Category: Mystery/Crime

The Frozen River – Ariel Lawhon

READ FOR BOOKCLUBChosen by Bridget In Maine, 1789 real life midwife Martha Ballard delivered babies and kept daily notes of her work, community and surroundings. As an advocate for women she spoke up on behalf of a local woman at a rape trial. In… Continue Reading “The Frozen River – Ariel Lawhon”

What We Can Know – Ian McEwan

READ FOR BOOKCLUBChosen by Sally In 2014 a great poem is read aloud and never heard again. For generations, people speculate about its message, but no copy has yet been found. In 2119 the lowlands of the UK have been submerged by rising seas.… Continue Reading “What We Can Know – Ian McEwan”

Flashlight – Susan Choi

READ FOR BOOKERTHON One summer night, a man disappears while walking with his daughter on a Japanese beach. Born Korean, Serk has a complicated relationship with his past. His daughter and American wife become disorientated, facing the challenges of ordinary life all the while… Continue Reading “Flashlight – Susan Choi”

Tell Me Everything – Elizabeth Strout

READ FOR WOMEN’S PRIZEElizabeth Strout returns the reader to the town of Crosby, Maine, and finally brings together characters from her past fictional successes: Lucy Barton, Olive Kitteridge and Bob Burgess. There is a shocking crime committed, relationships examined and many stories told as… Continue Reading “Tell Me Everything – Elizabeth Strout”

Wild Dark Shore – Charlotte McConaghy

READ FOR BOOKCLUBChosen by Rachel Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny sub-antarctic island that is home to the world’s largest seed bank. It is being destroyed by climate change and while the Salts await rescuers, a woman washes… Continue Reading “Wild Dark Shore – Charlotte McConaghy”

Better The Blood – Michael Bennett

READ FOR NZ BOOK AWARDS NZ Crime fiction. Detective Hana Westerman chases down a serial killer who is undertaking utu, avenging past atrocities against Māori. Offers insight into New Zealand’s often controversial justice system. ● At first I was surprised to hear a crime… Continue Reading “Better The Blood – Michael Bennett”

Death In Her Hands – Otessa Moshfegh

READ FOR BOOKCLUBChosen by Rachel An investigation of an elderly woman’s mental wanderings after finding a note referring to a murder. Vesta Gul is an expected Moshfegh character: a female loner with convoluted, dangerous thoughts. She is 72, living alone in the woods after… Continue Reading “Death In Her Hands – Otessa Moshfegh”

The Secret History – Donna Tartt

READ FOR BOOKCLUB Chosen by Jodie A group of Greek mythology students attempt to experience a higher level of being and in doing so carry out an evil act. ⫸ “There were many reasons why the The Secret History was such a hit with… Continue Reading “The Secret History – Donna Tartt”

Where The Crawdads Sing – Delia Owens

READ FOR BOOKCLUB Chosen by Jodie A marshland recluse becomes tied up in a 1960s murder mystery, set in North Carolina  ⚑ “In the isolated marshlands of North Carolina, a young orphan named Kya lives alone, with only the local flora and fauna from… Continue Reading “Where The Crawdads Sing – Delia Owens”

His Bloody Project – Graeme Macrae Burnett

READ FOR BOOKERTHON Roderick Macrae admits to a triple murder in a remote Scottish community in 1869. A memoir written by Macrae makes it clear he is guilty but it’s up to the police and courts to try and uncover his motive. A memoir… Continue Reading “His Bloody Project – Graeme Macrae Burnett”