Review: Mrs Winterbottom Takes a Gap Year

Title: Mrs Winterbottom Takes a Gap Year

Author: Joanna Nell

Publisher: 1st November 2023 by Hachette Australia & New Zealand

Pages: 352 pages

Genre: women’s fiction, contemporary

Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

It's never too late for the adventure of a lifetime . . .

Heather Winterbottom has worked side by side with her husband as GPs in their idyllic rural practice for over forty years. But as the time comes to hang up their stethoscopes, the Winterbottoms discover that they have rather different visions of retirement . . .

Heather dreams of exploring the Greek Islands, of escaping the shackles of her routine life and embracing an exciting new adventure. Alan dreams of growing his own vegetables.

When things come to a head at a family lunch, Heather announces that she has decided to take a year off. From her old life, from her marriage - from Alan. Alone in beautiful Greece, Heather embarks on her very own odyssey - complete with peak experiences, pitfalls and temptations. But what if coming home is the biggest adventure yet?

My Thoughts

‘What had happened to Heather Wilson, that young woman who’d been so full of dreams and plans? Heather wondered if she’d even recognise her if she passed her in the street … it was time to find another way to define herself, to find out who else she could be.’

Mrs Winterbottom Takes a Gap Year is the fifth novel by best-selling Australian author, Joanna Nell. Having read all Joanna’s novels, I continue to be impressed and grateful for the light she shines on this age bracket. She achieves a wonderful balance between whimsical and poignant as I turn each page, savouring every word of wisdom and humour all rolled poetically into one.

‘For the next twelve months she was going to put herself first. If that made her selfish, then so be it. She’d waited long enough.’

When Heather and her husband Alan - who have been married for over forty years - both retire from their local medical practice, they discover their dreams of retirement are very different. Alan is happy pottering in his garden, however, Heather dreams of so much more. This only scratches the surface of the many issues placed under the spotlight in this book - everything from the evolution of a long term marriage, to what entering the latter stages of life look like, family dramas, life adventures and how to build a meaningful life post retirement. 

‘They’d become co-administrators of their marriage rather than enthusiastic participants; housemates who shared the same bed.’

This is a great story with shades of Shirley Valentine and full of Joanna’s usual heart and humour. It’s a tale of relationships - family and friends - learning to make the most of one’s life and staying true when listening to your heart. Have courage and make the most of these few precious years we have on this earth. I must also note Joanna’s nod to Homer’s, Odyssey - wonderful. 

‘Part of her wanted to believe the epic poet was a woman, that women could have their own odysseys, and that however long the journey, however many adventures they had on the way, they would always find their way home.’

Once more I applaud Joanna for the spotlight she continues to shine on this age group. If you have not ever read one of Joanna’s books I encourage you to do so - the knowledge and expert understanding she brings keeps the stories surrounding this age bracket relevant and purposeful. Growing old may be a harsh reality, but it does not have to be at the expense of purposeful living. 

‘What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

 

 

Review: Jane and the Final Mystery

Title: Jane and the Final Mystery

Author: Stephanie Barron

Publisher: 24th October 2023 by Soho Press, Soho Crime

Pages: 312 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction | Cozy Mystery | Jane Austen | Regency

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

The final volume of the critically acclaimed mystery series featuring Jane Austen as amateur sleuth

March 1817: As winter turns to spring, Jane Austen’s health is in slow decline, and threatens to cease progress on her latest manuscript. But when her nephew Edward brings chilling news of a death at his former school, Winchester College, not even her debilitating ailment can keep Jane from seeking out the truth. Arthur Prendergast, a senior pupil at the prestigious all-boys’ boarding school, has been found dead in a culvert near the schoolgrounds—and in the pocket of his drenched waistcoat is an incriminating note penned by the young William Heathcote, the son of Jane’s dear friend Elizabeth. Winchester College is a world unto itself, with its own language and rites of passage, cruel hazing and dangerous pranks. Can Jane clear William’s name before her illness gets the better of her?

 

Over the course of fourteen previous novels in the critically acclaimed Being a Jane Austen Mystery series, Stephanie Barron has won the hearts of thousands of fans—crime fiction aficionados and Janeites alike—with her tricky plotting and breathtaking evocation of Austen’s voice. Now, she brings Jane’s final season—and final murder investigation—to brilliant, poignant life in this unforgettable conclusion.

My Thoughts

Jane and the Final Mystery is the final book in the series that Stephanie has been writing for nearly 30 years! Such an accomplishment and there is much that Janeites and crime fiction lovers are sure to embrace about this series. 

“Jane, what are we to do?” “Let me to think a while,” I told her. “I shall not desert you. We shall all of us find a way out of this coil.”

This book can certainly be read as a standalone but lovers of this genre should definitely consider going to the start of this incredible series for pure entertainment. The mystery is intriguing as a spotlight is given to the darker side of the English school system of the day and the many issues that raged.  Acknowledgement must also be given to the incredible research undertaken: it was richly detailed, providing readers with both an educational and authentic experience. The various footnotes included throughout and the Afterword provided by Stephanie are interesting and enrich the whole experience.

‘Charm, an easiness of manner, and good looks may hide any number of sins, as I knew to my cost. How many heroines had I thrown in the way of such men - the Willoughbys, the Wickhams, the William Elliots?’

Yet it is the character of Jane herself which drew me to this book in the first place and I was not disappointed. It is here that in my opinion, Stephanie has truly excelled. To capture not only the tone of Jane Austen but also her characteristics were she to find herself in the role of sleuth are so very believable. Being the final book, Stephanie does not shy away from the illness that plagued Jane in her final months. She is suffering in pain, facing the prospect that she will most likely not recover. This is handled with sensitivity.

‘I am uncertain why you ask the question, Miss Austen. Would you interfere in the coroner’s business?”

For Janeites everywhere who see Jane Austen using her great skill of observations put to the use of solving mysteries, this series is well worth further investigation. 

‘I did not pray for myself specifically. I did not pray for healing. I did not pray for more energy, more health, more time with those I loved, and who loved me. I knew that such things were already in God’s hands … The Virgin could neither extend nor shorten my time on earth; but speaking with her might render it more peaceful.’

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | PUBLISHER | BOOKSHOP | GOODREADS

 

AUTHOR BIO

Stephanie Barron is a graduate of Princeton and Stanford, where she received her Masters in History as an Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellow in the Humanities. Her novel, THAT CHURCHILL WOMAN (Ballantine, January 22, 2019) traces the turbulent career of Jennie Jerome, Winston Churchill's captivating American mother. Barron is perhaps best known for the critically acclaimed Jane Austen Mystery Series, in which the intrepid and witty author of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE details her secret detective career in Regency England. A former intelligence analyst for the CIA, Stephanie—who also writes under the name Francine Mathews—drew on her experience in the field of espionage for such novels as JACK 1939, which The New Yorker described as "the most deliciously high-concept thriller imaginable." She lives and works in Denver, CO.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | BOOKBUB |

GOODREADS

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Back on Track

Title: Back on Track

Author: Tricia Stringer

Publisher: 4th October 2023 by Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA

Pages: 464 pages

Genre: fiction, contemporary, romance

Rating: 4 crowns

Synopsis:

Bestselling author and voice of Australian storytelling Tricia Stringer tackles troubled relationships, ageism, and love old and new in this warm, funny, uplifting story of colleagues and unlikely travel companions thrown together on an astonishing (and revealing) train trip across Australia.

Ketty Clift's couture dressmaking business is thriving but the same can't be said for her staff. Lately, cracks have appeared in the team's harmony, testing relationships and causing issues with customers. Worse, the rumour that Ketty has lost her touch is circulating. So when Ketty's old friend Carlos suggests a holiday by train - on the iconic Ghan, no less - Ketty decides to take her surprised staff with her in the hope of fixing what ails them. 

But it's not turning out to be the cure-all Ketty had hoped for. Her protective second-in-command, Judith, doubts Carlos's intentions and sows suspicion in Ketty's mind. Her younger staff members, Birgit and Lacey, are beset by relationship disasters and financial worries, whereas invaluable employee Ning is under pressure from her family to retire, and seamstress Tien is terrified of everything outside her comfort zone - especially the outback. 

Each new stop on the way, and the surprising behaviour of some of the other passengers, affects the group and reveals something more about each of them. As the train pulls deeper into the mesmerising outback, matters seem set to come to a disturbing crescendo. Ketty must sidestep the drama, reunite her troubled workers and save her business and relationships. But will her transformative magic work to bring them all back on track?

My Thoughts

Back on Track is the latest offering from Aussie favourite Tricia Stringer. Tricia's talent extends across a range of genres from rural fiction through to contemporary and her readers are always guaranteed some wonderful escapism. On this occasion Tricia gives us another multi generational drama and all set on the iconic train, ‘The Ghan’ a trip from Darwin at the top of Australia to Adelaide in the south of Australia. 

‘And just as on a cruise ship, every surface gleamed. She closed her eyes, inhaled the lingering trace of eucalyptus scent and anticipated the trip ahead. Her spirits lifted.’

As usual Tricia includes a strong cast of characters that cover all ages - from Ketty in her 70s, Judith in her 50s through to Lacey in her 20s and many others. So, already you can see, there is sure to be something for everybody to relate to. Also, who could surpass Tricia’s wonderful descriptions of outback Australia with stop offs at Katherine, Alice Springs and Coober Pedy. I also appreciated the descriptions of The Ghan itself from the cabins to the dining experience.There are some topical issues in this book - ageism is at the top but Tricia also touches on retirement, work place tensions, discrimination, working visas, disabilities, family breakdowns -  dealing with them in her usual sensitive way. 

“I think sometimes we’re our own worst enemies when it comes to ageism. People make jokes about it and we go along with them.”

This is an easy read with engaging characters, encompassing problems and solutions common in today’s society. Yet, delve a little deeper - this is a story about how we treat those over the age of 50/60 in our society and even the way we talk to ourselves into fitting into a stereotype.  This is a story of understanding and compassion, growth and development. As the title so aptly indicates, when the wheels come off (pardon the pun) how do we go about getting ourselves and those around us, ‘back on track’?

‘The timeline was short, only three nights, and Ketty needed all the help she could to make sure she got her staff back on track.’

This is another great story of family and friends with Tricia, a master at producing authentic, real people and places that take you right to the centre of the community. Not only a story that takes you to some iconic destinations in Australia but also the importance of communication and maintaining positive relationships. 

“Who wrote the rule there’s a cut-off age for enjoying life? You’re never too old for friendship, companionship, even love.”

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

 

Review: Lola in the Mirror

Title: Lola in the Mirror

Author: Trent Dalton

Publisher: 4th October 2023 by HarperCollins Publishers Australia, Fourth Estate

Pages: 448 pages

Genre: fiction, contemporary

Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

Bighearted, gritty, magical and moving, Lola in the Mirror is the irresistible new novel from international bestselling author of Boy Swallows Universe and All Our Shimmering Skies , Trent Dalton.

'Mirror, mirror, on the grass, what's my future? What's my past?' A girl and her mother are on the lam. They've been running for sixteen years, from police and the monster they left in the kitchen with the knife in his throat. They've found themselves a home inside an orange 1987 Toyota HiAce van with four flat tyres parked in a scrapyard by the edge of the Brisbane River – just two of the 100,000 Australians sleeping rough every night. The girl has no name because names are dangerous when you're on the run. But the girl has a dream. Visions in black ink and living colour. A vision of a life as a groundbreaking artist of international acclaim. A life outside the grip of the Brisbane underworld drug queen 'Lady' Flora Box. A life of love with the boy in the brown suit who's waiting for her in the middle of the bridge that stretches across a flooding and deadly river. A life far beyond the bullet that has her name on it. And now that the storm clouds are rising, there's only one person who can help make her dreams come true. That person's name is Lola and she carries all the answers. But to find Lola, the girl with no name must first do one of the hardest things we can sometimes ever do. She must look in the mirror. 

A big, moving, blackly funny, violent, heartbreaking and beautiful novel of love, fate, life and death and all the things we see when we look in the mirror. All of the past, all of the present, and all of our possible futures. 'Mirror, mirror, please don't lie. Tell me who you are. Tell me who am I.'

My Thoughts

‘Do I want to walk through this life of mine? Or do I want to cartwheel through it?’

Trent Dalton take a bow (or do a cartwheel!)

You became Australian writing royalty after one book! I did not read that book (Boy Swallows Universe) but understood there would be immense pressure to maintain a certain level of success second time round. Book two, All Our Shimmering Skies blew my mind. It was immense .... it was a breathtaking odyssey. 

Could it be possible Trent would go ‘three for three’?

Yes indeed! 

There really are not enough adjectives to describe the phenomenon that is Trent Dalton’s writing. It’s raw, it’s dark, it’s harrowing … then it is magical, it is mesmerising, it is unique and full of hope. In one word, it is utterly brilliant. 

‘And I know who I’m talking to now. It’s the thing that brought us here. It’s the thing that give me this life. It’s the things that made us run from the monster. It’s cruelty. It’s life itself. It’s living. It’s turning. It’s art. And it will not stop.’

At face value this is the story of a young girl who is ‘houseless’ (not homeless) living in Brisbane. Who is this girl? What happened in her past? What is her name? What of her future and her dreams? But dig a little deeper and at the heart of Trent’s novels are what it is to be human. Yes, there will be darkness - terrible, horrible things happen - violence, addiction, self-harm. However, Trent holds onto the belief that most human beings have heart, they do care and will rise above to do what is right and just. 

‘In my experience, humans are mostly good and decent. In my experience, strangers will more often that not choose compassion over fear, protections over caution’.

Trent Dalton is an amazing writer. Suspend all you know, all you understand of what writing should look like and immerse yourself in how writing can be. From Aussie humour and slang, to the horrifying, confronting and harrowing details of things such as the criminal underworld. This book is atmospheric in its detail with the Brisbane River a character within itself. The illustrations by @pheppell throughout the book are an integral addition to the story. Those sketches with accompanying descriptions at the beginning of each chapter are amazing. They bring so much to what is already an incredible tale. It is heartfelt, it is rich, it is heartbreaking and it is … simply stunning. 

‘You ever lived through a single moment in your life that gave meaning to every single tiny moment you lived through before it?’

If you are a fan of Trent’s you won’t be disappointed. If you have never had the privilege to read any of Trent’s work, waste no more time. Put aside what you think you know about writing and what you think you know about Trent’s writing. Take this fantastical journey that is Lola in the Mirror and embark on a life changing journey. Full of melodrama and magical realism I promise it will be memorable - you will smile,  you will laugh, you will shed a tear and allow the poetic prose of Trent Dalton sweep you away. 

‘You are magic,’ Lola says. ‘You’ve always been magic. You’ve never needed a mirror to see who you are.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.