Category: Book Haul

Book Haul – 17 September 2025

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I’ve had an excellent couple of weeks for books, as I was lucky enough to receive a huge number of incredible and amazing new novels from local publishers and Netgalley.  These novels include some truly awesome new releases, including books that have the potential to be some of my top reads of the year.  I cannot wait to dive into them, and I so excited to see how they all turn out.

The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman

Let’s start this Book Haul post off strong with the new Thursday Murder Club novel, The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman. Following on from all the previous exceptional Thursday Murder Club books (The Thursday Murder Club, The Man Who Died Twice, The Bullet That Missed and The Last Devil to Die), The Impossible Fortune will bring back the series’ amazing pensioner protagonists and see them attempt to solve another complex crime in their typical, funny fashion.  I have been so eager to see how this series continues, especially after the heartbreaking events of The Last Devil to Die, and I already know that this is going to be one of the top books of 2025.

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Born of an Iron Storm by Anthony Ryan

Next on this haul we have the outstanding fantasy novel, Born of an Iron Storm by Anthony Ryan. The sequel to Ryan’s previous novel, A Tide of Black Steel (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2024), Born of an Iron Storm continues the epic story from the first book, as several compelling protagonists try to fight back against a mysterious, invading force. I am currently listening to Born of an Iron Storm on audiobook, and it is proving to be quite an exceptional listen that I am deeply enjoying.

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Everyone in this Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson

The laughs are sure to come with the new Australian crime fiction novel from Benjamin Stevenson, Everyone in this Bank is a Thief.  The fourth book in one of the funniest Australian series currently running, Everyone in this Bank is a Thief has a great plot that see’s inadvertent detective Ernest Cunningham attempt to solve a new murder, this time in the middle of a violent bank heist. I cannot wait to see how this clever book unfolds, and I already know I’m going to love it.

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Circle of Days by Ken Follett

The latest book I’ve managed to get my hands on is Circle of Days by the always impressive Ken Follett.  Another massive and deeply compelling historical fiction novel Circle of Days will chronicle the lives of several characters as they witness the creation of Stonehenge. This looks set to be an epic new read from the author and I am very excited to see Follett explore a new period of history.

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Crossroads of Ravens by Andrzel Sapkowski

I was particularly happy to receive a copy of the new Witcher novel from Andrzej Sapkowski, Crossroads of Ravens, which is probably one of the bigger fantasy releases of 2025. A prequel book set before the other The Witcher novels, Crossroads of Ravens will follow a younger Geralt on his earliest adventures as he attempts to survive a world that hates and fears him. I am hoping to read Crossroads of Ravens really soon, and I cannot wait to see how it turns out.

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The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown

Dan Brown returns with an excellent new thriller with The Secret of Secrets. Bringing back his iconic protagonist for another thrilling examination of historical conspiracies, The Secret of Secrets is going to be one of the more awesome releases of 2025 and I am hoping to start reading it today.

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The Pilgrim’s Revenge by Scott Mariani

Probably one of the more exciting novels I’ve received is the epic historical thriller, The Pilgrim’s Revenge by Scott Mariani. An excellent revenge novel that sees a man join the crusades to get revenge on a group of soldiers who killed his family.  I am hoping to get to The Pilgrim’s Revenge really soon and I have no doubt it’s going to be a particularly impressive read.

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How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps by Andrew Rowe

I was very happy to receive the entertaining fantasy novel, How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps by Andrew Rowe.  A fun sounding book with some interesting LitRPG elements to it, this new release of How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps is going to be awesome, and I cannot wait to check it out.

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Murder On North Terrace by Lainie Anderson

The next book I want to highlight in this Book Haul post is Murder on North Terrace.  The sequel to Lainie Anderson’s 2024 novel, The Death of Dora Black, Murder on North Terrace is going to be a compelling Australian murder mystery set in Adelaide during World War I. I had an excellent time with The Death of Dora Black last year and I am looking forward to reading the sequel

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Star Trek: Lower Decks, Volume 1: Second Contact by Ryan North

I had to feature Second Contact in this haul, which is going to be so damn good. A very fun Star Trek comic that focuses on the characters of the Lower Decks animated series, this first volume of this series, Second Contact, has a fantastic sounding plot that will place your favourite Star Trek characters into all manner of whacky situations.  I have a lot of love for Lower Decks, which is such a funny Star Trek show, and I cannot wait to see its characters and unique humour comes across in comic book form.

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The Devil’s Knight by P. W. Finch

The final book I want to highlight on this post is the intriguing historical fiction novel, The Devil’s Knight by P. W. Finch. Set during the Third Crusade, The Devil’s Knight sees a deadly knight attempt to escort a potential saint back to England while every other major force involved in the war tries to stop him. I really love the sound of this book, and it is an excellent recently received novel to end this post on.

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Well, that’s the end of this latest Book Haul post.  As you can see I have quite a bit of reading to do at the moment thanks to all these awesome books that have come in.  Let me know which of the above you are most interested in and make sure to check back in a few weeks to see my reviews of them.

Book Haul – 4 August 2025

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I’ve had an excellent couple of weeks for books, as I was lucky enough to receive several incredible and amazing new novels from local publishers and Netgalley.  These novels include some truly awesome new releases, including books that have the potential to be some of my top reads of the year.  I cannot wait to dive into them, and I so excited to see how they all turn out.

Two Kinds of Stranger by Steve Cavanagh

The first awesome new book I recently received is the new Steve Cavanagh novel, Two Kinds of Stranger.  An excellent legal thriller from Cavanagh that will see his former conman protagonist attempt to save an innocent client from a terrible set of circumstances, Two Kinds of Stranger sounds very cool and I am hoping to read it soon.

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The Final Vow by M. W. Craven

Next, we have the exceptional novel from M. W. Craven, The Final Vow.  Part of his Washington Poe series, The Final Vow will see Craven’s intense protagonist attempt to stop a deadly sniper terrorizing the UK.  I love the sound of this book, and I am very excited to read it, especially after how impressive the previous entry in the series, The Mercy Chair, turned out last year.  I honestly believe that The Final Vow is going to end up being one of the top thrillers of 2025 and I cannot wait to dive into it.

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Templar Traitor by Angus Donald

I was very happy to have received a copy of the excellent historical fiction novel, Templar Traitor, this week, especially as I really enjoyed author Angus Donald’s first book many years ago. This latest novel features a very interesting plot about an English knight who joins the Mongol army as it invaded Europe.  I am actually reading Templar Traitor now and it is proving to be a very impressive read with a great story behind it.

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The Detective by Matthew Reilly

The always outstanding Matthew Reilly dives into the crime fiction genre this year with The Detective.  The Detective will see a new investigator protagonist dive into a long-running case of missing girls and murdered detectives in the American South. The Detective sounds like a particularly awesome read and I am really intrigued to see how this cool novel unfolds.

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High Rise by Gabriel Bergmoser

I am very excited for this next book, High Rise by Australian author Gabriel Bergmoser, which honestly sounds so damn awesome.  Featuring a very cool plot about a rogue cop who finds himself being hunted by an entire city’s underworld in his daughter’s apartment building, High Rise has the potential to be one of the most thrilling Australian novels of 2025, and I cannot wait to dive into it.

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Seed by Bri Lee

 A compelling thriller about two people stuck out in an isolated seed vault, Seed sounds really good and could be quite an interesting read.

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Blood Like Mine by Stuart Neville

A gritty and layered novel from a very highly regarded thriller author.

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Dead Line by Marc Cameron

An outstanding new novel from Marc Cameron set in Alaska that has a very intriguing plot synopsis behind it.

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Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill

The final book I recently received is the fantastic murder mystery novel Five Found Dead by Australian author Sulari Gentill.  An interesting take on the classic train-based whodunnit, Five Found Dead sounds like quite a compelling read, and I am curious to see what sort of mystery Gentill has planned.  I am hoping to start reading Five Found Dead in the next week or so, and it should prove to be a pretty amazing mystery.

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Well, that’s the end of this latest Book Haul post.  As you can see I have quite a bit of reading to do at the moment thanks to all these awesome books that have come in.  Let me know which of the above you are most interested in and make sure to check back in a few weeks to see my reviews of them.

Book Haul – 21 July 2025

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I’ve had an excellent couple of weeks for books, as I was lucky enough to receive several incredible and amazing new novels from local publishers and Netgalley.  These novels include some truly awesome new releases, including books that have the potential to be some of my top reads of the year.  I cannot wait to dive into them, and I so excited to see how they all turn out.

The Last Soul Among Wolves by Melissa Caruso

The first new book I want to highlight is the excellent fantasy novel, The Last Soul Among Wolves by Melissa Caruso.  The sequel the Caruso’s 2024 novel, The Last Hour Between Worlds, The Last Soul Among Wolves looks set to be another gripping fantasy mystery as the protagonist tries to survive a will reading that has been made livelier by a deadly curse.  Sure to be one of the more compelling and complex fantasy reads of 2025, I cannot wait to check this book out.

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Katabasis by R. F. Kuang

I was also extremely happy to receive a copy of one of the most anticipated fantasy releases of 2025 with Katabasis by R. F. Kuang.  A cool dark academia fantasy novel that will see two rival students got to Hell to retrieve their professor’s soul, Katabasis has a ton of potential, and I am very excited to read my first book from Kuang, whose books have been high on my to-read list for a while.

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The Bone Raiders by Jackson Ford

One of the more insane and entertaining books I have recently received is the fantastic and fun novel, The Bone Raiders.  Written by rising author Jackson Ford, The Bone Raiders will see a group of bone-clad raiders attempt to survive an oncoming invasion by taming giant, fire-breathing lizards that stalk the steppes with them.  I really love the sound of this book’s awesome plot, and I have no doubt that The Bone Raiders will be a particularly epic read.

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End Game by Jeffrey Archer

Jeffrey Archer brings his William Warwick series to an end later this year with End Game. The eighth book in the series, End Game will see the final battle the protagonist and his mortal enemy, all while trying to stop an assassin using the 2012 London Olympic games as cover.  I am really looking forward to seeing how this series comes to an end, and End Game should be a particularly awesome read.

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Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridge

An explosive and cool YA fantasy debut from Australian author Mikayla Bridge, Of Flame and Fury follows a team of phoenix racers as they attempt to win big while getting dragged into an elaborate conspiracy.  A fun book that I am currently reading at the moment, Of Flame and Fury is proving to be a fantastic novel, and I am excited to see how it comes together.

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The Scene of the Crime by Lynda La Plante

A cool, CSI based series from one of England’s leading crime fiction authors, Lynda La Plante.

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Death at Booroomba by A. L. Booth

A rural, post-World War I Australian crime fiction novel, Death at Booroomba is a compelling sounding novel that will see a scarred veteran attempt to settle into a remote property he inherited, only to be accused of murdering the land’s previous owner by the suspicious locals.  I have a feeling Death at Booroomba is going to be an excellent piece of Australian fiction and I’m hoping to read it soon. 

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How Bad Things Can Get by Darcy Coates

Another particularly awesome and unique sounding novel I have recently received is the thriller How Bad Things Can Get by Darcy Coates.  Set around a controversial party on an isolated island that soon becomes a bloody mess, How Bad Things Can Get sounds like a ball of gruesome fun, and I am really keen to check this incredible book out.

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Legacy by Chris Hammer

A particularly exciting new book from one of Australia’s leading thriller authors.

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Agricola: Commander by Simon Turney

The final book I was lucky enough to recently receive is the third book in the Agricola series by Simon Turney, Commander.  Following the early life of the legendary Roman general as he returns to Britannia to make a name for himself, Commander should be an outstanding read and I’m keen to check it out.

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Well, that’s the end of this latest Book Haul post.  As you can see I have quite a bit of reading to do at the moment thanks to all these awesome books that have come in.  Let me know which of the above you are most interested in and make sure to check back in a few weeks to see my reviews of them.

Book Haul – 30 June 2025

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I’ve had an excellent couple of weeks for books, as I was lucky enough to receive several incredible and amazing new novels from local publishers and Netgalley.  These novels include some truly awesome new releases, including books that have the potential to be some of my top reads of the year.  I cannot wait to dive into them, and I so excited to see how they all turn out.

Never Flinch by Stephen King

First up I have to feature the cool new Stephen King novel, Never Flinch.  A particularly epic crime fiction read that brings back one of King’s best protagonists, I’ve already had the pleasure of reading Never Flinch and it was so damn good.  Review to hopefully follow soon.

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Three Shattered Souls by Mai Corland

Another cool book I have recently received was an early copy of Three Shattered Souls by Mai Corland.  The final book in the author’s Broken Blades trilogy, Three Shattered Souls will continue to follow a small band of desperate killers as they try to save the world and kill a tyrant.  I have had so much fun with the previous novels in this series, Five Broken Blades and Four Ruined Realms, and I cannot wait to see how Corland wraps up the trilogy.

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Cold War by Jonathan Maberry

I was very happy to receive an early copy of Jonathan Maberry’s epic dark science fiction novel, Cold War. The sequel to his brutal 2024 novel, NecroTek, Cold War will see several groups of scientists fight back against ancient cosmic monsters in a war to save humanity out in the stars. Sure to be an intense and complex read, I am really excited for Cold War and it should be an impressive sequel.

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Grave Danger by James Grippando

Next up we have the outstanding legal thriller, Grave Danger by James Grippando.  The latest book in the author’s Jack Swyteck series, Grave Danger sees lawyer protagonist Jack Swyteck fight to keep a mother and daughter together despite massive political and legal hurdles.  An outstanding new entry in a very compelling series, I am actually listening to Grave Danger right now and it is proving to be an amazing and highly recommended read.

Amazon

 

Valour by Richard Cullen

One of the more entertaining new books I have received is the upcoming Richard Cullen novel, Valour. The third book in the author’s Chronicle of the Black Lion series (which previously featured Rebellion and Crusade), Valour will see the book’s knight protagonist lead a desperate rescue mission to save captured missionaries from a band of pagans.  I am really intrigued by this new entry in the series, especially as it has a very different plot to the war-heavy previous novels, and I look forward to seeing how crazy things get here.

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The Stolen by Vikki Petraitis

One of the more interesting sequels of 2025 for me is the impressive sounding novel The Stolen by Vikki Petraitis. The sequel to Petraitis’ outstanding book, The Unbelieved, The Stolen will see the series’ detective protagonist try to save a missing baby, while also dealing with the dark secrets of her new small-town home.  Likely to be a particularly dark piece of Australian crime fiction, The Stolen sounds really captivating and I cannot wait to read it.

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Badlands by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

An exciting and crazy thriller from the legendary team of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, Badlands looks set to be an amazing read as the protagonists investigate a series of bizarre murders tied into ancient artefacts.

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Liar’s Game by Jack Beaumont

I’ve just gotten my hands on one of the more intriguing spy thriller books of 2025, Liar’s Game by Jack Beaumont.  Following on from the author’s previous novels, The Frenchman and Dark Arena, Liar’s Game will follow a member of French intelligence who finds himself burned by his own government and must try to survive the forces coming after him.  Sure to be a detailed and highly addictive read, Liar’s Game is very high up on my to-read list, and I cannot wait to check it out.

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The Writers’ Retreat by Samantha Vérant

An interesting and no doubt meta novel about mystery writers getting caught up in a dark thriller plot in an isolated cabin.

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The Chemist by A. A. Dhand

I was lucky to get my hands on one of the more intriguing debuts of 2025, The Chemist by A. A. Dhand.  Following a London pharmacist who gets caught up in a deadly gang war, The Chemist has a really unique feel to it, and I have no doubt this is going to be an exceptional thriller.

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Melaleuca by Angie Faye Martin

The final book I have recently received is the Australian debut Melaleuca by Angie Faye Martin. A small-town Australian crime fiction read with an Aboriginal police protagonist; Melaleuca sounds like an intense and dramatic novel that will dive into some of the deeper and darker elements of Australia’s outback culture.  An outstanding sounding book and one I’m glad I received a copy of.

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Well, that’s the end of this latest Book Haul post.  As you can see I have quite a bit of reading to do at the moment thanks to all these awesome books that have come in.  Let me know which of the above you are most interested in and make sure to check back in a few weeks to see my reviews of them.

Book Haul – 18 May 2025

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I’ve been away on holiday for a few weeks, which has resulted in a lack of major posts on this blog (at least that’s my excuse).  One upside about being away is that you tend to come back to a big pile of books, which is always fun to explore.  This holiday was no exception as I managed to return to a great collection of awesome books that have built up the last couple of weeks.  This includes some major 2025 releases, including a few books likely to be amongst my top books of the year.  I am very happy with this collection, and I just had to gloat about it here.

The Devils by Joe Abercrombie

Probably the book I was most excited to receive was the new Joe Abercrombie novel The Devils.  The start of a cool new series set in an alternate and dark medieval Europe filled with fantasy creatures, The Devils follow a mismatched group of monsters under the command of the Pope as they attempt to pull off an impossible mission.  This was one of my most anticipated fantasy releases of 2025 and I have already started reading it.  I’m a good third of the way through The Devils at the moment and it is already proving to be a particularly exceptional read that will likely be one of the best books of the entire year.  Highly recommended!

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Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me by Django Wexler

Another particularly awesome fantasy novel I was very happy to get my hands on was Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me by Django Wexler.  The sequel to the hilarious 2024 fantasy novel, How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying, Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me follows a reluctant fantasy protagonist whose plan to survive by becoming a feared dark lord starts to backfire on her.  This will probably end up being one of the funniest books of the year and I am hoping to read it very soon.

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Whisper in the Wind by Luke Arnold

Australian author Luke Arnold returns with Whisper in the Wind, the fourth entry in his urban fantasy Fetch Phillips series that follows a damaged investigator desperately trying to bring back magic to a dying fantasy city.  I loved the first three books in this series, The Last Smile in Sunder City, Dead Man in a Ditch, and One Foot in the Fade, and I cannot wait to see how this series continues.  Another amazing sounding book from an excellent author that I will probably be reading this week.   

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Stone and Sky by Ben Aaronovitch

The fantasy hits I recently received keep on coming with the epic new Rivers of London novel, Stone and Sky by Ben Aaronovitch.  The latest book in one of the best ongoing urban fantasy series, Stone and Sky will follow the series’ police protagonist as he attempts to have a family holiday in Scotland, only to encounter a new dark magical mystery.  I really love the sound of this book, and I cannot wait to dive into Stone and Sky’s complex and entertaining story.

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The Book That Held Her Heart by Mark Lawrence

Another great book I was lucky enough to recently receive was the third and final book in Mark Lawrence’s Library trilogy, The Book That Held Her Heart. Following on from The Book That Wouldn’t Burn and The Book That Broke the World, The Book That Held Her Heart will show the final battle for the impossible and infinite library, as the separated protagonists must find a way back to each other to save the lives of those closest to them.  I am very excited to finish this trilogy off, and The Book That Held Her Heart has a great deal of potential.

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Sins of the Fathers by John Byrnes

Another cool Australian historical epic from John Byrnes, who previous impressed me with Headland and The Youngest Son.  This new book will follow three children through the early 20th century as they feud throughout key Australian historical events and locations.  This will likely be a fun and compelling read that I look forward to checking out. 

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The Maid’s Secret by Nita Prose

An intriguing new novel from Nita Prose that will continue to showcase the investigations of her unlikely and unusual protagonist.

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Paved with Good Intentions by Peter McLean

The final book I have received was the cool fantasy crime novel, Paved With Good Intentions by Peter McLean.  A standalone novel set in McLean’s War for the Rose Throne universe, Paved With Good Intentions will follow a woman forced into the spying game as she tries to survive and get back to her children. A very intriguing and cool book from a talented author that I look forward to reading.

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Well, that’s the end of this latest Book Haul post.  As you can see I have quite a bit of reading to do at the moment thanks to all these awesome books that have come in.  Let me know which of the above you are most interested in and make sure to check back in a few weeks to see my reviews of them.

Book Haul – 7 April 2025

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I’ve had an excellent couple of weeks for books, as I was lucky enough to receive several incredible and amazing new novels from local publishers and Netgalley.  These novels include some truly awesome new releases, including books that have the potential to be some of my top reads of the year.  I cannot wait to dive into them, and I so excited to see how they all turn out.

The Malevolent Eight by Sebastien de Castell

First up we have one of the potentially most funny and over-the-top fantasy novels of 2025 with The Malevolent Eight.  The sequel to the author’s previous novel, The Malevolent Seven, this new book will see a group of unlikely magical heroes as they attempt to save their world from the invading armies of heaven and hell.  I had a lot of fun with The Malevolent Seven and I cannot wait to see how de Castell continues this entertaining story.

Amazon

 

No Body No Crime by Tess Sharpe

After having a ton of fun with Tess Sharpe’s previous novels, The Girls I’ve Been and The Girl in Question, I am excited for the author’s upcoming book, No Body No Crime.  Another awesome thriller that will see two women try to survive a powerful crime family coming for them, No Body No Crime sounds really cool and I look forward to reading it.

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2 Sisters Murder Investigations by James Patterson and Candice Fox

The superstar team of James Patterson and Candice Fox return for the new fast-paced thriller, 2 Sisters Murder Investigations.  The sequel to 2 Sisters Detective Agency, 2 Sisters Murder Investigations will see the dysfunctional sister protagonists dragged into a new murder investigation with potential lethal consequences.  I had a lot of fun with the first novel in this series and I am excited to see how it continues.

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Retreat by Krysten Ritter with Lindsay Jamieson

An intense and compelling thriller from acclaimed actor Kristen Ritter.

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Gifted & Talented by Olivie Blake

An intriguing novel that is essentially Succession with magic, Gifted & Talented sounds like a very fantastic read, and I have heard some good things about author Olivie Blake’s previous books.

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When She Was Gone by Sara Foster

An intense and complex crime fiction read from a great Australian author.

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Vanguard Strike by Jarom Strong

The final book I want to highlight in this blog post is the awesome science fiction novel, Vanguard Strike by Jarom Strong.  Featuring a very cool sounding plot about a team of thieves trying to strip a valuable military ship in space, only to contend with its monstrous contents, Vanguard Strike’s plot really appealed to me, and I cannot wait to see how crazy this book gets.

Amazon

 

Well, that’s the end of this latest Book Haul post.  As you can see I have quite a bit of reading to do at the moment thanks to all these awesome books that have come in.  Let me know which of the above you are most interested in and make sure to check back in a few weeks to see my reviews of them.

Book Haul – 11 March 2025

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I’ve had an excellent couple of weeks for books, as I was lucky enough to receive several incredible and amazing new novels from local publishers and Netgalley.  These novels include some truly awesome new releases, including books that have the potential to be some of my top reads of the year.  I cannot wait to dive into them, and I so excited to see how they all turn out.

A Death In Berlin by Simon Scarrow

Let’s start this Book Haul post on a high with the new Simon Scarrow book, A Death in Berlin.  The latest entry in Scarrow’s Berlin Wartime Thriller series (Blackout and Dead of Night), A Death in Berlin will once again follow the series’ detective protagonist as he tries to investigate crimes in Berlin against the wishes of the Nazi leadership.

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Pacific Heights by S. R. White

Next, we have the very cool Australian murder mystery, Pacific Heights by S. R. White.  An intriguing new book from White, Pacific Heights will see new police protagonists attempt to investigate a murder using the conflicting testimony of five differing witnesses.  I look forward to unravelling this complex tale and it should be an exceptional read.

Amazon

 

Usagi Yojimbo: Volume 40: The Crow by Stan Sakai

I was very happy to get the latest volume of my favourite comic book series with Usagi Yojimbo: The Crow by Stan Sakai.  An outstanding addition to an epic series, I have already reviewed The Crow here, and it comes highly recommended.

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Vanish by Shelley Burr

One of Australia’s fastest rising murder mystery, Shelley Burr, returns with her third book, Vanish.  Following on from her previous novels, Wake and Ripper, Vanish will see the series’ troubled protagonist journey to another remote Australian town to investigate a historical murder, only to encounter a dangerous cult. I have really enjoyed Burr’s first two books, and I cannot wait to see how Vanish turns out.

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When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi

I was extremely happy to receive a copy of the new John Scalzi book, When the Moon Hits Your Eye. A fun sounding science fiction comedy that will examine what happens to the world when the moon suddenly turning to cheese, When the Moon Hits Your Eye sounds so damn awesome, and I cannot wait to read it.

Amazon

 

Overgrowth by Mira Grant

One of the more intriguing novels I recently received was the intriguing science fiction book, Overgrowth by Mira Grant. A unique take on the alien invasion story, Overgrowth sounds extremely cool and I look forward to getting through it.

Amazon

 

The Other People by C. B. Everett

The final book I have recently received is The Other People by C. B. Everett.  An excellent sounding murder mystery, The Other People will follow ten strangers who wake up in a mysterious house and are forced to solve a missing person’s case while a killer stalks them. This sounds like an amazing concept, and I am intrigued to see how it turned out.

Amazon

 

 

Well, that’s the end of this latest Book Haul post.  As you can see I have quite a bit of reading to do at the moment thanks to all these awesome books that have come in.  Let me know which of the above you are most interested in and make sure to check back in a few weeks to see my reviews of them.

Book Haul – 10 February 2025

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I’ve had a excellent couple of weeks for books, as I was lucky enough to receive several incredible and amazing new novels from local publishers and Netgalley.  These novels include some truly awesome new releases, including books that have the potential to be some of my top reads of the year.  I cannot wait to dive into them, and I so excited to see how they all turn out.

Midnight Black by Mark Greaney

The first recently received book I want to highlight in this post is the new Mark Greaney novel, Midnight Black. The 14th entry in the author’s Gray Man series, Midnight Black follows on from the cliffhanger at the end of the previous novel, The Chaos Agent, and sees the dangerous spy protagonist attempt to rescue his love interest from a Russian prison camp. One of my most anticipated books of 2025, Midnight Black sounds really cool, and I cannot wait to see what brutal action and over-the-top chaos emerge in this amazing read.

Amazon

 

The Reunion by Bronwyn Rivers

The next book I want to highlight in this book haul post is the intriguing Australian thriller debut, The Reunion by Bronwyn Rivers.  Set in the iconic landscape of the Blue Mountains, The Reunion will see five former friends return to the site of a fateful incident 10 years before where one of their friends died during a hike.  Set to feature old secrets and lies re-emerge, The Reunion has a ton of potential, and I think it will end up being one of my top debuts of 2025.

Amazon

 

The Medici Return by Steve Berry

I was very happy to receive a copy of The Medici Return by Steve Berry.  The latest entry in the long-running Cotton Malone series (of which I have become very fond of), The Medici Return will see the series’ titular protagonist investigate a deadly conspiracy involving an old debt owed to the historical Medici family by the Catholic church, which could impact the entire future of Italy.  I cannot wait to see what elaborate narrative Berry has pulled together for The Medici Return and I know I am going to have an amazing time with this book.

Amazon

 

The Bluff by Joanna Jenkins

One of the more intriguing novels I recently received was the cool Australian legal thriller, The Bluff by Joanna Jenkins.  The sequel to Jenkin’s fun and clever first novel, How To Kill A Client (one of my favourite debuts of 2023), The Bluff looks set to be another compelling read as the big-city lawyer protagonist investigates a deadly cover-up in small-town Australia.

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Nobody’s Fool by Harlan Coben

Easily one of the more intriguing thrillers of 2025, I was very happy to get a copy of the new Harlan Coben book, Nobody’s Fool.  A follow-up to Coben’s classic novel, Fool Me Once, Nobody’s Fool will see returning character Sami Kierce forced to face his past after an old girlfriend he thought long dead returns, initiating an impossible mystery.  I really like the sound of this amazing book, and I cannot wait to read another incredible novel from Coben.

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You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego

A very fun and meta thriller that will see several bestselling murder mystery and thriller authors caught up in a classic whodunnit situation when they are summoned to the private of a famous and mysterious author.  I love books that attempt to place their own twist on the iconic old-school mystery novels, and You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego sounds like it is going to be something very special.

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Count My Lies by Sophie Stava

An intriguing upcoming debut thriller that will see a chronic liar caught up in a dark situation thanks to her bold stories. This could be a very cool read and I look forward to checking it out.

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Grave Empire by Richard swan

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of the new fantasy novel from Richard Swan, Grave Empire.  One of the most anticipated fantasy novels of 2025, Grave Empire takes readers to a new age of the Empire of the Wolf and presents a whole different raft of threats and challenges.  This sounds like a really cool book and one I hope I get the chance to check out this year, although as I still haven’t finished off the preceding The Empire of the Wolf trilogy, I worry I won’t be able to enjoy Grave Empire as much.

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Barren Cape by Michelle Prak

I was very happy to get an early copy of the fantastic thriller novel, Barren Cape, from Australian author Michelle Prak. This awesome novel will see a desperate person squatting in an abandoned and isolated resort, which will backfire on her in some dark ways.  I am extremely curious to see how Barren Cape turns out, and I think I am going to have a lot of fun with this book.

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Nightshade by Michael Connelly

Last, but definitely not least, is the new upcoming Michael Connelly book Nightshade.  I was very, very lucky to receive an early copy of Nightshade and I am very excited to check it out, especially as all my recent experiences with Connelly’s books have been extremely positive.  Introducing a new Connelly protagonist who operates on Catalina Island, Nightshade looks set to be a particularly impressive book and I am very excited to check it out.

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Well, that’s the end of this latest Book Haul post.  As you can see I have quite a bit of reading to do at the moment thanks to all these awesome books that have come in.  Let me know which of the above you are most interested in and make sure to check back in a few weeks to see my reviews of them.

Book Haul – 1 February 2025 – Netgalley Books

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As I mentioned in my other Book Haul post tonight, I’ve had an excellent few weeks for books, especially when it comes to the haul from Netgalley.  I have received a pretty awesome collection of great upcoming novels from the site, including several that have the potential to be some of my top books of the year.  I cannot wait to dive into them and I am looking forward to reading all of them.

An Ethical Guide to Murder by Jenny Morris

The first new novel I want to highlight in this book haul post is the awesome and fun thriller, An Ethical Guide to Murder.  The debut novel from Jenny Morris, An Ethical Guide to Murder sees a young woman gain the ability to transfer life from one person to another.  Determined to use the ability for good, she goes about ethically taking life from bad people to gift it to those she believes deserves to live. I love this fascinating plot idea, and I have already started reading An Ethical Guide to Murder this week.

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The White Fortress by Boyd and Beth Morrison

I was particularly pleased to receive an early copy of the historical fiction thriller, The White Fortress by Boyd and Beth Morrison. The third book in the authors’ Tales of the Lawless Land series, The White Fortress brings back the protagonists of the first two novels, The Lawless Land and The Last True Templar, and sees them become involved uncovering a dark plot in medieval Croatia. This sounds like such an awesome read and based on how much fun I had with the previous novels in the series, I have no doubt The White Fortress is going to be exceptional.

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Battle Mountain by C. J. Box

An awesome thriller from acclaimed author C. J. Box, Battle Mountain is the new entry in the long-running Joe Pickett series, and it promises more bloodshed as one of the series’ protagonists sets out to get revenge. I had a ton of fun reading the last entry in the series, Three-Inch Teeth, and I look forward to seeing what craziness emerges in this cool new book.

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Crusade by Richard Cullen

Another amazing upcoming historical fiction read I recently received is the fantastic novel Crusade by Richard Cullen. The sequel to Cullen’s 2024 novel, Rebellion, Crusade should be another outstanding book that will follow the author’s knight protagonist as he joins the crusades to test his mettle. Crusade looks set to be another fun and action-packed historical read, and I am hoping to read it very soon.

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How to Slay on Holiday by Sarah Bonner

A fantastic and fun sounding thriller that follows a wife whose murderous plans are thrown into disarray by a chaotic holiday. I really love the sound of How to Slay on Holiday, and I am very excited to check it out, especially after having so much fun reading Bonner’s previous books Her Perfect Twin and Her Sweet Revenge.

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A Song of Legends Lost by M. H. Ayinde

An outstanding and massively epic upcoming fantasy debut that I think has a ton of potential.

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Landfall by James Bradley

An intriguing and unique upcoming piece of Australian fiction that will follow a police officer investigating a crime in an environmentally wrecked, future Sydney.

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Broke Road by Matthew Spencer

The final book I want to highlight in this post is the cool upcoming Australian murder mystery Broke Road by Matthew Spencer. The sequel to Spencer’s debut novel, Black River, Broke Road presents a cool new crime fiction story that I am very intrigued to check out.

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Well, that’s the end of this latest Book Haul post.  As you can see I have quite a bit of reading to do at the moment thanks to all these awesome books that have come in.  Let me know which of the above you are most interested in and make sure to check back in a few weeks to see my reviews of them.

Book Haul – 1 February 2025

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I’ve had a excellent couple of weeks for books, as I was lucky enough to receive several incredible and amazing new novels from local publishers.  These novels include some truly awesome new releases, including books that have the potential to be some of my top reads of the year.  I cannot wait to dive into them, and I so excited to see how they all turn out.

Days of Shattered Faith by Adrian Tchaikovsky

The first book that I want to highlight in this post is the awesome fantasy novel, Days of Shattered Faith by Adrian Tchaikovsky.  The third book in the Tyrant Philosophers series, Days of Shattered Faith takes the reader back to author’s complex fantasy world and follows two ambassadors of a conquering nation as they attempt to understand a chaotic city. I had a brilliant time with the first two books in this series, City of Last Chances and House of Open Wounds, both of which were amongst my favourite books of 2023 (with City of Last Chances being one of the best audiobooks of 2023), and I am very excited to see how this epic book turns out, especially as it will likely be loaded with strong humour, compelling characters and insane moments.  I am planning to read Days of Shattered Faith next, and while I have a paperback version of it, I may instead try out the audiobook version, which I know is going to be epic.

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Nemesis by Gregg Hurwitz

I was also very happy to receive a copy of the new Orphan X book, Nemesis by Gregg Hurwitz. A compelling spy thriller that follows on from Out of the Dark, Into the Fire, Prodigal Son, Dark Horse, The Last Orphan and Lone Wolf, Nemesis will see the troubled spy protagonist forced to go to war with his only friend, as dark secrets emerge between them.  I have a feeling that Nemesis is going to be an outstanding entry to this series, and I look forward to checking it out.

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Blood and Gold by Michael Trant

Another cool thriller that I recently received was the fantastic Australian novel, Blood and Gold by Michael Trant.  A very-Australian bush thriller that sees a wild-dog trapper attempt to stop the murder of local gold hunters, Blood and Gold sounds very awesome, and I am hoping to read it soon.

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When the Deep, Dark Bush Swallows You Whole by Geoff Parkes

A dark and complex debut thriller by new author Geoff Parkes. This book looks set to make excellent use of the New Zealand rural landscape, as an outcast local attempts to find out what happened to a backpacker who went missing the previous year.

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The Whisperer’s War by Jackie French

An intriguing historical drama from one of Australia’s most popular authors, The Whisper’s War follows a noble lady as she spies on Nazi sympathisers in England during World War II.

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Space Usagi: Volume One: Death and Honor by Stan Sakai

I just managed to grab the new printing of the classic Space Usagi comic from Stan Sakai. A spin-off from his classic Usagi Yojimbo series that imagines a samurai adventure in space, Space Usagi: Death and Honour was an interesting read that blended some fun themes together. I am very glad I picked this up, especially as Sakai is releasing a long-awaited second volume in a few months’ time.

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Ultimate Spider-Man – Volume One – Married With Children by Jonathan Hickman, Marco Checchetto and David Messina

The final new comic I want to highlight in this post is the first volume of the new Ultimate Spider-Man series, Married With Children. A captivating reimagining of the Spider-Man origin tale, set in a new universe where many heroes were kept from their destiny, Ultimate Spider-Man is a particularly impressive comic that does a brilliant job showcasing a new take the Spider-Man mythos, while keeping its heart and emotional strength on full display. Married With Children did an outstanding job introducing the new narrative, and this was one of the best new series I have read in a while.

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Well, that’s the end of this latest Book Haul post.  As you can see I have quite a bit of reading to do at the moment thanks to all these awesome books that have come in.  Let me know which of the above you are most interested in and make sure to check back in a few weeks to see my reviews of them.