Karen
The plot of this book and the setting in particular have good resonance, both in terms of the timeframe, the fallout after the war, and the society in which this group of displaced persons find themselves. The backwards reaching tendrils, and the actions and memories of the characters surrounding the dead Countess are believable and empathetic, in what's styled as a “plenty of clues dotted along the way for fans of the solve it” murder mystery. It's an engaging read, with what felt like real glimpses into the timeframe and the communities in which trust and hope were so starkly contrasted with a past that came from anything but.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/death-countess-jenny-harrison
There is a wonderfully strong feeling of the culture in which it is set, with the food, the markets in town, the mannerisms and the style of Korea seeping into everything. It's also a universal story of aging, and frailty, and the reflection that comes as there is less in front than behind somebody. Hornclaw's not, however, anybody's victim and if nothing else, a lifetime as an assassin has taught this woman a few things about planning and survival. It's just that the events around her present are possibly teaching her about emotions and connections more than has ever happened in her past. All in all, unexpected, engaging and oddly life-affirming, surprisingly so really, what with the aging and the killing ...
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/old-woman-knife-gu-byeong-mo
Listened to this on audio and loved it. Rhys is one of my favourite comedians, love their honesty and openness, and willingness to talk about the things that make life complicated. Particularly appreciated the idea that somebody with an eating disorder would include recipes in a book like this. I mean I can't attempt any of the recipes personally, but they were there, and the instructions were perfect.
(Yes this is tongue in cheek in style, yes there are some messages and, heavens to betsy, some opinions, dotted throughout so no don't listen to it if you don't like their comedy / lifestyle / choices / preferences / voice / personality etc etc etc).
There's never anything overt or preachy in the work that Brandi produces. They are all, universally, entertaining novels with characters that appeal, and connections for readers to make. But they are doing that with great fearlessness - he isn't afraid to assault the reader with emotion and reaction. He always makes you think though, always makes you consider the story behind the facades that we see every day, and all too often, choose to ignore.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/southern-aurora-mark-brandi
... more than KILL YOURS, KILL MINE playing into any wish fulfilment you might have, it's cleverly constructed, fast paced, bravely plotted crime fiction with twists and turns, and a kicker ending. Utterly compelling reading.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/kill-yours-kill-mine-katherine-kovacic
Connection to Andy King is going to be absolutely key to reader's enjoyment of this novel. No connection to her, and the past that haunts her, her longing to be back in the place where it all started, no matter how harrowing the memories, and her attraction / interest in Ethan could come across as distracting or even a bit on the soap opera side. Connection to her and all of that is building that mystery - so many reasons to ask why she's doing this to herself, what she's got to achieve, and even more reasons to feel the threats that come even more acutely.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/chasm-bronwyn-hall
Bublitz has an interesting way with her central characters. She's happy for them to be imperfect, flawed by past events in their own lives, frequently unreliable, always questionable, just flat out flaky in other words. Baker carries all of those elements with her, and then some. Whilst her story is beautifully evoked, and Bublitz can write lyrically and atmospherically at times, a reader who is happy to go with some of the supernatural elements, in a decidedly non-supernatural setting, and with the conclusions that are leapt to, and the complications and coincidences, will undoubtedly just get this novel. There's also another underlying message here about the outcomes of trauma and how to survive and thrive when trust becomes a lifelong issue, but you might find yourself losing that thread occasionally and maybe that's the point.
Full Review: https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/leave-girls-behind-jacqueline-bublitz
SHADOW CITY needless to say is exposing some complicated issues, but it's doing it in a novel that's both powerful and surprisingly engaging, given the subject matter. The dialogue is believable, and the mixing of Aussie slang and South African terminology gives it a lighter touch when required. Schalk's part tourist viewpoint of Sydney works and the comparisons between there and Cape Town give the reader a real sense of the foreigner in a foreign land, a nice combination of nothing dividing like a common language, and a love for home despite the challenges. The plot moves along at a reasonable clip, although some of the elements of the ending are a bit drawn out, but then there's enough twists and turns to keep you engaged. There's also a big twist at the end that, upon reflection, makes enormous sense, setting up some potential for surprises come book three.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/shadow-city-natalie-conyer
The narrator was good, the story had potential definitely, but all too often I found it had been long periods of time when I simply wasn't taking in anything. I'd be off thinking about other things too easily. Not being opposed to a long slow build up, and being a bit of a fan of Japanese fiction normally, I am hoping this is just not the book to attempt to listen to - and would be better if I actually read the text. So I've not given up on BUTTER, but in the audio format, it was a DNF.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/butter-asako-yuzuki
... this is comedy, and it works, in that it's subtle when it's not in your face, it's hilarious when it's not being subversive and it's very centred around a woman who is part diva / part victim. The resolution, when it arrives, makes perfect sense, and to be honest, probably could have been deduced if you're into that sort of thing. But if you're a voyage beats the destination reader, there is so much here to keep you laughing, guessing, laughing a bit more, smiling, hungry, wondering about what women see in some men, or what some men see in some daft as a brush women, or whether a tour to Italy always has to come with a side serving of death and destruction, EVERY TIME I GO ON VACATION, SOMEONE DIES was just the thing.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/every-time-i-go-vacation-someone-dies-catherine-mack
There's a lot going on in THE CALL, all of which slots together seamlessly, creating a tense, fast-paced and very engaging storyline full of action, drama, a bit of romance, some clarification of the past, and doubt about the future. Chalmers is a great character, fleshed out well in this novel. She's brave, complicated and conflicted about a lot of things. Her future as a cop after the stabbing attack that very nearly killed her; her sister's death and the events that lead up to it; her mother's medical condition and what the future holds for a very independent and forthright woman; an increasing attraction to the man who was a friend, then became a family enemy, and is now very much a love interest; and her sense of obligation to Kloe. Wrapped up in a very keen desire to see a gang of dangerous, vicious criminals stopped in their tracks.
In other words, THE CALL's got it all in spades. But there's nothing formulaic or expected about where this novel heads. Great characters, great action, killer ending. More please.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/call-gavin-strawhan
THE BODY AT BACK BEACH is more likely to appeal to fans of something slower, with a lot of dialogue and a gentle processional style progress. There is time here for some character development, and Helena is a woman of a certain age, with a happy home life, a career that's been enjoyable, who now seems to be looking to shift her focus to something else. Dare we say it, but perhaps something with a slight edge, which she seems to be doing, within the setting of an archetypal small town and community.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/body-back-beach
... not what you'd expect, not what I'd ever have thought I'd enjoy reading. But it was thoroughly enjoyable (and more than a bit hunger inducing). Gentle, sweet and slow paced, this won't be for everyone, but if you're of a mind for something different then it could be just the thing. (You might want to get in a supply of really good Japanese food before you commence.)
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/kamogawa-food-detectives
As a starting point for your own discoveries, this was utterly fascinating. Originally got an audio version of it which was fantastic to listen to (narrated by the author herself with her inimitable tone of voice). Loved it so much, went out and bought a hardback, so I can a) dip back into bits and b) do the followup myself. Highly highly highly recommended. So much so I've given it a star rating which I'm loathe to do these days.
The whole concept of this series works, particularly if you aren't thinking too hard about it. Which is easy to do as the story progresses here. The audio reading style is laid back and unfrilled, meaning these are really easy to listen to, and to follow along with. The plots are pretty twisty and there's quite a bit of tooing and froing here between witnesses in the past (there's a sub-thread about the death of an old friend of Pryce's in a cave exploring accident many years before) so Hawthorne and Horowitz (okay well mostly Hawthorne) has a chance to explain the dreadful accident, and the brutal death.
It's a fun series, and highly recommended in audio form.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/sentence-death-anthony-horowitz
This was a f2f bookclub read which met with a mixed response (I was one on the uncomfortable but worthwhile side of the table).
As always with Serong's writing there were beautiful, lyrical pieces of writing around deeply flawed systems and people. It's a story that needs to be told as well - without the white-washing, without sentimentality, based on some true accounts, and some elements that Serong explains are extrapolated by him.
DOUBLE JEOPARDY is action laden reading, with good non-stereotypical characters, and a plot that's delivered with realism and touches of dark humour, and an ending that will make readers sit up and pay attention. Now we just have to hope that the next novel shows up before we're all too old to remember this one coming out!
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/double-jeopardy-stef-harris
Having read these books pretty much one after the other, I'm going to do a combined review. This is a new series, DEATH UNDER A LITTLE SKY was released in 2023, and DEATH IN A LONELY PLACE in April 2024. Both book feature recently resigned Police Detective Jake Jackson whose leaving the force was precipated by a couple of major life changes. Firstly his uncle died, leaving him a remote property in the middle of the countryside, a place that is offgrid, offroad and very much out of the world he's been used to in London. At the same time a teetering marriage lurched to divorce, a previously loving relationship not able to survive ongoing fertility problems, and a general movement apart.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/death-under-little-sky-death-lonely-place-stig-abell
Having read these books pretty much one after the other, I'm going to do a combined review. This is a new series, DEATH UNDER A LITTLE SKY was released in 2023, and DEATH IN A LONELY PLACE in April 2024. Both book feature recently resigned Police Detective Jake Jackson whose leaving the force was precipated by a couple of major life changes. Firstly his uncle died, leaving him a remote property in the middle of the countryside, a place that is offgrid, offroad and very much out of the world he's been used to in London. At the same time a teetering marriage lurched to divorce, a previously loving relationship not able to survive ongoing fertility problems, and a general movement apart.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/death-under-little-sky-death-lonely-place-stig-abell
Thrillers in style, but with extreme violence and threat to them, both THE HUNTED and THE INHERITANCE aren't comfortable reading / listening. But Maggie's a wonderful character, resilient, strong and slightly on the super-human side of physical capability. For her alone it was well worth sticking with them.
REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/hunted-inheritance-gabriel-bergmoser
Thrillers in style, but with extreme violence and threat to them, both THE HUNTED and THE INHERITANCE aren't comfortable reading / listening. But Maggie's a wonderful character, resilient, strong and slightly on the super-human side of physical capability. For her alone it was well worth sticking with them.
REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/hunted-inheritance-gabriel-bergmoser
Right up front - I fell over this series via the library, loving the first I read so much so, that I reserved the second available immediately and read it as soon as it arrived. I'm annoyed with myself now because they were published in 2023 and 2024 respectively and I can't see how there's going to be another one soon enough (by that I mean immediately). So the fact that I'm reviewing both of these at once should not be seen to understate just how enjoyable these were.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-other-half-crowd-charlotte-vassell
I've always loved the Sam Shepherd series, and up until this novel have found them to be engrossing and involving, with the personal backstory of Shepherd engaging. But this time around, EXPECTANT didn't seem as engaging and balanced as the earlier novels in the series. It's potential to engage readers may come down to the connection you can develop with the characters, and the implications of the murder. The emotional element has always figured in this series, so, as always, the old adage applies. Your mileage may (will most definitely) vary.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/expectant-vanda-symon