What do you think?
Rate this book
One Sunday
From the bestselling author of Mallawindy and the Woody Creek series
Early one Sunday, the town of Molliston wakes to the news that a young bride is dead. The year is 1929. The Great War with Germany has been fought and won, but at an immense cost to the small community.
Death is too familiar here. So many sons were lost. So many daughters would never be wives; so many grandchildren would never be born.
Racial hatred is like a bushfire in the belly of some. And the dead girl is found only yards from the property of old Joe Reichenberg, a German. Tom Thompson, the local cop, lost his two sons in Gallipoli. He believes he has come to terms with his bereavement - until that Sunday.
Slowly, the true face of Molliston is exposed. By midnight, a full moon is offering its light - and a glimmer of hope.
Early one Sunday, the town of Molliston wakes to the news that a young bride is dead. The year is 1929. The Great War with Germany has been fought and won, but at an immense cost to the small community.
Death is too familiar here. So many sons were lost. So many daughters would never be wives; so many grandchildren would never be born.
Racial hatred is like a bushfire in the belly of some. And the dead girl is found only yards from the property of old Joe Reichenberg, a German. Tom Thompson, the local cop, lost his two sons in Gallipoli. He believes he has come to terms with his bereavement - until that Sunday.
Slowly, the true face of Molliston is exposed. By midnight, a full moon is offering its light - and a glimmer of hope.
372 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2006
22 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
About the author
Joy Dettman
22 books163 followersJoy Dettman was born in country Victoria and spent her early years in towns on either side of the Murray River. She is an award-winning writer of short stories, the complete collection of which, Diamonds in the Mud, was published in 2007, as well as the highly acclaimed novels Mallawindy, Jacaranda Blue, Goose Girl, Yesterday's Dust, The Seventh Day, Henry's Daughter, One Sunday, Pearl in a Cage, Thorn on the Rose, Moth to the Flame and Wind in the Wires. Ripples on a Pond is Joy's fifth novel in her Woody Creek series.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
September 9, 2023
Life in a country town in Australia in the 1920s was tough. The war had taken its toll, the drought was an ever present factor and every day was a struggle, particularly in the summer months. Joy Dettman portrays this beautifully in One Sunday and adds a further destabilising factor. Murder. This is a completely absorbing story that takes place over the course of a single day, a single hellishly brutal Sunday.
The scene is the tiny town of Molliston in country Victoria and it's the searing summer of 1929. This is a township that is still reeling from the losses suffered during the war, their land ravaged by drought and bushfires. Those men who weren't killed in action have returned to the town horribly disfigured or mentally scarred, ensuring that the local German family is widely hated by the community.
In the early morning of Sunday, 13 January a young woman from the town is murdered and left beside the road at the front gate of the German family. The shock of the death coupled with the location of her body sends the town into an uproar, stirring the local gossips into action and igniting the racial hatred that had already been on the simmer for quite some time.
The first reaction is to wonder who would want to brutally beat a beautiful innocent young woman to death and then leave her lying by the side of the road. But if you kick over a rock you invariably disturb the secret world hiding underneath, and when the rock that is Molliston is overturned, it's astounding the secrets that come scuttling out into the open. The innocent may not be quite as pure as first thought and the harmless may just be very good at hiding their true self.
Investigating the death is the local policeman, Constable Tom Thompson. He's a cop dedicated to his job, but is also plagued with troubles of his own. He lost two sons in the war and is now burdened with a wife who has gone insane through grief. His day is spent juggling his job while ensuring that his wife is being cared for so that she won't hurt herself or someone else. Although one of the town's most tolerant and understanding men, even his patience will prove to be tested to its very limit before the day is out.
But murder was not the only game in town on this busy Saturday night / Sunday morning. Admitted to the local hospital was a young woman who had gone into labour after jumping off a passing train. It looks as though the doctor was able to save the baby but its unmarried mother may not be so fortunate.
Molliston is a deeply divided town, filled with suspicion, with many harbouring a deep-seated hatred for Germans and carrying their own closely guarded secrets. The murder on this Sunday morning could be sufficient to raise the simmering tensions that have been building both within households and out to a shattering conflict that will affect every member of the community.
More than just a murder mystery, this is a fascinating peek into the dynamics of a small town in Australia in the 1920s. It's a glimpse into the struggles of families following the war as they attempt to get over the terrible consequences of losing loved ones. Joy Dettman has done a wonderful job in defining and shaping her characters and in bringing them sharply to life.
One Sunday takes place over a single day, beginning in the early, stiflingly hot sleepless hours as Tom Thompson roams his house restlessly before finally snatching some sleep only to be woken by the news of the discovery of the body. It's the start of a very long and tiring day for the policeman.
As the day wears on, the lives of the townsfolk are revealed to us in broad detail. How they have come to be living in Molliston, the tragedies they have suffered that will prove to be significant in how the rest of the day will unfold. In fact, it's Dettman's analysis of her characters that brings the story to life, the gossips, the loners, the rich and the struggling, the hateful and the hated whose stories are all interwoven into a tragic small-town tale.
The story is allowed to unfold in a carefully measured fashion allowing tensions to build, personalities to become familiar to us and inter-relationships to be established. By the day's end it is obvious that the scene has been set for a momentous confluence of events that have been expertly orchestrated.
One Sunday is an outstanding mystery, playing on the fears and prejudices of small minded people. It's a story of forbidden love, misunderstanding and regret and effortlessly draws you in and guarantees that you will be thinking about it long after you've finished.
The scene is the tiny town of Molliston in country Victoria and it's the searing summer of 1929. This is a township that is still reeling from the losses suffered during the war, their land ravaged by drought and bushfires. Those men who weren't killed in action have returned to the town horribly disfigured or mentally scarred, ensuring that the local German family is widely hated by the community.
In the early morning of Sunday, 13 January a young woman from the town is murdered and left beside the road at the front gate of the German family. The shock of the death coupled with the location of her body sends the town into an uproar, stirring the local gossips into action and igniting the racial hatred that had already been on the simmer for quite some time.
The first reaction is to wonder who would want to brutally beat a beautiful innocent young woman to death and then leave her lying by the side of the road. But if you kick over a rock you invariably disturb the secret world hiding underneath, and when the rock that is Molliston is overturned, it's astounding the secrets that come scuttling out into the open. The innocent may not be quite as pure as first thought and the harmless may just be very good at hiding their true self.
Investigating the death is the local policeman, Constable Tom Thompson. He's a cop dedicated to his job, but is also plagued with troubles of his own. He lost two sons in the war and is now burdened with a wife who has gone insane through grief. His day is spent juggling his job while ensuring that his wife is being cared for so that she won't hurt herself or someone else. Although one of the town's most tolerant and understanding men, even his patience will prove to be tested to its very limit before the day is out.
But murder was not the only game in town on this busy Saturday night / Sunday morning. Admitted to the local hospital was a young woman who had gone into labour after jumping off a passing train. It looks as though the doctor was able to save the baby but its unmarried mother may not be so fortunate.
Molliston is a deeply divided town, filled with suspicion, with many harbouring a deep-seated hatred for Germans and carrying their own closely guarded secrets. The murder on this Sunday morning could be sufficient to raise the simmering tensions that have been building both within households and out to a shattering conflict that will affect every member of the community.
More than just a murder mystery, this is a fascinating peek into the dynamics of a small town in Australia in the 1920s. It's a glimpse into the struggles of families following the war as they attempt to get over the terrible consequences of losing loved ones. Joy Dettman has done a wonderful job in defining and shaping her characters and in bringing them sharply to life.
One Sunday takes place over a single day, beginning in the early, stiflingly hot sleepless hours as Tom Thompson roams his house restlessly before finally snatching some sleep only to be woken by the news of the discovery of the body. It's the start of a very long and tiring day for the policeman.
As the day wears on, the lives of the townsfolk are revealed to us in broad detail. How they have come to be living in Molliston, the tragedies they have suffered that will prove to be significant in how the rest of the day will unfold. In fact, it's Dettman's analysis of her characters that brings the story to life, the gossips, the loners, the rich and the struggling, the hateful and the hated whose stories are all interwoven into a tragic small-town tale.
The story is allowed to unfold in a carefully measured fashion allowing tensions to build, personalities to become familiar to us and inter-relationships to be established. By the day's end it is obvious that the scene has been set for a momentous confluence of events that have been expertly orchestrated.
One Sunday is an outstanding mystery, playing on the fears and prejudices of small minded people. It's a story of forbidden love, misunderstanding and regret and effortlessly draws you in and guarantees that you will be thinking about it long after you've finished.
February 10, 2012
Joy gets an automatic four stars from me for this one because she is just such a FINE writer and very firmly one of my favourites. And when you read articles calling her one of Australia's most bewilderingly unsung literary talents, they really ain't kidding. She's got legions of fans, but where are the legions of critics declaring her the best thing since sliced bread/Tim Winton? Nowhere. They are deafening in their very silence. SHAME. She really is excellent. A gifted storyteller. That said, this one feels a little like a trial run for her Woody Creek saga. Same fictional towns in Victoria (like most of her books), same time period, and even the same inciting incident: a mysterious girl is found near the railway tracks, unable to provide answers for how she got there and - pop! - out comes her bastard baby. 'Pearl in a Cage' does it better (which is probably why I gave that one five stars) but that is not to denigrate the story told here, which is strong on mystery and menace. Of the former, the solution is satisfying. Of the latter, I did feel just a little robbed in not getting Kurt, Christian, or their mother's POV during the violent climax. Instead we got it from Tom's nutcase wife. That lessened the impact for me, sorry to be brutal, but there it is. However, Tom himself was an excellent character to place at the centre of things. Joy's talent for creating highly empathetic, yet very human leads is, well, Joyous. The next one I read of hers will be the second of the Woody Creek novels, I think.
April 30, 2020
I think I must have been living under a rock, because it has taken me this long to discover Joy Dettman’s books! Aussie author, Aussie setting, time travel to the 1920’s – all the things I love in a book, and yet I had never stumbled across this one before now.
Let me tell you, if you love historical fiction set in Australia, then you are in for a real treat. ONE SUNDAY is chockablock full of themes that make for a ripper of a story. Soldiers returning to Australia from WWI, some disfigured, some traumatised, but all with scars of their own, trying to resume lives that had been stolen from them. Small country towns which have lost a great number of their sons, lovers, husbands, fathers to a war on a distant shore. Grieving families, madness, sadness. Hatred of Germans and everything that is of German origin. Small town gossip, politics, feuds and alliances. Domestic abuse, cruelty. Teenage pregnancy. A doomed romance between feuding families. And in the centre of it all a murder: who killed young beautiful Rachel Squire?
ONE SUNDAY had everything I love in a good story, and Dettman is a master story teller to boot. With well rounded, real life characters and interpersonal dynamics that painted the book’s rich cast vividly in my mind, I was invested in each and every one of their stories – and there are lots of them! This book was as addictive as a soapie, and I could not wait to find out all the answers. But most of all, Dettman offers us an observant snapshot of post war Australia with all its problems and lasting scars. There isn’t a character who hasn’t been affected by the war, even though it had been fought on a distant shore. But the loss of so many fine young men has left a huge toll on the whole community and has divided it in ways that had never been an issue before. Those who did return are never the same again. The wounds have stoked the fire of racial hatred, and suddenly the love between Rachel Squire and Christian Reichenberg is taboo.
Tom Thompson, the town’s cop, who is facing his own battles trying to look after his “crazy” wife and mourning the loss of his two boys, is faced with solving Rachel’s murder. In a town where hatred runs so deep, were each and every one has something to hide, it won’t be easy ....
I must also give credit to Deirdre Rubinstein, the narrator of this lengthy audio book, who did an absolutely outstanding job in bringing each and every character to life for me., making this one of the best audio book narrations I have ever listened to.
In summary, ONE SUNDAY may have been the first book I have ever read by Joy Dettman, but it won’t be the last. I have already picked up one of her Woody Creek series and am looking forward to losing myself in more of her brilliant writing. ONE SUNDAY is Australian fiction at its best, giving an insightful snapshot of small town Australia in the 1920’s. It doesn’t get much better than this.
4.5 stars
*blog* *facebook* *instagram*
Let me tell you, if you love historical fiction set in Australia, then you are in for a real treat. ONE SUNDAY is chockablock full of themes that make for a ripper of a story. Soldiers returning to Australia from WWI, some disfigured, some traumatised, but all with scars of their own, trying to resume lives that had been stolen from them. Small country towns which have lost a great number of their sons, lovers, husbands, fathers to a war on a distant shore. Grieving families, madness, sadness. Hatred of Germans and everything that is of German origin. Small town gossip, politics, feuds and alliances. Domestic abuse, cruelty. Teenage pregnancy. A doomed romance between feuding families. And in the centre of it all a murder: who killed young beautiful Rachel Squire?
ONE SUNDAY had everything I love in a good story, and Dettman is a master story teller to boot. With well rounded, real life characters and interpersonal dynamics that painted the book’s rich cast vividly in my mind, I was invested in each and every one of their stories – and there are lots of them! This book was as addictive as a soapie, and I could not wait to find out all the answers. But most of all, Dettman offers us an observant snapshot of post war Australia with all its problems and lasting scars. There isn’t a character who hasn’t been affected by the war, even though it had been fought on a distant shore. But the loss of so many fine young men has left a huge toll on the whole community and has divided it in ways that had never been an issue before. Those who did return are never the same again. The wounds have stoked the fire of racial hatred, and suddenly the love between Rachel Squire and Christian Reichenberg is taboo.
Tom Thompson, the town’s cop, who is facing his own battles trying to look after his “crazy” wife and mourning the loss of his two boys, is faced with solving Rachel’s murder. In a town where hatred runs so deep, were each and every one has something to hide, it won’t be easy ....
I must also give credit to Deirdre Rubinstein, the narrator of this lengthy audio book, who did an absolutely outstanding job in bringing each and every character to life for me., making this one of the best audio book narrations I have ever listened to.
In summary, ONE SUNDAY may have been the first book I have ever read by Joy Dettman, but it won’t be the last. I have already picked up one of her Woody Creek series and am looking forward to losing myself in more of her brilliant writing. ONE SUNDAY is Australian fiction at its best, giving an insightful snapshot of small town Australia in the 1920’s. It doesn’t get much better than this.
4.5 stars
*blog* *facebook* *instagram*
April 28, 2017
Set over the course of one day, a Sunday, in the rural Victorian town of Molliston, this felt like the day was never-ending. I listened to it as an audiobook, and in retrospect, I suspect it wasn’t the best book to listen to this way - at least not for me. There were too many names that were similar and families I couldn’t keep straight who was in which and what was what so I kept getting mixed up. The book was narrated well, but it took about 10 hours less than a day (it was just under 14 hours long), however it felt like it took longer than the day that the story was recounting!
I’m not sure whether I’ll read another Joy Dettman, although I’d like to give her writing one more chance, but I think if I did, I’d be reading the next as a proper book rather than listening to it.
I’m not sure whether I’ll read another Joy Dettman, although I’d like to give her writing one more chance, but I think if I did, I’d be reading the next as a proper book rather than listening to it.
March 7, 2023
Truly magnificent- a masterpiece of historical fiction, a window to that time and place.
November 18, 2016
A very good Aussie yarn. A murder mystery with some historical context thrown in. I didn't pick the culprit, revealed in a very clever way right towards the end. Joy Dettman has a great way of keeping the story moving, all set within one 24 hour period, the Sunday of the title, while weaving in the back stories for context and richness. A lovely book.
November 29, 2017
Must have been written by an Australian author, as it's THE most laid back who dunnit I've ever read. Despite that, the ending was still a surprise. I'll be interested to read another of her books at a later date.
June 6, 2024
Set against the backdrop of the post-war Australian outback, this novel presents an interesting read, rich with characters and language that vividly capture the essence of the era. Initially, the story progresses at a leisurely pace, making it a bit challenging to keep track of the various characters introduced. However, this deliberate pacing allows for a deep immersion into the setting and characters.
As the narrative unfolds, the unique personalities and dialects typical of an Australian outback town during the post-war period come to life, adding authenticity and charm to the story. Despite the slow start, the book gains momentum midway through, with the plot becoming increasingly engaging. By this point, I found myself enticed to keep reading, eager to discover what would happen next.
Overall, this novel is a rewarding experience for those willing to invest the time in its detailed and atmospheric storytelling. The initial patience required is well compensated by the rich tapestry of characters and the intriguing developments that follow. A must-read for fans of historical fiction and anyone interested in a genuine portrayal of Australian outback life in the post-war era.
As the narrative unfolds, the unique personalities and dialects typical of an Australian outback town during the post-war period come to life, adding authenticity and charm to the story. Despite the slow start, the book gains momentum midway through, with the plot becoming increasingly engaging. By this point, I found myself enticed to keep reading, eager to discover what would happen next.
Overall, this novel is a rewarding experience for those willing to invest the time in its detailed and atmospheric storytelling. The initial patience required is well compensated by the rich tapestry of characters and the intriguing developments that follow. A must-read for fans of historical fiction and anyone interested in a genuine portrayal of Australian outback life in the post-war era.
March 1, 2024
One Sunday
By Joy Dettman
One of my favourite Australian authors, Joy Dettman tells a historical Aussie story like no other.
Early one Sunday in 1929, the small town of Molliston wakes to the news that a young bride is dead.
The Great War with Germany has been fought and won with an immense loss to the community. So many sons were lost.
Racial hatred rages through the town.
And the deceased young bride is found only yards from the property of an old German.
Joy Dettman has written this novel as you would tell a family story sitting around the table with a cuppa.
Her characters and descriptions of the old town come to life and by the end of the book you feel as though you know them all.
With added twists and turns, a great story is made even richer.
Highly recommended for anyone that loves a good Aussie story.
Rated: 5/5
By Joy Dettman
One of my favourite Australian authors, Joy Dettman tells a historical Aussie story like no other.
Early one Sunday in 1929, the small town of Molliston wakes to the news that a young bride is dead.
The Great War with Germany has been fought and won with an immense loss to the community. So many sons were lost.
Racial hatred rages through the town.
And the deceased young bride is found only yards from the property of an old German.
Joy Dettman has written this novel as you would tell a family story sitting around the table with a cuppa.
Her characters and descriptions of the old town come to life and by the end of the book you feel as though you know them all.
With added twists and turns, a great story is made even richer.
Highly recommended for anyone that loves a good Aussie story.
Rated: 5/5
July 16, 2017
I have enjoyed Joy Dettman's books and this one is one of the best, they are all absorbing reading .
This covers one day,and the events that occurred. It was a life changing 24
hours for so many people
This covers one day,and the events that occurred. It was a life changing 24
hours for so many people
September 5, 2017
Well-written, bit confusing to get all the characters straight at first, but VERY faced paced. Not at all bad for still type of story-telling.
January 7, 2018
A great Australian novel.
January 15, 2018
I enjoyed the book but I just wished that the author would finish the story. It was just left up in the air. I would have liked to know what happened to the people in the story
May 1, 2019
A dead woman is found in the early hours of Sunday, but who did it? The story takes place in a mere 24 hours, until the mystery is solved. Quite a twist at the end.
September 20, 2021
Another great story.
July 19, 2023
Really captures the mood of a small town in a heatwave in 1929. The characters were well thought out. Tragedy of small town biases and hangover from the war. Loss upon loss
March 9, 2024
A cracker of a read!! Had me guessing right until the last few pages.
May 16, 2024
Slow starting but to a rollercoaster of an end. Who could have thought so much would happen in one day? The quintessential Australian mystery. Loved the language!
August 15, 2025
Loved this book, Joy Dettman is a master of words. Loved the descriptive phrases she came up with. Will look for more of her novels to read.
December 6, 2016
This book varied from slow to slower. Twelve CDs and the action took place during the course of about sixteen hours. At times I could not remember where the story was at as the reader was rambling on with a long winded side narrative. "There was a murder and the butler did it!" sums up the story, but it took 12 hours/CDs to say and arrive at that conclusion!
The one redeeming feature was that the reader was able to create some great character voices although even these were, at times, lost in some of the ramblings which were included by Ms. Dettman.
The one redeeming feature was that the reader was able to create some great character voices although even these were, at times, lost in some of the ramblings which were included by Ms. Dettman.
March 23, 2012
Enjoyed this twisting tale all set over one Sunday in a country town in Victoria just after the Great War. Lots of characters, unfortunately a bit one dimensional but still a good read and would try more of her books.
September 28, 2012
Enjoy her descriptive style of writing, especially her descriptions of smallAustralian town the twenties and thirties Her books have a lot of characters in them which can be a little confusing at times.
March 16, 2013
A tragedy about racial hatred and control freaks. Really sad and very depressing to read. I am anxious that these sorts of behaviour still exist.
April 20, 2013
Have made a comment under another review but suffice to say I will be reading some more Joy Dettman....
June 24, 2014
Good story with a great Australian flavour. I found it intriguing and quite dark in places.
January 17, 2016
A good insight into early Australian lives. Might be hard to catch on to some of the language if you're not an Aussie. I found it really entertaining.
October 19, 2021
Another great read from this brilliant storyteller
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews