I heard Tim Ayliffe talk about this book at a book festival earlier in the year and have been eagerly awaiting it ever since. Let me tell you, it didnI heard Tim Ayliffe talk about this book at a book festival earlier in the year and have been eagerly awaiting it ever since. Let me tell you, it didn’t disappoint. One of the best books that I have read this year, and I have read a lot of books. I did not want to put this book down, and stay up late into the night to finish it on a school night. It is just so good!
Set in Sydney and the Riverina part of NSW, Dark Desert Road is a story that you will forget to breathe while you are reading it. It is suspenseful, it is dark and gritty but at the core there is a heart A story of a family torn apart. It is brutal, violent and graphic and I loved every minute of it.
Estranged twin sisters Kit and Billie could not be more different. Kit is a hard working but broken NSW cop, who has seen things nobody should ever have to see. She hasn’t seen her sister Billie for years, but when she learns that she is in serious danger, she drops everything to find her. She is one tough cookie and it will take more than bikkie gangs to stop her saving her sister.
With characters ripped from the headlines, this is scarily close to what we see happening in the world today, radicalised people who are determined to get their message across, no matter the cost to innocent people. It feels so real , with complicated characters out to change the world to suit their beliefs.
A must read, published on January 6th, a great way to start the new year. Thank you Echo Publishing for my early copy to read. ...more
It is such a pleasure to be part of Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse , getting to read some great books that otherwise might have slipped by me. I couldIt is such a pleasure to be part of Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse , getting to read some great books that otherwise might have slipped by me. I could not resist getting a copy of Reasons to Lie, who doesn’t love an academic drama full of unlikeable characters right.
This was a pretty fast read once I got into it. The start was a little slow but it certainly built up and I couldn’t stop reading. Set in New York, it focuses on the parents of students at an elite private school in Manhattan. Abby, Kara and Hollis ,mothers to Rachel, Olivia and Daniel. We get to know the families and the behind the scenes drama in their lives. It all comes to a head when the kids go off on a weekend away with the school, and a student dies. How far will a parent go to protect their child? The truth may surprise you. Full of cover ups, lies and past mistakes, who will survive the investigation?
A book that throws up plenty of questions, with lots of twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. Out on February 24th. I will be looking out for more from this author ...more
I was excited to read this after absolutely loving The Business Trip last year., so it had a very high bar to reach for me. I really did enjoy this twI was excited to read this after absolutely loving The Business Trip last year., so it had a very high bar to reach for me. I really did enjoy this twisty and fun thriller, where secrets and lies were in abundance.
The narrator was brilliant! I don’t think I have listened to Gail Shalan before but she knocked it out of the park with this book. So many characters and at no time was I confused about whose point of view we were listening to. The different voices were spot on with each character amazing.
Faith was an interesting character, and my feelings changed about her so many times, this was the first thriller I have read with a weather presenter as the main character too. I loved how the author shone alight in the down side of fame, it is not all it is cracked up to be.
This book was so easy to binge listen to, very cleverly written.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio on NetGalley for my early copy to listen to. Out on January 20th....more
One of the best books I have read in 2025…and it is not even out until January 2026! Wow. Charlotte Duckworth is an author that deserves much more recOne of the best books I have read in 2025…and it is not even out until January 2026! Wow. Charlotte Duckworth is an author that deserves much more recognition and love. I have read all of her books and am always blown away by them. Connie may be her best yet. I couldn’t stop reading, and when I had to stop to do life, I was thinking about it. Just fabulous Charlotte ...more
I will read anything that Wendy Walker writes, such a bug fan of her thrillers. I am also a sucker for anything set in the world of competitive ice skI will read anything that Wendy Walker writes, such a bug fan of her thrillers. I am also a sucker for anything set in the world of competitive ice skating so Blade was a win win for me. I love to watch the ice skating and dancing in the Olympics, I wish I could skate that that. Did you know that Wendy Walker can skate like that, wow! Multi talented lady .
I was completely hooked with this book. Behind the scenes stories are always so interesting, and the dual timelines worked so well. I just had to keep reading and find out what was going to happen now and in the past. We hear the story through the eyes of Ana, once a promising young skater who was hopeful of making the Olympic team one day. She is now an attorney and returns to Echo in Colorado where she trained, to defend another young girl who has been accused of murder. The young girl is also the daughter of one of her friends that she trained with. She has to face her demons and her past to find out what really happened.
This was such a great, unique story, that made me cry, it made me angry. These poor girls. A must read book from a favourite author.
Thank you so much to Thomas and Mercer on NetGalley for my early copy of this book to read. So good. Publishes on February 1st. ...more
I have read and enjoyed many books by Lesley Kara. They always have great plots with plenty of twists and shocks for the reader to stay engaged througI have read and enjoyed many books by Lesley Kara. They always have great plots with plenty of twists and shocks for the reader to stay engaged throughout the book. Troublemaker was another fantastic read, I really felt for Storm and what was happening to her. It was a clever conclusion as always.
Ever since her little brother Arlo was murdered in the local park Storm has been struggling. They still haven’t caught the killer and now strange things are happening around her and the police are sceptical as there appears to be no evidence. She meets her neighbour Lena, who is an ex police officer and together they try to figure out what in earth is happening to her.
This one really got me, I could not work out how these things were happening, was Storm going crazy or was someone really out to get her. It was a page turner for sure.
Thank you to Random House UK, Transworld Publishing for my advanced soapy of this book to read. Out in the world on January 15th....more
I have recently discovered Tam Barnett books and jumped at the chance to read the new one early.
This book is dark and serious but definitely has humouI have recently discovered Tam Barnett books and jumped at the chance to read the new one early.
This book is dark and serious but definitely has humour throughout as well. I love that these characters were so flawed, certainly not perfect, but death has a way of making a person an angel. This is how Ivor sees his ex girlfriend Becky, who has just been found dead early into the new year. He is grief stricken and doesn’t believe the police when they tell him that she took her own life. His life begins to unravel as he does his own investigation in what happened. Becky’s voice comes from her diary entries, allowing the reader to slowly learn about her and her relationship with Ivor.
A shocking ending that worked incredibly well. Another page turner from a new to me author. Thank you Boldwood Books for introducing me to Tams books. Out on January 4th....more
Another trip to wine country in New Zealand with Madeleine Eskedahl’s Matakana series. This is the 3 book in the series and it is always a delight to Another trip to wine country in New Zealand with Madeleine Eskedahl’s Matakana series. This is the 3 book in the series and it is always a delight to spend some time across the ditch.
These books always make me want to visit New Zealand and I still cannot believe I haven’t been, especially with it being so close to home. Madeleine gives readers such a vivid picture of the area and the towns that these books are set in and the characters are so likeable (well… most of them are anyway) I could picture myself having a cup of tea and looking out on the vineyards before I head into town to the local bakery that just sounds divine. One day.
It is not all fun though. Local police officer Bill Grainger and Niko who has been sent to town to help again certainly have their hands full. They are called to a clay pit where a body has been discovered, staged in an X shape. On top of that, they have to deal with lots of local crime as Christmas approaches quickly. His wife Annika is working on her family tree project and discovers some long held family secrets. It is certainly a busy time in this small community.
A big thank you to Madeleine for once again sending me a copy of her book from NZ, as well as the wonderful box of goodies as well. Some delicious cookies, a gorgeous book sleeve and more. So spoilt ❤️...more
What a bunch of awful people!! Five families, friends forever, but keeping such dark secrets from each other. They all put in together to buy an abandWhat a bunch of awful people!! Five families, friends forever, but keeping such dark secrets from each other. They all put in together to buy an abandoned mining town in the bush, what could go wrong. Their first trip to get the lay of the land gets off to a bumpy start with a collision with a deer. Things don’t get much better when they discover squatters on the land and they have a run in with a neighbour over the property lines.
This a dark literary thriller that is quite hard to put down. These so called friends are hiding some truly awful things from each other, and their kids are running wild on the land. A very entertaining story.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Australia for the surprise book-mail, and the matching mug....more
I love a good historical mystery, how have I never read this author before?! Thank you to Harlequin Australia for this surprise book mail, it was a deI love a good historical mystery, how have I never read this author before?! Thank you to Harlequin Australia for this surprise book mail, it was a delight to read. It is fun to step back in time for a few hours and learn something about the past about this wonderful country that I live in. I always wonder how I would cope living in these times, so different from the modern world.
Molly Bentley is one tough cookie. She is a woman ahead of her time in 1881. She has always yearned to travel and finally the opportunity arises when her father sends her off to the colonies of Western Australia with her aunt Collette to stay safe from his enemies. Loving her freedom in Albany until she is run down by a horse and suddenly she finds herself on the run to stay safe.
There was such a wonderful cast of characters in this book. I loved Molly and her determination. Romance is not my thing but I really did enjoy it in this story and I wanted her to get her happy ending. Travelling across Australia by horse and wagon would be rough and the author really gives the reader a sense of what that journey would have been like. I did like the tie in the real life royal visit as well .
A great escape to the past. I always enjoy historical fiction, especially Australian books when I read them. I must do it more often.
The Adventuress of Albany is out on November 25th and I highly recommend it. ...more
Another page turner from one of my all time favourite authors, James Patterson.
Elinor is the invisible woman. She is middle aged, working as a music Another page turner from one of my all time favourite authors, James Patterson.
Elinor is the invisible woman. She is middle aged, working as a music teacher and is not very memorable at all. But when her former supervisor at the FBI calls asking for her help in return for complete redemption and her old job back she jumps at the chance. Her invisibility is what they need, she must infiltrate a wealthy family, where the husband is believed to have criminal connections. All she has to do is be the nanny to baby Lily.
This is one hilarious read. Elinor has no experience with babies so her fumbling her way through and trying to be believable just cracked me up,On top of that she has to look after the the 2 dogs ...more
The reunion of a boyband who haven’t spoken for 18 years, on a remote island with no wifi… where do I get this! The Last Encore was a book that was maThe reunion of a boyband who haven’t spoken for 18 years, on a remote island with no wifi… where do I get this! The Last Encore was a book that was made for me I feel. A locked room mystery with a boyband at the centre of the story…and written by an Aussie author. Whats not to love there.
The Cedric Band were the hottest thing in music almost 20 years ago. That is until their lead singer was killed in a horrific accident. They have all since gone their seperate ways, but now a documentary maker has convinced them all to come back for a one off weekend to film and do an exclusive concert, with Jonny’s daughter singing. There is no phones, no social media, it is all secret squirrel. What could possibly go wrong?
I do love a story where the characters are stranded or isolated when trouble happens. I was hooked, trying to put all the pieces together and work out who had killed one of them. They certainly all had motive and opportunity. So many secrets being kept from each other and built up tension just had to explode eventually. The storyline was clever and the ending so well done. So much fun to read.
Thanks so much to Aria and Aries on NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. Get it preordered. Now. Out on January 21st...more
I always enjoy adventures with Dave and Jenna. Can you believe that this is book 28 already!
Christmas Time in Black Rock Falls, never a dull moment. I always enjoy adventures with Dave and Jenna. Can you believe that this is book 28 already!
Christmas Time in Black Rock Falls, never a dull moment. Heavy snow makes for picture postcard scenery but there is a darkness at large and the team have their hands full this festive season. All they want to do is relax after a big year, but with a killer on the loose and a drug distribution to break down, there will be no rest just yet.
I loved how the whole team, FBI and all the dogs are involved in these cases. A big team of people that care for and respect each other, working and celebrating together. The snow sounds so pretty, but we see the dangers behind the weather, ice to look at, tough to live and work in.
Thanks to Bookouture for once again allowing me to read this series early. Publishes on December 16th, just in time for Christmas ...more
This book sounded so good, getting stuck in a roller coaster would be terrifying, and I always get scared it will happen to me whenever I go on one.
ThThis book sounded so good, getting stuck in a roller coaster would be terrifying, and I always get scared it will happen to me whenever I go on one.
The Drop started off well and I was hooked. University friends meet up at the opening of a brand new theme park in the Middle East, all expenses paid. The dream right, especially for Cady, a YouTuber who specialises in amusement rides. But delight turns to terror when they get stuck on this world largest drop, with one of their own demanding answers to something that happened in their past.
Once the timelines started to alternate, the story lost some of the tension. I get why the author did it this way, but it really took away the feelings of them being stuck so high up, with no water in extreme heat. For me it didn’t work that well.
Thanks to One More Chapter, Harper Collins UK for inviting me to read this. Just fell flat for me, not really what I was expecting....more
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