Hammer, Chris (2023) The Seven. Allen & Unwin.
The Seven are Yuwonderie’s most powerful founding families who became steeped in riches and power following the development of the town’s irrigation scheme over 100 years ago. The machinations of the Seven are at the heart of this narrative with its three strands – a present-day murder investigation; the 1994 story of a Seven family scion; and the 1913-1915 letters of a servant-girl. As the story unfolds DS Lucic and DC Buchanan recognise that they must uncover the mysteries of the past to solve the present-day crime; in the process exposing secrets, betrayal, corruption and misuse of power. A third outing for Hammer’s detectives. A deeply complex and intriguing plot. Aussie crime at its most evocative.
Rating: 4/5
Burr, Shelley (2023) Ripper. Hachette Australia.
Rainer, a small town on the Melbourne-Sydney road, has become notorious owing to the trail of death left by the Rainer Ripper seventeen years ago. Now a tourism company is looking to cash in on the town’s gruesome past. Then, the tour operator is killed in a copycat murder. Gemma Guillory, and her tea shop, have been at the heart of the killings. Gemma knows the town has its secrets so begins to investigate with the help of prisoner Lane Holland (Wake). The town’s reputation is in shreds, can Gemma save it? Dark and intense. Often confusing – need to keep alert!
Rating: 3/5
Reed, Megan Nicol (2023) One of those Mothers. Allen & Unwin.
I was initially reluctant to read this domestic tale about preppy millennials and their kids but it soon sucked me in! A page-turner from start to finish. Bridget obsesses over her children and the happenings in the affluent community of Point Heed. When a local father is convicted, with name suppression, of possession and distribution of child pornography hysteria soon rages as the community speculates on the transgressor. Meanwhile Bridget and her forever friends Roz and Lucy, and their families, go on their annual holiday until everything goes terribly wrong. Sharply observed and deeply disturbing.
Rating: 4/5
Vince, Gaia (2022) Nomad Century: How to Survive Climate Upheaval. Allen Lane.
The scale of the existential threat of climate change is the focus of Vince’s new book. Humanity is in crisis, or is it? Utilising scientific projections she initially outlines a dystopian future then, with a touch of optimism, she expounds on a manifesto. Mass migration, towards the poles, is inevitable as large parts of the globe become uninhabitable. Migration is a successful survival adaptation. Humans have been transitory throughout evolutionary history and this time millions will be on the move. Cooperative planning for this upheaval, not only to accommodate the upcoming swathe of climate migrants, but also to build resilience to reverse the destruction of ecosystems, and restore biodiversity, to retain a liveable Earth must be our priority. Important and inspiring message. Must read.
Rating: 5/5
Hunter, Cara (2023) Murder in the Family. William Morrow.
This is offbeat ‘mixed-media’ offering from best selling crime novelist Hunter is designed to be digested like a fictional true-crime series on a streaming channel. An expert investigating team are seeking to solve a twenty-year old cold case. Luke Ryder, stepfather of the series director Guy Howard, was murdered on a cold winter’s night in the Howard family’s garden. As the team starts to reexamine the evidence and review the testimony of witnesses there are major shocks and explosive revelations. Within eight episodes the drama builds. Mostly gripping but loses its way about two-thirds through. Anticlimactic.
Rating: 3/5
Saini, Angela (2023) The Patriarchs: How Men Came to Rule. 4th Estate.
The roots of gender repression and the embedding of male domination across the globe is the focus of this insightful book. Patriarchal authority has sought to assert dominance through oppression and submission with its plea to history, tradition, biology and the divine. Although there have been big shifts in the status of women over time these have not been sustained and this may be true of recent gains. In revolutionising women’s roles in the modern era a genuine attempt has been made to smash the patriarchy, but the upsurge in conservatism, traditional values and authoritarian leadership is seeing a backlash against equality. The battle for women’s freedom is far from over. Dispiriting.
Rating: 4/5
7:30 Bookclub 