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2023 crime fiction highlights
Crime readers, rejoice! It has been another stellar year for Australian and international authors, including books from longtime favourites as well as those making their debut. From cosy and rural crime to thrillers and high-paced noir we've got you covered!
Everyone On This Train Is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson
Ernest Cunningham returns in a deliciously witty locked room (train) mystery.
When the Australian Mystery Writers’ Society invited me to their crime-writing festival aboard the Ghan, the famous train between…
What we're reading: Iglesias & Parton
Each week our amazing staff bring you a sample of the books or music they're immersed in.
Jason Austin is reading The Devil Takes You Home by Gabino Iglesias
Winner of both the Shirley Jackson and Bram Stoker Awards this year, The Devil Takes You Home is a beautifully paced supernatural crime-noir-horror novel about a man on the brink.
Mario's small daughter has died of leukemia, and he's freshly estranged from his wife, Melisa. Finding himself deeply in debt with…
Great graphic novels for middle schoolers
Graphic novels are a great way to get even the most reluctant of children reading. Here is a collection of standout graphic novels released in 2023 that include fantasy stories about witches, mythical beings, contemporary stories of navigating friendships and new schools, and at least one very cute monster! There's something for every reader aged 8-12.
Nayra and the Djinn by Iasmin Omar Ata
Nothing is going right for Nayra Mansour. There’s the constant pressure from her strict family, ruthless…
2023 LGBTQIA+ fiction favourites
It’s been a fantastic year for LGBTQIA+ stories in fiction. Below, you’ll find some of our 2023 fiction favourites that centre and celebrate a multiplicity of LGBTQIA+ experiences within their pages.
Bored Gay Werewolf by Tony Santorella
Brian, an aimless slacker, works doubles at his shift job, forgets to clean his room and lays about with his friends Nik and Darby. He's been struggling to manage his transition to adulthood almost as much as his monthly transitions to a werewolf…
Excellent Australian picture books to gift
We think you will all agree that books are the best kind of gift to give and receive! And there is nothing more special than gifting a picture book to a child in your life. There have been so many incredible picture books published this year in Australia, you'll have trouble only choosing one!
Penguin Oh Penguin by Gladys Milroy & Helen Milroy (illus.)
‘The Penguin song has lasted throughout the generations and has been sung to my children, grandchildren…
12 literary prize winners to read this summer
2023 has been a wonderful year of prize-winning literature. From across the globe readers have been treated to a myriad of deeply satisfying novels. The 12 winners below were judged for their originality and exemplary writing.
Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
Winner of The Booker Prize 2023
On a dark, wet evening in Dublin, scientist and mother-of-four Eilish Stack answers her front door to find the GNSB on her doorstep. Two officers from Ireland's newly formed secret police want to…
2023 translated fiction highlights
We've been spoiled for choice with translated fiction in 2023, so choosing highlights to spotlight was a near impossible task, but we managed it. Below explore what we consider to be some of the standout works of translated fiction for the year, including books from Japan, Spain, France and more.
Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck (translated from German by Michael Hofmann)
Berlin. 11 July 1986. They meet by chance on a bus. She is a young student, he is older and…
Young adult debut highlights of 2023
There is nothing more exciting than discovering an author at the beginning of their career. We are extremely fortunate that this year has been really strong for debut authors in young adult fiction. Here are a selection of our favourite debut young adult titles for 2023, many of which come from very talented Australian authors.
Two Can Play That Game by Leanne Yong
Sam Khoo has one goal in life: create cool indie games. She's willing to do anything to…
Middle grade fantasy that captured our imagination this year
This year we've enjoyed a plethora of brilliant fantasy and science fiction stories for readers aged 8-13. Below is a selection of our favourite books for young readers published this year. These stories are packed with adventure, friendship, magic, questing and, of course, at least one anthropomorphic cat.
Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
Christopher is visiting his reclusive grandfather when he witnesses an avalanche of mythical creatures come tearing down the hill. This is how Christopher learns that his grandfather…
10 booksellers share their personal favourite reads of 2023
Below 10 booksellers share which books stand out as exceptional amongst everything they’ve read this year.
Art Monsters by Lauren Elkin
Art Monsters is the highlight book for me this year – energising, fresh, and entirely well researched this book combines visual and performance art with a series of powerful essays on the body in feminist art and practice by Laura Elkin. For art lovers, feminists and anyone grappling with where and how their body fits.
– Bec Kavanagh
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