Journalist, Svenja O'Donnell, uncovers the story of her grandmother’s war in East Prussia, from the rise of the Nazis and the harsh prewar years, to falling in love with a man sent to the Eastern front. Finally fleeing for her life with her family as the Red Army closed in, she made a new life for herself in Paris but hides the secret of her German life for decades. A powerful true story you can’t put down.
Jane in Love by Rachel Givney
This fun read poses the question: what if Jane Austen suddenly appeared in 2020 as a twenty-eight year old. Would she find a suitable husband or write novels? Jane befriends fading film-star, Sofia Wentworth and is attracted to Sofia’s brother Fred before discovering she is a famous writer. The more her romance with Fred blossoms, the more she begins to fade into obscurity as the writer we know and love. A witty romantic comedy with an original plot.
Another book about family secrets revealed at the end of a woman’s life, in this case Lily, who is losing her memory to Alzheimer’s. A diary which she wrote at the age of fifteen holds the story of her youth and she persuades her caregiver to read it in the presence of her daughter, Deirdre. Will Deirdre now understand the choices her mother made all those years ago?
Lamentation by C J Sansom
This may look a huge tome, but you will find yourself whizzing though the pages because Sansom really brings history to life. As King Henry VIII lies dying, his queen, Catherine Parr, is desperate to find the book she has misplaced, containing her own potentially heretical writings on theology. Her life will surely be in danger if it falls into the wrong hands but how could it have vanished from its hiding place? Her friend and ally Matthew Shardlake must find it and solve a perplexing murder.
Lamentation by C J Sansom
This may look a huge tome, but you will find yourself whizzing though the pages because Sansom really brings history to life. As King Henry VIII lies dying, his queen, Catherine Parr, is desperate to find the book she has misplaced, containing her own potentially heretical writings on theology. Her life will surely be in danger if it falls into the wrong hands but how could it have vanished from its hiding place? Her friend and ally Matthew Shardlake must find it and solve a perplexing murder.
Seashell Season by Holly Chamberlain
Verity Peterson’s baby daughter Gemma was snatched from her by Alan, the child’s father, sixteen years ago. Every year on the same date, Verity sends a message in a bottle into the sea in the hope that she is reunited with Gemma, but when Alan goes to prison, she might just get what she wished for. But how do you reconnect with the teenage daughter you hardly know? This novel about a mother's enduring love that is put to the test is a heartfelt and engaging read.
The Fourteenth Letter by Claire Evans
This very different mystery is set in London in 1881. It is Phoebe Stanbury’s engagement party and she is all set to enter polite society when an intruder appears and stabs her to death, whispering to her fiance, 'I promised to save you'. As mystery enfolds into mystery, Inspector Treadway and shy young law clerk, William Lamb, have the task of finding all the secrets while plenty of dramatic characters and plot-twists add to the thrill.
My One True North by Milly Johnson
Laurie and Pete are overwhelmed by grief when they meet at a counselling group for people who have recently lost their partners. But the more they get to know each other, the more they discover how alike their two stories are, even down to the day their partners died. An engaging story about love, loss, truth and hope with an interesting twist.
Up and Down Australia Again by Arthur Upfield
This collection of stories from the author of the Bony detective novels, draws from the author’s experiences in the bush between 1911 and 1931 and highlights among other things, the brutal treatment of Aboriginal people at the time. Along with 34 short stories, there’s a radio play as well as an unfinished Bony novel. This mammoth collection offers some fascinating insight into Australian life from the time.
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