Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • A Box Full of Murders – Janice Hallett

    Penguin Australia June 2025 ISBN: 9780241636183 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $16.99 It was actually quite serendipitous that as friend, Zanni Louise, mentioned she was enjoying a Janice Hallett murder-mystery – an author whose work I didn’t know – I replied by saying, I had just got a review copy of her first kids’ book, also a murder mystery. And…

  • The Cave Downwind of the Café – Mikey Please

    Harper Collins Australia October 2025 ISBN: 9780008639051 ISBN 10: 0008639051 Imprint: HarperCollins GB RRP: $24.99 I didn’t see the previous book, The Café at the Edge of the Woods, but as it won Waterstones’ Picture Book of the Year it would be obvious that it was a great success. Certainly, this quirky sequel confirms that. Actually, this is…

  • Wednesday: A Novelisation of Season One

    Penguin Australia August 2025 ISBN: 9780241760741 Imprint: Ladybird RRP: $19.99 If you happen to be one of the handful of people in the civilized world who hasn’t watched Wednesday (1 & 2), you will definitely want to read this ahead of your kids. That way, at least you’ll be up to speed and be able to converse intelligently…

  • Dropbear – Philip Bunting

    Walker Books AustraliaOctober 2025 ISBN13:9781760657796 Australia RRP:$25.99 New Zealand RRP:$27.99 You know it’s true. We’ve all done it. We’ve all talked about the vicious dropbears of Australia – particularly, of course, to our more gullible overseas friends. *Grin* Apparently, it’s not just humans that spread these wild rumours. In this bush outing from the talented…

  • The Long Shoe – Bob Mortimer

    Simon & Schuster Australia Publisher: Gallery UK October 2025 ISBN13: 9781398548053 I have always loved Bob Mortimer on WILTY, which I admit is the only place I’ve seen his comedy. I didn’t realise he was also a writer until I spotted this one in a publicity email and immediately was keen to read it. I…

  • Spud and Snowball and the Fancy Fish – Judith Rossell

    Harper Collins Australia September 2025 ISBN: 9780733343865 ISBN 10: 0733343864 Imprint: ABC Books AU RRP: $15.99 Continuing the impromptu ‘cat’ theme is this deliciously funny new title from Judith Rossell, which will be perfect for your newly independent readers. These are two cats that are the very epitome of their species. They are self-indulgent, wilful, cheeky, devious, greedy…

  • Catty Corner: #1 and #2 – Julie Murphy

    I’ve been a fan of Julie Murphy’s writing since I first read Dumplin’ [wow! ten years old now!] when she gave fat girls back the power (by the way, the movie was pretty good too, if you’ve not seen it yet!). This is a new series for younger readers to MG, and again, puts the…

  • Lost in a Book: The 113th Assistant Librarian #2 – Stuart Wilson

    Penguin Australia September 2025 ISBN: 9781761347016 Imprint: Penguin RRP: $19.99 What super fun it was to re-visit the Blackmoor-upon-Wyvern Public Library, which is in the capable hands of the 113th librarian, Oliver Wormwood, ably assisted by his new friend, Agatha, sometimes girl/more often nine cats. After his initial reluctance at having the librarian’s role thrust upon him,…

  • Escape from Firestone Fortress: Solve it Your Way #3 – Rachel Jackson

    Riveted Press Distributed by Simon & Schuster September 2025 ISBN13: 9781764007122 RRP: AU$ 17.99 / NZ$ 19.99 I loved Rachel’s first two Solve it Your Way titles and, of course, have also enjoyed my Q&A and meeting her on my visit to Canberra a few months ago. She is both personable and engaging, aside from…

  • Mega Rich Guinea Pigs – Kate and Jol Temple

    Harper Collins Australia August 2025 ISBN : 9781460767207 RRP: $16.99 Why yes, when it comes to The Kid and I, of course our fondness for rodentia extends to guinea pigs . Although, we only had the one, and that one only for a short time. Only The Kid, then at the height of her home zoo phase,…