Europe when her life is turned upside down. Not only has her beloved grandmother died, but the violin that she gave her and has used all her life is stolen. She suddenly finds herself unable to play or write music and is in a deep depression of grief. She travels to out
Back Queensland to sort out her grandmothers estate and home in an effort to find the joy in life again.
2 strong and determined women in 2 very different times. Both are stubborn and will not settle for anything less than they feel they deserve. They have lived incredible lives and are similar in so many ways. I loved them both and found their stories absolutely fascinating. It was an eye opening read, learning about the women who fought for the rights that have today.
There is just so much to love about A Woman’s Voice. It made ma laugh, made me cry, made me angry and made me thankful to be alive in this day and age.
Just brilliant once again Alli. A must read.
Thank you so much to Penguin Books Australia for sending me this book to read. Out now.
November 6, 2025
This novel was a great read. Featuring a dual timeline, readers are transported between 1965 and 1911. In 1965 famous violinist Laura receives tragic news and then her violin is stolen before she visits her beloved grandmother's town in Australia. Meanwhile in 1911, Ida is heartbroken after the death of her mother after which her father forces her to quit her job with him making violins so she can perform house duties. While the connection between the two timelines is not revealed until close to the end of the book, it is quickly obvious that both storylines feature a love of music and instruments, as well as the strength of a determined woman choosing to stand up for what is right. I found the descriptions of Laura's synesthesia particularly interesting, where she visualises music in the form of colourful mists.
Overall: a very well-written story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Overall: a very well-written story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
July 16, 2025
Big thanks to Penguin and Alli for sending us a copy to read and review.
Brush strokes of history bring the past alive on a canvass that allows the reader to immerse themselves in and hear the voices that were once silenced.
Secrets that can either strengthen or destroy are etched out while the colours and joys of music unite.
Laura’s world becomes grey after her prized and treasured violin is stolen after an esteemed European performance.
Colour normally illuminates her passion playing the beloved violin but on this ill fated day it faded.
A trip to her grandmothers home town in outback Australia offers solace, escape and a chance for truth to shine through the fog deception.
The warmth of her welcome, new relationships and rising to new challenges start to shape the experience and expose facts from the past.
Two head strong and determined women in two time stamps share a commonality, a desire for change and the amplification of voices to make the world a fairer and kinder place.
A melodious tapestry of threads that have shaped social and political landscapes come alive in this brilliant narrative.
The suffragette movement, dysfunctional family dynamics, aboriginal civil rights and women’s rights that should not violate rules play out seamlessly in this lyrical saga.
Welcome back Alli.
Brush strokes of history bring the past alive on a canvass that allows the reader to immerse themselves in and hear the voices that were once silenced.
Secrets that can either strengthen or destroy are etched out while the colours and joys of music unite.
Laura’s world becomes grey after her prized and treasured violin is stolen after an esteemed European performance.
Colour normally illuminates her passion playing the beloved violin but on this ill fated day it faded.
A trip to her grandmothers home town in outback Australia offers solace, escape and a chance for truth to shine through the fog deception.
The warmth of her welcome, new relationships and rising to new challenges start to shape the experience and expose facts from the past.
Two head strong and determined women in two time stamps share a commonality, a desire for change and the amplification of voices to make the world a fairer and kinder place.
A melodious tapestry of threads that have shaped social and political landscapes come alive in this brilliant narrative.
The suffragette movement, dysfunctional family dynamics, aboriginal civil rights and women’s rights that should not violate rules play out seamlessly in this lyrical saga.
Welcome back Alli.
September 28, 2025
⭐️5 Stars⭐️
Told in dual timelines A Woman’s Voice by Alli Sinclair is a beautifully written romantic and inspiring adventure story with strong leading female characters.
Music is highly featured in this novel and it will draw you in from the first page. The story is inspired by true events of the women’s liberation movement and the brave suffragettes. The story is set in Australia, London and Germany.
A Woman’s Voice features three generations of women who make difficult choices in life.
When violin virtuoso Laura’s treasured violin is stolen and she loses her ability to see music in colour (synaesthesia) her career suffers a downfall.
I absolutely found Laura’s journey and her struggle to discover herself fascinating. I especially loved the outback town in Australia and the assortment of characters there.
A wonderful inspiring novel to encourage women to find their own voice and to support other women in finding theirs.
Loved the mystery and tense situations, what an epic page turner! Highly recommend you grab a copy.
Publication Date 22 July 2025
Publisher Imprint Penguin
Thank you so much @Alli Sinclair & Penguin Books Australia for sending me a copy of the book, the beautifully handwritten note, and matching bookmark all beautifully wrapped.
Told in dual timelines A Woman’s Voice by Alli Sinclair is a beautifully written romantic and inspiring adventure story with strong leading female characters.
Music is highly featured in this novel and it will draw you in from the first page. The story is inspired by true events of the women’s liberation movement and the brave suffragettes. The story is set in Australia, London and Germany.
A Woman’s Voice features three generations of women who make difficult choices in life.
When violin virtuoso Laura’s treasured violin is stolen and she loses her ability to see music in colour (synaesthesia) her career suffers a downfall.
I absolutely found Laura’s journey and her struggle to discover herself fascinating. I especially loved the outback town in Australia and the assortment of characters there.
A wonderful inspiring novel to encourage women to find their own voice and to support other women in finding theirs.
Loved the mystery and tense situations, what an epic page turner! Highly recommend you grab a copy.
Publication Date 22 July 2025
Publisher Imprint Penguin
Thank you so much @Alli Sinclair & Penguin Books Australia for sending me a copy of the book, the beautifully handwritten note, and matching bookmark all beautifully wrapped.
September 10, 2025
4.5 stars.
When violin virtuoso Laura Hartley’s priceless instrument is stolen, more than just her celebrated European career disintegrates. Her rare gift of seeing music in colour fades to grey, crushing the sense of self she’s always expressed through her performances. Fleeing to her grandmother’s home in the Australian outback, Laura discovers an extraordinary legacy woven through sheets of music. As Laura traces each note of this forgotten masterpiece, she uncovers more than just music.
This book was epic! I didn’t expect the dual timelines between Laura and Ida, but I welcomed them wholeheartedly. I was surprisingly hooked by both timelines equally - usually I would tilt more into one than the other, at least at first. Both Laura’s and Ida’s stories could stand on their own.
I loved both our main characters and their leading men. I was intrigued with how their lives would connect to each other, and I had a guess that ended up being true, but Alli managed to make me question myself! Most of the characters were likeable and relatable. I swooned over Rhys the flying doctor, and I got teary at a character’s letter.
By the end of the book, I was so familiar with all the characters, I didn’t want it to end. This was beautifully written, and kept me hooked throughout despite of its big size. If you usually avoid big books, I’d say you have nothing to worry about with this one - pick it up and fly through it like I did!
(Thanks to Penguin Australia for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
When violin virtuoso Laura Hartley’s priceless instrument is stolen, more than just her celebrated European career disintegrates. Her rare gift of seeing music in colour fades to grey, crushing the sense of self she’s always expressed through her performances. Fleeing to her grandmother’s home in the Australian outback, Laura discovers an extraordinary legacy woven through sheets of music. As Laura traces each note of this forgotten masterpiece, she uncovers more than just music.
This book was epic! I didn’t expect the dual timelines between Laura and Ida, but I welcomed them wholeheartedly. I was surprisingly hooked by both timelines equally - usually I would tilt more into one than the other, at least at first. Both Laura’s and Ida’s stories could stand on their own.
I loved both our main characters and their leading men. I was intrigued with how their lives would connect to each other, and I had a guess that ended up being true, but Alli managed to make me question myself! Most of the characters were likeable and relatable. I swooned over Rhys the flying doctor, and I got teary at a character’s letter.
By the end of the book, I was so familiar with all the characters, I didn’t want it to end. This was beautifully written, and kept me hooked throughout despite of its big size. If you usually avoid big books, I’d say you have nothing to worry about with this one - pick it up and fly through it like I did!
(Thanks to Penguin Australia for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
October 9, 2025
Alli Sinclair won me over years ago with The Codebreakers and she's absolutely smashed it again with A Woman's Voice.
In 1911 Berlin, Ida Naber lives in a time where women are married off like a business deal by their fathers and the only skills they're deemed worthy of having is in the kitchen and keeping house. Ida longs to a be professional luthier and marry for love. When all hope feels lost Ida discovers the suffragette movement which will take her across the world.
In 1965 Famous English violinist Laura Hartley has lost her way and her love of music after the passing of her Grandmother and the theft of her most prized possession; her Violin. Laura travels to a small town in Australia to sort her grandmothers estate. It's there that she makes genuine connections with the people in the town and discovers Longheld secrets from the past.
I absolutely loved Ida and Laura and was equally invested in both their stories. I also loved all the quirky side characters that popped up too. With a focus on strong women, the issues they faced in society, the power of music and speaking your truth no matter what, Alli Sinclair's writing style will have you hooked from start to finish.
In 1911 Berlin, Ida Naber lives in a time where women are married off like a business deal by their fathers and the only skills they're deemed worthy of having is in the kitchen and keeping house. Ida longs to a be professional luthier and marry for love. When all hope feels lost Ida discovers the suffragette movement which will take her across the world.
In 1965 Famous English violinist Laura Hartley has lost her way and her love of music after the passing of her Grandmother and the theft of her most prized possession; her Violin. Laura travels to a small town in Australia to sort her grandmothers estate. It's there that she makes genuine connections with the people in the town and discovers Longheld secrets from the past.
I absolutely loved Ida and Laura and was equally invested in both their stories. I also loved all the quirky side characters that popped up too. With a focus on strong women, the issues they faced in society, the power of music and speaking your truth no matter what, Alli Sinclair's writing style will have you hooked from start to finish.
August 31, 2025
“If you’re making big decision, then time is what you need. Grief cannot be hurried. We need to be kind to ourselves and not expect too much if we’re not ready.”
This beautiful historical fiction novel will draw you in from the first page as it weaves between the stories of two strong, talented, smart and fierce women
Ida is living a tough and lonely life in Berlin in 1911. Her mother has recently passed and her father makes her run their household while he drinks and gambles all their money away. When Ida meets neighbour Johann a beautiful relationship is formed and she falls for the violinist. But when Ida’s father tries to marry her off to the highest bidder, she escapes and flees Berlin after finding support in the Suffragette community which is starting to slowly come out from the shadows.
It’s stifling hot in the 1965 Australia outback in Gungderring. Laura has journeyed from Europe to her Grandmothers homeland to tie up her estate after learning of her recent passing. Laura is mourning both her beloved grandmother Elizabeth, and her violin which was Elizabeth’s and has been stolen.
Laura is at a standstill, feeling she has nothing left to return to, nor can she bring herself to play or write any music. But a scandal in this quiet Aussie town, bring new friends into Laura’s life, while she holds on to what memories she has and can find out about her dear grandmother
The most beautiful two stories that flow effortlessly from the very first page. While both Ida and Laura’s stories are set in different times, their plight is equally the same
Determined to live their lives to the fullest, during times when women’s rights were still being fought for
Absolutely wonderful, I loved it
Thanks you so much Penguinbooks for gifting me this brilliant book
I must now read all of Alli’s previous novels
August 6, 2025
1965 - Vienna, Austria: Laura Hartley has enjoyed success all over the world as a violinist. Though not always with her as she performed, Laura has always had her grandmother Elizabeth's support and love. Her violin was a gift from her grandmother when she was a child and Laura and her violin were never separated. When her grandmother dies, her loss is devastating for Laura and her fiance Jeremy shows little empathy for her loss. Jeremy is a conducter as well as Laura's fiance and co-composer of music. When her precious and priceless violin is stolen, her rare gift of seeing colour in music fades to grey. Fleeing to her grandmother's property in remote Australia, Laura discovers an extraordinary legacy woven through sheets of music. Flying Laura from Brisbane to the remote property is Pilot Rhys Gregory.
1911 - Berlin, Germany: Ida Naber is a luthier, a maker of violins. Her current work is lovingly made, not yet complete and is a gift for her mother who was a gifted violinist. Before the work is finished, Ida's mother dies. Her father is a tyrant and demands that Ida's days in the workshop and finished and her position is to take care of the house. Her father Klaus Naber continues his work making violins but is more often consumed with alcohol and gambling and socialising with his feckless clients.
When neighbour Johann Weiss visits the workshop for repairs to his violin, he and Ida become friends, very much against the wishes of her father who demands that she will cease her friendship with Johann and will eventually marry a man of his choice not hers. When Johann leaves Berlin to perform in London, it becomes clear to Ida that her father's reckless behaviour causes him to bargain his daughter to become the wife of Freiherr Schafer, a much older man with a vile reputation. Managing to escape her father's incarceration and with the help of women of the suffrage movement, Ida flees to London, to Johann, and to like-minded women in the movement.
I loved this book which contains so many of the aspects I enjoy in a story. Dual-timeline, the violin, the Titanic and the much loved Australian outback. And the lead character in the 1965 part of the story has one of my favourite names, Laura.
Importantly, the story follows the Women's Suffrage movement and the struggle that has always been a part of being a woman. How thankful I am for the suffering, determination and leadership of so many women back in the early 1900s and that same determination and leadership shown by so many women today. This fight for equality is ever present in the minds of women.
In this story the pursuit of equal rights has extended far beyond gender and into many other movements that seek to ensure every person can live with dignity and respect.
Thank you for this story Alli Sinclair, I love it as I have loved all your stories. The only book I haven't read yet is your first one, Luna Tango...I must remedy that very soon! I highly recommend this book and all of Alli's books to other readers.
1911 - Berlin, Germany: Ida Naber is a luthier, a maker of violins. Her current work is lovingly made, not yet complete and is a gift for her mother who was a gifted violinist. Before the work is finished, Ida's mother dies. Her father is a tyrant and demands that Ida's days in the workshop and finished and her position is to take care of the house. Her father Klaus Naber continues his work making violins but is more often consumed with alcohol and gambling and socialising with his feckless clients.
When neighbour Johann Weiss visits the workshop for repairs to his violin, he and Ida become friends, very much against the wishes of her father who demands that she will cease her friendship with Johann and will eventually marry a man of his choice not hers. When Johann leaves Berlin to perform in London, it becomes clear to Ida that her father's reckless behaviour causes him to bargain his daughter to become the wife of Freiherr Schafer, a much older man with a vile reputation. Managing to escape her father's incarceration and with the help of women of the suffrage movement, Ida flees to London, to Johann, and to like-minded women in the movement.
I loved this book which contains so many of the aspects I enjoy in a story. Dual-timeline, the violin, the Titanic and the much loved Australian outback. And the lead character in the 1965 part of the story has one of my favourite names, Laura.
Importantly, the story follows the Women's Suffrage movement and the struggle that has always been a part of being a woman. How thankful I am for the suffering, determination and leadership of so many women back in the early 1900s and that same determination and leadership shown by so many women today. This fight for equality is ever present in the minds of women.
In this story the pursuit of equal rights has extended far beyond gender and into many other movements that seek to ensure every person can live with dignity and respect.
Thank you for this story Alli Sinclair, I love it as I have loved all your stories. The only book I haven't read yet is your first one, Luna Tango...I must remedy that very soon! I highly recommend this book and all of Alli's books to other readers.
August 25, 2025
This is a story set across two timelines: 1911 and 1965, where two women in particular stood tall and for what they believed in. They are both fighting for equality and equity in a world where they are not accepted as women or for their own strengths, as well as the fight for who they love. Music is Laura’s life: it literally is part of every fibre of her being, and is interwoven more so through synaesthesia, where Laura can experience and see music in colour. Her violon is stolen, the one gifted to her by her grandmother which snuffs out her musical spark. And in the same breath, it is her grandmother’s death that leaves her more deeply devastated and wills her to Australia to sort out her estate. It is in this house that the secrets of the past come to light, and her grandmother’s story permeates many of the secrets unfolding before Laura’s eyes. Did she really know her grandmother as well as she ever did?
In 1911, Ida Naber was made to work as a luthier, a repairer of stringed instruments and housekeeper for father since her mother died. Ida found an escape of this life through making contact with the German Association for Women’s Suffrage, and getting to know a neighbour. Her father, and a means to manage his debts, offers her to be married off, so to escape this, decided to run away to London to fight for freedom, and her life. This is a critical theme to this story – the drive to be able to make choices, to choose work, interest and above all else, love. Both Laura and Ida were strong and stand up for what they hold true, and were also strong enough to stand up for others who were denied their rights to live as they wanted.
It was also about finding and reclaiming identity. Laura felt as if her musical identity was lost when her violin was stolen and the colours she saw seemed to fade away. She felt as though she could not share what she felt without this. At the same time Laurs was fighting for others who were being pressured to meet the expectations of others to live their lives their own way. Laura was able to learn through living in Ida’s home and cleaning up her estate that her own life had been fuelled by her grandmother’s strength to inspire a choir (literally) to sing out in the little Australia outback town and inspire all those around her, including herself, to find their voices again.
In 1911, Ida Naber was made to work as a luthier, a repairer of stringed instruments and housekeeper for father since her mother died. Ida found an escape of this life through making contact with the German Association for Women’s Suffrage, and getting to know a neighbour. Her father, and a means to manage his debts, offers her to be married off, so to escape this, decided to run away to London to fight for freedom, and her life. This is a critical theme to this story – the drive to be able to make choices, to choose work, interest and above all else, love. Both Laura and Ida were strong and stand up for what they hold true, and were also strong enough to stand up for others who were denied their rights to live as they wanted.
It was also about finding and reclaiming identity. Laura felt as if her musical identity was lost when her violin was stolen and the colours she saw seemed to fade away. She felt as though she could not share what she felt without this. At the same time Laurs was fighting for others who were being pressured to meet the expectations of others to live their lives their own way. Laura was able to learn through living in Ida’s home and cleaning up her estate that her own life had been fuelled by her grandmother’s strength to inspire a choir (literally) to sing out in the little Australia outback town and inspire all those around her, including herself, to find their voices again.
August 16, 2025
A dual timeline rich in detail and well researched. The story covers the early years of the women’s suffragette movement, women’s rights and constraints, family secrets and even the Titanic disaster.
We follow the life of Ida from 1911 in Berlin and Laura in 1965 Australia.
Ida assists her father in making violins but this stops when her mother dies and she becomes responsible for keeping her father’s house. She feels the stirring of a feminist spirit which sees her fleeing the confines of her home and escaping to London with the help of fellow suffragattes
Violin virtuoso Laura Hartley who has synesthesia, where people can perceive colors when listening to music, world is shattered when her beloved violin is stolen and she then learn of her much loved grandmothers death. She travels from Berlin to her grandmother’s home in the Australian outback where she undertakes an emotional journey.
If you like historical fiction with strong female protagonists and great storytelling this is a wonderful read.
We follow the life of Ida from 1911 in Berlin and Laura in 1965 Australia.
Ida assists her father in making violins but this stops when her mother dies and she becomes responsible for keeping her father’s house. She feels the stirring of a feminist spirit which sees her fleeing the confines of her home and escaping to London with the help of fellow suffragattes
Violin virtuoso Laura Hartley who has synesthesia, where people can perceive colors when listening to music, world is shattered when her beloved violin is stolen and she then learn of her much loved grandmothers death. She travels from Berlin to her grandmother’s home in the Australian outback where she undertakes an emotional journey.
If you like historical fiction with strong female protagonists and great storytelling this is a wonderful read.
July 20, 2025
This was my first book by Alli Sinclair (but I do have another one of hers on my tbr pile) and I absolutely loved it.
I love the dual timeline, starting in 1911 with Ida and then in 1965 with Laura.
The struggles for women in both timelines were very different and disappointing to see.
1911 sees Ida being the property of her father, unable to follow her dream of becoming a luthier or marry a man of her choosing and not being allowed to vote. 1965 sees unmarried women denied access to contraception, unmarried mothers snubbed, racism, women not allowed in the front bar of a pub and men ashamed to admit they like pursuits such as cooking, singing or playing a musical instrument.
Alli has created such wonderful characters in Ida, Elizabeth, Laura and their supporting cast.
I was so involved in their struggles, laughing and crying and cheering along with them.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Australia and NetGalley for the digital arc. All opinions are my own.
I love the dual timeline, starting in 1911 with Ida and then in 1965 with Laura.
The struggles for women in both timelines were very different and disappointing to see.
1911 sees Ida being the property of her father, unable to follow her dream of becoming a luthier or marry a man of her choosing and not being allowed to vote. 1965 sees unmarried women denied access to contraception, unmarried mothers snubbed, racism, women not allowed in the front bar of a pub and men ashamed to admit they like pursuits such as cooking, singing or playing a musical instrument.
Alli has created such wonderful characters in Ida, Elizabeth, Laura and their supporting cast.
I was so involved in their struggles, laughing and crying and cheering along with them.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Australia and NetGalley for the digital arc. All opinions are my own.
July 25, 2025
A Woman’s Voice is a stunning historical drama that had me hooked from the start. I was completely engrossed in the beautiful narrative and the dual timelines that follow the lives of Ida and Laura.
This is an extraordinary story of courage, love, grief and powerful revolutions. I laughed and had tears in my eyes as Sinclair wove a beautiful melody between the two timelines.
There is a cast of amazing characters, some who I loved and some I loved to loath. I adored the strength Ida had in the 1910s. She was talented, brave and kind. While Laura has been in the limelight for most her life, watching her discover who she was outside of that was quite emotional in places.
It’s a story that will remind you to have the courage to be true to yourself. I adored it and highly recommend adding this one to your upcoming reads.
Thank you to Penguin Aus and the author for a gifted copy to honestly review.
This is an extraordinary story of courage, love, grief and powerful revolutions. I laughed and had tears in my eyes as Sinclair wove a beautiful melody between the two timelines.
There is a cast of amazing characters, some who I loved and some I loved to loath. I adored the strength Ida had in the 1910s. She was talented, brave and kind. While Laura has been in the limelight for most her life, watching her discover who she was outside of that was quite emotional in places.
It’s a story that will remind you to have the courage to be true to yourself. I adored it and highly recommend adding this one to your upcoming reads.
Thank you to Penguin Aus and the author for a gifted copy to honestly review.
October 5, 2025
A Woman’s Voice by Alli Sinclair is a beautiful and powerful story set between 1911 and 1965.
It is about three generations of women who face hard choices because of the times they live in and what society expects of them.
The main character, Laura, is a violin player who loses her instrument and feels like she has also lost herself. She goes to her grandmother’s home in the Australian outback, where she discovers family secrets, music, and strength from the past.
I loved how the book shows that “home” is not only a place but also love, family, and the courage to be yourself. The story also connects music with history and women’s voices that refuse to be silent.
This book made me think about how important it is to be brave and to follow your own path, even when it is difficult. It is inspiring, moving, and full of hope.
It is about three generations of women who face hard choices because of the times they live in and what society expects of them.
The main character, Laura, is a violin player who loses her instrument and feels like she has also lost herself. She goes to her grandmother’s home in the Australian outback, where she discovers family secrets, music, and strength from the past.
I loved how the book shows that “home” is not only a place but also love, family, and the courage to be yourself. The story also connects music with history and women’s voices that refuse to be silent.
This book made me think about how important it is to be brave and to follow your own path, even when it is difficult. It is inspiring, moving, and full of hope.
August 17, 2025
It’s been a fair few years since we last had an offering from Alli, but the wait was well worth it. This book blends so many wonderful historical settings, from turn-of-the-century London to the Aussie Outback and even the Titanic. It was a rich, epic read I was delighted to sink my teeth into.
The narratives of the dual timeline read almost like two separate stories. In one, we meet Ida Naber in pre-WW1 Berlin, a young and gifted luthier who delights in learning all about the art of making violins from her father. But when her mother dies, her debt-ridden father tries to give her into an arranged marriage with a hideous older man to clear his debts. She flees to London where she joins the growing suffragette movement.
And in 1965, we meet Laura Hartley, a violin virtuoso whose life is overturned when her treasured violin is stolen and her beloved grandmother dies. She too flees an unhappy life in Europe for her late grandmother’s cottage in the remote Australian town of Gungderring. Ensconced there, she uncovers her family’s deepest secrets.
It’s not until the end that the two stories are seamlessly pulled together with storytelling genius. This book soars with historical significance telling the story of women’s fight for recognition, wrapped up in a beautiful romance.
The narratives of the dual timeline read almost like two separate stories. In one, we meet Ida Naber in pre-WW1 Berlin, a young and gifted luthier who delights in learning all about the art of making violins from her father. But when her mother dies, her debt-ridden father tries to give her into an arranged marriage with a hideous older man to clear his debts. She flees to London where she joins the growing suffragette movement.
And in 1965, we meet Laura Hartley, a violin virtuoso whose life is overturned when her treasured violin is stolen and her beloved grandmother dies. She too flees an unhappy life in Europe for her late grandmother’s cottage in the remote Australian town of Gungderring. Ensconced there, she uncovers her family’s deepest secrets.
It’s not until the end that the two stories are seamlessly pulled together with storytelling genius. This book soars with historical significance telling the story of women’s fight for recognition, wrapped up in a beautiful romance.
July 30, 2025
I have been an OG of alli’s since the first 2 books shes written and released and this one, was her best yet her writing was impeccable i have seen Alli from very beginning and this book has shown how much as a writer she has strengthened her craft. If anyone is picking up her books for the very first time to me she site in the same category as Kristen Hannah, Lesley Pearse, Belinda Alexandria.
The growth in this characters have had so much room to explore their own growths and it makes us realise growth is only one of the very best things that come out of new experiences.
Alli you should be so stinking proud of yourself woman. This was more than 5/5 for me.
The growth in this characters have had so much room to explore their own growths and it makes us realise growth is only one of the very best things that come out of new experiences.
Alli you should be so stinking proud of yourself woman. This was more than 5/5 for me.
September 13, 2025
A Woman's Voice by Alli Sinclair is one of the most compelling reads, I've come across in awhile.
I bought this book, took it home, started to read it and didn't put it down, until finished (other than to sleep).
Her writing technique was as good as ever but this story had even greater depth than her previous books that I've read, as did her characters.
Once again, Sinclair involved relevant history events and depicted issues with openness and honesty.
Sinclair's writing and story lines are improving with every book she published.
A damn good read, a very rare 5star rating from me.
I bought this book, took it home, started to read it and didn't put it down, until finished (other than to sleep).
Her writing technique was as good as ever but this story had even greater depth than her previous books that I've read, as did her characters.
Once again, Sinclair involved relevant history events and depicted issues with openness and honesty.
Sinclair's writing and story lines are improving with every book she published.
A damn good read, a very rare 5star rating from me.
August 17, 2025
Alli Sinclair continues to deliver with her latest novel, A Woman's Voice. It may even have been better the The Codebreakers! I really enjoyed the two very different storylines woven throughout the book, and both Laura Hartley in 1965 and Ida Naber in 1912 were strong, believable characters. Alli's writing made the town of Gunderring in outback Australia so easy to visualise in all its colour, and I particularly loved the musical theme woven throughout the story. The is historical events surrounding the suffragette movement was a powerful and inspiring., and
July 24, 2025
I didn't think I'd enjoy any of Sinclair's books more than The Codebreakers – but oh my goodness– A Woman's Voice has every element that I love in historical fiction.
Don't miss the chance to read it– there's so much to describe and I just don't have enough words to do it justice.
Congratulations on a seriously amazing book that describes the trials and tribulations of women and their continuing struggle to be heard in society.
Don't miss the chance to read it– there's so much to describe and I just don't have enough words to do it justice.
Congratulations on a seriously amazing book that describes the trials and tribulations of women and their continuing struggle to be heard in society.
August 21, 2025
What a beautiful book. This book took us on a journey. It told a story, while weaving the reader through historical facts, delightful locations, deep connections and meaningful characters. I found myself reflecting on life and relating to the challenges which still exist today, of patriarchy, discrimination and degradation. This was a detailed and beautifully constructed book, which I found delightful to be absorbed in.
October 3, 2025
What an epic journey.
I stayed up half the night reading this, just to find out what happened. A couple of things I predicted, yet others I never saw coming.
Beautiful, tragic, inspiring.
A dual timeline that weaves together like two instruments playing the same time.
Highly recommend.
I stayed up half the night reading this, just to find out what happened. A couple of things I predicted, yet others I never saw coming.
Beautiful, tragic, inspiring.
A dual timeline that weaves together like two instruments playing the same time.
Highly recommend.
July 30, 2025
I loved the two timelines and the twists and turns of the two storylines. Incredible characters and shows the amazing lives of our ancestors and older generation.
August 17, 2025
Excellent!
August 21, 2025
3.5 stars
September 21, 2025
It took me a while to read this large book, but I enjoyed it immensely. Reading it was like catching up with a special friend over a smooth cup of coffee.
September 29, 2025
Great read, set in 1910 and 1965
October 13, 2025
Suffragettes, the titanic, trying to live as your authentic self, family secrets lost in time, second wave feminism, rural Australian community and Europe, music. even a little romance.
November 12, 2025
Alli Sinclair has once again delivered a powerful and beautifully written story that completely swept me away. The Woman’s Voice is a moving, empowering read that celebrates women finding their strength and standing up for what they believe in — all wrapped up in the kind of heartfelt storytelling Alli is known for.
Told in a captivating dual timeline, The Woman’s Voice follows two incredible women whose stories are decades apart yet beautifully intertwined. In the past, we meet a determined trailblazer fighting for her place, and her voice, in a world that doesn’t always want to listen. In the present, another woman uncovers the echoes of that legacy, discovering strength and purpose in the process.
Both storylines are rich with emotion and heart, and Alli brings them together seamlessly, creating a tapestry of courage, resilience and the enduring power of women’s stories.
I’ve been a longtime fan of her work, and this one just cements why she’s such a standout Australian author for me. The way she blends history, emotion and courage is simply masterful.
I 💯 recommend this one.
Told in a captivating dual timeline, The Woman’s Voice follows two incredible women whose stories are decades apart yet beautifully intertwined. In the past, we meet a determined trailblazer fighting for her place, and her voice, in a world that doesn’t always want to listen. In the present, another woman uncovers the echoes of that legacy, discovering strength and purpose in the process.
Both storylines are rich with emotion and heart, and Alli brings them together seamlessly, creating a tapestry of courage, resilience and the enduring power of women’s stories.
I’ve been a longtime fan of her work, and this one just cements why she’s such a standout Australian author for me. The way she blends history, emotion and courage is simply masterful.
I 💯 recommend this one.
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