Lawyers and politicians were involved with both Federation and the trial and hanging of Jimmy Governor in the historical true crime novel of ‘The Last Outlaws’ by Katherine Biber.The regrets and indiscretions of our past and our present day poor judgement are a continual presence in our lives that, perhaps, only a psychic can give us licence to address. Samantha Byres touches on much of this in her novel, ‘Dead Ends’.

The intriguing elements of seances and criminal conduct behind the writing of Dr Jeckyl and Mr Hyde come to the fore as Belinda Lyons-Lee explores the life of Robert Louis Stevenson as narrated by his wife, Fanny Osbourne in 'The Haunting of Mr and Mrs Stevenson'.Shokoofeh Azar's book 'The Gowkaran Tree in the Middle of Our Kitchen' spans fifty years in the history of modern Iran, and many centuries of Persian poetry and myths before that. It is a story of a family's love and loss, their involvement in the revolution and the different destinies of twelve cousins.

Thomas Vowles' novel, 'Our New Gods' is a psychological thriller where sinsiter sexuality and murder coincide amongst the queer scene of Melbourne.Elle McFadzean's, The Potion Experiment, is a middle grade fantasy about science and magic.

‘The Last Egg’ is a picture story book by Sofie Laguna. It is about love, kindness and loyalty with a fantastical end. Lili Wilkinson has Titch the mouse on an epic journey of magic, heroism and loyal friendship in ‘Bravepaw and the Clawstone of Rotwood Mire’‘Music Camp’ by Penny Tangey is a big hearted story about finding your way when you’re twelve. These primary school nerds have music in common but come with very different personalities.

A much loved daughter could ruin a family and just what is it, that this family have to hide? Anna Snoekstra has written a very well crafted mystery in ‘The Ones We Love’. Robbie Coburn's verse narrative, 'The Foal in the Wire', is a coming of age tale about survival and the bonds between individuals that both undermine and affirm.

Audrey has left her husband and career in advertising. Now she bakes cakes and fortune cookies that tell the bitter truth, but can she start a business with her motley lot of new friends in Catherine Greer’s ‘The Bitter Sweet Bakery Café’.

A grandson tries to learn a family story in Andre Dao’s ‘Anam’.                         Murder and mayhem on the waterfront, marihuana cigarettes and a turf war over brothels, thankfully the Tea Ladies can solve crimes and cement friendships in this, the third book of the series, ‘The Deadly Dispute’ by Amanda Hampson.

He wants to be a successful and acclaimed writer. He wants to know all the truths and write her biography even if it requires deceit.  Dominic Amerena has written this crafty book about literary theft in ‘I want Everything’. Mystery surrounds a new pandemic that takes the lives of those reaching their ninth birthday in Chris Flynn's, ‘Orpehus Nine’. The resulting conspiracy theories, riots, fundamentalism and political powerlessness are things with which all readers may identify given the events of the recent past.

The bond of friendship can unravel when doubt and superstition start to take hold. And the spiritual comfort we seek in such circumstances can also lead to our undoing. Christine Keighery delves into these notions in her novel, 'We're Not Us Without You'.The gold rush made the city of Melbourne rich but women’s lives and choices were still very limited.  Madeleine Cleary has written a historical murder mystery with a brothel and the slums of Little Lon at its centre in ‘The Butterfly Women’.

‘Salty, Spiced and a Little Bit Nice’ has Ellie a type 1 diabetic wanting independence from her controlling family but not wanting to be hurt again by her teenage crush in this romantic comedy by Cynthia Timoti.  Gregory Day's anthology of poetry, Southsightedness, connects creativity, the landscape and the artist as a collective whole in verse that is imaginative and unique.