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
This giveaway has now closed.

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

This giveaway has now closed.

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.