Each week we bring you a sample of the books we’re reading, the films and TV shows we’re watching, and the music we’re listening to.

Bronte Coates is reading Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty (available 18 September)

I was extremely excited last week to get my hands on an early copy of Liane Moriarty’s forthcoming novel. A group of strangers attend a wellness retreat where they find themselves exposed to some unusual treatment methods. To say much more would spoil part of the pleasure of this juicy, addictive novel; as with Moriarty’s earlier books, Nine Perfect Strangers is full of simmering secrets that are slowly and enjoyably revealed as the story progresses. Moriarty has a deliciously dark sense of humour that really shines here and while I really enjoyed all the characters my absolute favourite was Frances. A popular romance author who has hit a snag in her life and career, she also happens to be entirely charming.

Amanda Rayner recommends Sarah Selecky as a writer to watch

I recently finished this clever satire from Sarah Selecky about the personal branding and enlightenment industries. You can read my review here. Afterwards, I found myself eager to seek out more of her work. While Radiant Shimmering Light was her first novel, she did have a short story collection available, This Cake is for the Party, which I’ve just ordered. Centred on the sharing of food, this book was recognised in a number of shortlists and was a finalist for the Scotiabank Giller prize for Canadian authors in 2010. Fellow Canadian Margaret Atwood has also praised Selecky’s work. I think she is a writer to watch.

Ellen Cregan is reading Trace: Who Killed Maria James? by Rachael Brown

I’ve finally got around to reading Rachel Brown’s Trace, which has been on my bedside table since its release a couple of months ago. This book has so many dark twists and turns and I won’t lie – it is certainly not an easy read. However, I also couldn’t put it down. This book is based on Brown’s podcast of the same name, and gives a deeper insight into the steps Brown and her team followed to try and find answers to the mystery of Maria James’s death, which has been a cold case since 1980. Brown’s investigation into the murder touches on two of Australian society’s most powerful organisations – the police, and the church. I highly recommend this to those who, like me, are addicted to true crime podcasts.

Paul Goodman had a packed schedule at MIFF

The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) is over! Highlights were You Were Never Really Here, Lynne Ramsey’s taut but touching masterpiece about war veteran Joaquin Phoenix’s hunt for a missing girl; The Insult, a Lebanese courtroom drama centred around religious divisions whose voice is strong and clear amid the clamour; and Climax, Gaspar Noe’s return to outstanding form, where an innocent celebration goes horribly, horribly wrong in the way only Gaspar Noe knows how.