Image of cover of book Bella Donna by Jill Johnson, reviewed by Karen Chisholm in the Newtown Review of Books.

JILL JOHNSON Bella Donna. Reviewed by Karen Chisholm

by NRB | 4 June 2026 | Crime Scene, Fiction | 0 Comments

In Jill Johnson's new novel, Professor Eustacia Rose is done with murder – it's time to settle down with the love of her life, Matilde. For anybody new to this series, which began with Devil’s Breath, Professor Eustacia Rose is the Head of Botanical Toxicology at...

Image of cover of book Palaces of the Crow by Ray Nayler, reviewed by Robert Goodman in the Newtown Review of Books.

RAY NAYLER Palaces of the Crow. Reviewed by Robert Goodman

by NRB | 2 June 2026 | Fiction, SFF | 0 Comments

Ray Nayler shows his versatility in his latest novel, a historical fantasy exploring war, survival, birdlife, and magic. Ray Nayler is a speculative fiction author who does not remotely do the same thing twice. His first novel, The Mountain in the Sea, was a slightly...

Image of cover of book Audition by Katie Kitamura, reviewed by Jessica Stewart in the Newtown Review of Books

KATIE KITAMURA Audition. Reviewed by Jessica Stewart

by NRB | 28 May 2026 | Fiction | 0 Comments

The new novel from the author of Intimacies offers different versions of the roles we take on, questioning our assumptions about truth. Shortlisted for the 2025 Booker Prize, Kitamura’s latest novel contains many things jostling for our attention. The two parts, or...

Image of cover of book Lucky Thing by Tom Baragwanath, reviewed by Karen Chisholm in the Newtown Review of Books.

TOM BARAGWANATH Lucky Thing. Reviewed by Karen Chisholm

by NRB | 26 May 2026 | Crime Scene, Fiction | 0 Comments

In Tom Baragwanath’s latest crime novel, Lorraine Henry knows only too well how small towns and close communities are a blessing and a curse. Tom Baragwanath first introduced ‘Lo’ Henry in Paper Cage, a novel about a small but divided community and a string of missing...

Image of cover of book Soft Serve by George Kemp, reviewed by Michael Jongen in the Newtown Review of Books.

GEORGE KEMP Soft Serve. Reviewed by Michael Jongen

by NRB | 21 May 2026 | Fiction | 0 Comments

Gathered in a McDonald’s as a bushfire races towards their town, the characters in George Kemp’s debut are all on the cusp of change. George Kemp’s novel is a delight, despite its heavy themes. Simply told, it’s a story with universal resonance but a distinctly...