Cirrus@Austlit

'Ruth Jordan has been a battler all her life - until a surprise inheritance catapults her into a strange new world of affluence. Clinging to her roots, she cautiously uses her unaccustomed wealth and time to support other women doing it tough. And that's how Rachael Anders explodes into her life.

'Desperate to protect Rachael's three young boys from the destruction swirling around them, Ruth is sucked further and further into their troubled lives. At the same time she's forced to confront the heart-stopping ghosts of her own failed family ... and all the while she's tentatively edging towards a new relationship.

'With help from her friend Annie Bryce, Ruth gradually gains confidence to deal with the challenges she faces. Annie is a minor but pivotal character in this multi-layered novel, a sounding board for the many characters each in pursuit of the same elusive goal: their happiness.

'This is a complex, moving and intruiging novel from the author of the popular 'Annie Bryce' mystery series. '

'Two bizarre murders, one in Queensland, Australia and the other in the north island of New Zealand baffle police. However the murders are destined to become entangled in Senior Probation Officer Sebastian Kuhl's obsession to unearth the truth about the mysterious death of notorious serial killer, Susan Hunter. Kuhl is convinced Hunter is alive, and accompanied by investigative journalist Aleesa Esposito he follows a trail that leads him back to New Zealand, and to a discovery that shocks two nations. Set in Wales, Australia and New Zealand, this sequel to the Thirteenth Secret has it all - murder, betrayal, humour, romance, galloping twists and an explosive climax.' (Publication summary)

'Ea, master of Apsu, the great water beneath the earth; Gelert, the faithful hound; Medusa and Herakles; sirens, valkyries, fairies; Leonardo Da Vinci and Snow White - these are just some of the legendary characters that resonate within this thought-provoking garland of short stories from Australia. Archetypes from ancient mythology, lurking in the depths of our psyches, peer at us through the haze of history; cautionary tales from our nursery years remind us of what can happen when we disobey The Rules; well known themes of obsession, betrayal and exploitation, love and loss and renewal are skillfully manipulated into new and compelling forms. From the lighthearted and tongue-in-cheek, to the sad and the sinister, this selection of tales with their clever mythic echoes, is sure to entertain, enlighten and challenge readers of all ages.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'It is Ireland 1823, and fifteen year old Bronagh Kelly sets out to avenge the murder of her father, but finds herself transported to Sydney. An innocent peasant girl. not able to read or write when she boards the transport ship, she tells her tale with a mix of wry humour, ignorance and passion as she longs for her homeland, her family and love, while dreaming of the ancient myths her father sand to her.

From the political furore of Sligo to the horrorrs of the female factory at Parramatta, finally reaching a climax at the infamous Moreton Bay penal settlement, where another murder takes place, one that is to this day unsolved. This is a story of personal struggle in the face of political and socail adversity.' (Back cover of book).

Lisa is defined by a truly human experience of the world: her bipolar-ness is merely a part of her personality. Lisa invites the reader to share the unique experiences that have formed her into a complete human being: a chilhood in New Zealand, Australia, Holland and the US; a broken marriage; motherhood; drugs and sex.

(Source: Book Depository)