Literary Brooding

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder Holly Jackson 433 pages, Paperback, Published May 2, 2019 by Electric Monkey Five years ago, everyone decided that Sal Singh murdered his girlfriend, his suicide was the only proof that anyone needed. Not, Pippa Fitz-Amobi, there has been something bothering her about the events of five years ago, it seemed all too neat. Under the guise of doing a school project, Pippa decides to investigate the case and opens up a massive can of worms. From the first couple of pages, you are completely absorbed into Pippa’s world. You know she is an over achiever; you know she is organised, and you know that she has a good support network around her. Jackson is quite clever at bring forth the main and minor characters as giving you enough information to make you wonder about their motives. The crime itself is well hidden but you have enough clues to not be completely blindsided by the eventual outcome. Jackson has folded in the right levels of tension and drama to kee...

Tom Lake  Ann Patchett 310 pages Bloomsbury Press 2023 There are times when you need a read that takes you on a journey of discovering how the crossroads of life are navigated. Patchett has crafted a story where the pandemic has brought her three adult daughters back to confines of the farm. To keep the bad news at bay, Lara tells how in her mid-twenties she had a brief affair with an actor who would go on to be famous.  Like all good stories it starts at beginning as Lara over the many days of picking fruit tells the story. From how she found herself falling into the world of acting, how she was presented with an opportunity to make a film, and how performing at Tom Lake she met Peter Duke. Weaved in are a series of characters who influence and shape Lara’s life.  We follow Lara’s journey, almost as the fourth child, as she tries to unravel what was important to her, where did she want to go, what did she want to be and at 57 years of age does she regret any of those dec...

  The Crime of Shelia McGough Janet Malcolm Vintage Books 1999, 164 pages, non-fiction. "The law's demand that witnesses speak "nothing but the truth" is a demand no witness can fulfill, of course, even with God's help." In 1996 Malcolm receives a letter from Shelia McGough, a lawyer who has been disbarred and claims the crime she was convicted of were bogus. That she was the victim of a campaign to oust her from the legal profession due to her zealous approach to representing her client. Malcolm is naturally intrigued and begins an investigation into not finding the truth per say, but understanding the people, the system and how the truth is derived in the legal system.  Malcolm examines how the law is not about the truth but whether the defense or prosecution can weave the better narrative. It is how the jury can be persuaded that the version of events presented is the correct one, which will lead to acquittal or conviction. Malcolm could become bogged dow...

The Refresh is in.   You know how life just grabs you and takes you down directions you never expected? Yeah, that was me. Too much work, not enough doing this. I have missed this outlet. While away, I kept purchasing books. I wrote them all down, ended up being about 15 A4 pages, that makes up my to be read pile. In fact, I don't have a pile or a shelf but three bookcases of books to be read. Yep, many treasures to be explored. Before I dip into the new, I have quite a few books started and not finished, so they are a priority. It is not that I was disinterested in the books but I have really struggled with concentration. The mind just keeps wandering and not staying on the words cleverly placed on the page.  My other reading goals for this year apart from the half finished? Would like to reach 50 books, but I have some large tomes to read, so I am not sure I will make that mark. That is okay as it has to be about the quality. Want to read each of the books from the Adel...

  The Perfect Family by Robyn Harding Paperback, 352 pages Expected publication: August 10th 2021 by Gallery Books In Harding's The Perfect Family, the Adler Family are trying to fit into a world where social and monetary status is all important and being judged is quick and ruthless. The Perfect Family is working hard to show everyone they have the perfect marriage, perfect jobs and perfect teenagers with glittering careers ahead of them. Someone wants to expose the Adler Family and it starts with a simple egging, the intimidation increases and everyone is talking about what is happening. The Adler Family of parents Viv and Thomas and teenage children Eli and Tarryn, hold onto the charade of perfection but the family is at breaking point with each carrying a dark secret.  Each chapter switches point of view (POV) between the four family members. You are able to walk in their shoes and see the pressures each one is facing. Harding makes the switch between each of the char...

Catch Us The Foxes by Nicola West Paperback, 320 pages, Expected publication: July 7th 2021 by Simon & Schuster Australia In the seaside township of Kiama the locals are a close knit group who happily encourage the tourist dollar. When one of their own is murdered, the popular Lily Williams, suspicion immediately falls onto the travelling carnival group. Marlowe ‘Lo’ Robertson, local journalist and Lily’s best friend knows things are amiss. Having discovered the mutilated body of Lily and with no-one investigating the symbols carved onto her body, Lo suspects that members of the town are hiding the truth. With a take no hostage attitude Lo rattles the town establishment to find out what really happened. Is this a murder of passion, a young woman’s descent into mental illness or a conspiracy that involves the upper echelons of the town? The reading of the Catch us the Foxes relies on the relationship you form with the narrator Lo. Her whip smart, gung-ho attitude shows a woman fully...

  The Last Night in London by Karen White Paperback, 480 pages Expected publication: May 5th 2021 by Simon & Schuster AU London, 1939, for best friends Eva Harlow and Precious Dubose the world is seemingly their oyster. Working as fashion models at the House of Luschtak allows them to mingle with the British elite. Eva finds herself swept into a whirlwind romance with the charming Graham St John, it is everything she has ever wanted. Yet the happiness they find is tinged with the threat of war and the forces of intrigue. London, 2019, Madison Warner, freelance journalist is engaged by long tine friend Arabella to write an article on the life and vintage clothing collection of 99 year old Precious Dubose. As Maddie interviews Precious she tries to unravel the story of Eva of Graham who both seem too have disappeared during the war and also the secrets that Precious is reluctant is let go. For Maddie coming back to London brings complications in trying to shield her feelings from...