Penguin Archives

Book review: The Couples Retreat by Mercedes Mercier

May 14, 20262 min read

The Couples Retreat by Mercedes Mercier is a departure from her two previous novels featuring psychologist Dr Laura Fleming, and I really enjoyed this latest book. She’s left prison here (the setting for her previous books) and we’ve journeyed to Kangaroo Island – incidentally a place I’d love to visit. The setting and sense of place here is very strong, but the island’s isolation and the onslaught of a raging storm also makes this is a locked-room mystery and (setting-wise) I loved that Mercier able to to reflect both the impending threat and the sense of pampered luxury.

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Book review: The Last Orphan by Gregg Hurwitz

November 27, 20242 min read

I bought The Last Orphan by Gregg Hurwitz to download and read last weekend. I love(d) the Orphan X / Nowhere Man / Evan Smoak series but hadn’t seen the last two come out in Australia. I knew Hurwitz had released some novellas in the interim but when his upcoming novel Nemesis appeared in a new release catalogue I got from Penguin, I discovered I’d missed books 8 & 9 in the series so set about rectifying that. And it has to be said this is a timely read… given it’s centred around a mega-rich genius type trying to influence government through leverage obtained during parties where he caters to everyone’s very lascivious or illicit substance desire. A cross between that-person-that-shall-be-known-as-Leon and the former rapper and producer currently in police/FBI custody.

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Book review: High Wire by Candice Fox

September 23, 20242 min read

It occurred to me when reading High Wire by Candice Fox that the Aussie author has moved more into the thriller territory with her standalones. They’re less about the mystery (the who or why) and more action-packed edge-of-your-seat stuff. I was unsure how I felt about that as I very much enjoyed Fox’s earlier character-driven series. I needn’t have worried however as she’s still able to deliver on the character development front, it’s just that they’re underpinned by a race against time and the inevitable, rather than Ah-ha! moments.

And though I think of myself as less of a thriller-fan, here I was gripped. We know who the baddies are and learn fairly quickly about their agenda, but Fox manages to keep some secrets from readers and (as we’ve come to expect from her) is somewhat callously irreverent with readers’ fragile hearts and allegiances.

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Book review: None of This is True by Lisa Jewell

July 19, 20233 min read

The title of Lisa Jewell’s latest book, None of This is True could be seen as offering readers a huge spoiler. And it does and it doesn’t. It – along with the blurb however – warns us that trusting Josie Fair comes with some risks. But Jewell manages to unravel Josie’s story in a way that keeps readers guessing. The book itself unfolds in the present (at the time of [ahem] certain events), and later… when all of the stories have been told and secrets apparently revealed.

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Book review: Dark Horse by Gregg Hurwitz

January 21, 20222 min read

I LOVE Gregg Hurwitz’s Orphan X / Nowhere Man / Evan Smoak series. They’re a go-to read for me and I was surprised we’re up to number 7 already.

Of course it means – sorry #spoileralert – that Evan doesn’t obviously die at the end of book 6 as could have been expected given his penthouse exploded and he was blasted out of his shatterproof window.

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Book review: The Raffles Affair by Vicki Virtue

September 23, 20213 min read

Who knew that Raffles Hotel in Singapore offered a residency program? Well, it does and New Zealand-born Vicki Virtue spent her Writer-in-Residence stint there on The Raffles Affair, featuring ex-MI6 agent Victoria West, now working independently for governments-in-need. Here however, Victoria is attending her close friend’s wedding in Singapore and called upon to do some old school sleuthing.

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Book review: All The Rage by Cara Hunter

January 17, 20202 min read

When I shared that I’d be reading this book a few people commented on how much they love Cara Hunter’s books and the DI Adam Fawley series. I was embarrassed that I’d not heard of them before. It may be because they’re more popular overseas than here in Australia. Either that or I live under a rock, I’m not sure.

But although I’ve started with number four (and I hate entering series’ part way through) I very much enjoyed this book. I suspect I’ve been privy to some spoilers from previous outings but I’d definitely still be interested in reading some earlier books in the series.

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Book review: The Chalk Man by CJ Tudor

January 1, 20183 min read

The backcover blurb mentions the notion of sleepless nights after reading this book. I love crime fiction and can generally cope with the idea of fictional serial killers and psychopaths, but never read (or watch) horror. I’m plagued enough by my own nightmarish failings and whatifs…. I don’t need something else keeping me awake at night. 🙂

However… (for me anyway) this wasn’t that sort of book. To my relief there wasn’t really a sense of menace or foreboding, rather a surprising number of secrets and stories-not-told, and I read it in an afternoon.

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