Friday Freebie to WIN a copy of Aussie thriller The Falls by B. Michael Radburn

Excerpt of my review

* Copy courtesy of Pantera Press *

Last week I reviewed The Falls by B. Michael Radburn and those who saw the review will know I really enjoyed it, giving it four out of five stars.

The Falls was published this month, and as promised, you now have the opportunity to win a copy for yourself and find out first hand why I enjoyed this Aussie thriller so much.

Blurb
A week of despair... a century of evil.

Damaged but not yet broken, park ranger Taylor Bridges believes his ghosts are in the past - until a raging forest fire in an isolated canyon of The Falls lays bare the remains of a young woman… and a decade-old killing ground.

After the police enlist Taylor in their investigation, the evidence bizarrely points to a deranged preacher who reigned over The Falls a century ago.

But when a crucial witness and a policewoman disappear, it’s clear that a disciple of The Falls’ dark history is on the loose.

Author Bio
Writing from his farm in the hauntingly beautiful Southern Highlands of NSW, B. Michael Radburn's work reflects both natural and supernatural environs. Described as “Ian Rankin meets Stephen King”, Radburn is the author of three full-length novels: The Crossing, Blackwater Moon and The Falls.

Radburn loves his family, jamming out the blues and his motorcycle! He also loves giving back and inspiring others from all walk of life – his Harley Davidson chapter (Sydney HOG) works with Father Chris Riley’s Youth off the Streets program. Radburn uses these opportunities to talk to youth living rough in Sydney – offering reading and writing as “therapy” and sharing his own teenage experiences.

Giveaway
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Winner of Bad Blood by Gary Kemble announced

Thanks to those who entered last week's giveaway to win a copy of Bad Blood by Gary Kemble. Entries closed at midnight on Friday 22 July and the winner was drawn today. Congratulations go to:

Anne_MB

Congratulations Anne, you'll receive an email shortly and will have 7 days to provide me with your postal address. Echo Publishing will mail your book out to you and I'd like to thank them for this prize.

This Friday I'll be giving away a copy of The Falls by B. Michael Radburn, and you can read my review of it here.

Carpe Librum!

Review: The Falls by Australian author B. Michael Radburn

Published August 2016

* Copy courtesy of Pantera Press *

The Falls by Australian author B. Michael Radburn is the second in his Taylor Bridges series although it can easily be read as a stand alone. (The first novel in the series was The Crossing and you can see my review here).

Taylor Bridges is a Park Ranger who is drawn into a local missing persons case in country Victoria. The novel is centred around a disused mine (pictured on the cover) and some of the scenes are almost cinematic in quality. 

Radburn really knows how to write about the Australian bush, and with a deadly bushfire scorching the earth, I could almost smell the ash at the crime scene and hear the tinkle of the glass apple trees in an orchard not too far away. I also experienced a jolt of recognition at the mention of Lakes Entrance and Bairnsdale and appreciated the familiar rural setting. 

Taylor makes for a refreshing protagonist and I don't know of any other author who has a Parks Ranger as their main character, but it works. My favourite character though by far was Gordo, the ex-Navy chopper pilot, and his unique expression made me smile every time I saw it on the page. (You'll have to read it to find out, no spoilers here).

Radburn mentions in the Acknowledgements section that his daughter designed the cover of The Falls and I must day she's done an amazing job. The cover has an eerie quality to complement the storyline and the shiny (spot UV) Bendigo Tool Co. logo on the back is a touch of artistic genius.

I recommend The Falls for fans of crime and mystery novels and those looking to discover more Australian authors. Readers in Victoria will enjoy it just a little more owing to the setting.

My rating = ****

Carpe Librum!

You'll have the chance to WIN your own copy of The Falls by B. Michael Radburn in a giveaway here on Friday 29 July 2016.

Review: The House Between Tides by Sarah Maine

RRP AUD $29.99
Published 22 June 2016

* Copy courtesy of Allen & Unwin *

When a novel includes a crumbling estate, an inheritance, a mystery and a dark secret then I've got to read it and The House Between Tides by Sarah Maine has it all.

Set in Scotland, the landscape is truly the main character in this novel. It's wild and atmospheric and you can almost feel the wind in your hair, lick the salt spray from your lips and hear the squawk of the birds in the air. 

Unfolding in dual time frames, we learn the present story from Hetty Deveraux (2010) and the past from Beatrice in the early 1900s.

I preferred the chapters from Beatrice's point of view, as I found Hetty to be a real push over. I was often frustrated by her actions and was desperate for her to make a stand but it works for the novel.

The mystery unfolded at a steady pace, but it wasn't a big surprise at the end. I would have preferred a little less focus on Blake's artwork and less about his passion for bird collecting, but all in all, The House Between Tides is a solid debut for Sarah Maine. 

Readers who enjoy Kate Morton's novels will feel at home with Sarah Maine.

My rating = ***

Carpe Librum!

Winner of Devour by L.A. Larkin is announced

Thanks to everyone who entered last week's giveaway to WIN a copy of Devour by L.A. Larkin. Entries closed at midnight Friday 15 July and the lucky winner was drawn today. Congratulations go to:

Cloggie Downunder

Congratulations Cloggie, you'll receive an email shortly and will have 7 days to provide me with your postal address. The publisher Hachette Australia will send your book out to you and I'd like to thank them for this prize.

For those who missed out, click here to enter this week's giveaway.

Carpe Librum!

Friday Freebie: WIN a copy of Bad Blood by Gary Kemble

RRP $29.99

* Copy courtesy of Echo Publishing *

Blurb
A journey into the world of corruption and dark magic on Brisbane’s streets.

Freelance journalist Harry Hendrick is beginning to realise that you’re only as good as your last exclusive, and buzz doesn’t pay the bills, when he’s blackmailed by the police into investigating a series of bizarre suicides.

Those investigations lead him into the web of Mistress Hel, who plies her dark arts from her luxurious suburban lair. With continuing challenges in his personal and professional life, can Harry resist her seductive power? Or the thrill of danger itself?

A novel about lust, power, control and revenge, featuring a strong, three-dimensional female antagonist who’s unlike anyone you’ve met in literature before.

Bad Blood is the latest genre-bending, supernatural thriller from an exciting Australian author on the rise.

Author Bio
Gary Kemble’s award-winning short fiction has been published in magazines and anthologies in Australia and abroad and several have been republished in ‘best of’ collections including Year’s Best Australian Fantasy and Horror. Gary’s journalistic career has included stints with national magazines and online publications in Australia and the UK. He is currently the Social Media Lead for ABC News.

Born in England, Gary emigrated to Australia when he was six, and grew up in Brisbane. Gary tweets at @garykemble

Giveaway

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Review: Brick History - Amazing Historical Scenes to Build from LEGO by Warren Elsmore

RRP AUD $24.99
Published May 2016

* Copy courtesy of Allen & Unwin *

I review a variety of books here on Carpe Librum, but Brick History by Warren Elsmore (from Allen & Unwin) was certainly a unique reading experience for me.

Containing detailed historical scenes made entirely from LEGO, Brick History begins with the birth of civilisation itself (Big Bang), and takes us through to the year 2011 with the Royal Wedding.

When it comes to which historical events to feature in a book like this, you know at the outset that many significant historical events won't make the cut and that you can't please every reader. Having said that, I was surprised to see just how many American events were included, knowing the author Warren Elsmore is from the UK.

The LEGO scenes were elaborate and it was obvious great care had been taken in their design to make them as historically accurate as possible. However, I just wanted more. I wanted to know how many LEGO pieces had been used in each scene or how many man hours it took to design and build each one.

Without this information, and only stylised photographs to go by, it was difficult to appreciate the magnitude of the effort and creativity involved.

There are several model projects with detailed instructions for readers to build themselves, and my personal favourite was a working sextant from Page 74 and a book of specimens from Sir Joseph Banks on Page 122.

Brick History - Amazing Historical Scenes to Build from LEGO by Warren Elsmore will appeal to readers of all ages and of course Adult Fans of Lego (AFOL).

My rating = ***

Carpe Librum!

Friday Freebie: WIN a copy of Devour by L.A. Larkin

RRP $29.99

* Copy courtesy of Hachette Australia *

Blurb
Devour is an action-packed conspiracy thriller with a spine-chilling psychological thriller sub-plot; an enthralling female central character; and a climax that will leave you breathless.

Their greatest fear was contaminating an ancient Antarctic lake, buried beneath the ice for millions of years. They little knew the catastrophe they were about to unleash. Welcome to the high octane world of Olivia Wolfe.

As an investigative journalist, Wolfe lives her life in constant peril. Hunted by numerous enemies who are seldom what the first seem, she must unravel a complex web of lies to uncover an even more terrifying truth.

From the poppy palaces of Afghanistan and Antarctica's forbidding wind-swept ice sheets, to a top-secret military base in the Nevada desert, Wolfe's journey will ultimately lead her to a man who would obliterate civilisation. She must make an impossible choice: save a life - or prevent the death of millions.

Author Bio
British-Australian thriller author, L.A. Larkin, has been likened to Michael Crichton and Matthew Reilly. An adventurer at heart, Larkin has spent time in the Antarctic with scientists at the British Antarctic Survey and the Australian Antarctic Division and Thirst was described as 'The best Antarctic thriller since Ice Station'.

L. A. Larkin lives in Sydney and London, and teaches mystery and thriller writing. Find out more by visiting her website www.lalarkin.com.

Giveaway

This giveaway has now closed.

Winner of signed copy of No Free Man by Graham Potts announced

Thanks to everyone who entered last week's giveaway to WIN a signed copy of No Free Man by Australian author Graham Potts. 

Entries closed at midnight Friday 1 July, and the lucky winner was drawn today, congrats to:

Sarah E.

Congratulations Sarah, you'll receive an email shortly and will have 7 days to provide me with your postal address. The publisher Pantera Press will send your prize out to you and I'd like to thank them for providing this prize.

For those who missed out, I have another three giveaways scheduled this month, so there will be plenty more chances to win.

Carpe Librum!

Blog Tour & Review for The Twisted Knot by J.M. Peace

* Copy courtesy of Pan Macmillan Australia *

It's with great pleasure that I'm kicking off the blog tour for The Twisted Knot by Australian author and serving Police Officer J.M. Peace today.

Let's get started.

Blurb
A marked man. A damaged cop. A town full of secrets.

After her abduction and near death at the hands of a sadistic killer, Constable Samantha Willis is back in the uniform. Despite being on desk duty, rumours reach Sammi that someone in Angel's Crossing has been hurting little girls, and before long a mob is gathering to make sure justice is served.

So when a man is found hanging in his shed, the locals assume the pedophile has finally given into his guilt. That is, until Sammi delves further into the death and uncovers a dark family secret, an unsolved crime and a town desperate for vengeance.

My Review
This is the second crime novel in the Constable Samantha Willis series by J.M. Peace, and I thoroughly enjoyed the first one A Time To Run, so it was a joy to slip back into her world.

I was powering along within the first 10 pages, chuckling while reading a scene involving a member of the public trying to get out of a traffic related ticket. The dialogue is uniquely Australian and I loved the small town setting in Queensland, Australia. 

This time Sammi is investigating a crime (and not a victim of one), so the element of immediate danger was absent, which for me meant the plot wasn't as gripping as the first. Having said that, I really enjoyed the character development, the rhythms of work-life at the police station (my favourite part) and unraveling the 'whodunnit' aspects of the novel.

If you haven't read any Australian authors for a while - or even if you have - I heartily recommend picking up The Twisted Knot or A Time To Run. The Twisted Knot can easily be read as a stand alone novel, and with short punchy chapters and a dark atmospheric cover to lure you in, it's a quick and easy read.

Besides, the author is a serving Police Officer who is managing to keep her publishing success a secret from her colleagues, it doesn't get any more fascinating than that! #respect

My rating = ****

Carpe Librum!

Author Bio
J.M. Peace is a pseudonym to protect the author's identity as she is still a serving police officer. Over the past 15 years, Jay has served in a number of different capacities and her experience adds a chilling realism to her writing. Jay's debut novel, A Time to Run was published last year and she blogs regularly about policing and writing. She lives on the Sunshine Coast with her partner and two kids, juggling writing with police work and being a mum.

Blog Tour
I'm kicking off #thetwistedknot blog tour, but check out the blog tour schedule for more reviews, interviews and a giveaway.

Review: Fashion Victims - The Dangers of Dress Past and Present by Alison Matthews David

* Copy courtesy of Bloomsbury Publishing *

Fashion Victims - The Dangers of Dress Past and Present by Alison Matthews David takes a detailed look at fashion items responsible for death, disease and accidents throughout history.

The book is meticulously researched and cleverly broken down into separate chapters, each one denoted by colour coded page edges which make for an attractive hardback edition.

Some of the chapters include:
- Poisonous Pigments (Chapter 3)
- Entangled and Strangled (Chapter 5)
- Inflammatory Fabrics (Chapter 6)

Great chapter headings aren't they? I enjoyed learning about dangerous dyes, the deadly mercury used to make hats, hobble skirts, the arsenic contained in green garments in the 1800s, ballerinas who burned to death but refused to change their stage dress and so much more.

The research covers both the garment makers (the dyers, dressmakers etc.) and the wearers, exposing the diseases, accidents and deaths attributed to both sides all in the name of fashion.

The following excerpt from the blurb sets the scene for what you'll find in Fashion Victims:

From insidious murder weapons to blaze-igniting crinolines, clothing has been the cause of death, disease and madness throughout history, by accident and design. Clothing is designed to protect, shield and comfort us, yet lurking amongst seemingly innocuous garments we find hats laced with mercury, frocks laden with arsenic and literally 'drop-dead gorgeous' gowns.

Wow, right?

Fashion Victims - The Dangers of Dress Past and Present is an excellent reference for students and academics as well as readers interested in fashion and/or history.

My rating = ****

Carpe Librum!

Friday Freebie: WIN a signed paperback copy of No Free Man by Graham Potts

RRP $29.99

* Copy courtesy of Pantera Press *

Blurb
Stepan Volkov forfeited his future when he was paid to forget his past.

Forced to adapt, he ultimately became the world's most wanted killer... feared, vicious and brutal.

A tool of the Organizatsiya, a Russian crime syndicate that forged him into 'The Wolf', he's pursued by American spies and Australian agents, torn between his need to survive and his desire to be free.

When a shock encounter in Australia uncovers forgotten secrets and threatens uneasy allegiances, Volkov suddenly sees a choice... one he thought would never be his to make.

With a billion-dollar international oil deal threatening to shift the global balance of power, will Volkov return to Moscow to wage war for the Organizatsiya, or will he find the courage to escape with a vengeful thief whose life he destroyed? 

Author Bio
War defines the first decade of Graham Potts’s adult life.

Potts has been known to have inspiration strike at inappropriate moments – such as when out on the wing of an aeroplane! That may sound as dangerous as one of his plots, but as an active member of the Royal Australian Air Force, it is merely an occupational hazard.

Despite challenging and ongoing RAAF assignments his inner strategist has finally acknowledged the truth: writing is his passion.

Graham has a thirst for literature and appetite for intrigue. His action-packed style throws you into international conflicts closer to home than you think. He tells stories that captivate, thrill and touch on the truth. And if you buy him a scotch, he might tell you a tall one or two.

Being from a Defence family that was always on the move, Graham has lived in nearly every state of Australia. His early love of reading and writing was sparked in primary school, where he discovered stories were something he could easily take with him.

Graham Potts is now taking his story to the world.

Giveaway
This giveaway has now closed.

Review: Matilda by Roald Dahl

It's been years since I've picked up anything by children's author Roald Dahl, but as soon as I read the first page of Matilda it was like falling through time to my childhood.

Matilda is a gifted - but sometimes mischievous - girl with TV obsessed parents who think she's rather naughty. Miss Honey is the ideal school teacher who nurtures her intellect and encourages her learning.

There's a nasty Headmistress, a likeable librarian and a few pranks which make Matilda a short yet enjoyable read.

The illustrations by Quentin Blake add to the entertainment of the story and I think Matilda will delight readers of all ages.

My rating = ***

Carpe Librum!

P.S. Matilda is now a musical thanks to the talents of Tim Minchin, has anyone seen it?

Review: Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner

* Copy courtesy of HarperCollins Publishers Australia *

Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner is a slow burn police procedural about the search for missing person Edith Hind.

DS Manon Bradshaw (great name) listens to her police radio at night to help her get to sleep and that's what convinced me I had to read this book. I had a police radio for a while and was addicted to listening to it at night, celebrating when news of a bad guy arrested was broadcast.

Anyway, Bradshaw is investigating the sudden disappearance of Edith, with many leads to track down.

I enjoyed exploring the different ways Edith's parents respond to her disappearance and the police work that goes into tracking down the various leads is a solid reminder of just how much work is involved in an operation of this magnitude.

Try as I might, I didn't really like protagonist Manon Bradshaw. I thought she was desperate, clingy, needy and cried too much. Having said that, I know many readers will find her more relatable than other police detectives in this genre and there are plenty of women just like her out there. I guess I just wanted her to have more respect for herself.

The ending was unpredictable, and I was glad to be mistaken when I thought I had the culprit sussed.

Click here to read a FREE sample.

My rating = ***

Carpe Librum!

Review: The Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King

The Bazaar of Bad Dreams is a collection of short stories by Stephen King. I enjoyed his previous collections Just After Sunset and Full Dark, No Stars so when I saw his latest collection in the library on my cruise last month, it was a no-brainer.

Each story has an introduction from King telling the reader what inspired the story or how it came about. Themes include: guilt, mental health, the afterlife, morality, humanity, pain management, old age, marriage and death, with many stories provoking deeper thought and rumination. I was moved and entertained throughout, with the exception of about three stories.

My favourite of the collection was Drunken Fireworks, a story of a Fourth of July Arms Race between two families on a lake. One family is wealthy and one isn't, but what transpires as they compete between themselves for the best fireworks each Fourth of July is hilarious.

Other highlights included, The Dune, Bad Little Kid and Obits. The collection also contains UR, a short story only released in e-book format several years ago. I reviewed it here in the beginning of 2013, so decided not to re-read it this time.

Containing twenty short stories in total, The Bazaar of Bad Dreams is a great introduction to the work of Stephen King, and an enjoyable read for established fans.

My rating = ****

Carpe Librum!

P.S. The library copy onboard the Carnival Legend had this cover below, while the library copy back home in Melbourne had the cover above. Which do you like the best?

Review: The Exclusives by Rebecca Thornton

Published 27 April 2016 by Bonnier
RRP $19.99 AUD

* Copy courtesy of Allen & Unwin * 

The Exclusives by Rebecca Thornton is a dual narrative novel set in an elite all-girl boarding school with the main character Josephine Grey reflecting on the events from her perspective as an archaeologist, 18 years later.

Josephine and her best friend Freya have an irreparable falling out in 1994 and the novel leads the reader through the unravelling of the friendship towards the ultimate 'reveal'.

The dialogue between the teenage girls and the '90s setting are convincingly written. Both characters are extremely relatable, although it's hard not to judge Josephine and the choices she makes, but I think that's the point.

There's definitely a 'mean girls' element to The Exclusives and readers of YA, NA and those who enjoy dissecting friendships and their demise will enjoy it.

My rating = ***

Carpe Librum!

Review: The Widow by Fiona Barton

* Copy courtesy of NetGalley *

The Widow by Fiona Barton is the story of Jean Taylor, the loving and dutiful wife of a man accused of kidnapping a little girl. Jean is a passive and obedient life partner who looks to Glen for everything and while I found her personality distasteful (in my eyes) she did make for an interesting character on the page.

Barton does an excellent job of penetrating the veneer of the accused's wife, as the media camp outside her house and repeatedly bang on the door asking for a comment. The journalism angle sets The Widow apart from anything I've read in this genre in the last 5 years and I enjoyed this unique perspective.

As the Detectives try to unravel Bella's disappearance, it all begs the question, how much does Jean know?

I felt safe in Barton's hands and her confident storytelling voice swept me along swiftly to the end. It wasn't a big climax, but it reached a resolution all the same. The joy in The Widow was finding out whether or not Glen took baby Bella and what Jean knows.

Here's my favourite quote from Jean from Page 176:

"It ought to get easier, but it doesn't as each lie feels sourer and tighter, like an unripe apple. Unyielding and mouth-drying."

The Widow is a highly readable slow burn crime novel with a satisfying conclusion.

My rating = ****

Carpe Librum!

Review: Doctor Sleep by Stephen King

Doctor Sleep by Stephen King is the sequel to The Shining, and in it we find out what happened to little Danny Torrance after the horrors of the Overlook Hotel.

The character of young Abra Stone was my favourite of the novel, and I thoroughly enjoyed Dan taking her under his wing and teaching her a little about the shining. 

The danger that was soon to unite them was a little too 'out there' for me and I wished the novel had just focussed on their lives and unique abilities. I didn't need another battle of good and evil, although the theme made sense coming from the pen of the great Stephen King. (I will say that the source of the danger was innocuous, imaginative - and definitely unique - which did make it entertaining).

Here's my favourite quote, from Page 160 of the book:

"I'll bring you a pine tree float, if you want. That's a glass of water with a toothpick in it."

All in all, I'm glad I found out what became of Danny Torrance, but Doctor Sleep didn't blow me away.

By the way, how cool is this cover? The smoke is animated!

My rating = ***

Carpe Librum!

Review: London's Strangest Tales - Historic Palaces Extraordinary But True Stories by Iain Spragg

London's Strangest Tales, Historic Palaces - Extraordinary But True Stories by Iain Spragg is just that, a collection of short but true stories from history. Told in chronological order, the tales come from London's five historic palaces: the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, the Banqueting House, Kew Palace and Kensington Palace.

Commencing in 1078, the tales take us through history up until 2013, but in my opinion didn't really live up to the title claiming they were 'extraordinary'. Don't get me wrong, some of the stories were interesting - cardinal spiders at Hampton Court Palace - however many I'd read before (or learned about in documentaries) and others were clearly hyped up for inclusion in this collection.

I'd recommend London's Strangest Tales - Historic Palaces by Iain Spragg for younger readers as an easy introduction to history in London, and to perhaps ignite a desire to learn more.

For devotees of documentaries, and readers of history and historical fiction, you may want to give this one a miss.

My rating = **

Carpe Librum!

Review: Panic Button by Kylie Logan

You can tell by the illustrated cover alone that Panic Button by Kylie Logan is a cozy mystery. Technically, a cozy mystery is a crime novel without the gore (think Miss Marple) and they usually have an artist's impression of an idyllic setting on the front.

Panic Button is centred around a charm string and in the Victorian era, young girls collected and traded buttons and threaded them onto a charm string. It was said that when they'd collected their 1000th button, they would meet their Prince Charming. 

The main character of the series runs a button shop, and given I like buttons and was moderately interested in the creation of charm strings, I thought this would make a fun and easy-going read on the plane home from Hawaii. 

It did, but it also confirmed that cozy mysteries just aren't enough to keep my interest. The main character investigating the crime was just too much for me, but very indicative of the genre. 

Do you like cozy mysteries?

My rating = **

Carpe Librum!