may contain markup

By Jack Higgins

FROM THE COVER: “……London 1993, and the day looms ever closer when Communist China will finally seize the much coveted island of Hong Kong, with billions at stake. British Intelligence have just discovered the existence of a document, known as the Chungking Covenant, that would extend the lease on Hong Kong for another century. Sean Dillon, once a feared IRA enforcer now working for the British, is tasked to track down the document before Mafia-based interests with billions invested in Hong Kong can use it for their own ends. Pitted against sly and ruthless adversaries, Dillon and his intelligence associates follow a deadly trail to a castle in the Highlands of Scotland, by Loch Dhu, the Place of Dark Waters, the home of an American billionaire and Matia boss. Dillon's usual clear-headed commitment to his mission is compromised by the alluring young socialite Asta Morgan. However, as the evidence of fifty years begins to unfold, the solution to the enigma comes tantalisingly close. But only one side can reap the spoils…”

Australia. Griffin. BCA. Michael Josephs. 1994. 286p.

MAY CONTAIN MARKUP

by J. P. Pomare

When private investigator Reid is sent to look into a suspicious car crash, he finds himself in the one place he swore he'd never go back to - the town where he grew up.

Returning to Manson brings back traumatic memories that Reid has spent a decade burying; and keeping his past separate from the investigation is futile. People remember what he did all those years ago.

As rumours swirl about the couple involved in the crash, Reid's line of questioning is taken in a new direction when the Chief of Police's daughter goes missing. Was the car crash just an isolated tragic accident, or is there something darker beating at the heart of this small town? Can Reid escape Manson again, or will it finally swallow him whole?

AUSTRALIA. HATCHETTE. 2022. 327p.

MAY CONTAIN MARKUP

By James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

A calculating killer who calls himself The Teacher is taking on New York City, killing the powerful and the arrogant. His message is clear: remember your manners or suffer the consequences! For some, it seems that the rich are finally getting what they deserve. For New York's elite, it is a call to terror.
Only one man can tackle such a high-profile case: Detective Mike Bennett. As time ticks down and his children fall ill, he has only hours to save New York from the greatest disaster in its history. From the world's #1 writer, discover an electrifying story of action, thrills, and heart-stopping suspense.

London. Random House. 2009. 398p.

MAY CONTAIN MARKUP

Robert Whitaker

In 1735 a team of French scientists set out on a daring expedition into the South American wilderness to resolve one of the great scientific challenges of the time: the precise size and shape of the Earth. Scaling the Andes and journeying along the Amazon, the mapmakers faced all manner of danger, while madness, disease and violent death each took their toll. However one, Jean Godin, fell in love with a local girl called Isabel Grameson. When the time came for the expedition to return to France, Godin travelled ahead to ensure the way was safe for his new family. But on reaching French Guiana, disaster struck: Spain and Portugal closed their borders and he was stranded, unable to return to Isabel. What followed lies at the core of this extraordinary tale - a heartbreaking 20-year separation that ended when Isabel, believing she might never see her husband again, decided to make her own way across the continent: a journey that began in hope but became hell on earth...

Drawing on his own experience retracing Isabel's epic trek as well as contemporary records, Robert Whitaker recounts a captivating true story of love and survival set against the backdrop of what many still regard as 'the greatest expedition the world has ever known'.

LONDON. BANTAM. 2004. 416p.

By Rolf Boldrewood

The Miner's Right, as 'A Tale of the Australian Goldfields', is the counterpart of Boldrewood's bushranging classic . Written out of the author's immediate experience as Goldfields Commissioner at Gulgong in the 1870s, it also casts back to the Chinese riots at Lambing Flat, to the robbery of the gold-escort at Eugowra, and to some aspects of the Eureka stockade. While these events are set in the romantic framework of the nineteenth-century novel, the democratic sentiment of the time is reflected to a greater degree than Boldrewood himself could have realised. The Miner's Right is both an example of the colonial romance, and an account 'from the life' of conditions on the Australian goldfields in a time of social and political change.

Macmillan, 1890, 397 pages

By Rolf Boldrewood

In "The Last Chance: A Tale of the Golden West," readers are transported to the rugged landscapes of the Wild West during the height of the Gold Rush. Follow the gripping journey of a diverse cast of characters as they navigate the treacherous frontier in search of fortune, redemption, and a place to call home. Filled with heart-pounding action, intricate plot twists, and poignant moments of human connection, this novel captures the essence of resilience and the unyielding spirit of the pioneers who dared to chase their dreams in the untamed wilderness. "The Last Chance" is a compelling narrative that explores the triumphs and tragedies of the human experience against the backdrop of a defining era in American history.

Macmillan, 1905, 402 pages

By Ronf Boldrewood

Babes in the Bush is a captivating tale of survival, friendship, and self-discovery in the untamed wilderness. Follow the journey of three adventurous young women as they embark on a thrilling camping trip that quickly turns into a fight for their lives. Amidst the breathtaking landscapes and the dangers of the wild, they must rely on their wits, courage, and bond with each other to navigate through unforeseen challenges. As they struggle to find their way back to civilization, they uncover hidden strengths and forge unbreakable connections that will change their lives forever. Babes in the Bush is a gripping narrative that explores the resilience of the human spirit and the power of female friendship in the face of adversity.

Library of Alexandria, Sep 28, 2020, 449 pages

USED BOOK-MAY CONTAIN MARKUP

By Jane Harper

Five women reluctantly pick up their backpacks and start walking along the muddy track. Only four come out the other side.

The hike through the rugged Giralang Ranges is meant to take the office colleagues out of their air-conditioned comfort zone and teach resilience and team building. At least that is what the corporate retreat website advertises.

Federal Police Agent Aaron Falk has a particularly keen interest in the whereabouts of the missing bushwalker. Alice Russell is the whistleblower in his latest case - and Alice knew secrets. About the company she worked for and the people she worked with.

Far from the hike encouraging teamwork, the women tell Falk a tale of suspicion, violence and disintegrating trust. And as he delves into the disappearance, it seems some dangers may run far deeper than anyone knew.

Pan Macmillan Australia, Sep 26, 2017, 377 pages