AustLit

'The first year of marriage is hard no matter what. Throw in jealous exes, high-pressure careers and two wildly different families, and the degree of difficulty goes up a few more notches. Determined to beat the odds, one couple comes up with a plan to keep their romance alive -- but life has other ideas.

'Saskia is an up-and-coming jewellery designer, waiting tables at a trendy cafe to keep her fledgling company afloat. Andrew is a corporate lawyer who wants to be known for more than his family's money. They're passionate about their work and each other, but with Andy's job in jeopardy and Saskia's jewellery label taking off, the pressure is taking its toll.

'As life pulls them in different directions, the two of them are forced to decide: Just how important is their marriage? And how hard are they willing to work to protect it?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Set on the magical coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula and inspired by true events, Things We Cannot See is Dianne Maguire's second domestic suspense novel – a compelling story of children and families, love and betrayal. Laura Nesci has found her forever partner – until he leaves her for no apparent reason. It is only in the wake of a family tragedy and the unearthing of her husband's secret life that things fall into place, including Laura's burgeoning attraction for local artist Flynn. Fighting against the temptation of another possibly disastrous relationship, Laura channels her energies into her work as a victim support officer with the police.

'Fifteen-year-old Alex is a girl with secrets. Her best friend Maddi believes it's wrong, but Alex knows that what she has with their science teacher is special. When Alex is attacked, Maddi and Laura become locked in a silent battle of wills: Laura suspects that Maddi is keeping secrets for her friend, and Maddi must decide whether to speak up or remain silent. But the final telling of Alex's deepest secret is met with shock and disbelief from everyone, including Laura, who thinks she has seen it all – until now.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'The fifth in the Dr Dodi McCleland series - Agatha Christie meets Phryne Fisher

'Forensic doctor Dody McCleland is horrified when the seemingly dead body of a well-dressed woman she has just sliced with her scalpel bolts upright with a howl. Dody has heard of bodies frozen into a false death before but never come face to face with the phenomenon. She feels a terrible debt - and a strange connection - to this woman, discovered incongruously near the notorious Anchor and Whistle public house. Yet Dody is puzzled: how did a woman of such means and intelligence come to be left for dead in the icy cold of this unsavoury district?

'Meanwhile, Chief Inspector Pike has a gang of jewel thieves with a trail of murder behind them bailed up in a burning building. When one of the gang escapes, and the remainder are found assassinated at close range, it is clear the modus operandi of the chief suspect has brutally shifted. Then Pike discovers both that the king has an interest in the gang's stolen jewels and that his superior is suspected of corruption. Threats to his career and his relationship with Dody further intensify an already delicate situation.

'Join Dody and Pike as they work to find out who is behind the carnage, discover who Dody's new friend really is, and if there's any hope of them ever sharing a future together.' (Publication summary)

'Dawn reveals the extent of death and destruction wreaked upon the Clarkson property. The ground is soaked with blood, the survivors torn apart with losses too shocking to fathom. Doug Mulcahy gathers his share of the precious opals and makes one final bid to escape. The Clarksons will have to fend for themselves. But with escape in sight, Doug hesitates. Perhaps the Familiar can be beaten, if Doug can unlock the dark secret of its origin. Clues point back to the strange little house, the murdered woman and her vengeful partner. It's time for Doug Mulcahy to face his demons, in a terrifying showdown back where it all began...'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'The Familiar launches an all-out assault against the Clarkson home, shaking the building to its foundations and raining down bizarre and bloody horrors on the survivors trapped inside. Desperate to save themselves, the captives scatter, forgetting all bonds of love and loyalty in a panicked race for survival. The Familiar stalks each in turn, slaughtering them one-by-one, growing ever stronger, ever hungrier, ever more depraved. Only Doug Mulcahy refuses to lie down, fighting to save what little of himself he believes deserves to live.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'A terrible, malignant power grows in strength on the Clarkson property. At nightfall the assault begins, trapping innocents alongside hardened criminals. A beast stalks them; a "Familiar", a monster capable of inhuman savagery, a creature of darkness that kills with pleasure and without remorse. But an unknown force prevents it from entering the house where the gang have taken refuge. For tonight, at least, the survivors have reached an  uneasy truce. But the peace could explode at any second and leave more bodies in the wake - that is,  if they're not all dead before dawn.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Fleeing bizarre and brutal events at a strange outback house, the remnants of Doug Mulcahy's gang are set upon by unnatural forces that destroy their latest getaway vehicle. Posing as victims of an accident, the men take refuge at a remote homestead owned by the warm and welcoming Clarkson family. But the powers aligning against the gang have followed them to the property, turning placid dogs into savage beasts, infecting livestock with disease, and giving rise to wicked portents and apparitions across the farm. Far worse is in store for the Clarksons when their guests reveal themselves and take control. But even the worst thieves and killers, no matter how desperate and cornered, could not reckon on the evil pursuing them.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'The heist is cursed from the start. Doug Mulcahy and his gang hijack a mining plane and a fortune in black opals - gemstones with a rep for being unlucky. Following a brutal shootout on a remote airfield, the hijackers flee in the crippled plane only to crash-land soon after. Shaken and battered, they stagger through the outback until they stumble upon a strange little house and an ethereal woman. Taking the woman hostage, the thieves wait for her husband to return with his truck. But it all goes to hell when a rogue gang member forces himself onto the woman. The house is drenched with blood, the husband returns, and the men realise nothing in this place is as it seems. And the horrors are only just beginning...'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Outback murders, dodgy thieves, organised crime and arson - a small outback community is crackling with nerves, as Cam Fraser investigates.

'Sergeant Cam Fraser's letter of resignation is signed sealed but as yet undelivered. It's sitting in the car when he travels out to help the wife of an old acquaintance with a bit of shearing. Rita's husband Pizzle has gone missing so Cam is lending a hand, but there's a stench around the shearing shed that he can't ignore. What Cam finds when he searches inside will derail his plans for retirement and set a rural community -- already on alert for an arsonist lighting bushfires -- on edge.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Working as a TV reporter has its challenges, but when Rachael Bentley decides to aim high and become a newsreader, she faces a whole new minefield of explosive scenarios.

'Rachel's path sees her pitched against egos in the newsroom, office politics and corrupt politicians, not to mention rampant sexism, and a mystery stalker. Juggling a messy personal life doesn't help, nor does the emotional impact of reporting on life's tragedies and when it all takes a toll and Rachel starts partying too hard, she finds herself making the headlines instead of reading them.

'Will she survive a world where dreams are shattered daily and will she find the man who can help her keep her soul?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Can Ros and Grady move on from the past, or will their pain drive them apart? Six years ago, the Balfours lost their son Cadel to a hit-and-run driver. A few months ago, Ros discovered Grady's affair. With their marriage fast disintegrating, they decide to take a three-month camping trip into the heart of Australia to try and mend deep wounds and rekindle the fire that once fused them close. This trip will decide the fate of their relationship: do they have enough strength and enough love left to accept what life has put them both through? But trust and forgiveness don't come easily, and Ros and Grady have to navigate not only the wilderness of the Outback and the challenges of other travellers, but also the chasm of grief and bitterness they have sunk into over the last six years. Their only hope for survival lies in facing the secrets they have both tried to keep buried ... '

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Since the strike on Collective territory during Anamae's rescue, things have taken a turn for the worse. Unprovoked attacks on innocent people have Anamae and her friends fighting day and night to minimise the damage. With hundreds of lives lost, morale amongst the resistance fighters has plummeted. But that's the least of her worries.

'Manvyke still has Anamae's mom, Annie, secreted away somewhere and after the way they parted, Anamae worries it's not at her mother's bidding. Maybe Annie's disappearance all those years ago wasn't her choice. But with Manvyke scouring the world, there's something far more pressing than the need to find Anamae's mother ...

'It's a fight against time to find the other keys before Manvyke. In his hands, the three relics could unlock enough power to reek a much worse havoc than the current issues at hand. If the councillor gets his hands on those keys, civilisation will bow down.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'You can run from everything but your fears.

'Three years after a gang brutally murdered his wife and son, Sergeant Cam Fraser has returned with his daughter Ruby to the country town where he was raised - a town too small for trouble. But then a body is found on the school grounds, badly burned and unrecognisable. Who in Glenroyd could possibly be a murderer? And why?

'This violent crime plunges Cam straight into a baffling and deadly investigation, where nothing is as it seems. From shady cop Vince to the secretive Smithsons who run the school to the local bikie gang who may still want him dead, Cam has his hands full with suspects. Not to mention Jo, his daughter's teacher, whom he can't keep his mind off of ...

'But the danger is coming closer to home, and Cam is running out of time to solve the case. Will he be able to protect Ruby and stop the killer? Or will everything go up in flames?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'From Archie to Zolon, Ramona is determined to find a happy ending to her fairytale.

'Ramona Rawlings is going to make dating fun again. Armed with an alphabet poster, post-it notes and her best friend Emma, Ramona is going to date the alphabet - from A to Z, Archie to Zolon and everything in between.

'Throw in the chaos of managing a theatre restaurant with a roster full of strong personalities, unfulfilled dreams and lustful hook ups and Ramona's world is turned upside-down.

'In between Evan the arrogant, Ivan the emotionally stunted and Glen the racist, Ramona discovers what she really wants: to be a good friend, to emotionally connect with a man and to replace her vodka-tonics with kale smoothies. But how many frogs will she have to kiss before she finds her fairytale?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'After the breakdown of her marriage and her life, Viv has finally found happiness with Tom. But, can things really stay so perfect?

'With the planning for Annabel's wedding underway, Genevieve is distracted by family bickering and an unexpected life-altering discovery. With Annabel threatening to cancel her wedding and Julia hiding a dark secret, her life once again descends into the perfect mix of hilarious chaos. Will the sisters be able to sort everything out and get their happy endings?

'Annabel's wedding is a tale of sisterhood, relationships and learning to find happiness in spite of the sometimes crazy hand you're dealt.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Grace, hardworking and tired, wants another baby. But she's dealing with debt, a manic 4-year-old and a jobless husband determined to make his inventions into reality. Can they both get their way, or will competing dreams tear their marriage apart?

'Eddy analyses risk for a living, but his insecurities have brought his own life to a halt. He won't let go of the flighty, unfaithful Romy, but will he ever risk believing in himself?

'Melody is trying to raise her son Skip in the city while holding true to her hippie lifestyle. But will past mistakes and judgement from other parents force her to leave her beliefs behind?

'This is a story about real life aspirations, and whether you can chase your dreams at the same time as raising children and paying the bills. It's about friendship, and how the people you meet in a moment can change your life forever.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Violet is saving money: living on rice and beans and denying herself chocolate eclairs all in the name of saving for a home deposit. Once they save enough, she and Michael can buy a house, settle down and live happily ever after. But when Michael does the unthinkable, Violet is forced to rethink her life choices.

'A chance encounter with Chris Campbell (first love, boy-next-door, The One That Got Away) spurs her into travelling to exotic locations she never dreamed she'd explore - Hong Kong, Vietnam, Varanasi - on a quest to catch up with Chris and lead a life of adventure. Armed with hand sanitiser and the encouraging texts of her twin sister Cassandra, will Violet find true love before it's too late? Or will the nerve-wracking experience of travelling send her back to Melbourne in search of safety and stability? Can she work out what she really wants before she is left with nothing?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'The time has come. Rutger, Elynor, Theodor and Syn set out on their final journey - to find the fourth member of their group, the one they need to destroy the Drachengott once and for all.

'But war has come to Wendland, and with three neighbouring countries now intent on destroying its people, it could be that the Drachengott is the only defense Wendland has.

'But one final weapon remains to be found, though only its name is known: the Peace Bringer ...'

Source: Publisher's blurb.