Staff Book Reviews

The Amber Owl by Juliet Marillier

Are you looking for a fantasy novel that meanders down paths at a gentle pace? Perhaps you enjoy a little adventure entwined with folklore and a sprinkle of magic. If found family, community and bravery are like a warm hug for your soul then immerse yourself in this powerful new tale from Perth’s award-winning author, Juliet Marillier.

Stasya is a storyteller. Her words and stories hold power. Along with her unusual dog companion Flip, Stasya lives on the edge of the mysterious Heartwood Forest, away from the villagers who her find her odd. The dark and lush forest is alive with animals, monsters, uncanny beings and tales of evil spirits but those who venture deep, become lost.

The village and Stasya’s world are sent into chaos when soldiers of the Ruler of the Northlands arrive putting the forest in danger. The stories of the town and the forest are forever changed and Stasya’s path now leads to the capitol. But nothing will make Stasya break her vow to protect the Forest.

In a world full of secrets, dangers and deception, it is hard to tell friend from foe. But unlikely allies weave their way into our tale. As they embark on a perilous mission and discover their place in the world, what narratives will unfold? And how will the paths they have chosen bend and change these stories along the way?

This alluring tale of human connection, one's relationship with the natural world and the power of the spoken word leaves no cliff hangers. Just the perfect spot to pause whilst our characters prepare to continue their journey in 2026. Told from multiple points of view this tale will tug at your heartstrings in all the right ways.


Reviewed by Rachel, Library Customer Experience Officer

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The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

A missing girl, a haunted forest and a family built on secrets... this atmospheric mystery pulls you in and doesn’t let go.

Liz Moore’s The God of the Woods is a slow-burn literary mystery that combines small-town tension with deep emotional undercurrents. Set in 1975 in the Adirondacks, the story begins when thirteen-year-old Barbara Van Laar vanishes from her family’s summer camp, years after her brother Bear disappeared in the same woods. What unfolds is less about finding a missing child, and more about uncovering the fractures within a powerful family and the community around them. Moore’s storytelling is rich and layered, shifting between perspectives and timelines in a way that keeps you constantly re-evaluating what you think you know about the characters (and what they're hiding).

What really stood out to me was the atmosphere in the novel; the heavy quiet of the forest, the suffocating feel of things long buried, and an unease that lingers, even in daylight. Moore has a gift for writing characters who feel painfully real, especially the women caught between silence and survival. The book explores privilege, guilt, and how far people will go to protect themselves. It’s not a quick or simple read, but once it gets under your skin, it stays there.

I’d recommend The God of the Woods to readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries like The Lovely Bones or None of This is True. It is thoughtful, beautifully written, and emotionally resonant. By the end, you may not have all the answers, but you’ll feel like you’ve lived inside the story, and that’s what makes it such a powerful read.

Review by Wendy, Library Customer Experience Officer

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I Hope this Finds You Well by Natalie Sue

Jolene Smith has an extremely unfulfilling job working for the head office of a Canadian supermarket chain and passes her days sending passive aggressive notes to her nasty coworkers in a secret portion of white text at the bottom of each email reply. But when one of these notes, sent to Jolene’s work colleague and wannabe Instagram influencer Caitlin, accidentally gets sent unhidden, Jolene finds herself pulled up in front of the new HR representative, Cliff. (To make matters worse, said disciplinary meeting takes place on Jolene’s birthday, and she had thought she was being called in for a ‘meeting’ that was actually an occasion to eat cake.) Humiliated and now subject to mandatory interpersonal communications training, Jolene agrees to have her computer usage monitored. But when Cliff seemingly installs the wrong program on Jolene’s computer, suddenly giving her access to everyone’s emails and instant messages, it seems she might finally have it in her power to make a bit of headway at Supershops. That is, if she even wants to.

I Hope This Finds You Well is an often very funny and sarcastic novel about being irritated with the people you are forced to work closely with every day and has the same kind of ‘if you don’t laugh, you might cry’ vibe to TV shows like The Office. What sets this novel apart, however, is that while at first, Jolene is upset by the nasty things her colleagues say about her behind her back (to be fair, it’s not actually any worse than what she says about them), soon she begins to learn that everyone at work has more to them than meets the eye. As Jolene starts to participate more and get to know the people around her, she realises that the office is a strange place to make friends, and that just maybe, everyone else is struggling as much as she is.

The ending of this book is surprisingly moving, and I really felt for Jolene as the stress of her situation – and her past traumas – began to catch up with her. Pick this book up for the snarky commentary about some familiar workplace archetypes, but stay for the warm feeling you’ll get reading about the power of connection with colleagues who become friends.

Reviewed by Emily, Librarian

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By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult

Was Shakespeare really a talented playwright or simply a name for hire? Make of this story what you Will….

Jodi Picoult argues convincingly for the latter in her latest novel By Any Other Name.

Melina Green is an aspiring playwright in her senior year at college. After returning home from a particularly disconcerting session with her thesis mentor, she quickly dismisses the mail from her dad sharing some family history. She had an ancestor who was a poet – so what, she thinks.

But as things go from bad to worse with her studies, Melina revisits the information about that ancestor. Emilia Bassano, born in Elizabethan times, was possibly the first published female poet in England, at a time when not only women, but also members of the peerage were forbidden to write for a public audience. Feeling a shared struggle to find her place as a writer, Melina delves into researching Emilia’s life.

Emilia’s world is richly drawn as she becomes the mistress of the man charged with overseeing the theatrical performances in the Queen’s court. Talented in many of the arts, it is story-telling that has long been her secret passion. As Emilia’s fortunes change and she is desperate for a way to support herself, this access to the world of the theatre becomes her saviour. Emilia is eventually able to sell her written work. To have her work performed is a dream come true, however having her name publicly attributed to it is a risk not worth taking.

In bringing Emilia’s story to life through the writing of Melina, Jodi Picoult has crossed to the historical biographical fiction genre with a fabulous dual timeline plotted novel. Not usually one to read Picoult’s contemporary fiction, having her immense writing talent turned to this genre has me excited. I loved this novel.

Review by Christy – Collection Development Librarian

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The Empress Murders by Toby Schmitz

Like your murders not so cosy? Then, all aboard for a death cruise on the SS Empress of Australia.

The Empress Murders, by Perth author, Toby Schmitz, is a classic locked room murder mystery. Set in 1925, this whodunnit pays homage to Agatha Christie but with much, much more blood, gore, black humour and absolutely loads more swearing and irreverence than Agatha ever gave us.

Our journey on the SS Empress of Australia begins after the first murder has already occurred. Washed up Scotland Yard detective, Archie Daniels is out of his depth. He is more of a “hard man” detective rather than a crime solving detective. As the voyage continues and the bodies start piling up, Archie is having to develop his detecting skills on the fly.

The Empress Murders explores colonialism, class, privilege and power. True to Agatha Christie’s style, the ship is full of colourful characters with their own back stories, schemes, ambitions and desires. We share the voyage with up start rich colonial types desperate to be taken seriously, poor aristocrats living on credit and desperation, gangsters, con artists, grifters and the working poor who are just trying to keep their heads above water. All these characters come together to create the perfect setting for murder. Everyone is a suspect, but is Archie up to the job?

The Empress Murders sits somewhere between a cosy crime novel and a hardened murder thriller. The wicked humour and irreverence of this death cruise will tickle the fancy of fans of television’s Deadloch and Dexter while appealing to Agatha Christie groupies with a strong stomach.

Reviewed by Jo-Anne, Collection Development Librarian

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