AustLit

Cambridge linguist Edvard Tøssentern, presumed dead, reappears after a balloon crash. When he staggers in from a remote swamp, gravely ill and swollen beyond recognition, his colleagues at the research station are overjoyed. But Edvard’s discovery about a rare giant bird throws them all into the path of an international crime ring. [Publisher's blurb]

'My granny and her friends go to the beach, and I go too. When they hit the surf, they duck and dive and twist and turn. It looks like lots of fun. But I don't want to go in the water. There are strange things under the waves.' (From the publisher's website.)

'Intelligence analyst Richard Worse finds his life threatened by an ancient curse in this witty, surprising crime mystery from award-winning author Robert Edeson.

'In this thrilling mystery novel, centuries-old secrets and modern-day danger collide in a heart-pumping race to find a killer.

'Intelligence analyst Richard Worse is pulled into the investigation of a murder in the parish where an unspeakable evil occurred over 600 years ago. As Worse and his partner, Emily Misgivingston, delve deeper into the case, he lays bare a shocking secret that will strike at the heart of his own family.' (Publication summary)

'For Broome detective Dan Clement, it seems that crime is as plentiful as wet season rain. When his sergeant is beaten up, and a woman is brutally assaulted, it seems like the same two suspects are behind both incidents. But when a woman’s hand is discovered in crocodile-infested waters, things take a macabre turn. The stakes rise sky-high as Dan races against time to solve this complex and puzzling case.' (Publication summary)

'When Roz Chen’s wife, Niamh, is killed in a hit-and-run on a lonely Tasmanian road, the grieving widow begins to wonder if Niamh’s death was an accident after all. Meanwhile, SAS veteran Sam Willard is hoping for a fresh start with a job at a salmon farm. But as allegations of old war crimes surface and Sam is ‘promoted’ as a special operative against anti-salmon farm activists, he and Roz form an unlikely alliance.

'Forced to retreat into the unforgiving Tasmanian wilderness, Roz and Sam find themselves scrambling for the truth with murderous thugs on their trail.' (Publication summary)

'Join the History Hunter as he delves into an extraordinary story of shipwreck and treasure and investigates one of Australia's mysterious cold cases.

'On a summer morning in 1931, four children on a remote beach made a remarkable discovery. But this was only one of many astonishing finds in the same area- silver coins, hidden chests, mysterious stones, strange objects and an unidentified skeleton. Why was it all there? Where had it come from? Can the truth be found? Join the History Hunter to unravel this marvelous mystery.' (Publication summary)

'Are we alone in the universe? The History Hunter examines an unexplained disappearance to find out.

'In 1978, a young pilot vanished during a routine flight over a notorious stretch of water known as the 'Bass Strait Triangle'. His radio transmission to airport control is one of the most bizarre ever recorded. What did Frederick Valentich encounter? Where did he disappear to? Can the truth be found? Join the History Hunter to explore this extraordinary story.' (Publication summary)

'A new teacher, a new style of dance and a whole lot of personal drama off the dance floor sees Amelia and Valentina risk spinning out of control.

'Amelia loves ballet more than anything, but the sudden arrival of an intense new teacher shifts the Academy focus from classical to contemporary dance. Amelia is out of her depth with the edgy choreography and unsettled by its world-ending theme, especially when a shock diagnosis really might bring her life crashing down. Valentina is completely at home with the new style but has troubles off the dance floor. As she desperately strives to secure a scholarship and save her dance career, money problems and an unexpected romance have her in a complete spin. With so much at breaking point, the girls will need to decide what really matters before everything falls apart.' (Publication summary)

'Tossed Up by the Beak of a Cormorant is a poetic collaboration between award-winning poet Nandi Chinna and Aboriginal elder Professor Anne Poelina. It explores the politics and the culture of one of Australia's last great unregulated waterways, the Martuwarra Fitzroy River.

'Martuwarra Fitzroy River is Australia's last great unregulated waterway. It is also a significant element of Australia's largest Indigenous heritage site and, for some, it also represents untapped revenue. When in flood, the river has the power to destroy communities and livelihoods. But above all, to Professor Anne Poelina, the mighty river is a venerated living ancestor who must be protected. This collaboration between award-winning poet Nandi Chinna and Anne Poelina - the elder who guided Nandi's
own relationship with the river - takes the reader on a journey of absorbing immersion and growing understanding as a conversation in poetry reveals the mighty river's beauty and vulnerability.' (Publication summary)

'Transient experience and the minutiae of daily life in a vast landscape - these are the preoccupations and celebrations of poet Chris Palazzolo, who for many years has called the East Kimberley in Australia's northwest his home.

'Personal Logistics is a collection about men and industry, about enterprise and survival, and about the insignificance of the individual in place and time. The collection details the poet's experiences and observations of life in the East Kimberley, as someone who has worked on the mines and as a stay-at-home dad. Coursing through the collection, in both the wet season and the dry, is the theme of the relation between naturally flowing water and hydroeletricity, without which Kununurra, where the poet resides, would be considerably less hospitable.' (Publication summary)

'Full of simmering tensions, Katherine Allum's award-winning debut novel, The Skeleton House, pulls back the layers on a seemingly perfect family, exposing the complexities of marriage and motherhood when you are fighting to keep your own identity, no matter the cost.

'Meg's life is woven into the fabric of St Stephens. It's a tapestry made of two precious children, a hidden truth and a husband whose ideas of a perfect wife do not match her own. When Meg puts her foot down on a third kid, gets a job and is empowered by the same book group that was meant to keep her in her place, her marriage begins to disintegrate. Set in a tiny Mormon community, this is a novel about resilience and courage - the fierceness of mother-love and the power that comes with never forgetting who you really are.' (Publication summary)

'A stunning new picture book by award-winning author and illustrator Kelly Canby that gently introduces the concept of grief to children.

'Bear is all alone. His brothers and sisters have left him. Bear embraces his grief in the form of Greaf - the greenest, most beguiling leaf Bear has ever seen. Bear holds Greaf tight. But as the season wanes, Greaf changes, and so too does Bear. A poignant, lyrical story gently touching on the changing nature of sorrow in the aftermath of loss.' (Publication summary)

'This treasure trove collection of stories from transgender authors unites characters who wield courage and creativity in exhilarating escapades, all in search of a place to call home.

'Get ready to set sail with a crew of rebels and misfits in this thrilling anthology of pirate tales. From CD burners to space pirates with an otherworldly crew, these stories blur the lines between criminal and separatist, playful and heartfelt and showcase a range of unique characters and found families. Featuring seven long-form pieces of writing, including a graphic novella and a verse novella, this collection has been edited by and features trans and non-binary writers, ensuring a fresh and diverse perspective on the pirate genre.

'Come aboard and discover a world of queer pirates, grey morals and homebrewed ale. The anthology includes pieces by Michael Earp, Alison Evans, Madison Godfrey, Maddison Stoff, Alexander Te Pohe, Mia Nie and Vika Maa.' (Production summary)

'Discover the remarkable story of Wayne Bergmann, a Nyikina man and Kimberley leader who has dedicated his life to his community, in this moving memoir of living between two cultures.

'As a Nyikina man who straddles both traditional and modern cultures, Wayne Bergmann has faced criticism and condemnation but remains unwavering in his commitment to his community and their needs. As the former head of the Kimberley Land Council, Bergmann played a crucial role in shaping the future of the region. He has worked tirelessly to promote independent Aboriginal economic development, and reclaim what has been lost due to racism and discrimination. This is the chance to hear the story of a prominent Aboriginal leader who has often paid a high price for sticking up for his people.'  (Publication summary)

'When loathed landholder Fred O’Donnell is found dead in a locked room with a bullet in his chest, rookie Detective Hartley must seek help from a mysterious wanderer to solve the case. And it’s one where everyone, including his family, has a motive and a secret to keep.

'Featuring the mendicant monk from Thorpe’s previous novel, Death Leaves the Station, readers will be drawn into the world of small-town Western Australia in the late 1920s, delighting in the characters as they navigate the strained sensibilities and dark secrets of the past.

'Full of twists and turns, this seemingly impossible murder mysteryis cosy crime writing at its finest.'  (Publication summary)

'With its honest portrayal of the complexity of human relationships and the difficult choices we face, Last Best Chance is a compelling and thought provoking read.

'When Rachel, a forty-something single woman, finds herself running out of options on her path to motherhood, she seeks treatment at a fertility clinic in Central Europe. Telling half-truths to her family and the clinic's medical team, Rachel questions how far she will go to become a mother, even though she struggles to articulate her desire to become one.

'Meanwhile, expat Jess loves her new life with Viktor despite their struggle to make ends meet and her confusion about her life's purpose. Viktor and his friends live their lives passionately while Jess just seems to be living.

'With the city preparing for a green-energy expo, Jess sees the opportunity to ignite a career dream, while Rachel fears that it might jeopardise her dream of having a child. Will a chance encounter between the two women give each what she desires?' (Publication summary) 

'An emotional journey through the lives of a group of university students as they fall in and out of friendship and love. In this dramatic coming-of-age story, bonds formed during an intense summer of rehearsals will be tested across decades.

'One hot summer, a group of university students gathers in an orchard to rehearse a play.

'Veronika is born for a life on the stage while Felix seizes his last chance for creative freedom. Sebastian woos Veronika, and Cassie longs for Sebastian. Josh and Gloria each carry a secret they are unable to share.

'Passion, rivalry and enduring connections will bind the Players across years and continents, long after the final curtain falls and they leave university behind. From Perth to Paris, Cambridge, London, Berlin and Dili the friends search for meaning in their careers and friendship, discover love and endure heartbreak.'  (Publication summary)

'Sister Vivian Bullwinkel was the only survivor of the Bangka Island massacre during World War II. Her evocative story is told through the eyes of fifteen-year-old Edith ‘Edie’ Kenneison.

'Sister Bullwinkel enlisted in the Australian Army Nurse Service at the outbreak of World War II and was posted to Singapore. In February 1942, she and hundreds of others attempted to escape the advancing Japanese army but was captured and held as a prisoner of war. Vivian spent the next three years in captivity, working tirelessly to help her fellow prisoners. One of those prisoners was young Edie. Their remarkable friendship would help them survive and became the basis of a lifelong bond.'  (Publication summary)

'This courageous memoir about the personal toll of seeking justice from the Catholic Church is one of hope, healing and persistence.

'Raw and compelling, Anatomy of a Secret bravely shares longsilenced, unspoken truths.

'As a boy, Gerard was sexually abused by a Catholic priest at his local church. As a grown man, he confronts the trauma of what he suffered and the psychological aftermath of his experience, grappling with shame, guilt and the devastating impact it had on his family, relationships and sense of self.

'Despite what he endured, Gerard's story is one of hope and healing, of acknowledging pain and seeking support, of honesty and justice.'  (Publication summary)