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Just Like the Night
When is it time to stop protecting family, and time to start running …
Out on parole after serving over eight years in prison, Sera Olin can't shake her past. As a child travelling around America, her charismatic father introduced her to a life of crime, easy cons and fixed card games before they escaped to Australia to go straight -- but walking the line isn't that easy for Sera. As she tries to settle into an honest life in Sydney all she wants is to see her estranged daughter, Lena. But Lena is grown up now, and involved with people far worse than Sera understands.
When Sera is drawn further into the pit of Lena's choices, she is forced to confront the possibility that a mother's sacrifice might not be enough.
Set in the bleak underbelly of Sydney, Just Like the Night is a gripping exploration of loneliness, conscience, and the ties that bind.
Out on parole after serving over eight years in prison, Sera Olin can't shake her past. As a child travelling around America, her charismatic father introduced her to a life of crime, easy cons and fixed card games before they escaped to Australia to go straight -- but walking the line isn't that easy for Sera. As she tries to settle into an honest life in Sydney all she wants is to see her estranged daughter, Lena. But Lena is grown up now, and involved with people far worse than Sera understands.
When Sera is drawn further into the pit of Lena's choices, she is forced to confront the possibility that a mother's sacrifice might not be enough.
Set in the bleak underbelly of Sydney, Just Like the Night is a gripping exploration of loneliness, conscience, and the ties that bind.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 4, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 4, 2026
Sera Olin was only a child when she travelled from the US to Australia with her father. They were escaping everything they'd known - Ray was a con man, working the cards among other things, and taught Sera all she knew. Living in Sydney, and after Sera had Lena, she wondered if she had it in her to be a mother. But time passed; suddenly Lena was grown and Sera was in prison. After eight years, she was released on parole, and part of that was that she was unable to make contact with Lena, not see her at all. No alcohol or drugs - it would put her back in prison, fast.
Ray, Sera's father, lived at the Hawkesbury now, and Sera would visit now and then. Trying to remain straight and honest was hard with her past as it was, and when she finally saw Lena (she didn't let Lena see her though) she was saddened by it. But Lena was tangled up in Sydney's underworld, and was barely keeping her head above water. Lena also didn't know how to tell anything but lies. As Sera ran and worked out daily, she thought about what she could do; how she could help her daughter...
Just Like the Night is my first by Aussie author Michael Caleb Tasker and I enjoyed it very much. A different take on all things crime, pretty much looking from the inside, out. Sera was a strong woman - who wouldn't be after spending so much time in prison. Sink or swim there! Although Sera and Lena had been estranged for a long while, Lena was her kryptonite. I loved the setting of Sydney and the many places I know. I travel the same trains as Sera did when visiting her father. An excellent read which I recommend highly.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin AU for my ARC to read and review.
Ray, Sera's father, lived at the Hawkesbury now, and Sera would visit now and then. Trying to remain straight and honest was hard with her past as it was, and when she finally saw Lena (she didn't let Lena see her though) she was saddened by it. But Lena was tangled up in Sydney's underworld, and was barely keeping her head above water. Lena also didn't know how to tell anything but lies. As Sera ran and worked out daily, she thought about what she could do; how she could help her daughter...
Just Like the Night is my first by Aussie author Michael Caleb Tasker and I enjoyed it very much. A different take on all things crime, pretty much looking from the inside, out. Sera was a strong woman - who wouldn't be after spending so much time in prison. Sink or swim there! Although Sera and Lena had been estranged for a long while, Lena was her kryptonite. I loved the setting of Sydney and the many places I know. I travel the same trains as Sera did when visiting her father. An excellent read which I recommend highly.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin AU for my ARC to read and review.
July 16, 2026
Thank you to Allen & Unwin for sending me a physical Advanced Readers Copy of this book.
Just Like the Night is a slow-burning crime novel that gradually tightens its grip until you realise you're completely invested in the lives of its characters. Rather than relying on constant twists or high-octane action, Michael Caleb Tasker builds tension through atmosphere, relationships, and the ever-present sense that danger is lurking just beneath the surface.
One of the aspects I found most fascinating was the glimpse into Sydney's criminal underworld. I also loved how naturally the story wove in the psychology of reading people, the strategy behind poker and card games, and the subtle calculations that can mean the difference between survival and disaster. It added an extra layer of intrigue that made the world feel authentic and lived in.
The emotional heart of the novel, however, lies in its characters. I was particularly moved by the relationship between Sera and Ray. Watching Sera grow up surrounded by crime while still being genuinely loved and cared for made for a compelling contrast. That relationship felt complex, believable, and deeply human. In comparison, Sera's relationship with her own daughter, Lena, was much more difficult to witness, and I found those moments especially powerful.
What stayed with me most was the novel's exploration of how circumstance and upbringing can shape a person's life. It asks thoughtful questions about whether we are products of our environment or capable of forging our own path, and it does so without offering easy answers.
Although there are moments of suspense and action, I found this to be a character-driven novel first and foremost. The tension comes from the people, their choices, and the consequences that ripple through generations. I also wasn't prepared for how the narrative came together in the final chapters, and the ending left me in a reflective mood.
An immersive, thoughtful crime novel with memorable characters and an emotional core that surprised me. I would recommend this book and look forward to reading more from this author in the future!
Just Like the Night is a slow-burning crime novel that gradually tightens its grip until you realise you're completely invested in the lives of its characters. Rather than relying on constant twists or high-octane action, Michael Caleb Tasker builds tension through atmosphere, relationships, and the ever-present sense that danger is lurking just beneath the surface.
One of the aspects I found most fascinating was the glimpse into Sydney's criminal underworld. I also loved how naturally the story wove in the psychology of reading people, the strategy behind poker and card games, and the subtle calculations that can mean the difference between survival and disaster. It added an extra layer of intrigue that made the world feel authentic and lived in.
The emotional heart of the novel, however, lies in its characters. I was particularly moved by the relationship between Sera and Ray. Watching Sera grow up surrounded by crime while still being genuinely loved and cared for made for a compelling contrast. That relationship felt complex, believable, and deeply human. In comparison, Sera's relationship with her own daughter, Lena, was much more difficult to witness, and I found those moments especially powerful.
What stayed with me most was the novel's exploration of how circumstance and upbringing can shape a person's life. It asks thoughtful questions about whether we are products of our environment or capable of forging our own path, and it does so without offering easy answers.
Although there are moments of suspense and action, I found this to be a character-driven novel first and foremost. The tension comes from the people, their choices, and the consequences that ripple through generations. I also wasn't prepared for how the narrative came together in the final chapters, and the ending left me in a reflective mood.
An immersive, thoughtful crime novel with memorable characters and an emotional core that surprised me. I would recommend this book and look forward to reading more from this author in the future!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
(4.5 stars)
"He had a special laugh that he used for work. It made people try hard to hear it again."
What an original and intriguing book! Just Like the Night follows the life of Sera Olin. She's in gaol when the book starts, but is soon out on parole. As you get to understand why recidivism is so prevalent, in alternate chapters you start to understand how she got there in the first place. Sera is the daughter of a charismatic gambler, and grew up needing a go-bag to leave the hotel on a moment's notice: "They were go bags. Money, IDs, a few clothes. Sometimes there was a gun. Ray was always rearranging, repacking, lightening the load, trying to get it right so they could be up and out the door in a single breath, on the road again. Gone."
Even half the world away from the American casinos in the Hawkesbury, Sera's father, Ray, never relaxes. This lifestyle imbues a series of values into Sera about how to make money, though Ray is surprisingly cautious, and very wary of folk who screw people over for fun or pick marks who aren't already playing the same: "People went into a card game knowing they might lose it all; they were already in on the game, even if they were a mark. It was bad business to work with outsiders." Unfortunately these traits, writ large in Sera, are not passed down to her daughter, Lena. Lena would play her own mother if it suited her.
Despite the violence, which is quite extreme, I found it a surprisingly tender novel about the things you do for love when your child is at stake. If gambling is a problem for you, you may want to skip this book. There are also drug references: "Sera could feel the cocaine radiating from the man's skin. Artificial energy that burned too fast."
With thanks to NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for sending me a copy to read.
"He had a special laugh that he used for work. It made people try hard to hear it again."
What an original and intriguing book! Just Like the Night follows the life of Sera Olin. She's in gaol when the book starts, but is soon out on parole. As you get to understand why recidivism is so prevalent, in alternate chapters you start to understand how she got there in the first place. Sera is the daughter of a charismatic gambler, and grew up needing a go-bag to leave the hotel on a moment's notice: "They were go bags. Money, IDs, a few clothes. Sometimes there was a gun. Ray was always rearranging, repacking, lightening the load, trying to get it right so they could be up and out the door in a single breath, on the road again. Gone."
Even half the world away from the American casinos in the Hawkesbury, Sera's father, Ray, never relaxes. This lifestyle imbues a series of values into Sera about how to make money, though Ray is surprisingly cautious, and very wary of folk who screw people over for fun or pick marks who aren't already playing the same: "People went into a card game knowing they might lose it all; they were already in on the game, even if they were a mark. It was bad business to work with outsiders." Unfortunately these traits, writ large in Sera, are not passed down to her daughter, Lena. Lena would play her own mother if it suited her.
Despite the violence, which is quite extreme, I found it a surprisingly tender novel about the things you do for love when your child is at stake. If gambling is a problem for you, you may want to skip this book. There are also drug references: "Sera could feel the cocaine radiating from the man's skin. Artificial energy that burned too fast."
With thanks to NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for sending me a copy to read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sera Olin’s story unfolds with a stark, unsettling clarity, offering a tense exploration of how far someone will go to protect the people they love and when self‑preservation finally takes over. Fresh out of prison and trying to rebuild a life that was never truly her own, Sera is pulled back into the shadows she’s been trying to outrun. Her past, shaped by a father who taught her the art of survival through crime, clashes painfully with her present as she attempts to reconnect with her daughter, Lena. What begins as a quiet attempt at redemption quickly spirals into something darker, revealing just how dangerous Lena’s world has become.
Set against the bleak, gritty edges of Sydney, Just Like the Night thrives on character rather than plot, and it’s this focus that gives the novel its emotional weight. Sera’s internal conflict is rendered with sharp precision, and Ray’s presence adds a compelling counterbalance that deepens the story’s tension. Supporting characters like Leon and Lena bring texture and urgency, making the narrative feel lived‑in and raw. The book examines loneliness, moral compromise, and the fragile threads that bind families together, ultimately asking how much a mother can sacrifice before she breaks. It’s a thoughtful, atmospheric thriller that lingers long after the final page.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced coped, all opinions are my own.
Set against the bleak, gritty edges of Sydney, Just Like the Night thrives on character rather than plot, and it’s this focus that gives the novel its emotional weight. Sera’s internal conflict is rendered with sharp precision, and Ray’s presence adds a compelling counterbalance that deepens the story’s tension. Supporting characters like Leon and Lena bring texture and urgency, making the narrative feel lived‑in and raw. The book examines loneliness, moral compromise, and the fragile threads that bind families together, ultimately asking how much a mother can sacrifice before she breaks. It’s a thoughtful, atmospheric thriller that lingers long after the final page.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced coped, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Big thanks to Allen & Unwin for sending us a copy to read and review.
The plight of a woman who is a mother, daughter and an ex prisoner is captured as she navigates life after a stint in prison.
To rebuild, reaffirm loyalty and make hard choices.
The fine line between right and wrong is blurred as life on the outside is throwing every curb ball her way.
Sera is not a bad person, circumstance and life have death rough cards.
Sera was introduced into crime as a young child, a way of life that landed her into trouble.
Perhaps a combination of genetic and social imprints ensured even the next generation was inflicted with the criminal curse.
Reacquainting with her now adult daughter is a disappointment as wrong choices have landed her in trouble.
A dire situation for a mother who has no bounds when it comes to loyalty.
Sheer grit, determination and desperation unravel as life on the outside taints rehabilitation.
A slow burn that is an enticing read kept me wishing for Sera’s success.
A woman of few words that didn’t shy away from danger or adversity. Exposing readers to an underside of life in familiar cities and the abundant challenges.
The plight of a woman who is a mother, daughter and an ex prisoner is captured as she navigates life after a stint in prison.
To rebuild, reaffirm loyalty and make hard choices.
The fine line between right and wrong is blurred as life on the outside is throwing every curb ball her way.
Sera is not a bad person, circumstance and life have death rough cards.
Sera was introduced into crime as a young child, a way of life that landed her into trouble.
Perhaps a combination of genetic and social imprints ensured even the next generation was inflicted with the criminal curse.
Reacquainting with her now adult daughter is a disappointment as wrong choices have landed her in trouble.
A dire situation for a mother who has no bounds when it comes to loyalty.
Sheer grit, determination and desperation unravel as life on the outside taints rehabilitation.
A slow burn that is an enticing read kept me wishing for Sera’s success.
A woman of few words that didn’t shy away from danger or adversity. Exposing readers to an underside of life in familiar cities and the abundant challenges.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews