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ID: 666954

Title: Black Lies

Author: Mercedes Mercier

Narrator: Caroline Lee

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10:26:11

Language: English

Release date: 06-07-23

Publisher: HarperAudio

Genres: Mystery, Thriller & Horror, Suspense, Detective Stories

Summary:

'Tension and menace ... Mercier wields exceptional talent' CANDICE FOX

'Will keep you turning pages late into the night: don't say you weren't warned!' HAYLEY SCRIVENOR

'Suspenseful, smart and utterly gripping' BETTER READING

Longlisted for the 2024 Davitt Best Adult Novel Prize

Only a handful of inmates in Westmead Prison have committed crimes so atrocious that they've been locked away for life, and for fifteen years, convicted murderer Tomas Kovak has refused to disclose where he hid the body of his victim, a vulnerable young woman.

When Kovak is diagnosed with terminal cancer, intense pressure is put on Dr Laura Fleming, criminal psychologist, to find the location of Kovak's victim so her grieving family can find some sort of closure.

Laura has to use all of her training, skills and instinct to form a connection with the cold, remorseless killer, a man who has refused any psychological assessment since the day he confessed to the murder.

With every session, Laura becomes more and more convinced that something about Kovak's story doesn't ring true, and as his health rapidly deteriorates, the pressure on Laura ramps up. She becomes increasingly desperate, resorting to unconventional methods to find out what she can from the secretive man.

As she inches closer to the truth, she discovers some people will stop at nothing to keep the past hidden ... and the people Laura cares most about are fair game.

Love can make you do terrible things.

PRAISE

'Tension and menace ... Mercedes Mercier wields exceptional talent to keep the reader flipping pages.' CANDICE FOX

'Dr Laura Fleming is back! This book will have you turning pages late into the night: don't say you weren't warned!' HAYLEY SCRIVENOR

'Twisty and whip smart ... You'll devour this novel' ALI LOWE

'A page-turner of the highest order ... Enthralling' MEREDITH JAFFE

'A stunning thrill ride ... A must read' NINA D. CAMPBELL

'Cracking pace, crisp prose and compelling plot culminate in a nail-biting climax. Mercier's inner knowledge of the criminal justice system puts her in a league of her own' VERONICA LANDO

'Dr Laura Fleming is one of my favourite characters. I want her job.' B.M. CARROLL

'Tense, propulsive, sharply plotted ... Black Lies is a fresh spin on crime, and an enthralling mystery which will leave you frantically guessing to the last page. I couldn't put it down!' JOSH HORTINELA, DYMOCKS SYDNEY

Contact: [email protected]

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ID: 652200

Title: Ship's Midwife

Author: Peta Miller

Narrator: Annabelle Tudor

Format: Unabridged

Length: 09:02:32

Language: English

Release date: 06-07-23

Publisher: HarperAudio

Genres: Fiction & Literature, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance

Summary:

Lives are about to be irrevocably changed following a typhus outbreak on a cramped emigrant ship bound for Australia.

1850 Sarah Hallow is orphaned, penniless and alone, with only the skills learned from her midwife mother to guide her. Passage on a ship bound for the new settlement of Brisbane, Australia, is her last option. Though her skills are quickly dismissed by the ship's doctor, Sarah is pleased to find instant friendship with her cabin mate, Bridie, a fiery Irish girl with a sharp tongue and midwifery skills of her own.

When the two women come to the aid of a labouring woman onboard, Sarah's dreams of opening her own midwifery practice in Brisbane don't seem so impossible. Certainly not as impossible as her daydreams about the ship doctor's son, who only seems to have eyes for her friend.

But something else is lurking on the ship: a disease that has the power to take down even the strongest man and is about to rip through the ship like wildfire, leaving only devastation in its path. As caring for patients stretches Sarah and Bridie to their absolute limit, thoughts of the future are rapidly eclipsed by their determination to survive. If only they can make it to Australia with their lives and loves intact ...

Inspired by true events, this is a meticulously researched, eye-opening, heart-breaking, soul-warming story of survival, love and grit for readers of Darry Fraser, Alison Stuart and Tea Cooper.

'A poignant story of love and loss and the triumph of the human spirit over adversity that will tug at your heart and have you reaching for the tissues...' - Alison Stuart, author of The Goldminer's Sister.

Contact: [email protected]

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ID: 666955

Title: My Father the Whale

Author: Gina Perry

Narrator: Ayesha Gibson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 09:39:58

Language: English

Release date: 06-07-23

Publisher: HarperAudio

Genres: Fiction & Literature, Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Family Life

Summary:

A vivid, beautifully imagined story about the lengths we'll go in order to belong

'Beautiful writing - tender and engaging. A wonderful novel' FAVEL PARRETT

'Gina Perry has written from the heart to create a story of tenderness, struggle and love' TONY BIRCH

'Paints the relationships between parents and children in all their complexity - the evasions that are practised out of love, or pragmatism, or self-delusion ... A debut novel of rare subtlety and vision' JOCK SERONG

For nine-year-old Ruby, travelling the country with her charismatic father Mitch and busking for a living is the only life she's ever known. Mitch has been the centre of Ruby's world since she was a baby, and much as she's curious about her mother who died soon after Ruby was born, talk of her is taboo.

When repairs to their ageing Kombi strand them in a small coastal town, Ruby is drawn to the town and its people and gains a glimpse of family life starkly different to her own. But when Mitch is ready to leave, Ruby is caught between her loyalty to her father and the safety of the place that's offered her a taste of normal life, causing a rift between them that will take years to heal.

When Mitch sweeps back in town and into Ruby's adult life, his arrival is like a tidal wave, bringing more questions as Ruby grapples with the legacy of her childhood. For her, the only way forward is to confront the past and the secret of a mother Ruby's never known ... and what Mitch was escaping when he set out for a life on the road.

Sometimes the family you need is the one you choose.

PRAISE

'Beautiful writing - tender and engaging. A wonderful novel' FAVEL PARRETT

'Gina Perry has written from the heart to create a story of tenderness, struggle and love' TONY BIRCH

'My Father the Whale paints the relationships between parents and children all their complexity - the evasions that are practised out of love, or pragmatism, or self-delusion. Perry is especially good on place, even when that place is an endlessly-moving Kombi van that stands in for a childhood home. Not many readers would have grown up the way Ruby does, but every reader will recognise the painful truth that our parents can never achieve the ideals they set for themselves. This is a debut novel of rare subtlety and vision.' JOCK SERONG

'A heartwarming tale about yearning, belonging and finding oneself. Through the eyes of the memorable Ruby, Perry vividly recreates the rich and vibrant world of a child desperate to make sense of the strangeness of her life. With echoes of Sophie Laguna, My Father the Whale is a coming-of-age story, set against the vibrant landscape of childhood, filled with tragedy and joy. This is a novel that stays with you long after the last page is turned' MEREDITH JAFFE

'A standout work of literary fiction. It's understated, heartfelt, and ultimately a profound meditation on loss, love, and familial legacy ... The kind of book in which I could happily lose myself. Indeed, I did just that, and savoured every page' LAURIE STEED

Contact: [email protected]

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ID: 673168

Title: Without Further Ado

Author: Jessica Dettmann

Narrator: Zoe Trilsbach

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10:21:06

Language: English

Release date: 05-15-23

Publisher: HarperAudio

Genres: Romance, Fiction & Literature, General, Rom-Com

Summary:

Can a modern woman take lessons in love from Shakespeare? Book Lovers meets 10 Things I Hate About You in this sparkling romantic comedy from beloved Aussie author Jessica Dettmann.

'Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more. Men were deceivers ever ...'

Since she was sixteen, Willa's curious touchstone in life and work has been the 1993 film Much Ado About Nothing. She's always looking for The Feeling, the stirring in her heart - and loins - that she gets when watching the opening scenes. Now she's navigating her mid-thirties, her career as a romance publisher in an unusual family business, and her determination to remain child-free, while quietly holding out for a love as big as Beatrice and Benedick's.

But when relationships start to get complicated between Willa, her cousin Imogen and the four sons of the family she works for, and the events of her own life begin to mirror the plot of her beloved comedy, Willa must consider whether there is such a thing as too much ado.

A delightfully Shakespearean romantic comedy about modern love, women's roles and how the films and stories we grow up with shape us.

'An absolute delight! With its witty dialogue, relatable characters, and laugh-out-loud moments, this book is the perfect escape. Jessica Dettmann has outdone herself with this charming and hilarious story. Not to be missed!' Sally Hepworth

'Without Further Ado has genuine heart, proper out-loud laughs, and a perfect not-too-Hollywood ending. Dettmann has created a one-off in her protagonist, Willa. Smart as a whip, fiercely independent, hilarious, loyal, fearful and self-sabotaging, she's a romantic heroine for our times (whilst having one foot planted in the late 1500s!).' Tim Minchin

'Glorious, full of laughs, love and realness. I loved it so much I want to live between the covers.' Sacha Horler

Praise for Jessica Dettmann:

'Sharp and crisp and funny. I was dazzled' Mia Freedman

'Heartwarming yet biting' Sunday Telegraph

'A totally engaging and disarmingly charming writer' Kathy Lette

'Sparkling and heartwarming reading' Ben Elton

'Dettmann is such a clever writer - her imagery is fresh and hilarious and her take on life is so dry and funny' Cassie Hamer

Contact: [email protected]

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ID: 672458

Title: Without Further Ado

Author: Jessica Dettmann

Narrator: Zoe Trilsbach

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10:21:06

Language: English

Release date: 05-15-23

Publisher: HarperAudio

Genres: Romance, Fiction & Literature, General, Rom-Com

Summary:

Can a modern woman take lessons in love from Shakespeare? Book Lovers meets 10 Things I Hate About You in this sparkling romantic comedy from beloved Aussie author Jessica Dettmann.

'Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more. Men were deceivers ever ...'

Since she was sixteen, Willa's curious touchstone in life and work has been the 1993 film Much Ado About Nothing. She's always looking for The Feeling, the stirring in her heart - and loins - that she gets when watching the opening scenes. Now she's navigating her mid-thirties, her career as a romance publisher in an unusual family business, and her determination to remain child-free, while quietly holding out for a love as big as Beatrice and Benedick's.

But when relationships start to get complicated between Willa, her cousin Imogen and the four sons of the family she works for, and the events of her own life begin to mirror the plot of her beloved comedy, Willa must consider whether there is such a thing as too much ado.

A delightfully Shakespearean romantic comedy about modern love, women's roles and how the films and stories we grow up with shape us.

'An absolute delight! With its witty dialogue, relatable characters, and laugh-out-loud moments, this book is the perfect escape. Jessica Dettmann has outdone herself with this charming and hilarious story. Not to be missed!' Sally Hepworth

'Without Further Ado has genuine heart, proper out-loud laughs, and a perfect not-too-Hollywood ending. Dettmann has created a one-off in her protagonist, Willa. Smart as a whip, fiercely independent, hilarious, loyal, fearful and self-sabotaging, she's a romantic heroine for our times (whilst having one foot planted in the late 1500s!).' Tim Minchin

'Glorious, full of laughs, love and realness. I loved it so much I want to live between the covers.' Sacha Horler

Praise for Jessica Dettmann:

'Sharp and crisp and funny. I was dazzled' Mia Freedman

'Heartwarming yet biting' Sunday Telegraph

'A totally engaging and disarmingly charming writer' Kathy Lette

'Sparkling and heartwarming reading' Ben Elton

'Dettmann is such a clever writer - her imagery is fresh and hilarious and her take on life is so dry and funny' Cassie Hamer

Contact: [email protected]

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ID: 641778

Title: Estella

Author: Kathy George

Narrator: Elizabeth Brennan

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12:02:02

Language: English

Release date: 05-03-23

Publisher: HarperAudio

Genres: Fiction & Literature, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Classics

Summary:

'A haunting and darkly beautiful retelling of Dickens's Great Expectations.' Karen Brooks, author. The icily enigmatic anti-hero of Charles Dickens's Great Expectations tells her own story ... and changes the ending in this beguiling feminist take on a classic for readers of Pip Williams and Karen Brooks.

At just three years of age, Estella is taken from her mother, adopted by the wealthy but eccentric Miss Havisham and taught how to break men's hearts. Satis House is dark and oppressive and life with the vengeful Miss Havisham a confusion of contradictory lessons, but the kindness of the household cook and Estella's love of the nearby marshes bring her some joy. Forced to play with Pip, a local boy from a lowly background, Estella captivates his soul and breaks his heart, exactly as Miss Havisham has planned.

Years later, Estella returns from school in France as a young woman and is thrust into London society. There she meets Pip again, who has acquired an unknown benefactor and come into money. Miss Havisham recruits Pip to help find Estella a husband, much to her distress. She seems forever fated to be the plaything of others, locked into the destructive cycles her adoptive mother set in motion.

Estella is beautiful, headstrong, enigmatic - but who is she, really? Will she ever be able to break free from the constraints of society's expectations and her own childhood? Will Estella finally find a way to tell her own story?

This evocative and mesmerising retelling of Great Expectations sheds light on a little understood character in one of Dickens's most beloved novels.

Contact: [email protected]

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ID: 641286

Title: Home Among the Snow Gums

Author: Stella Quinn

Narrator: Fiona Macleod

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11:32:14

Language: English

Release date: 05-03-23

Publisher: HarperAudio

Genres: Romance, Fiction & Literature, Contemporary, Family Life, Clean & Wholesome

Summary:

The road to love is a rutted dirt track for the other vet from Snowy River ... An unmissable, funny, feel-good romance from the author of The Vet From Snowy River, Stella Quinn.

Hannah Cody grew up sunny, carefree and loved in the Snowy Mountains town of Hanrahan, but a vicious prank at university in Sydney changed that. Instead of studying medicine, she moved to a small regional centre, switched to veterinary science and swore off romance for life. Ten quiet years later, she's settled. She's safe. And yeah, she hasn't left Hanrahan in years, but that's not agoraphobia, is it? It's not hiding if you're happy.

After many years abroad as a naval analyst, Tom Krauss is drawn home by his estranged father's deteriorating health and his own secret injury. But as soon as he sets eyes on Hannah again, he realises that he's never forgotten the engaging little sister of his best friend. He loved her when he was a teenager, and now he knows he never stopped. Problem: romance is a no-go. There's a piece of shrapnel wedged against his spine, and the countdown is on for him to make a surgical decision that could free him from pain ... or paralyse him.

But the Hanrahan townsfolk have other ideas: it's time for Hannah to work out that living with your heart wide open is worth the risk, and it's time for Tom to learn that love is messy and wonderful and necessary. Change is afoot in this small town, and these two will have to work out if they can be brave enough to make changes too...

PRAISE FOR STELLA QUINN:

'A Town Like Clarence captivated me completely with its easy charm, true-blue Aussie setting and delightful cast ... a book that filled my heart with immense happiness.' - Mrs B's Book Reviews

'Quinn deftly touches on important themes of addiction and trauma, while still managing to deliver a warm-hearted, feel-good read ... A blissful, heart-warming Aussie romance, best enjoyed with some Iced Vovos and a steaming cup of tea.' - Better Reading

'Brimming with warmth and humour, Stella Quinn's new rural romance, A Town Like Clarence, roped me in from the prologue and kept me smiling throughout.' - Kiss and Tell

Contact: [email protected]

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ID: 656027

Title: Orphia and Eurydicius

Author: Elyse John

Narrator: Annabelle Tudor

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14:28:09

Language: English

Release date: 05-03-23

Publisher: HarperAudio

Genres: Fiction & Literature, Literary Fiction, Historical Romance, LGBTQ+

Summary:

The stunning, gender-flipped novel about love, creativity and the power of speaking out - perfect for fans of Madeline Miller and Pat Barker.

'Poetic and evocative ... this story will thrill readers' PIP WILLIAMS, bestselling author of The Dictionary of Lost Words

Their love transcends every boundary. Can it cheat death?

Orphia dreams of something more than the warrior crafts she's been forced to learn. Hidden away on a far-flung island, her blood sings with poetry and her words can move flowers to bloom and forests to grow ... but her father, the sun god Apollo, has forbidden her this art.

A chance meeting with a young shield-maker, Eurydicius, gives her the courage to use her voice. After wielding all her gifts to defeat one final champion, Orphia draws the scrutiny of the gods. Performing her poetry, she wins the protection of the goddesses of the arts: the powerful Muses, who welcome her to their sanctuary on Mount Parnassus. Orphia learns to hone her talents, crafting words of magic infused with history, love and tragedy.

When Eurydicius joins her, Orphia struggles with her desire for fame and her budding love. As her bond with the gentle shield-maker grows, she joins the Argonauts on their quest for the Golden Fleece. Facing dragons, sirens and ruthless warriors on the voyage, Orphia earns unparalleled fame, but she longs to return to Eurydicius.

Yet she has a darker journey to make - one which will see her fight for her love with all the power of her poetry.

Praise for Orphia and Eurydicius

'As I read, I imagined the muses beside Elyse John, focusing her mind and guiding her hand. The writing is poetic and evocative, and the story will thrill readers who have long suspected something is missing from the classics of Greek myth.' PIP WILLIAMS, author of The Dictionary of Lost Words and The Bookbinder of Jericho

'Spins a bewitching tale of courage, love, and defiance, giving voice and agency to the women in Greek tales who are so often defined by the men they are associated with. Orphia's poetry may bring the gods to tears; John's words have the same effect on us mere mortals. Tragic and triumphant, a must-read!' ANDREA STEWART, author of The Bone Shard Daughter

'Elyse John's deft language lays bare the exquisite intimacies of human connection, from the brutal - yet seductive - exercise of power over another, to the moments of tenderness and vulnerability between lovers.' SHELLEY PARKER-CHAN, author of She Who Became the Sun

'Elyse John's Orphia and Eurydicius stunning retelling deftly explores Orphia's beginnings, her poetic ambitions, and her searing chemistry with Eurydicius, all of which challenge the gender dynamics of the time and death itself. A highly original read.' STACEY THOMAS, author of The Revels

'Bold yet beautiful ... I was glued to the page, compelled by the story of Lady Orphia and her love, the gentle shieldmaker Eurydicius. Orphia and Eurydicius is a thoughtful consideration as to what it means to be a man, a woman, a hero, a human being. I loved this retelling and couldn't stop thinking about it: Lady Orphia has my heart.' LAURA SHEPPERSON, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Heroines (UK), Phaedra (US)

'A cleverly conceived and lyrically crafted reimagining.

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ID: 652197

Title: A-List for Death

Author: Pamela Hart

Narrator: Cecelia Ramsdale

Format: Unabridged

Length: 08:17:42

Language: English

Release date: 05-03-23

Publisher: HarperAudio

Genres: Thriller & Horror, Detective Stories, Cozy Mystery

Summary:

Shooting for fame could end your career ... and your life. A sparkling mystery from a stylish new voice in crime fiction, in a book that will delight fans of Richard Osman and Kerry Greenwood.

TV researcher Poppy McGowan has never sought the spotlight and is none too happy to be photographed with rock god Nathan Castle. When the photo pops up on celebrity gossip sites, it sparks a media feeding frenzy, forcing Poppy to go to ground, don a wig, and pull some nifty moves to escape a tailing car. On top of that, she cops abuse from Nathan's outraged fans.

None of this would have happened if Poppy hadn't found Nathan's mother Daisy, one-time glamour girl and elderly best friend of her Aunty Mary, bleeding and unconscious in her bathroom. The police dismiss the case as an accident, but Poppy is sure there are questions to be answered. Who attacked Daisy, and why? Will she come out of her coma? What secrets are her gathering family hiding? What happens to Daisy's money if she dies?

When a murder occurs outside Daisy's flat, the police step in at last. Unfortunately, they finger Poppy's boyfriend, Tol, for the crime - after all, he had bad blood with the victim. As Daisy's money-hungry family circle amid hints of poisoning, bribery and blackmail, Poppy must find a way to clear Tol's name and ensure Daisy's safety.

PRAISE

'A comedic take on celebrity culture, fandom, senior citizens and archaeology. Witty, entertaining, fabulous.' Petronella McGovern, bestselling author of The Good Teacher

'A media-savvy Australian crime novel with a dash of black comedy and enough red herrings and revelations to keep the reader guessing.' The Age

'A deliciously fun murder mystery.' Woman's Day

Contact: [email protected]

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ID: 652198

Title: Estella

Author: Kathy George

Narrator: Elizabeth Brennan

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12:02:02

Language: English

Release date: 05-03-23

Publisher: HarperAudio

Genres: Fiction & Literature, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Classics

Summary:

'A haunting and darkly beautiful retelling of Dickens's Great Expectations.' Karen Brooks, author. The icily enigmatic anti-hero of Charles Dickens's Great Expectations tells her own story ... and changes the ending in this beguiling feminist take on a classic for readers of Pip Williams and Karen Brooks.

At just three years of age, Estella is taken from her mother, adopted by the wealthy but eccentric Miss Havisham and taught how to break men's hearts. Satis House is dark and oppressive and life with the vengeful Miss Havisham a confusion of contradictory lessons, but the kindness of the household cook and Estella's love of the nearby marshes bring her some joy. Forced to play with Pip, a local boy from a lowly background, Estella captivates his soul and breaks his heart, exactly as Miss Havisham has planned.

Years later, Estella returns from school in France as a young woman and is thrust into London society. There she meets Pip again, who has acquired an unknown benefactor and come into money. Miss Havisham recruits Pip to help find Estella a husband, much to her distress. She seems forever fated to be the plaything of others, locked into the destructive cycles her adoptive mother set in motion.

Estella is beautiful, headstrong, enigmatic - but who is she, really? Will she ever be able to break free from the constraints of society's expectations and her own childhood? Will Estella finally find a way to tell her own story?

This evocative and mesmerising retelling of Great Expectations sheds light on a little understood character in one of Dickens's most beloved novels.

Contact: [email protected]