AustLit

'Holly Hanlon was having a sea change. Leaving the city for a new life in a seaside village was just what she needed to find her feet after a nasty break-up.

'Holly found things - or rather they found her - so nobody was surprised when she opened her small business: Missing Me – Lost, Found and Broken. But finding love and finding The One was a whole different matter.

'Unbeknownst to Holly, her new abode in Findlater Lane came with a housemate – Sergeant Alexander Austen – a handsome ghost who thought he knows best.

'Was Holly afraid? Not in the daylight hours, when she was happy to help him pack up and move on. Up until now, the Sergeant had done a reasonable job of scaring off potential tenants, and he anticipated getting rid of Holly would be no problem.

'And so, Holly and the Sergeant were both calling Findlater House home. For now.'

(Source: publisher's blurb)

'Grave Tales: Melbourne Vol. 1 visits eleven Melbourne cemeteries to tell the stories of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events that made local and national headlines. They may have lived in the same suburbs, streets, and even the same houses that still exist, but now lie in the cemeteries of Melbourne. 'Grave Tales' reveals more than the headstone can ever convey by tracing the tumultuous journeys that lead to these final resting places. Written by Logie-award winning journalist Chris Adams and author/journalist Helen Goltz, this is the seventh book in the 'Grave Tales' biography/history series.'

(Source: publisher's blurb)

'What made them do it? What were they thinking? Was it nature or nurture, that is, were they born evil or were they the products of their environment? And why are we so fascinated with crime?

'Journalists Helen Goltz and Chris Adams have been spoilt for choice selecting stories for the fifth Grave Tales book and the first Grave Tales: True Crime volume.

'As our nation developed, the bush prospered and the cities grew, these were some of the terrible crimes that took away our innocence, crimes destined never to be solved that live on in our history… crimes that confound us with their cruelty, stagger us with their brilliance and amaze us with their sheer audacity.

'Grave Tales: True Crime Vol. 1 features those people who were often unwilling participants in the events that would make local and national headlines at the time.'

(Source: publisher's blurb)

'Ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events are captured in 'Grave Tales: Queensland's Great South West'. Visiting cemeteries from Ipswich to Augathella, 'Grave Tales: Queensland's Great South West' tells the stories of everyday people who willingly or unwillingly, were participants in events that made local and national headlines.

'They may have lived in the same suburbs, streets, and even the same houses as exist now in towns and cities along the way, and finished their days in cemeteries in Queensland.

'These are tales of early settlement, unsolved murders, love lost, mystery, tragedy, health epidemics, scandal and sacrifice. Grave Tales reveals more than the headstone can ever convey by tracing the tumultuous journeys that lead to these final resting places.

'This is number six in the awarded and popular Grave Tales series, this book travels from Ipswich to Augathella including Gatton, Toowoomba, Nobby, Goondiwindi, St George, Roma and Charleville.'

(Source: publisher's blurb)

'Meet the people who were often unwilling participants in the events that made headlines. In cemeteries throughout Australia, gravestones hint at our history – tales of early settlement, unsolved murders, love lost, mystery, tragedy, health epidemics, scandal and sacrifice. 'Grave Tales' reveals more than the headstone can ever convey by tracing the tumultuous journeys that lead to these final resting places.

'Journalists Helen Goltz and Chris Adams have taken a walk through some of Sydney’s oldest cemeteries to get an insight into the incredible lives of personalities that may have lived in the same suburbs, streets, and even the same houses as exist now, or unexpectantly came to rest, in Sydney.

'Using gravestones as their starting points some highlights include:

• 'The story of Henry O’Farrell, our first would-be assassin who in 1868 tried to kill Queen Victoria’s son. He failed and was executed with indecent haste, despite the fact he had long been suffering from a mental breakdown.
• 'The story of Australia’s own ‘Titanic’ – the tragic deaths of all but one of the 122 passengers of the ‘Dunbar’, which crashed and sank as it pulled into Sydney Heads, at the end of its long journey from London. The sole survivor, James Johnson was found clinging to the rock ledges of The Gap amidst the debris of body parts in the sea below.
• 'The unremarkable grave of Patrick Brady – the man linked to the bizarre Coogee Shark Arm Murders of 1935 which gripped the country and remain unsolved today.

'Also featuring missing person Juanita Nielsen, poet Dorothea Mackellar and ‘Mr Eternity’ Arthur Stace, the book paints an incredible picture of Sydney’s past; history colliding with the now. These are just some of the stories and personalities featured in the Grave Tales series.'

(Source: publisher's blurb)

'‘Grave Tales: Bruce Highway’ will give forgotten events, heroes and victims life again by tracing the journeys that lead to their final resting places.

'Stories like how two nurses in Maryborough in 1905 gave their lives to save a town from an outbreak of pneumonic plague; the unsolved mystery of how Mollie Thompson’s body ended up in an impossibly hard to reach water reservoir; the migrant who created his dream and shared it with generations; the mother and her five children who lost their lives in the Mackay cyclone; how gold fever saved the state from going broke; why the first person to be hanged in Rockhampton gaol was a bent cop; the inscription on a tree on the Sunshine Coast that reflects a tumultuous sea journey; and the 13 RAAF members who came to rest permanently in Townsville, to name a few.

'‘Grave Tales’ features people who willingly or unwillingly were participants in events that made headlines. These people may have lived in the same suburbs, streets, and the same houses as exist now in the cities and towns along the Bruce Highway.

'Grave Tales is researched and written by journalists, Helen Goltz and Chris Adams; between them they have years of experience in newspapers, radio and television production and reporting.'

(Source: publisher's blurb)

'In cemeteries throughout Australia, gravestones hint at our history – tales of early settlement, unsolved murders, love lost, mystery, tragedy, health epidemics, scandal and sacrifice. Grave Tales reveals more than the headstone can ever convey by tracing the tumultuous journeys that lead to these final resting places.

'Grave Tales Brisbane Vol. 1 visits five Brisbane cemeteries and tells of the everyday people who may have lived in the same suburbs, streets, and even the same houses as exist now, or finished their days in Brisbane. Willingly or unwilling, they were participants in events that made local and national headlines.'

(Source: publisher's blurb)

'In cemeteries throughout Australia, gravestones hint at our history – tales of early settlement, unsolved murders, love lost, mystery, tragedy, health epidemics, scandal and sacrifice. Grave Tales reveals more than the headstone can ever convey by tracing the tumultuous journeys that lead to these final resting places.    

'Grave Tales: Great Ocean Road Country – Geelong to Port Fairy visits established cemeteries and burial places off-the-beaten-track to feature people who willingly or unwillingly were participants in events that made local and national headlines. They may have lived in the same suburbs, streets, and even the same houses as exist now, or unexpectantly came to rest between Geelong and Port Fairy.

'Meet the ladies of the lighthouse who led an isolated life; the unionist shot in an affray; the stage actor whose career ended too soon; the men who sighted the fabled Mahogany Ship; the two survivors of a shipwreck that everyone wanted to see married, but it wasn’t to be; the inventor of the Ute and what inspired his unusual design; and the lady who rests in a ‘donated’ isolated beach grave.

'These are just some of the stories from the grave in the second book in the Grave Tales series incorporating Geelong, Lorne, Apollo Bay, Cape Otway, Loch Ard Gorge, Warrnambool, Tower Hill and Port Fairy.'

(Source: publisher's blurb)

Journalists, Helen Goltz and Chris Adams have between them spent many decades in the print and electronic media working for network television,  radio, and state and community newspapers. With a joint love of history, digging for a good story and storytelling, they have collaborated to create a series of books that brings our history to life again.

(Source: publisher's website)

'On Valentine’s Day 1900, three schoolgirls and a teacher disappear while on a school outing at Hanging Rock in Victoria.

'What became of the missing girls and their teacher?

'Joan Lindsay’s Picnic at Hanging Rock detailed the tragedy, and the author left strict instructions for the final chapter not to be printed until her death.

'Many Australians remember the 1967 book and 1975 film; many high school students studied it as part of their school curriculum. But was the story real? And did the secret chapter released after Joan Lindsay's death cast a new light on the fate of the missing ladies?' (Publication abstract)

'In her wildest dreams, Ophelia Montague never imagined she would leave the city, her friends, her school and move to a seaside village. But when her parents die in an accident, that's just where she finds herself - ensconced in a rambling house on the beach, with her uncle, Sebastian, his boarder-19-year-old Adam Ferrier, and two Great Dane dogs named after shipwrecks. By the ocean's edge she meets Jack Denham who seems to command the sea and the moon-and if he has his way-Ophelia, too.' (Publication summary)

'When Sophie Carell was eight years old, her eccentric Great Aunt, Daphne, predicted Sophie would be one of the greatest clairvoyants of her time. Sophie wanted to be a movie star. Her mother said not to worry about it—Aunt Daphne was daffy. Every Christmas, Sophie insisted on a new reading, expecting and waiting for it to change, for Aunty Daffy to reveal that one day Sophie would have a star on the pavement in Hollywood. But every year, until her death, Daphne predicted the same thing for Sophie. When Sophie is called to the grand dame’s rambling home for the reading of her Will, she is given a pair of reading glasses that will change the course of her life … depending on which road Sophie decides to take.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'The dead are walking and it is not even Halloween! Private investigator Jesse Clarke knew it wasn't going to be a normal week when two dead people are spotted alive but their death certificates say otherwise, Spiderman steals a collection of costumes made for the next Comic Con, and Batman drops in to warn her that all is not as it seems.

'Supported by her own man of steel–the tall, dark and handsome Dominic; business partner Ed; police contact Officer Jason who has more than a professional interest in Jesse; and, best friend Melanie, Jesse finds herself talking to witches, superheroes and morticians to solve her two cases and looking behind the disguises for answers!'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'The stilted footage of Holocaust survivors marching through the gates of Auschwitz projects behind Benjamin Hoefer at the book launch of his father, Eli's biography. As it comes to the end and closes in on Eli Hoefer's gaunt face, four red words are scratched across the last frame- Nazi, Jew hater, fake! FBI Special Agent Mitchell Parker is frustrated to be called in on what he believes is a police matter, but digging soon reveals a threat that has far-reaching implications. Parker and his team, Nick Everett, Ellen Beetson and Adam Forster find themselves in the middle of a Neo-Nazi plot that spans two continents and threatens to bring one of the worst atrocities of history back to life. Mitchell Parker is back!'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Below the surface of the ocean, off the shores of Cape Hatteras, lie the bodies of many ships that never made it to shore and something more ... silent and sinister. Two sets of fresh fingerprints on a pair of binoculars left on the beach are cause for concern for FBI Special Agent Mitchell Parker and his team, Nick Everett, Ellen Beetson and Samantha Moore. The prints belong to a criminal that is currently not listed as in the country and a foreign diplomat who disappeared a year ago. It's a rough and violent ride for Mitchell Parker and his team against the ocean and the clock.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Catherine Jameson – thirty, a widow in hiding – doesn't know what happened that night. Two bodies found: her husband and his ex-lover. Was it a murder-suicide or an accidental death and suicide? Or, as some believe, did she have a hand in it? Living a new life with a cottage to renovate and her dog, Buddy, for company, Catherine picks through the ruins of her old life to find answers.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'A man hanged himself in the front room of the now abandoned old mansion; Rachael Price, along with everyone in the village, knew the story. But that was a long time ago and the tale had become nothing more than an urban myth by the time Rachael was born. Eighty-nine-year-old Carrie Howell, dressed in her Sunday-best, asks her grand-daughter, Rachael, to stop a while in front of the rambling old mansion-Autumn Manor. Who were these people her grandmother is remembering and what is her connection to the 'haunted house' that Rachael avoided as a child? Why is the house abandoned? Who owns Autumn Manor now?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'When everything around you is collapsing, what do you do? One woman did what any self-respecting marketing executive would do, she threw it all in and ran away! In a battle to reignite her passion for life, regain her self-esteem and find herself again, the author tried her hand at a number of life changing jobs. At 39 she became a police cadet, at 40 she packed the car, and with her beloved Boxer dog, 'ran away' to become an editor of a newspaper in a seaside community. At 41, she came to her senses, came home, settled down and began again. From High Heels to Handcuffs is for anybody who has ever lost their footing in this world and wondered, 'can I start again?''

Source: Publisher's blurb.