Originally published in the Canberra Weekly on 6 March 2025.
Make sure to check out my extended reviews for The Bluff, Nemesis and Little Red Death.
Tag: Joanna Jenkins
The Bluff by Joanna Jenkins
Publisher: Allen & Unwin (Trade Paperback – 4 March 2025)
Series: How to Kill a Client – Book Two
Length: 432 pages
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Impressive new Australian author Joanna Jenkins presents another captivating piece of crime fiction with the gripping and emotionally charged read, The Bluff.
Back in 2023 I had the very great pleasure of reading the fantastic legal thriller, How to Kill a Client. The debut novel of Australian author Joanna Jenkins, How to Kill a Client followed various members of a prestigious Australian law firm who are forced to deal with the fallout of the murder of one of their biggest clients, a man who everyone in the firm had a motive to kill. Jenkins produced an outstanding story in her first novel, and How to Kill a Client ended up being one of my favourite debuts and pieces of Australian fiction of 2023. Due to how good her first book was, I have been keeping an eye out for anything else from Jenkins and I was very happy to see she had a new book coming out in 2025 with The Bluff. A surprising sequel to How to Kill a Client, The Bluff has been on my to-read list for a while, and I was very glad that I finally got the chance to check it out.
Plot Synopsis:
People like Dash didn’t die. He was only what? Mid-thirties? Well off. Adored. By some anyway. World at his feet. Well, Myddle at his feet, which was his world.
Ruth Dawson has taken a break from big city law to fill in for a few months at a mate’s small-town legal practice in Myddle. It’s not what she’s used to . . .
So when she hears the front door of her office open she’s expecting a weird demand, or a question she doesn’t know the answer to. But it’s Bea Baulderstone’s mum, worried that she hasn’t seen her seventeen-year-old daughter for five days, and Constable Gazza Parker is refusing to report the girl missing.
Ruth tries to find Bea, but Myddle is a wall of indifference. Then Dash Rogers is found at his farm gate, dead from a gunshot wound, and suddenly the town is very interested in Bea’s whereabouts.
An unputdownable thriller of deception and greed, The Bluff reveals an enmeshed web of family and community loyalties, set in the lush rural hinterland of east coast Australia.
The Bluff was an extremely captivating and complex Australian thriller from Joanna Jenkins that stands on its own feet while also serving as a great sequel to How to Kill a Client. Featuring a fantastic character-driven story loaded with mystery, impressive storytelling and an excellent rural setting, The Bluff had me hooked very quickly, and I ended up powering through it in a day.
I really enjoyed the amazing story that Jenkins came up with for The Bluff, as she provides both an intriguing mystery, and some great character development. A mostly standalone plot set after the events of How to Kill a Client, the reader is reintroduced to high profile layer Ruth Dawson, who is taking a break from the high-flying life to manage a small law firm in the small New South Wales town of Myddle. This change in setting and story focus towards a rural thriller, rather than the big-city legal thriller of Jenkins’ previous book, proved to be quite effective, as was the very clever way the author set out The Bluff’s story.
Jenkins ensured that readers get dragged into The Bluff’s tale almost immediately, with two very quick sequences at the start: one that showed a key moment of the plot without any context, and then a subsequent scene where the protagonist is reintroduced and then finds out about the narrative’s two main mysteries, a missing girl and a murder. With these important bits of information in your brain, the reader is then transported back six months and is shown all the events that occurred over this period that led up to the disappearance of Bea Baulderstone and the murder of Dash Rogers. Through this six-month period, you become acquainted with all the key players around Myddle and observe their interactions with the victims and the protagonist, and you begin the appreciate the complex web of relationships, problems and personalities that surround the case, as well as the many potential motivations for the book’s main crimes.
This dive back in time was an outstanding writing choice by Jenkins that allowed the reader to really appreciate the full breadth of the relationships and troubles that accompany the crime, all while perfectly utilising The Bluff’s excellent rural setting. With every brick of plot laid down to hint at the events to come, you find yourself becoming more and more involved with the plot as you try to picture how and why the murder will occur and which of the many interesting and emotional characters may commit it. The inclusion of a countdown at the start of each new chapter gives a great ticking clock vibe to The Bluff, and you become more and more anxious and excited as you get closer the plot’s principal event. The reader also begins to appreciate just how despicable the main murder victim is, and that allows for an even more compelling read, as you can see just how many potential people have a motive to kill him, as well as cause the disappearance of the missing girl.
The final third of The Bluff is probably the best, and I flew through it to find out how the story ends. The final series of events leading up to the pivotal killings are particularly dark (and potentially triggering for some readers), and it was fascinating to see everyone’s emotional state in advance of this crime, especially as there are so many potential suspects. However, rather than show the killings there, Jenkins instead jumps back to the timeline from the front of the book and spends the last 100 or so pages dealing with the subsequent investigation, with the protagonist pulling events together. I liked this delay, as it provided an excellent trickle effect for the twists and also allowed the protagonist to shine as she uses her knowledge of events and her own skills at deduction to identify the culprit and protect her friends in the town. The eventual solutions for the mysteries were very clever, and Jenkins did such a great job subtly dropping the clues throughout the backstory of the plot and setting up the various motivations. I really appreciated the many complex and compelling twists which fit into the plot perfectly, especially the last one that really made you think.
This entire brilliant story is wrapped up in some great character arcs, as Jenkins features a range of protagonists and potential suspects, each of whom were quite compelling and brought different shades of drama to the plot. I loved seeing their complex relationships and interactions throughout the plot of The Bluff, especially those that could lead to them committing the book’s main crimes. There are some really great characters here, and it was especially interesting to see more of series protagonist Ruth Dawson, who is not only continuing to move on from the personal trauma and loneliness that was a key part of How to Kill Your Client, but is also trying to figure out where her life is going after the collapse of her previous law firm. These character arcs come together in a very satisfying manner at the end of The Bluff, and a lot of this book’s complexity and strength came from how relatable and compelling Jenkins’ made these various characters, especially when it comes to their anger, fear and potential ability to commit murder.
Overall, The Bluff was an exceptional and deeply impressive sequel from Joanna Jenkins that I think was even stronger than the excellent first book. Featuring a very clever and well-written narrative that brings together powerful character storylines and a great rural setting with complex mystery, The Bluff proved to be extremely captivating, and you will become engrossed in uncovering the full extent of the plot. One of the best Australian crime fiction books of 2025 so far, The Bluff comes highly recommended and is really worth checking out.
WWW Wednesday – 26 February 2025
WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme 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:
Little Red Death by A. K. Benedict (ebook)
I started reading the very interesting crime fiction book, Little Red Death, this week. A compelling read that sees an obsessed detective try to solve a series of fairytale-themed murders, Little Red Death has an amazing story behind it, and I am really glad I decided to check it out.
Warhammer 40,000: Interceptor City by Dan Abnett (Audiobook)
I have just started listening to the awesome Warhammer 40,000 novel, Interceptor City by Dan Abnett. The sequel to Abnett’s classic Warhammer 40,000 novel, Double Eagle, Interceptor City brings back the protagonist from the previous book and sets her on a deadly new flying mission against skilled enemy pilots. I have so much love for Double Eagle, and I am expecting Interceptor City to be just as incredible, especially as Abnett is extremely skilled at writing elaborate air combat sequences. I have only made a little progress on Interceptor City so far, but I am really loving it and I have no doubt that this will be one of the best books I read all year.
What did you recently finish reading?
Nemesis by Gregg Hurwitz (Trade Paperback)
I absolutely powered through the awesome new addition to the Orphan X series from one of my favourite thriller writers, Nemesis. One of the best books I have so far enjoyed from Gregg Hurwitz, Nemesis was so damn good, and I am hoping to get a review up for it soon.
Days of Shattered Faith by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Audiobook)
I finally managed to finish off Days of Shattered Faith and it was another exceptional five star read from Tchaikovsky that I could not get enough of.
Small Gods by Terry Pratchett (Audiobook)
Thanks to a road trip I’ve been in a real Discworld mood lately, which saw me get through the new audiobook version of Small Gods by Terry Pratchett narrated by Andy Serkis. This was an exceptional listen and Small Gods remains one of my favourite Discworld books.
The Bluff by Joanna Jenkins (Trade Paperback)
I had an exceptional time this week powering through the new book from Australian author Joanna Jenkins, The Bluff. A clever and twisty crime fiction read that serves as an excellent sequel to Jenkin’s debut novel, How to Kill a Client, The Bluff was an amazing read that I look forward to reviewing soon.
Pyramids by Terry Pratchett (Audiobook)
I also managed to get through the brilliant Discworld novel, Pyramids. Another one of my favourites, Pyramids is so much fun to listen to, including in the new audiobook version primarily narrated by Alfred Enoch.
What do you think you’ll read next?
I had to make some changes to my reading schedule, so I didn’t get a chance to read the intriguing new Australia debut, The Reunion, this week as planned. However, I am hoping to rectify that next week as The Reunion sounds particularly captivating and thrilling.
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 – 10 February 2025
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Waiting on Wednesday – The Bluff, Pacific Heights and Vanish
Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy. Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them. For this week’s post, the name of the game is Australian crime fiction as I check out three outstanding upcoming novels set for release in 2025.
I have mentioned a few times on this blog that I have become a major fan of crime fiction in the last several years, ever since I started reviewing across the genres. During this time, I have had the pleasure of reading an array of awesome crime fiction reads, although one sub-genre I get a ton of books of is Australian crime fiction. There are so many great murder mysteries and thrillers released each year that make excellent use of the gritty Australian setting, whether its an outback thriller or a more complex murder mystery set within one of Australia’s urban settings. Australian’s have proven quite adapt at producing epic and mysterious reads, and I tend to receive quite a few Australian focused books from local publishers as a result.
Naturally, after reading a ton of these great reads over the years, I have become skilled at picking out upcoming Australian crime fiction novels that I think are going to be excellent. I have already recently identified a few upcoming 2025 Australian debuts that have a lot of potential, so in this post I am going to look at a series of sequels and releases from established authors that are coming out in the new year. There are three amazing books I want to highlight in this post, and I have a lot of faith that all of them are going to be outstanding.
The first book that I want to talk about is The Bluff by Joanna Jenkins. Jenkins is an excellent novel, whose debut, How to Kill a Client, was a ton of fun. A clever and addictive novel that saw the members of an Australian law firm become suspects in a murder after one of the most important, and distasteful, clients dies suspiciously. I really enjoyed How to Kill a Client, especially as Jenkins created some vivid and compelling characters, and it ended up being one of my favourite debuts of 2023. As such, I have been curious to see what Jenkin’s would write next, and I was very excited to find out details about her upcoming book, The Bluff, especially it is a sequel to How to Kill a Client. Set for release in March 2025, The Bluff places Jenkin’s previous big-city lawyer protagonist in a dangerous small-town setting for another intriguing read.
Plot Synopsis:
From the bestselling author of How to Kill a Client comes a page-turning rural thriller of loyalties and lies, murder and greed.
People like Dash didn’t die. He was only what? Mid-thirties? Well off. Adored. By some anyway. World at his feet. Well, Myddle at his feet, which was his world.
Ruth Dawson has taken a break from big city law to fill in for a few months at a mate’s small-town legal practice in Myddle. It’s not what she’s used to . . .
So when she hears the front door of her office open she’s expecting a weird demand, or a question she doesn’t know the answer to. But it’s Bea Baulderstone’s mum, worried that she hasn’t seen her seventeen-year-old daughter for five days, and Constable Gazza Parker is refusing to report the girl missing.
Ruth tries to find Bea, but Myddle is a wall of indifference. Then Dash Rogers is found at his farm gate, dead from a gunshot wound, and suddenly the town is very interested in Bea’s whereabouts.
An unputdownable thriller of deception and greed, The Bluff reveals an enmeshed web of family and community loyalties, set in the lush rural hinterland of east coast Australia.
I really like the sound of The Bluff and it should be an interesting change of pace from Jenkins’ first book. Forcing the protagonist to deal with small town politics and loyalties while she attempts to find out the truth should result in a great read, and I am intrigued by the mystery that seems to be developing. I’m also curious to see how Jenkins deals with another seemingly adored figure who dies suddenly, as the last one of those the author featured was a brilliant character study in bad behaviour. I honestly think that The Bluff has a ton of potential and I cannot wait to dive into as soon as I can.
The next book that I want to highlight in this post is the deeply intriguing novel, Pacific Heights by S. R. White. White is an exceptional author who has left an impression on the Australian outback thriller scene the last few years. Known for his Detective Dana Russo series (Prisoner, Red Dirt Road and White Ash Ridge), White has produced some gripping reads that focus more on personalities and character motivations rather than evidence. This has resulted in some outstanding mysteries, and I really get caught up in his excellent writing.
Due to this, I am always eager for a new book from White and it is generally one of the better Australian novels released at the start of the year. The author’s next book sounds particularly awesome, as White is releasing a standalone novel outside of his main series with Pacific Heights. Coming out in late March, Pacific Heights once again dives into human nature as the author brings together another distinctive crime fiction scenario.
Plot Synopsis:
FIVE WITNESSES. FIVE DIFFERENT STORIES. WHO IS THE KILLER?
In the courtyard of the Pacific Heights building, a local waitress is found dead.
Five apartments overlook the murder scene. Five people witnessed a crime take place.
Finding the killer should be simple.
Except none of the witnesses’ stories match.
They all saw something – from a different angle, at a different time.
None of them saw everything. Anyone could be the killer.
Detectives Carl “Bluey” Blueson and Lachlan Dyson, each with their own careers in peril, must solve what others assume is a straightforward case. But to unmask a killer they must unpick a complex puzzle – where the motivations of the witnesses are as mystifying as the crime itself.
How can you solve a crime if anyone could be lying?
Now this is another very cool and captivating scenario from White and it is one that I am really drawn to. Forcing the protagonists to work out which of the five conflicting eyewitnesses is lying is going to require a deep dive into each of their characters, and I am very interested to see how the detectives unwind the complex motivations, histories and personality traits to determine which of them is telling the truth and which of them is keeping secrets. As such, this should be a very deep, character-driven crime fiction read, which White really excels at. Based on the plot synopsis alone, I believe that Pacific Heights is going to be a very exceptional read and I cannot wait to find out who is lying and why.
The final book I want to discuss in this Waiting on Wednesday is Vanish by Shelley Burr. Burr is another rising Australian author who I have become very attached to. Her debut novel, Wake, presented a complex and moving story of small-town mystery and the scars it leaves behind when an investigator with his own agenda attempts to uncover the long-hidden fate of a missing girl. Wake was a very impressive read and it ended up being one of my favourite debuts of 2022. Burr made sure to continue her story the next year, as she presented an outstanding sequel in 2023 with Ripper (also released as Murder Town). This book also focused on small town crime, as a new mystery emerges in a picturesque community made infamous by the actions of a serial killer. Ripper was a very worthy follow-up to Wake, and I loved the outstanding narrative that Burr featured in this awesome sequel.
Due to how impressive and clever Burr’s first two novels were, I have been keen to see what she releases next, and we luckily don’t have too much longer to wait for her third novel, Vanish. Coming out in April 2025, Vanish will continue to follow the author’s protagonist, Lane Holland, as attempts to uncover long-hidden killers and their victims. This new novel will take Holland on his darkest adventure yet, as dangerous personalities strike at the protagonist’s deepest desires.
Plot Synopsis:
People go to the isolated Karpathy farm looking for a new life – and are never seen again. A chilling thriller from the award-winning and bestselling author of Australian noir, Shelley Burr.
Lane Holland’s crime-solving career ended the day he went to prison. With his parole hearing approaching, he faces the grim reality that an ex-con can never work as a private eye. Yet one unsolved case continues to haunt him: the disappearance of Matilda Carver two decades ago.
Never one to follow the rules, Lane finds a lead – a mysterious farm community led by the enigmatic Samuel Karpathy. His farm attracts lost souls. People who want a more meaningful life. People who are hiding from their pasts. People with nowhere else to go.
But those who go to the farm seem to vanish without a trace.
Is it a commune? Is it a cult? Is it something even more dangerous? Lane goes undercover at the farm to find its dark secret – but could he too find himself intoxicated by the prospect of a new life on the land?
Inspired by a real-life criminal case, VANISH is a nail-biting novel of suspense by the Number One-selling author of WAKE and RIPPER.
Vanish sounds like another particularly amazing novel from Burr and I am very excited to see how it turns out. Continuing her protagonist’s attempts to needlessly redeem himself by solving missing persons cases should result in a powerful read, and I am curious to see what dark secrets lie within this mysterious and sinister farm. Forcing the protagonist to uncover truth amongst a band of lost souls, and a no doubt manipulative leader, should result in a very complex and intense story, and it is one I am very keen to dive into. Based on Burr’s previous captivating novels, I am very sure that Vanish will be an excellent book that will keep me in suspense right to the very end.
It looks like 2025 is going to be a very good year for Australian crime fiction, especially with new releases from these three very talented authors. Jenkins, White and Burr have all produced exceptional crime fiction novels in the past, and I have no doubt whatsoever that their new books are going to be just as impressive, especially as all of them feature incredible and unique plot ideas. I look forward to exploring all these brilliant crime novels, and the new year is really looking up when it comes to awesome Australian fiction.
Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Australian Books of 2023
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. For this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, participants were supposed to list the top books they meant to read in 2023 but didn’t get a chance to, however, I am going to an alternate list today. The reason for this, and the reason I delayed putting this list up by a day, is because Friday, 26 January, is Australia’s national holiday, Australia Day. While Australia Day is getting a lot more controversial due to its historic implications, I like to look beyond that and focus on some of the amazing and varied talents our nation produces. As such, I thought I would take this opportunity to once again highlight some of the top pieces of fiction written by Australian authors that I read in 2023.
Each year, a ton of talented Australian authors produce an impressive and exciting range of fiction from across the genres, many of which I am lucky enough to get copies of from my local publishers. Due to this, I tend to read and review a lot of novels by Australian authors, most of which turn out to be some outstanding reads that I deeply enjoy. As such, for the last few years I have taken to highlighting my favourite pieces of Australian fiction (check out my 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 lists). I really love how much awesome Australian fiction there is each year, and this list is the perfect way to highlight some of the best Australian authors.
Now I tend to take a bit of a different approach to Australian fiction than some other bloggers, as I highlight all books written by Australian authors rather than novels purely set in Australia or featuring Australian characters. To qualify for this list, a novel had to be released in 2023 and be written by an Australian author, which I am defining as anyone born in Australia or who currently lives here (Australia is very good at adopting talented people as our own). This resulted in a long list, including several novels that I considered to be some of the best reads of last year. I was eventually able to whittle this novel down to the absolute cream of the crop and came up with a fantastic top ten list (with my typical generous honourable mentions). I really enjoyed how this list turned out, especially as it features novels from a range of different genres, all of which were very awesome Australian books.
Honourable Mentions:
He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan
An interesting historical fiction/fantasy hybrid from a rising Australian author, Shelley Parker-Chan. He Who Drown the World was the exciting sequel to the author’s debut, She Who Became the Sun, and it featured a unique and memorable adventure.
An impressive debut from an outstanding Australian talent, that saw a damaged cop investigate the murder of a prominent judge.
The Paris Agent by Kelly Rimmer
A gripping World War II historical drama from one of Australia’s top authors of the genre, Kelly Rimmer, who previously wowed me with The Warsaw Orphan and The German Wife. The Paris Agent had an outstanding plot that followed doomed female spies dropped into occupied France.
How to Kill a Client by Joanna Jenkins
How to Kill a Client was an amazing and dark legal thriller that followed members of a prominent legal firm who become suspects in a clients death. One of the most entertaining debuts of 2023.
Top Ten List:
The Will of the Many by James Islington
The first book I must highlight is the outstanding and epic fantasy novel, The Will of the Many by James Islington. The Will of the Many was an amazing book that topped all my best-of lists last year, including my favourite books and audiobooks of 2023 lists. Set in a great new fantasy world, The Will of the Many follows an exile who infiltrates an elite academy to uncover deadly secrets and find out ways to fight against the nation who stole his home. An exceptionally addictive read, The Will of the Many is so damn good, and I was extremely impressed by my first book by Islington.
Everyone on this Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson
The always hilarious Benjamin Stevenson followed up his outstanding 2022 novel, Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone, with this fantastic and brilliant murder mystery. Set on the legendary Australian train, the Ghan, Everyone on this Train is a Suspect is an intriguing and comedic take on the murder mystery genre, as the main suspects to the murder are all crime fiction authors. Funny, smart and featuring homages to various crime fiction sub-genres and classic novels, Everyone on this Train is a Suspect was extremely awesome and I loved getting through it.
Mr Einstein’s Secretary by Matthew Reilly
One of Australia’s most recognisable authors, Matthew Reilly, had an amazing year in 2023 with Mr Einstein’s Secretary. Following a fantastic protagonist through some of the most important historical events of the first half of the 20th century, Mr Einstein’s Secretary was a powerful, character-driven story, loaded with action, espionage, and captivating historical detail. An extremely impressive novel that I managed to knock off in a very, very short amount of time.
Shelley Burr produced an awesome sequel to her debut novel, Wake, with the outstanding read Ripper. Set in a town made infamous for a deadly serial killer years ago, Ripper follows a new investigation when a body is found in the same spot as one of the original victims. A twisty and captivating novel that has some great connections to Burr’s previous book.
Killer Traitor Spy by Tim Ayliffe
Tim Ayliffe brings back his rugged journalist protagonist for another dark Australian thriller in Killer Traitor Spy. This time examining the impacts of foreign influence and espionage, Killer Traitor Spy was a brilliant read that makes great use of real-life concerns to contemporary Australia.
After wowing me in 2022 with her impressive debut, the young adult fantasy novel Only a Monster, Australian author Vanessa Len produced an excellent sequel last year with Never a Hero. An intense novel that cleverly makes use of the alternate timeline established at the end of the first book, Never a Hero was an exceptional sequel from a very talented author.
Kill Your Husbands by Jack Heath
One of my absolute favourite Australian authors, Jack Heath, had another incredible year in 2023 with the amazing book Kill Your Husbands. An intriguing novel that sees three couples in an isolated cabin all become murder suspects after an attempt at partner-swapping goes terribly wrong. I love the unique and drama inducing plot of Kill Your Husbands, especially as it also served as a sequel to one of Heath’s previous novels, Kill Your Brother. This was such a great read, and I really enjoyed the complex mystery Heath came up with.
Sarah Barrie continued her dark and deadly Lexi Winter series in a big way last year with the exceptional novel Vendetta. Following on from her previous books, Unforgiven and Retribution, Vendetta sees Barrie’s maverick protagonist infiltrate a deadly bikie gang she has history with, all while a vengeful killer seeks to blow everyone up. This was one of Barrie’s best books yet, and I had an outstanding time getting through Vendetta.
Candice Fox continued to dominate the crime fiction market with the impressive 2023 thriller, Fire with Fire. Following several different protagonists as they try to save vital evidence being held hostage by two desperate parents, Fire with Fire had an amazing story and I loved how it turned out. Another amazing book from Fox, who has several fantastic novels coming out in 2024.
The final book on this list is the impressive 2023 novel from one of Australia’s fastest rising crime fiction authors, Megan Goldin. Her latest book, Dark Corners, serves as a sequel to her previous novel The Night Swim, and sees the author’s podcasting protagonist join the hunt for a deadly killer stalking an influencer convention. Featuring both an intense mystery and an entertaining look at the current obsession with influencers and social media, Dark Corners was another great book from Goldin that comes highly recommended.
Well, that is the end of this latest list and I am really happy that I got a chance to highlight some of the best Australian releases of 2023. The above books represent an outstanding collection of fiction from talented Australian authors, and each of them comes highly recommended by me. I had a lot of fun coming up with this list and I cannot wait to find out what the best Australian books of 2024 are going to be. Until then, stay tuned for more epic reviews and lists, and make sure you let me know who your favourite Australian authors are in the comments below.
Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Debuts of 2023
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. The official topic for this week involved Bookish Goals for 2024 which, while interesting, isn’t something I plan to contribute to. Instead, I am going to be continuing listing some of my favourite books of 2023 (make sure to check out my previous lists that highlight my favourite sequels, audiobooks, pre-2023 novels, new-to-me authors in 2023, and favourite books of 2023), by examining my favourite debuts released in 2023.
2023 was an awesome year for debuts as there were an excellent array of new authors releasing some impressive and entertaining first novels which I was lucky enough to receive. I always love checking out new authors when they produce their first book or dive into a whole new genre, and I was blown away with some of the debut talent on display this year. As such, I am glad that I can highlight some of the absolute best of these releases in this Top Ten list.
To be eligible for this list, the book had to be a 2023 release that was either the author’s first novel ever, or a novel that was different from an author’s previous work (their debut in the genre). I didn’t end up reading as many debuts in 2023 as I did in previous years, but I was still able to pull together a full list of 10 books. I am pretty happy with the results, and I feel captures my favourite debuts of the year and highlights them accordingly. So, let us see what made the cut.
Top Ten List:
The King of the Spoil by Jonathan D. Beer
The Warhammer 40,000 franchise had a strong year when it came to fiction, and I was very happy to see that the franchise gave several impressive new authors the opportunity to write their first novel ever. I read several of these intriguing debuts last year and the first one I’m going to highlight here is The King of the Spoil by Jonathan D. Beer, Beer’s first full-length novel. A compelling, entertaining and amazing novel in the Warhammer Crime sub-series, The King of the Spoil showcases the fallout following the assassination of a major gang lord in a massive, crime ridden city. An extremely epic and very fun debut that comes highly recommended.
A great Australian crime fiction debut that sees three cops trapped in a flooding town, while a killer hunts them.
How to Kill a Client by Joanna Jenkins
An impressive legal thriller from new Australian author Joanna Jenkins. How to Kill a Client followed several members of a prestigious Australian law firm after one of their most important, and unpleasant, clients, is murdered and the lawyers become potential suspects. Witty, gripping, and extremely addictive.
After writing several Warhammer 40,000 short stories and novellas, Jude Reid released her first full-length novel in 2023 with Ashes of Cadia. Forcing a complex protagonist to return to the desolate ruins of her home planets, years after her legendary father lost it in battle, Ashes of Cadia was a moving and dark novel that had me hooked from the very beginning.
Legendary actor Michael Caine begins his writing career in his 90s with this fun and over-the-top thriller about a maverick London police officer hunting for stolen nuclear material.
A gripping Australian murder mystery that saw a damaged detective attempt to solve the sinister murder of a family court judge who was killed in her own chambers. One of the best pieces of Australian fiction all year and a top debut that comes very highly recommended.
The last Warhammer 40,000 novel I am going to feature on this list is Longshot. The debut novel of impressive new author Rob Young, Longshot follows a veteran sniper as she attempts to overwhelm an advanced alien force while also dealing with the prejudices of her own comrades.
A fun and entertaining cozy crime fiction read that makes good use of the local Australian scenery. A favourite debut of mine in 2023, especially as Sauers expertly featured several nearby towns I am very familiar with.
The Interpreter by Brooke Robinson
A unique and intriguing debut from Australian author Brooke Robinson that followed a court interpreter in London who begins to twist her translations to put people she thinks are guilty away. However, when someone catches on to what she is doing, she finds her entire life spiralling around her. An excellent and compelling debut from a great new author.
The Girl from London by Olivia Spooner
The final debut on this list is The Girl from London by Olivia Spooner, a fantastic and intense historical drama. While Spooner has written a couple of books before, The Girl from London was her first historical novel, and I enjoyed her unique World War II story that cleverly retold the story of a civilian ship destroyed by the Nazis off the coast of New Zealand. An outstanding book, I hope Spooner writes more historical books in the future.
Well, that is the end of this list. As you can, there were some incredible debut novels that came out this year and I had a blast getting through all of them. Each of the above debuts are really worth checking out, and I had an amazing time exploring these talented authors’ first forays into fiction. I am really excited to see what these authors produce next, and I have a feeling that quite a few are going to become major names in their genres. I am also excited to see what amazing debuts come out in 2024, and I have already enjoyed my first debut from this year with Argylle by Elly Conway. Make sure to check back this time next year to see what debuts from 2024 are the best from this year.
Top Ten Tuesday – My Top Reads From 2023 Quarter One
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. The official topic for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday was around participant’s favourite indie/self-published books, which isn’t honestly something I can particularly contribute to. So instead, as this is the first Tuesday of April, I thought I would take the time to look back at the first quarter of 2023 and highlight the best books I read during that period. This is a rather new list type that I think I might employ a bit more in the future, and it will be very interesting to see what the best books of each quarter of the year are.
I’m keeping this list fairly open and pretty much allowing any novel or audiobook I recently read to be included here. The only condition is that I had to have read it between 1 January 2023 and 31 March 2023, and I am also excluding a couple of books that I started reading in March but didn’t finish until April. This still leaves me with a huge collection of recently read books to feature here, and I had to make some hard decisions. However, I ended up coming up with an interesting list, and one that definitely shows off what sort of books I have been focusing on in the first quarter of the year. So let us see what made the cut.
Honourable Mentions:
A dark and captivating Warhammer Crime novel that showcases the very worst parts of the Warhammer 40,000 underworld.
How to Kill a Client by Joanna Jenkins
An impressive and exciting Australian debut that casts an interesting light on Australia’s legal profession.
I was very happy to start of the awesome Warhammer 40,000 Last Chancers series this year, and 13th Legion serves as a great introduction to the entire action-packed series.
For the Emperor by Sandy Mitchell
One of the funniest books I have read in 2023 so far, For the Emperor is a brilliant Warhammer 40,000 entry that sees a cowardly war hero attempt to save the day, and his own skin.
Top Ten List:
Eisenhorn Trilogy by Dan Abnett
One of the things that pulling this list together has really shown me is that I have been reading way too much Warhammer 40,000 fiction in the first quarter of this year (if that is possible). I really have become a little obsessed with this awesome franchise, but to be fair, there are some particularly epic books featured within it. My favourite of these so far will have to be the Eisenhorn trilogy by exceptional author Dan Abnett. Following a noble Inquisitor as he faces the forces of Chaos, the Eisenhorn trilogy is made up of three excellent, five-star reads, including Xenos, Malleus and Hereticus, each of which I had a great time reading this year. All three books have brilliant stories, and the overarching theme of the protagonist’s corruption as he tries to do the right thing, is pretty perfect. One of the best Warhammer 40,000 series out there, highly recommended.
Son of the Poison Rose by Jonathan Maberry
Probably the best 2023 release I have read so far this year is the exceptional dark fantasy epic, Son of the Poison Rose by Jonathan Maberry. The sequel to the outstanding 2022 novel, Kagen the Damned (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2022), Son of the Poison Rose continues the twisted story introduced in the first novel. Loaded with intense world building, dark magic, over-the-top scenes, and some of the best action you are ever likely to read, Son of the Poison Rose is a brilliant read, and I am hoping to get a proper review up for it soon.
Moving on to Australian fiction and we have the captivating Red Dirt Road by S. R. White. Set in the middle of the Australian desert, Red Dirt Road follows an intrepid detective as she attempts to solve a sinister murder where every resident left in a near-abandoned town is a suspect. Smart, character focused, and very intriguing, this was an amazing read and White is fast become one of my favourite Australian crime fiction authors.
The Infinite and the Divine by Robert Rath
One of the most amusing novels I read in the first quarter of 2023 is the amazing Warhammer 40,000 book, The Infinite and the Divine. Written by Robert Rath, who previously enthralled me with his 2022 release, Assassinorum: Kingmaker, The Infinite and the Divine is a brilliant read that sees two immortal Necron lords fight for control of a mysterious artifact. Presenting the reader with an exceptional story, set around the pettiest of feuds, The Infinite and the Divine is highly amusing and deeply compelling, while also diving into the intriguing Necron faction. An absolute joy to read from start to finish, this is a must read for all Warhammer 40,000 fans.
I had to include one of the latest audiobooks I finished off on this list with the Adrian Tchaikovsky novella, Ogres. Set in a world where humans are ruled over by technologically advanced Ogres, this clever read focuses on revolution, adventure and nature vs nurture. This ended up being on the most complex and intriguing things I have read in 2023, and I really enjoy Tchaikovsky’s unique writing style. I am actually listening to his latest novel, City of Last Chances as I put this review up, and it is also proving to be a fantastic read.
I had an absolute blast with the Warhammer Crime novels in the first quarter of 2023 and one of the best is Flesh and Steel by Guy Hayley. A compelling read that sees two unusual and highly damaged detectives team up to solve a unique, Warhammer 40,000 crime, Flesh and Steel was exceptionally entertaining and a highly recommended novel to anyone interested in a cool combination of a unique dystopian world a gripping mystery.
Mark Greaney continued his iconic Gray Man series in a big was this year with the latest entry Burner. Setting his legendary protagonist, Court Gentry, the Gray Man, against both the CIA and the Russians while also focusing on major world events, Burner was a powerful and epic read that I cannot hype up enough. This is easily going to top all my best of 2023 lists later this year, and it is a must read for all fans of this talented author.
The final Warhammer 40,000 novel I need to feature on this list is the awesome Warhammer Crime entry, Bloodlines by Chris Wraight. Featuring a particularly impressive crime fiction story, set around a veteran cop with many secrets, Bloodlines is a fantastic read that perfectly blended its crime fiction story with the Warhammer 40,000 setting. I had such a great time with this book, and it is probably the Warhammer Crime novel I most want a sequel for.
Unnatural History by Jonathan Kellerman
What’s the start of a year without a new Alex Delaware novel from iconic crime fiction author Jonathan Kellerman. His latest entry, Unnatural History, presents the reader with another captivating mystery, this time centred around an intriguing victim with a complex past. I had such a great time reading this slick and intense read, and I look forward to seeing what amazing stories Kellerman produces in the future.
Downfall by Louise Carey
The final book on this list is Downfall by Louise Carey. The exciting and thoughtful conclusion to Carey’s excellent Inscape trilogy (featuring Inscape and Outcast), Downfall is a captivating read, loaded with cyberpunk influences and an outstanding story. Carey has really shown how talented she is as an author here and I cannot wait to see what she produces in the future.
Well, that’s the end of this first quarter review. As you can see, I have read an interesting collection of books in the first three months of 2023, and I am hoping to get through quite a few more before the end of the year. 2023 has definitely been the year of older books, especially older Warhammer novels, for me as have read so many (perhaps too many), exceptional Warhammer books published before 2023. I am hoping to read more recent releases in the next quarter to compensate for this, and it will be very interesting to see what books I highlight in my next look-back list.
Canberra Weekly Column – Australian Crime Fiction – 16 February 2023
Originally published in the Canberra Weekly on 16 February 2023.
Make sure to check out my extended reviews for How to Kill a Client and Red Dirt Road.
How to Kill a Client by Joanna Jenkins
Publisher: Allen & Unwin Australia (Trade Paperback – 31 January 2023)
Series: Standalone
Length: 384 pages
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Australian lawyer and debuting author Joanna Jenkins introduces herself in a big way with her fantastic first novel, the legal thriller How to Kill a Client, which takes the reader on a fascinating journey to the dark side of Australia’s legal profession.
As the in-house lawyer at a powerful international mining company, Gavin Jones oversees millions of dollars’ worth of legal contracts each year, including to the Brisbane office of the Australian legal firm Howard Green. Using them to negotiate lucrative contracts throughout Australia, Jones has become one of Howard Green’s biggest clients and the money he controls ensures that everyone at the law firm treats him like a god.
But while everyone fawns over Jones and his power, no-one actually likes him. A cruel, petty and vindicative man, Jones has messed with the careers and lives of everyone in his orbit, especially women, who he reserves a particular disdain for. His actions ensured the suffering of everyone he has power over, including his wife, his employees, and the female partners at Howard Green, as he seeks to wreck lives, destroy careers and give himself the lifestyle he feels he deserves.
So when Jones dies suddenly and suspiciously, everyone he knew is a potential suspect; thanks to his dodgy dealings and underhanded tactics, they all had a motive to kill him. As the police begin their investigation and the lawyers at Howard Green close ranks, it falls to partner Ruth Dawson, one of the few people without a motive, to protect her firm and its secrets. However, when her investigation reveals proof of who killed Jones and other dark secrets her firm is hiding, will Ruth reveal the truth or will she bury it to protect her firm?
How to Kill a Client is a clever and tricky novel that really showcases Jenkins’s skill as a new writer. Blending a fantastic and compelling crime fiction narrative with intense looks at the lifestyle of members of a successful law firm, How to Kill a Client was a gripping and interesting read that is really worth checking out.
I loved the cool story contained within this book which came across as part legal thriller, part personal drama surrounding high-level professionals, and part intriguing murder mystery. The story dives into the chaotic world surrounding the legal firm of Howard Green and its clients and effectively introduces all the key players in this drama, who have their own views on the troubles to come. Each primary characters is connected to the eventual victim, Gavin Jones. Jenkins spends the first half of the book showcasing Jones’s terrible nature and the various ways they are messing with everyone. Cleverly utilising multiple character perspectives, you are soon drawn into the various main characters’ lives and soon see all the various reasons why each of them may have wanted to kill Jones, as well as some of the suspicious steps some of them took. Jenkins perfectly sets up everything in the first part of How to Kill a Client, and by the time you reach the halfway point, you are firmly enthralled by the narrative and want to see how the rest of the book unfolds.
When the eventual death happens (a real high point) the reader is left wondering whether it was an accident, a mistake, or a deliberate action, with the evidence pointing towards a murder. However, due to the sheer range of suspects and motives, the story produces a twisty and fun range of plotlines that you need to navigate to get to the final conclusion. Jenkins really produces an emotional and captivating second half as you try to find out who killed Jones and why. There are some brilliant revelations unfurled here, and I loved how some cunningly hidden clues in the first half of the book were utilised in the final mystery. I was very impressed with the final reveals around how the killing was committed and why it happened, and you will come away from this story very satisfied, especially as Jenkins builds in some excellent character moments and ensures that all the remaining characters get a fitting end to their arcs. I found myself getting really caught up in Jenkins’ powerful and amazing story and I honestly powered through the last half of the book very quickly to see how everything ended.
Part of the reason why How to Kill a Client is such an effective read is that Jenkins introduces an excellent cast of intriguing and complex characters who are thrust into a variety of compelling situations throughout the course of the narrative. Each of the main cast, who Jenkins effectively builds up and utilises in the plot, are quite damaged, desperate or concerned in their own unique way, while many of the supporting characters are notably selfish or manipulative for their own ends. Characters like Ruth Dawson and Viv Harrison give some compelling and honest insights into how women are treated in this influential professional setting, while Anne Jones shows the harsh reality of a women trapped in an abusive relationship. At the same time, there is a great collection of supporting lawyer characters who Jenkins uses to show off the range of people and personalities one is likely to experience in Australia’s legal services.
However, out of all the characters in this book, the one I must highlight the most is probably the murder victim, Gavin Jones, mainly because he is such a despicable figure. Jenkins really goes out of her way to make Jones into one of the most unlikable and petty characters you are ever likely to find in fiction and boy does she succeed, perfectly capturing an insecure and manipulative narcissist who enjoys controlling people. Not only does he go out of the way to try and ruin the careers of several characters just because they are women, but he also demands attention from the male characters to feed is ego, while also abusing and controlling his wife to make him feel good. In a very short amount of time Jenkins builds Jones up into such an unlikable character that the reader finds themselves trying to reach into the book and kill him before the murderer does. This naturally adds quite a lot to the mystery of the book, as his malicious professional actions, deceits, violence and puppy killing (seriously, that one really angered me), ensures that everyone he came in contact with had a reason to murder him. The huge suspect pool around this unlikable character allows Jenkins to craft an impressive murder mystery and you’ll really get drawn into finding who finally snapped and killed this infuriating character. This villainous figure, and other great characters, all added so much to the plot of How to Kill a Client and really got invested in their stories very quickly.
One of the other features of How to Kill a Client that I particularly enjoyed was the author’s detailed and intriguing examination of an Australian law firm. Clearly utilising all her past experiences as a lawyer, Jenkins perfectly showcases how a firm would work and act in a variety of scenarios, and you really get the senses of the day-to-day chaos the individuals working there would experience, which adds a lot of authenticity to the story. Jenkins also dives into the backroom drama and politics that surround such entities, as the various lawyers cut deals and fight for control over various projects or clients. There is a particularly cynical edge to the book’s portrayal of legal firms in this novel, and Jenkins shows it to be a dark and unfulfilling practice at times, especially in some of the more elite firms. The author really showcases just how bad these companies are when it comes to the treatment of women as two of the book’s central characters are female partners in Howard Green who have to constantly deal with their male colleagues’ condescension and manipulations, and there are several pointed scenes where the arrogant male managers fail to listen to the women even when they are right. There is also a focus on the way law firms sycophantically woo potential clients, bending over backwards to get hired, and this adds some intriguing angles to the drama. Finally, there is also quite a dark look at the demand for profits over people, as there is a constant fear of firings and layoffs, even for the best employees. This critical presentation of a professional law firm is pretty striking and it results in some powerful scenes throughout the course of the book, especially as the people stuck in these firms often refuse to escape it, no matter how bad it gets. I felt this examination of the profession in Australia added so much to the outstanding story and it helps to make How to Kill a Client really stand out.
Overall, How to Kill a Client was an outstanding and captivating debut from new Australian author Joanna Jenkins and one I had a wonderful time reading. Blending compelling legal elements with a fascinating, character-driven mystery, How to Kill a Client has a brilliant story that takes the reader on a powerful and twisty journey. Slick, emotionally rich, and filled with exceptional characters, How to Kill a Client is one of my favourite debuts of 2023 so far, and I cannot wait to see what epic reads Jenkins will release in the future.