Tag: Shelley Burr

Top Ten Tuesday – Most Anticipated Books Releasing During the Second Half of 2026 (Mystery, Thriller and Historical Fiction)

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical Fiction, List, Murder Mystery, ThrillerLeave a comment

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics.  In this list, I continue to examine my most anticipated releases for the second half of 2026.  While my other list of the night looked at the best upcoming fantasy and science fiction novels, this list will look at the crime fiction, thrillers, and historical fiction novels that I am most excited for in the next six months.

Just like with my previous article about upcoming fantasy and science fiction books, this was a bit of a difficult list to pull together.  Even after I excluded fantasy and science fiction novels from it, there were still a ton of great books I could feature, and I had a hard time deciding what to cut.  I was eventually able to whittle it down to a top ten list (with an honourable mentions section), and I am pretty happy with how it turned out.  Just like with my fantasy and science fiction list, the following list does a great job of highlighting what books I am most excited for in the second half of the year, so let us see what makes the cut.

Honourable Mentions:

The Unknown by Riley Sager – 4 August 2026

An intriguing and spooky thriller from the always impressive Riley Sager.

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King’s Ransom by Matthew Reilly – 29 September 2026

A new book from one of Australia’s best-known authors, Matthew Reilly, King’s Ransom sounds like a fantastic novel with a layered detective plot behind it.  I’m very keen to read this book, although I’m leaving it as an honourable mention for now as I still need to read the initial book in this series, The Detective.

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The French Illusion by John Grisham – 29 September 2026

Another intriguing and intense legal thriller from the legendary John Grisham, this time involving a kidnapping in Paris and the lawyer sent in to help.

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Choppy Water by Jack Heath – 3 November 2026

A fun upcoming novel from one of my favourite Australian authors, Jack Heath. Choppy Water (no cover yet) has a very entertaining plot about a murder on a cruise ship, that I know I’m going to love.

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Top Ten Tuesday:

One of Us is Guilty by Steve Cavanagh – 28 July 2026

The legal shenanigans of Steve Cavanagh’s Eddie Flynn series look set to continue with the awesome sounding new book, One of Us Is Guilty.  In this latest book, conman turned lawyer Eddie Flynn needs to figure out which member of a rich and supposedly perfect couple committed a brutal murder and which one is innocent.  I love the sound of this cool new plot from Cavanagh, and I can’t wait to see the author’s next batch of crazy legal antics unfold.

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Duel of Beasts by Boyd and Beth Morrison – 30 July 2026

The amazing author duo of Boyd and Beth Morrison look set to continue their exciting historical adventures with the upcoming fourth Tales of the Lawless Land novel, Duel of Beasts.  Bringing back wandering knight Gerard Fox and his wife Willa as they journey across Europe, Duel of Beasts sees the two protagonists venture through medieval Spain to protect a recently widowed noblewoman from a vengeful relative.  However, their latest adventure pits them against a menagerie of deadly beasts that are unleashed to hunt them throughout the countryside.  This new book sounds just as fun and over-the-top as the previous Tales of the Lawless Land entries, and I have a feeling this one is going to be particularly entertaining.

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Bad Neighbours by Joanna Jenkins – 4 August 2026

The next book I am excited to check out is Bad Neighbours by Australian author Joanna Jenkins.  The author’s third book, Bad Neighbours will follow on from the excellent How to Kill a Client and The Bluff and sees Jenkin’s lawyer protagonist investigate the murder of a vagrant at her seemingly perfect new apartment building.  Based on how impressive Jenkin’s last two novels have been, I strongly believe that Bad Neighbours will be one of the stronger Australian crime fiction novels of 2026, and I cannot wait to dive into it.

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The Killer’s Mark by M. W. Craven – 11 August 2026

Highly entertaining escapes are sure to occur in the upcoming thriller novel, The Killer’s Mark by M. W. Craven.  The next entry in the over-the-top Washington Poe series, The Killer’s Mark will see Craven’s extremely amusing protagonists start their own private detective agency and get drawn into a sinister case filled with dark secrets and conspiracies.  I have had such an incredible time reading Craven’s last two books (especially his ultra-twisty novel The Mercy Chair), and I cannot wait to see what intriguing and unusual investigation the author has cooked up for The Killer’s Mark.

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We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman – 15 September 2026

Richard Osman continues his crime fiction domination in 2026 with his next novel, We Chase Shadows.  The sequel to his outstanding novel, We Solve Murders (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2024), We Chase Shadows brings back the incredible cast of his previous novel and sets them on another globe-trotting investigation.  Set to feature another hilarious and deeply clever mystery with some fantastic characters, We Chase Shadows is going to be amazing and will probably be one of my favourite books of the year.

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Serenity Falls by C. J. Tudor – 15 September 2026

One of the more unusual and potentially scary novels I am looking forward to in the second half of 2026, is the upcoming horror thriller from C. J. Tudor, Serenity Falls.  Following a father and daughter who move to the idyllic town of Serenity Falls, this novel looks set to quickly go off the rails, with mysterious deaths and other dark secrets haunting the new inhabitants.  Tudor has produced some incredible reads in the past, including her 2024 novel The Gathering, and I’m so excited to see what her next shocking book is going to contain.  I did wonder if I should include Serenity Falls on my fantasy and science fiction list, but I have a feeling readers won’t truly know the cause of the dark events in this novel until the very end.  As such, I’m leaving Serenity Falls as an entry on this list, and I know I’m going to love it no matter what.

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Adam & Eve by Jeffrey Archer – 6 October 2026

After years of producing heartwarming and entertaining reads, the iconic Jeffrey Archer will finish off his literary career with his final novel, Adam & Eve.  A historical epic, Adam & Eve will follow an unlikely couple and their journey towards World War II, with their forbidden relationship impacting the course of the war.  Likely filled with compelling historical detail and fantastic character-driven drama, Adam & Eve should be an outstanding final outing from Archer, and I look forward to seeing the entire story unfold.

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Shot by Shelley Burr – 27 October 2026

After finishing off her debut PI Lane Holland series (featuring Wake, Ripper and Vanish), Australian author Shelley Burr has another outstanding upcoming mystery that I’m very excited for, Shot.  Set to follow a damaged true-crime vlogger as she attempts to solve a particularly infamous double murder, Shot sounds like an incredible read, and I’m already quite curious about its mystery.

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The Hollow by Michael Connelly – 3 November 2026

Easily one of the books that I am most excited to check out in the second half of 2026 is the new Michael Connelly, The Hollow.  Once again focussing on Connelly’s most iconic protagonist, Harry Bosch, The Hollow will see an older Bosch attempt to investigate a historic murder that has haunted him since he was a child.  Thanks to its deeply personal and intense plot, The Hollow has a ton of potential, especially considering Connelly’s recent track record, and I have no doubt this is going to be one of the top books of the year.

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The Sword of Rome by Simon Scarrow – 5 November 2026

The final book I want to highlight on this list is the upcoming 25th entry in the epic Eagles of the Empire series by Simon Scarrow, The Sword of Rome.  Following on from the political upheaval of Tyrant of Rome, The Sword of Rome will see the protagonists engage in another deadly mission as they travel to the edges of the Roman Empire to fight back an invading army.  However, this mission could have grave consequences from the protagonists, as they must content with dangerous Roman politics and gamble with the lives of their families held hostage back in Rome.  The Sword of Rome sounds like it is going to be a particularly awesome entry in one of my favourite series, and I cannot wait to see how it comes together.

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Well, that’s the end of my second list.  As you can see, there are some outstanding mysteries, thrillers and historical fiction novels coming out in the next six months which should prove to be amazing reads.  Combine that with the fantasy and science fiction releases from my previous list and I know that I am going to have an incredible time in the second half of 2026.  While I am waiting to get my hands on these books, why not let me know if any of the above interest you and let me know what your most anticipated releases for the next six months are in the comments below.

Waiting on Wednesday – Shot by Shelley Burr

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Murder Mystery, Waiting on WednesdayLeave a comment

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 latest Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight an outstanding upcoming piece of Australian crime fiction with Shot by Shelley Burr.

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For the last few years, one of my favourite authors of Australian crime fiction has been the very impressive Shelley Burr.  A rising and talented writer who experiments with new styles and writing ideas with each novel, Burr appeared on the scene back in 2022 with her debut novel, Wake.  An excellent and addictive outback mystery about a historical disappearance, Wake was an outstanding novel, which served as the first book of her Lane Holland series.  Followed up by the amazing novels, Ripper (also released as Murder Town), and last year’s release Vanish, each book in this series told its own unique and narrative, while also further exploring the complex life of its recurring protagonist.  I had an incredible time with these books, and I’ve been keen to see what Burr would write next, especially as she seemed to wrap up her first series with Vanish.

It looks like Australian crime fiction fans don’t have long to wait until they’re lucky enough to get another Shelley Burr novel, as the author has an interesting new release coming out in October.  This new book, Shot, will tell a distinctive new tale of murder, regret and hidden secrets, as a new investigative protagonist dives into the past to uncover the truth behind an infamous killing.

Set to follow a disgraced true-crime vlogger (Burr likes her damaged protagonists), as she does a feature on a double killing that occurred in the middle of a livestream, Shot sounds extremely intriguing, and I love the cool and unique elements to its proposed plot.  Sure to bring the drama and dive into modern audience’s obsessions with glamourous streaming families and famous murders, Shot has a ton of potential, especially if Burr weaves her typical storytelling magic.  Based on how good Burr’s previous novels were, Shot is now one of my most anticipated crime fiction novels coming out in the second half of 2026, and I have no doubt that this will be a top piece of Australian fiction.

Plot Synopsis:

A murder is witnessed by thousands, but who pulled the trigger?

Dahlia and Duncan Crews are rich, famous, glamorous – they share their lifestyle and picture-perfect family with hundreds of thousands of online subscribers. The Crews have it all – until they don’t. Shot dead in the middle of a livestream, the couple’s teenage daughter, Karma, is the sole survivor. And the prime suspect.

Years later, disgraced true-crime vlogger Jennifer Benedetta is hired to film a cold-case documentary on the unsolved Crews family murders. It’s the chance she needs to salvage her reputation, but there’s a catch: prove Karma Crews innocent. But something – or someone – is lurking just off camera, and the closer Jennifer gets to the truth, the further she is from safety.

Who is watching? And how far will they go to remain unseen?

Vanish by Shelley Burr

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Murder Mystery2 Comments

Publisher: Hachette Australia (Trade Paperback – 30 April 2025)

Series: Lane Holland – Book 3

Length: 360 pages

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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One of Australia’s most talented new crime fiction authors, Shelley Burr, provides another complex and deep read with the compelling 2025 novel Vanish.

Over the last couple of years, I have been having an outstanding time with the fantastic writings of new Australian author Shelley Burr, who has produced some fantastic and compelling murder mysteries.  Burr’s debut novel, Wake, followed a damaged private investigator, Lane Holland, as he attempted to solve an infamous missing persons case for his own selfish reasons.  A complex and moving small-town story about loss and the scars it leaves behind, Wake was an outstanding novel from Burr, which ended up being one of my favourite debuts and Australian novels of 2022.  Burr continued this series in a fascinating way the following year, with the amazing novel Ripper (also released as Murder Town), which saw returning protagonist Lane Holland attempt to solve another historical crime from behind bars.  Ripper, which was one of my favourite Australian reads of 2023, was an excellent follow-up to Burr’s first novel that helped to present the Lane Holland books as one of the more unique ongoing Australian series.  As such, I made sure to read the third entry in the series, Vanish, last year as soon as I could, and it proved to be an outstanding and compelling read.

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 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?

Vanish was an impressive third entry from Shelley Burr, who tried some interesting new techniques and narrative threads in this book to create a fantastic read.  Following on from the events of the previous two books, this third book sees protagonist Lane Holland continue to investigate several missing persons cases from prison, including Matilda Carver, the daughter of his prison warden.  Able to convince the warden to help him investigate the disappearance in person, Lane is transferred to the Karpathy farm as part of a work-release program, the last place where Matilda was seen and the location where many other people seem to disappear from.

Arriving at the farm, Lane discovers an unusual community of outsiders who have found an unlikely home at the Karpathy property.  However, the more Lane digs, the more secrets he uncovers as he attempts to work out the supposedly sinister truth behind the farm and its owners, as well as the people who have gone missing from it.  This central mystery is made even more complicated when Lane discovers the secondary protagonist of Vanish, Mina McCreery, secretly living at the farm.  The woman who Lane went to prison to protect, Mina was a great addition, especially as there are a lot of unresolved issues and drama between the two.  Forced to work together to investigate separate missing persons cases at the same location, Lane and Mina once again form an unlikely and chaotic team that was a real joy to follow.

The resulting second half of Vanish was awesome, with a range of compelling twists, red herrings and near-death experiences for the protagonist.  Burr produced a particularly emotional heavy narrative for Vanish, which focused more on Lane as a character, while also providing a more subtle mystery related to perceptions and people’s choices.  The reader is constantly left guessing about whether the residents of the Karpathy Farm are a dangerous cult, which helps to cloud who the actual villain of the story is.  There was also a great, slow build of tension through the plot, which comes to a fantastic and thrilling head near the conclusion of the book.  The various final reveals of Vanish were quite clever, and this ended up being a very satisfying standalone mystery that way.  Burr also expertly resolved several ongoing storylines from the rest of the series, and it was great to get some closure between Lane and Mina, especially after the dramatic ending of the first book.  There was a certain finality to Vanish that made me feel that this was going to be the last entry in this series, and if this is the case I’d be fine with that, especially as the protagonist finally got a happy ending.

I felt this third Lane Holland book came together extremely well, especially as Burr has continued to experiment with her different writing styles.  This included telling most of the book from Lane’s perspective, rather than splitting focus between another side character, which allowed the reader to get closer to the protagonist, while also being influenced by his take on events.  I liked how this change in perspective allowed for a much more emotionally rich narrative, and there is a certain uncertainty at times about whether a crime has taken place, as Lane keeps finding hidden secrets and dead-ends.  However, thanks to a series of short inclusions from a mystery character in distress, the reader is slyly aware that there is more going on, and I really appreciated Burr’s subtlety, as well as the clever explanation behind this hidden figure.  I also enjoyed how well Burr tied Vanish’s narrative back to the events of the first book, and fans of the series get some excellent closure here, while still allowing Vanish to be a mostly standalone book.  All this leads to a pretty excellent read, and it was one I was glad I checked out.

With another clever and powerful mystery, Vanish continues to showcase Shelly Burr’s fantastic skill as a rising Australian mystery writer.  A wonderful third entry in a truly compelling series, Vanish was an excellent read I had a great time getting through.  Highly recommended for both existing fans of Burr, and those readers looking for a unique Australian mystery.

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Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Australian Books of 2025

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, List2 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly task 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 new-to-them authors they read in 2025.  However, as this was a topic I did a few weeks ago, I’m instead going to put together an alternate list today.  The reason for this is because earlier this week, 26 January, was Australia’s national holiday, Australia Day.  While Australia Day is getting controversial due to its historical implications, I like to look beyond that and instead focus on some of the amazing and varied writing talents Australia produces.  As such, I once again took this opportunity to highlight some of the top pieces of fiction written by Australian authors in 2025.

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, which is something I really look forward to each Australia Day (check out my 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 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 2025 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, and 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:

Gunnawah by Ronni Salt

A compelling historical fiction novel and debut from the talented Ronnie Salt that makes great use of its 1970’s, small-town Australian setting.

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2 Sisters Murder Investigations by James Patterson and Candice Fox

The fun new novel that one of Australia’s leading thriller authors, Candice Fox, wrote with James Patterson. This one was a great sequel to their previous novel, 2 Sisters Detective Agency, and is well worth a read.

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The Bolthole by Peter Papathanasiou

A great, slow-paced Australian crime fiction novel that features a unique Australian setting in the iconic Kangaroo Island.

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Vanish by Shelley Burr

A particularly intense and creative crime fiction novel, from a brilliant rising Australian author.

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Top Ten Tuesday:

The Strength of the Few by James Islington

I’m starting this Top Ten List off strong with The Strength of the Few by James Islington, a book that appeared on pretty much all my best of 2025 lists, including best book, audiobook and sequels.  The deeply impressive sequel to Islington’s The Will of the Many (one of my favourite book, audiobook and Australian fiction novels of 2023), The Strength of the Few continues the epic story of rebellion and magic from the first book, however this time separate versions of the protagonist are simultaneously split across three different parallel words, resulting in an especially elaborate narrative.  I deeply enjoyed how this incredible and complex novel came about, and I honestly could not get enough of this impressive novel from one of Australia’s most inventive authors.

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Everyone in this Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson

From amazing fantasy to hilarious crime fiction, the second book on this list is the highly amusing and awesome Everyone in this Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson.  An outrageous and self-referential novel that once again follows Stevenson’s unlucky protagonist as he gets caught up in another locked-room murder mystery.  This time trapped in a bank during an armed robbery, the protagonist needs to discover who amongst a suspicious group of staff and customers, is a deadly killer.  A highly clever read from the always entertaining Stevenson, Everyone in this Bank is a Thief was an exceptional read that had me chuckling the entire way through.

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The Bluff by Joanna Jenkins

Rising author Joanna Jenkins impressed this year with her second crime fiction novel, The Bluff.  A sequel to her debut legal thriller novel, How to Kill a Client, The Bluff was an outstanding novel that took Jenkins’ initial protagonist into a new small-town Australian setting.  Featuring a great story that showcased the events that led up to the murder of the town’s local hero, The Bluff was a clever and addictive novel that I really enjoyed reading.

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Whisper in the Wind by Luke Arnold

Actor turned author Luke Arnold continued to provide his amazing contributions to the fantasy genre this year with his new Fetch Phillips novel, Whisper in the Wind.  Forcing his highly damaged protagonist to investigate a deadly conspiracy amongst a city devastated by the world’s loss of magic, Whisper in the Wind featured an outstanding plot loaded with twists, betrayals and impressive character moments.  Easily Arnold’s best novel yet, Whisper in the Wind was so damn good, and there was no way it wasn’t going to be featured on this list.

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High Rise by Gabriel Bergmoser

Probably the most intense, action-packed books I read in 2025 was the amazing Australian thriller High Rise by Gabriel Bergmoser.  Essentially a reverse version of The Raid set in a Melbourne housing tower, High Rise forced one of Bergmoser’s dangerous protagonists to fight their way through a building of thugs all looking to collect a bounty on his head, while also trying to protect his estranged daughter.  A particularly fun and addictive read, High Rise is well worth a read, especially if you are a fan of over-the-top action.

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Broke Road by Matthew Spencer

One of the best Australian crime fiction novels of 2025 was the amazing Broke Road by Matthew Spencer.  The sequel to Spencer’s debut novel, Black River, Broke Road featured a gritty and particularly intense murder mystery as a damaged detective travels to the Hunter Valley to investigate bloody murder.  Featuring an excellent plot and a particularly complex mystery, Broke Road was an exceptional read that I couldn’t turn away from.

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The Stolen by Vikki Petratis

One of the more intense and realistic pieces of Australian crime fiction in 2025 was the outstanding novel, The Stolen by Vikki Petratis.  Serving as a sequel to Petratis’ hard-hitting first book, The Unbelieved, The Stolen continued to explore a small Victorian town riven by gender conflict and dissent, which only worsens when a baby is kidnapped by its father.  An excellent and compelling read, The Stolen was a great sequel and an impressive piece of Australian writing.

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Pacific Heights by S. R. White

British expat turned Australian crime fiction author, S. R. White, continued to impress in 2025 with his complex murder mystery Pacific Heights.  A spinoff from his main series (which features books like Prisoner, Red Dirt Road and White Ash Ridge), Pacific Heights sees two detectives investigate a complex murder case where a young women is murdered in the middle of several overlooking apartment buildings.  However, all the witnesses to the case are telling a different story about how events unfolded, and nothing is truly what it seems.  I had an incredible time with this novel and White made full use of this book’s focus on perception and truth to tell and amazing story.

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Kill Your Boss by Jack Heath

One of the easiest inclusions on this list was the incredible new novel from Canberra author Jack Heath, Kill Your Boss.  Following on from two of Heath’s previous novels, Kill Your Brother and Kill Your Husbands, Kill Your Boss had a very entertaining story behind it, as a police detective attempts to uncover who killed the boss of a small-town library.  However, everyone the victim knew had a motive to kill him, and the resulting complex investigation becomes a highly entertaining exploration of who actually succeeded in murdering him.  An outstanding novel from one of Australia’s best and most outrageous crime fiction authors.

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The Reunion by Bronwyn Rivers

The final book I want to highlight on this list is also one of my favourite 2025 debuts, The Reunion by Bronwyn Rivers.  Following a group of friends who reunite years after a tragic event, The Reunion takes an interesting twist when they find themselves trapped in an isolated property in Australia’s Blue Mountains by someone desperate to find out what really happened in the past.  This ended up being an amazing first book from Rivers and I cannot wait to see what she writes next.

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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 2025.  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 2026 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 Australian Books from the First Half of 2025

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, List3 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature 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 to lists books with a beachy theme to them. While this is an interesting concept, it’s not one I think I can contribute to in the dead of Australia’s Winter and I’m instead going to do something different and will provide two separate lists here that continue my theme of recapping the first half of 2025.

I have had a lot of fun recapping some of the best recent books and audiobooks released in the first half of 2025 in previous weeks, but I also need to spend this time highlighting other specific releases from the first half of the year.  While last year I examined new authors and pre-2024 fiction in my mid-year lists, as I had an abundance of these in my reading list, 2025 is shaping up to be very different, as I instead seem to have read an awful lot of novels from Australian authors.  While I generally tend to read a great deal of Australian fiction each year due to my location, I have found that 2025 has been a particularly impressive year for Australian fiction, with some truly outstanding novels from very talented local authors.

As such, I thought I would take this opportunity to highlight some of the very best Australian talents who have so far released books in 2025.  To make it onto this list, the book had to be released by an Australia author this year.  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.  The eventual list I pulled together was pretty long, but I was eventually able to whittle it down into the absolute best Australian books of the year so far, which included some amazing reads from across the genres.

Honourable Mentions:

Landfall by James Bradley

A gritty crime fiction read set in a deteriorating future Sydney.

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Barren Cape by Michelle Prak

A compelling contemporary read that touches on some very pressing Australian issues.

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Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridge

A great young adult fantasy debut from a talented new author.

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Top Ten List:

Whisper in the Wind by Luke Arnold

First of this list we have the exceptional urban fantasy novel, Whisper in the Wind by rising Australian author Luke Arnold.  The fourth book in his Fetch Phillips series, Whisper in the Wind was a powerful novel that saw the author’s damaged protagonist once again dragged into the chaotic events engulfing the formerly magical city he doomed.  A very clever novel that perfectly built on the amazing narrative threads of the previous entries in the series, this was one of Arnold’s most impressive books yet and I cannot recommend it enough.

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Broke Road by Matthew Spencer

Next, we have one of the best pieces of Australian crime fiction in 2025, with Broke Road by Matthew Spencer.  The sequel to Spencer’s excellent debut, Black River, Broke Road brought back the author’s compelling protagonists as they investigated a brutal killing in small town Australia.  Featuring a particularly impressive and gripping case, Broke Road had me hooked the entire way through and I deeply enjoyed this complex and powerful read.

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Gunnawah by Ronni Salt

New author Ronni Salt greatly impresses with her debut novel, Gunnawah.  A captivating crime fiction read set back in 1970s rural Australia, Gunnawah provides an interesting examination of the period while hooking you with a cool mystery.  A great piece of Australian fiction from a memorable debuting author.

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Sins of the Fathers by John Byrnes

John Byrnes once again dives back into the early 20th century with his historical epic Sins of the Fathers.  Following several battling young characters as they attempt to survive the harrowing 1910s, Sins of the Fathers was another strong outing from Byrnes who has really found his writing niche.

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The Bluff by Joanna Jenkins

After having a lot of fun with her cool 2023 debut, How to Kill a Client, Joanna Jenkins returns with the outstanding sequel, The Bluff.  Moving Jenkin’s big city lawyer protagonist from her first book to small town Australia, The Bluff sees the protagonist attempt to unwind a series of events that lead to the death of the town’s local hero, and the disappearance of a young outcast girl.  A masterful read that cleverly recaps events from the past, The Bluff was a brilliant sequel from Jenkins, who continues to showcase her massive potential as an author.

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Pacific Heights by S. R. White

The next book on this list is the intricate murder mystery, Pacific Heights, by the distinctive S. R. White.  A spinoff from his main series, Pacific Heights follows two detectives as they attempt to solve a murder that took place in easy view of multiple apartments.  However, the case becomes complicated when each of the witnesses has a different story, and no series of events truly matches up.  A powerful read that combines an excellent mystery with a fun cautionary tale about perception.

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The Whisperer’s War by Jackie French

A complex World War II drama from one of Australia’s best authors, this was an outstanding book and one I got really caught up in.

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The Reunion by Bronwyn Rivers

Another outstanding Australian fiction debut in 2025 was The Reunion by Bronwyn Rivers.  Following a group of former friends who return to the scene of a great tragedy from their shared past many years later, The Reunion brought out old secrets and lies as a deranged mother tries to discover how her son truly died.  A clever and intense novel that you won’t be able to turn away from, The Reunion was very impressive, and I look forward to seeing what cool books Rivers will produce in the future.

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2 Sisters Murder Investigations by James Patterson and Candice Fox

Acclaimed Australian author Candice Fox once again teams with the legendary James Patterson for the exciting read, 2 Sisters Murder Investigation.  A sequel to 2 Sisters Detective Agency, 2 Sisters Murder Investigation was a thrilling novel that followed the turbulent sister protagonists on another wild ride.  Exciting, fast-paced and very fun, this was another great read from this impressive team.

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Vanish by Shelley Burr

The final book was the distinctive crime fiction novel Vanish.  The final book in the author’s Lane Holland trilogy (which previously featured Wake and Ripper), Vanish sees the protagonist embark on an unusual investigation to try and find the fate of a missing girl.  An outstanding novel from one of Australia’s best rising authors, Vanish was a great conclusion to the protagonist’s ongoing storylines and a very worthy entry to this list.

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As you can see from the above, I have managed to check out a bunch of epic Australian novels in the first half of this year.  Each of the above were exceptional and fun reads and I would strongly recommend to everyone.  I look forward to reading more awesome Australian books in the second half of 2025, and I feel that books like The Strength of the Few by James Islington, Everyone in this Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson and Once a Villain by Vanessa Len are likely to make the end-of-year version of this list.  Make sure to check out my other recent lists about the first half of 2025, especially my other Top Ten Tuesday post tonight, and let me know what cool Australian books you have already checked out this year.

WWW Wednesday – 21 May 2025

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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:

Whisper in the Wind by Luke Arnold (Trade Paperback)

I just started reading the epic urban fantasy novel, Whisper in the Wind by Luke Arnold.  An intriguing addition to the author’s Fetch Phillips series, Whisper in the Wind returns the reader to the ravaged Sunder City as the damaged protagonist is forced back into his private investigator ways to solve a series of murders and uncover a hidden revolutionary.  I’ve only made a little bit of progress with Whisper in the Wind at the moment, but it is proving to be an excellent book with a really fun plot behind it.

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The Devils by Joe Abercrombie (Audiobook)

I’m currently halfway through the epic and outrageous dark fantasy novel, The Devils by Joe Abercrombie, and boy is it proving to be something special.  One of my most anticipated fantasy novels of 2025, The Devils follows a mismatched group of monsters as they try to survive a dark and magic-filled alternate medieval Europe and place an unlikely princess on the throne of Troy.  Wildy entertaining and deliciously over-the-top, The Devils is so damn good, and I am loving every single second I spend listening to it.

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What did you recently finish reading?

Vanish by Shelley Burr (ebook)

An outstanding and compelling piece of Australian crime fiction.

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Open Season by Jonathan Kellerman (Audiobook)

An amazing addition to the long-running Alex Delaware series, Open Season was very impressive, and I loved its cool mystery.

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Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett

I had so much fun once again revisiting Terry Pratchett’s outstanding classic, Feet of Clay, which perfectly combines crime fiction and fantasy elements, wrapped up in the author’s unstoppable humour.

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Whisky Valley by Joan Sauers (ebook)

The cool sequel to Echo Lake, Whisky Valley was an excellent and comfy read that makes good use of its Australian setting.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me by Django Wexler

If I get a chance next week than I’m definitely going to read the hilarious fantasy novel, Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me by Django Wexler.  The sequel to the amazing and deeply funny How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying, Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me will see the new titular Dark Lord try to save the pesky humans she is supposed to conquer, all while trying to survive her own minions.  Sure to be an amazing and highly addictive read, I know I am going to love this incredible book.

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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 – 7 May 2025

On By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW Wednesday1 Comment

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:

Vanish by Shelley Burr (ebook)

I didn’t get as much reading time this week as would have liked so I’m still going with the Australian crime fiction novel, Vanish by Shelley Burr.  An excellent continuation to the author’s ongoing series, Vanish sees the damaged protagonist attempt to solve one last missing person’s case, only to encounter a mysterious farm filled with people who want to disappear.  I’m about a third of the way through Vanish at the moment, and I am still really intrigued by its cool premise and underlying mystery.  I’m hoping to knock Vanish off later this week and look forward to seeing where Burr takes the story.

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Open Season by Jonathan Kellerman (Audiobook)

I managed to start and get a fair way into the new Jonathan Kellerman mystery, Open Season this week.  The latest book in the author’s Alex Delaware series, Open Season sees the protagonists investigate several mysterious, but connected, murders around LA.  I’m around halfway through Open Season at the moment, and I am really enjoying its complex story, which is going in some very interesting directions.  I’m hoping to knock Open Season off in the next couple of days, and it is proving to be an amazing read.

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What did you recently finish reading?

Men At Arms by Terry Pratchett (Audiobook)

I managed to knock off the audiobook version of the awesome Terry Pratchett novel, Men At Arms this week. The sequel to Guards! Guards!, Men at Arms is one of my favourite Discworld novels and I had an exceptional time getting through this audiobook, especially as the new audiobook version features an exceptional team of narrators.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett

I’ve got a few books that I want to read next, but if I finish off Open Season in the coming days I’ll probably dive into another Terry Pratchett book with Feet of Clay.  The third book in Pratchett’s City Watch subseries, Feet of Clay features a really cool story with a clever mystery and some great humour. I am very interested in seeing how this book comes across in the new audiobook format, and I have no doubt it will be an amazing experience.

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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 – 30 April 2025

On By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW Wednesday1 Comment

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:

Vanish by Shelley Burr (ebook)

I just started reading the new Australian crime fiction novel, Vanish by Shelley Burr.  An excellent continuation to the author’s ongoing series, Vanish sees the damaged protagonist attempt to solve one last missing person’s case, only to encounter a mysterious farm filled with people who want to disappear.  I’ve only gotten a little way into Vanish so far, but I am really intrigued by its cool premise, and I cannot wait to see where the author takes the story.

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Men At Arms by Terry Pratchett (Audiobook)

After having a lot of fun listening to new audiobook versions of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld like Pyramids and Small Gods, I decided to check out another amazing book from the series in this format with Men At Arms. The sequel to Guards! Guards!, Men at Arms is one of my favourite Discworld novels and I am already enjoying listening to the story with a new narrator.

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What did you recently finish reading?

Barren Cape by Michelle Prak (ebook)

An intriguing, dark and topical Australian thriller that I’m glad I got the chance to read.

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Midnight Black by Mark Greaney (Audiobook)

An epic continuation to one of my favourite spy thriller series, Midnight Black was an exceptional read and I’m hoping to review it soon.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

Open Season by Jonathan Kellerman

I’ve got a couple of other books to check out in the next week, but if I get the chance I might try to start the new Jonathan Kellerman book, Open Season, which has a very fun plot idea behind it.

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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 – 23 April 2025

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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:

Barren Cape by Michelle Prak (ebook)

An intriguing, dark and topical Australian thriller, that sees three women each try to find sanctuary from their lack of housing in an abandoned construction site, resulting in dark consequences for their actions.  I’ve made a bit of progress on Barren Cape this week and I’m hoping to knock it off soon.

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Midnight Black by Mark Greaney (Audiobook)

I’m still listening to the excellent spy thriller, Midnight Black.  The latest Gray Man novel by Mark Greaney, Midnight Black sees the author’s elite assassin protagonist attempt to save the woman he loves from a remote Russian prison.  I’ve made a good amount of progress on Midnight Black this week, and it is proving to be an excellent and clever addition to one of my favourite spy thriller series.

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What did you recently finish reading?

Retreat by Krysten Ritter (Trade Paperback)

A fun and witty thriller that proved to be extremely captivating.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

Vanish by Shelley Burr

I’ve got a few interesting books I could potentially read next, including a few older paperbacks that I’ve been meaning to read for a while.  However, I think I might try and start reading the upcoming Australian crime fiction novel, Vanish by Shelley Burr, in the next week.  An intriguing continuation to the author’s ongoing series, Vanish should be pretty awesome and I cannot wait to check it out.

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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.