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Clarke
A compelling new novel from the bestselling author of Goodwood and Cedar Valley.
'Clarke is illuminated with such wonderful, vivid characters. Rarely have I felt so deeply invested in a story - I loved this book so much. Throsby is a supremely gifted storyteller, and Clarke truly is a wonder.' Mark Brandi
On a hot morning in 1991 in the regional town of Clarke, Barney Clarke (no relation) is woken by the unexpected arrival of many policemen: they are going to search his backyard for the body of a missing woman.
Next door, Leonie Wallace and little Joe watch the police cars through their kitchen window. Leonie has been waiting for this day for six years. She is certain that her friend - Ginny Lawson - is buried in that backyard under a slab of suspicious concrete.
But the fate of Ginny Lawson is not the only mystery in Clarke. Barney lives alone in a rented house with a ring on his finger, but where is Barney's wife? Leonie lives with four-year-old Joe, but where is Joe's mother?
Clarke is a story of family and violence, of identity and longing, of unlikely connections and the comedy of everyday life. At its centre stands Leonie Wallace, a travel agent who has never travelled, a warm woman full of love and hope and grief, who must steer Joe safely through a very strange time indeed.
'Clarke is illuminated with such wonderful, vivid characters. Rarely have I felt so deeply invested in a story - I loved this book so much. Throsby is a supremely gifted storyteller, and Clarke truly is a wonder.' Mark Brandi
On a hot morning in 1991 in the regional town of Clarke, Barney Clarke (no relation) is woken by the unexpected arrival of many policemen: they are going to search his backyard for the body of a missing woman.
Next door, Leonie Wallace and little Joe watch the police cars through their kitchen window. Leonie has been waiting for this day for six years. She is certain that her friend - Ginny Lawson - is buried in that backyard under a slab of suspicious concrete.
But the fate of Ginny Lawson is not the only mystery in Clarke. Barney lives alone in a rented house with a ring on his finger, but where is Barney's wife? Leonie lives with four-year-old Joe, but where is Joe's mother?
Clarke is a story of family and violence, of identity and longing, of unlikely connections and the comedy of everyday life. At its centre stands Leonie Wallace, a travel agent who has never travelled, a warm woman full of love and hope and grief, who must steer Joe safely through a very strange time indeed.
416 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2022
60 people are currently reading
1431 people want to read
About the author
Holly Throsby
5 books190 followersHolly Throsby is a songwriter, musician and novelist from Sydney. She has released four solo albums, a children’s album called See! and her most recent album in 2011 was called Team. Holly has been nominated for four ARIA Awards – two for Best Female Artist, one for Best Children’s Album, and one as part of Seeker Lover Keeper, her band with Sally Seltmann and Sarah Blasko.
Holly is also a council member for the animal protection institute, Voiceless.
She likes good books, cryptic crosswords, small towns and dogs.
Holly is also a council member for the animal protection institute, Voiceless.
She likes good books, cryptic crosswords, small towns and dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 241 reviews
January 18, 2023
Clarke depicts the lives of residents in a regional town, as police search for missing woman, Ginny Lawson. The book takes inspiration from the real-life case of Lynette Dawson. This mystery serves as backdrop to other mysteries involving residents of Clarke. Barney and Leonie are next-door neighbours and it’s Barney’s backyard that police are excavating. Where is Barney’s wife, Deb? What happened to her? Why is he watching his son from the McDonald’s carpark? And what happened to Leonie’s sister, the mother of little Joe, who Leonie is now raising?
Holly's writing has an endearing rhythm to it - no doubt signs of her musical talents shining through. She instantly made me feel like a fly-on-the-wall in the lives of these Clarke residents. Clarke is very much slice-of-life, but the vivid details ensured I felt connected to these memorable characters. These same details also meant I felt the crackling heat, making it a great summer read.
“She could feel the weather inside her dress. The fabric stuck to her in that certain way with the humidity. Not to mention what this kind of climate did to her hair. She was like a moist terrier.”
I loved the early 90s setting and found myself looking forward to escaping into this world, to check-in with characters I came to know. They are realistic, flawed, and relatable in various ways.
“Leonie had never met a sad feeling she hadn’t tried to ignore.”
The town of Clarke was a well-developed character itself - an Aussie town that any Australian can relate to and understand. It’s wonderfully Aussie in its language and imagery.
Despite the heaviness, it made me laugh too, especially whenever scenes depicted Leonie’s workplace. Leonie, the travel agent who never traveled, reminded me of my uncle, a lactose intolerant milkman. The wholesome interactions between Leonie and Joe also made me smile.
“Would you still love me if I was a donkey?”
I enjoyed how the story was as much an exploration on identity, overcoming trauma and moving forward, as it was anything else. It was a joy to watch the characters slowly grow.
“You have to try to move on. You have to get back to having a life. A new life.”
While I’m certain Holly loves animals, I found it difficult to read certain descriptions. These alluded to a dog’s violent death, followed by a beloved pet dying, which was soon followed by an unrelated dead dog joke. I found this unnecessary and didn’t serve the plot. Speaking of plot, I also predicted the "twist" from 150 pages away. I may have rolled my eyes when it eventually unfolded towards the end.
Clarke is a mixed bag, though its strong characters kept me engaged. While it has a satisfying end, it was almost too neat, and in case of the twist, too predictable.
Many thanks to Allen & Unwin for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Holly's writing has an endearing rhythm to it - no doubt signs of her musical talents shining through. She instantly made me feel like a fly-on-the-wall in the lives of these Clarke residents. Clarke is very much slice-of-life, but the vivid details ensured I felt connected to these memorable characters. These same details also meant I felt the crackling heat, making it a great summer read.
“She could feel the weather inside her dress. The fabric stuck to her in that certain way with the humidity. Not to mention what this kind of climate did to her hair. She was like a moist terrier.”
I loved the early 90s setting and found myself looking forward to escaping into this world, to check-in with characters I came to know. They are realistic, flawed, and relatable in various ways.
“Leonie had never met a sad feeling she hadn’t tried to ignore.”
The town of Clarke was a well-developed character itself - an Aussie town that any Australian can relate to and understand. It’s wonderfully Aussie in its language and imagery.
Despite the heaviness, it made me laugh too, especially whenever scenes depicted Leonie’s workplace. Leonie, the travel agent who never traveled, reminded me of my uncle, a lactose intolerant milkman. The wholesome interactions between Leonie and Joe also made me smile.
“Would you still love me if I was a donkey?”
I enjoyed how the story was as much an exploration on identity, overcoming trauma and moving forward, as it was anything else. It was a joy to watch the characters slowly grow.
“You have to try to move on. You have to get back to having a life. A new life.”
While I’m certain Holly loves animals, I found it difficult to read certain descriptions. These alluded to a dog’s violent death, followed by a beloved pet dying, which was soon followed by an unrelated dead dog joke. I found this unnecessary and didn’t serve the plot. Speaking of plot, I also predicted the "twist" from 150 pages away. I may have rolled my eyes when it eventually unfolded towards the end.
Clarke is a mixed bag, though its strong characters kept me engaged. While it has a satisfying end, it was almost too neat, and in case of the twist, too predictable.
Many thanks to Allen & Unwin for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 28, 2022
Clarke is a very soothing novel, which may not make sense given the themes - abuse, dv, violence - but this author, in her smooth, understated and flawless prose tells her story quietly and without fanfare.
Set in 1991, an era which is always interesting to hear about as it is my era, is full of neighbourly friendships, familial love and responsibility, and the occasional understated frisson of a community bound together by a past mystery.
This story is full of seemingly normal people missing certain elements of people in their life. Leonie is the carer of toddler Joe, who doesn't have his mother, their neighbour, unassuming Barney has lost his wife who is still breathing, but why are they not still together when the snippets of a past life show they are perfect together? And why must he look at his son, coming and going from his job at MacDonalds?
Leonie's best friend went missing, a lovely woman named Ginny. She was her neighbour and was a committed and loving mother. Her remains had never been found, but now, unluckily for Barney, she is being searched for in his backyard. They are exhuming the ground in search for this beloved community member. Everyone is sure her insidious husband is behind this, a man that moved on very quickly after meeting his new wife at a 'titty bar'. Leonie is furious her concerns were never taken seriously, and we as the reader feel this immensely when privy to the interview, she had all those years back when talking to a policeman - an officer of the law that appeared to be another violent man and had his own reasons for not following through the compelling evidence laid bare by Leonie.
The loving relationship between Leonie and young Joe is loving and bare of fanfare. ‘She’s not my mum’ ‘That’s true, isn’t it, honey… ‘I’m not your mum, I’m your LeeLee’. Another beautiful moment between these two lovely characters is when Joe asks her if she would still love him if he were a donkey. Her response? - You need to read it for yourself!
I am sorry I have not read this author before now. Holly Throsby is a songwriter, musician and a writer. This is evident in her lyrical writing that does not seek the limelight but is full of meaty writing and bits of gold scattered throughout. Humans loving other humans all in their own ways, with lots of cuppas and cakes shared. A great book which is to be savoured, and I thank Allen & Unwin for my physical uncorrected proof copy to read and review. Another winner.
Set in 1991, an era which is always interesting to hear about as it is my era, is full of neighbourly friendships, familial love and responsibility, and the occasional understated frisson of a community bound together by a past mystery.
This story is full of seemingly normal people missing certain elements of people in their life. Leonie is the carer of toddler Joe, who doesn't have his mother, their neighbour, unassuming Barney has lost his wife who is still breathing, but why are they not still together when the snippets of a past life show they are perfect together? And why must he look at his son, coming and going from his job at MacDonalds?
Leonie's best friend went missing, a lovely woman named Ginny. She was her neighbour and was a committed and loving mother. Her remains had never been found, but now, unluckily for Barney, she is being searched for in his backyard. They are exhuming the ground in search for this beloved community member. Everyone is sure her insidious husband is behind this, a man that moved on very quickly after meeting his new wife at a 'titty bar'. Leonie is furious her concerns were never taken seriously, and we as the reader feel this immensely when privy to the interview, she had all those years back when talking to a policeman - an officer of the law that appeared to be another violent man and had his own reasons for not following through the compelling evidence laid bare by Leonie.
The loving relationship between Leonie and young Joe is loving and bare of fanfare. ‘She’s not my mum’ ‘That’s true, isn’t it, honey… ‘I’m not your mum, I’m your LeeLee’. Another beautiful moment between these two lovely characters is when Joe asks her if she would still love him if he were a donkey. Her response? - You need to read it for yourself!
I am sorry I have not read this author before now. Holly Throsby is a songwriter, musician and a writer. This is evident in her lyrical writing that does not seek the limelight but is full of meaty writing and bits of gold scattered throughout. Humans loving other humans all in their own ways, with lots of cuppas and cakes shared. A great book which is to be savoured, and I thank Allen & Unwin for my physical uncorrected proof copy to read and review. Another winner.
December 27, 2022
Clarke is a wonderful read. With its vivid depiction of its characters, it’s more of a domestic drama than a murder mystery. The novel does centre around a missing woman, Ginny and her suspected murder by her husband, but the focus for the reader is more on how this affects the people who live around her.
Most affected is Leonie, Ginny’s friend and next door neighbour. When Ginny disappeared six years ago, Leonie was convinced that Lou, her brute of a husband had killed her and told the police about the violent rows she used to hear next door. However, Lou was adamant she had run away, although neither Ginny nor her body was ever found.
Barney, who now lives in the house where Ginny, her husband and son lived, is also disrupted by the re-opening of the investigation into Ginny’s disappearance. Apart from having police camped on the doorstep, his garden is in the process of being dug up and searched for a body.
Both Barney and Leonie have their own secrets they find hard to discuss. Leonie is bringing up her nephew, a delightful four year old called Joe, after her sister died and Barney is still shell-shocked from his wife’s rejection of him and misses seeing his son. Somehow, the interest in new investigation pulls all the neighbours together and finds Barney and Leonie forging a connection and starting to move on from their past traumas.
Holly Throsby’s talent as a songwriter shines through in her lyrical writing and crafting of her characters who she depicts fondly with all their flaws and idiosyncrasies. The town of Clarke is instantly recognisable as a 1990s small Aussie town and the neighbours and friends as characters you might meet there. The mix of comic touches and tender insights makes this a novel to enjoy for that alone, even as the search for Ginny continues in Barney’s garden.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin for a copy of this book to read
Most affected is Leonie, Ginny’s friend and next door neighbour. When Ginny disappeared six years ago, Leonie was convinced that Lou, her brute of a husband had killed her and told the police about the violent rows she used to hear next door. However, Lou was adamant she had run away, although neither Ginny nor her body was ever found.
Barney, who now lives in the house where Ginny, her husband and son lived, is also disrupted by the re-opening of the investigation into Ginny’s disappearance. Apart from having police camped on the doorstep, his garden is in the process of being dug up and searched for a body.
Both Barney and Leonie have their own secrets they find hard to discuss. Leonie is bringing up her nephew, a delightful four year old called Joe, after her sister died and Barney is still shell-shocked from his wife’s rejection of him and misses seeing his son. Somehow, the interest in new investigation pulls all the neighbours together and finds Barney and Leonie forging a connection and starting to move on from their past traumas.
Holly Throsby’s talent as a songwriter shines through in her lyrical writing and crafting of her characters who she depicts fondly with all their flaws and idiosyncrasies. The town of Clarke is instantly recognisable as a 1990s small Aussie town and the neighbours and friends as characters you might meet there. The mix of comic touches and tender insights makes this a novel to enjoy for that alone, even as the search for Ginny continues in Barney’s garden.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin for a copy of this book to read
November 12, 2022
Clarke is the third novel by best-selling Australian songwriter, musician and novelist, Holly Throsby. Four-year-old Joe is fascinated by all the police activity next door. Trying to field his questions, Leonie Wallace is more circumspect: she knows they are looking for the body of her friend, Ginny Lawson. Barney Clarke is somewhat bewildered: he does recall how interested his wife Deb was in the press surrounding the disappearance of Lou Lawson’s wife, but has only rented the Calboonya Avenue house for six months, completely unaware of its history.
After that introduction, a less generous, less talented author might reduce the tale to two or three paragraphs: Leonie is looking after a boy not her son because x; Barney is living alone after y; and the police search of the property turns up z. But Throsby treats the reader to the gorgeous prose and rich detail that makes ordinary people living ordinary lives anything but ordinary.
Her setting, the city that still often feels like a small town, Clarke is the centre of the Gather region, and will be known to readers of her earlier novels. Throsby’s depiction of it is faultless, so well rendered that readers familiar with the area may well have a certain town fixed in their minds. But it could be any NSW country town in the early 90s with its attractive and its less desirable qualities, and that includes the residents.
Readers should not expect an action-packed page-turner. Rather, the pace befits the rural setting and, while there are mysteries to be solved, and the reader will be kept guessing as each piece of relevant information is revealed, this is more a study of an Australian country town than a crime thriller. In her acknowledgements, Throsby states that it is partly inspired by the search for Lynette Dawson.
Throsby’s characters offer up myriad reactions to the police activities: speculation, gossip and opinions on Ginny’ disappearance, occasionally peppered with dark humour. Their recall of the initial investigation highlights the profound impact of police and community attitudes in a case of domestic violence and coercive control.
Drawn together by their inevitable interest in the case, Barney and Leonie gradually get to know each other a little. Both of Throsby’s narrators are dealing with grief and guilt over past events, and Barney expresses it well: “In the past couple of years Barney had noticed that a lot of information from his past life had left him. Yet other memories from his past life were so vivid he wished he could forget. It would be fantastic to be able to choose one’s memories. It would make life so much easier.”
With fewer characters than her previous novels, most of the cast are more than one-dimensional. Some are quite quirky, all are believably flawed, but many are also kind and generous and wise and some have unexpected depth. With his innocence and complete lack of guile, Joe is sure to be a favourite.
Throsby certainly has a way with words: “Leonie remembered the warmth of her mother as a heady storm that blew in fast but never stayed long”. A tale that is clever and captivating and heart-warming and comes to a very satisfying conclusion, this is Throsby’s best yet.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Allen & Unwin.
After that introduction, a less generous, less talented author might reduce the tale to two or three paragraphs: Leonie is looking after a boy not her son because x; Barney is living alone after y; and the police search of the property turns up z. But Throsby treats the reader to the gorgeous prose and rich detail that makes ordinary people living ordinary lives anything but ordinary.
Her setting, the city that still often feels like a small town, Clarke is the centre of the Gather region, and will be known to readers of her earlier novels. Throsby’s depiction of it is faultless, so well rendered that readers familiar with the area may well have a certain town fixed in their minds. But it could be any NSW country town in the early 90s with its attractive and its less desirable qualities, and that includes the residents.
Readers should not expect an action-packed page-turner. Rather, the pace befits the rural setting and, while there are mysteries to be solved, and the reader will be kept guessing as each piece of relevant information is revealed, this is more a study of an Australian country town than a crime thriller. In her acknowledgements, Throsby states that it is partly inspired by the search for Lynette Dawson.
Throsby’s characters offer up myriad reactions to the police activities: speculation, gossip and opinions on Ginny’ disappearance, occasionally peppered with dark humour. Their recall of the initial investigation highlights the profound impact of police and community attitudes in a case of domestic violence and coercive control.
Drawn together by their inevitable interest in the case, Barney and Leonie gradually get to know each other a little. Both of Throsby’s narrators are dealing with grief and guilt over past events, and Barney expresses it well: “In the past couple of years Barney had noticed that a lot of information from his past life had left him. Yet other memories from his past life were so vivid he wished he could forget. It would be fantastic to be able to choose one’s memories. It would make life so much easier.”
With fewer characters than her previous novels, most of the cast are more than one-dimensional. Some are quite quirky, all are believably flawed, but many are also kind and generous and wise and some have unexpected depth. With his innocence and complete lack of guile, Joe is sure to be a favourite.
Throsby certainly has a way with words: “Leonie remembered the warmth of her mother as a heady storm that blew in fast but never stayed long”. A tale that is clever and captivating and heart-warming and comes to a very satisfying conclusion, this is Throsby’s best yet.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Allen & Unwin.
November 18, 2022
Two and a half stars.
Police are digging up concrete and searching the yard of the house Barney Clarke rents. Police are investigating claims of a body of Ginny Lawson being buried in the yard. Ginny disappeared some years earlier. Barney watches the police seeking clues. Next door Leonie and her four year old nephew Joe watch proceedings with interest. Leonie had been a friend to Ginny, but not always as good a friend as she could have been, she thinks. Maureen, Joe's mother, has died so Leonie is caring for Joe. Leonie and Barney bond over their shared experience of watching the pollce. Barney is married but there is no sign of his wife. Where could she be? The truth is revealed as the story progresses.
The characters of Barney, Leonie, Dorrie, Eileen and others are well portrayed and I liked seeing how relationships developed. This book is more a character study than a murder mystery and includes some interesting interactions between characters. However, I did not find Joe a believable four year old.
Writing is descriptive with a lot of information conveyed but pace is slow with not a lot happening. Sadly, I would not call this book compelling. I found myself at times telling the author to ‘just get on with it,’ and struggled to keep reading. Too much detail and I found it annoying the way it darted from one character and one time frame to another.
Some of the themes covered are friendship, family, small communities, loss, grief and domestic violence. The ending was abrupt and disappointing after taking so long to get to that point. For me, despite good writing, I found it just an okay read. Thanks to Allen&Unwin for my ARC which I won to read and review. Others may well like this book more than I did.
Police are digging up concrete and searching the yard of the house Barney Clarke rents. Police are investigating claims of a body of Ginny Lawson being buried in the yard. Ginny disappeared some years earlier. Barney watches the police seeking clues. Next door Leonie and her four year old nephew Joe watch proceedings with interest. Leonie had been a friend to Ginny, but not always as good a friend as she could have been, she thinks. Maureen, Joe's mother, has died so Leonie is caring for Joe. Leonie and Barney bond over their shared experience of watching the pollce. Barney is married but there is no sign of his wife. Where could she be? The truth is revealed as the story progresses.
The characters of Barney, Leonie, Dorrie, Eileen and others are well portrayed and I liked seeing how relationships developed. This book is more a character study than a murder mystery and includes some interesting interactions between characters. However, I did not find Joe a believable four year old.
Writing is descriptive with a lot of information conveyed but pace is slow with not a lot happening. Sadly, I would not call this book compelling. I found myself at times telling the author to ‘just get on with it,’ and struggled to keep reading. Too much detail and I found it annoying the way it darted from one character and one time frame to another.
Some of the themes covered are friendship, family, small communities, loss, grief and domestic violence. The ending was abrupt and disappointing after taking so long to get to that point. For me, despite good writing, I found it just an okay read. Thanks to Allen&Unwin for my ARC which I won to read and review. Others may well like this book more than I did.
November 18, 2022
Clarke is the third novel by best-selling Australian songwriter, musician and novelist, Holly Throsby. The audio version is narrated by Sarah Blasko. Four-year-old Joe is fascinated by all the police activity next door. Trying to field his questions, Leonie Wallace is more circumspect: she knows they are looking for the body of her friend, Ginny Lawson. Barney Clarke is somewhat bewildered: he does recall how interested his wife Deb was in the press surrounding the disappearance of Lou Lawson’s wife, but has only rented the Calboonya Avenue house for six months, completely unaware of its history.
After that introduction, a less generous, less talented author might reduce the tale to two or three paragraphs: Leonie is looking after a boy not her son because x; Barney is living alone after y; and the police search of the property turns up z. But Throsby treats the reader to the gorgeous prose and rich detail that makes ordinary people living ordinary lives anything but ordinary.
Her setting, the city that still often feels like a small town, Clarke is the centre of the Gather region, and will be known to readers of her earlier novels. Throsby’s depiction of it is faultless, so well rendered that readers familiar with the area may well have a certain town fixed in their minds. But it could be any NSW country town in the early 90s with its attractive and its less desirable qualities, and that includes the residents.
Readers should not expect an action-packed page-turner. Rather, the pace befits the rural setting and, while there are mysteries to be solved, and the reader will be kept guessing as each piece of relevant information is revealed, this is more a study of an Australian country town than a crime thriller. In her acknowledgements, Throsby states that it is partly inspired by the search for Lynette Dawson.
Throsby’s characters offer up myriad reactions to the police activities: speculation, gossip and opinions on Ginny’ disappearance, occasionally peppered with dark humour. Their recall of the initial investigation highlights the profound impact of police and community attitudes in a case of domestic violence and coercive control.
Drawn together by their inevitable interest in the case, Barney and Leonie gradually get to know each other a little. Both of Throsby’s narrators are dealing with grief and guilt over past events, and Barney expresses it well: “In the past couple of years Barney had noticed that a lot of information from his past life had left him. Yet other memories from his past life were so vivid he wished he could forget. It would be fantastic to be able to choose one’s memories. It would make life so much easier.”
With fewer characters than her previous novels, most of the cast are more than one-dimensional. Some are quite quirky, all are believably flawed, but many are also kind and generous and wise and some have unexpected depth. With his innocence and complete lack of guile, Joe is sure to be a favourite.
Throsby certainly has a way with words: “Leonie remembered the warmth of her mother as a heady storm that blew in fast but never stayed long”. A tale that is clever and captivating and heart-warming and comes to a very satisfying conclusion, this is Throsby’s best yet.
After that introduction, a less generous, less talented author might reduce the tale to two or three paragraphs: Leonie is looking after a boy not her son because x; Barney is living alone after y; and the police search of the property turns up z. But Throsby treats the reader to the gorgeous prose and rich detail that makes ordinary people living ordinary lives anything but ordinary.
Her setting, the city that still often feels like a small town, Clarke is the centre of the Gather region, and will be known to readers of her earlier novels. Throsby’s depiction of it is faultless, so well rendered that readers familiar with the area may well have a certain town fixed in their minds. But it could be any NSW country town in the early 90s with its attractive and its less desirable qualities, and that includes the residents.
Readers should not expect an action-packed page-turner. Rather, the pace befits the rural setting and, while there are mysteries to be solved, and the reader will be kept guessing as each piece of relevant information is revealed, this is more a study of an Australian country town than a crime thriller. In her acknowledgements, Throsby states that it is partly inspired by the search for Lynette Dawson.
Throsby’s characters offer up myriad reactions to the police activities: speculation, gossip and opinions on Ginny’ disappearance, occasionally peppered with dark humour. Their recall of the initial investigation highlights the profound impact of police and community attitudes in a case of domestic violence and coercive control.
Drawn together by their inevitable interest in the case, Barney and Leonie gradually get to know each other a little. Both of Throsby’s narrators are dealing with grief and guilt over past events, and Barney expresses it well: “In the past couple of years Barney had noticed that a lot of information from his past life had left him. Yet other memories from his past life were so vivid he wished he could forget. It would be fantastic to be able to choose one’s memories. It would make life so much easier.”
With fewer characters than her previous novels, most of the cast are more than one-dimensional. Some are quite quirky, all are believably flawed, but many are also kind and generous and wise and some have unexpected depth. With his innocence and complete lack of guile, Joe is sure to be a favourite.
Throsby certainly has a way with words: “Leonie remembered the warmth of her mother as a heady storm that blew in fast but never stayed long”. A tale that is clever and captivating and heart-warming and comes to a very satisfying conclusion, this is Throsby’s best yet.
February 16, 2023
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**2.5 stars**
Clarke by Holly Throsby. (2022).
Clarke, 1991. Barney is woken by the unexpected arrival of policeman to search his backyard for the body of a missing woman. Next door, Leonie and little Joe watch. Leonie has been waiting 6 years for this; she's certain her friend Ginny is buried in that backyard. But the fate of Ginny is not the only mystery in Clarke. Barney lives alone in a rented house and wears a wedding ring, but where is his wife? Leonie lives with 4-year-old Joe, but where is Joe's mother?
I have to be honest and say I found this novel a bit average. I was interested enough by the storyline to read to the end, but it just never hit the right spot for me. I would point out that the synopsis and cover of this is slightly misleading - it implies a mystery novel however while there is a mystery occurring, the narrative is more about the lives of a few select people in this town; perhaps it's better classified as a life lit/domestic drama in the context of an unsolved crime (very specific genre there haha). Don't get me wrong, this is not a bad novel in any way - it's written well and the unsolved crime (inspired by a true crime event) is quite intriguing. It just wasn't my cup of tea unfortunately.
Overall: I found this novel to be a slow and average read; I would very much recommend the author's previous novel 'Cedar Valley' (an excellent read) over this one. However many others have rated this one high so worth a go if it interests you at all.
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**2.5 stars**
Clarke by Holly Throsby. (2022).
Clarke, 1991. Barney is woken by the unexpected arrival of policeman to search his backyard for the body of a missing woman. Next door, Leonie and little Joe watch. Leonie has been waiting 6 years for this; she's certain her friend Ginny is buried in that backyard. But the fate of Ginny is not the only mystery in Clarke. Barney lives alone in a rented house and wears a wedding ring, but where is his wife? Leonie lives with 4-year-old Joe, but where is Joe's mother?
I have to be honest and say I found this novel a bit average. I was interested enough by the storyline to read to the end, but it just never hit the right spot for me. I would point out that the synopsis and cover of this is slightly misleading - it implies a mystery novel however while there is a mystery occurring, the narrative is more about the lives of a few select people in this town; perhaps it's better classified as a life lit/domestic drama in the context of an unsolved crime (very specific genre there haha). Don't get me wrong, this is not a bad novel in any way - it's written well and the unsolved crime (inspired by a true crime event) is quite intriguing. It just wasn't my cup of tea unfortunately.
Overall: I found this novel to be a slow and average read; I would very much recommend the author's previous novel 'Cedar Valley' (an excellent read) over this one. However many others have rated this one high so worth a go if it interests you at all.
December 13, 2022
Clarke is an interesting urban mystery that sets you up with the prospect of a cold case crime investigation but actually delivers a convergent family tragedy. Author Holly Throsby does a fine job of building rich backstories and creating movingly sympathetic characters over the course of this multi-layered story.
The small town of Clarke is in a state of barely contained anticipation when a team of police descend on the backyard of Barney Clarke. They have with them a warrant allowing them to excavate his backyard. They’re looking for the body of Ginny Lawson who lived in the house years ago with her husband and son before she suddenly went missing.
Watching from next door is Leonie Wallace and so is Dorrie from across the street. They’ve been waiting ages for this to happen and can barely contain themselves.
So, against the jarring background noise of concrete cutters and heavy excavation we witness the blossoming friendship of two households - Leonie and her 4 year old nephew Joe and Barney, the retired neighbour who is still coming to terms with his separation from his wife. Clearly, they’re both familiar with family trauma and are still in the process of coming to terms with their respective altered lifestyles.
While there remains the lurking spectre of suspected domestic violence that may have played out in Barney’s house, the story is more largely focused on providing a gradual revelation of the past. There is a mystery to be revealed and, although it requires quite a bit of patience to discover it, it turns out to be a moving and, at times, gripping tale.
Ultimately, Clarke leaves behind the expectation of the ongoing backyard excavation and forensic examination and moves effortlessly into the importance of dealing with death and loss. And while it certainly unfolds at a sedate pace, I felt it suited the content, created a definite feeling of empathy with the characters and helped capture the mood of the story perfectly.
My thanks to Allen & Unwin for my uncorrected proof copy to read and review.
The small town of Clarke is in a state of barely contained anticipation when a team of police descend on the backyard of Barney Clarke. They have with them a warrant allowing them to excavate his backyard. They’re looking for the body of Ginny Lawson who lived in the house years ago with her husband and son before she suddenly went missing.
Watching from next door is Leonie Wallace and so is Dorrie from across the street. They’ve been waiting ages for this to happen and can barely contain themselves.
So, against the jarring background noise of concrete cutters and heavy excavation we witness the blossoming friendship of two households - Leonie and her 4 year old nephew Joe and Barney, the retired neighbour who is still coming to terms with his separation from his wife. Clearly, they’re both familiar with family trauma and are still in the process of coming to terms with their respective altered lifestyles.
While there remains the lurking spectre of suspected domestic violence that may have played out in Barney’s house, the story is more largely focused on providing a gradual revelation of the past. There is a mystery to be revealed and, although it requires quite a bit of patience to discover it, it turns out to be a moving and, at times, gripping tale.
Ultimately, Clarke leaves behind the expectation of the ongoing backyard excavation and forensic examination and moves effortlessly into the importance of dealing with death and loss. And while it certainly unfolds at a sedate pace, I felt it suited the content, created a definite feeling of empathy with the characters and helped capture the mood of the story perfectly.
My thanks to Allen & Unwin for my uncorrected proof copy to read and review.
November 19, 2022
Ginny Lawson was 31 when she went missing from the town of Clarke in 1985, leaving behind her 3 year old son and husband Lou. The investigation was cursory, friends and neighbours weren’t questioned and Senior Constable Marrel claimed she’d run off with a man, suicided or joined a cult. Nothing comes from potential sightings or tip offs about suspiciously sudden backyard concreting but now 6 years later forensics are ripping apart the shed, investigating the roof space, their ground penetrating radar and machinery going day and night.
Next door, sweet little pre-schooler Joe is enthralled by all the commotion. He lives with Leonie, a travel agent who’s never travelled, and is the son of her sister Maurie. Everyone loves warm and funny Leonie and insist that Joe is lucky to have her. But what happened to Joe’s mum? Both he and Leonie are still dealing with the loss.
Across the street is Earl, who is regarded as a mystery: always sitting on his front porch creepily watching, a supposed car thief and drug dealer, but not serving prison time. Is he a suspect or a witness?
Despite the tumult, tenant of the Calboonya Ave property, Barney, reminisces about the good times bushwalking with his wife Deb, the onset of her rages, but constantly wanting to share with her the developments in the investigation. He suffers the grief and guilt of not picking her up from work on that fateful day 2 years ago, and the subsequent rejection by his son. Barney’s also a mystery: wearing a wedding ring but no sign of his wife.
Leonie, her friends and colleagues have shared their suspicions over the years: Lou was controlling and volatile, Ginny was sleep deprived but not suicidal. Now they share their findings, with a shattering contribution from Barney who has access to the terms of the search warrant: Lou has violently abused his second wife.
Leonie and Barney’s acquaintanceship grows and ‘Clarke’ turns out to be more about the mysteries in the lives of these characters and the link between them than the crime. Set at a county town pace in the vicinity of Cedar Valley and Goodwood, Holly Throsby fans will feel right at home. Schooners of Resch’s at the bowlo, Fossey’s at the local plaza, make the place and time vividly come alive.
Thanks to Allen & Unwin for an advanced reading copy to review.
Next door, sweet little pre-schooler Joe is enthralled by all the commotion. He lives with Leonie, a travel agent who’s never travelled, and is the son of her sister Maurie. Everyone loves warm and funny Leonie and insist that Joe is lucky to have her. But what happened to Joe’s mum? Both he and Leonie are still dealing with the loss.
Across the street is Earl, who is regarded as a mystery: always sitting on his front porch creepily watching, a supposed car thief and drug dealer, but not serving prison time. Is he a suspect or a witness?
Despite the tumult, tenant of the Calboonya Ave property, Barney, reminisces about the good times bushwalking with his wife Deb, the onset of her rages, but constantly wanting to share with her the developments in the investigation. He suffers the grief and guilt of not picking her up from work on that fateful day 2 years ago, and the subsequent rejection by his son. Barney’s also a mystery: wearing a wedding ring but no sign of his wife.
Leonie, her friends and colleagues have shared their suspicions over the years: Lou was controlling and volatile, Ginny was sleep deprived but not suicidal. Now they share their findings, with a shattering contribution from Barney who has access to the terms of the search warrant: Lou has violently abused his second wife.
Leonie and Barney’s acquaintanceship grows and ‘Clarke’ turns out to be more about the mysteries in the lives of these characters and the link between them than the crime. Set at a county town pace in the vicinity of Cedar Valley and Goodwood, Holly Throsby fans will feel right at home. Schooners of Resch’s at the bowlo, Fossey’s at the local plaza, make the place and time vividly come alive.
Thanks to Allen & Unwin for an advanced reading copy to review.
February 10, 2023
I found this to be an interesting read. Based loosely on a recent murder case where a man was charged with his wife's murder many years after he had reported her missing. In many ways the real case was more creepy in that the husband was a former Rugby League player of note and schoolteacher, who had hired one of his students to be the babysitter for his children and later married her.
But this was based in the South Coast regional NSW, nearby the two towns featured in Ms Throsby's previous two novels. I liked the narrative alternating between neighbours of the deceased who also had both suffered great trauma in their own lives. Both were interesting, good characters, well described in their thoughts.
But overall, the story never actually got going, everything seemed to be on hold, the stories of the two traumas, the search of the missing woman's body, and just about everything else. Enjoyable, but a bit flat in the end. 3.5 stars for me. Library ebook.
But this was based in the South Coast regional NSW, nearby the two towns featured in Ms Throsby's previous two novels. I liked the narrative alternating between neighbours of the deceased who also had both suffered great trauma in their own lives. Both were interesting, good characters, well described in their thoughts.
But overall, the story never actually got going, everything seemed to be on hold, the stories of the two traumas, the search of the missing woman's body, and just about everything else. Enjoyable, but a bit flat in the end. 3.5 stars for me. Library ebook.
August 1, 2023
I once met Holly Throsby at a Sarah Blasko concert. I told her that I was a great fan of, her, mother. I grew up listening to the pure vowel tones of Margaret Throsby. In the early part of this century, I listened to the dulcet tones of Holly Throsby singing, along with previously mentioned Sarah, Kate Miller-Hiedke, Jen Cloher, Sally Seltmann (New Buffalo). I had seen Throsby’s earlier publications, but I had not read them.
I have tried to shake my addiction to crime fiction, but, like all addictions that can be difficult. Clarke is similar to a number of other Australian crime fiction books in that its title and setting is an Australian country town inhabited by ordinary Australians, but with hidden secrets and mysteries. (Think, Tilt, Cutters End, Dirt Town, Hammer and Harpin’s novels). However, it is not a crime fiction book in the manner of the above books. This is more a story of death and loss.
The novel is set in the small town of Clarke and in the opening pages Throsby uses simple suburban language to introduce us to the simple and suburban characters. The innocence is amplified by the first character we meet , a child, Joey. But even early on there are pointers to things unknown.
This book is not part of Australian bush crime fiction noir. It is a story of a country town (population 13,000) and a number of people who live in the town, in a street where an horrendous crime was committed. The crime permeates the story, but the real story are the characters, their lives and loses. Everyday Australians who we all know, and who Throsby has the ability to describe and to give them language that we hear daily.
Throsby has used the disappearance of Lynette Dawson, the victim in the highly popular podcast “Teacher’s Pet” as the background to her similar, but fictious story. I had a friend who had been working at Cromer High School in the early 1980s. I remember his comment on how he didn’t have much to do with Dawson as he was part of the “super teacher in-crowd” and my friend was in his first year of teaching.
I am sure that readers are aware of Lynette Dawson’s disappearance and the subsequent actions and recent conviction of Chris Dawson for her murder. On an aside, the real crime has issues that need to be addressed. The original investigating police have never been held accountable for what appears to be shoddy police work in their investigation. Secondly, I am glad there are now laws and policies in place inhibiting teachers developing relationships with their students.
At times, I found the story too suburban, too mundane, too much boring conversation, others might have a different perspective. I did like the ending for by that stage I had developed empathy for the residents of Clarke and the issues they faced. Throsby has written a believable and comforting ending.
I hate giving stars to books, it cheapens the effort that authors put into creating several hundreds of pages of descriptions and dialogue.
For me it would be three stars, for those who I think would be interested in Throsby’s writing, four stars.
I have tried to shake my addiction to crime fiction, but, like all addictions that can be difficult. Clarke is similar to a number of other Australian crime fiction books in that its title and setting is an Australian country town inhabited by ordinary Australians, but with hidden secrets and mysteries. (Think, Tilt, Cutters End, Dirt Town, Hammer and Harpin’s novels). However, it is not a crime fiction book in the manner of the above books. This is more a story of death and loss.
The novel is set in the small town of Clarke and in the opening pages Throsby uses simple suburban language to introduce us to the simple and suburban characters. The innocence is amplified by the first character we meet , a child, Joey. But even early on there are pointers to things unknown.
This book is not part of Australian bush crime fiction noir. It is a story of a country town (population 13,000) and a number of people who live in the town, in a street where an horrendous crime was committed. The crime permeates the story, but the real story are the characters, their lives and loses. Everyday Australians who we all know, and who Throsby has the ability to describe and to give them language that we hear daily.
Throsby has used the disappearance of Lynette Dawson, the victim in the highly popular podcast “Teacher’s Pet” as the background to her similar, but fictious story. I had a friend who had been working at Cromer High School in the early 1980s. I remember his comment on how he didn’t have much to do with Dawson as he was part of the “super teacher in-crowd” and my friend was in his first year of teaching.
I am sure that readers are aware of Lynette Dawson’s disappearance and the subsequent actions and recent conviction of Chris Dawson for her murder. On an aside, the real crime has issues that need to be addressed. The original investigating police have never been held accountable for what appears to be shoddy police work in their investigation. Secondly, I am glad there are now laws and policies in place inhibiting teachers developing relationships with their students.
At times, I found the story too suburban, too mundane, too much boring conversation, others might have a different perspective. I did like the ending for by that stage I had developed empathy for the residents of Clarke and the issues they faced. Throsby has written a believable and comforting ending.
I hate giving stars to books, it cheapens the effort that authors put into creating several hundreds of pages of descriptions and dialogue.
For me it would be three stars, for those who I think would be interested in Throsby’s writing, four stars.
November 27, 2022
A slow, meandering read that I bloody loved. Holly Throsby’s characters are so real, the universe she is creating (Clarke, Goodwood & Cedar Valley) is a place I want to spend more time in. And as a diehard 90’s tragic, spending time in that decade just brings me so much joy.
May 5, 2025
When I was several chapters into the story, the words ‘soap opera’ and ‘kitchen sink saga’ leapt into my mind. Not in a derogatory way, just that I expected a bit more substance, a bit more drama and less average characters. An odd comment coming from someone who supports Australian authors. Perhaps the players were too much like the Average Aussie when I was looking for someone new and something special to jump out of the box onto the page. I felt the plot was a tad drawn out, padded with tedious moments, relationships, loss, resignation and endless sadness. Some fun lines involved food, my favourite on page 314 'When Barney’s raisin toast arrived, it was already buttered and had, for a garnish, a sprig of parsley and a Mintie.' If they care to, crime readers can make up their minds whodunnit well before the final pages. The whole ‘missing person’ situation is solved with the literary equivalent of a politely disbelieving cough. With peripheral brevity, relaxed dialogue and well-spaced pages, Throsby’s story is an easy read but disappointingly forgettable. Note: this review was written in November 2022.
January 4, 2023
‘There’s more than one mystery in this town.’
Barney Clarke is renting a home in the regional Australian town of Clarke when, one morning in 1991, he is awoken by the police. They intend to search his backyard for the body of a missing woman. Six years earlier, Ginny Lawson disappeared.
In the house next door Leonie Wallace, and her nephew four-year-old Joe, are watching. Joe is keen to know what the police are doing while Leonie feels certain that her friend Ginny is buried in the yard. She never believed that Ginny had just disappeared.
But Ginny’s disappearance is only one of the mysteries of Clarke. Barney is married, but no longer lives with his wife. And what happened to Joe’s mother?
Ms Throsby takes us into a microcosm of community: Leonie’s neighbours and work colleagues are all interested in the police search. And Barney, whose life is disrupted by the search, remembers his wife Deb who can no longer bear to live with him and his son with whom he has no contact.
At the heart of this novel, which was in part inspired by the disappearance of Lynette Simms (Dawson) is a meditation on grief, on the impact trauma has on families. Joe is learning to live without his mother, Leonie is doing her best to care for him and Barney is trying to make sense of his own situation.
There’s a twist at the end which, while it ties several strands together, was a little too neat for me. And yet, life in regional towns can be like that: full of tragic coincidences.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Barney Clarke is renting a home in the regional Australian town of Clarke when, one morning in 1991, he is awoken by the police. They intend to search his backyard for the body of a missing woman. Six years earlier, Ginny Lawson disappeared.
In the house next door Leonie Wallace, and her nephew four-year-old Joe, are watching. Joe is keen to know what the police are doing while Leonie feels certain that her friend Ginny is buried in the yard. She never believed that Ginny had just disappeared.
But Ginny’s disappearance is only one of the mysteries of Clarke. Barney is married, but no longer lives with his wife. And what happened to Joe’s mother?
Ms Throsby takes us into a microcosm of community: Leonie’s neighbours and work colleagues are all interested in the police search. And Barney, whose life is disrupted by the search, remembers his wife Deb who can no longer bear to live with him and his son with whom he has no contact.
At the heart of this novel, which was in part inspired by the disappearance of Lynette Simms (Dawson) is a meditation on grief, on the impact trauma has on families. Joe is learning to live without his mother, Leonie is doing her best to care for him and Barney is trying to make sense of his own situation.
There’s a twist at the end which, while it ties several strands together, was a little too neat for me. And yet, life in regional towns can be like that: full of tragic coincidences.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
November 24, 2022
Throsby is s an Australian musician and author, and her latest book “Clarke” was a gifted book from Allen and Unwin, and a welcomed surprise to read. I initially thought this book moved very slowly, but I think it is at this pace for a reason. Time, in some moments of the book, does slow down and stop for many of the characters. They reflect, the reminisce, and they try to take one day at a time, as much as they can. Part mystery about an unsolved murder of Leonie’s and Dorrie’s neighbour, and part recollection on life. The connection between the main characters – Leonie, Barney, Dorrie, and four year old Joe – unfolds in time with the police crew digging up Barney’s yard, looking for clues about Ginny’s disappearance.
I loved the conversations with Joe, Leonie’s nephew. Hey were silly conversations, sometimes funny, sometimes sad. The way in which Leonie’s character was created and reflected back on him was touching. She desperately kept the memory of his mother alive which caused her so much paid, and the fact that he just loved Leonie as well was heartwarming. Dorrie, Leonie’s neighbour was cute, and a great foundation for Leonie; almost a kindred spirit touching base with her and keeping her focused on moving forward at all times. The way that Barney and Leonie’s friendship emerged was lovely too. It wasn’t forced or full of unnecessary romance. We experience their flaws, their guilt, losses and longing. It is clever and unusual, and a book you should immerse yourself in.
I loved the conversations with Joe, Leonie’s nephew. Hey were silly conversations, sometimes funny, sometimes sad. The way in which Leonie’s character was created and reflected back on him was touching. She desperately kept the memory of his mother alive which caused her so much paid, and the fact that he just loved Leonie as well was heartwarming. Dorrie, Leonie’s neighbour was cute, and a great foundation for Leonie; almost a kindred spirit touching base with her and keeping her focused on moving forward at all times. The way that Barney and Leonie’s friendship emerged was lovely too. It wasn’t forced or full of unnecessary romance. We experience their flaws, their guilt, losses and longing. It is clever and unusual, and a book you should immerse yourself in.
November 28, 2022
3.5 stars.
This book is a study in people more than it is a mystery, the mystery is just the means to bring them all together. There are several characters in this book, and the two main characters of Leonie and Barney are trying to deal with loss. At the same time the police are digging up a yard looking for Ginny who was assumed murdered by her husband years ago.
The characters are well formed and I really liked the friendships that developed throughout the novel. The writing is beautiful and the story does flow but it is a slow meandering walk to the end rather than a sprint. Well worth the time to read. Thanks to Allen and Unwin for an ARC of this novel.
This book is a study in people more than it is a mystery, the mystery is just the means to bring them all together. There are several characters in this book, and the two main characters of Leonie and Barney are trying to deal with loss. At the same time the police are digging up a yard looking for Ginny who was assumed murdered by her husband years ago.
The characters are well formed and I really liked the friendships that developed throughout the novel. The writing is beautiful and the story does flow but it is a slow meandering walk to the end rather than a sprint. Well worth the time to read. Thanks to Allen and Unwin for an ARC of this novel.
November 5, 2023
This author writes about small town Australia in such an authentic way, if you’ve lived there you recognise the feeling, the long hot summer, the quiet in the middle of the day when the heat is unbearable, the washing on the line stiff from over drying, the brown off grass in the yard. She does the everyone knowing everything about everyone really well too.
This novel about a missing woman, whose neighbours are convinced is buried in the yard of Barney’s house is dripping in the sense of place of rural town Australia. It’s great. Different and a story that moved along at the leisurely pace of the setting. Good characters and a good read.
This novel about a missing woman, whose neighbours are convinced is buried in the yard of Barney’s house is dripping in the sense of place of rural town Australia. It’s great. Different and a story that moved along at the leisurely pace of the setting. Good characters and a good read.
January 18, 2023
So thrilled to have found this author. The detail with which she writes about her incredibly mundane characters brings them to life in such a tangible way. The pacing was lovely and the style is easy to read as a relaxing holiday title, without feeling like trash in any way. Love love loved this book.
November 22, 2022
I was as gripped by ‘The Teachers Pet’ podcast as Holly Throsby; but sadly this riff (as inspired by Hedley Thomas’s magnum opus) doesn’t quite hit the mark. Throsby can certainly write and her tongue in cheek portrait of 90s suburban Aussie life is bang on; but the plot sags terribly in the middle and the twist is not so much a twist but a rather predictable ride over a gently rolling slope. An easy read, but probably not worth the hype; at least not for me…
December 13, 2022
A really good audiobook. Loosely based on the murder of Lynn Dawson by her (now convicted) husband, Chris Dawson. There are recognisable similarities but the story is told from the point of view of the current resident of the home where she was murdered and from the neighbours and local community who knew them. The police are digging at that residence looking for a body and that provides a focus for all the interactions. A well told story. Should be a good bookgroup discussion for this one.
March 5, 2023
A surprisingly good read.
November 8, 2022
Clarke is Holly Throsby’s third book after Goodwood and Cedar Valley. I’ve now read and enjoyed them all for their quintessential Aussie tone and quiet approach. This one was definitely more of a slow burn. There were pleasant characters that you want to get to know. It is mystery adjacent rather than a traditional crime/mystery and in that respect Throsby's work I think is fairly unique.
I will say straight up that the similarities to the Lynette Dawson case (from the Teacher’s Pet podcast) didn't completely sit right for me. I know she was inspired by the case and that her last book Cedar Valley was also inspired by a real life case (the Somerton Man) but in Clarke this felt a bit too obvious. I mean the missing woman was named Ginny Lawson!
But I did enjoy the fact that the focus was very much on the surrounding neighbours and that both Barney and Leonie also had a mystery surrounding what had happened to their wife and sister respectively. As the neighbours quietly ponder Ginny's disappearance, their own grief and inability to move on is tested by pressure from friends. I liked getting to know them all especially little Joe and his love for his “Leelee”.
I was planning on rating Clarke ⭐️⭐️⭐️ as it was so very quiet and slow but I have to say that the ending suddenly brought everything together in such an unexpected way that it left me with a much lighter and happier feeling than I expected it would halfway through. Clarke is an example of lovely writing and charming character development and for the way it made me feel warm and fuzzy in the end its ended up at ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
Thank you to @allenandunwin for my #gifted copy. Clarke is out now.
I will say straight up that the similarities to the Lynette Dawson case (from the Teacher’s Pet podcast) didn't completely sit right for me. I know she was inspired by the case and that her last book Cedar Valley was also inspired by a real life case (the Somerton Man) but in Clarke this felt a bit too obvious. I mean the missing woman was named Ginny Lawson!
But I did enjoy the fact that the focus was very much on the surrounding neighbours and that both Barney and Leonie also had a mystery surrounding what had happened to their wife and sister respectively. As the neighbours quietly ponder Ginny's disappearance, their own grief and inability to move on is tested by pressure from friends. I liked getting to know them all especially little Joe and his love for his “Leelee”.
I was planning on rating Clarke ⭐️⭐️⭐️ as it was so very quiet and slow but I have to say that the ending suddenly brought everything together in such an unexpected way that it left me with a much lighter and happier feeling than I expected it would halfway through. Clarke is an example of lovely writing and charming character development and for the way it made me feel warm and fuzzy in the end its ended up at ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
Thank you to @allenandunwin for my #gifted copy. Clarke is out now.
February 7, 2023
I listened to the audio version of this book, and at about the 3/4 mark, one character says 'What an anti climax', and that, neatly sums up my feelings about this book.
There's precious little focus on the mysterious disappearance of Ginny. Leonie and Barney's backgrounds are so s-l-o-w-l-y drawn out that it becomes irritating, especially given that all the characters are up for a bit of a gossip, and this info would have been shared via a quick conversation if the characters remained true to form.
There are some nice 'slice of life' moments in the book, but this is not enough to save a book that features the words 'there's more than one mystery in this town' on the cover. It comes across as false advertising, and as a reader I find these deceptions beyond annoying.
There's precious little focus on the mysterious disappearance of Ginny. Leonie and Barney's backgrounds are so s-l-o-w-l-y drawn out that it becomes irritating, especially given that all the characters are up for a bit of a gossip, and this info would have been shared via a quick conversation if the characters remained true to form.
There are some nice 'slice of life' moments in the book, but this is not enough to save a book that features the words 'there's more than one mystery in this town' on the cover. It comes across as false advertising, and as a reader I find these deceptions beyond annoying.
November 14, 2022
Clarke by Holly Throsby was inspired by the high-profile disappearance of a woman (Lynette Dawson) in Australia in the early 1980s. Although the book is centred around the police's sudden search for the body in the yard of the house in which the fictional Ginny Lawson used to live with her husband, it's the impact that search has on the house's new resident and neighbours that makes this a powerful and (ultimately) somewhat poignant read.
I very much enjoyed this novel by Throsby who does a wonderful job at eking out these tragic stories while at the same time offering a glimmer of hope.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
I very much enjoyed this novel by Throsby who does a wonderful job at eking out these tragic stories while at the same time offering a glimmer of hope.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
December 22, 2022
So disappointing. I was totally engrossed in this book but after 150 pages, nothing happened. I continued waiting and waiting, still nothing happened until the very last page. So much unnecessary character backgrounds and character building - I found myself skipping parts. There were lots of people introduced who didn’t have much to do with the story. Was expecting more but honestly this book made me so frustrated and how long and shallow it was. Could have been brilliant
January 14, 2023
While I loved the characters, the setting and the timing from the dim past, I'm not sure if I missed something in the plot. It was definitely a slow burn which in some ways fizzled out. Love Holly Throsby and enjoyed hearing Sarah Blasko, another Australian composer and singer, narrate this story.
November 13, 2025
Lots of characters and a bit confusing. The main characters were easy enough to follow but the side characters - so many. Confusing! It took away from the ‘mystery’.
There were 2 twists in the last 2 chapters - why all the excitement and reveals at the end?
The writing had a certain melancholy vibe which was quite enjoyable.
There were 2 twists in the last 2 chapters - why all the excitement and reveals at the end?
The writing had a certain melancholy vibe which was quite enjoyable.
January 25, 2023
As typical of Holly Throsby’s novels, Clarke is set in a rural regional town in 1991. One hot morning, a bevy of police cars turn up at Barney Clarke’s house with a warrant to search for a missing woman, in his backyard. His next-door neighbour Leonie Wallace was a friend of Ginny Lawson, who disappeared years ago, having lived in the house. Leonie works at a travel agency and is the carer of a four-year-old boy, Joe. A leisurely paced historic fiction tale with a crime aspect that is a gentle portrayal of small country town lives and the ordinariness of its people. With its touching characters, a profound sense of loss and insight into the way grief challenges your sense of self, this makes for a four stars read rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.
January 14, 2023
I want to give it a 3.5.
Such an easy book to read. The storyline is simple... It's not one to blow your mind, but it's very life like. The unknown whereabouts of Ginny Lawson is what keeps you reading. I REALLY enjoyed Leonie as a character... She seemed real!
Such an easy book to read. The storyline is simple... It's not one to blow your mind, but it's very life like. The unknown whereabouts of Ginny Lawson is what keeps you reading. I REALLY enjoyed Leonie as a character... She seemed real!
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