Devil's Lair by Sarah Barrie. (2019). **4 out of 5 stars** After the shocking violent death of her husband, Callie retreats to a cottage in the grounds of an old mansion in Tasmania. The locals seem fairly friendly, particularly horseman Connor Atherton and his siblings on the nearby Calico Lodge. But the mansion has a… Continue reading Devil’s Lair by Sarah Barrie. (2019).
Allegra in Three Parts by Suzanne Daniel. (2019). **4 out of 5 stars** 11 year old Allegra shuttles between her grandmothers who live next door to one another but couldn't be more different. Matilde is traditional, hard-working and wants Allegra to become a doctor. Joy is free-spirited, stores her tears in little glass bottles, is… Continue reading Allegra in Three Parts by Suzanne Daniel. (2019).
Small Spaces by Sarah Epstein. (2018). *Young Adult* **4.5 out of 5 stars** Tash has been traumatised since age eight when she witnessed her gruesome imaginary friend Sparrow lure six year old Mallory away from a carnival. Nobody believed Tash and now she accepts Sparrow wasn't real. Mallory is now 15, mute, and has never… Continue reading Small Spaces by Sarah Epstein. (2018).
Under the Midnight Sky by Anna Romer. (2019). **5 out of 5 stars** An injured teenager goes missing at a remote bushland campground and journalist Abby is determined to expose the area's dark history. The girl resembles three murder victims from 20 years ago and Abby fears the killer is still on the loose. Abby's… Continue reading Under the Midnight Sky by Anna Romer. (2019).
The Cinema at Starlight Creek by Alli Sinclair. (2019). **4 out of 5 stars** Queensland, 1994: Claire is a location manager working on a TV miniseries when she's captivated by Starlight Creek. She needs permission to film at an art deco cinema in Starlight Creek but there's trouble; the cinema's reclusive owner, Hattie, and Hattie's… Continue reading The Cinema at Starlight Creek by Alli Sinclair. (2019).
The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant by Kayte Nunn. (2019). **5 out of 5 stars** 1951: Esther, a young mother, is committed to an isolated mental asylum by her husband. It is at first her prison but then becomes her refuge. 2018: Rachel, a free-spirited marine scientist, discovers a collection of hidden love letters and… Continue reading The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant by Kayte Nunn. (2019).
Identity Crisis by Ben Elton. (2019). **4 out of 5 stars** Why are we all so hostile and so quick to take offence? Truly we are living in the age of outrage. A series of apparently random murders draws old-school detective Mick into a world pig sex, politics, reality TV and a kaleidoscope of opposing… Continue reading Identity Crisis by Ben Elton. (2019).
The Gift of Life by Josephine Moon. (2019). **4 out of 5 stars** Gabby is the owner of a chic new cafe and coffee roasting house in Melbourne. The struggles of her recent heart transplant are behind her and life is looking up until Krystal approaches her convinced that Gabby has her dead husband's heart.… Continue reading The Gift of Life by Josephine Moon. (2019).
The Last Days of the Romanov Dancers by Kerri Turner. (2019). **4 out of 5 stars** Valentina has escaped poverty by being a dancer in the Romanovs' Imperial Russian Ballet. She has clawed her way through the ranks with not just her talent, but her alliances with influential men that grant them her body but… Continue reading The Last Days of the Romanov Dancers by Kerri Turner. (2019).
A Life Of Her Own by Fiona McCallum. (2019). **2.5 out of 5 stars** Alice loved being a mature-age student but now that she's finished her degree and she needs to get a career. But the job market is tough and her partner David is not helping by pushing her about contributing to the mortgage.… Continue reading A Life Of Her Own by Fiona McCallum. (2019).
