FICTION

Hayley Scrivenor is a former Director of Wollongong Writers Festival. Originally from a small country town, Hayley now lives and writes on Dharawal country and has a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Wollongong on the south coast of New South Wales. Dirt Town is her first novel. An earlier version of the book was shortlisted for the Penguin Literary Prize and won the Kill Your Darlings Unpublished Manuscript Award.

SORROW SPRING'An instant folk horror classic' Erin Kelly'Clever and chilling' Susi Holliday'An atmospheric, creeping tale' Syd MooreChilling and uncanny folk suspense in a novel of twisted sisterhood and dark secrets. Some places are cursed.An isolated villageA twisted sisterhoodA dark secret that festers in silence___________________________________________________1978. When teenager Rina Pine is abandoned by her hippy mother in the isolated village of Sorrow Spring and forced to live with her elderly aunt, she quickly realises no one is coming to rescue her.Rina finds herself trapped amidst a community of women beholden to the past, who believe in the protective powers of the local spring. When a child goes missing and a young mother is killed, she is drawn into the dark and sinister truth flowing through the sacred waters that give the village its name.Rina is about to learn what it truly means to be a daughter of Sorrow Spring…___________________________________*READERS CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF SORROW SPRING*‘A deliciously creepy tale full of omens and strange sisterhoods. The atmosphere gave me goosebumps’ ?????‘This kept me utterly enchanted! It’s eerie, it’s atmospheric, it’s dark and twisty…The perfect autumn read!’ ?????‘Kept me guessing as to what was going to happen next’ ?????‘Just when you think everything is answered, there is another twist' ?????‘As fine a folk horror tale as I've ever read … heartily recommended’ ?????‘What a story! I couldn’t put this book down' ?????

CURTAIN TWITCHER'S BOOK OF MURDERSet in London in 1968, A CURTAIN TWITCHER’S BOOK OF MURDER follows the lives of the inhabitants of a suburban London street. But this is no ordinary road.London, 1968. A suburban London street. But this is no ordinary road.“Ask anyone on Atbara Avenue how well they know their neighbours, and they’ll answer ‘well’. After all, they see each other across the vast distance afforded by close proximity, and that is probably for the best...”.In number 17 live a bitter daughter and her mother, trapped with each other.Or are they?The twin brothers at number 3 think they're nothing like each other, but they may be proved wrong. Lesley disappeared from number 49 years ago. Then her body is found, and with it more secrets.Atbara Avenue is a street where, all too often, murder feels like the solution.With a delicious cast of characters, dazzling plotting, and a unique voice, Gay Marris’ first book is the fresh and compelling new voice in the world of crime fiction you've been waiting for.

From the author of The Reunion, a cozy rom-com about a writer who decamps to a Vermont lodge for work but finds herself distracted by the charming ski instructor next door. Alix Morgan just got her big break as the ghostwriter of a memoir by Sebastian Green, a former member of the boy band True North. And when he offers her a penthouse at a luxurious resort in Vermont, she jumps at the chance to work far away from her noisy, cramped apartment. Her career as an entertainment journalist has been building toward this dream job—after all, she used to cover True North and was one of the last people to interview former front man Jett Beckett before he disappeared. As she combs through her client’s voice memos, the specter of the missing lead singer remains, and fans are desperate to know the full story. But Alix also has time for some fun at this glamorous resort, where she begins ski lessons with a handsome instructor named Tyler. As Alix and Tyler fall in love on the slopes, Alix’s work takes a complicated turn—and the mystery of True North’s downfall may be hers to solve.

AN ETHICAL GUIDE TO MURDERIf you had the power over life and death, what would you do?Thea has a secret. She can tell how long someone has left to live just by touching them. Not only that, but she can transfer life from one person to another – something she finds out the hard way when her best friend Ruth suffers a fatal head injury on a night out. Desperate to save her, Thea touches the arm of the man responsible when he comes to check if Ruth is all right. As Ruth recovers, the man quietly slumps to the ground, dead.Thea realises that she has a godlike power: but despite deciding to use her ability for good, she can’t help but sometimes use it for her own benefit. Boss annoying her at work? She can take some life from them and give it as a tip to her masseuse for a great job. Creating an ‘Ethical Guide to Murder’ helps Thea to focus her new-found skills. But as she embarks on her mission to punish the wicked and give the deserving more time, she finds that it isn’t as simple as she first thought.How can she really know who deserves to die, and can she figure out her own rules before Ruth’s borrowed time runs out?

Beloved author Cathy Jinks weaves a thrilling tale involving online stalking, right wing conspiracy theorists and a remote homestead in rural NSW.After posting a drunken rant that goes horrifically viral, Bronte needs a place to lie low. Jobless, friendless, broke, she volunteers as a carer on an isolated rural property. She won't be paid for looking after dementia sufferer Nell, but at least she'll have a place to stay. Bronte's host is Nell's daughter Veda, who runs spiritual rebirthing retreats. She also claims the rights of a sovereign citizen and rejects the authority of the state, refusing even to register her car. She has acquired a small but devoted following of the like-minded.Are they harmless cranks, with their conspiracy theories and outrage at government overreach? Or dangerously paranoid domestic terrorists? And what is the dark secret that Nell, in her confused state, keeps harking back to? Bronte, increasingly uneasy, would be getting far away from the whole place-if she had anywhere else to go.In Panic, master storyteller Catherine Jinks delivers a tense, claustrophobic thriller of isolation and fear that will have you on the edge of your seat.'The story maintains a palpable sense of unease throughout, interspersed with moments of wry humour...Offers an engaging read-with well-drawn characters-that will appeal to readers of Shelley Burr, Garry Disher and Jane Harper.' Books+PublishingPRAISE FOR CATHY JINKS-'The fear is palpable and crawls off the page, so the reader can feel it too...This is a book that needs to be read with the lights on, and one that you will be unwilling to put down.' ArtsHub on Traced'If you enjoy a psychological thriller-a kind of cat and mouse book-I would certainly recommend this...It's a really good read to curl up with on a wintry night.' RNZ Nine to Noon on Traced' Jinks crafts a taut, tense thriller of a narrative, expertly cranking up the suspense notch by notch.' Saturday Paper on Traced

Atlas of Paranormal Places is a global tour of more than 50 locations with mystic, unexplained and ghostly significance. With a foreword by Danny Robins.

<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>

A dark comedy about how to live your best life, even when you're dead. Stacey was trying to live her best life, but now she’s dead. But why hasn't she passed on? Could it be her fatal car accident was actually murder? Detectives Ed Beaufontaine and Rosie Garafino certainly think so. They have a long list of suspects, chief among them Stacey's fiancé, Liam. His business dealings and new relationship with Emily Jackson are raising a few eyebrows. As the detectives dig deeper, so does Stacey. With nothing but time on her hands, she forensically examines her past relationships – her pathological ex, unreliable father, controlling psychologist, and toxic girlfriends – realising she might have been better off without them. She's hoping she can steer the detectives in the right direction before she's doomed to wander for eternity. Because in the city of angels and 12-step programs, even the dead need a little help from time to time.Praise for Twelve Steps to a Long and Fulfilling Death ‘Such a wry and deft interweaving of the real and unreal. A unique voice. I loved it.’ – Rachel Ward 'Half thriller, half ghost story, 100% page turner, Sarah Smith’s brilliant debut novel has more precarious twists and turns than its Mulholland Drive setting!' – Kym Wilson 'A really great mystery. Loved it!' – Rebecca Gibney ‘A whip-smart and twisty debut that will keep you up all night.’ – Rose Hartley, author of Maggie’s Going Nowhere ‘Part detective story, part dark comedy and ghost story, Twelve Steps to a Long and Fulfilling Death has plenty of twists, turns and red herrings to keep readers guessing ... this is a fun ride for fans of Richard Osman or Janet Evanovich.’ – Books + Publishing

'A vivid story of small town allegiances and secret grudges that drew me in and didn’t let go! I was pinned to my chair.' – Amanda Hampson, author of The Tea Ladies 'One of the most enjoyable crime reads of the year.' – Hayley Scrivenor, internationally best-selling author of Dirt Town So many people had reason to hate her, but did anyone have reason to kill her? Everyone dies famous in a country town, but glamorous Vanessa Walton was a shining star. A celebrity since she was a child, Vanessa is back on the front page for all the wrong reasons; after a terrible storm she has been found dead at the bottom of her stairs. At first her death seems to be a simple accident, but anonymous letters are discovered that suggest otherwise – and when 16-year-old Jasmine Langridge claims it is murder, she suddenly disappears. As the police begin to investigate, secrets are exposed and friendships unravel. What happens to a community when murders and abductions sit alongside petty workmates, teenage tribulations and longstanding friendships? It will take a town to solve this crime, but what will be broken in the effort to piece together the truth?PRAISE for It Takes a Town: ‘There's a warmth and an edge to this beautifully written, nicely judged crime novel, which has at its heart the importance of female friendship.’ –Sydney Morning Herald ‘a complex and immersive read.’ –Canberra City News ‘A page-turning, easy read with a story driven by lively characters, It Takes A Town offers readers glimpses of a community that has more bubbling below the surface than can be contained within this novel.’ –Books + Publishing

SHORTLISTED FOR THE NED KELLY AWARD FOR BEST CRIME FICTION SHORTLISTED FOR THE ABIA FOR GENERAL FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR <p>SHORTLISTED FOR THE DANGER AWARD - BEST DEBUT CRIME FICTION</p>Once you’re online, there’s nowhere to hide Is it paranoia – or is someone watching? For years, Reagan Carsen has kept her life offline. No socials. No internet presence. No photos. Safe. Until the day she stumbles on a shocking murder in a Sydney laneway. The victim looks just like her. Coincidence? As more murders shake the city and she’s increasingly drawn out from hiding, Reagan is forced to confront her greatest fear. She’s been found. A riveting psychological thriller drawn from true events, Dark Mode delves into the terrifying reality of the dark web, and the price we pay for surrendering our privacy one click at a time.PRAISE: ‘Thrilling and twisty – get ready to be paranoid’ – J.P. Pomare, author of The Wrong Woman ‘twisty and tantalising... Dark Mode is a thrilling read for when you need to get consumed by a good thriller instead of a social media binge.’ – Arts Hub Australia ‘a darkly sparkling gem’ – The Canberra Times ‘Absolutely terrifying! I turned every page with my heart in my mouth, utterly hooked by this explosive thriller. Ashley Kalagian Blunt taps into the dangers we face online every day and the monsters in our midst. Dark Mode is a powerful and disturbing story which will keep you thinking long after you’ve finished reading.’ – Petronella McGovern, author of The Liars ‘With Dark Mode, Ashley Kalagian Blunt has turned her love of true crime and passion for suspense fiction into a fierce wake-up call of a thriller, one that looks unflinchingly at the horrors of the dark web and sheds light on the unimaginable. Riveting, tense and supremely chilling, this is an eye-opening must-read for crime fiction fans everywhere.’ – Anna Downes, author of The Shadow House ‘Wow. Page turning, chilling dread that kept me guessing until the end. Ashley Kalagian Blunt hits it out of the park, creating a dark world where your worst fears aren't the worst thing to fear – not even close.’ – R.W.R McDonald, author of Nancy Business ‘Dark Mode’s greatest achievement is that, as the pieces fall into place, it’s not just Reagan Carsen’s world that’s turned upside down – it’s ours. Its stunning payoff doesn’t just reverberate through the pages, but beyond the book and into the world at large, where its implications are of urgent significance … there are some realities most of us would sooner pretend are impossible than acknowledge are already here. Kalagian Blunt forces our gazes upon them in this compulsive and breathless thriller.’ – James McKenzie Watson, author of Denizen ‘Dark and twisty, this thrilling offering from Ashley Kalagian Blunt is absolutely not to be missed. This book will keep you up at night’ – Hayley Scrivenor, author of Dirt Town ‘If you think that what happens on the dark web will never affect you, this book begs the question: are you sure about that? Like, sure-sure? A twisty, terrifying thriller, Dark Mode will have you buying a flip phone and moving off the grid the second you turn the final page, just so you can breathe again. I loved it.’ – Pip Drysdale, author of The Next Girl ‘A chilling and utterly gripping read that shines a light on misogyny and toxicity thriving in plain sight and its devastating consequences for women. Ashley Kalagian Blunt plunges the reader into the darkest corners of the internet and it could not be more terrifying! A superb thriller that will keep you riveted to the page and dial up your tech anxieties to eleven.’ – Dinuka McKenzie, author of The Torrent

A Breathtaking Thriller from the Miles Franklin Award–Winning Author of Chai Time at Cinnamon GardensSri Lanka, 2009. Decades of civil war and bloodshed are finally coming to an end—by any means necessary.In Colombo, the capital city, tenacious journalist Ameena Fernando is executed on a busy street near her home, with no witnesses to the crime. Her murder sends shockwaves through the nation.Under mounting pressure to solve the case, CIA agent Ellie Harper is sent to investigate. Her orders are clear: uncover something, but not too much. It’s Ellie’s first time back on the island since her last mission ended in tragedy four years earlier, and she has more than one ghost haunting her.As international powers vie for influence in post-war Sri Lanka, Ellie begins unraveling a web of secrets and lies, following a dangerous trail to uncover a truth worth killing for.Praise for Unfinished Business“An explosive thriller that pulses with the weight of history. Forget James Bond, Ellie Harper is the real deal.”—Dinuka McKenzie, author of The Torrent and Tipping Point“Tense, gritty, and deeply urgent, Unfinished Business is an action-packed thriller with international intrigue and real-world heft.”—Ashley Kalagian Blunt, author of Dark Mode“Passionate and courageous—a thrilling tale of espionage and intrigue, and a high-stakes rollercoaster by one of Australia's most exciting writers.”—Caroline Overington, author of The Lucky One and The One Who Got Away“Unfinished Business expertly evokes the hyper-surveilled metropolis of Colombo as Harper moves through morally impenetrable circles of diplomats, warlords, bureaucrats, and spies.”—Books + Publishing

‘Amazing . . . Intense suspense, shocks and scares plus chilling insider authenticity make this one very special’ LEE CHILD 'FALLING is the best kind of thriller (for me as a reader anyway). Characters you care deeply about. Nonstop, totally authentic suspense' JAMES PATTERSON ‘Attention, please: T. J. Newman has written the perfect thriller! GILLIAN FLYNN, #1 bestselling author of Gone Girl You just boarded a flight to New York. There are one hundred and forty-three other passengers onboard. What you don’t know is that thirty minutes before the flight your pilot’s family was kidnapped. For his family to live, everyone on your plane must die. The only way the family will survive is if the pilot follows his orders and crashes the plane. Enjoy the flight. ***Praise for Falling*** ‘Think Speed on a passenger jet - with the cockpit dials turned up to supersonic’ Ian Rankin ‘Stunning and relentless. This is Jaws at 35,000 feet’ Don Winslow ‘The best thriller I’ve read in years. Buckle up’ Adrian McKinty ‘Attention, please: T. J. Newman has written the perfect thriller! ... Terrific and terrifying, a true page-turner.. A must-read for summer vacation' Gillian Flynn, #1 bestselling author of Gone Girl ‘A jet-propelled thriller that will have you in its grip from first page to last. A truly astonishing debut and an incredible work of pure suspense’ Steve Cavanagh 'Newman keeps up an extreme pace from the first page—a near-impossible task, considering that the hero is locked in a cockpit, unable to take action himself. This novel is like the films Die Hard and Speed on steroids, creating one of the year’s best thrillers' Library Journal ‘With characters you’ll root for and a plot that dips and bounces like a plane hitting turbulence, this thrill ride is impossible to put down’ Daily Mail ‘A scorching thriller’ Evening Standard 'Newman’s [flight attendant] background means Falling brings a freshness and depth to the genre' The Guardian 'A superlative debut . . . This tense, convincing thriller marks the arrival of an assured new talent' Publishers Weekly ' ...full of the kind of authentic detail that comes from personal experience' Literary Review ‘Gripping from the first sentence, this thriller is like no other’ OK! Magazine 'A remarkable debut' The Sunday Times '... a tense and claustrophobic read, the fast-paced action zipping along at an astonishing rate' Refinery29

Flight attendant turned New York Times bestselling author T. J. Newman - whose first book Falling was an instant international bestseller and the biggest thriller debut of 2021 - returns for her second book, an edge-of-your-seat thriller about a commercial jetliner that crashes into the ocean, and sinks to the bottom with passengers trapped inside, and the extraordinary rescue operation to save them. Six minutes after takeoff, Flight 1421 crashes into the Pacific Ocean. During the evacuation, an engine explodes and the plane is flooded. Those still alive are forced to close the doors—but it’s too late. The plane sinks to the bottom with twelve passengers trapped inside. More than two hundred feet below the surface, engineer Will Kent and his eleven-year-old daughter Shannon are waist-deep in water and fighting for their lives. Their only chance at survival is an elite rescue team on the surface led by professional diver Chris Kent - Shannon’s mother and Will’s soon-to-be ex-wife - who must work together with Will to find a way to save their daughter and rescue the passengers from the sealed airplane, which is now teetering on the edge of an undersea cliff. There’s not much time. With devastating emotional power and heart-stopping suspense, Drowning is an unforgettable thriller about a family’s desperate fight to save themselves and the people trapped with them - against impossible odds. Praise for Drowning: 'Stunning, emotional, and unforgettable. Drowning reads like Apollo 13 underwater' Don Winslow, New York Times bestselling author of City on Fire and The Border 'Drowning is The Poseidon Adventure meets The Martian. It is another can’t-put-down, edge-of-your-seat thriller from T. J. Newman, one of our most exciting new authors' Adrian McKinty, New York Times bestselling author of The Chain and The Island 'Drowning is pure adrenaline and all heart. Gripping, relentless, effortlessly assured, T. J. Newman’s thriller is tense and moving. You’ll be grabbed from page one as the crew and passengers of a downed airliner fight for survival and rescuers race to reach them. Drowning is an incredible ride - strap in, brace, and remember to breathe' Meg Gardiner, #1 New York Times bestselling author 'Drowning is the first terrific thriller of 2023. Honest. It has at least a dozen legit cliffhangers and a dozen huggable characters you can’t stop rooting for. T.J. Newman has the goods. Make that thegreats!' James Patterson

The new novel from the award-winning translator of Sweet Bean Paste Winner of the Naoki Prize Winner of the Society of Authors Sasakawa Foundation Prize Perfect for fans of The Guest Cat and Before the Coffee Gets Cold 'It’s no wonder the author won the prestigious Naoki Prize for this novel, which is at times heartwarming and suspenseful, detailing true resilience and survival.' Belfast Telegraph 'Everyone, please read this English translation and keep a handkerchief nearby.’ Nozomi Abe, Sasakawa Prize judge One dog changes the life of everyone who takes him in on his journey to reunite with his first owner in this inspiring tribute to the bond between humans and dogs and the life-affirming power of connection. Following a devastating earthquake and tsunami, a young man in Japan finds a stray dog outside a convenience store. The dog’s tag says “Tamon,” a name evocative of the guardian deity of the north. The man decides to keep Tamon, becoming the first in a series of owners as the dog journeys south to find the boy whom disaster tore him from. Over the course of five years, Tamon will be taken into six vastly different homes, the final one belonging to his beloved first owner, Hikaru, a boy who has not spoken since the trauma of the tsunami. An agent of fate, Tamon is a gift to everyone who welcomes him into their life. At once heart-rending and heart-warming, intimate and panoramic, suspenseful and luminous, this bestselling, award-winning novel weaves a feel-good tale of survival, resilience, and love beyond measure. “Heartrending . . . Powerfully demonstrates how love and loyalty can overcome obstacles . . . and how a dog’s love can save a person in every possible way.” Booklist “Affecting . . . Moving . . . Never feels sentimental or overdrawn . . . [Seishu Hase] proves himself a gifted storyteller.” Publishers Weekly “Heartbreakingly moving in its simplicity . . . A touching meditation on shining lights in the face of trauma and hopelessness.” Kirkus Reviews