Originally published in the Canberra Weekly on 29 May 2025.
A copy of this column also appeared on the Canberra Daily website.
Make sure to check out my extended reviews of Vanish, Whisper in the Wind and Whisky Valley.
Tag: Vanish
Vanish by Shelley Burr
Publisher: Hachette Australia (Trade Paperback – 30 April 2025)
Series: Lane Holland – Book 3
Length: 360 pages
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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.
Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Australian Books of 2025
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:
A compelling historical fiction novel and debut from the talented Ronnie Salt that makes great use of its 1970’s, small-town Australian setting.
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.
The Bolthole by Peter Papathanasiou
A great, slow-paced Australian crime fiction novel that features a unique Australian setting in the iconic Kangaroo Island.
Vanish by Shelley Burr
A particularly intense and creative crime fiction novel, from a brilliant rising Australian author.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Barren Cape by Michelle Prak
A compelling contemporary read that touches on some very pressing Australian issues.
Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridge
A great young adult fantasy debut from a talented new author.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
What did you recently finish reading?
Vanish by Shelley Burr (ebook)
An outstanding and compelling piece of Australian crime fiction.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
What did you recently finish reading?
Retreat by Krysten Ritter (Trade Paperback)
A fun and witty thriller that proved to be extremely captivating.
What do you think you’ll read next?
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.
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 – 11 March 2025
I’ve had an excellent couple of weeks for books, as I was lucky enough to receive several incredible and amazing new novels from local publishers and Netgalley. These novels include some truly awesome new releases, including books that have the potential to be some of my top reads of the year. I cannot wait to dive into them, and I so excited to see how they all turn out.
A Death In Berlin by Simon Scarrow
Let’s start this Book Haul post on a high with the new Simon Scarrow book, A Death in Berlin. The latest entry in Scarrow’s Berlin Wartime Thriller series (Blackout and Dead of Night), A Death in Berlin will once again follow the series’ detective protagonist as he tries to investigate crimes in Berlin against the wishes of the Nazi leadership.
Pacific Heights by S. R. White
Next, we have the very cool Australian murder mystery, Pacific Heights by S. R. White. An intriguing new book from White, Pacific Heights will see new police protagonists attempt to investigate a murder using the conflicting testimony of five differing witnesses. I look forward to unravelling this complex tale and it should be an exceptional read.
Usagi Yojimbo: Volume 40: The Crow by Stan Sakai
I was very happy to get the latest volume of my favourite comic book series with Usagi Yojimbo: The Crow by Stan Sakai. An outstanding addition to an epic series, I have already reviewed The Crow here, and it comes highly recommended.
Vanish by Shelley Burr
One of Australia’s fastest rising murder mystery, Shelley Burr, returns with her third book, Vanish. Following on from her previous novels, Wake and Ripper, Vanish will see the series’ troubled protagonist journey to another remote Australian town to investigate a historical murder, only to encounter a dangerous cult. I have really enjoyed Burr’s first two books, and I cannot wait to see how Vanish turns out.
When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi
I was extremely happy to receive a copy of the new John Scalzi book, When the Moon Hits Your Eye. A fun sounding science fiction comedy that will examine what happens to the world when the moon suddenly turning to cheese, When the Moon Hits Your Eye sounds so damn awesome, and I cannot wait to read it.
Overgrowth by Mira Grant
One of the more intriguing novels I recently received was the intriguing science fiction book, Overgrowth by Mira Grant. A unique take on the alien invasion story, Overgrowth sounds extremely cool and I look forward to getting through it.
The Other People by C. B. Everett
The final book I have recently received is The Other People by C. B. Everett. An excellent sounding murder mystery, The Other People will follow ten strangers who wake up in a mysterious house and are forced to solve a missing person’s case while a killer stalks them. This sounds like an amazing concept, and I am intrigued to see how it turned out.
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.
Top Ten Tuesday – Most Anticipated Thrillers, Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction and Comics releasing in the First Half of 2025
Welcome to my second Top Ten Tuesday list of the week, were I look at my most anticipated thrillers, crime fiction and historical fiction novels coming out in the first half of 2025. Traditionally I usually only do one list to represent the top upcoming books for the year, however, I was inspired to separate out the fantasy and science fiction novels into my previous list, while this list will feature epic reads from the other major genres that I am interested in.
Despite only just starting, 2025 is already shaping up to be an epic and exciting year for books with a huge range of impressive and highly anticipated novels due for release in the next 12 months. This includes exciting debuts, anticipated sequels and the latest entries in beloved bestselling series. The first half of the year is looking particularly awesome, with a substantial number of incredible upcoming releases that I am deeply looking forward to.
Even though I excluded fantasy and science fiction books, this ended up being a rather difficult list to pull together due to all the awesome releases coming out in Australia or on Netgalley between 1 January 2025 and 30 June 2025. There were way too many extraordinary upcoming books that I could have included, and I ended up having to make some very tough calls and cutting several novels that have an immense amount of potential. Despite this, I am rather happy with the eventual choices that I made, and I think that this list reflects the upcoming novels and comics I am going to have the most fun reading. However, there are also some interesting new books that I am discussing for the first time here, so that should give this list a bit of variety. So let us get to my selections and find out which upcoming novels are my most anticipated releases for the first half of 2025.
Honourable Mentions:
Open Season by Jonathan Kellerman – 6 February 2025
An interesting and entertaining new murder mystery from one of my yearly must-read authors, Open Season continues the awesome Alex Delaware series and pits the detective protagonists against a killer determined to take out Hollywood hopefuls.
Pacific Heights by S. R. White – 25 March 2025
One of the more interesting authors of Australian crime fiction, S. R. White (see my reviews for Prisoner, Red Dirt Road and White Ash Ridge) is set to release a standalone whodunnit with Pacific Heights. Featuring a cool plot about detectives trying to unwind different stories about who killed someone from five separate witnesses, Pacific Heights sounds really awesome, and I cannot wait to check it out.
The Pilgrim’s Revenge by Scott Mariani by 24 April 2025
An exciting and intense revenge thriller set in the time of King Richard the Lionheart; The Pilgrim’s Revenge should be a very epic read.
Vanish by Shelley Burr – 30 April 2025
Rising Australian author Shelley Burr follows up her excellent first two crime fiction novels, Wake and Ripper with the intriguing third entry Vanish. Once again set in a small Australian community, Vanish will see the series’ damaged protagonist investigate a problematic commune as he attempts to find out the truth behind a long-lost missing girl. Sure to be one of the top Australian releases of 2025.
Top Ten Tuesday:
Grave Danger by James Grippando – 14 January 2025
Back in 2024 I had the pleasure of reading my first book from impressive James Grippando, Goodbye Girl, a fantastic entry in the author’s Jack Swyteck series. A compelling and twisty legal thriller, Goodbye Girl was really fun to read, and I am now quite keen to continue the series. As such, I am planning to grab the upcoming book, Grave Danger, as soon as it comes out. Featuring an intriguing case about international child custody and murder, Grave Danger has some real potential, and I know I am going to have a great time with this awesome book.
Usagi Yojimbo: Volume 40: The Crow by Stan Sakai – 4 February 2025
A very easy inclusion to this list was the next entry in one of my favourite comic book series with volume 40 of the Usagi Yojimbo series, The Crow. I only just published a review of the previous volume, Ice and Snow, a few days ago, so I am quite excited to see that a new entry is coming out very soon. Set to continue some of the author’s excellent ongoing storylines about the titular rabbit ronin, The Crow should be another awesome volume in the series, and I cannot wait to get my hands on it the first chance I get.
Nemesis by Gregg Hurwitz – 11 February 2025
Early 2025 is filled with a ton of great spy thrillers from some of my favourite authors, and that includes the new Orphan X book from Gregg Hurwitz, Nemesis. Set after the events of the 2024 book, Lone Wolf, Nemesis will see the former government assassin turned vigilante protagonist square off against his best friend over secrets that were kept from him. However, other shadowy players soon reveal themselves, and Orphan X will need to fight deadly enemies and a former friend to survive. This looks set to be a particularly compelling and emotionally charged addition to the series and I cannot wait to check it out.
The Medici Return by Steve Berry – 11 February 2025
Each year I have a ton of fun with the entertaining and elaborate Cotton Malone books by Steve Berry that combine modern thriller storylines with hidden historical secrets and elaborate historical settings. Books like The Malta Exchange, The Warsaw Protocol, The Kaiser’s Web, The Last Kingdom and The Atlas Maneuver, have all really impressed me, and the Cotton Malone books are now a must-read for me each year. This includes the early 2025 release, The Medici Return, which will see a dark conspiracy emerge in Italy when an ancient debt owed by the church threatens to destabilise everything. This sounds like another awesome thriller, and I cannot wait to dive into the history of the famous Medici family with this new fantastic book.
Midnight Black by Mark Greaney – 18 February 2025
A spy thriller book I am particularly keen to get my hands on this year is Midnight Black by Mark Greaney. The 14th book in Greaney’s Gray Man series, Midnight Black follows on after the cliffhanger ending of The Chaos Agent and sees the titular assassin protagonist burn through Russia and Siberia to free his imprisoned love interest. This latest Gray Man book has the potential to be one of the most intense and impressive novels of 2025, and I cannot wait to see how Greaney continues his elaborate and always action-packed series.
Burn to Shine by Jonathan Maberry – 4 March 2025
Readers of this blog will know I am a huge fan of Jonathan Maberry, so the inclusion of his next big thriller, Burn to Shine, on this list should come as no surprise, especially after I just published reviews of his 2024 books NecroTek and The Dragon in Winter. Once again focussing on the author’s iconic protagonist, Joe Ledger, Burn to Shine will be the fourth book in the Rogue Team International series, which has previously featured such awesome books as Rage (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2019), Relentless (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2021), and Cave 13 (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2023). This new entry in the series will see Ledger and his team deal with a new world-ending threat, with old enemies returning, seeking revenge. I really love the sound of this new book, and I already know it’s going to get a five-star rating from me.
A Death in Berlin by Simon Scarrow – 13 March 2025
After wowing me last year with Revenge of Rome, one of my favourite historical fiction authors, Simon Scarrow looks set to continue one of his other cool series with the third Berlin Wartime thriller, A Death in Berlin. Following on from Blackout and Dead of Night, A Death in Berlin will once again place Scarrow’s complex protagonist, the last honest detective in Berlin, as he tries to investigate dark crimes in the shadow of World War II and the crimes of the Nazi regime. I have deeply enjoyed the previous Berlin Wartime thrillers, and I cannot wait to see what elaborate story Scarrow has for us this time.
The White Fortress by Boyd and Beth Morrison – 15 April 2025
The awesome team of thriller author Boyd Morrison and historian Beth Morrison return with the third book in their Tales of the Lawless Land series, The White Fortress. Continuing the story started in The Lawless Land and its sequel The Last True Templar, The White Fortress will once again follow the author’s excommunicated knight protagonist and his adventurous wife as they become embroiled in dangerous quests across 14th century Europe. This time, the pair end up in Croatia, where they become involved in a deadly plot involving a prophecy and a lost codex written by Marco Polo. I have had an amazing time with the first two books in the series and I cannot wait to see how this wonderful pair of authors continue their ambitious and thrilling historical series.
Nightshade by Michael Connelly – 20 May 2025
One of my most anticipated upcoming murder mysteries is the new Michael Connelly novel, Nightshade. While the cover for Nightshade has yet to be released, the plot synopsis sounds really cool as Connelly introduces a new police protagonist assigned to the idyllic Catalina Island off the coast of Los Angeles who is forced to investigate a sinister murder when a body washes up on the shore of the island. I love the idea of exploring a new Connelly character, especially one based around a cool setting, and this should end up being an excellent and strong murder mystery from this always compelling author.
Never Flinch by Stephen King – 27 May 2025
The final book I want to highlight on this list is probably the one I am most excited for this year with the new Stephen King novel, Never Flinch. I have been having such a great time getting into Stephen King’s incredible books these last few years, and some of his most recent releases, such as Later, Fairy Tale, Billy Summers and You Like It Darker, have completely enthralled me. However, my favourite Stephen King books have so far been his compelling dives into crime fiction. Starting with the dark and powerful Mr Mercedes and featuring the three outstanding Bill Hodges books, King has expanded his crime fiction works by focussing on the unique protagonist of Holly Gibney. The subsequent Holly Gibney focused books, The Outsider (one of my favourite horror novels) and Holly (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2023), were extremely exceptional, and I have loved the brilliant, yet shocking, narratives they contained. As such, I am very, very keen to read the upcoming Holly Gibney book, Never Flinch. Set to follow this great protagonist as she deals with two dangerous opponents, a serial killer and a stalker, Never Flinch sounds incredible, and I have no doubt this will be one of the best things I read in 2025.
That is the end of this list. I am extremely happy with how my latest Top Ten Tuesday article turned out and this list contains an intriguing collection of upcoming books that should prove to be incredible reads. I think that nearly every one of these books has the potential to get a full five-star rating from me and I cannot wait to see what amazing and exciting stories they contain. While I am waiting to get my hands on these books, why not let me know if any of the above interest you, as well as what your most anticipated releases for the next six months are in the comments below. Also, make sure to check out my other Top Ten List with the top upcoming fantasy and science fiction books of 2025.
The Unseen Library 