The atmosphere is as much a part of the story as the characters and with the setting in the woods of #tasmania there was plenty to use. This, the trauma of grief & domestic violence combine to create a #chilling #spooky and #confronting tale from the perspective of a woman who has come close to losing herself. Gritty realism combined with #paranormal to make a compelling tale that is uniquely #Australian and yet will speak to common experiences.

#tessgerritsen #trustnoone was two books in one #undertheknife and #whistleblower. A new author for me to read, I enjoyed the mystery and the pace of delivery with the plot being fast and captivating. Not so much of the inevitable romance, boy protects girl story arc, but the quality of the storytelling did compensate and allowed me to finish and find out #whodunnit

#booksniffer #murdermystery
#lookoutbehindyou #dontlookback #thriller

#beautyinthorns #kateforsyth was fascinating The young women who fell in love and were in return deified in paint and discarded for the next pretty face; by the painters & artists of the Pre-Raphaelite era, delightfully written from perspective of these women. An era with early hints of the #suffragemovement, this books addresses the lack of education, safety and hygiene that women were subjected to along with the beauty standards of that time

A sad yet lovely story of the dying age of the richness and luxury pre WW1. Antithesis of #thegreatgatsy , it encapsulates that era, focussing more disinctly on the decay, decadence and debauchery. Great depiction of the architecture, the fashion and the opnion of others driving people and their #choices. The breakdown of a #relationship of a mother and son who end up in #love with the same man is an incredibly well told tale.
#booksniffer

A different twist on the #isolatedvillage #inthewoods . Every 7 years occursa #sacrifice so the village can stay #untouched by the world. The tone is dark and wild, just like the woods. The main characters are #rebellious and #supportive of their #bestfriend, who is this year's #chosenone. What follows is as much a story about #growingup as it is about #acceptingresponsibility. #gothic #talesofwarning #talesofbravery and #talesofsacrifice.

Continuing my #nordicnoir #adventures #thewhitecity was a tough read. Gritty and realistic, it was a grim depiction of a women with nothing to lose. Without spoilers, the main character was hard to like, but that was the point of the #journey . #karolinaramqvist excelled in bringing the landscape, the environment, both internal and external, to life, while twisting your guts with every turn of the page.
#booksniffer #itouchmyshelf

#norwegianbynight is excellent #scandinaviannoir. Sheldon Horowitz is old and has just moved from the US, to Norway with his granddaughter. He struggles to find familiarity and maybe experiencing dementia until one day, he helps the neighbours and ends up on the run thru the unfamiliar landscape with a young boy, using skills he thought he'd lost to save this young life. #derekbmiller has finely crafted an breathtaking story.

A fantastical mind twisting #YA story. Three part story about twins who have a talent creates havoc with their circus act, until one day their talents are... gone... What follows turns out to be part of a much bigger problem, and with an unusual cast of friends, foes and family, the twins gradually make their way through world's, prophecy, growing up and the problems with siblings! #thetrilogyoftwo #jumanmalouf
#booksniffer #itouchmyshelf

This was a curious read. While I loved the idea that there was a way for our pets to live forever with us, this book explored the loss and sadness of separation in that same scenario. #tomorrowthebook #Tomorrow by #damiandibben was an emotive read that I felt exhausted at the end of!
#booksniffer #itouchmyshelf #amreading #booksbooksbooks #bookrecommendation #lovetoread #reader #reading #books #bookish #bookworm #bibliophile #storytelling

This #awesomeread by #stephenfry at his finest, retelling, reintroducing, reimaging the #greekmyths via #mythos I love this witty, funny, irreverent collection of the tales of the Greek Gods. I've read the classics, and yet I think Fry has managed to capture the spirit of those times when the gods where real, exceptionally well. #booksniffer #itouchmyshelf #amreading #booksbooksbooks #booklover #bookworm #bibliophile #literature #storytelling

Uncommon in title, uncommon in content, beautiful in execution. A raw selection of stories that discuss disability, deformity, changes both self-inflicted and delivered by others, willing recipients and those who make others pay for what life has dished up; this book challenges over and over again our preconception of wholeness.
#uncommonbodies #uncommonstories #uncommonpeople #fightingmonkeypress #steampunk #retro #dystopian #everydaylife

I took a while to warm with this. The first 2 books were too much like #thewalkingdead initially but by the end of book 3 I was hooked. I read the final 3 books in one weekend! #djmolles nails it completely over the course of the story. You can't help but be engaged with all the characters that you meet
The story starts with one guy preparing to do the job he was employed to do and the rest... Well read on and be prepared for #therideofyourlife

True to the great Aussie tradition of having a laugh at ourselves this book is one of the funniest reads I have enjoyed in a long time. #theirbrilliantcareers by #ryanoneill weaves multiples stories via 16 made-up-but-oh-so-real and completely believable biographies based on some our 'typical' authors. Irreverent, well researched, excellently written, this is an absolute recommend...
#booksniffer
#fiction
#literature
#storytelling

No 4 in the #tarasharp #sharpseries by #mariannedelacourt - an absolute cracker! Tara the smart talking, aura seeing, private detective, middle name of 'trouble'. Helping out the local biker club, with 2 gorgeous men who both want her, a sulky teen, an overprotective mother, she needs to solve the mystery, meet the deadline, and avoid the bad guys for long enough to meet up with her date. Tara lives on the edge... The #sharpedge
ARC review

Cracking good adventure while introducing the eccentric, wildly inappropriate, "I'm just going through a rough patch", Tara Sharp. Set in Perth, with a decidedly Aussie flavour, this first in a series sets the tone for what is going to be a humorous adventure to follow. #mariannedelacourt #tarasharp #sharpshooter #privatedetective #cosymystery #itsintheaura #socialskillsclub #althleticmeetseccentric #books #amreading #bookworm #booksniffer

A quirky twist to the expected carnivale story. A boy walks into the mirror maze and something that looks like him walks out and continues life with his parents. Find out what happens to the boy and the imposter in this dark little tale full of atmosphere, carnies, and the reflection of the outsider against a 'normal' life. Really enjoyed​ the twists in this gem!
#booksniffer #itouchmyshelf
#carnivalesque #neiljordan

This was about the carnivale rolling into town and, as usual, blamed for the strange happenings and kept apart from the mainstream. However the twist comes when you start to wonder which party is putting the strange into stranger! Is it the townies with their comfortable lives covering dark secrets or is it the carnies who have bought something unfamiliar with them?
#freeks #amandahocking

Not sure how I feel about this one. I enjoyed the cultural insight and the discussion on the production of masks inherent in the culture of Mexico and the people of Mexico. However, none of the characters were likeable or terribly relatable. I am sure the author was trying to draw some parallels between the cultural concepts of masks and the masks that we wear, but I found the characters in this book annoying!
#dancingwiththetiger #liliwright

I figured that out at about 18. And in construction it has given me at least an hour more sleep a day 😀

Love, love, loving this book. Can't wait to finish the Finnish Noir!

Made me laugh out loud. The book is interesting so far although it has taken a while to find the groove. Looking forward to seeing how it all turns out 😊

These short stories grab you, twist your mind, and leave you wanting more of the same. A cracking good anthology from a new author, but one to watch out for.
#stuloudon #darknessvisible #darkandtwisted

Pratchett never fails to disappoint. Always a laugh, many a commentary on the parallels between his world and ours, sarcasm aplenty and a good story to hang it all on!
#terrypratchett #dodger

I was intrigued by the premise of this book and it did not disappoint! It took a while to get I to, but one the pace started, there was no stopping. The psychology behind the main character was fascinating and I applaud the author for such an interesting viewpoint. Looking forward to reading the sequels 😊
#jacintamaree #soullessbyjacintamaree #soullesstheimmortalgene #theimmortalgenebook1 #dystopia #dystopiannovels

I laughed so hard with this story. It is funny because it is true. We have all seen some of what happens when the W-word is mentioned; the poor woman in this story gets it all..... And then some! Right up until the end, you are left breathless with laughter, shared pain and cheering for the outcome she hopes for.
For a light hearted read that will have you laughing, groaning and shaking your head you can't go wrong here 😀
#guestlist #melissahill

I loved this book, possibly more than her Sookie Stackhouse series. Quirky characters, plenty of crazy stuff happening and some twists and turns when you don't expect it!
I felt like I was constantly in twilight while reading this book - it gave me that pleasant, tingly, anticipatory feeling of things not quite seen.....
And a bit of mood music to go with
#charlaineharris #midnightcrossroad #spookysoundtrack #theladyofthehouseoflove

This book had an incredibly interesting premise. 3 sisters, 3 witches, 3 queens. For one to become queen, the others must die. The time is approaching when the choice must be made.... But it turns out the 3 queens themselves have different plans! Can't wait to read the sequel!
#3darkcrowns #threedarkcrowns #kendareblake #kendareblakeauthor #instareview #instareads #hatewaitingforthenextone #witches #twistedtales #magic #magical #magicandblood

I have written my magazine article and finished a technical report so it is time for a Sunday afternoon treat
#matthewreilly #matthewreillyfan #fourlegendarykingdoms #jackwestnovel #ilovereading #iheartreading #aussieauthor #aussieauthors #booktreat #sundayread #sundayreading #readingisrelaxing #dinosaurcandy #hotdarwinafternoon #darwin #topendnt #theviewfromuphere #satisfied

An encouraging and heart warming u sight into female friendship, the pressures of the teenage years (which never stops!) And dealing with mental illness.
I found the author's touch to be very light but incredibly sensitive to the nuances of relationships that occur and fail with people dealing with mental health issues. I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would!

"because trauma is not just something that happens to one person"
This books was a well written piece about teenage girls and mental illness. Worth reading!

couldn't find this selection in the list, so the name is wrong.... however.....
Dystopia novel that has some creepy overtones of the not-to-distant future where water disappears and so does the concept of 'humanity'. A dark look into what might happen and who we may become. Grim, gritty and realistic, this is a fascinating read. Enjoyable if you can handle the honesty!
#watershed #janeabbott #dystopia #dystopianfiction #scaryfuture #ilovereading

It is Sir Terry Pratchett's. If you haven't read him, you are missing out. If you have read him, you know why I have read this one many times! A sly poke at religions and some if the history that we forget, like inquisitions and sacrifices. A good laugh as well. #terrypratchett #sirterrypratchett #smallgods #theturtlemoves

An interesting read spanning three different lifetimes about what it is like to be the other. The other - outsider, outcast, witch. Confronting in parts, it pulls no punches about the witch trials that haunt some parts of our history, yet still manages to be uplifting. Recommend if you want history, romance & some truths about how people are still treated today because they don't fit the expectations of society. #hexenhaus #nikkimcwaters

Fascinating, confronting and eloquent it is the description of another time. Having been to Kentucky US, this was an insight into one of the long lasting industries that Kentucky is known for. I enjoyed the story, the look into history and the way the story reveal took place.

Imaginative short read with a quick pace. A spooky short tale that was a fun read.

Gorgeous collection of mysteries, magic and re-spun fairy tales. I love Carmody's work and this one did not disappoint me. short, quick but engaging stories to sneak into available times, or an indulgent whimsical trip through alternative realities.... or perhaps I was just dreaming a while 😊

My first trial of Susan Hill and I am a fan. A collection of creepy short stories, this book has made an impression that will not fade quickly. I enjoyed the mysterious mood that was quickly established quickly for each story and the lack of fleshing out the details forced my mind down the tortured paths with her. An excellent choice for my Halloween horror!

It‘s warning enough. I think: Gilead.

I hear duel rumblings: 1933, yes, but those dystopias, too. Offred‘s words keep running through my mind: “We lived, as usual, by ignoring…nothing changes instantaneously. There were stories in the newspapers, of course….we lived in the gaps between the stories.”

You ignore. You wait. It becomes too late to change it.

Well researched yet with the feel of a personal story, this book was an intimate insight to some of the characters that we have heard of from history without being over done or seeming to want to show off knowledge. Totally enjoyed this!

Amazing sci if. couldn't put the book down. take a standard premise about going off world and the human expansion into the galaxy, put a great twist into the story.... you have to finish the book to see how he draws in to a conclusion.