This year I said that I was going to aim to review all the books I read that were either historical fiction or by Australian authors. I am a bit behind, but I think I will have some space to be able to catch up over the coming weeks. Today, I am going to share two mini-ish reviews of books by Australian authors. These books have very little in common apart from the fact that they are by Aussie authors and I really enjoyed them both.
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
Ernest Cunningham is not looking forward to the Cunningham family reunion which is being held to celebrate the release of his brother from prison. He has no idea how his brother is going to feel about him given that Ernest was the one who testified and got him convicted in the first place.
The Cunningham family dynamic is very complicated. Ernest's mother has disowned him, his wife has left him for his brother whose own wife is hoping for a reconciliation and his auntie has every minute of the reunion meticulously planned. There's a stash of money, a number of crimes and a snow storm. What could go wrong? Well, quite a lot actually.
This story has a very unusual structure. Ernie is a self published writer who writes books about how to write mysteries. When a body is found, Ernie is the one who needs to investigate (because he has experience) but he is telling us the story after the event. As such, he knows what happened and so can give us asides. For example, he might say that a character went outside for her last cigarette but of course she didn't know that at the time. And we know in the prologue at exactly what page we should expect all of the deaths to occur. Yes, there are multiple deaths
This was so much fun right from page 1, with twists and turns, a narrator who regularly breaks the fourth wall to talk directly to the reader, fantastic characters and so much more!
I am not really sure why but it was only recently that I realised that the author was Australian, and in the end it was this fact that prompted me to finally request the book from the library! I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Rating 4.5/5
The Last Love Note by Emma Grey
You really could not get more different books. Where Everybody in My Family Has Killed Someone is funny and a bit disingenuous, The Last Love Note is deeply emotional. That's not to say that it isn't hopeful because it is, but it takes the reader on a devastating journey on the way,
Kate Whittaker is a young widow who is raising her son on her own following the death of her husband Cam. Cam had been ill for quite some time with early onset dementia, going from a dynamic university lecturer to a man who needed full time care. Kate and Cam were one of those couples who were just meant to be together forever. No one expected forever to be so short.
The story of Kate's life both before and after Cam's death slowly unfolds. We see Kate facing all sorts of challenges but thankfully she has some great support from her friends to her boss, Hugh. Hugh had also been a great friend to Cam but Kate is sure that he has secrets that he is keeping from her and she doesn't understand why.
This is the story of a woman who has had to face one of the most difficult situations and her slow journey to a new, different life.
Author Emma Grey has lived experience of many of the things that happened in this book. Her husband died suddenly at a young age, leaving her a widow with young children to raise on her own which gives the storytelling a real authenticity. I laughed and I cried. In short, I felt all the feels.
This is the second book I have read from Emma Grey, with the first being Pictures of You which I reviewed here.
Rating 5/5
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