Natasha

THE NINTH GRAVE BY STEFAN AHNHEM – $32.99

ADULT CRIME 

Yes Stefan Ahnhem’s The Ninth Grave is a hefty 550 pages but so worth it for those who love scandi crime novels. It’s actually a prequel to last year’s Victim Without a Face but I think starting with this one was perfect as we trace Swedish homicide detective Fabian Risk a year prior in Stockholm trying to save his marriage alongside solving the disappearances of an MP and a celebrity which seem at first unconnected but reveal a seedy underworld and a perpetrator hellbent on revenge. Working with his partner, the very pregnant Malin Rehnberg the case gets darker and the body count grows even crossing the border into Denmark where DI Dunge Hougaard is simultaneously working a murder/rape case of her own. Anhem’s screenwriting background influences the multitude of short sharp chapters, numerous viewpoints from police and victims, and visual action and dialogue. Combined with wintery settings, high tech tracers, grisly incidents, and disturbed minds this becomes an addictive, meaty, unpredictable and complex read perfect for fans of Nesbo and Larsson (more for its complex web story than its lynchpin Lisbeth Salander character). Highly recommended!

Mark

CRIMSON LAKE BY CANDICE FOX – $32.99

ADULT CRIME

Shamefully, I haven’t read 2xNed Kelly award winner Candice Fox before so made it a mission to read her next one which is out this month called Crimson Lake. Two unlikely down and out accused people open a PI agency in Nth Qld to find missing people whilst trying to prove their innocence about their own cases. With multiple threads this is an intricate story with lots to follow and worth pursuing right to the climatic end. If you like non detective formulas or Robert Galbraith then put this on your list.

Braiden

Fear by Dirk Kurbjuweit – $29.99

Adult thriller

At what length will you go to protect your family? How far will you go to keep your family together? These are ultimately the two questions Randolph wrestles with throughout the course of German novelist Dirk Kurbjuweit’s sixth (but first translated) novel, Fear. Published in Germany in 2013 under Agony, it is clear why Text has published Kurbjuweit’s novel today, effortlessly translated by Imogen Taylor. We may be protected by strict gun laws in Australia, however this novel is incredibly relevant to those living in fearful circumstances, particularly for fathers and mothers who wish to keep their children safe in a world where the Doomsday Clock is 30 seconds closer to midnight.
Fear is a psychologically taut novel, more gripping than thrilling. Dieter Tiberius, Randolph’s neighbour in the basement of his building, has accused Randolph and his wife of sexually abusing their two children. What ensues is an account by Randolph of the events leading up to the moment his father Hermann was found in the basement having shot Dieter Tiberius. It’s a book brimming with one father’s thoughts of caution and vigilance, of his needs and desires, spurred by the failings of a legal system; yet it is also about family and the sacrifices made to keep it together. Fear isn’t a dense read — far from it — but the issues Kurbjuweit presents, in addition to the few twists towards the end, make it an intriguing read.

Jess

A SHADOW’S BREATH BY NICOLE HAYES – $19.99

YOUNG ADULT

I thought I was ready for this book- going in I knew there was an accident and it was highly likely that it would be sad. I underestimated how tragic and heart wrenching this book could be. Following Tessa’s life as the book flicks from past to present is one tragedy after the other- first her dad’s unexplained death, her mothers alcoholism and the abusive boyfriend her mother likes to have around.
But things start to get better- which makes the accident even more tragic. And while you know that it is unlikely that everyone still survive- when the death hits you, it hits you hard- and the tears become overwhelming- definitely not a book to read in public.
As the pieces of Tessa’s life come into place- the string girl Infront of us takes her real form- she is a character you can really get behind with her independence, strong-will and her flaws. The boy she loves, school life getting back to normal, her mum on the mend- all these things add up. When tragedy hits- it’s devastating.  I really enjoyed this book- the constant shifts from past to present was really interesting and well done- but those last few chapters absolutely destroyed me. A book that guarantees water-works.

Steph

CARVE THE MARK BY VERONICA ROTH – $24.99

Young Adult

Having read the Divergent series, I was very excited to hear Veronica Roth was releasing a new novel. Carve the Mark is a sci-fi/fantasy novel that follows Akos and Cyra, two characters from very different backgrounds. Akos is from Thuvhe, and Cyra is a part of the Shotet nation. In a galaxy where some are favoured by fate, everyone develops a current gift. These current gifts can be anything from making one feeling at ‘ease’ to making one feel pain. Both Cyra and Akos are prisoners to their gifts, left vulnerable as others try to control them. Cyra’s brother Ryzek is one of these people. He would definitely be one of the most hated characters in the novel, a violent and cowardly dictator of the Shotet people, who rules by installing fear in his nation. Despite their relation, Cyra proves she is just the opposite. Even with her current gift, she shows promising qualities, similar to that of someone from Thuvhe, the peaceful nation. When Cyra and Akos are brought together, after an unexpected kidnapping, we see that these characters are more alike than they first appear.
Roth creates new worlds in this novel, just as she has previously, inviting us to use our imagination. Despite being quite a long novel, Roth keeps the reader engaged, especially within the last 100 pages, where many secrets and surprises are revealed to the reader. Carve the Mark is great for fans of Star Wars, Divergent, Illuminae and a number of other sci-fi/fantasy series. Despite having some similarities to her previous writing, I believe Carve the Mark is a totally unique storyline, one that urges the reader to think harder and really involve themselves in this new world. I’m very much looking forward to the next novel in this series, especially after the big twist at the end!

Greer

THE GOLDEN CHILD BY WENDY JAMES – $32.99

ADULT AUSSIE FICTION

This book is about a mummy-blogger who discovers her child is a terrible, terrible bully. Being a twenty-year-old with no blog and no immediate plan to give birth, let alone to terrible, terrible bullies, this might seem like a strange choice for me. However, the psychology major in me was intrigued by the premise, and was certainly not disappointed.
From the outset, this makes for addictive reading. Beth, an Australian mother to two teenaged girls, is sure she has done everything possible to be a good parent. She has avoided overindulging her children while also giving them opportunities through extra-curricular activities and a private education. She has helped them maintain good self-esteem while keeping them humble. They have good grades, and go to bed at nine pm (nine pm!). In the first pages, however, we learn that Charlotte, the youngest, has done something so abominable that a classmate’s life is in danger. Of course, as readers we’re now desperate to know just what has gone wrong, and how Beth will handle it.
James’ prose is straight-forward and readable, and the characters (particularly the female characters) are fleshed-out and credible. As disaster after disaster stacks up against Beth, it’s hard not to feel a deep empathy for her – James really forces her protagonist to confront impossible questions, of whether parents should be held responsible for their children’s actions, and whether a parent’s love can be unconditional despite their child’s cruelty. The use of blog posts throughout the novel is genius, although we don’t realise how clever it is until the very end (trust me on this). It’s also very topical in that it addresses how technology has shaped adolescent interactions with their peers, and on an inter-generational level as well.
A minor criticism is that some of the “teenager-speak” from the younger characters seems a bit forced (and sometimes almost funny), such as the girls saying “lol” aloud.  The small loss of authenticity this creates is minimal however, and definitely doesn’t take away from the realistic portrayal of Australia in 2017. If you have a Liane-Moriarty-shaped-hole in your bookshelf, this domestic thriller might just be the solution!

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The post Staff Picks – February 2017 appeared first on Book Bonding Bookstore.

7+ HUMOUR/ACTION

AXEL A 12YO GAMER – BEAST A SHAPE SHIFTING ROBOT
ZAC POWER LEVEL
GREAT STEP UP FROM HEY JACK
FOUR BOOKS IN SERIES
$12.99 – 20% OFF RRP

Offer available 01/02/17 to 28/02/17 inclusive. No exceptions.

The post Deal of the month appeared first on Book Bonding Bookstore.

CARVE THE MARK

NEW SERIES teen 13+ 

Fans of Star Wars and Divergent will revel in internationally bestselling author Veronica Roth’s stunning new science-fiction fantasy series.

20% off $24.99rrp

Offer available 01/02/17 to 28/02/17 inclusive. No exceptions.

The post Children/Teen’s Book of the month appeared first on Book Bonding Bookstore.

BIG LITTLE LIES

FEBRUARY 19TH A HBO TV SERIES FEATURING REESE WITHERSPOON AND NICOLE KIDMAN
Pirriwee Public’s annual school Trivia Night has ended in a shocking riot. A parent is dead. Was it murder, a tragic accident… or something else entirely?

$14.99 special price

Offer available 01/02/17 to 28/02/17 inclusive. No exceptions.

The post Book of the month appeared first on Book Bonding Bookstore.

Natasha

Fiction

1. The Dry by Jane Harper PanMacmillan $32.99 
   Aussie debut, mystery in a small country town, kept thinking about it long after I read it, so evocative and great characters and dialogue and twist
2. The Good People by Hannah Kent PanMacmillan $32.99
   Aussie historical fiction, 1825 Ireland, wonderful description of place, grief and superstition – dare I say even better than Burial Rites which I adored!
3. Last painting of Sara DeVos by Dominic Smith Allen and Unwin $23.99
   Aussie historical fiction – Holland, 1950s Manhattan & current day Sydney, clever interweaving of art and role of women and tangled relationships
4. Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave Hachette $29.99
   Historical fiction WWII, surprising perspectives of the wealthy and forgotten disabled and coloured children), smaller cheaper $22.99 version due end of Jan
5. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara PanMacmillan $19.99
   fiction – made me laugh, cry, scream and almost throw up – a most visceral novel that spans 40+ years! )

Non fiction – tie

Forty Autumns by Nina Willner Hachette $32.99 (enthralling memoir about family living in East Berlin) and Songs of a War Boy Deng Thiak Adut Hachette $32.99 (Sudanese refuge who has achieved great things here in Australia – memoir)

Kids / Teen

Anna and the Swallow Man by Gavriel Savit  Random $19.99
(10+, Krakow Poland, 1939, for fans of Once series and Boy in Striped PJs)

Audio book of the year

The Light Between the Oceans by ML Stedman as read by Noah Taylor Bolinda $34.95 (Aussie historical fiction, post WWI Western Australia, wonderfully moving and difficult for all involved in the choice to keep a child washed up on shore of a lighthouse island)

Mark

Adult

1. The Four Legendary Kingdoms by Matt Reilly Aussie fiction PanMacmillan $42.99
2. Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil by Melina Marchetta, Aussie Adult Fiction, Viking (Penguin Australia) $32.99
3. The Good People by Hannah Kent PanMacmillan $32.99
4. The Soldiers Curse by Meg and Tom Keneally Aussie historical crime Random House $32.99
5. The Widow by Fiona Barton Adult thriller Random House $22.99

Kids /Teen

1. The Book of Whispers by Kimberley Starr Text Publishing $19.99
2. Seven Signs book 1 Skyfire by Michael Adams Scholastic $7.99
3. Hot dog book 1 by Anh Do Scholastic $12.99

Audio

Wrong Side of Goodbye by Michael Connelly read by Titus Welliver (who plays Bosch on tv series) $39.99

Braiden

1. The Nix by Nathan Hill, Adult Fiction, Picador (Pan Macmillan) $29.99
2. The Sidekicks by Will Kostakis, Young Adult #LoveOzYA, Penguin Australia $19.99
3. Barracuda by Christos Tsiolkas, Aussie Adult Fiction, Allen & Unwin $22.99
4. The Toymaker by Liam Pieper, Aussie Adult Fiction, Hamish Hamilton (Penguin Australia) $29.99
5. Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil by Melina Marchetta, Aussie Adult Fiction, Viking (Penguin Australia) $32.99

Jess

1. Michael Grant – Frontlines  (Young Adult)- Hardie Grant Egmont $19.99
2. Kendare Blake – Three Dark Crowns (Young adult)- Pan Macmillan $16.99
3. Melina Marchetta- Tell the Truth Shame the Devil (Australian Thriller adult) Viking (Penguin Australia) $32.99
4. Rick Riordan- Magnus Chase (#2) and The Hammer of Thor (Child series) Penguin $22.99
5. Martin Cruz Smith – The Girl from Venice (Fiction)- Simon and Schuster $32.99

Steph

1. Fight like a Girl by Clementine Ford Adult Non Fiction (feminist theory) Allen and Unwin $29.99
2. The Toymaker by Liam Pieper, Aussie Adult Fiction, Hamish Hamilton (Penguin Australia) $29.99
3. Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari Non fiction Penguin $22.99
4. The Sun is also a Star by Nicola Yoon Young adult Random House $19.99
5. HexenHaus by Nikki McWatters Young adult Penguin $19.95

Greer

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The post Staff Picks – December 2016 appeared first on Book Bonding Bookstore.

Natasha

An Almond for a Parrot by Wray Delaney $29.99rrp (HarperCollins)
ADULT HISTORICAL FICTION

This photo shows me reading the perfect book and with best reading buddies for wintery weekend or lazy sunny days when they eventually arrive! Wray Delaney’s first adult novel, An Almond for a Parrot is set in early 1700s England, where we meet orphan Tully Truegood as our narrator in the gallows waiting trial and death for murder. We then go back in time as she tells us her extraordinary life tale and we soon realise she is someone to cheer for and be fascinated by! Her father is a horrible neglectful man, who gambles and drinks instead of raising his daughter properly now she is motherless. Under the care of Cook we learn how Tully has the ability to see and make others see ghosts, and is eventually saved from a life of uneducated drudgery by a new stepmother and her two daughters. However, twists abound and soon after her new stepmum leaves, she finds herself cast out with no-one to go except The Fairy house, an upmarket brothel run by no less than her stepmother. Thus begins a new life, but certainly under her own terms and independence, as a whore and spirit seer. Gutsy, sexy and with some hilarious vegetable names for sexual organs, we hear her remarkable story from naivete to whore to accused murderer. It is a very visual, and at time witty book – never shying away from the harsh realities women had to live within at that time. It is full of eccentric characters and events such as her new adopted family, Mr Crease the magician and his little dead dog as well as a host of others. The mystery is built well as we learn more about who would Tully want to kill, why and will she be hanged. This is Dickens meets Moll Flanders meets Signature of all Things.

 Mark

Four Legendary Kingdoms by Matthew Reilly $42.99rrp (Pan Macmillan)
AUSSIE FICTION

Jack West Jnr returns in the new Matt Reilly blockbuster, Four Legendary Kingdoms. It opens with Jack and his daughter living in seclusion before being asked to go on a mysterious quest and then finds himself kidnapped and attacked by a masked assailant in an unknown cell. Before too long Jack realises he has been chosen with a dozen other elite soldiers to compete in a series of deadly challenges designed to fulfill an ancient ritual. An ancient ritual that will have ties to Greek mythology. With the fate of the Earth at stake, he will have to fight cruel assassins that will test him like he has never been tested before. But this may be at the expense of his family.
The cool thing about this novel is that all Reilly’s previous books have been leading to this adventure – the artefacts, the escapades, the puzzles etc and will make you realise how everything has been cleverly intertwined. Every year, Reilly reminds me why I enjoy his books so much – each scene flows well is adrenaline packed, has great visual detail without being overly descriptive, quick one liner humour, and Jack is a character I feel I get to know more and more each time – a different sort of action hero.
This is my best read so far this year – for both story fulfillment and flow. I’m always sad when they end, but best news is this is the first in a four book series!
EXTRA BONUS – WE ARE CONTINUING OUR 20% OFF THE RRP UNTIL XMAS EVE!

Braiden

The Nix by Nathan Hill $32.99rrp (Pan Macmillan)
Adult Fiction

 Steph

The Sun is also a Star by Nicola Yoon $19.99rrp (Random House) Special release 14th November
Teen Fiction

Jess

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake $16.99rrp (Pan Macmillan)
Teen Fantasy

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake is being added into my top five books of all time. It is a dark story revolving around the lives of the three potential queens of the Island of Fennbirn, and their build up to the day where they have to kill their sisters in order to become the sole surviving queen. At the ripe age of 16, these queens have come to know their gifts and are ready to end the lives of their estranged siblings.
Reading the summary of this book I was immediately hooked, I could tell that this was going to be a book that would be impossible to put down. And I was right. A mix between “Red Queen” and “Throne of Glass” with a touch of “Hunger Games”, this series is definitely a YA one to look out for.
Poisoners rule the island with the black council, and it is up to poisoner queen Katherine to carry on this tradition of poisoner rule. Elementalist Mirabella is believed to be the most powerful queen that has been seen in a while, the queen that has the support of the temple and is believed to be the shoe-in winner. In contrast, naturalist queen, Arisnoe, is no longer viewed as competition due to both her naturalist standing as well her rumoured ghastly appearance.
But everything isn’t as it seems, with apparently giftless queens and possible murderous love-interests, this novel takes on so many twists and turns that you become entrapped in the world within.
It is impossible to explain just how fantastic and thrilling this book is to read, soon you will be cheering on your favourite queen, immersed in the world that is born out of the traditions of murdering one’s own sister. I can’t help but feel jealous that these characters get to experience such an amazing world and I don’t. Kendare Blake has created a world that has so many levels and characters of such complexity that it is difficult to remember that it’s a world of fantasy rather than real life. A thrilling beginning to a series that I have no doubt will be a huge phenomenon. 10/10

 Cassi

The Three Miss Allens by Victoria Purman $29.99rrp (Harlequin)
AUSSIE FICTION

Greer

When the Lyrebird Calls by Kim Kane $16.99rrp (Allen and Unwin)
Teen

‘When The Lyrebird Calls’ follows the story of spunky, sporty heroine Madeleine, who goes to stay with her kooky grandmother  – only to be pulled back in time to the start of the twentieth century. Set in the Victorian countryside, Madeleine meets the Williamson sisters: baby Imogen, tomboy Charlie, glamorous Bea, and the odd one out, Gert, who is often forgotten by the rest of the family. Madeleine must learn to get along with the sisters, all the while discovering family secrets and avoiding giving away her identity as a girl from the future. And that’s not to mention trying to figure out how to get back to the twenty-first century!
One of my favourite things about reading this was how wonderfully Australian it was – Madeleine is always wanting to check the cricket score, sand is compared to Barbecue Shape crumbs, and Melbournian trams get a look-in too.
Another lovely thing about this book is that while it celebrates Australian history – the Federation of Australia acts as a backdrop – it also doesn’t shy away from the struggles faced by both women and Indigenous people during this period. It could be a really great introduction to the suffragist movement in an Australian context, as Kane incorporates the historic elements with a cast of quirky characters in a skillful, entertaining manner. I know I learnt some new things from this book!
This would be perfect for fans of Belinda Murrell and for strong readers 11+ who want a book that’s a step-up from the Our Australian Girl series, or who enjoy anything to do with time-travel. It has also been compared to Playing Beatie Bow, an Australian classic, so it could appeal to those fans as well.

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The post Staff Picks – November 2016 appeared first on Book Bonding Bookstore.

Natasha

Forty Autumns by Nina Willner $32.99rrp (Hachette Special release 11th Oct)
ADULT HISTORICAL MEMOIR

As a huge fan of Anna Funder’s Stasiland and someone who spent a whole day in the Checkpoint Charlie museum in Berlin back in 2000, my rep was right to give me an advanced reading copy of this memoir by Nina Willner. It is a fascinating true story about her family from the end of WWII forward and how life changed for them when Germany was divided by the Berlin Wall and they found themselves suddenly under control of the Communist Russians.
The writing style is easy and personable as Willner takes us back to her Opa and Oma (grandparents) who suddenly saw their German village taken over after the war. Her Opa having been a teacher was forcibly instructed to teach a new doctrine and her Oma tried desperately to deal with food shortages for her ever growing and hungry family. Nina’s mother then takes centre focus as she tries, at first unsuccessfully, to cross the border into Western control (this is before the Wall was erected) and then end up in America. As we come to Nina’s own part of the story we learn how after joining the army out of a sense of service in the 1980s her first major assignment would be, as fate would have it, to return to the homeland of her grandparents and go undercover behind the Wall. I honestly don’t read a huge amount of memoir but every time I strike upon a gem like this one (and like Reckoning and Stasiland in previous years) I am so glad to have been enthralled and enlightened about what times were like for other people in other places or times. Nina has a knack for the craft of storytelling, and what makes this all the more remarkable, is that it is all true!

 Mark

Seven Signs Book 1: Skyfire by Michael Adams $7.99rrp 
CHILDREN’S SERIES

Internet guru Felix Scott runs a Willy Wonka style competition called the DARE awards to find 7 talented teens that will be part of a televised showcase and offers a prize to learn from the best brains in the world. At the end of the six weeks they will win $1 million. A special worldwide pass in a super fast jet allows them to visit and learn about each other across the globe. Meanwhile all 7 winners receive mysterious symbols through a text message that will later link to a disaster which they realise only they have the skills to defeat before the next one comes and a clock shows it is reducing in time.
What I loved about this book was the range of different talents and international flavour of these kids which reveals how they all live differently. The emphasis on symbol deduction reminded me of Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code’s book, with the time pressure cooker of the tv show 24. The fast pace, pageturning writing sucks you in and thankfully is only the first of 7 books, ending on a cliffhanger that will get you addicted for more. 10+

Braiden

Darktown by Thomas Mullen $32.99rrp
Adult Crime

 Jess

Magisterium Book 3: Bronze Key by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare $17.99rrp
Children’s Series

This series so far has been a major favourite of mine, so beginning this third book of the series there was massive expectation; especially since the last one ended with so many questions! I would see this book as Harry Potter meets Percy Jackson, as that’s almost exactly what it is. The story revolves around Cal, Aaron and Tamara (the favourite three) and how they deal with magical school and the murders and evil that continues to plague their lives at Magisterium.
But the evil may not be coming from outside the group but inside the three.
After finding out Cal’s past, the three attempt to negotiate whether Cal is truly evil or not. Even he is unsure. Is a past soul’s behaviours and opinions your own? Or is your soul not really who you are?
While trying to calculate Evil Overlord points and prevent more murders from happening within the school, the reader is captivated within the three’s lives. That’s why when the shock betrayal happens, you are as devastated as your favourite characters.
I absolutely loved this book. THE ENDING!! While it is a great twist end to the book, I need more, I am desperate to find out what else happens. My favourite characters are trapped in a situation that I would never have guessed happening. All my worst nightmares are happening to my friends and I can’t help but thirst for more. An amazing read that should captivate even those that don’t usually read. 9/10

Steph

The Good People by Hannah Kent $32.99rrp 
Aussie Historical Fiction

Cassi

The Call by Peadar Ó Guilín $19.99rrp 
Young Adult

Greer

The Witches of New York by Ami McKay $32.99rrp (25th Oct release)
Adult magic realism fiction

The Witches of New York follows Beatrice Dunn, Adelaide Thom and Eleanor St Clair, three women who run a tea-shop in 1880s New York – and who just happen to possess magical powers. However, their abilities can’t solve everything – resentful husbands, sinister preachers, and darker supernatural forces –  and they’ll have to depend on each other to survive.
One of the fun things about this book is that it really plays with the idea of a “witch”. Eleanor mixes herbs to remedy illnesses, and by today’s standards Adelaide is nothing more than a talented psychologist who can use people’s “tells” to read their past and future. They are, however, labelled “witches” amongst the fear of women’s empowerment and the suffragist movement. Author Ami McKay’s other novels (The Birth House, The Virgin Cure) often make a point about “girl power”, and this new book is no exception.
This is an impeccably researched novel, with historic events such as the erection of Cleopatra’s Needle interweaving with the characters’ world, which really grounds the more supernatural themes of the story.
The Witches of New York is a fairly light, playful fantasy which would be perfect for anyone who wants to get into the genre but finds some of the heavier titles such as the A Song of Ice and Fire series a bit intimidating.
That said, there is definitely a lot of magic in this novel; we get our fair share of charmed rabbit feet, “dearlies” who bestow witches with prophetic dreams, talking ravens — and even a tongue-in-cheek broomstick.

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The post Staff Picks – October 2016 appeared first on Book Bonding Bookstore.

Natasha

Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty $32.99rrp
AUSSIE FICTION

As a fan of Big Little Lies, I was rapt to see the advanced reading copy of this new novel by Liane Moriarty was a hefty 500+ pages. With a familiar topic to another favourite of mine, Christos Tsiolkas’ The Slap, the similarities of a family bbq incident thankfully ended there so I didn’t feel like I was reading a rehashed tale. At the beginning, we meet obsessive, organised Erika at the library book talk of her old friend Clementine, a mother and cellist, who is sharing the ramifications of an unknown incident but Erika abruptly departs when it becomes too much to bear because of her own blackout period during the event in question. Intercutting these present day events are chapters set on the day of the BBQ which we realise was an impromptu gathering of 3 neighbouring couples, more acquaintances than close friends, at the home of sociable Vid and his wife Tiffany. From here the secrets unravel in extended form to tease the reader about what really happened on that day and how all are coping in the present. Some may get frustrated by the constant allusions, but I like her ‘working backwards’ trademark, allowing the impact of events to slowly reveal themselves like life often does. What I also appreciate about about Moriarty’s books is how relatable they are as ordinary situations get turned on their head and that way she creates razor sharp characterisations. It’s also how minor details and characters at the start always play a larger role the more you get into the story. I loved her focus on how people’s ordinary lives of aspirations, secrets and reactions always have bigger ramifications than intended, and Moriarty’s vivid writing and easy structure made this the perfect comfort read for me after a very heavy novel (A Little Life) and busy times with directing my play. This is a layered story set in a identifiable contemporary setting, and most enjoyable.

 Mark

The Soldier’s Curse by Tom and Meg Keneally $32.99rrp 
HISTORICAL CRIME

I was inspired to read this book after hearing Tom and Meg speaking enthusiastically at the recent Byron Bay Writer’s Festival and I’m so glad I discovered this historical crime novel which is the start of a mammoth series, and signed up for a potential tv show. Set in mid 1800s, we meet Hugh Monsarrat a clever yet poor law clerk whose at first unknown crimes sees him sent as a convict to Australia but fortunate enough to get a position to do his time within Government House as a servant. When the mistress is found dead and the housekeeper is blamed, Monsarrat makes it his mission to work out what really happened and who is responsible to save his friend from the noose. With intercutting chapters on his past life and crimes, this story really evolves well with lots of description. This is a crime journey not a fast paced thriller, but I felt completely absorbed into this past world as it is incredibly well researched, and contains enough threats to be interesting including the vicious Captain Diamond. It also allowed a sneak peek into the indigenous dealings with white settlers in that early colonial period. Monsarrat is a likable protagonist because he is extremely intelligent but due to his lack of family wealth it has made him battle through life but always with a sense of justice and fairness. Recommended for those who want something freshly original in their crime reading.

Braiden

The Book That Made Me, edited by Judith Ridge $19.99rrp

 Jess

One Bloody Thing After Another: The World’s Gruesome History by Jacob F. Field $17.99rrp
Historical Non-Fiction

As a history major I was pretty excited to discover this book: a book that summarizes, in chronological order, our murderous past? Yes please!
As I began this book I found the small descriptions followed up with simple diagrams to be quite beneficial, having that visual reference to look upon was really good to truly understand the brutality of our ancestors. It is organised in a way that takes the reader from continent to continent through the historical massacres and rotten kings that took place during the metaphoric journey.
Not only is this book full of fun facts to bring up at parties, but it also supplies a great historical backdrop to most of our most gruesome of past events. With many of the massacres and other tragic events, this book manages to provide both a brief summary of events but it also mentions the political and social status at the time- highlighting both the religion of the period as well as the type of monarchy there is.
Through reading this short book I learnt of monarchies and events that I previously hadn’t suspected of ever happening- such as the Queen Ranavalona of Madagascar, who believed the best way to see if someone was guilty was to poison them and see how much they threw up- or the famous witch hunts, where if they drowned they were innocent.
This book not only reveals the ludicrous ideas and methods of punishment in our history but it also provides a short and easy read that helps you gain a lot of interesting information that you never thought you would have previously needed.

Steph

No Man is an Island by Adele Dumont $32.99rrp 
BIOGRAPHY

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The post Staff Picks – September 2016 appeared first on Book Bonding Bookstore.

Natasha

The Windy Season by Sam Carmody $29.99rrp
AUSSIE FICTION DEBUT

Set in the northern part of WA this Aussie debut takes us into the heart of male Aussie culture with a mystery of a brother’s disappearance and the impact on a family and town. 17yo no-hoper Elliot ventures to the place of his brother’s last known sighting, the aptly named town Stark to work on a fishing trawler and maybe find his brother. There are wonderful descriptions of the land, the unforgiving sea, Elliot throwing up and his awkward dalliances with women. There are bonding moments with his fishing buddies both good and bad, as well as brutal moments with older dangerous drug men. There is a touch of romance mixed with regret and immature revelations. I loved the females in this patriarchal world – the cop and the hotel publican and waitress. I loved the awkwardness of Elliot and the despair of the whole place which seemed to suck people in to never leave. There are secrets revealed about Elliot’s parents and his brother’s girlfriend. and you realise that ultimately, it is a coming of age book that has deception at its core and nothing is as it seems. My only minor gripe was that I wasn’t a massive fan of the intercutting fable like conversations between but could see how by the end it all connected with the story. This is wild Australia, a place not often revealed to us in fiction and whilst they are not perhaps known to us here in safe urban Melbourne it is worth knowing this other side of our nation’s inhabitants.

 Mark

The English Spy by Daniel Silva $19.99rrp (March release)
ADULT THRILLER

I read Silva a while ago and I am glad to revisit his writing with the same Gabriel Allon character who is an assassin and spy for hire. When a terrorist bomb kills someone prominent, Allon is called into assist. With links to the IRA and Russian political revenge payback there is stalking, investigation, chases and secrets exposed as Allon tries to get the bomber for hire before another catastrophe. And for those who follow this writer closely there is a link to those responsible for the death of Allon’s wife and child (which was in a previous book but you can still read this without ever having read Silva before and it still make sense). With lots of suspenseful action, the writing kept me on the edge and intrigued. The only hiccup perhaps was the overplayed ending, it seemed to drag longer than it should.

Braiden

Paladero: The Knights of the Thunder Realm by Steven Lochran $18.99rrp 10-14yo
KIDS SERIES

 Gabi

The Uncommoners: The Crooked Six Pence by Jennifer Bell $17.99rrp
KIDS SERIES

When their grandmother is hospitalised, Ivy Sparrow and her older brother Seb are thrust into an underground world full of intrigue, mystery and danger. The siblings find themselves in Lundinor, home to the Uncommoners – people who trade in uncommon goods, such as teleporting envelopes, light bulbs that look like lemon juicers and paperclip handcuffs. Soon Ivy and Seb uncover a mysterious and deadly family history and have to race against time to uncover the secret to some suspicious goings-on.

This book is definitely a great read for those who love fantasy and magic and is a great series to get stuck into after you’ve finished reading Harry Potter. Although there are no witches, wizards and wands, there is a whole lot of magic, mystery, and adventure to keep you entertained and intrigued to see what happens next.

The mystery and suspense is the best thing about this book. You are kept guessing until the very end while author Jennifer Bell leads you on a wild goose chase to uncover who the real mastermind is. Bell cleverly tries to steer you off course whilst also dropping tiny clues as to the true identity of the ringleader. Additionally, some of Bell’s finest moments of writing occur during creepy Haunted Mansion-type scenes which make you feel like you are exploring the dark and narrow passageways right alongside the characters in the book.

All in all, this was a really entertaining fantasy read. The world-building is spectacular and the writing keeps you engaged and intrigued. The book ends with one part of the mystery solved whilst the other is left wide open – I will definitely be checking out any possible sequel in the future! $17.99 RRP

 Jess

Promise by Sarah Armstrong $32.99rrp
Adult Fiction

How far would you go to protect a child? Anna notices that something is very wrong with her new neighbours’ five-year-old daughter, Charlie. She spends the nights screaming and crying; comes to visit Anna with bruises and strange bite-marks. After calling the authorities with no result, Anna comes to the decision to take the law into her own hands: grab Charlie and just run.

I really enjoyed this book, I found Anna a realistic and likeable character that has obvious flaws and a past that still troubles her. She is complex in her thinking and the hints of her past that comes to clash with her present causes a level of depth to her characterisation that explains how she became to be the mature child-less woman she is today. But with Charlie’s difficult behaviour and the lack of maternal instinct in Anna causes a tense and strained relationship.

The book highlights the concept of love, focusing on the innocence of a child and the complex bond between mother and child or, in this case, protector and child. It also focuses on the flaws of the system that is input in order to protect children in harsh and complicated situations. Fans of Liane Moriarty will enjoy this book as it is an easy read that tackles a difficult and harsh topic. I found it a fascinating read that was difficult to put down. Sarah Armstrong has beautifully constructed a book that causes you to question how you would react in a similar situation, and makes you wonder if you would be able to sacrifice everything in order to protect a child.

Steph

The Toymaker by Liam Pieper $26.99rrp 
ADULT FICTION

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The post Staff Picks – August 2016 appeared first on Book Bonding Bookstore.