Fourteen Acres

Ironbark Creek #1

by Lissa Jay

A missing joey. A string of suspicious crises. And the most helpful man in town who always seems to know what's coming.

The Ironbark Creek Wildlife Centre has been quietly saving animals for thirty years. It's underfunded, imperfect, and loved by everyone who works there — including newly arrived volunteers Edie and Jack Carmody, retired twins who came to the district looking for something worth doing.

Then the crises begin. Small ones at first. The kind that could be bad luck, or age, or the ordinary entropy of an underfunded organisation. But Edie notices the timing. And Jack notices the paperwork.

In the ironbark country of central Victoria, the land has long memories. And someone, it seems, has been very patient.

Fourteen Acres is the first book in The Ironbark Creek Mysteries — a warm, character-driven Australian cosy mystery series featuring retired twin sleuths in rural Victoria. Perfect for readers who love cosy crime fiction with heart, humour, and a distinctly Australian voice.

Readers of this Australian cosy mystery will

A non-murder mystery — intrigue and tension without the gore

Clever, mature protagonists who use wit and life experience to solve crimes

A richly drawn rural Australian setting in the ironbark country of central Victoria

A loveable cast of wildlife carers, grumpy neighbours, and one very small kangaroo

The perfect blend of cosy mystery atmosphere and genuinely surprising twists

If you enjoy Australian crime fiction by authors like Kerry Greenwood, Sulari Gentill, or Nicole Trope — or love cosy mysteries featuring older protagonists like those in the Richard Osman Thursday Murder Club series — you'll feel right at home in Ironbark Creek.

Start the series today. The Ironbark Creek Mysteries — where the land has long memories, and two retired twins have all the time in the world to listen.

193 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 4, 2026

Reviews

[Maranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Fourteen Acres by Lissa Jay. Getting to read about an animal retreat was very interesting. Edie was my favorite character to get to know. She took charge a lot and was very smart and clever.
As an animal lover I really enjoyed the animals in the nursery.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fourteen Acres is the first book in The Ironbark Creek Mysteries — a warm, character-driven Australian cosy mystery series featuring retired twin sleuths in rural Victoria. Perfect for readers who love cosy crime fiction with heart, humour, and a distinctly Australian voice.
Lissa Jay

It's a sanctuary for animals in need of care and rehabilitation, a safe place, or at least it's supposed to be. When strange things start happening a local gentleman steps up to provide the funds and equipment to keep the sanctuary running. But, the problems are piling up, something isn't as it should be.

I really enjoyed reading this novel, and it's only the first in a series. It's a heartfelt whodunit with intrigue, and well developed characters, set in rural Australia.

Are the things happening just coincidence, or is there something strange going on at the sanctuary? Can the twins figure it out in time to save everyone?

If you enjoy a cozy read, intrigue, and subtle clues that keeps you wondering what is really going on, then you should read this novel. I'm looking forward to reading the next, and hopefully, someday, getting a box set.

I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great read! It starts off feeling like a cosy story about retirement, but then the tension just keeps ratcheting up. Once you get to about the halfway point it's a real page-turner. I finished it in a day and a half. Would thoroughly recommend.