Originally published in the Canberra Weekly on 21 August 2025.
A copy of this column also appeared on the Canberra Daily website.
Make sure to check out my extended reviews of The Bolthole and Five Found Dead.
Tag: Death at Booroomba
WWW Wednesday – 13 August 2025
WWW Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
So, let’s get to it.
What are you currently reading:
The Bolthole by Peter Papathanasiou (Trade Paperback)
I’ve started reading the excellent Australian crime fiction novel, The Bolthole, this week, and it’s proving to be a fantastic read. The latest book from author Peter Papathanasiou, The Bolthole is set on Kangaroo Island and focusses on the disappearance of a rich man, while also featuring a battle for the island’s identity. The Bolthole is so far proving to be a really intriguing novel and I look forward to seeing how it comes together.
The Eye of the Bedlam Bride by Matt Dinniman (Audiobook)
I’m still obsessed with Matt Dinniman’s Dungeon Crawler Carl series, and I’ve just started the sixth book in the series, The Eye of the Bedlam Bride. A very awesome entry in the larger series, The Eye of the Bedlam Bride features a cool new dungeon floor with an interesting concept behind it, and I’m loving how Dinniman is continuing his unique story. This is one of the longer Dungeon Crawler Carl audiobooks, but I’m hoping I’ll be able to get through it in the next week. I look forward to seeing all the cool twists and turns in this new book, and I’m sure it’s going to be so much fun.
What did you recently finish reading?
Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill (ebook)
I managed to finish off the cool murder mystery novel, Five Found Dead by Australian author Sulari Gentill this week. An intriguing crime fiction story set on the Orient Express, Five Found Dead was very fun, and I had a blast Gentill’s clever narrative.
The Butcher’s Masquerade by Matt Dinniman (Audiobook)
I ad an absolute blast with the fifth Dungeon Crawler Carl book, The Butcher’s Masquerade, which is probably my favourite entry in the series at the moment. Featuring a particularly intense narrative, loaded with shocks, dark moments, and the author’s amazing humour, The Butcher’s Masquerade was an incredible book that I couldn’t stop listening to.
Death at Booroomba by A. L. Booth
Another outstanding piece of Australian fiction. Death at Booroomba was an amazing novel, and I’m glad I got the chance to check it out.
What do you think you’ll read next?
While I have so many incredible books to read at the moment, I think I’m going to sit down and enjoy The Final Vow by M. W. Craven next. A very awesome sounding novel that will see Craven’s protagonist face off against a deadly sniper terrorising England, The Final Vow has a ton of potential, and I am very excited to see how the story unfolds, especially after being enthralled by The Mercy Chair last year. I have a strong feeling that The Final Vow is going to be one of the top books of 2025, and I am extremely excited to see how it unfolds.
That’s it for this week; check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.
WWW Wednesday – 6 August 2025
WWW Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
So, let’s get to it.
What are you currently reading:
Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill (ebook)
I just started reading the cool murder mystery novel, Five Found Dead by Australian author Sulari Gentill. An intriguing crime fiction story set on the Orient Express, Five Found Dead is proving to be an excellent novel and I look forward to seeing how its captivating mystery unfolds.
The Butcher’s Masquerade by Matt Dinniman (Audiobook)
I’m still powering through Matt Dinniman’s exceptional Dungeon Crawler Carl series, which is so damn good. I have already made it to the fifth book in the series, The Butcher’s Masquerade, which sets the unlikely protagonists against a new array of dangerous opponents, including professional hunters who specialise in killing dungeon crawlers. Another incredible book and one that I cannot stop listening to, The Butcher’s Masquerade is already proving to be one of my favourite books in this series, and I cannot wait to see where the crazy story goes next.
What did you recently finish reading?
Templar Traitor by Angus Donald (ebook)
An outstanding historical fiction novel with a very interesting plot behind it.
The Gate of the Feral Gods by Matt Dinniman (Audiobook)
Another exceptional entry in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series. This was a worthy fourth book in this outstanding series, perfectly following books like Dungeon Crawler Carl and Carl’s Doomsday Scenario, and I instantly started reading the fifth book the second I finished it.
What do you think you’ll read next?
Death at Booroomba by A. L. Booth
I’m hoping to read some outstanding Australian fiction next week and I’ll start by checking out the fantastic and compelling historical crime fiction novel, Death at Booroomba. This novel sounds really awesome, and I cannot wait to dive into it.
That’s it for this week; check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.
Book Haul – 21 July 2025
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Legacy by Chris Hammer
A particularly exciting new book from one of Australia’s leading thriller authors.
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.
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.
The Unseen Library 