FICTION

<p>SHORTLISTED FOR THE DANGER AWARD - BEST CRIME FICTION'A brilliant Aussie thriller, The Wiregrass is perfect for fans of Jane Harper, Chris Hammer and Candice Fox.’ – Books and Publishing’Adrian Hyland writes superior crime fiction with a keen eye for setting and characterisation...’ - The West Australian‘The Wiregrass delivers an irresistible fusion of an untamed and unforgiving Australian landscape, with a police procedural that will have you galloping through the pages... the perfect book to read curled up in bed during a cracking summer storm.’ – The AustralianA murder made to look like an accident. A disgraced cop trying to forget his past.</p><p>My eyes sprang open. What was wrong? Something had been hovering down in the backwoods of my brain. A disturbing image that only rose to the surface when I began to relax. Wild winds, wet hair, black bark, blood. A crushed body. The poor bastard killed by the falling tree at Wycliff Rise. Something about that scene wasn’t right. Nash Rankin is a disgraced cop trying to escape his past – his career was destroyed when he chose to take justice into his own hands. Now he’s living a quiet life in a small town, caring for the local wildlife and trying to stay away from trouble. Jesse Redpath has a new job in a new town: Satellite. The stormy weather that greets her first few days on the beat seems like a sign of what’s to come. A local has died in what looks like an accident, but Jessie isn’t so sure that the ‘accident’ wasn’t planned. All the evidence points to Nash, but Jesse’s not sure about that either. Seems like Nash has enemies. And what looks like a close-knit community might just be a cover for dark secrets.No amount of rain will wash this town clean. The new Jesse Redpath crime thriller from the bestselling author of Canticle Creek.Praise for Canticle Creek: ‘The rural crime fiction wave continues with this brilliant new arid drama.’ - Australian Women's Weekly ‘Hyland has mastered the architecture of noir – his sinister tale seethes with small-town atmosphere and satisfying twists, set against the dangers and harsh beauty of the Australian landscape.’ - Sydney Morning Herald ‘an entertaining and engrossing novel. Hyland has written the ideal story for a long, hot summer, where fire always seems a possibility.’ - The Canberra Times ‘You can almost feel the blanketing heat and crunch of dry foliage underfoot while reading Canticle Creek ... a well-paced, atmospheric thriller with unexpected twists’ - The West Australian ‘An atmospheric gripper.’ - Crime Monthly ‘More please.’ - The Times </p>

<p><strong>'Dervla McTiernan has rocked the crime fiction world with good reason. Taut, tense and darkly addictive. A treat for lovers of fine crime writing.' - Candice Fox</strong></p> <p><strong>Being brilliant has never been this dangerous ...</strong></p><p>When Dr Emma Sweeney stumbles across the victim of a hit and run outside Galway University late one evening, she calls her partner, Detective Cormac Reilly, bringing him first to the scene of a murder that would otherwise never have been assigned to him. A security card in the dead woman's pocket identifies her as Carline Darcy, a gifted student and heir apparent to Irish pharmaceutical giant Darcy Therapeutics. The multi-billion-dollar company, founded by her grandfather, has a finger in every pie, from sponsoring university research facilities to funding political parties to philanthropy - it has funded Emma's own ground-breaking research. The enquiry into Carline's death promises to be high profile and high pressure.</p><p>As Cormac investigates, evidence mounts that the death is linked to a Darcy laboratory and, increasingly, to Emma herself. Cormac is sure she couldn't be involved, but as his running of the case comes under scrutiny from the department and his colleagues, he is forced to question his own objectivity. Could his loyalty to Emma have led him to overlook evidence? Has it made him a liability?PRAISE FOR <em>THE SCHOLAR</em>'Atmospheric and beautifully paced, with <strong>nuanced characters</strong> and a <strong>gripping plot</strong> - <em>The Scholar</em> has it all.' - Chris Hammer</p><p>'This is <strong>top-notch crime</strong> writing - <strong>fast, clever, surprising</strong>, and psychologically acute. I can only wish Dervla could write as fast as I can read!' - Kate Forsyth</p><p>'<em>The Scholar</em> is a <strong>gripping</strong> follow-up to McTiernan's debut crime novel <em>The Ruin</em>, featuring the enigmatic DS Cormac Reilly ... <em>The Scholar</em> is a <strong>tightly plotted, fast-paced</strong> read with enough <strong>twists</strong> to keep you guessing right to the end.' - <em>Better Homes & Gardens</em>'Another <strong>thrilling tale</strong> that delivers on all the promise of McTiernan's debut - <strong>not to be missed</strong>.' - <em>Readings Monthly</em></p>

A powerful and poignant tale of rural suspense told by the acclaimed Fleur McDonald, bestselling author of Voices in the Dark and Shock Waves.

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt is a warmly observed contemporary fiction novel with a sly, irresistible twist: one of its sharpest narrators is an octopus. Tova Sullivan, still carrying the weight of her son Erik’s disappearance decades earlier, works nights cleaning the Sowell Bay Aquarium. There she meets Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus with a keen eye for human habits and secrets. As their unlikely friendship deepens, small-town routines begin to shift, and long-buried questions tug to the surface—without the story ever forcing its hand. Perfect for readers who love character-driven mysteries, gentle humour, and emotional family drama, this is also ideal for book clubs and anyone drawn to coastal settings and found-family connections. Add it to your stack if you’re after a smart, tender read you’ll want to savour—and then press into someone else’s hands.

Run On Red by Noelle is a tense, fast-paced thriller from an Idaho-based author who knows how to keep you turning pages late into the night. Set against the kind of wide-open landscapes that can feel both beautiful and isolating, this crime fiction story leans into suspense, danger and the uneasy pull of true-crime fascination. Noelle’s love of chilling documentaries and life in the foothills feeds the atmosphere, giving the book a grounded edge and a strong sense of place without relying on gore or gimmicks. Perfect for readers who enjoy psychological suspense, small-town secrets and high-stakes cat-and-mouse tension, this is also a great pick for fans of gritty, contemporary mysteries with an outdoorsy backdrop. Add it to your stack when you’re craving a thriller that runs lean, sharp and unexpectedly addictive.