AustLit

'Death. A castle. A posse of cats.

'Rosie isn't sure what to expect when she gets an invitation to Carlyle Castle.

'The castle has stood in the heart of the Australian countryside for years, inhabited only by its reclusive owner, Alex Carlyle, and his two servants. Alex is convinced that one of his children want him dead. The question is - which one?

Alex wants Rosie to watch and listen when the family come to visit, but all does not go to plan, however, when death strikes unexpectedly.

'To make matters worse, the murder is an impossible crime, committed in a room locked from the inside...' (Publication summary)

'A UFO conference. A cold case. A missing man.

'Rosie Ryan faces her toughest challenge ever when she's asked to investigate the death of Hailey Lawrence. The writer was on the verge of international fame with her first novel. Did her death really an accident? Or was she murdered by a jealous rival?

'At the same time, Rosie has to deal with the annual Australian Flying Saucer Association conference. It's being held in Cape Carson for the first time, and she's been asked to assist. She wouldn't have said yes, but there's been a terrible misunderstanding, and now she has to chair the panels. It can't be too difficult. Can it?' (Publication summary)

'‘It's a fun whodunit with interesting characters, odd plot twists, and red herrings that knocked my sox off. Looking forward to more!’

'An accident that’s not an accident. A perilous pizza. A pug who knows too much…

'No one believes Celia Spalt when she gets up at the Storytelling Tent and tells everyone she once witnessed a murder. After all, Celia’s an old lady, and her mind’s on the way out.

'But when she unexpectedly dies, Rosie begins to wonder if there could be something more to her story. Celia lived at Sandcastle Village, a gated community that’s supposed to keep its residents safe from the world. But only a month before, Joe Porter slipped, fell and also died.

'Could he have been murdered? Possibly. After all, he was the most hated person in the village…

'This story’s got it all: pizza clues, a rambunctious pug, and an annual Trash and Treasure sale where no one knows the difference between trash and treasure!

'To make matters worse, Rosie's best friend, Kim Chen, has a phobia she's never revealed to Rosie before. It seems some people are afraid of the strangest things...' (Publication summary) 

'A spooky séance. A missing ornament. A double murder.

'Can Vivian Shelly really speak to the dead?

'Rosie’s not a believer, but her doubts are pushed to the limit when she attends one of Vivian’s séances. There’s something weird about the whole event. Something otherworldly. And the event gets even stranger when murder comes calling…

'This is confusing enough, but then Rosie's editor, Harry, wants her to interview a local sculpture who makes totems of celebrities. Rosie can't make up her mind if they're creepy or simply kooky! There's a fine line between art and obsession - and sometimes that line gets crossed!

'The whole gang is back: Rosie’s quirky librarian friend, Kim Chen, the town’s hottest cop, Todd Parker, and the sassiest grandmother to be found on the south coast, Nan Ryan. Good thing Trixie the beagle is there.

'After all, someone’s got to keep this crazy crowd under control…' (Publication summary)

'A mysterious note. A string of unrelated deaths. A legendary monster.

'Is there a killer at work in the tiny town of Port Logan?

'Rosie Ryan is sceptical when she receives the anonymous note about a recent death in the nearby town of Port Logan: So strange, all these deaths in Port Logan. And now, Stewart Bard.

'It doesn't make sense. Stewart Bard was killed by a falling rock while walking along the coast. But when Rosie and her librarian friend Kim Chen investigate, they discover that Port Logan has had more than its string of strange deaths.

'Staying in Port Logan means boarding with Nola and Monica, the old ladies from the Cape Carson Mystery Book Club. They're interesting cooks, although whole lemons in a stew seems a little unorthodox to Rosie.' 

'At least Rosie has Kim to turn to. Sadly, though, Kim seems to have issues with breaking into people's homes while Rosie seems to think it's okay - as long as it's in a good cause.

'The mystery is baffling. Could there be a killer in the area? Are the deaths unrelated accidents? Or are all these deaths the work of the mythical sea monster that supposedly stalks the tiny town at night?

'And, strangest of all, what exactly is in Nola and Monica's stew that makes it so tasty?' (Publication summary) 

'A lighthouse murder. A crazy Cupcake Festival. A baffling clue.

'Reporter Rosie Ryan isn’t looking forward to her latest assignment. She’d rather be doing almost anything else than staying with famous actress, Katy Dark, and her entourage at the old Lighthouse Inn. Even if there is a quirky coincidence among the other guests: all six of them have names that start with the letter C.

'But coincidence quickly becomes chaos when murder happens and the only clue is the letter C scrawled in the victim’s own blood. One of them is a killer, but—which one?

'Cameron: the unhappy husband?
Cindy: the secretive publicist?
Chris: the handsome biographer?
Chadek: the brutish security guard?
Colin: the jealous ex-manager?
Charlotte: the obsessive fan?

'Local hunky cop, Todd Parker, is already busy dealing with the craziness of the Annual Cupcake Festival. This leaves Rosie to take on the case. Unfortunately, she's also got to focus on judging the cupcake contest - and the contestants take baking very seriously.

'Along with her dog, Trixie, and her librarian friend, Kim Chen, Rosie works to solve the baffling mystery. She also has to deal with Kim's love life. Her ex-boyfriend is in town and she's more starry-eyed than ever.

'Will Rosie catch the killer before they strike again?' (Publication summary) 

'A female reporter. A hunky cop. A cute dog.

'A baffling mystery.

'Did Edna Crayborne really see a woman getting strangled in the ground floor window of the old Bailey house?

'Rosie Ryan isn’t sure. As a journalist with the Cape Carson Gazette, Rosie’s always on the lookout for a big news story. And the Bailey house does have a reputation as the most haunted house in town. After all, it’s the place where the infamous Bailey killings happened all those years ago.

'Of course, that’s old history now. Or is it? Why did other guests in the house hear three gunshots—when the gun was only fired twice?

'Rosie’s determined to discover the truth—and she doesn’t have to do it alone. Helping her out is her quirky librarian friend, Kim Chen who is also determined to get Rosie a new boyfriend. Fortunately, there's a hunky new cop in town, Todd Parker, although he's more interested in finding criminals than finding a girlfriend. Then there's Rosie’s sassy eighty-three year old Grandmother, Nan Ryan, who is busily man-chasing as well!

'Rosie’s trying to catch a killer. But if she’s not careful, she could become the killer’s next victim…' (Publication summary) 

'Times are tough in the small town of Yallaroo where Ally Simpson has lived her whole life. The whole area is in drought and people are going broke or moving away. So when Ally hears about a competition to win the trip of a lifetime to visit the Smithsonian Museum in the USA, she knows she’s got to do everything she can to try and win.

'Ally enlists her best friends Harmony and Ping to help her plan the most impressive experiment she can imagine: to send a video camera to the edge of space, and prove once and for all that the earth is round. At first, Ally is pretty sure she’s got the whole competition stitched up. But then, as one disaster after another derails her plans, she begins to learn the importance of staying grounded even while she’s aiming for the sky…'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Our team of teenage superheroes have always sought the answers to their origins. What are their real names? Who are their parents? Why were they chosen to be superheroes?

'But sometimes searching for answers leads to more questions. When The Agency are called in to investigate the murder of a teenager, our teen superheroes are soon drawn into the mystery. It immediately promises to propel them into the greatest adventure of their lives. Who is the mysterious teenager who ended up dead and why was he killed?

'And—strangest of all—why does he look so much like Axel?

'Their search for the truth will take them to visit a past foe who now languishes in jail, and finally to a cabin in the woods that may hold all the answers. Before they can unravel the truth, however, they must make use of a technology that once before threatened to destroy them.

'Time travel is in the mix. It may bring about a new beginning—or all too easily spell out the end of everything.' (Publication summary)

'Twelve-year-old Bobby Baxter’s not the bravest kid on Earth. His list of things that scare him is up to number 689, and includes lightning, crowds, spiders, alien abductions, crocodiles, falling from great heights, falling from small heights and eggs.

'So when he learns that he’s the first Earthling ever chosen to attend the Galactic Space Academy, light years away from home, he’s terrified - and that’s before he discovers that someone at the academy wants the boy from Earth gone. '  (Publication summary)

The Earth is doomed...

'The Tagaar empire are on the verge of invading Earth and nothing can stop them.

'Well, almost nothing...

'Axel and the others have settled into their new life at Asgard base when Mister Okada gives them the news they've been dreading the Tagaar are on their way to invade the Earth. They intend to strip it of its resources before destroying the planet. Mister Okada does have a plan, but it is not without risks.

'Our team of superheroes must travel into space, and to the heart of Tagaar territory. Here, if they can make three ancient Tagaar prophecies come true, the Tagaar will lay down their arms forever. The odds are against our heroes, and it's not long before Axel, Brodie and the others are separated and lost in deep space.

'With time running out, they must achieve their goal, or all will be completely lost.' (Publication summary)

'Teenagers on skateboards jumped off walkways, dropped a dozen floors and activated rockets to safely land walkways below. Blake took a deep breath, inhaling something that smelt like a cross between burnt plastic and toffee apple. Neo City, Blake thought. Home, sweet home.

'NEO City, 2509. After a series of operational bungles, as well as the accidental death of his partner, special agent Blake Carter’s career at the Planetary Bureau of Investigation is in trouble.

'To make matters worse, he’s just been assigned a new partner—and the beautiful and brilliant Nicki Steel happens to be a cyborg.

When universe-famous criminal Bartholomew Badde steals a weapon capable of destroying whole planets at a time, Blake and Nicki must work together to recover it—an investigation that takes them to all corners of the weird and wonderful galaxy.

But things get serious when Badde kidnaps Blake’s teenage daughter, Lisa. Can Blake prove he’s still a first-rate agent—not to mention father—and save Lisa in time?' (Publication summary)

'As the dark clouds of another war loom, Jack, Scarlet and Mr Doyle travel from grimy streets of London to neon-bright metropolis of Tokyo.

'They’re on a mission for the British government: to locate the Kusanagi sword, an ancient relic believed to have magical powers. If they can find the sword, the Emperor of Japan promises to keep the peace between his nation and the allies.

'But in Tokyo, they soon discover that the Nazis are after the sword, too. And they will stop at nothing for world domination—putting the team’s lives in terrible danger.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Book Four of the Jack Mason Adventure series

'After a series of fatal bombings across London, Jack, Scarlet and Mr Doyle are drawn into another baffling case: the reported sighting of a monster loose in the city’s underground sewers.

'Before they can investigate, the team must travel to Spain to hunt down a group of terrorists.

'But just as they close in, Jack and Scarlet are kidnapped. With their lives in perilous danger, will Mr Doyle find his young assistants in time?

'While back in London, will the monster’s true origins be uncovered before it too wreaks deadly destruction across the city?' (Publication summary)

'Axel’s life is turned upside down when he is sent a message from the New Haven refugee camp. The aliens there have information about his past.

'This takes him on a whole new journey. He leaves Liber8tor to start a fresh life. Everything is perfect. He now has family and a place to call home. He even has a girlfriend, a girl named Quinn who bears an uncanny resemblance to Brodie.For the first time ever, Axel knows his true identity and what the future holds.

'Or does he?

'Inspired by Axel’s move, Brodie and the others find a town where they can settle down. All is perfect—at first—but then strange events make them question their new home. What are the strange faces at the windows? What bizarre creature inhabits the town library? Who is the ghostly woman stalking the local supermarket?

'Is the town haunted? Are they losing their minds? Or does a far greater mystery lie beneath the surface? All is not as it seems. They must discover the truth or they will all face unimaginable terrors—for the rest of their lives!' (Publication summary)

'When The Broken Sun, an ancient artefact said to lead to the lost city of Atlantis, is stolen from the British Museum, Jack, Scarlet and Mr Doyle embark on a hunt across Europe to find it.

'But just as the artefact is within reach, their beloved secretary is mysteriously poisoned.

'In their race against time to find the antidote, the team uncovers a deadly plan, to attack the Houses of Parliament.

'Though no one has banked on another shocking discovery—that Mr Doyle’s long-dead son may still be alive…' (Publication summary)

'‘Mr Doyle,’ Scarlet said. ‘You have not explained what we are doing.’

‘I thought you’d never ask. We are travelling to Colchester Prison.’

‘Colchester Prison?’ Jack caught Scarlet’s eye. The detective might as well have suggested a trip to the moon. ‘Why?’

‘To prevent a terrible crime.’

'Jack, Scarlet and Mr Doyle return for their next action-packed adventure.

'When the world’s deadliest assassin, the Chameleon, escapes from prison, Jack begins his most dangerous investigation yet.

'With only the scantest of clues, the team travels from London to New York, a bustling metropolis filled with airships, steam cars and exciting new ideas.

'Here they uncover a terrible plot that threatens the president’s life and brings the nation to the brink of civil war. Can Jack track down the Chameleon in time? And just what is the mysterious whip of fire that has the power to wreak destruction across the world?' (Publication summary)

A series of steampunk fantasy novels aimed at young adults.