WINNER OF DANGER AWARD FOR CRIME FICTION'Isn't it your job to stop people being murdered?'1911, on a winter's night in arid New South Wales wool country, mounted trooper Augustus Hawkins discovers the bodies of three young people. They are scions of the richest family in the district, savagely murdered on a road that Hawkins should have been patrolling, had he not been busy bedding the local schoolteacher.Detectives arrive from Sydney and the disgraced Hawkins, a trau...

In a fading gold town, the seams of violence run deep.'I was like a man washed ashore on an island, half mad and only my warrant card and blood-soaked uniform to vouch for me. But I had to act as if I knew what the hell to do.'In Autumn of 1912, mounted trooper Augustus Hawkins arrives at his new post in the fading gold town of Colley, NSW. On his first day, he is ambushed by a hidden gunman, his junior officer is killed before his eyes, and he escapes back to town to find ...

Elspeth Valentine dreams of leaving Strathallyn Station to pursue an equestrian career in England. Instead, a fateful decision ties her to World War I veteran Thomas Delaney, setting off a series of events that ripple through generations. Present day. When policewoman Bec Whitfield accepts a transfer to Bowen River in remote Northern Queensland, she braces for a challenging return to her hometown and the strained relationship with her father. Moving with her manipulative...

DYMOCKS FICTION BOOK OF THE MONTHIt's 1863, and Melbourne is transitioning from a fledgling colony to a thriving, gold-fuelled metropolis. But behind its shiny new façade, the real Melbourne can be found in the notorious red-light district of Little Lon, full of brothels where rich and poor alike can revel all night. The most glamorous among them is Papillon, home to the most alluring women in the city.For poor Irishwoman Johanna Callaghan, a job at Papillon could be her ti...

'A sure-fire page-turner that keeps readers guessing' DAILY TELEGRAPH'Shelley Burr does not take prisoners. Crime fiction at its effortless best - beautifully drawn characters, rich relationships, fast and fascinating plot, and twists that make you go "ah"' LAINIE ANDERSON'VANISH delivers a surprising climax worthy of Shelley's reputation as one of Australia's most exciting new crime writers' THE AUSTR...

The sudden death of a beloved brother leads a young woman on a quest to find a missing boy and into a tangled web of mystery, blood and fear.Maitland 1892: When Viola Oswald's beloved brother Sebastian dies of a hereditary blood disease, Viola suspects her stepfather, prestigious surgeon Elias Sinclair, has used Sebastian's illness to enhance his reputation. But Viola has no proof until she discovers a letter within the pages of Sebastian's favourite book - Lambs' Tales of Shak...

A high octane fast-paced locked-room thriller with a killer twist.‘Never before has the description ‘a rollercoaster read’ been more apt. This is a white-knuckle thrill ride you won’t want to get off. Absolutely brilliant.’ Sunday Times bestseller B P WalterOnly the bravest dare to ride the highest roller coaster in the world, Hysteria…You’re a thrill seeker who loves an adrenaline rush.Yo...

SHORTLISTED - 2025 Ngaio Marsh Award for Best NovelGutsy new PI Lou Alcott takes charge in this brilliantly crafted, gritty thriller. Perfect for readers of Sarah Bailey and Jane Caro's The Mother.SHORTLISTED - NZ Booklovers Awards 2025She's the one to turn to when you need saving. But first she has to save herself...Lou Alcott is turning over a new leaf as a private investigator. Formerly ...

Gerard is 12. He hates his name, but loves flying round the streets of Glasgow on his bike, or mucking about with his gang, the Broncos. He’s a bright kid, but trouble seems to follow him. No one really knows what it’s like at home for Gerard; he’s used to carrying a lot on his small shoulders. Gerard doesn’t always make good decisions. And on one April morning, in the blink of an eye, he makes a very bad one – one that will upend his whole world. Now, he faces a bewildering stream of conc...

Em has lived a quiet life with her complicated mother and is now looking for love and a potential escape from her small hometown. When a masked man kidnaps her in the dark of night, though, she is drawn into a terrifying world.Jodie has been trying to forget a troubling time in her life, pouring her trauma into her work and out of her mind. Until one night her daughter is kidnapped and Jodie is dragged back into the violence.As Em and Jodie race into the darkness, the agony...

In 2003 Kathleen Folbigg was convicted of killing her four babies. Her trial relied on her husband's accusations and diary entries expressing her guilt over her children's deaths. She was sentenced to forty years in prison.In Inside Out Kathleen takes us back to her traumatic childhood, her difficult marriage, her dream of nurturing a family, and the profound souring of that dream into a nightmare.This is also , however, a story of unwavering friendship and resilie...

From the Barry Award nominee and Ngaio Marsh Award winner of Better the Blood, a new thriller bringing danger ever closer to Hana Westerman.When Detective Inspector Jaye Hamilton stops at an Auckland liquor store for a bottle of champagne, it is supposed to be celebratory: his daughter Addison has just gotten engaged. Instead, he is suddenly gunned down at the register by a balaclava-clad assailant in what appears at first to be a random act. The getaway c...