Category: Crime/Mystery

#AussieAuthors2026, #LoveOZMG, Alice-Miranda, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, humour, Jacqueline Harvey, literary fiction, middle grade, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, series

Alice-Miranda in Paris by Jacqueline Harvey

Ashleigh

Title: Alice-Miranda in Paris Author: Jacqueline Harvey Genre: Fiction/Mystery Publisher: Puffin Published: 16th July 2019/1st March 2013 Format: Paperback Pages: 336 Price: $16.99 Synopsis: Très chic sightseeing, singing and fashion in Paris! Alice-Miranda and her friends are in Paris with a group of teachers from Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale and the Fayle School for Boys. The students have… Continue reading Alice-Miranda in Paris by Jacqueline Harvey

#AussieAuthors2026, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, Crime/Mystery, Dymocks Reading Challenge, humour, literary fiction, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, The Nerd Daily

How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by by Shailee Thompson

Ashleigh

Title: How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates Author: Shailee Thompson Genre: Thriller Publisher: Simon and Schuster Published: 28th January 2026 Format: Paperback Pages: 368 Price: $34.99 Synopsis: A hilarious, swoony and downright terrifying horror romance in which a cinephile gets caught in the middle of a murder spree at a speed-dating event and… Continue reading How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by by Shailee Thompson

#AussieAuthors2026, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOzYA, adventure, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, literary fiction, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Young Adult

Silverbrook: Yumna and the Golden Horse by Yassmin Abdel-Magied

Ashleigh

Title: Silverbrook: Yumna and the Golden Horse Author: Yassmin Abdel-Magied Genre: Fantasy/Young Adult Publisher: Hachette/Hodder Children’s Books Published: 27th January 2026 Format: Paperback Pages: 230 Price: $16.99 Synopsis: Warm, funny, and zinging with imagination this thrilling MG fantasy adventure highlights the power of community. Perfect for readers of Tola Okogwu and Sharna Jackson, aged 9+.… Continue reading Silverbrook: Yumna and the Golden Horse by Yassmin Abdel-Magied

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, check in post, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, literary fiction, middle grade, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Young Adult

My Brother, Finch by Kate Gordon

Ashleigh

Title: My Brother, Finch Author: Kate Gordon Genre: Mystery Publisher: Riveted Press Published: 3rd July 2024 Format: Paperback Pages: 200 Price: $17.99 Synopsis: Finch and Wren were as close as a brother and sister can be. When he vanished, when they were nine years old, her world cracked in two. Finch was never found. On… Continue reading My Brother, Finch by Kate Gordon

#AussieAuthors2025, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, check in post, Crime/Mystery, historical fiction, history, literary fiction, Publishers, Reading, Reviews

The Whispering Palms by Annette Leigh

Ashleigh

Title: The Whispering Palms Author: Annette Leigh Genre: Crime Publisher: Annette Leigh Published: 6th February 2024 Format: Paperback Pages: 354 Price: $37.99 (Readings Price) Synopsis: Note from Readings Books: This title is printed to order. This book may have been self-published. If so, we cannot guarantee the quality of the content. In the main most… Continue reading The Whispering Palms by Annette Leigh

#AussieAuthors2025, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, challenges, Crime/Mystery, literary fiction, Publishers, Reading, Reviews

Shadow City by Natalie Conyer

Ashleigh

Title: Shadow City Author: Natalie Conyer Genre: Crime Publisher: Echo Publishing Published: 3rd September 2024 Format: Paperback Pages: 368 Price: $32.99 Synopsis: Every city casts a shadow, where evil flourishes. Sydney, Australia: The body of a young woman is found in Chinatown. She’s been beaten, tortured – and tattooed with the image of a sun.… Continue reading Shadow City by Natalie Conyer

#AussieAuthors2025, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, Crime/Mystery, historical fiction, history, literary fiction, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, series

Black Silk and Sympathy by Deborah Challinor

Ashleigh

Title: Black Silk and Sympathy Author: Deborah Challinor Genre: Crime, Historical Crime Publisher: HarperCollins Australia Published: 3rd April 2024 Format: Paperback Pages: 384 Price: $32.99 Synopsis: A dazzling new series from bestselling historical fiction author Deborah Challinor, exploring the fascinating world of Victorian funeral customs and featuring Sydney's first female undertaker. 'Men have been undertakers… Continue reading Black Silk and Sympathy by Deborah Challinor

#AussieAuthor2025, #AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, adventure, Alice-Miranda, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, biography, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, Friday Barnes, historical fiction, history, humour, Indigenous authors, literary fiction, memoir, middle grade, non-fiction, Picture Books, plays, poetry, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Scholastic, Sci-Fi, series, short stories, Speculative fiction, spies, The Nerd Daily, Young Adult

2025 Reading Summary

Ashleigh

I write roundups that are broad and focused, and split them into men, women, Australian, non-Australian, children’s, young adult, adult, LGBTQIA, Disabled and co-authored books. There is also a post with everything and a summary at the end. So if people want to look at something in particular, they can. My final reading stats for… Continue reading 2025 Reading Summary

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOzYA, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, check in post, Crime/Mystery, historical fiction, history, literary fiction, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Young Adult

Return to Sender by Lauren Draper

Ashleigh

Title: Return to Sender Author: Lauren Draper Genre: Mystery Publisher: Pan Macmillan Published: 25th Jube 2024 Format: Paperback Pages: 384 Price: $26.99 Synopsis: SHORTLISTED FOR THE QLD LITERARY AWARDS YOUNG ADULT BOOK AWARD 2025SHORTLISTED FOR THE AUSTRALIAN BOOK DESIGN AWARDS 2025 BEST DESIGNED YOUNG ADULT COVERAfter three years away, seventeen-year-old Brodie McKellon has returned to… Continue reading Return to Sender by Lauren Draper

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, CBCA, check in post, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, Jacqueline Harvey, Junior Fiction, Kate Temple, Larrikin House, literary fiction, memoir, middle grade, mythology, non-fiction, Picture Books, Publishers, R.A. Spratt, Reading, Reviews, Scholastic, Sci-Fi, series, short stories, Speculative fiction, The Girls Who Change the World, translated works, Verse novels, Wherewithal Way, Willa and Woof, Young Adult

Children’s and Young Adult Books Read in 2025

Ashleigh

In 2025, I read 198 children’s books, from picture books to middle grade books and young adult books. I covered every age range possible. I also have a separate post for young adult books. I covered a lot of different themes and ideas in this, as well as reading as diversely as possible. There seems… Continue reading Children’s and Young Adult Books Read in 2025