ANKE RICHTER Cult Trip. Reviewed by Mary Garden
Anke Richter’s stories of New Zealanders’ experiences of cults raise universal questions about the appeal – and danger – of such groups. No one joins a cult. They join interesting groups that make them feel special, that give them solace, hope and answers. In...
VAN BADHAM QAnon and On. Reviewed by Linda Godfrey
Van Badham explores the internet’s alternative reality. This is a book about how internet conspiracies have grown to influence world politics, with dangerous real-life consequences. Badham traces the rise of internet channels from Japanese anime imageboards on...
MILES ALLINSON In Moonland. Reviewed by Ann Skea
The second novel from the author of Fever of Animals begins with a family mystery and explores the appeal – and consequences – of joining a cult. ‘Parents are only there to be memories for their children …’ Joe, who narrates the first part of this book, certainly...
NICOLA WEST Catch Us the Foxes. Reviewed by Linda Funnell
Nicola West weaves a conspiracy within a conspiracy in her debut crime novel. Nicola West opens Catch Us the Foxes with the protagonist, 29-year-old Marlowe ‘Lo’ Robertson, being introduced to an enthusiastic crowd at the Sydney Opera House: ‘She’s a bestselling...
REBECCA STOTT In the Days of Rain; A daughter, a father, a cult. Reviewed by Linda Godfrey
This is a story of the devastating effects of waiting for the Rapture – and surviving a cult. Rebecca Stott is the daughter of Roger Stott, once a lay minster in the Exclusive Brethren in England. In the Days of Rain relates one family’s experience of living...
CHRIS JOHNSTON and ROSIE JONES The Family. Reviewed by Lou Mentor
The Family is a chilling account of how a cult arose that would leave a legacy of damage in its wake. What is true? What is false? In the quest for enlightenment what does it take to convince regular – often well-educated – members of society to abandon the norms of...
EMMA CLINE The Girls. Reviewed by Linda Godfrey
Emma Cline dissects the cruel attraction of cults in this novel inspired by the Manson murders. This is a work of fiction drawn from real-life events. The book does not say that outright, but it is very identifiably based on the Manson Family, the cult run by Charles...
Recent Posts
KELLY GARDINER and SHARMINI KUMAR Miss Caroline Bingley Private Detective. Reviewed by Michael Jongen15 May 2025Gardiner and Kumar give Caroline Bingley a larger and more exciting role than [ … ]
KERRIE DAVIES Miles Franklin Undercover. Reviewed by Ann Skea13 May 2025Author Kerrie Davies explores Miles Franklin’s life in the decades after [ … ]
SALLY ROONEY Intermezzo. Reviewed by Jessica Stewart8 May 2025Irish writer Sally Rooney is known for her succession of bestselling literary [ … ]
ROBERT MANNE A Political Memoir. Reviewed by Braham Dabscheck7 May 2025Robert Manne’s memoir charts the life of a public intellectual and independent [ … ]