Author Archives: alysonebaker

A Trio of Sophies by Eileen Merriman – 2020

Posted on February 21, 2021 by alysonebaker

Ever since Sophie Mac first arrived at Eastbrook High School, feeling excluded as her solo Mum had no money for things like nice shoes, she has always stuck with the first two girls who befriended her: Sophie A and Twiggy … Continue reading →

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The Devils You Know by Ben Sanders – 2021

Posted on February 20, 2021 by alysonebaker

Should you be judged by your intentions or by the consequences of your actions? This is the question throughout The devils you know, from the rightness of taking a job, pursuing a fixation, or invading a country. Vincent decides to … Continue reading →

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More by Andrew Harris – 2020

Posted on February 14, 2021 by alysonebaker

A cure for a deadly epidemic, a religious leader rallying all to empower women to turn the tide on endless population growth – who is determined to stop both these worthy initiatives? And what does the murder of a star … Continue reading →

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Caught Between by Jeannie McLean – 2020

Posted on February 5, 2021 by alysonebaker

Tova Tan is part Māori and part Chinese, “I feel caught between Mum’s whānau, who I don’t know, and Dad’s world where I don’t belong”. This cultural mix makes life tricky for Tova in Aotearoa – where racism is alive … Continue reading →

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Sister to Sister by Olivia Hayfield – 2021

Posted on January 18, 2021 by alysonebaker

We first met Harry Rose, head of the Rose Corporation, in Wife after Wife, a great re-telling of the ‘romantic’ career of Henry VIII. Harry has now taken early retirement with his fifth wife, Clare. His eldest daughter, the devout … Continue reading →

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Answering to the Caul by Ted Dawe – 2020

Posted on January 8, 2021 by alysonebaker

Andrei Reti was born with his amniotic membrane covering his head, a caul. He grows up having been told this means he will always be protected from drowning. He has multiple escapes from water, and often sees first-hand how water … Continue reading →

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Addressed to Greta by Fiona Sussman – 2020

Posted on November 15, 2020 by alysonebaker

There is a little bit of all of us in Greta Jellings. Maybe in her tendency to talk too much, or her nervousness about meeting people. It could be in her knowing that she looks shifty to security cameras and … Continue reading →

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The Forger and the Thief by Kirsten McKenzie – 2020

Posted on November 11, 2020 by alysonebaker

Florence 1966, a magnet for tourists and art students, a paradise full of art treasures, leaky buildings full of history, their walls displaying famous paintings, their hallways home to famous statues. Florence 1966, the war still present in the injured … Continue reading →

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Doom Creek by Alan Carter – 2020

Posted on November 7, 2020 by alysonebaker

“Good to have you back, Sergeant. We need a sheriff in town.” Sergeant Nick Chester is once again living up the Wakamarina Valley with his wife Vanessa and their son Paulie, “getting a taste for the simple life.” That is … Continue reading →

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Remote Sympathy by Catherine Chidgey – 2020

Posted on November 2, 2020 by alysonebaker

“My Country, Right or Wrong” – the slogan that sits on the lintel above the gate to Buchenwald concentration camp in Remote Sympathy. But is it a call to blind patriotism? – the harbour for those ‘just following orders.’ Is … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, Historical | 2 Comments