Staff Reviews

The dinner party by Nina Manning

Available in large print 

To celebrate their wedding anniversary, Lily Leonard books a table at the exclusive restaurant of Hector Bolson-Woods renowned celebrity chef. It should be the perfect evening for Lily and husband, Stig, but not even a perfect menu can heal the cracks in their marriage.

So when Hector invites them to dine with him privately, Lily is thrilled. Surely this will please Stig? Hector is charming and attentive – everything Stig is not – and she finds herself more and more drawn to the enigmatic Hector.

After the dinner, Stig makes it clear the entire evening was a mistake, something he never wants to repeat again. Hurt and confused, Lily’s certain Stig is hiding something from her. Something linked to Hector…she just doesn’t know what.

And then another dinner invitation from Hector arrives. This time with a proposal neither Lily or Stig can refuse…

The uninvited guest by Ruby Speechley

Available in large print

One hen, one stag, one uninvited guest…who won’t make it to the wedding?

Megan Lewis is ready for her big day, but when an unexpected guest crashes her hen weekend, her perfectly curated world unravels.

Beth, claiming to be Jamie’s cousin, quickly charms the group. But when she gets close to bridesmaid Lauren, things take a dark turn, and a game of truth or dare exposes secrets from Megan’s past, shaking her world.

As the wedding nears, Megan realises Beth isn’t who she says she is – but she may be her only ally.

When you can’t trust anyone, not even your fiancé, who can you turn to?

The sea house by Louise Douglas

Available in large print

Only one person can unravel the hidden secrets of the past before it’s too late…

When Elisabeth Quemener dies she leaves a mysterious parcel with the instructions that it must only be opened by Astrid Oake. The trouble is, no one knows who Astrid Oake is…

Elisabeth’s family turn to Touissants detective agency but, when Mila Shepard and Carter Jackson try to track Astrid down, their frustration soon mounts. Their only clue is a photo of two young women holding the hands of a tiny child. The women are smiling but Mila is haunted by the sadness in their eyes. Is this Astrid and Elisabeth and if so, who is the child?

As Elisabeth and Astrid’s story slowly unfolds, Mila is ever more determined to carry out Elisabeth’s final wishes. Because what is inside that unprepossessing parcel might just save a life…

A Christmas murder by Mary Grand

Available in large print

Susan didn’t plan on a being an amateur sleuth and, after two successful investigations, she’s looking forward to a quiet Christmas.

So, when local businesswoman Meera asks for help, Susan agrees reluctantly. The task should be easy enough. The infamous press mogul Duncan Fern is coming back to the Isle of Wight to celebrate Christmas with his grown-up children and their partners, his new glamorous wife Kirsten and the spikey editor of his paper the Morning Flame, Antoine. The newly-refurbished luxurious Bishopstone Manor is the perfect setting for a festive break and all Susan has to do is help Meera host.

But when a snowstorm descends over the island, and the following morning a body is found, Christmas at the Manor takes a darker turn. Can Susan get to the bottom of the mystery before the murderer strikes again…

If anyone builds it, everyone dies: the case against superintelligent AI, by Eliezer Yudkowsky and Nate Soares

Available in print

AI is the greatest threat to our existence that we have ever faced.

The scramble to create superhuman AI has put us on the path to extinction – but it’s not too late to change course. Two pioneering researchers in the field, Eliezer Yudkowsy and Nate Soares, explain why artificial superintelligence would be a global suicide bomb and call for an immediate halt to its development.

The technology may be complex, but the facts are simple: companies and countries are in a race to build machines that will be smarter than any person, and the world is devastatingly unprepared for what will come next.

Could a machine superintelligence wipe out our entire species? Would it want to? Would it want anything at all? In this urgent book, Yudkowsky and Soares explore the theory and the evidence, present one possible extinction scenario, and explain what it would take for humanity to survive.

The world is racing to build something truly new – and if anyone builds it, everyone dies.

The perimenopause survival guide by Dr Heather Hirsch

Available in print

Perimenopause – the period of time during which a woman transitions to, but is not yet in, menopause – can be one of the biggest transitions of a women’s adult life, marked by massive hormonal changes. Troubled by symptoms like hot flushes, back pain, anxiety, brain fog – to name a few – many women are left without clear guidance on how to navigate this confusing time. 

But it doesn’t have to be this way. The Perimenopause Survival Guide is the ultimate handbook to help you understand the hormonal shifts happening within your body, so you can make informed decisions about how best to address your symptoms. Written by Dr Heather Hirsch, a certified menopausal medicine doctor, this crucial guide demystifies your symptoms, outlines how to treat them, and explains why doing so is important to your health today and in the years to come.

Combining medical with at-home strategies such as dietary changes and lifestyle tweaks, you’ll learn how to take back your health and feel like yourself again.

Phillip Island: the inside story of Australia's fastest racetrack, our home of motorsport, by John Smailes

Available in print

Phillip Island is Australia's home of motorsport. These are the untold stories of a century of racing.

There is no other motor-racing circuit in the world with the history of Phillip Island. Since 1928 it has hosted the Australian Grand Prix, the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, the World Superbike Championship, the Armstrong 500 and many other races. Today, the Australian MotoGP attracts tens of thousands to the island every year. It is revered as the world's best MotoGP track and is the second-fastest in the world by just 0.1 km/h. Australia's champions of motorcycle racing are born there.

As a motor-racing journalist for more than 45 years, John Smailes has had extraordinary access to Phillip Island and to the leading names who have competed there. When Wayne Gardner, Mick Doohan and Casey Stoner won their championships, John was there. He has delved into the island's rich history, from the winner of the first Australian Grand Prix, Gallipoli hero Captain Arthur Waite, to Australia's F1 world champions Sir Jack Brabham and Alan Jones, and the astonishing political and business dealings over the years.

In Phillip Island, John Smailes delivers the definitive account of the circuit, featuring interviews with champions including Valentino Rossi and many others who made it the legend it is today. It's the gripping and untold story of an island unlike any other.

1929: the inside story of the greatest crash in Wall Street history, by Andrew Ross Sorkin

Available in print

From the bestselling author of Too Big to Fail, comes a riveting, fly-on-the-wall account of the most infamous stock market crash in history

In 1929, the world watched in shock as the unstoppable Wall Street bull market went into a freefall, wiping out fortunes and igniting a depression that would reshape a generation. But behind the flashing ticker tapes and panicked traders, another drama unfolded—one of visionaries and fraudsters, titans and dreamers, euphoria and ruin.

With unparalleled access to historical records and newly uncovered documents, New York Times bestselling author Andrew Ross Sorkin takes readers inside the chaos of the crash, behind the scenes of a raging battle between Wall Street and Washington and the larger-than-life characters whose ambition and naivety in an endless boom led to wreckage. The dizzying highs and brutal lows of this era eerily mirror today’s world—where markets soar, political tensions mount, and the fight over financial influence plays out once again.

This is not just a story about money. 1929 is a tale of power, psychology, and the seductive illusion that "this time is different." It’s about disregarded alarm bells, financiers who fell from grace, and sceptics who saw the crash coming—only to be dismissed until it was too late.

Hailed as a landmark book, Too Big to Fail reimagined how financial crises are told. Now, with 1929, Sorkin delivers an immersive, electrifying account of the most pivotal market collapse of all time—with lessons that remain as urgent as ever. More than just a history, 1929 is a crucial blueprint for understanding the cycles of speculation, the forces that drive financial upheaval, and the warning signs we ignore at our peril.

How to manifest success by Hilton Misso

Available in print 

In this book, Australian entrepreneur, lawyer and philanthropist Hilton Misso provides 50 lessons for success drawn from eight decades of lived experience.

Part memoir, part success manual, this is a blueprint for harnessing fear, hardship and grit to build a life of purpose, prosperity and profit.

Click here by Alex Schultz

Available in print

It seems that there is an ever increasing and bewildering range of channels, platforms and mechanisms on the internet available to market a business no matter how large or small.

The author, Chief Marketing Officer for Meta, shares his experience and insights into the world of digital marketing. Alex outlines how ‘channels’ work, the importance of testing creative campaigns and techniques to measure performance, reach, click throughs and other buzzwords used in digital marketing. 

Old North Melbourne by Fiona Gatt

Available in print

This is the story of the first fifty years of today’s much-loved suburb of North Melbourne. When the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung were first developed by European settlers in 1852, there were many barriers to overcome. This included a great expanse of barren land between it and Melbourne, a swamp to the west, open sewerage to the east and undeveloped bushland to the south. But to the thousands of immigrants who flocked to Victoria during the gold rush, some settled in North Melbourne, determined to develop an urban town to be proud of.

From 1859 to 1887, it was called Hotham. The town’s businessmen had a booming stake in Melbourne’s meat market, metal manufacturing and tanneries. It also harboured an unusually high number of Irish immigrants and some of Melbourne’s most downtrodden residents.

This book details the triumphs and struggles of the people of nineteenth-century North Melbourne, revealing fascinating individuals and the collective story of the emergence of this determined working class community. The book contains some fascinating images and an extremely detailed annotated bibliography.

101 books to read before you grow up by Bianca Schulze

Available in print

Looking for an awesome book to read?

This book is packed with amazing stories just waiting to be discovered. Whether you love epic adventures, laugh-out-loud humour, magical worlds or stories about kids, this book had lots of great suggestions for picture books, chapter books, graphic novels and more. With fun descriptions, cool facts and lists of even more books to read, finding your next favourite story has never been easier.

It's a Scorcher!: Tales of the Australian summer by William McInnes

Available in print 

Bestselling author and acclaimed actor William McInnes returns with a collection of hilarious and heartwarming stories about those magical, roastingly hot months that make an Australian summer.

There is something about long, hot summer days that stirs our emotions. It's all about holidays, festivals, family and Christmas; a time for swimming, a hit of backyard cricket or firing up the barbie. It's the deafening sound of cicadas, the ticking of a backyard sprinkler, the pain of a wayward bindi or the sting of sunburnt shoulders.

In this collection of nostalgic stories that will make you laugh and make you cry, William McInnes recalls moments in time and memories of summers past. He takes us back to the energy-sapping heat of Redcliffe in the 1960s and 70s, ruminates on budgie smugglers, remembers holiday road trips that went on forever and epic Boxing Day Tests that stopped fans in their tracks. This is a book about the Australia we are and the Australia we were - and the magic of those boiling-hot days when you wake up and know… it's going to be a scorcher!

Australian Heroes of World War II by Mark Johnston

Available in print, and eBook

Leading military historian Mark Johnston tells stories of the courage of individual soldiers across every battle in which Australians fought in World War II.

When Australians defended against Rommel’s tanks at Tobruk and Alamein, tackled paratroopers landing among them on Crete, attacked French Foreign Legionnaires in Syrian forts, held off Japanese tanks in Malaya, fought hand-to-hand on the Kokoda Track, and took on well-hidden and tenacious Japanese in countless grim jungle-clad locations, brave individuals risked everything to bring victory.

Australian soldiers performed acts of remarkable bravery in the roles of stretcher-bearers and snipers, in victories and defeats, and in desert and jungle. Such astonishing deeds were often rewarded with medals, but many brave deeds went unrecognised, and whether acknowledged or not, the heroes often paid a heavy price for their courageous acts, in the form of physical injury, psychological trauma or death.

Australian Heroes of World War II features hundreds of stories that have been rarely if ever told, and that are guaranteed to amaze.

Genealogy of a Murder by Lisa Belkin

Available in print

The multigenerational tale of three families whose paths collide one summer night in 1960 with the murder of a police officer

Over the Independence Day weekend in 1960 a young police officer is murdered, shocking his close-knit community in Stamford, Connecticut. The killer remains at large, his identity still unknown. But on a beach not far away, a young Army doctor, on leave from his post at a research lab in a maximum-security prison, faces a chilling realisation. He knows who the shooter is. In fact, the man—a prisoner out on parole—had called him only days before. By helping his former charge and trainee, the doctor, a believer in second chances, may have inadvertently helped set the murder into motion. And with that one phone call, may have sealed a policeman’s fate.

Alvin Tarlov, David Troy and Joseph DeSalvo were all born of the Great Depression, all with grandparents who’d left different homelands for the same American Dream. How did one become a doctor, one a police officer and one a convict? In Genealogy of a Murder, journalist Lisa Belkin traces the paths of each of these three men—one of them her stepfather. Her canvas is large, spanning the first half of the 20th century: immigration, the struggles of the working class, prison reform, medical experiments, politics and war, the nature/nurture debate, epigenetics, the infamous Leopold and Loeb case and the history of motorcycle racing. It is also intimate: a look into the workings of the mind and heart.

Following these threads to their tragic outcome, Belkin examines the coincidences and choices that led to one fateful night. The result is a brilliantly researched, narratively ingenious story, which illuminates how we shape history even as we are shaped by it.

Pain Bleeds Crime by Pamela Nathan

Available in print

Pamela Nathan, clinical and forensic psychologist and psychoanalytic psychotherapist, uncovers the inner worlds of society’s most dangerous and broken—whether behind bars or hidden in plain sight.

In Pain Bleeds Crime, she shares twenty-three gripping true stories from her decades working in maximum-security prisons, courts, and forensic hospitals. The crimes are shocking—murder, rape, paedophilia, assault, fetishism, bestiality, and more—but what lies beneath is often even more confronting.

Each offender, whether male, female or transgender, reveals a hidden world shaped by trauma, pain, and silence. Pamela enters these inner worlds to feel and then to have revealed the internal crime scenes, to see what made them break—mentally, emotionally, morally. These aren’t excuses. They’re revelations.

You’ll come face-to-face with people whose crimes horrified the public—people who insist they’re not violent, or that “it just happened”—and come face-to-face with the dark truth: the past never really goes away. With unflinching honesty and rare insight, Pamela shows how the past never really stays buried—and how behind every act of violence, there’s a story waiting to be told.

Brutally honest, deeply unsettling, and impossible to forget, Pain Bleeds Crime is a journey into the darkest parts of humanity.

Crochet shapes by Katie Jones

Available in print

For anyone who’s always wanted to learn to crochet, now’s the time! Crocheted Shapes provides detailed instructions on all the foundation stitches required for a range of projects, as well as QR codes for in-depth instructional videos for the 6 motifs used in all of the patterns. Learn how to crochet simple shape motifs that you can mix and match to create 15 amazing crochet projects, including garments, homewares and accessories.

Crochet Shapes features granny squares, triangles, hexagons and octagons that can be easily joined together to complete stunning designs, from a cardigan and jumper to a cushion and blanket. As well as instructions and charts for the motifs and projects, there is also helpful information on sizing garment patterns up and down to make the book truly inclusive. Simple information on selecting your hook, yarn and colour palette is also featured so readers can adapt the patterns as they wish, and they will also discover how to care for their creations and keep them looking fab!

Healthy brain origami : fold decorative paper models that boost mental acumen and keep your brain active! by Mayumi Ohara

Available in print

Keep your brain healthy and active by folding beautiful and elaborate origami models!

As we age, keeping our minds sharp becomes a priority, and studies have shown that cognitive function is enhanced by activities like the meditative art of origami. This book offers a fun way to engage your brain by folding paper models an easy and fulfilling activity that encourages focus, persistence and spatial visualisation.

Author Mayumi Ohara, a noted origami designer, has written this unique guide under the supervision of Professor Katsushi Yokoi at Morinomiya University of Medical Sciences in Japan. Her simple instructions and colourful models teach the brain-training art of modular origami, where small paper squares are folded then assembled into large and spectacular models.

Crochet your own cat : 12 life-size amigurumi kitties to make and love! by Mieko Shindo

Available in print

Calling all crafty cat lovers! This collection of 12 adorable amigurumi cats features designs that look so lifelike, you half expect them to purr!

You’ll find designs for all your favourite felines, including:

• Tabbies
• Calicoes
• Ragdolls
• Persians
• British Shorthairs
• American Shorthairs

These amigurumi make wonderful gifts for cat-fancying friends and family members. You can customise the yarn colours to match the furry friend in your life and have fun trimming and styling the fur until you achieve your desired look. Crochet your own adorable cat companion today!

A beginner's guide to rag rug techniques : discover rag rugging methods from around the world to upcycle fabric into beautiful pieces for the home A beginner's guide to rag rug techniques : discover rag rugging methods from around the world to upcycle fabric into beautiful pieces for the home by Elspeth Jackson

Available in print

Master rag-rugging in no time with this inspiring guide to upcycling offcuts and preloved fabric into modern, stylish rugs and homewares.

Craft and rag-rugging expert Elspeth Jackson details eight different methods that will help you learn the art of rugs from rags: shaggy, loopy, coiled rope, peg loom weaving, locker hooking, two-string loom, stitched and twining. Elspeth shows you the skills, tools and equipment you'll need for each technique, as well as providing advice on choices of fabrics and design.

Each chapter includes clear step-by-step instructions for a traditional rug as well as other projects, such as placemats, bowls, wall hangings and more, with designs inspired by rag rug styles from around the world - Moroccan to Swedish, Brazilian to North American.

Make it, don't buy it by Matt Remoroza

Available in print 

Make better food, spend less, and rediscover the joy of cooking!

Have you ever been shocked by the price of a fancy blended drink or wondered if you could make a better, less expensive version of your favourite takeout salad at home? Often, the answer is yes, you can—and Matt Remoroza will show you how.

Make It Don’t Buy It invites you to stop ordering takeout and try your hand at making your favourite store-bought foods from scratch, with over 100 recipes for dishes that taste better and often cost less than their overpriced restaurant counterparts. This unique cookbook draws on a variety of cuisines to satisfy every craving. Enjoy comforting breakfasts (Biscuits and Sausage Gravy), riffs on chicken and rice (Teriyaki Chicken, Halal Cart Chicken), and slow-cooked comfort food (Dipped Italian Beef, Easy Carnitas), as well as satisfying beverages (Iced Mango Matcha Latte) and impressive desserts (Basque Cheesecake). Matt breaks down the ingredients, tools, and techniques you’ll need to discover for yourself how simple it can be to make restaurant-worthy meals at home.

You’ll be inspired to cook more, eat out less, and make meals in your kitchen that are tastier than anything you'll find on a delivery app or in the frozen aisle in a grocery store.

Party people by Brie Larson and Courtney McBroom

Available in print

Celebrate any occasion (really, any occasion!) with 100 creative recipes and endless ideas for weird and wacky parties, from Academy Award–winning actor Brie Larson and former Milk Bar culinary director Courtney McBroom.

Brie Larson and Courtney McBroom found each other through food - a huge vat of molten queso, to be exact. They’ve been throwing food-filled parties together ever since. From weekly Game of Thrones viewing parties, to Dirty Dancing-themed birthday parties and their annual Hot Dog Appreciation Festival, they can find a reason to celebrate just about anything.

While their debate over whether or not a hot dog is a sandwich will never end, Brie and Courtney can agree that food always tastes best when you cook it and eat it with the ones you love. They wrote Party People to help you create meaningful connections with the ones you love, whether that’s with family, friends, or yourself. And with recipes like Old Pal cocktails, Jenga-Style Cheesy Bread, and Roast Chicken for the Ages, they have you covered.

Technically, this is an entertaining cookbook. But Brie and Courtney are serving up more than party tips and menus. They give you the tools to spark a new dining revolution in your home, one where connection takes centre stage and entertaining is an afterthought. Now, go forth and party!

Bring the outside in by Abi Dare

Available in print

Award-winning interiors blogger Abi Dare, author of The Soft Minimalist Home, offers a new take on biophilic design using organic materials, colours and textures to bring the outside in.

Nature provides ample inspiration for our homes, and a biophilic approach to design has been shown to enhance our mental and physical wellbeing. But there is more to it than adding lots of plants. Here, Abi Dare explores how to create an inviting home that makes subtle references to the natural world.

The book is divided into six sections: colour, materials and texture, shape and pattern, light and dark, layout and view, and finishing touches. In each, Abi provides practical tips and presents inspiring case studies, from a city apartment in Rotterdam to a family home in London and a farmhouse in the West Country. Palettes go beyond green, incorporating terracotta, pinks, peaches, blues, and ocher. Wood, stone, plaster, and linen offer a tactile experience, whether sleek and modern or rough-hewn and rustic. Soft curves, flowing lines, and imperfect forms can be used to mimic nature, tempering straight lines and sharp angles. Windows let in sunlight and frame our views of the outside world. Throughout, Abi highlights that biophilic design is not just an abstract theory, but an accessible concept that can make a big difference to our homes and lives.

The secret gardeners by Victoria Summerley

Available in print

The Secret Gardeners features the private gardens of more than 25 well-known figures from across British culture, including actors, artists, writers, designers and aristocrats. Through intimate interviews and over 300 photographs, it offers a rare look at the outdoor spaces where creativity, comfort and personal expression take root.

This updated edition includes four new gardens, including those of Prue Leith, Dominic West and Catherine FitzGerald and Jeremy Clarkson. Returning names include Julian Fellowes, Cath Kidston, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jeremy Irons. Each chapter reveals what gardening means to its owner, how their space reflects their personality, and why these green sanctuaries matter so deeply.

Photographed by Hugo Rittson-Thomas and written with warmth and insight by Victoria Summerley, this is a book that celebrates the joy of gardening, the importance of private space and the stories that grow behind the garden walls.

The Secret Gardeners is the perfect book for anyone who loves gardens and wants to get inside the head of the people who create and care for them.