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An Afterlife for Rosemary Lamb
Jessie Else disappeared the summer the Lambs came to Magpie Beach. Not that the two events were connected at all, in reality; only in my own head, in my own world. They marked for me the end of a certain quiet time and the start of a more complicated living.
Magpie Beach is a quiet seaside town – full of small-town prejudices and small-town cliques. Meg, Rosemary and Lily are all outsiders. Meg and Lily because they came to Magpie Beach to escape their former lives, Rosemary because her upbringing was the subject of much local gossip and upturned noses. The three women come together as friends, partly because their homes are so close together on the outskirts of town – and partly because their neighbours treat them with such suspicion.
When Jessie Else, all of 9 years old, goes missing – it’s easy to see why this small band of outcasts are first on the list of suspects – but what they didn't realise is that Jessie’s disappearance is only the beginning of their troubles. Soon all those secrets they’ve been trying to hide are going to be uncovered – and nothing will ever be the same again.
Magpie Beach is a quiet seaside town – full of small-town prejudices and small-town cliques. Meg, Rosemary and Lily are all outsiders. Meg and Lily because they came to Magpie Beach to escape their former lives, Rosemary because her upbringing was the subject of much local gossip and upturned noses. The three women come together as friends, partly because their homes are so close together on the outskirts of town – and partly because their neighbours treat them with such suspicion.
When Jessie Else, all of 9 years old, goes missing – it’s easy to see why this small band of outcasts are first on the list of suspects – but what they didn't realise is that Jessie’s disappearance is only the beginning of their troubles. Soon all those secrets they’ve been trying to hide are going to be uncovered – and nothing will ever be the same again.
301 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 30, 2022
30 people are currently reading
462 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
February 21, 2024
It has been a while since a book kept me guessing like this. Even longer since I failed to predict any of the developments. I loved this about An Afterlife for Rosemary Lamb. I had no idea where it was heading and enjoyed surrendering to the storytelling.
“Faith isn’t something you can pick up off the ground and wipe clean on your apron. You either have it or you don’t.”
The story is told from three different POVs – Meg, Rosemary, and Lily. These were such well-developed characters. The first half read much like a character study, before the disappearance of 9-year-old, Jessie Else, began to take centre stage and secrets started to unravel.
It was a slow burn that built into something remarkable. This book got under my skin. I found myself reflecting at various points. Louise writes excellent descriptions of people and places. The prose has nice rhythm and flow – each sentence beautifully crafted. It was easy to imagine Magpie Beach and its people – such a strong sense of place.
Meg, Rosemary, and Lily had great chemistry. I felt like a fly on the wall, accompanying them on their Tuesday outings to the Galaxy. They were memorable characters, with their own complexities. I loved how my perception of one character could suddenly shift due the perspective of another. Meg was especially after my own heart during a social function - pondering whether to remain there or return home with a cup of peppermint tea, good book and the comfort of her pet.
The dark elements of the story contrast effectively with the more wholesome moments. It was intelligent storytelling that kept me captivated. The title was quite fitting, and I particularly enjoyed the conclusion of Rosemary's storyline.
“It’s funny, when it comes down to it, everything you think you can’t live without - those essential bits and pieces, favourites and habits - well, you can.”
A fantastic debut novel by Louise Wolhuter. I'm looking forward to her next book. If you’re after richly-developed characters and unexpected twists, then you'll do well with An Afterlife for Rosemary Lamb.
“What can we take with us in the end, but the hope that we’ve left a memory with someone who will care enough to keep it?”
“Faith isn’t something you can pick up off the ground and wipe clean on your apron. You either have it or you don’t.”
The story is told from three different POVs – Meg, Rosemary, and Lily. These were such well-developed characters. The first half read much like a character study, before the disappearance of 9-year-old, Jessie Else, began to take centre stage and secrets started to unravel.
It was a slow burn that built into something remarkable. This book got under my skin. I found myself reflecting at various points. Louise writes excellent descriptions of people and places. The prose has nice rhythm and flow – each sentence beautifully crafted. It was easy to imagine Magpie Beach and its people – such a strong sense of place.
Meg, Rosemary, and Lily had great chemistry. I felt like a fly on the wall, accompanying them on their Tuesday outings to the Galaxy. They were memorable characters, with their own complexities. I loved how my perception of one character could suddenly shift due the perspective of another. Meg was especially after my own heart during a social function - pondering whether to remain there or return home with a cup of peppermint tea, good book and the comfort of her pet.
The dark elements of the story contrast effectively with the more wholesome moments. It was intelligent storytelling that kept me captivated. The title was quite fitting, and I particularly enjoyed the conclusion of Rosemary's storyline.
“It’s funny, when it comes down to it, everything you think you can’t live without - those essential bits and pieces, favourites and habits - well, you can.”
A fantastic debut novel by Louise Wolhuter. I'm looking forward to her next book. If you’re after richly-developed characters and unexpected twists, then you'll do well with An Afterlife for Rosemary Lamb.
“What can we take with us in the end, but the hope that we’ve left a memory with someone who will care enough to keep it?”
December 4, 2022
Three and a half stars.
This book is described on the cover as ‘darkly addictive,’ and I wondered about that for a long time, more than half the book it was a beautifully written story of three women. Meg, who lives in a caravan and Lily, from England who keeps to herself usually, are very much on the fringe of the small community. Rosemary has formed an unlikely friendship with these two women. What secrets are these women keeping? Some are decidedly unexpected.
There is also the story of Jessie Else who disappeared when she was nine years old. What happened to her?
A gruesome discovery changes the tenor of the story. It is quite dark. I wasn’t sure at that point whether I wanted to keep reading. But after a while I did and it is definitely dark in places. Secrets emerge and lives are changed by events.
The three main characters of Rosemary, Meg and Lily are well drawn, if not all likeable all the time. The story is told from these three points of view. The small community and its judgemental attitudes and assumptions ring true of some small communities. Setting is well conveyed. The description of rain and floods are true to life given what has been happening with the weather in Australia this year. The characters are interesting and complex. But I would not class this book as a mystery’, but more of a character study. I suspect if you go into it expecting a fast paced mystery you will be disappointed. I had no such expectations and so mostly enjoyed, the slower paced chapter development and descriptive prose.
With thanks to Better Reading and Ultimo Press for my ARC which I won to read and review. I am sure a lot of people will find this debut novel an interesting and quietly compelling read, as I did, even if a bit hard to read at times. It will be interesting to see what this author writes next.
This book is described on the cover as ‘darkly addictive,’ and I wondered about that for a long time, more than half the book it was a beautifully written story of three women. Meg, who lives in a caravan and Lily, from England who keeps to herself usually, are very much on the fringe of the small community. Rosemary has formed an unlikely friendship with these two women. What secrets are these women keeping? Some are decidedly unexpected.
There is also the story of Jessie Else who disappeared when she was nine years old. What happened to her?
A gruesome discovery changes the tenor of the story. It is quite dark. I wasn’t sure at that point whether I wanted to keep reading. But after a while I did and it is definitely dark in places. Secrets emerge and lives are changed by events.
The three main characters of Rosemary, Meg and Lily are well drawn, if not all likeable all the time. The story is told from these three points of view. The small community and its judgemental attitudes and assumptions ring true of some small communities. Setting is well conveyed. The description of rain and floods are true to life given what has been happening with the weather in Australia this year. The characters are interesting and complex. But I would not class this book as a mystery’, but more of a character study. I suspect if you go into it expecting a fast paced mystery you will be disappointed. I had no such expectations and so mostly enjoyed, the slower paced chapter development and descriptive prose.
With thanks to Better Reading and Ultimo Press for my ARC which I won to read and review. I am sure a lot of people will find this debut novel an interesting and quietly compelling read, as I did, even if a bit hard to read at times. It will be interesting to see what this author writes next.
February 25, 2024
Just a brief note.
This is a terrific debut by this Australian author.
A nice surprise for me and a fast read because the story was very captivating. I read it in one sitting.
I did not have any expectations and I was very pleased.
The storyline, although slow, is very well executed.
The storytelling as well as the writing, are terrific.
The author did an excellent job developing the 3 main characters and giving us a POV from each.
I’m so looking forward to reading her next book, “Shadows of Winter Robins”, coming next June.
ebook (Kobo): 273 pages (default), 87k words - 54 chapters
This is a terrific debut by this Australian author.
A nice surprise for me and a fast read because the story was very captivating. I read it in one sitting.
I did not have any expectations and I was very pleased.
The storyline, although slow, is very well executed.
The storytelling as well as the writing, are terrific.
The author did an excellent job developing the 3 main characters and giving us a POV from each.
I’m so looking forward to reading her next book, “Shadows of Winter Robins”, coming next June.
ebook (Kobo): 273 pages (default), 87k words - 54 chapters
July 3, 2023
“We all carry secrets. Some we are given for safekeeping, wrapped in velvety trust. Some we have only an idea of: a glimpse of something like a sock beneath a washer, a look between people who should not be looking, whispers overheard, words torn from pages. They are pebbles in our pockets, and those we bury deepest are our own. Things we choose never to tell, pushed out of sight but never far from mind, and worried smooth by memory.”
An Afterlife For Rosemary Lamb is the first novel by Australian author, Louise Wolhuter. The audio version is narrated by Blazey Best, Jeannie Gee and Maddy Withington. When twenty-year-old Rosemary Lamb and her husband Eddie move to the fringes of their coastal Queensland hometown, Winifred, a little place called Magpie Beach, there are two women living lonely existences nearby.
When Meg Cooper lost Sonny thirteen years earlier, she retreated into herself. She’s still grieving, just her and the cat keeping to their van and lean-tos and garden, except for her weekly shift at Winifred’s library. Without power, it’s a fairly primitive lifestyle but she survives on home grown fruit and vegetables. She watches with interest and a little apprehension as the Lambs erect their house.
On the other side of the headland, Englishwoman Lily tries to stay under the radar, determined to care for her husband herself, to uphold her wedding vow. But as Norman’s dementia worsens, it becomes more of a challenge. They’ve hidden themselves quite deliberately. She longs to be back in Yorkshire, but here in her isolation with the husband who has lost almost every trace of the man she married, she also craves company.
While Eddie, the butcher’s son who refused to follow in the family’s footsteps, carves exquisite rocking horses to sell, Rosemary works nights at the chocolate factory, and continues to wonder about the father her mother refused to identify. At Eddie’s urging, she insists that Meg joins her for the Tuesday cinema club.
After some months of weekly outings, they encounter Lily in the foyer of the Galaxy Cinema and, slowly, gradually, three women form a tentative friendship. For Lily it’s a break from Norman; for Meg, an antidote to her loneliness; and Rosemary enjoys the company of people who accept her as she is, without the judgement Winifred passes on her.
Winifred is a gossipy small town, and where there are mysteries and secrets held tight, there is speculation, rumour, “a thing tricky as butter to take back once spread”: Why did Sonny and Meg flee New Zealand? Where did Sonny go? Or was he dead, murdered by Meg, maybe? Who is Rosemary’s father really? And in the background of all that, the whole town wonders: who took nine-year-old Jessie Else back in February?
Just when Wolhuter has the reader feeling fairly cozy, she throws in torrential rain and flooding, and what that uncovers pulls the reader right out of their comfort zone with a couple of very dark and jaw-dropping turns.
This slow-burn story is told in three narrative strands, but one of those narrators is, perhaps, less reliable than the others. Wolhuter’s gorgeous descriptive prose really evokes her setting and the atmosphere, the smalltown mindset. Her characters are complex and intriguing, if not always likeable.
She has a marvellous turn of phrase: “Acting as if it was barely worth the bother was the coat she wore” and “‘We’re right, thanks,’ thrown over Lily’s shoulder like salt” and “Once he’d shuffled into the care of Eddie’s shadow, he settled like snow” are examples. “After Sonny left, I felt nothing for a long time but a cold vacuum of Doesn’t Matter” is another
Wolhuter gives her characters wise words and insightful observations: “Which is worse? I wonder still. To have love snatched away in one tight, violent second, or to have it dragged off slowly like a heavy carpet ruined in a storm?” This is a tale that really brings home to the reader how we only know a person from what they choose to present to us. Twisty, atmospheric and compelling, this is a brilliant debut novel.
An Afterlife For Rosemary Lamb is the first novel by Australian author, Louise Wolhuter. The audio version is narrated by Blazey Best, Jeannie Gee and Maddy Withington. When twenty-year-old Rosemary Lamb and her husband Eddie move to the fringes of their coastal Queensland hometown, Winifred, a little place called Magpie Beach, there are two women living lonely existences nearby.
When Meg Cooper lost Sonny thirteen years earlier, she retreated into herself. She’s still grieving, just her and the cat keeping to their van and lean-tos and garden, except for her weekly shift at Winifred’s library. Without power, it’s a fairly primitive lifestyle but she survives on home grown fruit and vegetables. She watches with interest and a little apprehension as the Lambs erect their house.
On the other side of the headland, Englishwoman Lily tries to stay under the radar, determined to care for her husband herself, to uphold her wedding vow. But as Norman’s dementia worsens, it becomes more of a challenge. They’ve hidden themselves quite deliberately. She longs to be back in Yorkshire, but here in her isolation with the husband who has lost almost every trace of the man she married, she also craves company.
While Eddie, the butcher’s son who refused to follow in the family’s footsteps, carves exquisite rocking horses to sell, Rosemary works nights at the chocolate factory, and continues to wonder about the father her mother refused to identify. At Eddie’s urging, she insists that Meg joins her for the Tuesday cinema club.
After some months of weekly outings, they encounter Lily in the foyer of the Galaxy Cinema and, slowly, gradually, three women form a tentative friendship. For Lily it’s a break from Norman; for Meg, an antidote to her loneliness; and Rosemary enjoys the company of people who accept her as she is, without the judgement Winifred passes on her.
Winifred is a gossipy small town, and where there are mysteries and secrets held tight, there is speculation, rumour, “a thing tricky as butter to take back once spread”: Why did Sonny and Meg flee New Zealand? Where did Sonny go? Or was he dead, murdered by Meg, maybe? Who is Rosemary’s father really? And in the background of all that, the whole town wonders: who took nine-year-old Jessie Else back in February?
Just when Wolhuter has the reader feeling fairly cozy, she throws in torrential rain and flooding, and what that uncovers pulls the reader right out of their comfort zone with a couple of very dark and jaw-dropping turns.
This slow-burn story is told in three narrative strands, but one of those narrators is, perhaps, less reliable than the others. Wolhuter’s gorgeous descriptive prose really evokes her setting and the atmosphere, the smalltown mindset. Her characters are complex and intriguing, if not always likeable.
She has a marvellous turn of phrase: “Acting as if it was barely worth the bother was the coat she wore” and “‘We’re right, thanks,’ thrown over Lily’s shoulder like salt” and “Once he’d shuffled into the care of Eddie’s shadow, he settled like snow” are examples. “After Sonny left, I felt nothing for a long time but a cold vacuum of Doesn’t Matter” is another
Wolhuter gives her characters wise words and insightful observations: “Which is worse? I wonder still. To have love snatched away in one tight, violent second, or to have it dragged off slowly like a heavy carpet ruined in a storm?” This is a tale that really brings home to the reader how we only know a person from what they choose to present to us. Twisty, atmospheric and compelling, this is a brilliant debut novel.
September 4, 2023
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**2.5 stars**
An Afterlife for Rosemary Lamb by Louise Wolhuter. (2022).
Winifred is a small town full of prejudices and assumptions. Meg and Lily are outsiders who live on its margins at Magpie Beach. They respectively stay out of everyone's way, until Rosemary comes along and draws them into an unlikely friendship. When 9-year-old Jessie goes missing, suspicion falls towards Magpie Beach. Questions threaten to undo the women's quiet existence and they band together to protect themselves and each other, but all three are holding secrets...
I've got quite mixed feelings on this book. It was a pretty slow start for me, and it took awhile to get into it and catch my interest. The storyline was part mystery and part.... domestic drama? Life fiction? I'm not sure how to describe it really. The narrative spends a lot of time depicting the burgeoning friendship between three women who live on the outskirts of a town; all seem to be a bit lonely and keep to themselves for their own reasons. Life gets dramatic for them with the disappearance of a young girl from the town. I wasn't sold on the outcome of that storyline, it didn't ring right for me. I did think it was well-written and it has generally quite high reviews.
Overall: didn't hate it, didn't love it, it took some time to get into and then I wasn't satisfied with the end, but overall it was an okay read.
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**2.5 stars**
An Afterlife for Rosemary Lamb by Louise Wolhuter. (2022).
Winifred is a small town full of prejudices and assumptions. Meg and Lily are outsiders who live on its margins at Magpie Beach. They respectively stay out of everyone's way, until Rosemary comes along and draws them into an unlikely friendship. When 9-year-old Jessie goes missing, suspicion falls towards Magpie Beach. Questions threaten to undo the women's quiet existence and they band together to protect themselves and each other, but all three are holding secrets...
I've got quite mixed feelings on this book. It was a pretty slow start for me, and it took awhile to get into it and catch my interest. The storyline was part mystery and part.... domestic drama? Life fiction? I'm not sure how to describe it really. The narrative spends a lot of time depicting the burgeoning friendship between three women who live on the outskirts of a town; all seem to be a bit lonely and keep to themselves for their own reasons. Life gets dramatic for them with the disappearance of a young girl from the town. I wasn't sold on the outcome of that storyline, it didn't ring right for me. I did think it was well-written and it has generally quite high reviews.
Overall: didn't hate it, didn't love it, it took some time to get into and then I wasn't satisfied with the end, but overall it was an okay read.
November 24, 2022
4.5/5
"The bar was coming down on the rollercoaster of what-would-be. I felt like I had till the count of ten, and then there'd be no getting off."
This book boldly proclaims itself "a mystery" right on the front cover but that's not how I'd categorise it. There were secrets and layers but I wouldn't call it suspenseful or mysterious. To me this was a slow moving literary fiction, which is not in any way a value judgement, I just think it's important as a reader to have the right expectations going into a book. Otherwise it's easy to end up judging a book based on how it aligned with your expectations instead of on its own merits.
We meet three very different women, living in regional Australian bush. They are lonely and reclusive for their own separate reasons, and end up striking an unlikely friendship. The book mainly follows the story of these three women and how the secrets they keep and the choices they make shape their lives.
The missing child is really not as big a part of this story as you might expect from the blurb. In fact, the "mystery" of this is wrapped up at about 60% into the book, which is why I'd caution against going into this expecting a traditional "suspense book" structure. If it were, then we'd basically be looking at almost half a book of falling action.
There are some fairly hefty topics touched on fairly baldly in this book and I recommend considering the triggers I've included below.
I didn't have a clear sense of when the book was set because nobody seemed to have cellphones or email.
The writing is descriptive, pregnant, poignant... well, literary. It's undoubtedly well written and you'll get the most out of it if you're willing to sink into the languid pace of Meg and Magpie Beach.
There was a theme running through the novel of women feeling trapped in their lives, longing for something more, to be more of themselves. That was definitely something I could connect with.
Overall I did genuinely enjoy this book. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and seeing what became of them. The poignancy of the writing and the vivid sense of place lingers beyond the last page. Clear your slate of expectations and take this one as it comes and you might find it as immersive as I did.
TW: murder, suicide, pregnancy/abortion, grief, domestic abuse
"The bar was coming down on the rollercoaster of what-would-be. I felt like I had till the count of ten, and then there'd be no getting off."
This book boldly proclaims itself "a mystery" right on the front cover but that's not how I'd categorise it. There were secrets and layers but I wouldn't call it suspenseful or mysterious. To me this was a slow moving literary fiction, which is not in any way a value judgement, I just think it's important as a reader to have the right expectations going into a book. Otherwise it's easy to end up judging a book based on how it aligned with your expectations instead of on its own merits.
We meet three very different women, living in regional Australian bush. They are lonely and reclusive for their own separate reasons, and end up striking an unlikely friendship. The book mainly follows the story of these three women and how the secrets they keep and the choices they make shape their lives.
The missing child is really not as big a part of this story as you might expect from the blurb. In fact, the "mystery" of this is wrapped up at about 60% into the book, which is why I'd caution against going into this expecting a traditional "suspense book" structure. If it were, then we'd basically be looking at almost half a book of falling action.
There are some fairly hefty topics touched on fairly baldly in this book and I recommend considering the triggers I've included below.
I didn't have a clear sense of when the book was set because nobody seemed to have cellphones or email.
The writing is descriptive, pregnant, poignant... well, literary. It's undoubtedly well written and you'll get the most out of it if you're willing to sink into the languid pace of Meg and Magpie Beach.
There was a theme running through the novel of women feeling trapped in their lives, longing for something more, to be more of themselves. That was definitely something I could connect with.
Overall I did genuinely enjoy this book. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and seeing what became of them. The poignancy of the writing and the vivid sense of place lingers beyond the last page. Clear your slate of expectations and take this one as it comes and you might find it as immersive as I did.
TW: murder, suicide, pregnancy/abortion, grief, domestic abuse
August 10, 2024
I’m giving this book 3.5 stars. Although I knew it was a crime novel, I was not prepared for its graphic detail and felt as though I was watching Sweeney Todd. (At some point, are their degrees of awful?)
Nevertheless, it did hold a lot of secrets which I did not totally get until the end of the book, so as a plot-driven novel it was carefully crafted. At one point, I thought, well, we should be at the end (what more was there to tell?) but I was only maybe 3/4 through. So, then it kept unfolding more and more.
It also had moments of lovely prose. The characters, even the likable ones, are all somewhat weird. If you like crime novels and graphic details don’t upset you, then this book might appeal; it is engaging.
Nevertheless, it did hold a lot of secrets which I did not totally get until the end of the book, so as a plot-driven novel it was carefully crafted. At one point, I thought, well, we should be at the end (what more was there to tell?) but I was only maybe 3/4 through. So, then it kept unfolding more and more.
It also had moments of lovely prose. The characters, even the likable ones, are all somewhat weird. If you like crime novels and graphic details don’t upset you, then this book might appeal; it is engaging.
November 19, 2022
An absolutely gripping debut novel. Three women from totally different backgrounds form an unlikely friendship in small town Australia. Each of them running from their pasts and the secrets they have kept. They are all heading towards a future that none of them want, together they navigate a shaky present with hopes of a better outcome for themselves.
Wolhuters proses are stunning and at times I was so immersed in her descriptions I forgot that at the heart of this novel there is the mystery of a missing girl. Wolhuter had no problem ripping me from reverie with a startling twist that I never saw coming.
The characters created and their stories will stay with me for some time to come.
Wolhuters proses are stunning and at times I was so immersed in her descriptions I forgot that at the heart of this novel there is the mystery of a missing girl. Wolhuter had no problem ripping me from reverie with a startling twist that I never saw coming.
The characters created and their stories will stay with me for some time to come.
June 20, 2023
This book has a slow start that draws you into the lives of three women and as you get to know them and the friendship that develops between them, you are left glued to the pages as the author delivers twists you never would have expected.
The author tells a story that starts slowly and she eases you into the lives of her characters. When you think you have these women figured out she starts to deliver twists you never expected. I enjoyed the relaxed feel of this thriller and the twists were brilliant.
Three women find themselves living secluded lives, each for their own reason but loneliness draws them together and a friendship soon bonds them. When Jessie Else goes missing, and police arrest Rosemary’s husband. The locals are quick to point the finger and Rosemary suffers the most. But her new friends believe in his innocence even when Rosemary herself is not so sure.
I enjoyed how the author eases you into the story. This book did not have the urgency of your typical thriller which made it a unique read that is full of surprises.
The women in this book were brilliant. Rosemary Lamb – is a young woman who finds herself wanting so much more than what she has and struggles to decide if she should stay or leave. Lily always stays on the outskirts and maintains a little distance – for most of the story, you are not sure what she is all about – however she holds secrets that will leave you amazed. Meg quickly steals your heart and her story while strange, manages to leave you sad.
This book is an unusual read that quickly grabs your interest and keeps you curious right to the end. If you are looking for a relaxed thriller that delivers twists when you least expect them, then this is the book for you.
https://featzreviews.com/an-afterlife...
The author tells a story that starts slowly and she eases you into the lives of her characters. When you think you have these women figured out she starts to deliver twists you never expected. I enjoyed the relaxed feel of this thriller and the twists were brilliant.
Three women find themselves living secluded lives, each for their own reason but loneliness draws them together and a friendship soon bonds them. When Jessie Else goes missing, and police arrest Rosemary’s husband. The locals are quick to point the finger and Rosemary suffers the most. But her new friends believe in his innocence even when Rosemary herself is not so sure.
I enjoyed how the author eases you into the story. This book did not have the urgency of your typical thriller which made it a unique read that is full of surprises.
The women in this book were brilliant. Rosemary Lamb – is a young woman who finds herself wanting so much more than what she has and struggles to decide if she should stay or leave. Lily always stays on the outskirts and maintains a little distance – for most of the story, you are not sure what she is all about – however she holds secrets that will leave you amazed. Meg quickly steals your heart and her story while strange, manages to leave you sad.
This book is an unusual read that quickly grabs your interest and keeps you curious right to the end. If you are looking for a relaxed thriller that delivers twists when you least expect them, then this is the book for you.
https://featzreviews.com/an-afterlife...
October 5, 2023
An Afterlife for Rosemary Lamb by Aussie author Louise Wolhunter was a compelling debut novel. But I must warn readers that there are trigger warnings with this story for subject matters like suicide and domestic abuse.
For me, this was a slow burn read, but well worth reading because as the story unfolds layer by layer I was fully invested in the story and before I knew it I was on the last few pages. RECOMMENDED.
For me, this was a slow burn read, but well worth reading because as the story unfolds layer by layer I was fully invested in the story and before I knew it I was on the last few pages. RECOMMENDED.
June 1, 2023
"If you'd turned left instead of right, just once, your whole journey from that point on would be different".
A group of disparate, outcasts come together in the small seaside town of Magpie Beach and the near-by "meat and potato" town of Winifred. Although billed as a mystery, a missing 9 year girl, this book is so much more than that. This is a book about life - the choices made, the events forced upon us. It is a book about unlikely friendships and the unconditional support these women become to each other. Told through the perspectives of the three friends, this is very much a character driven novel, somewhat slow, especially in the first half, but in a good way - a novel to savour. A beautifully crafted novel, a well drawn setting. Melancholy but hopeful, disturbing and yet at times it made me smile. I cannot believe this is a debut and I look forward to future offerings from this author.
A group of disparate, outcasts come together in the small seaside town of Magpie Beach and the near-by "meat and potato" town of Winifred. Although billed as a mystery, a missing 9 year girl, this book is so much more than that. This is a book about life - the choices made, the events forced upon us. It is a book about unlikely friendships and the unconditional support these women become to each other. Told through the perspectives of the three friends, this is very much a character driven novel, somewhat slow, especially in the first half, but in a good way - a novel to savour. A beautifully crafted novel, a well drawn setting. Melancholy but hopeful, disturbing and yet at times it made me smile. I cannot believe this is a debut and I look forward to future offerings from this author.
August 7, 2025
4.5 Rounded UP!
You read that right! This book was just so unexpected. I picked this up as a "palate cleanser" book thinking that it would be a small town mystery type of thing. And it was... But it was so much more.
First of all, nothing much happens for the first 45% of this novel. The story is told through the voices of three women from different generations. The primary narrator is Meg, a 40 year old woman who has found herself quite alone and has been dubbed Mad Meg by the locals. Then there is Rosemary in her early 20s, a cinephile first and newlywed second. Finally there is Lily, a peculiar older woman in her 60s living and caring for her husband with dementia.
The three women living close to each other at Magpie Beach form an unlikely bond. The first half of the novel takes its time with this, and with them. It is slow and intimate as we learn about the three - their memories, their disappointments, their hopes - through their own voices.
Almost halfway into the book feeling slightly lulled by the rhythm that these women have fallen into, things begin to bubble. And it's time to sit up, to pay attention.
And then at 60% pretty much all hell breaks looks and it gets dark and the secrets tumble like dominoes and these women must make choices and take actions and by now I'm 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥.
It's very rare that I care as much for characters as I did for these women. They are strong and vulnerable and ravenous.
There are some seriously shocking twists and turns but none felt exploitative or gimmicky. Although I had worked out some of the mystery, in no way did I figure it all out and I defy 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 to say that they saw it all coming!
I'm going to admit it, and this is hard to do, I shed a tear. It wasn't even at a particularly sad moment. This book overwhelmed me in places and that's the highest praise I can give. This novel was no palate cleanser; it was a seven course gourmet meal and I devoured it.
You read that right! This book was just so unexpected. I picked this up as a "palate cleanser" book thinking that it would be a small town mystery type of thing. And it was... But it was so much more.
First of all, nothing much happens for the first 45% of this novel. The story is told through the voices of three women from different generations. The primary narrator is Meg, a 40 year old woman who has found herself quite alone and has been dubbed Mad Meg by the locals. Then there is Rosemary in her early 20s, a cinephile first and newlywed second. Finally there is Lily, a peculiar older woman in her 60s living and caring for her husband with dementia.
The three women living close to each other at Magpie Beach form an unlikely bond. The first half of the novel takes its time with this, and with them. It is slow and intimate as we learn about the three - their memories, their disappointments, their hopes - through their own voices.
Almost halfway into the book feeling slightly lulled by the rhythm that these women have fallen into, things begin to bubble. And it's time to sit up, to pay attention.
And then at 60% pretty much all hell breaks looks and it gets dark and the secrets tumble like dominoes and these women must make choices and take actions and by now I'm 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥.
It's very rare that I care as much for characters as I did for these women. They are strong and vulnerable and ravenous.
There are some seriously shocking twists and turns but none felt exploitative or gimmicky. Although I had worked out some of the mystery, in no way did I figure it all out and I defy 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 to say that they saw it all coming!
I'm going to admit it, and this is hard to do, I shed a tear. It wasn't even at a particularly sad moment. This book overwhelmed me in places and that's the highest praise I can give. This novel was no palate cleanser; it was a seven course gourmet meal and I devoured it.
December 30, 2022
This was a story that took me in many unexpected directions.
It begins with Meg, who lives in Magpie Beach (there’s no magpies and there’s definitely no beach) – it’s an isolated life and she’s alone. She works a little in town at the local library but mostly Meg keeps to herself, until the Lambs move in just nearby. Eddie and Rosemary are young, newly married and Meg is fascinated by having people around. Slowly the Lambs befriend her, mostly Rosemary and she and Meg often go for trips into town every Tuesday to the cinema and Meg finds herself gently adopted into the extended family, attending birthdays and Christmas gatherings. They also meet Lily, an older woman from England who lives in a small hut nearby – and Lily becomes a regular on Tuesdays as well.
The three women are quite different – different ages, different stages of life, different experiences. But they’re all outcast in a way, together. Meg and Lily live in ways that locals probably find quite strange and gossip over and Rosemary’s upbringing has always meant that gossip has circled her. Her marriage to Eddie, from a good local “respectable” family lends her some legitimacy in the town but when 9yo Jessie Else goes missing, the eyes of the town all turn to Magpie Beach and it’s unlikely assortment of inhabitants, desperate to find a villain.
I’m still at a bit of a loss what to say about this one but not in a bad way. It begins with Meg and then adds in the narration of Lily and Rosemary as well and each of the women give voice to their experiences and the slowly burgeoning friendship between the three of them. At first I thought it was just going to be about that that friendship – Meg is so alone it’s almost like she’s forgotten how to interact with people but Rosemary and Eddie don’t seem to mind her somewhat odd behaviour and draw her in. Lily is brusque and somewhat abrupt but also shows a softer side and these three women who all seem unhappy about various things, seem to slowly come to enjoy having each other around.
But then the book turns and content warning: this gets pretty dark. Like a lot darker than I thought. Meg, Lily and Rosemary all have secrets and some of those secrets are unexpected and incredibly grim. There are definitely things in here that I did not expect or see coming. There’s so much going on and there were times my jaw dropped reading this as one thing or another was revealed.
This is not a fast paced or nail-biting mystery or thriller. Instead it’s this slow burn, heavily character driven novel that encompasses all the ways in which small towns can be both positive (such as when a disaster happens to Meg) and negative (when the finger is pointed at someone for Jessie’s disappearance). It’s not a very long book but it honestly does feel like the time was taken to carefully flesh out the three women and to showcase them as you see them in the present….and then reveals their pasts or how they came to be in Magpie Beach at the same time. Likewise the setting of Magpie Beach and the nearby small town is rendered with equal thought and care and you can see the changing weather patterns, familiar to anyone who has lived in rural Australia as well as that small town mentality.
It took me a while to sink into this story, the first few chapters felt a bit disjointed, perhaps because Meg is a bit of an awkward narrator but when the other women began to add to the story, it really picked up for me and I couldn’t put it down after that. At first I was just enjoying the stories of the women making these connections, women who for the most part, had spent more time on their own than with others in recent times, or had come to not rely on anyone and not tell anyone anything. In fact for a large portion of it, I almost forgot that there was a missing child – it honestly wasn’t that relevant, well until it was. And from then on, the book just kept up with the devastating reveals and twists and I thought it was done so well.
A really strong debut – I will definitely be on the lookout for her next novel. And this cover is really eye-catching.
***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of an honest review***
It begins with Meg, who lives in Magpie Beach (there’s no magpies and there’s definitely no beach) – it’s an isolated life and she’s alone. She works a little in town at the local library but mostly Meg keeps to herself, until the Lambs move in just nearby. Eddie and Rosemary are young, newly married and Meg is fascinated by having people around. Slowly the Lambs befriend her, mostly Rosemary and she and Meg often go for trips into town every Tuesday to the cinema and Meg finds herself gently adopted into the extended family, attending birthdays and Christmas gatherings. They also meet Lily, an older woman from England who lives in a small hut nearby – and Lily becomes a regular on Tuesdays as well.
The three women are quite different – different ages, different stages of life, different experiences. But they’re all outcast in a way, together. Meg and Lily live in ways that locals probably find quite strange and gossip over and Rosemary’s upbringing has always meant that gossip has circled her. Her marriage to Eddie, from a good local “respectable” family lends her some legitimacy in the town but when 9yo Jessie Else goes missing, the eyes of the town all turn to Magpie Beach and it’s unlikely assortment of inhabitants, desperate to find a villain.
I’m still at a bit of a loss what to say about this one but not in a bad way. It begins with Meg and then adds in the narration of Lily and Rosemary as well and each of the women give voice to their experiences and the slowly burgeoning friendship between the three of them. At first I thought it was just going to be about that that friendship – Meg is so alone it’s almost like she’s forgotten how to interact with people but Rosemary and Eddie don’t seem to mind her somewhat odd behaviour and draw her in. Lily is brusque and somewhat abrupt but also shows a softer side and these three women who all seem unhappy about various things, seem to slowly come to enjoy having each other around.
But then the book turns and content warning: this gets pretty dark. Like a lot darker than I thought. Meg, Lily and Rosemary all have secrets and some of those secrets are unexpected and incredibly grim. There are definitely things in here that I did not expect or see coming. There’s so much going on and there were times my jaw dropped reading this as one thing or another was revealed.
This is not a fast paced or nail-biting mystery or thriller. Instead it’s this slow burn, heavily character driven novel that encompasses all the ways in which small towns can be both positive (such as when a disaster happens to Meg) and negative (when the finger is pointed at someone for Jessie’s disappearance). It’s not a very long book but it honestly does feel like the time was taken to carefully flesh out the three women and to showcase them as you see them in the present….and then reveals their pasts or how they came to be in Magpie Beach at the same time. Likewise the setting of Magpie Beach and the nearby small town is rendered with equal thought and care and you can see the changing weather patterns, familiar to anyone who has lived in rural Australia as well as that small town mentality.
It took me a while to sink into this story, the first few chapters felt a bit disjointed, perhaps because Meg is a bit of an awkward narrator but when the other women began to add to the story, it really picked up for me and I couldn’t put it down after that. At first I was just enjoying the stories of the women making these connections, women who for the most part, had spent more time on their own than with others in recent times, or had come to not rely on anyone and not tell anyone anything. In fact for a large portion of it, I almost forgot that there was a missing child – it honestly wasn’t that relevant, well until it was. And from then on, the book just kept up with the devastating reveals and twists and I thought it was done so well.
A really strong debut – I will definitely be on the lookout for her next novel. And this cover is really eye-catching.
***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of an honest review***
February 8, 2024
If this book ended at 240 pages, I would have given it 4 stars. Slow burner but picked up at the end. Everything seemed ‘resolved’.
The last two chapters there were unnecessary explanations/twists.
The last two chapters there were unnecessary explanations/twists.
November 24, 2022
This is a debut novel from Australian Author Louise Wolhuter. It is about three woman who form an unlikely friendship, each with a secret. They live in the small Australian town Winifred, on Magpie Beach. I found this novel a bit slow to start with and didn't understand what the disappearance of 9 year old Jessie Else had to do with the story. The story slowly unravels and so do the secrets of these three ladies along with the mystery of Jessie's disappearance. In the end I was intrigued and couldn't put the book down. Highly recommend this well written novel. Thank you to Better Reading for the opportunity to review. @betterreadingau #BRPreview
July 11, 2024
I loved this book. I really enjoyed the slow build up to the climax. The setting that was described was so emersive and I could imagine it so clearly. I think it captured the rural lifestyle of Australia really well, and how it can be bitter sweet. Also, the secrets that where revealed, especially lily's, I never would've guessed
December 12, 2023
Amazed I got through this book, it was so slow. Best part was the last page.
July 15, 2024
Having read Shadows of Winter Robins earlier this year, and firmly declaring it my book of the year so far, I was super excited to see this included with audible. It didn’t disappoint. Louise Wolhuter has an outstandingly beautiful way of writing. It’s lyrical, poetic, it’s stunning. She has a way of describing scenery, conversations and sayings like nobody else, it’s hard to believe this is a debut. I can’t wait to see what’s next!
Wow! I had no idea where this story was taking me, but I was fully invested and I hardly dared breathe. All
I really knew was that I trusted Wolhuter to take me on the journey. She managed to create a cozy small town atmosphere, with tentatively formed friendships and then with a rainfall, the like of which hadn’t been seen in 40 years the pockets full of secrets that had been so carefully guarded are open, and with it comes unimaginable truths. A carefully crafted tale, characters who are recognisable in the way they ostracised themselves from the main stream, parts devastating, parts heartbreaking, parts utterly shocking! We all have pockets full of secrets.
As a side note, I absolutely loved all of the movie references.
The multiple narrators have each done such a wonderful job.
All the stars 🌟
#Jorecommends
Wow! I had no idea where this story was taking me, but I was fully invested and I hardly dared breathe. All
I really knew was that I trusted Wolhuter to take me on the journey. She managed to create a cozy small town atmosphere, with tentatively formed friendships and then with a rainfall, the like of which hadn’t been seen in 40 years the pockets full of secrets that had been so carefully guarded are open, and with it comes unimaginable truths. A carefully crafted tale, characters who are recognisable in the way they ostracised themselves from the main stream, parts devastating, parts heartbreaking, parts utterly shocking! We all have pockets full of secrets.
As a side note, I absolutely loved all of the movie references.
The multiple narrators have each done such a wonderful job.
All the stars 🌟
#Jorecommends
July 4, 2025
It took me a few attempts of restarting this book to become interested enough to keep reading at first. But once l got further into it, the characters grew on me and drew me to their unique lives and unconventional friendship.
I enjoyed the way the three main characters form an unlikely alliance that spanned age and personality differences and the support and acceptance they provided each other in ways other people around them couldn’t understand. This aspect of their shared experience was a beautiful part of the story for me.
I thought the theme of keeping secrets and the personal costs associated was beautifully crafted through the entire narrative arc. Secrets and experiences are revealed from the primary characters early years which continue to track with them through their later lives despite attempts to disassociate from places and people in their past. Newer secrets are revealed that are so shocking that they feel like a blow to the reader as they comes to terms with what the character has done and who they really are.
The author finishes the story by tying this theme into a perfect bow at the end and although unexpected, the conclusion feels appropriate and right for Rosemary.
I highly recommend this beautifully written and descriptive book. Many aspects are still turning around in my mind 24 hours later. For me, such a lasting impression is the sign of a truly great story.
I enjoyed the way the three main characters form an unlikely alliance that spanned age and personality differences and the support and acceptance they provided each other in ways other people around them couldn’t understand. This aspect of their shared experience was a beautiful part of the story for me.
I thought the theme of keeping secrets and the personal costs associated was beautifully crafted through the entire narrative arc. Secrets and experiences are revealed from the primary characters early years which continue to track with them through their later lives despite attempts to disassociate from places and people in their past. Newer secrets are revealed that are so shocking that they feel like a blow to the reader as they comes to terms with what the character has done and who they really are.
The author finishes the story by tying this theme into a perfect bow at the end and although unexpected, the conclusion feels appropriate and right for Rosemary.
I highly recommend this beautifully written and descriptive book. Many aspects are still turning around in my mind 24 hours later. For me, such a lasting impression is the sign of a truly great story.
June 11, 2023
I liked the cover design, and the title interested me.
There was something about this book that made it feel very comforting and nostalgic to read. I liked the characters and was interested in them, and I was invested in the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.
There was something about this book that made it feel very comforting and nostalgic to read. I liked the characters and was interested in them, and I was invested in the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.
May 8, 2023
It is not exactly a crime novel although there are mysteries and murders, but it is more an intriguing story of three women in a remote location in Queensland and the secrets they carry.
November 21, 2022
A debut novel by an Australian author about 3 lonely women, their unusual friendships and the secrets they all keep. I found the first half slow going and although beautiful at times, I found the overly descriptive passages tedious and unnecessary. The actual murder mystery storyline was intriguing though and kept me turning the pages late at night.
November 27, 2022
A story rich with characters that you feel you know, that could live anywhere near you.
☆Told from 3 POV's this book keeps the reader attached to the story, the developing companionship between the characters and the knowledge that something is coming.
☆I had trouble putting it down at times as my desire to know more of Rosemary, Lily and Meg and their histories was increasing each page.
☆The author's writing is quite beautiful and really sets the scene from each point of view.
☆And the last chapters were something I just didn't see coming.
☆A thoroughly good read for anyone who wants a rich, deep and haunting mystery book.
☆Told from 3 POV's this book keeps the reader attached to the story, the developing companionship between the characters and the knowledge that something is coming.
☆I had trouble putting it down at times as my desire to know more of Rosemary, Lily and Meg and their histories was increasing each page.
☆The author's writing is quite beautiful and really sets the scene from each point of view.
☆And the last chapters were something I just didn't see coming.
☆A thoroughly good read for anyone who wants a rich, deep and haunting mystery book.
November 11, 2022
Everyone has secrets, be careful who you share them with. Three lonely women become friends and support each other through events which happen in their small township and the area they live in.
November 15, 2024
Set in the small Queensland town of Winifred, the story focuses on Meg and Lily, who are outsiders living out of town in the remote Magpie Beach, where there are “few magpies and no beach.” These two women have stayed away from one another and everyone else until Rosemary arrives and draws them into an unlikely friendship. When a nine year old girl disappears, it’s not long before the residents of Winifred begin pointing fingers towards the inhabitants of Magpie Beach. The women band together, but all three have secrets which are too huge to keep on their own. How long will it be before everything unravels?
An Afterlife For Rosemary Lamb was a gripping and emotional story with some quite challenging themes. It’s so much more than the story of a missing girl, it’s a tale of three women and their pasts and the connection that forms between them. Louise has explored hard hitting topics such as grief, loss and loneliness with a beautifully written and engaging story. I loved getting to know each of these women and was shocked at some of the turns the novel took. It was tense and unsettling with an addictive mystery at its centre.
If you love a crime novel with a remote setting and a deep portrayal of women’s lives then I urge you to grab this one. Since I’ve waited so long to read this, I can now dive straight into Louise’s second novel which was released this year.
An Afterlife For Rosemary Lamb was a gripping and emotional story with some quite challenging themes. It’s so much more than the story of a missing girl, it’s a tale of three women and their pasts and the connection that forms between them. Louise has explored hard hitting topics such as grief, loss and loneliness with a beautifully written and engaging story. I loved getting to know each of these women and was shocked at some of the turns the novel took. It was tense and unsettling with an addictive mystery at its centre.
If you love a crime novel with a remote setting and a deep portrayal of women’s lives then I urge you to grab this one. Since I’ve waited so long to read this, I can now dive straight into Louise’s second novel which was released this year.
January 2, 2023
An Afterlife for Rosemary Lamb is a story that slowly unfolds, the layers slowly stripped away to reveal the secrets of Meg, Rosemary and Lily. In the outside town of Magpie beach – where there were no magpies and no beach, an unlikely friendship is formed between these interesting women. The story is told from the perspective of these women, who have loneliness in common, are reclusive, however have different backgrounds. They each carry secrets and make choices they shape their lives. I enjoyed uncovering their secrets. At times I was so immersed in the characters and their secrets that I forgot about the missing girl, Jessie Esle Beautifully descriptions and literary prose kept me engaged. Louise Wolhuter has a well written first novel and is a writer to watch
July 3, 2023
“We all carry secrets. Some we are given for safekeeping, wrapped in velvety trust. Some we have only an idea of: a glimpse of something like a sock beneath a washer, a look between people who should not be looking, whispers overheard, words torn from pages. They are pebbles in our pockets, and those we bury deepest are our own. Things we choose never to tell, pushed out of sight but never far from mind, and worried smooth by memory.”
An Afterlife For Rosemary Lamb is the first novel by Australian author, Louise Wolhuter. When twenty-year-old Rosemary Lamb and her husband Eddie move to the fringes of their coastal Queensland hometown, Winifred, a little place called Magpie Beach, there are two women living lonely existences nearby.
When Meg Cooper lost Sonny thirteen years earlier, she retreated into herself. She’s still grieving, just her and the cat keeping to their van and lean-tos and garden, except for her weekly shift at Winifred’s library. Without power, it’s a fairly primitive lifestyle but she survives on home grown fruit and vegetables. She watches with interest and a little apprehension as the Lambs erect their house.
On the other side of the headland, Englishwoman Lily tries to stay under the radar, determined to care for her husband herself, to uphold her wedding vow. But as Norman’s dementia worsens, it becomes more of a challenge. They’ve hidden themselves quite deliberately. She longs to be back in Yorkshire, but here in her isolation with the husband who has lost almost every trace of the man she married, she also craves company.
While Eddie, the butcher’s son who refused to follow in the family’s footsteps, carves exquisite rocking horses to sell, Rosemary works nights at the chocolate factory, and continues to wonder about the father her mother refused to identify. At Eddie’s urging, she insists that Meg joins her for the Tuesday cinema club.
After some months of weekly outings, they encounter Lily in the foyer of the Galaxy Cinema and, slowly, gradually, three women form a tentative friendship. For Lily it’s a break from Norman; for Meg, an antidote to her loneliness; and Rosemary enjoys the company of people who accept her as she is, without the judgement Winifred passes on her.
Winifred is a gossipy small town, and where there are mysteries and secrets held tight, there is speculation, rumour, “a thing tricky as butter to take back once spread”: Why did Sonny and Meg flee New Zealand? Where did Sonny go? Or was he dead, murdered by Meg, maybe? Who is Rosemary’s father really? And in the background of all that, the whole town wonders: who took nine-year-old Jessie Else back in February?
Just when Wolhuter has the reader feeling fairly cozy, she throws in torrential rain and flooding, and what that uncovers pulls the reader right out of their comfort zone with a couple of very dark and jaw-dropping turns.
This slow-burn story is told in three narrative strands, but one of those narrators is, perhaps, less reliable than the others. Wolhuter’s gorgeous descriptive prose really evokes her setting and the atmosphere, the smalltown mindset. Her characters are complex and intriguing, if not always likeable.
She has a marvellous turn of phrase: “Acting as if it was barely worth the bother was the coat she wore” and “‘We’re right, thanks,’ thrown over Lily’s shoulder like salt” and “Once he’d shuffled into the care of Eddie’s shadow, he settled like snow” are examples. “After Sonny left, I felt nothing for a long time but a cold vacuum of Doesn’t Matter” is another
Wolhuter gives her characters wise words and insightful observations: “Which is worse? I wonder still. To have love snatched away in one tight, violent second, or to have it dragged off slowly like a heavy carpet ruined in a storm?” This is a tale that really brings home to the reader how we only know a person from what they choose to present to us. Twisty, atmospheric and compelling, this is a brilliant debut novel.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Ultimo Press.
An Afterlife For Rosemary Lamb is the first novel by Australian author, Louise Wolhuter. When twenty-year-old Rosemary Lamb and her husband Eddie move to the fringes of their coastal Queensland hometown, Winifred, a little place called Magpie Beach, there are two women living lonely existences nearby.
When Meg Cooper lost Sonny thirteen years earlier, she retreated into herself. She’s still grieving, just her and the cat keeping to their van and lean-tos and garden, except for her weekly shift at Winifred’s library. Without power, it’s a fairly primitive lifestyle but she survives on home grown fruit and vegetables. She watches with interest and a little apprehension as the Lambs erect their house.
On the other side of the headland, Englishwoman Lily tries to stay under the radar, determined to care for her husband herself, to uphold her wedding vow. But as Norman’s dementia worsens, it becomes more of a challenge. They’ve hidden themselves quite deliberately. She longs to be back in Yorkshire, but here in her isolation with the husband who has lost almost every trace of the man she married, she also craves company.
While Eddie, the butcher’s son who refused to follow in the family’s footsteps, carves exquisite rocking horses to sell, Rosemary works nights at the chocolate factory, and continues to wonder about the father her mother refused to identify. At Eddie’s urging, she insists that Meg joins her for the Tuesday cinema club.
After some months of weekly outings, they encounter Lily in the foyer of the Galaxy Cinema and, slowly, gradually, three women form a tentative friendship. For Lily it’s a break from Norman; for Meg, an antidote to her loneliness; and Rosemary enjoys the company of people who accept her as she is, without the judgement Winifred passes on her.
Winifred is a gossipy small town, and where there are mysteries and secrets held tight, there is speculation, rumour, “a thing tricky as butter to take back once spread”: Why did Sonny and Meg flee New Zealand? Where did Sonny go? Or was he dead, murdered by Meg, maybe? Who is Rosemary’s father really? And in the background of all that, the whole town wonders: who took nine-year-old Jessie Else back in February?
Just when Wolhuter has the reader feeling fairly cozy, she throws in torrential rain and flooding, and what that uncovers pulls the reader right out of their comfort zone with a couple of very dark and jaw-dropping turns.
This slow-burn story is told in three narrative strands, but one of those narrators is, perhaps, less reliable than the others. Wolhuter’s gorgeous descriptive prose really evokes her setting and the atmosphere, the smalltown mindset. Her characters are complex and intriguing, if not always likeable.
She has a marvellous turn of phrase: “Acting as if it was barely worth the bother was the coat she wore” and “‘We’re right, thanks,’ thrown over Lily’s shoulder like salt” and “Once he’d shuffled into the care of Eddie’s shadow, he settled like snow” are examples. “After Sonny left, I felt nothing for a long time but a cold vacuum of Doesn’t Matter” is another
Wolhuter gives her characters wise words and insightful observations: “Which is worse? I wonder still. To have love snatched away in one tight, violent second, or to have it dragged off slowly like a heavy carpet ruined in a storm?” This is a tale that really brings home to the reader how we only know a person from what they choose to present to us. Twisty, atmospheric and compelling, this is a brilliant debut novel.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Ultimo Press.
June 12, 2023
Title: An Afterlife for Rosemary Lamb
Author: Louise Wolhunter
Publisher: Ultimo Press
Pages: 304
Genre: Crime Thriller
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
Magpie Beach is a small, quiet seaside town, which means it has its cliques and it has its prejudices and unfortunately for Meg, Rosemary, and Lily, this makes them outsiders. Meg and Lily are frowned upon because they are outsiders, coming to Magpie Beach to escape their former lives. Rosemary because of her upbringing, which was gossip for most of the residents. These three women find themselves drawn to each other, not only because they live close, but because of their treatment by others. When Jessie Else, a 9 year old girl goes missing, the outcasts are soon blamed, but her disappearance is only the beginning of their troubles, the secrets each one of them is hiding are about to be exposed, and lives will be changed forever.
Review:
Thank you to Anne at Radom Things Tours for my place on the book tour!
There was something intriguing about this book, I just couldn’t put my finger on what it was, but I’m so glad I listened to my intuition and gave this book a go, I didn’t know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised with what I got!
I must comment on the front cover too, it is stunning and it set the scene of the book before I even started. Then when reading, I was hit with stunning descriptions and imagery from the author, she really does know how to set a scene. Honestly, the writing was beautiful at times in this book.
After the prologue and the first chapters, I was unsure as to whether I’d connect with this book, but then it didn’t take long for me to become hooked in, I was reluctant to put this book down when I had it in my hands.
The story is told from the three friends’ perspectives and I really enjoyed being in each character’s head. The jumps in perspective were clear and easy to follow and everything flowed perfectly. The chapters were a perfect length too, we all know I love my short chapters.
I loved watching the friendship between Meg, Lily, and Rosemary unfold. The characters were complex and intriguing and I enjoyed uncovering their secrets. In fact there were some unexpected twists and turns I really didn’t see coming! I was also shocked in places but on the other hand, my heart strings were also tugged a few times with this read too.
Honestly, I’d say that this was quite a haunting read, it’s unique and unlike any crime thriller I’ve read before. The pace was slow, but it suited the book perfectly, and it meant this was a book you could really get lost inside. I’m so glad I picked this book up, a really interesting debut novel from the author.
Author: Louise Wolhunter
Publisher: Ultimo Press
Pages: 304
Genre: Crime Thriller
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
Magpie Beach is a small, quiet seaside town, which means it has its cliques and it has its prejudices and unfortunately for Meg, Rosemary, and Lily, this makes them outsiders. Meg and Lily are frowned upon because they are outsiders, coming to Magpie Beach to escape their former lives. Rosemary because of her upbringing, which was gossip for most of the residents. These three women find themselves drawn to each other, not only because they live close, but because of their treatment by others. When Jessie Else, a 9 year old girl goes missing, the outcasts are soon blamed, but her disappearance is only the beginning of their troubles, the secrets each one of them is hiding are about to be exposed, and lives will be changed forever.
Review:
Thank you to Anne at Radom Things Tours for my place on the book tour!
There was something intriguing about this book, I just couldn’t put my finger on what it was, but I’m so glad I listened to my intuition and gave this book a go, I didn’t know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised with what I got!
I must comment on the front cover too, it is stunning and it set the scene of the book before I even started. Then when reading, I was hit with stunning descriptions and imagery from the author, she really does know how to set a scene. Honestly, the writing was beautiful at times in this book.
After the prologue and the first chapters, I was unsure as to whether I’d connect with this book, but then it didn’t take long for me to become hooked in, I was reluctant to put this book down when I had it in my hands.
The story is told from the three friends’ perspectives and I really enjoyed being in each character’s head. The jumps in perspective were clear and easy to follow and everything flowed perfectly. The chapters were a perfect length too, we all know I love my short chapters.
I loved watching the friendship between Meg, Lily, and Rosemary unfold. The characters were complex and intriguing and I enjoyed uncovering their secrets. In fact there were some unexpected twists and turns I really didn’t see coming! I was also shocked in places but on the other hand, my heart strings were also tugged a few times with this read too.
Honestly, I’d say that this was quite a haunting read, it’s unique and unlike any crime thriller I’ve read before. The pace was slow, but it suited the book perfectly, and it meant this was a book you could really get lost inside. I’m so glad I picked this book up, a really interesting debut novel from the author.
December 1, 2022
This was a slow read. Like. Snail. Pace. Slow. Especially the first half.
The cover bills this novel as 'darkly addictive' and an 'unsettling mystery' about the small-town disappearance of a young girl. I personally found the cover a bit misleading. The girl's disappearance is a pivotal point in the storyline, yes, but it's certainly not the main theme.
The story is told in first-person by three women and is about the shocking secrets they keep, the unlikely friendship they forge and the life-changing decisions they end up making. If the writing wasn't so sublime, I'm not sure I would have persevered, simply because my expectation didn't align with my experience. If you like your mysteries to be fast-paced, page turners, like I do, then this one will be tough going (the way the mystery unraveled was worth it, though). But, if you enjoy nestling into words that create strong imagery and ignite the senses, this book - with a Where the Crawdads Sing quality about it - will bring you hours of pleasure. The writing is beyond impressive for a debut novelist. So many sentences that I stopped to re-read to fully appreciate! Like these:
'The nicer houses fan out from the lake and are painted pastel colours: apricot and tangerine, lemon and lime, caramel and toffee. Colours you can almost smell and sort of taste, like when you look out at the ocean on a scorching afternoon and think of mint and cool and wet, but not of salt.'
'There was a thin root to the memory that I could feel. Something else moved when I worried it, like a ligament that holds a wobbling tooth.'
'It was one of those rare secrets swallowed like a ring on a beach.'
To me, this was more of a literary fiction than a typical mystery book. Not what I expected in some ways; more than I expected in others!
The cover bills this novel as 'darkly addictive' and an 'unsettling mystery' about the small-town disappearance of a young girl. I personally found the cover a bit misleading. The girl's disappearance is a pivotal point in the storyline, yes, but it's certainly not the main theme.
The story is told in first-person by three women and is about the shocking secrets they keep, the unlikely friendship they forge and the life-changing decisions they end up making. If the writing wasn't so sublime, I'm not sure I would have persevered, simply because my expectation didn't align with my experience. If you like your mysteries to be fast-paced, page turners, like I do, then this one will be tough going (the way the mystery unraveled was worth it, though). But, if you enjoy nestling into words that create strong imagery and ignite the senses, this book - with a Where the Crawdads Sing quality about it - will bring you hours of pleasure. The writing is beyond impressive for a debut novelist. So many sentences that I stopped to re-read to fully appreciate! Like these:
'The nicer houses fan out from the lake and are painted pastel colours: apricot and tangerine, lemon and lime, caramel and toffee. Colours you can almost smell and sort of taste, like when you look out at the ocean on a scorching afternoon and think of mint and cool and wet, but not of salt.'
'There was a thin root to the memory that I could feel. Something else moved when I worried it, like a ligament that holds a wobbling tooth.'
'It was one of those rare secrets swallowed like a ring on a beach.'
To me, this was more of a literary fiction than a typical mystery book. Not what I expected in some ways; more than I expected in others!
June 5, 2023
Mystery set in QUEENSLAND
This is an atmospheric mystery set in fictional Magpie Beach, Winifred, Queensland and tells the story of the relationships between Meg, Rosemary and Lily, three women who are incomers to the area. When nine year old Jessie Else goes missing, the locals become suspicious of the three women and the three then band together in order to protect themselves from entrenched prejudice. Each woman has a backstory, which unfolds as the narrative progresses.
The novel opens quite ponderously, perhaps a little tentatively even, but once the author gets into her stride, the storytelling evolves very competently, and it does draw the reader in. She sets the unfolding story against a very evocative backdrop, small town dynamics and a credible and textured landscape. This is on the one hand, indeed, a mystery but on the other it is a story about life choices, connection and finding a meaningful existence. The focus is very much on the characters, they are richly drawn but I perhaps didn't feel I got to know them as much as I would have anticipated, given the detail. Chapters are told in rotation from the perspective of each of the three women.
This is a debut novel that has a lot going for it and I will be interested to see where the author goes next.
This is an atmospheric mystery set in fictional Magpie Beach, Winifred, Queensland and tells the story of the relationships between Meg, Rosemary and Lily, three women who are incomers to the area. When nine year old Jessie Else goes missing, the locals become suspicious of the three women and the three then band together in order to protect themselves from entrenched prejudice. Each woman has a backstory, which unfolds as the narrative progresses.
The novel opens quite ponderously, perhaps a little tentatively even, but once the author gets into her stride, the storytelling evolves very competently, and it does draw the reader in. She sets the unfolding story against a very evocative backdrop, small town dynamics and a credible and textured landscape. This is on the one hand, indeed, a mystery but on the other it is a story about life choices, connection and finding a meaningful existence. The focus is very much on the characters, they are richly drawn but I perhaps didn't feel I got to know them as much as I would have anticipated, given the detail. Chapters are told in rotation from the perspective of each of the three women.
This is a debut novel that has a lot going for it and I will be interested to see where the author goes next.
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