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Lyrebird
Lyrebirds are brilliant mimics, so if they mimic a woman screaming in terror and begging for her life, they have witnessed a crime. But how does a young, hung over PHD student and a wet behind the ears new detective, convince anyone that a native bird can be a reliable witness to a murder, especially when there is no body and no missing person? And what happens when they turn out to be right?
A sound froze her blood. A woman. A woman screaming in pure terror. Screaming and sobbing—begging—out here, in this desolate place.
Twenty years ago, ornithology student Jessica Weston panicked when she heard a woman screaming for her life in the remote Barrington Tops. Her relief, when she discovers that it is a lyrebird making the sounds, is profound. She is thrilled to have caught his display on video. Then she remembers—lyrebirds are mimics. Whatever the wild creature has heard must have really happened, and happened nearby.
Jessica takes her video to the police. Despite support from newly minted detective, Megan Blaxland, with no missing person reported and no body, her evidence is ridiculed and dismissed.
Twenty years later, a body is unearthed, just where Jessica said it would be.
Horrified they let the case go cold, Jessica, now an associate professor, and Megan, recently retired but brought back to head up the investigation, reunite and join forces. They are determined to find the killer, whatever it takes. What they don't realise is that they are not just putting their lives in danger, but also the lives of those close to them . . .
'Based on a mind-blowing and wholly unique premise, Lyrebird is a twisty thriller that will keep you in its grip until the last page.' JOAN SAUERS, author of Echo Lake
'I inhaled Lyrebird—it is such a compelling novel.' HANNAH DIVINEY, author of I'll Let Myself In
'Unputdownable. A brilliant read from a wonderfully evocative, insightful writer.' LISA WILKINSON, journalist
'Ripper story - couldn't put it down!' BRYAN BROWN, actor and author of The Drowning
'A fascinating, original mystery thriller.' MALCOLM KNOX, author of The First Friend
'No one writing in Australia is wiser . . . Jane Caro is a golden writer; she sees and expresses moments others do not. I would follow wherever she goes. And this book is no exception.' MIRIAM MARGOLYES, actress and author of Oh Miriam!
A sound froze her blood. A woman. A woman screaming in pure terror. Screaming and sobbing—begging—out here, in this desolate place.
Twenty years ago, ornithology student Jessica Weston panicked when she heard a woman screaming for her life in the remote Barrington Tops. Her relief, when she discovers that it is a lyrebird making the sounds, is profound. She is thrilled to have caught his display on video. Then she remembers—lyrebirds are mimics. Whatever the wild creature has heard must have really happened, and happened nearby.
Jessica takes her video to the police. Despite support from newly minted detective, Megan Blaxland, with no missing person reported and no body, her evidence is ridiculed and dismissed.
Twenty years later, a body is unearthed, just where Jessica said it would be.
Horrified they let the case go cold, Jessica, now an associate professor, and Megan, recently retired but brought back to head up the investigation, reunite and join forces. They are determined to find the killer, whatever it takes. What they don't realise is that they are not just putting their lives in danger, but also the lives of those close to them . . .
'Based on a mind-blowing and wholly unique premise, Lyrebird is a twisty thriller that will keep you in its grip until the last page.' JOAN SAUERS, author of Echo Lake
'I inhaled Lyrebird—it is such a compelling novel.' HANNAH DIVINEY, author of I'll Let Myself In
'Unputdownable. A brilliant read from a wonderfully evocative, insightful writer.' LISA WILKINSON, journalist
'Ripper story - couldn't put it down!' BRYAN BROWN, actor and author of The Drowning
'A fascinating, original mystery thriller.' MALCOLM KNOX, author of The First Friend
'No one writing in Australia is wiser . . . Jane Caro is a golden writer; she sees and expresses moments others do not. I would follow wherever she goes. And this book is no exception.' MIRIAM MARGOLYES, actress and author of Oh Miriam!
368 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2025
284 people are currently reading
1993 people want to read
About the author
Jane Caro
21 books247 followersJane Caro wears many hats; including author, lecturer, mentor, social commentator, columnist, workshop facilitator, speaker, broadcaster and award-winning advertising writer. Jane runs her own communications consultancy and lectures in Advertising Creative at The School of Communication Arts at UWS. She has published three books: The Stupid Country: How Australia is dismantling public education co-authored with Chris Bonnor (2007), The F Word. How we learned to swear by feminism co-authored with Catherine Fox (2008), and Just a Girl (UQP, 2011). She has also appeared on Channel 7’s Sunrise, ABC’s Q&A and ABC’s The Gruen Transfer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 436 reviews
May 13, 2025
Wow, just wow. Certainly one of the best thrillers I have ever read. I virtually read this one straight through in a few days, which I never do anymore. The quality of the writing and the story were superlative. My second book by Aussie Jane Caro, it will not be my last.
The use of multiple MCs was very seamless, with our main MC, retired Senior Detective Sergeant Megan leading the way, with multiple helpers. Lots of issues here from sex trafficking to climate change and lots in between. And all in a library ebook.
What added to the story for me was that it was mostly located in Barrington Tops, a magnificent National Park north of Sydney where I have camped and bushwalked many times. It's truly one of the most interesting and beautiful places in Australia. I also have seen and heard lyrebirds a few times in the bush (not while at Barrington Tops, but in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney) and they are rare and wonderful. There are many videos of lyrebirds available on YouTube, please play a few, their sounds are absolutely amazing, they do indeed imitate just about anything.
I am still recovering from this magnificent read, highly recommended.
The use of multiple MCs was very seamless, with our main MC, retired Senior Detective Sergeant Megan leading the way, with multiple helpers. Lots of issues here from sex trafficking to climate change and lots in between. And all in a library ebook.
What added to the story for me was that it was mostly located in Barrington Tops, a magnificent National Park north of Sydney where I have camped and bushwalked many times. It's truly one of the most interesting and beautiful places in Australia. I also have seen and heard lyrebirds a few times in the bush (not while at Barrington Tops, but in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney) and they are rare and wonderful. There are many videos of lyrebirds available on YouTube, please play a few, their sounds are absolutely amazing, they do indeed imitate just about anything.
I am still recovering from this magnificent read, highly recommended.
December 25, 2025
This is a fascinating and compelling thriller story, that offered a unique premise and plenty of twists to hold my attention right to the end.
Lyrebirds are brilliant mimics, so when a lyrebird is recorded mimicking a woman screaming in terror and begging for her life, how will a young PhD ornithologist and a new detective convince anyone that a native Australian bird could have been a witness to a murder, particularly when there is no body?
Twenty years later, when a body is unearthed, Associate Professor Jessica Weston and recently retired detective Megan Blaxland are determined to uncover the truth, about this unusual cold case.
I enjoyed the varying perspectives offered throughout this story, and the light police procedural elements.
Jane Caro is a skilled writer and social commentator, and this story is no exception.
Many complex topics have been mentioned in this book and have been portrayed with nuance and respect. The acknowledgements section also highlights the high level of research undertaken in the writing of this story.
The dedication is also timely and relevant – “This book is dedicated to everyone who is doing what they can to combat climate change. It is written in the hope that more of us will join this existential fight.”
Lyrebirds are brilliant mimics, so when a lyrebird is recorded mimicking a woman screaming in terror and begging for her life, how will a young PhD ornithologist and a new detective convince anyone that a native Australian bird could have been a witness to a murder, particularly when there is no body?
Twenty years later, when a body is unearthed, Associate Professor Jessica Weston and recently retired detective Megan Blaxland are determined to uncover the truth, about this unusual cold case.
I enjoyed the varying perspectives offered throughout this story, and the light police procedural elements.
Jane Caro is a skilled writer and social commentator, and this story is no exception.
Many complex topics have been mentioned in this book and have been portrayed with nuance and respect. The acknowledgements section also highlights the high level of research undertaken in the writing of this story.
The dedication is also timely and relevant – “This book is dedicated to everyone who is doing what they can to combat climate change. It is written in the hope that more of us will join this existential fight.”
July 9, 2025
Lyrebird by Aussie author Jane Caro is a brilliantly written and well-paced novel that touches on many topics. Right from the start, this story had me intrigued, and the further I got into it, the more I couldn’t put it down. It is an entertaining book that I thoroughly enjoyed. Highly recommended.
May 12, 2025
I am disappointed that I was disappointed in Lyrebird but there it is. This review will be short mainly because the criticisms I have I can’t really go into without creating spoilers.
I really did enjoy the first half, particularly the characters of Megan, Coco and Jessica in that order. And what a marvellous premise! A lyrebird mimicking the sounds of an actual murder. I think though, ultimately, the book was missing something. More suspects maybe? I was also confused by an event near the end and upset by the final part of the book. To discover about these last two points, you’ll have to read Lyrebird. A quick read. Three stars.
I really did enjoy the first half, particularly the characters of Megan, Coco and Jessica in that order. And what a marvellous premise! A lyrebird mimicking the sounds of an actual murder. I think though, ultimately, the book was missing something. More suspects maybe? I was also confused by an event near the end and upset by the final part of the book. To discover about these last two points, you’ll have to read Lyrebird. A quick read. Three stars.
March 14, 2025
Lyrebird, by Jane Caro, covers the death of a woman twenty years ago that was uncovered by an ornithology student, Jessica Weston, when she recorded a lyrebird mating ritual. Well the blood-curdling screams were uncovered, the body lagged two decades behind. Lyrebird is set in the boonies of the lower Barrington Tops, near Gresford.
Unfortunately, considering what actually happened in this state with the decriminalisation of sex work in 1995 largely removing sex trafficking, the story didn't quite gel. But facts never get in the way of a journalist who wants to write about sex trafficking using harmful stereotypes: "Sex workers often kept their eyes down, especially when their pimps were nearby. She'd hated it then and she hated it now. It made the women look beaten." As you can see, for readers from marginalised groups, including people who use drugs, sex workers (particularly those from migrant backgrounds), and trans and gender diverse people, this book may grate as it simply repeats harmful stereotypes.
Despite the disappointing commentary about marginalised groups, there is a lot of politics packed into this book, from climate change to domestic violence and the situation of women, as you'd expect from Caro. For example, "We get called out for domestics more than any other crime. Women screaming is the soundtrack of our lives". Yet this felt a bit flippant at times, with the characters lecturing the reader rather than showing us through their actions, their reality: "Do you think he mistreats her? People with disabilities are disproportionately victims of abuse." Often the 'facts' the characters present are just stigmatising rubbish: "'There are plenty of white Aussie sex workers.' 'I know, but they're often drug addicts or state wards, homeless ex-foster kids, that kind of thing.'"
With the two lead protagonists, Jessica and Megan Blaxland, now a retired senior sergeant, both being older women, there's a hint at who the expected market for this book might be. Despite being the intended reader, I found the writing functional, lacking in artistry and flair: "She liked this Phil much better than the sad sack from a few moments ago." As a crime thriller, it lacked tension. As Aussie noir, while the landscape was present, it wasn't built into a character for me: "The wilderness lay like a shaggy green carpet flung out haphazardly."
With thanks to NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for sending me a copy to read.
Unfortunately, considering what actually happened in this state with the decriminalisation of sex work in 1995 largely removing sex trafficking, the story didn't quite gel. But facts never get in the way of a journalist who wants to write about sex trafficking using harmful stereotypes: "Sex workers often kept their eyes down, especially when their pimps were nearby. She'd hated it then and she hated it now. It made the women look beaten." As you can see, for readers from marginalised groups, including people who use drugs, sex workers (particularly those from migrant backgrounds), and trans and gender diverse people, this book may grate as it simply repeats harmful stereotypes.
Despite the disappointing commentary about marginalised groups, there is a lot of politics packed into this book, from climate change to domestic violence and the situation of women, as you'd expect from Caro. For example, "We get called out for domestics more than any other crime. Women screaming is the soundtrack of our lives". Yet this felt a bit flippant at times, with the characters lecturing the reader rather than showing us through their actions, their reality: "Do you think he mistreats her? People with disabilities are disproportionately victims of abuse." Often the 'facts' the characters present are just stigmatising rubbish: "'There are plenty of white Aussie sex workers.' 'I know, but they're often drug addicts or state wards, homeless ex-foster kids, that kind of thing.'"
With the two lead protagonists, Jessica and Megan Blaxland, now a retired senior sergeant, both being older women, there's a hint at who the expected market for this book might be. Despite being the intended reader, I found the writing functional, lacking in artistry and flair: "She liked this Phil much better than the sad sack from a few moments ago." As a crime thriller, it lacked tension. As Aussie noir, while the landscape was present, it wasn't built into a character for me: "The wilderness lay like a shaggy green carpet flung out haphazardly."
With thanks to NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for sending me a copy to read.
June 6, 2025
4.5★
I was familiar with this author from her media appearances, but not with her writing, so I was very pleasantly surprised by this totally absorbing tale. I raced through it in a couple of days. The lyrebird thing might seem a bit gimmicky, but honestly it's just part of the set-up in a police procedural that goes to some quite unexpected places. Brought out of retirement for this case, DS Megan Blaxland is a character that would absolutely be able to carry a series. Another example of exceptional Aussie crime-writing.
I was familiar with this author from her media appearances, but not with her writing, so I was very pleasantly surprised by this totally absorbing tale. I raced through it in a couple of days. The lyrebird thing might seem a bit gimmicky, but honestly it's just part of the set-up in a police procedural that goes to some quite unexpected places. Brought out of retirement for this case, DS Megan Blaxland is a character that would absolutely be able to carry a series. Another example of exceptional Aussie crime-writing.
April 7, 2025
I do love a good Aussie crime novel and a Lyrebird was such a clever premise. The Australian bushland and wildlife play a big part of this murder investigation and it was so interesting.
20 years ago, student Jessica is out in the bush at Barrington Tops when she hears a woman’s scream. But she can’t find any sign of anyone about. Then she sees a lyrebird and it all clicks. These birds are know for their ability to mimic anything that they hear. The police don’t put much into investigating though. Now a woman’s body has been found, and the detective that was in the case is called out of retirement to help on the case. This is a case that will take such a dark turn for everyone involved.
This book really did have me turning those pages. It was so hard to stop reading, with plenty of twists and turns, and so many unsavoury characters.
Thanks so much o Allen and Unwin for sending me a copy of this book to read. It is out and well worth a read.
20 years ago, student Jessica is out in the bush at Barrington Tops when she hears a woman’s scream. But she can’t find any sign of anyone about. Then she sees a lyrebird and it all clicks. These birds are know for their ability to mimic anything that they hear. The police don’t put much into investigating though. Now a woman’s body has been found, and the detective that was in the case is called out of retirement to help on the case. This is a case that will take such a dark turn for everyone involved.
This book really did have me turning those pages. It was so hard to stop reading, with plenty of twists and turns, and so many unsavoury characters.
Thanks so much o Allen and Unwin for sending me a copy of this book to read. It is out and well worth a read.
October 13, 2025
**3.5 stars**
This is an Australian crime mystery story that starts with a young female student, Jessica, hearing a lyrebird making the sounds of a woman in terror: lyrebirds mimic sounds so the bird must have witnessed this but there's no body to be found. The case goes cold but then twenty years later a body is found in the same area. Jessica is now vindicated she was right to go to the police at the time, and the original investigator, Megan, is pulled out of retirement to follow the case again. What follows is a dark and twisty story of kidnapping, sex trafficking and murder. The author also uses the bushland setting to convey some information around climate change and environmental issues. It was an interesting and compelling read with a disturbing crime at its core.
This is an Australian crime mystery story that starts with a young female student, Jessica, hearing a lyrebird making the sounds of a woman in terror: lyrebirds mimic sounds so the bird must have witnessed this but there's no body to be found. The case goes cold but then twenty years later a body is found in the same area. Jessica is now vindicated she was right to go to the police at the time, and the original investigator, Megan, is pulled out of retirement to follow the case again. What follows is a dark and twisty story of kidnapping, sex trafficking and murder. The author also uses the bushland setting to convey some information around climate change and environmental issues. It was an interesting and compelling read with a disturbing crime at its core.
September 15, 2025
*https://www.instagram.com/mrsb_book_r...
Lyrebird is an April 2025 crime and mystery release by Jane Caro. A story of the natural world, a suspected crime, dismissal, disbelief, time, observation, credibility and persistence in searching for the truth, this was a slow burn Australian mystery novel.
Lyrebird introduces us to Jessica Weston, an ornithology student who is undergoing some field research in the area known as the Barrington Tops. Jessica is startled when she hears something that quite possibly sounds like the screams of someone in danger. Unsettled by this sound, relief quickly washes over her as she realises it is the work of a lyrebird, who is making a mimicry. This small sense of comfort is short-lived because Jessica soon realises that the lyrebird must be imitating something it heard. Rattled by the experience, Jessica decides she must inform the police, who seem to brush her strange concerns off. Jessica’s admission does attract the attention of just one person, a detective Megan Blaxland. But the case is fraught from the beginning, the biggest hole being there is no missing persons case lodged, no case notes and no evidence of a crime occurring. Jessica’s concerns are soon cast aside and it isn’t until two decades later that a body surfaces in the same area Jessica believed a crime must have taken place. Megan and Jessica reunite to work on this unusual cold case.
Lyrebird falls into the highly popular Australian crime and mystery fiction category, a genre that continues to expand. Jane Caro’s second fiction novel managed to stand out in the crowd, taking an original concept to build a cold case crime around. The placement of a lyrebird’s one-of-a-kind mimicry developing the central mystery was unique, eerie and unusual. Caro carefully scaffolds the essential procedural aspects of the case at hand with a shadowy atmosphere, which is compounded further by the rugged backdrop, isolation and overbearing presence of the forest. The standout moments of the book are the sense of unease and the peculiar that is prevalent throughout the story.
Cast wise, our leads Jessica and Megan are both clearly presented characters, and I appreciated seeing their connection and teamwork develop across time. There is denying that these two female protagonists are persistent, determined, astute and resilient despite the disturbing nature of the case they are faced with. The narrative is a gripping whodunnit style read that kept me guessing right until the final moments.
Lyrebird is an intelligent and perplexing mystery with a great original spin with the insertion of the lyrebird as a witness to a crime. I had a physical copy of Lyrebird sitting on my shelf, but I ended up listening to the audiobook narrated by Jessica Douglas-Henry, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Thank you to @allenandunwin ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4 stars
Lyrebird is an April 2025 crime and mystery release by Jane Caro. A story of the natural world, a suspected crime, dismissal, disbelief, time, observation, credibility and persistence in searching for the truth, this was a slow burn Australian mystery novel.
Lyrebird introduces us to Jessica Weston, an ornithology student who is undergoing some field research in the area known as the Barrington Tops. Jessica is startled when she hears something that quite possibly sounds like the screams of someone in danger. Unsettled by this sound, relief quickly washes over her as she realises it is the work of a lyrebird, who is making a mimicry. This small sense of comfort is short-lived because Jessica soon realises that the lyrebird must be imitating something it heard. Rattled by the experience, Jessica decides she must inform the police, who seem to brush her strange concerns off. Jessica’s admission does attract the attention of just one person, a detective Megan Blaxland. But the case is fraught from the beginning, the biggest hole being there is no missing persons case lodged, no case notes and no evidence of a crime occurring. Jessica’s concerns are soon cast aside and it isn’t until two decades later that a body surfaces in the same area Jessica believed a crime must have taken place. Megan and Jessica reunite to work on this unusual cold case.
Lyrebird falls into the highly popular Australian crime and mystery fiction category, a genre that continues to expand. Jane Caro’s second fiction novel managed to stand out in the crowd, taking an original concept to build a cold case crime around. The placement of a lyrebird’s one-of-a-kind mimicry developing the central mystery was unique, eerie and unusual. Caro carefully scaffolds the essential procedural aspects of the case at hand with a shadowy atmosphere, which is compounded further by the rugged backdrop, isolation and overbearing presence of the forest. The standout moments of the book are the sense of unease and the peculiar that is prevalent throughout the story.
Cast wise, our leads Jessica and Megan are both clearly presented characters, and I appreciated seeing their connection and teamwork develop across time. There is denying that these two female protagonists are persistent, determined, astute and resilient despite the disturbing nature of the case they are faced with. The narrative is a gripping whodunnit style read that kept me guessing right until the final moments.
Lyrebird is an intelligent and perplexing mystery with a great original spin with the insertion of the lyrebird as a witness to a crime. I had a physical copy of Lyrebird sitting on my shelf, but I ended up listening to the audiobook narrated by Jessica Douglas-Henry, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Thank you to @allenandunwin ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4 stars
April 10, 2025
Content warnings: murder, bushfire, kidnapping, death of a loved one, sex trafficking, forced prostitution, transphobia, dead naming, discussion of addiction (in the past)
I am so bummed that this story played out the way it did because the premise? BANGING. I was sold from the moment I read the blurb. Hell, I was sold through the first 50-odd pages of the book. And then the more of the mystery that was revealed, the more I was like ".................no but like wtf".
Between this was just...not at all what I expected it to be.
Don't get me wrong, it wasn't BAD. But it definitely didn't give me any desire to pick up the author's other work.
I am so bummed that this story played out the way it did because the premise? BANGING. I was sold from the moment I read the blurb. Hell, I was sold through the first 50-odd pages of the book. And then the more of the mystery that was revealed, the more I was like ".................no but like wtf".
Between this was just...not at all what I expected it to be.
Don't get me wrong, it wasn't BAD. But it definitely didn't give me any desire to pick up the author's other work.
July 11, 2025
Aussie crime stories have always been a favourite of mine. And this one is so clever and well crafted that when I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about reading it!
April 1, 2025
Happy publication day 🎉🥳🎧
Ok, first things first, I have a fear of birds, so being drawn to this title was a bit odd. I don’t think I had actually heard of a Lyrebird, but my nana owned a myna bird that was an amazing mimic (yes I was scared of it) so that intrigued me, the thought of a bird being the sole witness and holding secrets.
A bird calling out in Spanish for help in the Australian bush caught on camera by student Jessica, Jessica knows the bird is mimicking what it’s heard, at the time detective Meghan believed Jessica was right, the bird had captured the scene of a crime but with no evidence the case was closed.
20 years later, a body is found, Meghan is called back from retirement, a cold case is reopened and Jessica’s evidence is looked at anew. The way the story played out was perfect for my liking. A proper police procedural, that does wrap up, but we actually get the whole story, and I appreciate that.
I really liked our protagonists, both Meghan and Jessica were great examples of strong female lead characters. They’ve remained great friends over the years and Jessica is now an ornithology professor.
The author has a clear climate change message throughout the story, but I felt that while the message was clear, it also fit the story perfectly and that’s a hard thing to do.
Jessica Douglas-Henry’s narration was fantastic!
My gratitude to Wavesound from W.F Howes LTD via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
Ok, first things first, I have a fear of birds, so being drawn to this title was a bit odd. I don’t think I had actually heard of a Lyrebird, but my nana owned a myna bird that was an amazing mimic (yes I was scared of it) so that intrigued me, the thought of a bird being the sole witness and holding secrets.
A bird calling out in Spanish for help in the Australian bush caught on camera by student Jessica, Jessica knows the bird is mimicking what it’s heard, at the time detective Meghan believed Jessica was right, the bird had captured the scene of a crime but with no evidence the case was closed.
20 years later, a body is found, Meghan is called back from retirement, a cold case is reopened and Jessica’s evidence is looked at anew. The way the story played out was perfect for my liking. A proper police procedural, that does wrap up, but we actually get the whole story, and I appreciate that.
I really liked our protagonists, both Meghan and Jessica were great examples of strong female lead characters. They’ve remained great friends over the years and Jessica is now an ornithology professor.
The author has a clear climate change message throughout the story, but I felt that while the message was clear, it also fit the story perfectly and that’s a hard thing to do.
Jessica Douglas-Henry’s narration was fantastic!
My gratitude to Wavesound from W.F Howes LTD via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
June 8, 2025
Lyrebird was a great read - evocative setting in Barrington Tops, north of Newcastle, great cast of complex characters and a gripping crime-suspense plot.
February 22, 2025
A compulsive read. The prologue is set twenty years earlier when a PhD student is recording bird sounds in the Barrington Tops and hears a woman screaming. Turns out it is a lyrebird mimicking a woman (lyrebirds mimic everything from other birds to chainsaws, crying babies and sirens). She takes her footage to the police but nothing comes of it at the time. Now a body has been found and a detective from the original case is brought out of retirement to lead the investigation. What follows involves sex trafficking, murder, kidnapping and more. It was a fast read for me and i liked the strong characters and the fast pace.
April 4, 2025
Big thanks to Allen & Unwin for sending us a copy to read and review.
A crime mystery tale with shades of police procedural and past cold case drama.
It’s my first foray into the fictional world of Jane Caro.
Twenty years ago, Jessica is in the middle of Barrington Tops and hears a screeching scream.
Soon discovering that it’s a Lyrebird mimicking.
Taking the evidence to the police it’s thrown out and laughed at.
Now, a body is found in the same place.
Detective Megan Blaxland returns to the case and with new information the investigation is reopened.
What they find is so much more than they first believed…..
I quite enjoyed this fast paced, intriguing read.
With the eerie atmospheric writing, the clever premise and a bunch of creative characters, it’s a read worth your time and reading experience.
An Australian crime fiction novel that will get the heart pumping.
A crime mystery tale with shades of police procedural and past cold case drama.
It’s my first foray into the fictional world of Jane Caro.
Twenty years ago, Jessica is in the middle of Barrington Tops and hears a screeching scream.
Soon discovering that it’s a Lyrebird mimicking.
Taking the evidence to the police it’s thrown out and laughed at.
Now, a body is found in the same place.
Detective Megan Blaxland returns to the case and with new information the investigation is reopened.
What they find is so much more than they first believed…..
I quite enjoyed this fast paced, intriguing read.
With the eerie atmospheric writing, the clever premise and a bunch of creative characters, it’s a read worth your time and reading experience.
An Australian crime fiction novel that will get the heart pumping.
November 1, 2025
Lyrebird is the second novel from Jane Caro, a Walkley Award winning columnist, writer, broadcaster, documentary maker, feminist, activist, and author of The Mother.
When student ornithologist Jessica Weston records the human like screams of fear and pain of a lyrebird, a bird known for its ability to reproduce the sounds it hears, she feels it is prudent to report it to the police. New detective, Megan Blaxland, is concerned by the recording but is denied the opportunity to follow up until, twenty years later, the remains of a woman are discovered in the area.
With such a unique hook I was immediately drawn into the mystery of The Lyrebird. Jessica and Megan are both embarrassed that they let the matter lie, not that either had the power to do anything different at the time, so this time they are determined to solve the mystery.
Megan, brought out of retirement, leads the taskforce which discovers more young women strangled and buried deep in the bush on Barrington Tops. The plot is well thought out and I liked the procedural nature of the investigation as the police follow several lines of enquiry. Meagan is experienced and self assured and encourages diligence, especially among the younger officers on the taskforce, Samira Kumar and Josh Baker. The case becomes more complex as the police make connections between a missing Nanny, organised crime, and human trafficking.
Jessica, now an associate professor, is still haunted by the lyrebird’s screams and wants to help Megan however she can but she struggles with the renewed interest in the case on top of pressure at work and the rebellious attitude of her teen daughter.
Unfolding at a steady pace, Caro permeates the story with tension as the investigation unfolds. Action is largely confined to the last quarter or so of the novel as a massive bushfire roars down the mountain creating chaos as the case comes to a head.
Smart, atmospheric, and compelling I found myself absorbed in Lyrebird, and I happily recommend it.
When student ornithologist Jessica Weston records the human like screams of fear and pain of a lyrebird, a bird known for its ability to reproduce the sounds it hears, she feels it is prudent to report it to the police. New detective, Megan Blaxland, is concerned by the recording but is denied the opportunity to follow up until, twenty years later, the remains of a woman are discovered in the area.
With such a unique hook I was immediately drawn into the mystery of The Lyrebird. Jessica and Megan are both embarrassed that they let the matter lie, not that either had the power to do anything different at the time, so this time they are determined to solve the mystery.
Megan, brought out of retirement, leads the taskforce which discovers more young women strangled and buried deep in the bush on Barrington Tops. The plot is well thought out and I liked the procedural nature of the investigation as the police follow several lines of enquiry. Meagan is experienced and self assured and encourages diligence, especially among the younger officers on the taskforce, Samira Kumar and Josh Baker. The case becomes more complex as the police make connections between a missing Nanny, organised crime, and human trafficking.
Jessica, now an associate professor, is still haunted by the lyrebird’s screams and wants to help Megan however she can but she struggles with the renewed interest in the case on top of pressure at work and the rebellious attitude of her teen daughter.
Unfolding at a steady pace, Caro permeates the story with tension as the investigation unfolds. Action is largely confined to the last quarter or so of the novel as a massive bushfire roars down the mountain creating chaos as the case comes to a head.
Smart, atmospheric, and compelling I found myself absorbed in Lyrebird, and I happily recommend it.
June 14, 2025
"A sound froze her blood. A woman. A woman screaming in pure terror. Screaming and sobbing—begging—out here, in this desolate place."
The mimicking call of the lyrebird, bones found in a swamp some 20 years later, the reopening of this cold case, including the reinstatement of the original detective are the fundamentals of this novel which started off okay but for me went down hill. I struggled with the writing, its simplicity and over abundance of cliches. I also struggled with the bushfire scenes and the ultimate resolution which didn't quite add up (no spoilers so cannot go further).
Not for me.
The mimicking call of the lyrebird, bones found in a swamp some 20 years later, the reopening of this cold case, including the reinstatement of the original detective are the fundamentals of this novel which started off okay but for me went down hill. I struggled with the writing, its simplicity and over abundance of cliches. I also struggled with the bushfire scenes and the ultimate resolution which didn't quite add up (no spoilers so cannot go further).
Not for me.
May 18, 2025
I loved The Mother by this author so I was highly anticipating this one. I am devastated to say I did not like this one. Whilst it had an interesting premise, it was kind of boring and fell flat for me. Very heavy on the police procedural, which wasn't my thing. It was missing that emotional impact from her previous book and I'm sad.
June 12, 2025
Brilliant.
Wow, what a writer. Caro captured my attention from Chapter One and I read through in a day. Outstanding characterisation and I really hope Megan Blaxland will be back. Seamless integration of POVs - not easily achieved.
The plot is intriguing, highly believable and very cleverly constructed. Interwoven with multiple environmental elements that created atmosphere and tension. The lyre bird connection is just outstanding.
An amazing Aussie author and a must read!
Wow, what a writer. Caro captured my attention from Chapter One and I read through in a day. Outstanding characterisation and I really hope Megan Blaxland will be back. Seamless integration of POVs - not easily achieved.
The plot is intriguing, highly believable and very cleverly constructed. Interwoven with multiple environmental elements that created atmosphere and tension. The lyre bird connection is just outstanding.
An amazing Aussie author and a must read!
June 6, 2025
Wowee this was good.
I love an interesting and original premise and this nails it for originality.
I was hooked from the start when young university student Jessica is in the rugged surrounds of the Burraga Swamp recording Superb Lyrebirds, and what she records makes her blood run cold. A woman is screaming for her life. But with no body and no witness the police soon let this case cool.
Twenty years later when a body is found in the same spot, this cold case comes back to life and this time retired Detective Megan Blaxland is determined to see justice served.
I just loved how this story became so sinister, so sordid and I could not put it down. The characters felt so real. The descriptions of the bush and the bushfire were amazing and I really felt I was there.
Now I love my Aussie noir but this one really turned it up a notch. Everything from the setting, the characters, the storyline just all felt so perfect and this is an absolute winner for me.
I always read the Acknowledgments and Authors notes and in this instance they gave such an insight into the amount of research that authors put into their work to make is plausible and realistic.
I love an interesting and original premise and this nails it for originality.
I was hooked from the start when young university student Jessica is in the rugged surrounds of the Burraga Swamp recording Superb Lyrebirds, and what she records makes her blood run cold. A woman is screaming for her life. But with no body and no witness the police soon let this case cool.
Twenty years later when a body is found in the same spot, this cold case comes back to life and this time retired Detective Megan Blaxland is determined to see justice served.
I just loved how this story became so sinister, so sordid and I could not put it down. The characters felt so real. The descriptions of the bush and the bushfire were amazing and I really felt I was there.
Now I love my Aussie noir but this one really turned it up a notch. Everything from the setting, the characters, the storyline just all felt so perfect and this is an absolute winner for me.
I always read the Acknowledgments and Authors notes and in this instance they gave such an insight into the amount of research that authors put into their work to make is plausible and realistic.
July 17, 2025
A well constructed story with a grab bag of issues and characters including sex trafficking, gender reassignment and older women being relevant and useful. While the many characters felt thoughtfully drawn there was something a bit formulaic about them all. Sadly the story fell a bit flat for me, maybe a case of jamming too much in without creating that special something that kept me invested in the outcome.
December 22, 2025
Lyrebird is the second adult novel by award winning Australian columnist and author, novelist, broadcaster, and documentary writer, Jane Caro. The audio version is narrated by Jessica Douglas-Henry. In the early years of the twenty-first Century, ornithologist Jessica Weston is in a hide in the Burraga Swamp in the Barrington Tops National Park when her camera and sound equipment capture a superb lyrebird mating dance and song that chills to the bone. Lyrebirds are mimics, and this one produces the sound of a woman screaming for her life.
The officers at Maitland Police Station are sceptical and pass her on to their least experienced detective. Busy raising a son during her training, Megan Blaxland has taken some time to reach detective status, but she is also the most likely to take Jessica seriously. Unfortunately, her recording doesn’t constitute proof of a crime and, when a search doesn’t turn up a body, the case goes cold.
Twenty years later, a landslip after heavy rain uncovers a woman’s body, exactly where that lyrebird might have heard a murder being committed. A year retired, ex-Detective Senior Sergeant Megan Blaxland is called back in to lead the investigation. Revising all aspects of the initial inquiries is on the list, but identifying the victim is a priority, and their forensics expert has found a tiny clue that may help: a hand-braided shoelace.
Following up with the young woman who recognises the item as one she made for her nanny seems promising, but doesn’t produce quite the result hoped for. Instead, it opens a can of worms, uncovering impossible gambling debts, Hong Kong triad, human trafficking, snuff porn, and murder.
As more bodies are discovered, members of Megan’s team track down likely players but wonder just how complete their story is, and how much of it can be believed. Against a backdrop of threatening bushfire, they race to find yet another victim and pin down perpetrators.
Caro gives the reader a plot that is wholly believable, a setting that any Australian will recognise, and a cast of individuals to admire, pity or despise: characters with depth who sometimes make poor choices, sometimes act in desperation, sometimes behave very badly. Dark and compelling: a page-turner.
This unbiased review is from an audio copy provided by NetGalley and WF Howes.
The officers at Maitland Police Station are sceptical and pass her on to their least experienced detective. Busy raising a son during her training, Megan Blaxland has taken some time to reach detective status, but she is also the most likely to take Jessica seriously. Unfortunately, her recording doesn’t constitute proof of a crime and, when a search doesn’t turn up a body, the case goes cold.
Twenty years later, a landslip after heavy rain uncovers a woman’s body, exactly where that lyrebird might have heard a murder being committed. A year retired, ex-Detective Senior Sergeant Megan Blaxland is called back in to lead the investigation. Revising all aspects of the initial inquiries is on the list, but identifying the victim is a priority, and their forensics expert has found a tiny clue that may help: a hand-braided shoelace.
Following up with the young woman who recognises the item as one she made for her nanny seems promising, but doesn’t produce quite the result hoped for. Instead, it opens a can of worms, uncovering impossible gambling debts, Hong Kong triad, human trafficking, snuff porn, and murder.
As more bodies are discovered, members of Megan’s team track down likely players but wonder just how complete their story is, and how much of it can be believed. Against a backdrop of threatening bushfire, they race to find yet another victim and pin down perpetrators.
Caro gives the reader a plot that is wholly believable, a setting that any Australian will recognise, and a cast of individuals to admire, pity or despise: characters with depth who sometimes make poor choices, sometimes act in desperation, sometimes behave very badly. Dark and compelling: a page-turner.
This unbiased review is from an audio copy provided by NetGalley and WF Howes.
November 10, 2025
Great book that shows the tenacity of cold-case investigators.
May 8, 2025
Again an intriguing concept - a lyrebird mimicking a call of a crime but so many things fell flat for me. Pet peeve in a crime story is when everything just so easily falls into the lap of the detective and is all super predictable. Characters felt underdeveloped and again, so 2D and predictable. Finished in a day and was a quick read because, despite the heavy content, it felt underseasoned and lacked any pull.
June 26, 2025
Wow, such a great read! I enjoyed The Mother by Jane Caro, but this was even better. Highly recommend!!
May 30, 2025
Megan Blaxland is a retired police detective drawn back in to work on a cold case initially involving the call of a lyrebird. A lot of work went into this crime novel . It’s got all the features of Australian country life - bushland, bird life, natural hazards, political activism , mother daughter conflict, plus the darker side of big city life .
It’s clearly expressed although slightly Americanised - phrases like ‘she’s writing her employers’ or ‘not so much’ . The author develops a lot of different characters, with an effort to add some depth , it worked best for Megan although her son Jason had me wracking my brains about who he was.
The drawn out final part had me skipping through pages.
It’s clearly expressed although slightly Americanised - phrases like ‘she’s writing her employers’ or ‘not so much’ . The author develops a lot of different characters, with an effort to add some depth , it worked best for Megan although her son Jason had me wracking my brains about who he was.
The drawn out final part had me skipping through pages.
October 11, 2025
What was thrilling premise promising a fast ride, finally rolled to a slow stop beside the gate at the end. While the local place names were warming, the countless euphemisms were uninspired, the characters hardly jumping from the pages, and the hoped for twist that might have indeed brought the phoenix from the ashes, never rose.
April 18, 2025
Jane Caro’s Lyrebird had potential, but it leans too much on broad statements and clichés. The characters lack real depth, making it hard to fully connect with their journeys. It’s an easy read, but it doesn’t dig deep enough. Good premise, and I appreciate there were a lot of political messages in there, though not always well placed. It could have been richer, which is a shame because the premise in the blurb, really drew me in - for me, it just didn't quite deliver.
This is a review of the audiobook.
This is a review of the audiobook.
May 26, 2025
3 1/2 ⭐️
What a fabulous premise!
A page turner that I read in a day. Lost half a star because it lost a little bit of momentum towards the end.
What a fabulous premise!
A page turner that I read in a day. Lost half a star because it lost a little bit of momentum towards the end.
August 24, 2025
This was okay but I kept waiting for something more! The characters felt pretty flat and there were so many I struggled keeping all the names straight. The plot was a super linear police procedural, no twists unfortunately.
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