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Crossings
Deep in the Australian bush, something dark is stirring.
When wildlife ranger, Lisa Thomas, finds a pile of animal entrails on her doorstep she’s disturbed, but nothing can prepare her for the sudden spate of deaths that follow.
On top of this, her abusive ex has returned to town, and her father’s health is deteriorating fast. As Lisa’s life spins out of control, a giant white kangaroo appears with a dire warning.
Yet the mysterious kangaroo is impossible to track down and the more Lisa searches the more she’s sure an even greater threat lurks in the wilderness...
When wildlife ranger, Lisa Thomas, finds a pile of animal entrails on her doorstep she’s disturbed, but nothing can prepare her for the sudden spate of deaths that follow.
On top of this, her abusive ex has returned to town, and her father’s health is deteriorating fast. As Lisa’s life spins out of control, a giant white kangaroo appears with a dire warning.
Yet the mysterious kangaroo is impossible to track down and the more Lisa searches the more she’s sure an even greater threat lurks in the wilderness...
- GenresThrillerSupernatural
232 pages, Paperback
First published September 19, 2015
About the author
Ashley Capes
77 books579 followersAshley is a poet, novelist and ex-teacher living in Australia.
He taught English, Media and Music Production, played in a metal band, worked in an art gallery and slaved away at music retail. Aside from reading and writing, Ashley loves volleyball and Studio Ghibli – and Magnum PI, easily one of the greatest television shows ever made.
See poetry and fiction at http://ashleycapes.com/
He taught English, Media and Music Production, played in a metal band, worked in an art gallery and slaved away at music retail. Aside from reading and writing, Ashley loves volleyball and Studio Ghibli – and Magnum PI, easily one of the greatest television shows ever made.
See poetry and fiction at http://ashleycapes.com/
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
March 1, 2016
Lisa loves living in the small country town of Lidelson. She has a real passion for wildlife and works as a volunteer, alongside Robert, rescuing injured wildlife.
When Lisa’s violent ex arrives back in town dead animals start turning up on her doorstep. Could these two incidents be related or has something more sinister arrived in the once quiet town of Lidelson.
As the body count, both human and animal, begins to rise Lisa finds that she also comes under suspicion.
I loved the Australian colloquialisms throughout the story and Capes has effortlessly included local fauna and flora, the threat of fires and the stifling heat into the story without it sounding contrived.
Lisa is a feisty, self sufficient woman and is instantly likeable.
Capes has once again given his readers an unputdownable story with a mix of genres.
This story is filled with mystery, suspense, horror and a little of the supernatural.
Throw in a heartrending side story of Lisa’s father’s slide into dementia and this novel has it all.
Highly recommended reading.
When Lisa’s violent ex arrives back in town dead animals start turning up on her doorstep. Could these two incidents be related or has something more sinister arrived in the once quiet town of Lidelson.
As the body count, both human and animal, begins to rise Lisa finds that she also comes under suspicion.
I loved the Australian colloquialisms throughout the story and Capes has effortlessly included local fauna and flora, the threat of fires and the stifling heat into the story without it sounding contrived.
Lisa is a feisty, self sufficient woman and is instantly likeable.
Capes has once again given his readers an unputdownable story with a mix of genres.
This story is filled with mystery, suspense, horror and a little of the supernatural.
Throw in a heartrending side story of Lisa’s father’s slide into dementia and this novel has it all.
Highly recommended reading.
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January 1, 2016Print Version Available
After a short delay you can now order Crossings as a print book, either via Amazon or other retailers, or even directly through my website :)
AZM:
http://www.amazon.com/Crossings-Ashle...
Direct:
http://www.cityofmasks.com/crossings....
Ebook is live! :)
If anyone is looking for a supernatural thriller with some light horror, Crossings is now available in kindle format for about $1 or so, with print version on its way!
http://www.amazon.com/Crossings-Ashle...
September
As Crossings heads into proofing, I'd like to announce a few giveaways I'll run for the novel - check out the details here :D
http://www.cityofmasks.com/blog/cross...
August
We're creeping closer to a release for Crossings so I wanted to share the first chapter:
http://www.cityofmasks.com/crossings-...
There may be some changes later on, but it's getting close to the final text now :)
July
Here's the final cover, which I'm utterly thrilled to share :)
June
Shooting for a November 2015 release - Crossings is a dark(ish) contemporary fantasy set in a small town on the edge of the Alpine region.
Hoping to post a final cover soon and Chapter One too, so stick around for details!
October 16, 2015
Ashley Capes is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. His epic fantasy series 'The Bone Mask Trilogy' is among my favourite fantasy stories of all time (and he's just released the second book in the series — check it out now if you're a fantasy lover in search of a new author to follow). I've read pretty much everything he's published, and his most recent release didn't disappoint.
'Crossings' is difficult to categorise — it's probably most fitting in the paranormal genre. But essentially, I think I'd classify it as a supernatural mystery with a good dose of thrill.
The story takes place in small town, outback Australia, where eerie pale gums and messmate trees dominate the landscape. Lisa Thomas is our protagonist. On the face of it, she's an ordinary woman, a bit of a battler. She works as a cleaner, struggles with her ageing father suffering with increasing dementia, and volunteers as a wildlife rescue officer. And if all of that wasn't enough for us to feel sympathy for her, she soon learns that her abusive ex-fiancé, Ben is back in town, and for some reason he wants to talk to her.
As a main character, I found Lisa instantly likeable. While she is, on the surface, an 'ordinary' woman, Capes has done a brilliant job investing her with an extraordinary nature, especially with her affinity for animals. In her volunteer work as a wildlife rescue officer, she comes across dead animals (largely car victims) regularly. She keeps a packet of salt with her to conduct a little 'last rites' ritual that I found particularly endearing.
What makes the story a real page-turner from the very start is the mystery of the strange occurrence of animal corpses appearing without any explanation — many of them at Lisa's house. The suspense is the kind that keeps you from doing things you're supposed to be doing, as you just want to find out what the hell is going on — and that's when you know you're reading a good story.
The way supernatural elements are woven into the story is entirely credible and adds to the tantalising mystery. There is a subtle link to aboriginal dreamtime mythology, which adds an interesting layer to the events.
Of course, one of the trademarks of Capes' writing is his outstanding skill with imagery, and once again, the frequent poetic descriptions within the prose had me in awe of his writing style.
By the novel's end, all of the disparate and tense-filled threads in Lisa's life seem to converge into a dramatic and suspenseful ending that had me flicking the pages faster.
Any reader with a heartbeat will enjoy this story, and particularly those fans of paranormal, fantasy and mysteries.
** This review was first posted on my blog - http://aderynwood.blogspot.com
'Crossings' is difficult to categorise — it's probably most fitting in the paranormal genre. But essentially, I think I'd classify it as a supernatural mystery with a good dose of thrill.
The story takes place in small town, outback Australia, where eerie pale gums and messmate trees dominate the landscape. Lisa Thomas is our protagonist. On the face of it, she's an ordinary woman, a bit of a battler. She works as a cleaner, struggles with her ageing father suffering with increasing dementia, and volunteers as a wildlife rescue officer. And if all of that wasn't enough for us to feel sympathy for her, she soon learns that her abusive ex-fiancé, Ben is back in town, and for some reason he wants to talk to her.
As a main character, I found Lisa instantly likeable. While she is, on the surface, an 'ordinary' woman, Capes has done a brilliant job investing her with an extraordinary nature, especially with her affinity for animals. In her volunteer work as a wildlife rescue officer, she comes across dead animals (largely car victims) regularly. She keeps a packet of salt with her to conduct a little 'last rites' ritual that I found particularly endearing.
What makes the story a real page-turner from the very start is the mystery of the strange occurrence of animal corpses appearing without any explanation — many of them at Lisa's house. The suspense is the kind that keeps you from doing things you're supposed to be doing, as you just want to find out what the hell is going on — and that's when you know you're reading a good story.
The way supernatural elements are woven into the story is entirely credible and adds to the tantalising mystery. There is a subtle link to aboriginal dreamtime mythology, which adds an interesting layer to the events.
Of course, one of the trademarks of Capes' writing is his outstanding skill with imagery, and once again, the frequent poetic descriptions within the prose had me in awe of his writing style.
By the novel's end, all of the disparate and tense-filled threads in Lisa's life seem to converge into a dramatic and suspenseful ending that had me flicking the pages faster.
Any reader with a heartbeat will enjoy this story, and particularly those fans of paranormal, fantasy and mysteries.
** This review was first posted on my blog - http://aderynwood.blogspot.com
October 13, 2015
Wow! Just Wow! I've really enjoyed reading Ashley Capes' work in the past but Crossings has left me speechless. I finished the novel more than a month ago and it still haunts me. In a previous review I mentioned that I was in awe of the author's dark mind, and I still am, however, at the time I was unaware of just how dark it actually was!
Crossings can best be described as literature infused with fantasy and Ashley Capes is exceedingly good at writing this type of novel. On second thought, he is just an exceedingly good writer with an uncanny ability to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.
While reading Crossings, I experienced too many emotions to list and in some instances Ashley had me feeling conflicting emotions simultaneously. A good writer will make you feel while you're reading and a great writer will make you think about his work long after the book is done. Well, Ashley is among the best and I will never forget this book, nor how I felt while I was reading it.
As always, I eagerly await his next book.
Crossings can best be described as literature infused with fantasy and Ashley Capes is exceedingly good at writing this type of novel. On second thought, he is just an exceedingly good writer with an uncanny ability to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.
While reading Crossings, I experienced too many emotions to list and in some instances Ashley had me feeling conflicting emotions simultaneously. A good writer will make you feel while you're reading and a great writer will make you think about his work long after the book is done. Well, Ashley is among the best and I will never forget this book, nor how I felt while I was reading it.
As always, I eagerly await his next book.
April 3, 2018
‘Life isn’t easy, not for anyone.’ That quote, from main character Lisa’s befuddled Dad, pretty much defines this book.
Life isn’t easy…not for Lisa – a character you can really relate to, not for Gerry the cop and would be suitor, not for her evil ex, not for her co-worker or most anyone else in this town.
This book was an interesting read. I can say without a hesitation of a doubt that the first 13 chapters were brilliant and the book was hard to put down. The book took a turn and stumbled amid evil people taking control over innocents. The last half was hard to follow and I found the conclusion uneven. I would really have preferred to have a distinct determination as to what happened to Ben.
In the end I give this 3.5 stars.
Worth a read if you like a good mystery that journeys into the almost supernatural. Lisa was very likable and deserved nicer treatment.
My Rating: 3.5 stars
This review first appeared on: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/
Life isn’t easy…not for Lisa – a character you can really relate to, not for Gerry the cop and would be suitor, not for her evil ex, not for her co-worker or most anyone else in this town.
This book was an interesting read. I can say without a hesitation of a doubt that the first 13 chapters were brilliant and the book was hard to put down. The book took a turn and stumbled amid evil people taking control over innocents. The last half was hard to follow and I found the conclusion uneven. I would really have preferred to have a distinct determination as to what happened to Ben.
In the end I give this 3.5 stars.
Worth a read if you like a good mystery that journeys into the almost supernatural. Lisa was very likable and deserved nicer treatment.
My Rating: 3.5 stars
This review first appeared on: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/
November 23, 2015
Well written ; weaving mysticism and real life well. Murder mystery bound to outback symbolism. Great "feel"to author's descriptions. Would have liked a few more answers as to why how at the end.
January 8, 2016
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book I have read by Ashley Capes (the first was The Fairy Wren, which I gave 5 stars), and it was every bit as fantastic. Capes's books straddle the line between genres - they are a unique blend of supernatural and thriller, with a dash of crime mystery. Point blank: readers who enjoy any one of those genres should be reading Ashley's books.
Crossings follows Lisa, a volunteer wildlife ranger, as she investigates a local farmer's claim that he saw a giant white kangaroo. As the novel unfolds, the mystery of the white roo grows increasingly more complex and is complicated by other troubling occurrences in Lisa's life. Mainly, her abusive ex-boyfriend comes back into town, right about the same time as mutilated animal corpses begin showing up outside her house. Lisa must get to the bottom of these brutalities as well as the mystery of the white roo, all while dealing with the declining health of her elderly father.
As I raved in my other book review, Capes has a phenomenal ability to craft realistic, flawed characters. Lisa is not perfect - she sometimes lets her emotions get the best of her, but she has strong redeeming qualities (such as her compassion for animals), too. Likewise, the side characters are well-developed and complex, and they have established, significant relationships with Lisa and each other. One of my favorite qualities in a novel is when characters feel like real people, flaws and all, and Ashley Capes delivers.
I cannot say much more about the plot without revealing spoilers. However, for those plot-oriented readers, I will say this. The plot contains a few twists and turns - nothing comes out of no where, but the journey is still fun and you will be guessing several times. While the ending is satisfying, it does leave some questions unanswered. For me, this isn't a bad thing, and I'm happy to come to my own conclusions. However, I imagine some readers will find this frustrating and feel a small lack of closure.
Overall, Crossings is a gripping cross-genre novel with the perfect blend of supernatural elements and thriller style. Once again, Capes has crafted realistic, flawed characters that lead the reader through a story with just the right amount of twists and turns. If you love supernatural, thriller, crime, or mystery and you haven't read Capes's work yet, you're missing out.
This is the second book I have read by Ashley Capes (the first was The Fairy Wren, which I gave 5 stars), and it was every bit as fantastic. Capes's books straddle the line between genres - they are a unique blend of supernatural and thriller, with a dash of crime mystery. Point blank: readers who enjoy any one of those genres should be reading Ashley's books.
Crossings follows Lisa, a volunteer wildlife ranger, as she investigates a local farmer's claim that he saw a giant white kangaroo. As the novel unfolds, the mystery of the white roo grows increasingly more complex and is complicated by other troubling occurrences in Lisa's life. Mainly, her abusive ex-boyfriend comes back into town, right about the same time as mutilated animal corpses begin showing up outside her house. Lisa must get to the bottom of these brutalities as well as the mystery of the white roo, all while dealing with the declining health of her elderly father.
As I raved in my other book review, Capes has a phenomenal ability to craft realistic, flawed characters. Lisa is not perfect - she sometimes lets her emotions get the best of her, but she has strong redeeming qualities (such as her compassion for animals), too. Likewise, the side characters are well-developed and complex, and they have established, significant relationships with Lisa and each other. One of my favorite qualities in a novel is when characters feel like real people, flaws and all, and Ashley Capes delivers.
I cannot say much more about the plot without revealing spoilers. However, for those plot-oriented readers, I will say this. The plot contains a few twists and turns - nothing comes out of no where, but the journey is still fun and you will be guessing several times. While the ending is satisfying, it does leave some questions unanswered. For me, this isn't a bad thing, and I'm happy to come to my own conclusions. However, I imagine some readers will find this frustrating and feel a small lack of closure.
Overall, Crossings is a gripping cross-genre novel with the perfect blend of supernatural elements and thriller style. Once again, Capes has crafted realistic, flawed characters that lead the reader through a story with just the right amount of twists and turns. If you love supernatural, thriller, crime, or mystery and you haven't read Capes's work yet, you're missing out.
November 13, 2015
Absolute 5 star book.
This story touched on a lot of subjects. Domestic abuse, Alzheimer's/Dementia, the fires that take Australia from time to time, the outback..I totally loved this book. It is another of the "un-put-downables". Beautiful cover, fantastic up and coming author. Written so well, I felt it should be on the Top Ten best sellers list. Ive read other books by this fantastic Australian author and loved them but none of them blew me away like this one, "Crossings".
Synopsis:
Takes place in heat sweltering Australia. Lisa, the main character, is a wildlife ranger, full of love and respect for wild animals. When she comes upon one that has died, she sprinkles salt on the corpse as a sign of respect and to send the animal on its way. A highly likable, strong, smart and decisive character.
Dead animals start to show up here and there on her front porch, her yard, the roads and it takes her and the town by storm. Who or what could be causing these deaths. Even with all of this going on, Lisa's abusive ex shows up in town, bringing her even more grief. On top of that her father has started showing signs of Dementia and at times forgets who she is. You feel her pain completely. The book brought a few tears for me. If all of this wasn't enough for Lisa, wild fires are on the way to the town as well.
Beautifully written, relate-able situations and characters. Emotional in many ways. I loved this story. I wished there were a 100 more pages just so I wouldn't have to see the story end. Standing ovation from me, Mr. Capes! Nothing I say can do this book justice. A++
This story touched on a lot of subjects. Domestic abuse, Alzheimer's/Dementia, the fires that take Australia from time to time, the outback..I totally loved this book. It is another of the "un-put-downables". Beautiful cover, fantastic up and coming author. Written so well, I felt it should be on the Top Ten best sellers list. Ive read other books by this fantastic Australian author and loved them but none of them blew me away like this one, "Crossings".
Synopsis:
Takes place in heat sweltering Australia. Lisa, the main character, is a wildlife ranger, full of love and respect for wild animals. When she comes upon one that has died, she sprinkles salt on the corpse as a sign of respect and to send the animal on its way. A highly likable, strong, smart and decisive character.
Dead animals start to show up here and there on her front porch, her yard, the roads and it takes her and the town by storm. Who or what could be causing these deaths. Even with all of this going on, Lisa's abusive ex shows up in town, bringing her even more grief. On top of that her father has started showing signs of Dementia and at times forgets who she is. You feel her pain completely. The book brought a few tears for me. If all of this wasn't enough for Lisa, wild fires are on the way to the town as well.
Beautifully written, relate-able situations and characters. Emotional in many ways. I loved this story. I wished there were a 100 more pages just so I wouldn't have to see the story end. Standing ovation from me, Mr. Capes! Nothing I say can do this book justice. A++
May 12, 2016
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of the book from the author and it's always a bit nerve-wracking to review a book when you know the author is going to pay attention. I'm not going to lie or withhold opinions just because I feel grateful and honored, but I don't want to hurt their feelings either. Turns out this time my worries were unfounded since I genuinely enjoyed Crossings.
The book has several smaller storylines to go with the flaming hell-roo. They bring both depth and intrigue to the book, especially as they're very common and relatable, like the abusive ex and ailing father. Lisa's life felt very real in contrast to the very unreal events unraveling.
I think one of the richest and most compelling parts of the book is the Australian nature. I've always known it's strange, exotic, slightly magical and out to get you, and Crossings makes it very tangible, even plain-looking, which is most definitely a compliment. Making dragons and unicorns seem wondrous and incredible is easy, making them feel like something familiar and commonplace is quite different, and doing that with kangaroos and koalas and trees that shed bark for a European who's never seen those things is pretty damn skillful.
I can't say I have many complaints with this book, which is unusual to say the least. The closest one might be how every loose end didn't get tied in the end, but I'm not sure it would have fit the book to explain everything in detail. In real life some mysteries are left unsolved, no matter how little we like it.
The book has several smaller storylines to go with the flaming hell-roo. They bring both depth and intrigue to the book, especially as they're very common and relatable, like the abusive ex and ailing father. Lisa's life felt very real in contrast to the very unreal events unraveling.
I think one of the richest and most compelling parts of the book is the Australian nature. I've always known it's strange, exotic, slightly magical and out to get you, and Crossings makes it very tangible, even plain-looking, which is most definitely a compliment. Making dragons and unicorns seem wondrous and incredible is easy, making them feel like something familiar and commonplace is quite different, and doing that with kangaroos and koalas and trees that shed bark for a European who's never seen those things is pretty damn skillful.
I can't say I have many complaints with this book, which is unusual to say the least. The closest one might be how every loose end didn't get tied in the end, but I'm not sure it would have fit the book to explain everything in detail. In real life some mysteries are left unsolved, no matter how little we like it.
January 12, 2016
One of my favorite things about Crossings was that it was set in Australia. I love Australia and this book reminded me of the short time I got to spend there. That was also one of the things I had trouble with. I just had trouble with some of the slang and different verbiage for things, but really I can’t hold it against the book too much. It’s just the difference of reading an American author versus an author from another country. Overall, this was a really interesting story and I enjoyed it quite a bit. It started off a little bit slow, but once things really got underway, I wanted to keep reading and see what was going to happen. It definitely drew me in, and that’s more than I can say about a lot of things I’ve read over the past year or two.
This was a good little supernatural thriller from down under. Definitely recommend.
This was a good little supernatural thriller from down under. Definitely recommend.
December 24, 2015
I received a free download of this book from Story Cartel, thank you!
I enjoyed this book. It had enough drama and mystery to keep me guessing throughout.
The ending was a little bit lacking for me, as I still had several questions that went unanswered, but overall it ended the way I wanted it to end.
The setting in Australia was fun for me to read about. I liked the way the characters talked, and I was able to imagine that I was really there in the brush with the kangaroos.
I would recommend this book to others and I would read more by this author.
I enjoyed this book. It had enough drama and mystery to keep me guessing throughout.
The ending was a little bit lacking for me, as I still had several questions that went unanswered, but overall it ended the way I wanted it to end.
The setting in Australia was fun for me to read about. I liked the way the characters talked, and I was able to imagine that I was really there in the brush with the kangaroos.
I would recommend this book to others and I would read more by this author.
November 27, 2015
I love Australia and I have been to visit one time and would love to go back again. I also am a big animal lover. So this book was a good one for me since it has both in it. The story had me wanting to not put this book down I enjoyed it. The character seems to me like a strong survivor. I liked her! * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
December 22, 2015
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
A new book, or novella as is the case here, from Ashley Capes is always a treat, so when he asked me to read and review his latest work, Crossings, I of course jumped at the opportunity: the core idea was as intriguing as the cover, portraying a kangaroo painted in flames - a sure indication that the author had based this story in his native Australia.
Lisa Thomas, the main character, is a woman leading a complicated life: she works at several jobs to make ends meet, also volunteering with a sort of ranger service taking care of wildlife. It’s in this activity that she first comes into contact with a series of uncanny events that will shape her immediate future and change her life: someone is killing wild animals, and in some cases leaving their dead bodies – or parts of them – on her doorstep.
As if this were not enough, Lisa’s abusive ex boyfriend is back in town with every intention of resuming the relationship, while her father’s health takes a downward plunge, with every indication he might suffer from Alzheimer. In the meantime there are sightings of an improbably huge white kangaroo that behaves quite strangely – that is, if one can accept the existence of such a creature – and a few shocking murders shake the peaceful community…
As in his other two shorter works I read, The Fairy Wren and A Whisper of Leaves, the author blends details of quite ordinary, everyday life with a touch of weirdness that here is a bit more marked than usual: the background itself does possess some sort of “alien” quality, given the great differences in flora and fauna one can observe in Australia, making it the perfect setting for an otherworldly tale, but the real mystery lies with the never-fully-explained circumstance surrounding the strange apparitions that seem to target Lisa Thomas.
I’m wary about revealing more, because it would mean spoiling the surprises in the story, but I liked how in the end there remained more unanswered questions than what we started with at the beginning: the beauty of a mystery, or a puzzle, lies in my opinion in the uncertainty they engender, not in a full revelation of what lies behind them. Crossings works quite well as a stand-alone novella, of course, but at the same time it contains enough core material for a regular novel, because of those unexplained details that seem to hint at a far broader picture.
There is also a strong sense of kinship running throughout the story, of a small community that tries to be supportive of its individual members and that comes together in a wonderful way when danger threatens it: this was one of the novella’s most appealing themes, together with the more melancholic thread about old age and failing senses portrayed through Lisa’s father. It’s a subject explored with a light hand and a great deal of compassion and respect, never once sliding into easy pity or unnecessary angst.
On the other hand, I encountered some difficulties in relating to the main character, Lisa: at first her troubles created instant sympathy, especially when the subject of her violent ex boyfriend came up, since Ben is a complete, irredeemable jerk, and it’s quite easy to loathe him and side with Lisa. But as the mystery became more complex and she started to obsess over the strange sightings to the point of shunting everything to the sidelines, even her pressing personal problems, my empathy took a downward plunge. In the end, it was this ambivalence that made things even more interesting, because a more straightforwardly likable character would also have been more predictable.
In short, this story a fascinating mix, one that will keep you reading on and make you wonder at what really lies behind it all – be ready to fall into its enchantment…
Review published on SPACE and SORCERY Blog
A new book, or novella as is the case here, from Ashley Capes is always a treat, so when he asked me to read and review his latest work, Crossings, I of course jumped at the opportunity: the core idea was as intriguing as the cover, portraying a kangaroo painted in flames - a sure indication that the author had based this story in his native Australia.
Lisa Thomas, the main character, is a woman leading a complicated life: she works at several jobs to make ends meet, also volunteering with a sort of ranger service taking care of wildlife. It’s in this activity that she first comes into contact with a series of uncanny events that will shape her immediate future and change her life: someone is killing wild animals, and in some cases leaving their dead bodies – or parts of them – on her doorstep.
As if this were not enough, Lisa’s abusive ex boyfriend is back in town with every intention of resuming the relationship, while her father’s health takes a downward plunge, with every indication he might suffer from Alzheimer. In the meantime there are sightings of an improbably huge white kangaroo that behaves quite strangely – that is, if one can accept the existence of such a creature – and a few shocking murders shake the peaceful community…
As in his other two shorter works I read, The Fairy Wren and A Whisper of Leaves, the author blends details of quite ordinary, everyday life with a touch of weirdness that here is a bit more marked than usual: the background itself does possess some sort of “alien” quality, given the great differences in flora and fauna one can observe in Australia, making it the perfect setting for an otherworldly tale, but the real mystery lies with the never-fully-explained circumstance surrounding the strange apparitions that seem to target Lisa Thomas.
I’m wary about revealing more, because it would mean spoiling the surprises in the story, but I liked how in the end there remained more unanswered questions than what we started with at the beginning: the beauty of a mystery, or a puzzle, lies in my opinion in the uncertainty they engender, not in a full revelation of what lies behind them. Crossings works quite well as a stand-alone novella, of course, but at the same time it contains enough core material for a regular novel, because of those unexplained details that seem to hint at a far broader picture.
There is also a strong sense of kinship running throughout the story, of a small community that tries to be supportive of its individual members and that comes together in a wonderful way when danger threatens it: this was one of the novella’s most appealing themes, together with the more melancholic thread about old age and failing senses portrayed through Lisa’s father. It’s a subject explored with a light hand and a great deal of compassion and respect, never once sliding into easy pity or unnecessary angst.
On the other hand, I encountered some difficulties in relating to the main character, Lisa: at first her troubles created instant sympathy, especially when the subject of her violent ex boyfriend came up, since Ben is a complete, irredeemable jerk, and it’s quite easy to loathe him and side with Lisa. But as the mystery became more complex and she started to obsess over the strange sightings to the point of shunting everything to the sidelines, even her pressing personal problems, my empathy took a downward plunge. In the end, it was this ambivalence that made things even more interesting, because a more straightforwardly likable character would also have been more predictable.
In short, this story a fascinating mix, one that will keep you reading on and make you wonder at what really lies behind it all – be ready to fall into its enchantment…
Review published on SPACE and SORCERY Blog
January 7, 2016
**3.5 Stars! We received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.**
I liked the new twist on a scary animal, though I wish I could have learned a bit more about it. The primary focus was on Lisa finding her way through life and when things couldn't get any worse, there's something killing wildlife and leaving it for her to find.
There's a bit of a mystery to the story, which I enjoyed. I liked how the author outlined what was going on and didn't give too much away until nearing the end. At first, it almost had a Sleepy Hollow "who's controlling the Hessian"-feel to it, which was cool. There was a bit of a monotony when it came to Lisa finding carcasses, as she found more than just a few, but her relationship with her dad and her ex husband were decent distractions. Her ex, Ben, is a real jerk and somewhat erratic. It was said, by Lisa, at one point that he was not a psychological tyrant, just a physical abuser, but his mood swings around Lisa whenever they bumped into each other had me peg him as both.
I kind of enjoyed the way the albino kangaroo was integrated into the urban story. We didn't know what it was, or why it was doing what it did. It had my full attention whenever it showed up. There is horror, but I didn't find it to be a constant theme. There's some good action near the end when she faces off against it.
The description is good, but I felt there was almost too much needless information. I knew how much Lisa paid for lunch, ate for lunch, what she cleaned up, and details regarding her plants. In small doses this would be fine, but it happened quite a bit. Maybe for others they'll find it draws them into Lisa's daily life, making her seem more real, but for me I found that it was impeding the story.
CONCLUSION
I liked the unique Australian setting, along with the lingo, wilderness and wildlife. It created a whole new world in something a bit familiar. It did drag a bit for me and I sometimes felt that some scenes were either too choppy, or drew out too long, but the conflicts with the kangaroos were fun to. There's action, a bit of horror, and I think people looking for a new kind of creature that breaks away from the traditional might enjoy this book.
I liked the new twist on a scary animal, though I wish I could have learned a bit more about it. The primary focus was on Lisa finding her way through life and when things couldn't get any worse, there's something killing wildlife and leaving it for her to find.
There's a bit of a mystery to the story, which I enjoyed. I liked how the author outlined what was going on and didn't give too much away until nearing the end. At first, it almost had a Sleepy Hollow "who's controlling the Hessian"-feel to it, which was cool. There was a bit of a monotony when it came to Lisa finding carcasses, as she found more than just a few, but her relationship with her dad and her ex husband were decent distractions. Her ex, Ben, is a real jerk and somewhat erratic. It was said, by Lisa, at one point that he was not a psychological tyrant, just a physical abuser, but his mood swings around Lisa whenever they bumped into each other had me peg him as both.
I kind of enjoyed the way the albino kangaroo was integrated into the urban story. We didn't know what it was, or why it was doing what it did. It had my full attention whenever it showed up. There is horror, but I didn't find it to be a constant theme. There's some good action near the end when she faces off against it.
The description is good, but I felt there was almost too much needless information. I knew how much Lisa paid for lunch, ate for lunch, what she cleaned up, and details regarding her plants. In small doses this would be fine, but it happened quite a bit. Maybe for others they'll find it draws them into Lisa's daily life, making her seem more real, but for me I found that it was impeding the story.
CONCLUSION
I liked the unique Australian setting, along with the lingo, wilderness and wildlife. It created a whole new world in something a bit familiar. It did drag a bit for me and I sometimes felt that some scenes were either too choppy, or drew out too long, but the conflicts with the kangaroos were fun to. There's action, a bit of horror, and I think people looking for a new kind of creature that breaks away from the traditional might enjoy this book.
April 12, 2016
Volunteer wildlife ranger Lisa Thomas and her offsider Robert were once again called to pick up a dead kangaroo – it was a common occurrence but one Lisa was sad about. Her ritual of sprinkling salt over the dead animal’s body had been passed down through her family, with her father and grandfather also performing it. Everyone in the area expected it of Lisa…
When Lisa unexpectedly found dead animals on her front doorstep in the small Victorian town of Lidelson, she wondered if it was kids skylarking. But then people Lisa had known for years began to die – violently. The police were unable to work out what was happening; was it anything to do with the return to town of her violent ex, Ben? And with Lisa’s dad’s health deteriorating fast – she had no idea what was happening to her life…
The inexplicable appearance of a huge white kangaroo with a message for Lisa confused her even more. It was almost as if the kangaroo was warning her – but about what she had no idea. With the help of Gerry, the local policeman and Robert, Lisa tried to make sense of what was happening – but confusion deepened, danger threatened and strange things continued to occur. What was out there in the darkness of the Australian bush?
Crossings by Aussie author Ashley Capes is an intriguing tale of gripping and dark mystery, mixed with the paranormal and blended with the Dreamtime. I devoured it, reading from start to finish in a few hours. Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommendable.
When Lisa unexpectedly found dead animals on her front doorstep in the small Victorian town of Lidelson, she wondered if it was kids skylarking. But then people Lisa had known for years began to die – violently. The police were unable to work out what was happening; was it anything to do with the return to town of her violent ex, Ben? And with Lisa’s dad’s health deteriorating fast – she had no idea what was happening to her life…
The inexplicable appearance of a huge white kangaroo with a message for Lisa confused her even more. It was almost as if the kangaroo was warning her – but about what she had no idea. With the help of Gerry, the local policeman and Robert, Lisa tried to make sense of what was happening – but confusion deepened, danger threatened and strange things continued to occur. What was out there in the darkness of the Australian bush?
Crossings by Aussie author Ashley Capes is an intriguing tale of gripping and dark mystery, mixed with the paranormal and blended with the Dreamtime. I devoured it, reading from start to finish in a few hours. Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommendable.
October 8, 2015
When I see a book with a kangaroo on the front cover, unless it looks like a zombie kangaroo, it doesn't normally strike me as threatening. But this book is quite the opposite. And it is all about kangaroos, so in a way, the cover is quite fitting. The main character, Lisa, seems to continually have a run of bad luck in the story. Her dad's mind is starting to go in and out, her ex shows up, and dead things start showing up on her doorstep and in her yard. Strange things are happening in the area Lisa lives in and one of them is the sudden appearance of a solid white kangaroo. But she only brings more bad news. Before long, murder is added to the equation and Lisa is one of the main suspects due to circumstances.
I can't really go further without giving away too much. However, this book does leave you with some questions. So you have to ask yourself whether it's better to leave a book with a bit of mystery or to completely tie up the ending nice and tidy without loose ends. In a series, you might want to leave things a little open like that. But some people prefer no loose ends in a stand-alone. I think that leaving a little mystery gives you something to ponder on afterwards. It certainly has for me. And the angry kangaroo in the book left me questioning just how sweet and cuddly those animals are.
I can't really go further without giving away too much. However, this book does leave you with some questions. So you have to ask yourself whether it's better to leave a book with a bit of mystery or to completely tie up the ending nice and tidy without loose ends. In a series, you might want to leave things a little open like that. But some people prefer no loose ends in a stand-alone. I think that leaving a little mystery gives you something to ponder on afterwards. It certainly has for me. And the angry kangaroo in the book left me questioning just how sweet and cuddly those animals are.
October 28, 2015
Another awesome book, I so loved A Whisper of Leaves, so when the author ask me to read another book I jumped at the chance, first of all I got to say I love the cover it's different and it's just cool I have never read a book about kangaroos so it's different and awesome this is a mystery type book my favorite I am a animal lover so I certainly hope no animals were harmed in the making of this book lol, I do feel for the main character all these problems she's having an abusive ex I can so relate I have so many books on my pile of Gotta read however I think I'll be looking into more of what this author has and maybe getting some more books I really love the style. I was given this book in exchange for an honest review by the author.
February 10, 2017
Wonderfully written book, much suspense. Much psychological stress on Lisa and some mysterious things left open. Not a bad thing for me, most of my classmates hated the "open ended stories" our english teacher let us read, but I liked many of them.
I've just read Crossings a second time, tough there are pretty much blood, many killed animals and men I thoroughly enjoyed it. I especially liked the description of the situation with Lisas father and of the fight against the bush fire to save their lives and the pub.
I've just read Crossings a second time, tough there are pretty much blood, many killed animals and men I thoroughly enjoyed it. I especially liked the description of the situation with Lisas father and of the fight against the bush fire to save their lives and the pub.
October 1, 2015
Ashley Capes can jump genres and still suck you in to his story. I had a hard time putting it down. American English and Australian English have some translation issues. But that didn't take away from the story at all. And Ashley took the time to answer my questions about what had been lost in the translation. This is a must read. Ashley Capes is still one of my newest favorite authors.
July 18, 2022
Crossings is a thriller, set in small-town Australia, with some supernatural/spiritual elements behind the mysterious, and violent, events that coincide with our main character’s abusive ex returning to town.
I was reading this expecting some more of the fantastical, which turned out to be largely absent. The blurb mentions a giant white kangaroo, which is one of the supernatural elements, sort of, but not much else in the speculative realm. The mysterious giant roo doesn’t make an appearance until halfway through the book and while there are some other weird goings on, this is still a thriller that happens to have some supernatural elements.
Those supernatural elements are, however, a little confused and not explored in much depth. While trying not to put spoilers in reviews is my preference, there are some ahead because I want to demonstrate what I mean by the previous statement.
–!!!spoilers!!!–
There’s the giant white roo, which no one knows how it grew so big, or so white, or how it gives people visions but leaves no trace of itself behind. There’s a brief mention of looking for kangaroo related myths and legends but no follow-up. The roo, as it appears to the MC (Lisa), turns out to be the ghost of the giant white kangaroo, which explains how it never leaves a trace but when she finds the body of the roo dead (still dishing out visions) it turns out those who saw it before her might’ve seen it pre-ghost form. Then there’s the giant red kangaroo, which may or may not be a were-kangaroo situation and actually be her abusive ex.
Then there’s zombie animals seeking revenge on those who killed them. But there’s also a bunch of other deaths that aren’t revenge killings. There’s a giant kangaroo skull in her ex’s basement and a pile of human skin that seems to have been cut off with a blade, including a tattoo, which she maybe sees later on the arm of the giant red roo, who is maybe behind all the zombie animals and killings? But maybe her ex is resisting it? The giant red managed to survive being shot several times, even in the chest, and then survive a rampant bush fire that carbonised everything else in sight but somehow it just disintegrated in water leaving nothing but a giant kangaroo skull (but wait, wasn’t that sat in her ex’s basement?). Not for any reason other than the white roo showed Lisa a vision of a river at one point.
–!!! end of spoilers!!!–
Possibly, this could’ve been a much more cohesive story if the disparate elements were explored more deeply and woven together. As it stands, the end of the story becomes a bit of a deus ex machina, everyone assumes the ex died in the bushfire that had been threatening to sweep the town and that he was responsible for everything. Almost in the same breath they decide that no-one will ever know what really happened here and, at this point, it doesn’t matter. Lisa alone had theorised things were more than they seemed so after everything is burnt away by the bushfire or washed away by the river, there’s nothing more to say or do, leaving the reader somewhat frustrated at the lack of answers.
2.5/5
I was reading this expecting some more of the fantastical, which turned out to be largely absent. The blurb mentions a giant white kangaroo, which is one of the supernatural elements, sort of, but not much else in the speculative realm. The mysterious giant roo doesn’t make an appearance until halfway through the book and while there are some other weird goings on, this is still a thriller that happens to have some supernatural elements.
Those supernatural elements are, however, a little confused and not explored in much depth. While trying not to put spoilers in reviews is my preference, there are some ahead because I want to demonstrate what I mean by the previous statement.
–!!!spoilers!!!–
There’s the giant white roo, which no one knows how it grew so big, or so white, or how it gives people visions but leaves no trace of itself behind. There’s a brief mention of looking for kangaroo related myths and legends but no follow-up. The roo, as it appears to the MC (Lisa), turns out to be the ghost of the giant white kangaroo, which explains how it never leaves a trace but when she finds the body of the roo dead (still dishing out visions) it turns out those who saw it before her might’ve seen it pre-ghost form. Then there’s the giant red kangaroo, which may or may not be a were-kangaroo situation and actually be her abusive ex.
Then there’s zombie animals seeking revenge on those who killed them. But there’s also a bunch of other deaths that aren’t revenge killings. There’s a giant kangaroo skull in her ex’s basement and a pile of human skin that seems to have been cut off with a blade, including a tattoo, which she maybe sees later on the arm of the giant red roo, who is maybe behind all the zombie animals and killings? But maybe her ex is resisting it? The giant red managed to survive being shot several times, even in the chest, and then survive a rampant bush fire that carbonised everything else in sight but somehow it just disintegrated in water leaving nothing but a giant kangaroo skull (but wait, wasn’t that sat in her ex’s basement?). Not for any reason other than the white roo showed Lisa a vision of a river at one point.
–!!! end of spoilers!!!–
Possibly, this could’ve been a much more cohesive story if the disparate elements were explored more deeply and woven together. As it stands, the end of the story becomes a bit of a deus ex machina, everyone assumes the ex died in the bushfire that had been threatening to sweep the town and that he was responsible for everything. Almost in the same breath they decide that no-one will ever know what really happened here and, at this point, it doesn’t matter. Lisa alone had theorised things were more than they seemed so after everything is burnt away by the bushfire or washed away by the river, there’s nothing more to say or do, leaving the reader somewhat frustrated at the lack of answers.
2.5/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2026
The best word I can use to describe this novella is eerie. This book leaves a lot of questions regarding its supernatural elements unanswered, so it's not for a reader who must have every mystery explained. Set in Australia, it involves a wildlife expert searching for a mysterious white kangaroo and morphs into a deeper mystery involving deaths of both Australian wildlife and humans. Because she is so obsessed and distressed Lisa makes plenty of questionable decisions as she hunts for an answer to the deaths, but the added emotional elements really round out what makes this novella worth reading. The return of her abusive ex and the slow decline of her beloved father into dementia are both well portrayed and move the main character beyond her obsession.
December 6, 2018
Ashley, you've done it again!
What would you believe? A huge white kangaroo that appears and disappears, dead and mutilated bodies of animals and men laying all around. Was this one done by a real animal or cleverly done by someone who had lost all reality and was running a muck? Lisa was good at her job of taking care of dead animals in the Bush but was this revenge, insanity, or something supernatural? I think that the only thing you can do is read and find out. If you have read any other stories by Ashley, you will find that this is completely different than his other series but is very like Ashley Capes.
What would you believe? A huge white kangaroo that appears and disappears, dead and mutilated bodies of animals and men laying all around. Was this one done by a real animal or cleverly done by someone who had lost all reality and was running a muck? Lisa was good at her job of taking care of dead animals in the Bush but was this revenge, insanity, or something supernatural? I think that the only thing you can do is read and find out. If you have read any other stories by Ashley, you will find that this is completely different than his other series but is very like Ashley Capes.
January 27, 2026
I thoroughly enjoyed it. Puts just the right amount of Australian in without going over the top.
Some strange little bits, but still decent
Some strange little bits, but still decent
June 9, 2016
I really enjoyed this suspenseful, paranormal mystery. I liked the writing and the realistic touches like the dialogue and everyday events of life that grounded the novel in reality while seamlessly introducing the supernatural elements. All of this then allowed the dramatic scenes to shine through with their tension and suspense, and were all really well written.
There's a few different stories running parallel to each other that then begin to merge together: the declining health of Lisa's Dad, the return of Ben, and the mystery of the white kangaroo. The story kept me guessing and the pages turning, wanting to see what happened next! All the characters seemed real and Lisa was a relatable and likeable character, an ordinary woman who is pulled into the supernatural without fully understanding it.
On finishing the book I would have liked more answers but as far as the story is concerned and Lisa's role in it, it made sense that some things remain a mystery and that in itself adds to the feel of realism.
*I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways*
There's a few different stories running parallel to each other that then begin to merge together: the declining health of Lisa's Dad, the return of Ben, and the mystery of the white kangaroo. The story kept me guessing and the pages turning, wanting to see what happened next! All the characters seemed real and Lisa was a relatable and likeable character, an ordinary woman who is pulled into the supernatural without fully understanding it.
On finishing the book I would have liked more answers but as far as the story is concerned and Lisa's role in it, it made sense that some things remain a mystery and that in itself adds to the feel of realism.
*I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways*
May 3, 2016
Crossings by Ashley Capes is a novel that follows Lisa Thomas uncovering the truth behind the deaths that's somehow associated/related with a giant white kangaroo. Along with it, she's also dealing with her ex. Ben, who's rage is quickly growing.
I give this book 2.75 out of 5 stars. I'll round it up so it'll be 3 out of 5 stars on goodreads. The book's fine. The cover's great and the description's catchy. Although I didn't like how the plot went. I like the idea but it wasn't handled smoothly. There were holes which I found. Also, I find the story very slow.
Despite everything, I liked it. Nice read.
I give this book 2.75 out of 5 stars. I'll round it up so it'll be 3 out of 5 stars on goodreads. The book's fine. The cover's great and the description's catchy. Although I didn't like how the plot went. I like the idea but it wasn't handled smoothly. There were holes which I found. Also, I find the story very slow.
Despite everything, I liked it. Nice read.
October 5, 2016
An interesting journey with lots to offer at each corner. The intrigue keeps you turning the pages and the characters unfold with more and more depth the further you travel. The atmosphere is beautifully set and when the tale ends you're left feeling very rewarded. A great novel.
December 5, 2015
Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange of the honest review of the book.
Overall, the book is good for passing time. However, at times, I did lose my focus.
Overall, the book is good for passing time. However, at times, I did lose my focus.
June 11, 2016
A "horror" story that relies on cheap jump scares and a plodding mystery to get to its non-ending.
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