Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe



  • Night Divides the Day: The Doors Anthology

    New South Books Genesis Publications The Doors, foreword by Krist Novoselic 9781905662890 May 2025 AUD$115.00 No, like the Ozzy Osbourne memoir, it’s not precisely Halloween but we all know that there were some dark and mystic times associated with the Doors and, in particular, Jim Morrison – the Lizard King himself. This anthology is a Read more

  • The Ickabog: The bestselling fairytale, now illustrated by Ben Mantle – J. K. Rowling

    Hachette Australia Imprint: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Sep 2025 | 9781510202795 | RRP $22.99 Remember when The Ickabog first came out during the gloom of covid days and all of us HP fans were SO excited! My kiddos were so hyper that I never got my hands on it to read it – though I did admire Read more

  • Happy Halloween and the October Wrap-up!

    More adult books than usual which has been nice – and still quite a few to go. Enjoy next month’s Picture Book special and don’t eat too many treats! Read more

  • The Official Agatha Christie After School Detectives Club: 50 Mystery Puzzles for Children – Agatha Christie Ltd, Dr Gareth Moore, Laura Jayne Ayres

    Hachette Australia Imprint: Laurence King Publishing Oct 28, 2025 | 9781510231924 | RRP $26.99 It’s been a pretty murder-y sort of week this Halloween special so it seems only apt to add this terrific book into the mix. How did I, Agatha Christie tragic that I am, never realise that there are Agatha puzzle books!!??? Inconceivable! Be assured, now Read more

  • Murder in the Cathedral (Phryne Fisher #23)- Kerry Greenwood

    November 2025 ISBN:9781760879341 Publisher:Allen & Unwin Imprint:Allen & Unwin RRP: $34.99 Like hundreds – nay, thousands of others, I was completely devastated to learn of Kerry Greenwood’s death back in March. Just this past week my FB memories told me that 11 years ago I was relishing another Phyrne Fisher title, and I would think Read more

  • Oxford Blood — Rachel Davis Featherstone

    Walker Books Synchronicity yet again. For one thing my other YA review for Halloween is also dark academia, full of privilege vs scholarship, ruthlessness, power-hungry educational institutions, murder/s, set in an elite institution. And, also, as I’ve just re-read via audiobook The Book of Dust #1 & #2 and the setting of Oxford with references Read more