HOLIDAY READS...

Reviews from The Rver Read

PEACE Garry Disher

If you are a lover of Australian rural noir then Gary Disher’s latest mystery is your perfect summer read. PEACE tells the story of a rural cop exiled to a wounded town in South Australia’s dry country. It’s a harrowing journey which takes Constable Paul Hirschhausen from his one man police station to a family living on a forgotten back road outside town. With heart and humanity, Disher builds a strong cast, gripping plot and plenty of surprises that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final page.

THE WEEKEND Charlotte Wood

Charlotte Wood is well renowned for her unique brand of contemporary Australian fiction, and her latest novel is a prime example of her ability to keep surprising readers.

In THE WEEKEND four older women have enjoyed a lifetime of friendship, remaining close through many years of life’s twists and turns. But when Sylvie dies and the remaining three grieving friends gather for Christmas at her beach house, they find themselves facing up to the truths of their relationships. Sharp and often very funny, this relatable story grapples with growing old and growing up and will leave you asking questions about your own life and the people in it.

THE STRANGERS WE KNOW Pip Drysdale

What would you do if you saw your husband on a dating app? This addictive new thriller from bestselling author of The Sunday Girl is sure to have you asking yourself questions from the very first page. Charlie’s life is turned upside down when she sees the profile of her husband on a dating app. As she works to find out if it is really him, she soon discovers that this is the least of her problems. Punchy chapters and sharp turns at every moment will have you second-guessing who to trust. For Charlie, nothing is as it seems and nobody is who she thinks they are… or are they?

PARIS SAVAGES Katherine Johnson

A lesser known piece of Queensland’s history is brought to life and woven into a deeply affecting work of fiction from a bright new voice in Australian fiction. It is 1882 on Fraser Island and German scientist Louis Muller offers to sail three Fraser Island people of the Badjala tribe to Europe to perform their unique dances, singing, fights and pole climbing to the masses. Following a run of brutal massacres, the Badjala people are in sharp decline so Bonny, Jurano and Dorodera agree in the hope of bringing their people’s plight to the Queen of England. But when things are not as they seem they must find a way home. This is a powerful and deeply affecting story of love, bravery, culture and the fight for justice.