Calculated in Death by J. D. Robb

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Genre - Mystery

LT Eve Dallas LAPD’s top homicide cop in the bitterly cold winter of New York looks into a supposed mugging gone wrong. The setting is in the future with vintage cars ala 2060 models and very interesting lifestyle of police and public. Drones do sweeps of crime scenes, forensics are far more advanced, and holocaust programming comes into all walks of life, including vending machines with drinks in the form of chew bars etc.

Eve’s side kick Detective Peabody who always is outlandishly dressed with quirks and all. A powerful read, not too gruesome and extremely interesting to find yourself in a futuristic reading mode. Unlike Robb’s last book, which was not for the feint hearted, this book is one worth reading and certainly a book you could read again.


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

The House at Sea's End by Elly Griffiths

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Genre - Mystery

In the pretty cold scenic Norfolk area, a group of archaeologists investigating coastal erosion unearth six bodies buried at the foot of a cliff. Ruth Galloway just back from maternity leave (archaeologist) and seconded to the Police as an expert in forensic tests, finds out that the bodies have been buried for over 60 years.

A fascinating world into archaeology and forensic science combines a gripping story with more than just buried bodies, and lives at stake.


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

Choked by Tania Carver

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Genre - Thriller

Marina Esposito is a criminologist who escapes her house fire with her husband, who is found seriously injured. However, their 3 year old daughter is missing, and Marina herself was helped out of the house but blacked out with the explosion.


Due to these suspicious circumstances, Marina believes her missing daughter and own rescue from the fire may be due to someone has her in mind to use her skills by way of kidnapping her daughter. Good read and plenty of drama.

---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville

Taking Eve by Iris Johansen

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Genre - Thriller

A must read before her next book published HUNTING EVE, available for sale July 16, 2013. Eve Duncan, a forensic sculptor whose task is to bring closure to families by recreating faces to unidentified bodies, mainly children. Her 7 year old daughter was taken and murdered, and whilst Eve has moved on she has not forgotten Bonnie as she begins her journey into peace.

However, this is not the case. Eve is captured and has to recreate a face of a father’s son who was shot, and whom Eve thinks the head as being a very evil force. She exposes a dark past of the son and is reluctant to recreate the likeness, but is under dire threat and kept prisoner by the father. Just as you think she may be able to escape, you are left in the lurch to wait for the next book HUNTING EVE.

Good thriller and keeps you on your toes.

---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

Bloodline by James Rollins

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Genre - Thriller

History goes back to 1025 in Galilee concerning an ancient citadel where a Templar knight uncovers a holy treasure long hidden within the fortress’s labyrinth. The Bachal Isu, the presumed staff of Jesus Christ is a priceless icon that holds a mysterious and terrifying power that promises to change human longevity for ever.

This ‘new’ technology affects the modern-day version of DNA making it even more priceless. A government appointed agency, SIGMA, end up being in a race against time to save the President’s first unborn grandchild, with his daughter Amanda and her husband’s unscheduled cruise to get away. Overpowered by other professional forces at sea, Amanda’s husband was killed and her own life and that of her baby boy at stake.

A race against time, the elements and that of evil seeping through all pores of the opposition. Great reading.

---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

Breaking Silence by Linda Castillo

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Genre - Thriller


A frantic call in the middle of a dark, cold and wet winter’s night is placed to the Chief of Police, Kate Burkholder by one of the Amish community. The Amish community keep to themselves, but lately have been persecuted with events they turn a blind eye to, because of their religion and lifestyle.


Kate finds the parents of 3 children dead in a hog pit, which is in the barn and unless fresh air is around, the pit emanates lethal gases that kill in a short period of time. Is this the reason why they died or is it something more sinister involving the Amish or outsiders?


Very good read and insight to the Amish lifestyle at the same time.


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

A Cold and Lonely Place by Sara Henry

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Genre - General Fiction

Freelance writer Troy Chance is snapping photos during a Winter Carnival in a little Adirondack mountain town. She discovers whilst snapping photos during an ice-cutting machine exercise on the Saranac Lake, a face under the ice is discovered and recognised as Tobin whom everyone thought just left the township.

The face belonged to a very wealthy son of a family whose parents did not have great feelings for, and Tobin’s sister Win arrives in the township to oversee the situation. All is not what is seems and a merry dance is led until the final discovery as to why Tobin died in such circumstances. Is his family to blame, or was it his girlfriend who resides in the same boarding house as Troy and has some pretty dark secrets?

---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

The Vanishing Point by Val McDermid

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Genre -Thriller

Stephanie Harker in charge of five year old Jimmy is travelling through O’Hare airport security, and whilst undergoing security herself, finds a uniformed agent leading her boy away.

The authorities are unaware of Jimmy’s existence, they just see a woman out of control and behaving most erratically. Stephanie ends up telling her story to the FBI and it becomes clear that all is not well with the kidnapping of Jimmy. Can she get Jimmy back and who is to blame?

An exciting read leading you on a merry chase and one you need to finish.

---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

July Top 10

Here's the latest Top 10 Reads for July to keep you busy during these cold, winter nights. All titles are available on our catalogue for loan or reservation - check individual titles for details.

Also, be sure to check out more of our bookshelves and author events at Goodreads. See you there!

Eastern Regional's July Top 10 2013

Promise by Tony Cavanaugh

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Genre - Mystery, Australian fiction

As critiqued by Graeme Blundell - not for the faint-hearted.  Not a pretty ending, but as an Australian the book makes you plough through in light of knowing our countryside and its areas. A very good crime story, complex and quite a shocker as to what is involved with these types of killers.

The storyline is written around Noosa and Trewantin in the Sunshine Coast of Queensland.  Darian Richards, after sixteen years as the head of Victoria’s Homicide Squad, has had enough and retired to Noosa hoping this would drive away his nightmares of homicide cases he endured.

A deranged serial killer is stalking the Sunshine Coast and young girls have vanished, all blonde and pretty.  The killer knows how to stay under the radar, how to hide in plain sight and how to hurt and kill.  Darian gets involved during his own personal time to try and catch the killer.


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville

Tunnel Vision by Sara Paretsky

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Genre - Mystery

Vic Warshawski  is a private investigator who is always struggling to make ends meet. She is also an advocate for the homeless, particularly women and children whom she has a great empathy with.  The story is a bit of a slow start, when she finds a destitute family in her basement.  However, the storyline gets very involved and whilst only 1 party is murdered, Vic finds herself in plenty of hot water from the police force, government hierarchy and the not so nice people out to end her demise.

A good read, and one that eventually you can’t put down.


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

A Distant Land by Alison Booth

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Genre - Australian fiction

Alison Booth born in Melbourne and grew up in Sydney and spent 2 decades in the UK and returned to Melbourne.  She is also a Professor of Economics at the Australian National University.

9 year old Zidra Vincent met Jim Cadwallader in their beautiful home town of Jingera. Jim ended up as a respected war correspondent in Cambodia and Zidra a reporter at the Sydney Morning Herald.  Jim is exposed and captured by the Viet Cong and his family are advised of him being shot.  Zidra who has always wanted to end up with Jim is absolutely devastated.

In the meantime Zidra is embroiled in protecting her very good friend who is fighting for the rights of the aboriginals in Australia, and is being followed by a Government sleuth who pressurizes her to spy, for the sake of her family.  Zidra, learns more about what is happening with her friend Daisy and gives her a tape to record any meetings that are held with this fictitious named-sleuth. This ends up with Zidra’s writing a front-page explosive article on politics and government wrong-doing for which she is widely congratulated.

A very good fictional read and most believable considering Australia’s participation in the Vietnam War at the expense of freedom.


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

Die Easy by Zoe Sharp

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Genre - Suspense Fiction

Once a special forces soldier and now turned bodyguard, Charlie Fox whose personal life is in turmoil with her lover, Sean Meyer. Charlie and Sean are working as bodyguards for the wealthy at a fund-raising event in aid of the ravaged are of New Orleans from cyclone Katrina.  A robbery explodes into a vicious and deadly hostage situation on a Paddle Steamer owned by the wealthy, and both Charlie and Sean find their clients in dire circumstances fighting for all their lives.

A good thriller with unexpected twists to keep you in suspense.


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

Suspect by Robert Crais

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Genre - Suspense, Thriller

Maggie is a german shepherd trained to detect IUD’s etc in Afghanistan with her handler Peter, who gets involved in an ambush.  Peter is killed and Maggie stays with him with snipers shooting at her.  They manage to get the dog on the helicopter for treatment.

Scott an LAPD cop is not doing too well after being shot during a hijacking where his partner was killed and himself nearly losing his life.  After recovery, but not completely, Scott wants to still work in the Police force and his only option is to be part of  the infamous LAPD K9 regiment.  This is where Maggie finally ends up with problems associated with sudden noises and no confidence.  Scott wins Maggie over and is after the 4 gunmen who killed his partner and nearly himself. Once again Maggie puts herself on the line for Scott.

You have a certain empathy with the dog and its handlers and can’t help but being over-awed at their capability.  Excellent storyline and a book for the home library.


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

Tuesday's Gone by Nicci French

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Genre - Psychological Suspense, Thriller

At first, this is slow reading and makes you wonder where the story will take you, but in keeping along the lines of a Psychotherapist, as a reader it is necessary to persevere to appreciate the depth of the story line.

Psychotherapist Frieda Klein assists the police when they discover a body found in the flat of Michelle Doyce who has a mental disorder.  Straight away the police think it a ‘slam dunk’ into the death of the body.  Not the case.  Frieda uncovers a possible identity as that of the body being Robert Poole.  However, we find out that Poole has been dead from 6 years.

In reading Frieda’s lifestyle, her work, patients, friends and police colleagues who are very involved into her way of living within her expectations.  Frieda is unable to discover the real truth, and more bodies are found supposedly suicide cases. Just when you think all is sorted out, a final twist leaves you in suspense.


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

The Catch by Tom Bale

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Genre - Thriller

Two friends Robbie and Dan are thrown into disarray after a simple favour turns into tragedy.  Robbie, who works for his mother’s company Compton Property Services likes to deal behind his mother’s back if it means a bit of cash on the side.  He asks his good friend Dan to accompany him to the local pub and arrange for his sister Cate to hand over an envelope to his client O’Brien who has been indirectly blackmailing another party.

All things turn sour, O’Brien gets hit accidentally by Robbie and Dan who try to cover it up and not admit it was them.  A third party (Blakes) come into the scheme wanting crucial information O’Brien has that would make them very wealthy.  However, nothing stops them from arranging the demise of people who get in the way, and Cate ends up at the wrong end of the scheme.

A very good read and the final outcome is a bit of a surprise, as it does not leave you completely at rest with the result.

---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

Shiver by Karen Robards

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Genre - Romance, Suspense


Samantha Jones is a young mother earning a living driving a tow truck and picking up repossessions in one of the seediest parts of town. She is picking up a new BMW and finds someone in the boot who has been shot and beaten. This person is Danny Panterro under the alias Marcos, who is working undercover for the FBI and found himself near death’s door until Samantha collected his car.


They are running for their lives from a drug running mob who want to kill Danny and anyone who stands in his way. They escape with Samantha’s son Tyler and are put into protective custody. Is this all? They are found out and once again on the run.

A good read with the mob style cruelty in the mix.


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

Merry Christmas, Alex Cross by James Patterson

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Genre - Thriller


Detective Alex Cross once again finds himself on Christmas Eve having to attend a crisis scene whereby a father is threatening to murder his own family. Not only does he have to appease his family, but again is called out on Christmas Day to discover a wanted women by the FBI who threatens in the name of Allah to destroy as many American citizens as she can. Alex needs to find out her co-conspirers and once again, is in a life threatening situation.


A good read for Patterson fans. Did you know that James Patterson has also written children’s books which started off as an encouragement for his own son who did not always like reading?


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

Alone by Lisa Gardner

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Genre - Thriller


Psychological thriller – Massachusetts State Trooper Bobby Dodge finds himself in the position of being a sharp-shooter under the direction of the Police, kills a man who was aiming a gun at his wife and small child. Was this the case? The wife, Catherine Gagnon is the daughter in law of the infamous Judge Gagnon who is out to put Bobby behind bars.


Not so easy as it seems, delving deeper into Bobby’s, Catherine’s and the Judge’s lives, rears an ugly head. Bobby is left on his own to defend himself as a true lawman.

Good fast read and very sticky ending situation.


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

Educating Alice by Alice Greenup

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Genre - Biography, Australian


This is one of the best biographies you can read. Set in rural outback Queensland, the sheer power of Alice’s transformation from an outgoing 18yo from the leafy suburbs of Brighton Beach (Melbourne) to the humble beginnings at Yepoon and then further afield. From an outgoing teenager who knew all and a gap year to ride around Australia with her brother’s friend, finding herself dumped in Alice Springs, brings a revelation that life has not started.


Alice has had to learn the outback ways, what is expected with her first job as a Governess to a very strict couple and in her spare time no television, radio or even not able to use a mobile. Is this the life for her? After all, a cow is a cow and likewise so is a horse is her only knowledge of the running of an outback station.


Alice’s empathy with the land and her transformation took quite some time with hard work and always at the back of her mind to finish her studies which she did. Time away from her beloved ‘mate’ Rick was a test in the strength of their relationship. With adversities from the dry weather conditions, Alice’s health and an accident which did not seem possible to come through unscathed.


The story starts a bit on the slow side, but nevertheless descriptive to the environment keeps you reading and wishing there was another book in the offing.


I have never read such a great biography with so much emotion and feelings for our beloved country, makes you feel lucky no matter what your situation is.


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

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Genre - Thriller


Gracie Doyle who took over her father’s business in running a Casino in Manchester and is known to run a tight ship. She has been estranged from her mother and 2 brothers since she found out that her mother was having affairs. Gracie is visited at her Casino by police who inform her one of her brothers is critically injured in a London hospital.


London is also where her estranged husband of 5 years Lorcan also has a casino. Gracie returns to London and finds herself embroiled in the life style of her brothers and mother, which she discovers, are also in danger.


Rather a powerful read and a few home truths on the seamy side of the Casino lifestyle.


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

Shadow Woman by Linda Howard

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Genre - Romance, Suspense


Intriguing storyline with a few twists and is a book you can’t put down.

Lizette Henry wakes up one morning and wonders who she is. First she is jolted with a blinding headache and then very sick. Each time she starts to think, her illness progresses. She does not recognize herself in the mirror, and upon looking at her hairline and faceline she finds tiny scarring.


Who is she and what is her past. She can only recall 3 years ago and has lost 2 years of her life. Lizette works out if she thinks too much, then this ‘illness’ advances; she is able to control after a time and feels she is being watched. Deep inside she knows she is not the woman in the mirror.

Suddenly, events come to her which she finds herself being ‘hunted’ and has to leave everything behind. Nowhere to go and wondering how she is still been followed. She bumps into a ‘hunk’ of a man who leaves her weak-kneed at the pharmacist where she is getting urgent supplies, and unbeknown to her, this man as she knows as X is in fact trying to protect her. From whom and where can she go? On the run until the very end with more than one person after her life and that of X who is called Xavier.


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

Destined to Fly by Indigo Bloome

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Genre - Romance


The author has lived and worked in both Australia and UK and recently moved to Tasmania. General fiction and a read that does keep you wondering and spellbound.


The main character Alexandra Blake has a rare blood condition that is wanted by the head of a well-known Pharmaceutical giant who will stop at nothing to have Alex for her experiments Alexandra together with her 2 children and love of her life (her husband Quinn) escape to the African jungle where she is to find a Sharman to help her with perhaps changing her blood type.


This is not the case and her travels into the unknown mentally and physically leads her into the world of her past involving changes to the mind, and exploring her sexuality to great lengths wondering if it is true or not.

---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

Screams in the Dark by Anna Smith

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Genre -Thriller

Rosie Gilmour, a Glaswegian crime reporter who has just been back from war torn Kosovo after nearly losing her life, dives deep into a saga of missing refugees when the mutilated body of a Bosnian male is found in the River Clyde.

A very moving storyline with the shocking truth involving the Underworld as well as Politicians. Once again, Rosie is fleeing away from her attackers who know her every move.

This crime fiction grabs you from start to finish and not for the feint-hearted.

---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

Settled Blood by Mari Hannah

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Genre - Mystery

A young girl is found dead at the base of the infamous Hadrian’s Wall and DCI Kate Daniels realizes her death was no ordinary homicide. Two more girls of similar likeness go missing which puts the police into a very heavy investigation leading deeper into half truths of the upper class and the fact that a terrified girl is running out of time. Good reading and quite gripping until the end dramatic result.

---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

Cover of Snow by Jenny Milchman

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Genre- Thriller

Nora Hamilton lives with her policeman husband in a small country town in the Adirondack Mountains of New York.  She wakes up from a heavy and perhaps drugged sleep looking for her husband in the old farm house.  Finds her husband who has hanged himself.

Nora finds it hard to accept the suicide and looks into the past of her husband’s life and that of the local Police Chief and his staff.  All is not what it seems and ends in a very dramatic turn of events.  Particularly the fact that everyone thinks Nora is over-reacting including her sister.

Good reading although classified as general fiction, it is actually a crime story, one that the reader most likely comes to the same conclusion as the ending.


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

Full Disclosure by Dee Henderson

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Genre - Romance, Suspense

Ann Silver who is a Mid Western Investigator, being a rather enigmatic character is a down to roots cop to the core.  However, she is also very talented in writing several published books, painting and able to assist the FBI with insight to that of a more lateral thinker.

She is approached by the FBI to assist cases in the worst of the worst and becomes involved with one of the heads of the FBI which throws her life in a turmoil; also involving the Vice President of the USA.

This books glances over the murders and delves into the lives at the top of the ladder with the FBI and Government, and keeps the reader wanting to finish the book for the final outcome.  Excellent storyline and a book that should not be missed, with plenty of dramas, including romance  to entice the reader.


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

Freelance Death by Andrew Taylor

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Genre - Mystery

A true British ‘who done it’ with plenty of complications along the way.  Rod Lorton wants revenge when he discovers truth about his deceased wife being involved with her former employer, PR chief Ivor Newley.  Newley’s business also involves clients within the coin industry which also incorporate one of his top staff members Celia.  Celia’s friend who is romantically involved is also up to her neck in the wrong side of the law.

A very small book for a quick read and none too gruesome.


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

Fatal Frost by James Henry

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Genre - Mystery

The inimitable and ‘maverick’ DI Frost at his best.  Frost has more than one man can take as far as his share of responsibilities goes.  His department is landed with the first black policeman in Denton, with not all of the squad accepting this, as the local community of Denton and its surrounds are predominantly white.  Frost is a shock to his compatriot from London, with his lack of personal hygiene and work ethics, on top of which his commanding officer is always on his back.

A young girl’s body is found in suspicious circumstances, on top of that the usual robberies take place, together with attacks from a group of young kids on bikes. More bodies turn up, with Frost having to deal with an elusive wife who disappears and ends up at her mother’s, who has no liking to Frost and thinks her family is beneath him.

A good read and certainly one that has a lot of drama and can be aligned with the Frost series seen on television, with its typical British way of life and enjoyable reading.


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

The Bat by Jo Nesbo

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Genre - Mystery

The main character DI Harry Hole is seconded from Norway to Sydney to investigate the death of a young Norwegian girl in the Kings Cross area.  Hole investigates with the assistance of his counterpart, named Kensington who is of aboriginal ancestry.  The story is fascinating as Kensington lives in the current ‘white culture’ and also his own culture with many fascinating stories of the aboriginal ‘dream time’ and how some of these tales relates to the present.

In its own quirky way, the writer definitely brings you into the seamy side of Kings Cross whilst at the same time makes you feel that you are living in that environment and come to understand some of the wonders of the different life-styles of the locals.

This is the first book published in English by Nesbo and well worth reading.


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

Evil for Evil by Aline Templeton

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Genre - Mystery

The book is not as heavy as the title.  Set on a small island off the west coast of Scotland with stoic locals to boot.  Mystery surrounds the discovery of a skeleton in a cave, bringing to light a murder from the past.  Meanwhile in the tiny village of Innellan, certain unexplained events occur and Matt Lovatt, the owner of one of the farms, finds himself at the centre of an escalating hate campaign to oust him from his property. 

This is one story which involves you in the small township isolated from the mainland, with its quirky history and very mistrusting locals of newcomers.  Local constabulary are brought into the investigation, and gives the reader insight to the lack of expertise available to their city counterparts.  Keep reading for good entertainment into the British country constabulary at its best.


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

The Windermere Witness by Rebecca Tope

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Genre - Mystery

Persimmon (Simmy) Brown moved to the beautiful area of the Lakes District in the Cotswolds closer to her parents who run a B&B and of who are rather eccentric more in line with ‘flower people’, but very loving in their own way.

Simmy Brown opens a florist shop and takes on her best task to date for the forthcoming nuptials of one of the richest families around.  However, the Bride’s brother is murdered before the service, albeit the bride was not informed and her wedding went on as planned.  The bride who is 25 years younger than her husband, having a very cold-hearted mother as well as all the trimmings of society.  Simmy tends to investigate and use her own iniative to find the killer, and in the meantime the father of the bride is also murdered.

Quite a good read with the complexities of the upper and lower class inter-twined with two murders affecting the outcome of the locals being a tight-knitted community who do not take kindly to murders in their territory.


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

Low Pressure by Sandra Brown

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Genre -Thriller

Eighteen years ago, Bellamy’s older sister Susan was found murdered and Bellamy writes her first mystery novel based around her life.  This opens a can of worms.  Her book titled Low Pressure is a best seller.  However, the killer (Richard) who himself was murdered in prison always stated his innocence and that the Police did not listen to what would have been crucial proof exonerating him.  His brother Ray is out for revenge to all the people that were involved.

Susan’s past was not one to brag about and her recklessness was well known, particularly with one of her boyfriends at the time, Dent, who was not the type of person her family wished to circulate with and therefore shunned. Dent was also blamed for Susan’s demise.  Is Dent the guilty one, or perhaps the retired Inspector Moody who cannot be traced?  Or even Richard’s brother, the Prosecutor at that time, or even perhaps the sleazy newspaperman who was determined to uncover family secrets no matter what.  On top of all this Bellamy is stalked!

A very gripping story which keeps you on your toes and one that you can’t put down until the end.

---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

The Laughterhouse by Paul Cleave

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Genre - Thriller


A fast tracking thriller, not for the feint-hearted. Theodore Tate, ex policeman turned private eye and wanting to get back into the police force; always remembered his first case involving a little girl whose killer was found and arrested. Fifteen years later a new killer on the loose and someone out for vengeance with Tate trying to find out who and why.

The killer kidnaps a Doctor with his 2 young girls and 12 month old baby Octavia. Vengeance is the plan and time against the survival of the girls and their father.

Good read if you can get over some of the gruesome predicaments that involve the latest killer who has murdered 4 others very quickly and plans to murder more.

---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

A Wanted Man by Lee Child

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Genre - Thriller

This is another Reacher thriller all on his own and all the powers that be after him, and the fact that as all Reacher readers know, he is not necessarily the guilty party.


Reacher, an ex Marine and no place of residence, once again finds himself hitching a ride in the car with 2 wanted men and perhaps an innocent lady as well. This is not what it seems, but leads a merry chase involving the kidnapping of a 10year old girl as well as Reacher ending up in the desert with all the bad guys.

A must read, and anyone that has seen the latest film with Tom Cruise playing the role as Reacher is disillusioned. Reacher in actual fact is 6’5” tall and with a heavy build and famous for his ‘trivia’ brain that keeps him out of trouble, not quite the complete role play of Cruise. Therefore, the book is a must read for all.


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

Shifting Sands by Anthea Fraser

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Genre - Mystery

Anna’s family hopes that the safari holiday in South Africa will help her to get over her beloved husband’s death. Critiqued as “told from multiple viewpoints and rich with the details of Rona’s family and their lives… another solid entry in an entertaining series from a genre veteran.”

This is a very light murder mystery read and one that rambles on with family traumas and hard to keep the reader interested as you can work out the murderer well before it is written, once you get through the absolute dramas involved every day family life.

---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

No! I Don't Need Reading Glasses by Virginia Ironside

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Genre - Humour

Ironside has also written childrens books and this particular book is one that you can relate to, particularly if you are retired. It is hard to describe, but you can certainly compare yourself with the main character Marie, who starts up with a huge hangover on New Year’s Day.

For the first time, Marie makes out a New Year’s Day resolution list and tries to make it stick. The story makes you laugh at her thoughts, ideals which are somewhat scary to that of what we all are but won’t admit, and a bit of brainstorming which does not go astray. A very funny book which often brings tears of laughter to the reader. It is at times crazy but with a bit of truth in Marie’s outlandish thoughts.


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

Bones are Forever by Kathy Reichs

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Genre - Mystery, Suspense

Dr Temperance Brennan a well renowned forensic anthropologist to the province of Quebec is brought to investigate the shocking discovery of dead babies. The trail leads to Yellowknife, a vast, cold and once known mining town on the edge of the Arctic Circle. More dead bodies are found and risks taken to unravel the connection to the remains of the babies found in more than one State. A good read and certainly if you are a Reichs fan, a must to finish.

---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville

Revenger by Tom Cain

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Genre - Thriller


This is certainly a thriller. Great read and not for the light-hearted. Sam Carver (personal friend of the President of the USA) just wants a quiet drink with his old friend in the south of London. They end up being caught in a riot which involves street kids and the like and gets very nasty. The end result that this riot was organized by a political party and Sam, the most wanted man in London and USA, intends to find out who is behind the riots and why.


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

Temple by Matthew Reilly

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Genre - Adventure, Australian Author

Great Australian fiction writer with plenty of action and certainly keeps you in suspense. Mostly for the men folk and those that like Indiana Jones type action with state of the art arms and weapons used.

Storyline is set around the jungle in Peru for the hunt of a legendary Incan idol that was made from a meteor which resulted in producing a material that could be used to completely eradicate earth. Sounds a bit wild, but the leading role is that of a learned Professor in languages, particularly Incan. The history into the Incan tribe makes very interesting reading, and the fact that the Spanish overtook most of the tribes to make it what it is today.

Professor Race approached by the hierarchy of the USA is forced to go along for the ‘ride of his life’. Not only is he in danger, but what he encounters makes you to keep reading this fast moving action packed thriller.

---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

Watching the Dark by Peter Robinson

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Genre - Mystery

Based in UK, Detective Bill Quinn is killed by a cross bow in the grounds of a police rehabilitation centre and compromising photos are found in his room. DCI Banks is brought in to investigate and has to contend with Joanna Passero, an Inspector from Professional Standards. It also involves Annie Cabbot who is back at work in the force having being seriously injured and ready to assist. Banks finds himself involved in a 6 year old mystery of a missing girl of which the dead policeman was investigating. This leads Banks to Estonia and evidence unfolds into a more wide-spread case involving more missing young girls.

Once again a good read by Robinson but if you haven't read some of his previous books, then the history of Banks and Cabbot is easier to follow in this particular story.


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat