“Layer upon layer as the suspects come to light and new dangers surface, Jessica and Megan are driven to bring justice to vulnerable women...”
Australian crime fiction has risen through the ranks in recent years launching new bold authors with offerings that are sharp with well-crafted plot-lines. Joining authors such as Jane Harper, Fleur McDonald and Lee Christine is Jane Caro with her new novel Lyrebird.
Jessica Watson was a young student recording birds in the remote Barrington Tops National Park. A favoured destination and a time to capture the spectacular lyrebird in full mating call birdsong. Distinct and vivid, the call is captured on her audio-video equipment. Chill sets in when she realises lyrebirds mimic sounds and her recordings have captured the blood-curdling screams and dying pleas of a young woman.
Twenty years later a woman’s body is found in the vicinity and Jessica is determined to re-start work with Detective Megan Blaxland to finally solve the mystery.
Their teamwork and determination is rekindled and piece by piece the truth emerges. One can imagine the lyrebird calling them once again to allow the bush to reveal the long-forgotten secrets.
Layer upon layer as the suspects come into the light and new dangers surface, Jessica and Megan are driven to bring justice to vulnerable women.
Whilst Jessica and Megan are two characters that blend to create the spine of this compelling tale, Jane Caro also presents a sincere, authentic narrative that stems from her extensive research on her chosen themes and topics. She seeks to give her writing an honesty that is respectful to her subjects and characters. This especially shines through Nan, Coco, Bridie, Luna and Sheridan – they all have a bold placement in Lyrebird and is highly deserving of its rightful place amongst the new crime genre in Australia.
Sue Reid
Read By Reid NZ
Allen & Unwin Australia publishers
ISBN 9781761471537