Affirm Press Archives

Book review: Neighbourhood Watch by Lauren Williams

August 6, 20262 min read

Neighbourhood Watch by Lauren Williams is an enjoyable debut from the Aussie author. We’re offered three likeable main narrators with additional input from some of the local ‘colour’. Emma and Margot are estranged sisters, uniting only for family events. We soon learn however that Emma’s husband, an esteemed judge, uses violence and coercion against her and when this opens she thinks she’s finally ready to run… well, maybe. We also spend time with Priyanka Pal, a homicide detective who once worked as a psychologist but joined the force, hoping to make more of a difference to women suffering domestic violence than merely treating the aftermath.

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Book review: The Long Night by Christian White

November 29, 20252 min read

I missed getting The Long Night by Christian White for review, but had time to kill at an airport recently so splurged on a copy as I enjoy his mind-boggling thrillers and his latest is another with a whiplash-like twist, reminiscent of his 2019 book (my favourite of his so far), The Wife and the Widow. Our hosts here are Em, a young wannabe screenwriter with a penchant for horror movies; and middle-aged Jodie, a successful artist. Em’s been on a blind date which is going so well she’s going back to Holly’s house when the pair are trapped and Em kidnapped and held for ransom. Jodie has returned to her city apartment after a successful art show to find a man inside, telling her his partner’s taken her daughter.

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Book review: Red River Road by Anna Downes

March 10, 20253 min read

Red River Road by Anna Downes is the first book I’ve read by the English-born Aussie writer. I’d heard of her of course but obviously missed out on review copies of her earlier books. I did however hear her speak at BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival about this book late last year and vowed to get a copy which I finally did. And – OMFG – what a ride this is!!! I loved it. I didn’t see any of it coming. Downes lulls readers into this false sense of (ummm….) assumption (I guess), only to completely twist everything on its head near the very end.

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Book review: The Ledge by Christian White

September 25, 20242 min read

The Ledge by Christian White is yet another addictive novel from the talented writer. It’s set in the present but leaps back about twenty-five years into the past via a journal kept by Justin, a teenage boy, one of a tight-knit group of four. White grabs readers attention from the opening as bones are found and we’re catapulted back into a past that the boys have never been able to escape, while at the same time reluctant to revisit now.

As the book progresses we realise White’s been sneaky with his narrative, leading us in one direction and we’ve made assumptions, only to realise we’re completely wrong. Which of course is the genius of his work and for me it rivalled the sleight of hand demonstrated in his second novel, The Wife and the Widow.

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Book review: Tidelines by Sarah Sasson

January 20, 20243 min read

Tidelines by Sarah Sasson is an eerily poignant read as it opens after a tragedy then goes back into the past, beguiling readers with the story of siblings; knowing that all does not end well, but intrigued as to how we get there.

As someone who grew up with a high-achieving older brother I could very much relate to young ‘Grub’ here. Elijah is admired and respected by his peers and adults, including their parents. He’s athletic and a talented musician – deemed for greatness. Grub lives in his shadow and conscious of that, but at the same time, not jealous or envious (rather, proud… but at the same time aware of the flaws others might not see).

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Book review: Wild Place by Christian White

October 26, 20213 min read

I saw Christian White speak at the Sydney BAD Crime Writers Festival in late 2019 after his debut book, The Nowhere Child was well received by critics and readers alike (not that I’m implying there’s no overlap between the two!). After hearing him talk about the appearance of snakes in the book I gave it a miss (as I’m quite phobic) but very much enjoyed his twisty second book, The Wife and the Widow.

It was only when I started reading promotional material for his latest release, Wild Place, that I discovered White also created the Netflix TV series Clickbait.

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Book review: The Wife and the Widow by Christian White

November 7, 20193 min read

Christian’s White’s The Nowhere Child was extremely well received when released in 2018. I didn’t read it at the time and heard White speak about it at the BAD Sydney Crime Writers’ Festival in early September. I liked the premise so decided I’d buy a copy there.

Then however White commented on the fact he’d set it in a certain place in America as it was the only place they still trained snake charmers (or something). I asked someone if snakes really did feature in the novel. They laughed when I said I was phobic, but it seriously turned me off reading it. Though I’m sure I would have enjoyed it.

His second novel, The Wife and the Widow offers no snakes. It’s extremely twisty though and has a mid-way surprise to rival that of Clare Mackintosh’s fabulous I Let You Go.

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