So we're talking satire, with as much subtlety as a politician on the election campaign. Which is not my favourite sort of satire I've got to admit. So THE UNITED STATES OF AIR and I struggled to come to an understanding from the beginning.

Subtitled "The True Story of Postcard Bandit Brenden Abbott", AUSTRALIAN OUTLAW is the authorised biography of Abbott, once a notorious Australian criminal, although, as it turns out from this book, a bit of a mythological figure in some ways.

Some things remain in this nation's psyche for a very long time. The Bodyline series was something my grandfather was still hot under the collar about when I was a girl (gives you a feeling for how the New Zealanders feel when you mention underarm bowling...).

Interesting novella that was quite a good read, although I really do wonder sometimes about unusual character names...

One of the biggest problems with the blanding out of Australian Federal politics and society is that Political Satire seems to have disappeared around the back, probably mugged by some idiot with a bias obsession.

I am a bit of a sucker for a daft title, even though it frequently explodes in my face. Even then, it did come as somewhat of a surprise to be reading a knitting type book (no patterns ... there are limits)... Regardless of why I picked this book up, have to say, was pleasantly surprised.

Somewhere in the back of my head, as I've read more and more books set in Australia, there's always been a little question. Which RED DIRT TALKING has answered. Why can't we have more books written from the Aboriginal perspective? And what better way to look at that perspective from the point of view of an incomer to a remote outback community.

In 2012 Tony Cavanaugh released his first crime fiction book - PROMISE - introducing Darian Richards. A flawed hero if there ever was one that first book did indeed promise. THE SOFT TOUCH is a short story released in the leadup to the second book DEAD GIRL SING.

One glance at the blurb for this book will give you a pretty good feel for the style. Comedic female PD crashing through life in a manner that can make a reader cry with laughter, or beg for a good old fashioned central female character with a serious drinking problem, an attitude & maybe a bad case of BO.