Murder on North Terrace

Murder on the North Terrace is the sequel to the Death of Dora Black by Lainie Anderson. This novel is set in Adelaide in September 1917. Kate Cocks and Ethel Bromley continue to work in the Women's Police Branch of the South Australian Police Force. Their main role is to ensure the protection and well-being of local women but from time to time they also assist with general police enquiries. However when the body of a board governor of the Art Gallery is found beneath a controversial painting hanging in the gallery, Ethel Bromley is seconded to the Detective Branch as members of her family have connections to the gallery. This leaves Kate Cocks with the task of managing Women's Police Branch on her own. 

There is general unrest in the city as wounded soldiers return from overseas. Meanwhile there is a recruitment drive to find another 150 soldiers to serve overseas.  Hotels are popular locations for soldiers to congregate and, especially near closing time, many drunk soldiers can be found on the streets. This can result in increased danger to young girls passing by.

One of the cases that Kate Cocks encounters is a fifteen year old girl who has been raped by a soldier and left in the bush. Kate is determined to find the perpetrator, especially when the girl attempts to commit suicide. Another case involving the time of Kate Cocks is a man who is attempting to turn his life around after struggling with injuries he received during the Boer War. 

The attempt to solve the many crimes occurring at this time is set against the background of life in Adelaide during the First World War. This is a work of historical fiction but many of the people mentioned did exist and some of the events did occur. At the end of the book, the author provides an explanation of how she came to write the novel. I really enjoyed reading this crime novel set in an Australian historical setting with the emphasis on the role of women at the time.

Gravity Let Me Go

Noah Cork has spent his life as a crime journalist. Then one day he found a message in his letterbox which led him to discovering a murder in his neighbourhood. Although the killer was still unknown, Noah wrote a true crime book about how the body was discovered. The book is a best seller but he did not anticipate the aftermath when the book was published.

Set in a Brisbane suburb, Gravity Let Me Go by Trent Dalton is an account of the chaos that occurs in Noah's life after the publication of the book. For the six months spent writing his book Noah had neglected his family and now fears that his marriage is disintegrating. But although he vows that he will no longer investigate the subject of his book, Noah still has to follow up loose ends and new clues.

This book is a complex study of relationships and misunderstandings as well as the resolution of crimes committed in a supposedly quiet suburban neighbourhood. Writing his book has disturbed memories of Noah's past as well as the need to come to terms with what is really important in his life.

Gravity Let Me Go - ABC

Free Falling: love, murder and mayhem in the suburbs - Indaily Queensland 

Everyone in this Bank is a Thief

Once again Ernest Cunningham finds himself investigating a mystery. This time Ernest and Juliette are at the bank trying to obtain a loan for Ernest's detective agency. They did not imagine that they would find themselves among a group of ten hostages as one man attempts to rob a bank. They also learn that the brother of the bank manager is missing. This is not an ordinary day.

As you would expect Ernest is determined to discover what is going on and why, especially as the bank robber does not appear to be in a hurry to leave the bank. He is also not interested in the money in the till but just demands one dollar from the vault. 

Ernest provides the reader with a detailed account of his observations as to what is occurring in the bank, including alerting the reader to possible clues as he attempts to solve the mystery. Ernest also provides us with an account of different types of theft, not just cash. As we learn about the characters, many have reasons to want money urgently. But who would also resort to murder to obtain what they want.

 Once again this easy to read, often amusing, crime novel keeps the reader guessing as to what is really going on.

The Governor, His Wife and His Mistress

In The Governor, His Wife and His Mistress, Sue Williams has written another work of historical fiction set in the early days of the new Colony of New South Wales. Philip Gidley King initially sailed with the First Fleet to the new colony at Sydney Harbour but was then sent with a small party of convicts to establish another settlement at Norfolk Island.

This novel deals with his relationship with Ann Inett, one of the female convicts also sent to Norfolk Island. Ann becomes Gidley King's housekeeper and eventually his mistress. They have two sons. Then Gidley King returns to England to provide a report about the new colony to officials. Before returning to New South Wales, with a promotion, he marries Anna Josepha Coombe who returns to the colony with him. 

The Governor, His Wife and His Mistress describes the relationship that develops between the two women and their families and their life in the colony. It is an account of the early years of colonial life in New South Wales, especially the tensions developing between the Governor and his supporters and the Military. 

ABC Top 100 Books of the 21st Century 71-100

Last weekend ABC Radio National announced the top 100 books enjoyed so far by readers in the 21st century.

Of the books that rated from 71-80, I have read five of the titles. My order (number 1 to 5) for the books listed in the top 71-80 would be:

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society 

by Mary Ann Schaffer and Annie Barrows

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray 

The Happiest Refugee by Anh Do 

The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku 

Where is the Green Sheep by Mem Fox (excellent children's picture book)

Of the books that rated from 81-90, I have read two of the titles. My order (number 1 to 2) for the books listed in the top 81-90 would be:

 Chai Time at the Cinnamon Gardens by Shankari Chandren

Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood 

Of the books that rated from 81-90, I have read three of the titles. My order (number 1 to 3) for the books listed in the top 81-90 would be:

The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams

 True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey 

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn 

I have read thirty-seven titles from this list of 100 titles. Some of the books in the list I read before I started this blog and I will eventually add posts for these titles.

This has been an interesting exercise looking at the titles that respondents to the survey voted for. There are many other titles that I would have included in such as list but we all have different tastes in reading. The list, however has provided some interesting titles for my To Be Read list.

ABC Top 100 Books of the 21st Century 41-70

Last weekend ABC Radio National announced the top 100 books enjoyed so far by readers in the 21st century.

Of the books that rated from 41-50, I have read four of the titles. My order (number 1 to 4) for the books listed in the top 41-50 would be:

 The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

All That I Am by Anna Funder 

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling 

Of the books that rated from 51-60, I have read three of the titles. My order (number 1 to 3) for the books listed in the top 51-60 would be:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander MaCall Smith

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion 

 

Of the books that rated from 61-70, I have read only one of the titles. 

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

ABC Top 100 Books of the 21st Century 11-40

Last weekend ABC Radio National announced the top 100 books enjoyed so far by readers in the 21st century.

Of the books that rated from 11-20, I have read five of the titles. My order (number 1 to 5) for the books listed in the top 11-20 would be:

The Secret River by Kate Grenville

Still Life by Sarah Winman

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks

 Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens 

 

Of the books that rated from 21-30, I have read three of the titles. My order (number 1 to 3) for the books listed in the top 21-30 would be:

The Dry by Jane Harper

Honey Bee by Craig Silvey

Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton 

Of the books that rated from 31-40, I have read five of the titles. My order (number 1 to 5) for the books listed in the top 31-40 would be:

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

Dirt Music by Tim Winton

Breath By Tim Winton

The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas 

I need to write blog posts for Dirt Music and The Slap. 

ABC Top 100 Books of the 21st Century 1-10

Last weekend ABC Radio National announced the top 100 books enjoyed so far by readers in the 21st century.

Of the books that made the top 10, I have read six of the titles and have now placed reservations in the library for three of the remaining four titles. My order (number 1 to 6) for the books listed in the top 10 would be:

The Book Thief By Markus Zusak

The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams 

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel 

Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton 

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus 

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver 

I will add to the list when I have read the other books listed in this group. 

 

The full list of ABC Top 100 Books of the 21st Century. 

 

My Top 10 books selected from the ABC Top 100 List would be: 

The Book Thief By Markus Zusak

The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams 

The Secret River by Kate Grenville

The Dry by Jane Harper

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society 

by Mary Ann Schaffer and Annie Barrows

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell 

 The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

 Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton 

 Honey Bee by Craig Silvey

Still Life by Sarah Winman 

Legacy

Martin Scarsden is once again the main character in this novel by Chris Hammer. We first met Martin in Scrublands, Silver and Trust. In this latest novel, Legacy, Martin and his family attend the launch of his latest book involving the investigation of a Melbourne crime family when the police evacuate the hall before a bomb explodes. Martin fears for the welfare of his family who are removed to a place of safety. On the advice of Jack Goffing from ASIO, Martin takes on a new identity and then disappears to Paroo in outback New South Wales where he hopes he will not be recognised.

So begins a fast paced thriller with Martin attempting to remain incognito as he tries to discover who has set out not just to kill him but also to totally discredit his reputation. He also discovers a long standing feud between two families - the Carmichaels and the Stantons. He considers this as a possible topic for a new book but his investigations lead to additional danger including an attempt on his life.

There are parallel stories in the book. As well as Martin's story we meet Ecco who has been employed by Clay Carmichael to write the family story. Her investigations lead to the discovery of a mystery that occurred more than one hundred years earlier. She also learns about a murder committed twenty years ago and the disappearance of  Clay's daughter, Chloe. Information from Chloe's diaries provide additional information.

Once again, when the police become involved, we again meet Ivan Lucic and Nell Buchannan from the Homicide Squad who have featured in other Chris Hammer novels. The environment of the outback is a feature of the story, especially the flood waters travelling into New South Wales from northern Queensland, hopefully resulting in the regrowth of pasture for any livestock remaining after a drought.

Legacy is another excellent addition to the genre often referred to a Aussie Noir.

The Impossible Fortune

The Thursday Murder Club members had seen little activity for almost twelve months and then, suddenly, they were in the thick of an investigation once more. When the club members attended a wedding, Elizabeth was approached by a man who feared he was in danger. Elizabeth and the team once again enjoy the opportunity to become involved in an investigation.

The main mystery concerns trying to crack the secret code for a cryptocurrency fortune which appears to be the centre of events, including kidnapping and murder occurring, threatening their normally quiet community. In The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman, the fifth book in the Thursday Murder Club series, the reader once again becomes immersed in the lives of Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim, plus their friends, as they carry out their investigations. Another exciting adventure with a group of older people who demonstrate that they are more than capable of solving crimes.

Braiding Sweetgrass

As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these two streams of knowledge together. This title was one of the books considered for possible discussion by the Monash Alumni Book Club in January 2026.

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge and the teaching of plants was published in 2013.  In 2022 another edition, Braiding Sweetgrass for young adults was published. 

An aim of the books is to acknowledge and celebrate our reciprocal relationship with the earth resulting in a wider, more complete understanding of our place and purpose in the land. Although Kimmerer is writing about indigenous people and their relationship with the environment in North America, the philosophy expounded also applies to other countries, particularly Australia.

Other books by Kimmerer include The Serviceberry: an economy of gifts and environment, Gathering Moss: a natural and cultural history of mosses, How to Love a Forest: the bitter sweet work of tending a changing world and This Book is a Plant: how to grow, learn and radically engage with the natural world.

Mischance Creek

Constable Paul Hirschhausen (Hirsch) runs the one person operated police station in Tiverton, north of Adelaide in South Australia. Part of the work of a country cop is to know the local community well and he starts each day by walking around the town first thing in the morning. But he is also responsible for the welfare of the many properties surrounding Tiverton. The main police station is at Redruth about a thirty minute drive from Tiverton.

Each November Hirsch conducts a firearms audit which involves checking that all weapons in the community are registered and stored securely. This also allows him to do a welfare check on those living in his area of responsibility as well as the opportunity to notice if anything usual or illegal is occurring in the region.

One day he assists the driver of a car which has ended up in a ditch. Initially he surmises that the driver is a tourist but then discovers that Annika is visiting the area to try and discover what happened to her parents when they visited the area several years before Hirsch came to the district. Her father's body had been found in a mine shaft but her mother had simply disappeared. Hirsch becomes interested in this cold case as well as maintaining his daily routine.

When a skeleton is found Hirsch works with the investigation team sent to solve the case. It is not long before links are found to other suspicious activity in the region. He also has to contend with several locals who are 'sovereign citizens' as well as another group who promote conspiracy theories.

Garry Disher has become one of my favourite Australian crime writers. In Mischance Creek the local environment and the range of country characters add an important element in the resolution of the crimes occurring in what should be a quiet country area of South Australia. Mischance Creek is the fifth book in the Hirsch series of novels.

In the Woods

A young girl is found murdered near an archaeological site and Detective Rob Ryan Detective Cassie Maddox investigate. This case poses additional difficulties for Ryan as memories of events that occurred in the nearby woods when he was a child haunt him. As the investigation continues memories of the past gradually resurface.

In the Woods by Tana French is psychological study of manipulation leading people to believe and act in ways they may not have in ordinary circumstances. The reader becomes involved with the revelations of why characters act the way that they do and how their actions affect the lives of others, sometimes with disastrous results.

 This title was the Dervla McTiernan Book club that isn't a book club book selection for September 2025.

Katherine Swynford: the story of John of Gaunt and his scandalous duchess

Katherine de Roet (1350-1403) became the third wife of John of Gaunt (1340-1399), a son of King Edward III and Philippa of Hainault. Initially Katherine had married Sir Hugh Swynford who died in 1371. She became the mistress of John of Gaunt and they had four children. When John of Gaunt's second wife died he married Katherine and insisted that their children should be recognised as part of his family. Alison Weir has proved us with a dramatic account of this period of English history.

 

In her historical study, Katherine Swynford, Alison Weir sets out to provide an account of Katherine's life from the scant records available. The interest in the life of Katherine and John of Gaunt has increased over the years especially since the publication of the novel, Katherine, by Anna Seton which was published in 1954. Detailed notes plus a select bibliography, notes, index and family trees are provided.

 

NB: This book was published in the United States with the title Mistress of the Monarchy: The Life of Katherine Swynford, Duchess of Lancaster by Alison Weir

 

Katherine Swynford - Alison Weir  

She-Wolves: the women who ruled England before Elizabeth

In 2010 historian, Helen Castor, had published the book, She-Wolves: the women who ruled England before Elizabeth. In 2012 a three part television series with the same name was made. A She-wolf was a derogatory term suggesting that a female leader, by nature, would have to have serious character defects. During the medieval period there were many women who held positions of power but were not allowed to be queens in their own right in England.

The women who are the focus in Helen Castor's study are Empress Matilda, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella of France and Margaret of Anjou. These women lived during a period in history when only men had the official power to govern a country or territory but women were used as a means of increasing that power or gaining more land or riches. In reality these women made an impact on life in England during often difficult times and often were regents when the official ruler was fighting in France or on crusade. This did not necessarily make them popular with some of the barons and church hierarchy who wanted to increase their power.

She-wolves - Historical Association 

Medieval she-wolves (part one) - History - the interesting bits

 Medieval she-wolves (part two) - History - the interesting bits

See How They Fall

The Turner family meet to spend Easter together at the family property, Yallambee, in New South Wales. Sir Campbell Turner, who had created a family business that traded worldwide, had recently died and part of the reason for the family get-together is for his three sons, Jamie, Duncan and Hugo, to discuss the distribution of the family fortune. But before the weekend ends one person will be dead and a six year old girl will be seriously ill in hospital.

Initially See How They Fall by Rachel Parks reads as a mystery novel with the need to discover who committed the crime, but it soon becomes obvious that it is much more than that. The story is narrated by Skye, the wife of Duncan Turner, and Mei O'Connor who is investigating the case. The corruption that has occurred within the Turner family is gradually revealed along with the extent that family members will go to cover up the family's crime activities.

As the novel develops into a psychological thriller it is difficult to stop reading as the reader encounters another twist or turn as the exploits of this dysfunctional family are revealed. The Turner family is used being above the law. Skye and Mei are determined that this time the truth will be revealed.

See How They Fall is a debut novel for New Zealand writer, Rachel Paris. I look forward to reading her next book. 

 This was the Monash University Alumni Book Club book for October 2025. 

Review: See How They Fall - Debbishdotcom  

Review:See How They Fall - Aotearoa New Zealand Review of Books  

People absolutely hate me - The Spinoff  

See  How They Fall - Goodreads