Each week we bring you a sample of the books we’re reading, the films we’re watching, the television shows we’re hooked on or the music we’re loving.

Bronte Coates is reading Becoming Kirrali Lewis by Jane Harrison

I’ve been on a little bit of an OzYA journey lately, having just read and loved Ellie Marney’s smart, sexy and suspenseful Every series and the first two books of Jaclyn Moriarty’s pretty-much-perfect-in-every-way The Colours of Madeleine series.

Then, earlier this week I came across a great review of Jane Harrison’s award-winning Becoming Kirrali Lewis by Danielle Binks. (Find the review here.) Binks describes the book as, ‘a gutsy and poignant coming-of-age story about two incredible women, that casts a critical eye over Australia’s changing (and still needs to change) racial landscape’, which immediately inspired me to pick up a copy. The wonderfully striking cover also helped.

A few days on and I’m very happy to report Becoming Kirrali Lewis was well-worth picking up – a fast-paced, heartfelt and assured debut.

Nina Kenwood is reading If She Did It by Jessica Treadway

My mother and several colleagues have previously recommended this crime novel to me, so I was pleased when my book club chose it as this month’s pick.

If She Did It is more psychological drama than your typical crime novel. The story is told from the point of view of Hanna – a woman still recovering from a brutal attack that three years earlier left her husband dead and her world shattered. The man who was arrested for her attack was her youngest daughter Dawn’s boyfriend, Rud. Many people suspected Dawn was also involved, but Hanna herself can’t remember the events of the night.

When Rud wins an appeal and Dawn decides to move back home to live with her mother, Hanna struggles with her mixed feelings for her child, and her stress at the thought of going through another criminal trial. The novel is mostly concerned with the relationship between Hanna and Dawn. With echoes of We Need to Talk ABout Kevin, the narrative flashes back to Dawn’s early childhood and her awkward teenage years, and Hanna’s struggles to parent her in the best way possible. As the title suggested, the underlying question of the book is whether or not Dawn actually did have anything to do with the attack on Hanna and her husband.

I’m about three-quarters through and I’ve really enjoyed it so far; more so, in fact, than I enjoyed thriller-of-the-moment The Girl on the Train (which is also very good). If She Did It is very well written, with just the right amount of creepiness and doubt to keep me on edge.

Chris Somerville is reading The Tsarnaev Brothers: The Road to a Modern Tragedy by Masha Gessen

I’m only at the start of Masha Gessen’s book but already it’s both gripping and sad. Admittedly, I didn’t know much about modern Russian history, and so far I’ve found the intricate nature of the book completely fascinating. While I haven’t finished the book, l’m already planning to read Gessen’s The Man Without a Face when I do. I’ve heard great reports of this book, which is an account of Vladimir Putin’s rise to power.

Ed. note: Our staff have recently roadtested Gessen’s new book for book clubs. Find their thoughts