June Picks

Sauers, Joan (2023) Echo Lake. Allen & Unwin.

Rose McHugh, a recently divorced historian, moves to the atmospheric Southern Highlands of New South Wales to begin a new life. In the garden of her isolated cottage she finds a buried roll of film containing photos of a young woman who went missing six years ago. Against the advice of the handsome local policeman Rose becomes an amateur ‘Miss Marples’ as she uses her powers of deduction to decipher clues to uncover a murderer in their midst. A cosy and enjoyable whodunit, in the Midsommer genre, with a likeable and eclectic group of characters. A series in the making.

Rating: 4/5

Day, Elizabeth (2021) Magpie. 4th Estate.

When a magpie swoops down in the opening pages we know we’re in for a bumpy ride. Marisa’s traumatic childhood has blighted her life so when she falls for Jake she sees happiness in her future. They move into their perfect home with parenthood the next step. But, then Kate becomes their lodger. Kate makes herself at home and has no boundaries. When Marisa falls pregnant Kate’s intrusiveness, and possessiveness towards Jake, seriously challenges Marisa’s mental health. Can she trust Jake? Something is not quite right. A tautly crafted, yet thought provoking, thriller with despair at its heart.

Rating: 3/5

Crawford, James (2022) The Edge of the Plain: How borders make and break our world. Canongate.

Our world is obsessed by borders. Crawford explores how borders have expanded over time to take control of our identities, landscape, freedoms and memories. Our borders and isolationist policies are hardening and becoming more divisive in the face of climate change, mass migration, pathogens and nationalism. Humans are being locked-in, or kept-out, by imposed borders when other species just move. Crawford articulates the many tensions that challenge the function of borders, from the making to the breaking; most salient the shifting climatic impact that will require the redistribution of people across the planet. Future borders will need to be stretched and reimagined. Richly illuminating and thought-provoking.

Rating: 5/5

Gentill, Sulari (2022) The Woman in the Library. Poisoned Pen Press.

This story within a story is a riddle with two teasing narratives. We first meet aspiring writer Leo who begins a fawning correspondence with bestselling author Hannah Tigone. Hannah shares with him a violent episode, a murder, at Boston Public Library, actually the beginnings of her new novel. At the end of each chapter we receive Leo’s comments on the novel’s progress. Hannah’s mystery-writing protagonist is Freddie (Winifed) who becomes friends with Heroic Chin (Win), Handsome Man (Cain), and Freud Girl (Marigold). All are suspects in the murder at the library. As the story unfolds and Freddie and Hannah’s stories move forward more secrets are revealed in this literary psychological thriller. Unexpected but requires perseverance.

Rating: 3/5

Neill, Sam (2023) Did I Ever Tell You This? A Memoir. Text.

NZ actor Sam Neill’s memoir was released after he went into remission for his blood cancer. Sam lays himself bare as he recounts his life story, and career adventures, along with some rambling yarns and tale-telling about his famous friends, although he has carefully omitted stories about his own relationships. Cancer is part of the narrative but it is only a thread, rather it is a reflection on a life well-lived. Sometimes funny, sometimes poignant, Sam comes off as a good raconteur and nice guy. Lots of blather and charm.

Rating: 4/5

Napolitano, Ann (2023) Hello Beautiful. Viking.

The four Padavano sisters are inseparable growing up in their Chicago Italian neighbourhood. They see parallels in their lives to the March girls in Little Women. When Julia, the eldest, falls in love with William, an emotionally fragile history student and college basketball star, the family warmly welcomes him into their midst. William’s fortunes turn for the better with his marriage to Julia but this is short-lived as he cannot measure up to Julia’s high expectations. As the marriage disintegrates misfortune abounds with Sylvie, Julia’s romantic book-loving sister, fracturing what remains of the sisterly bond. A tale of sisterhood, family, betrayal, and love. Well crafted and compassionate, but rather claustrophobic.

Rating: 4/5