Needle in a Haystack

by Karly Lane

Karly Lane's page-turning, absolutely delightful 25th rural romance from this bestselling author with over 600,000 books sold.

Lottie Fairchild has two history and, well, history. She's fascinated by the legends of love and curses handed down through her family.

Owner of a little antique shop in small country town Banalla, Lottie is on the committee that is about to launch a new festival celebrating local history, including gentleman bushranger Jack McNally.

Altogether, Lottie feels happy. Mostly. But when festival guest speaker Professor Damian Loxley roars into town a week early, Lottie is caught off guard.

As a professor of history and an author, Damian arrives keen to research Jack McNally and a historic cold the mysterious disappearance of a colonial lady - in essence the search for a needle in a haystack. Then he meets Lottie Fairchild ... the perfect local guide.

Little do they realise what danger can come with treasures and truths. But least of all do they know that the hardest jewel to grasp is happiness itself ...

Praise for Karly

'Perfect to read on a plane, train or beach-side holiday.' – Reading Writing and Reisling on The One That Got Away

'I absolutely couldn't put The One That Got Away down ...' – Ms G's Bookshelf

'... a compelling, fast-paced and engaging read with heart and substance.' – Better Reading

'If you are looking for a good holiday read, then definitely choose For Once In My Life.' – Blue Wolf Reviews

'A seriously wonderful book ... perfect if you are looking for something to make you smile and touch your heart.' – Beauty and Lace

'A country reading delight, Wish You Were Here is the perfect book to enjoy this summer season. You can't go wrong with a Karly Lane novel and this latest one was no exception.' – Mrs B's Book Reviews

'Heart-warming ... an enjoyable read that will be warmly welcomed by fans of Australian romance writing.' – Canberra Weekly

Genres: Romance

381 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 29, 2025

About the author

Karly Lane lives on the beautiful Mid North Coast of NSW in Australia. A certified small town girl, she is most happy in a little town where everyone knows who your grand parents were. She writes women’s fiction – everything from romantic suspense to family sagas and life in rural Australia. She has romantic suspense titles published under Karlene Blakemore-Mowle and her latest release, Third Time Lucky is available now.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lottie Fairchild was the owner of a little antique shop in Banalla in New South Wales, and loved history; she researched and had started writing a book about the generations of women in her family. The town was in the process of organising a festival which would focus on long ago bushranger Jack McNally, with Lottie one of the committee members. Lottie's best friend Cher, was descended from the notorious bushranger and was also keen to discover more. When the guest of honour, history professor and author Damien Loxley, arrived on a black beast of a motor bike, he was nothing like the committee had imagined - Lottie spent some time showing him the area, the sights and historical buildings, before the festival. But it was the search for a colonial woman who had vanished one hundred and fifty years prior, which added to the mystery; it felt like looking for a needle in a haystack. Would they discover evidence of Catherine's life and death?

Needle in a Haystack is another exceptional read by Aussie author Karly Lane which I thoroughly enjoyed. Combining the historical elements was well done; the current day research, the characters and more, were excellent. Highly recommended.

With thanks to Allen & Unwin AU for my ARC to read and review.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant story from one of my favourite authors, Karly Lane never disappoints and this one is just so good, come along and meet Lottie Fairchild lover of history, Lottie is writing her own book on the history of her family and the beautiful opal ring that has been passed down from mother to daughter for over one hundred years, the ring that her mother says is cursed, what will she uncover?

Lottie owns and runs an antique story in the small country town of Banalla a town well known for the bush ranger Jack McNally and Lottie is on the committee organising the festival to celebrate non other than gentleman Jack McNally, she is happy with her life she has friends, her mother and is loving her research for her book, then she meets the guest speaker for the festival historian Professor Damien Loxley, who arrives in town on a motor bike a week early to do some researching of he own and soon her life is changing.

Damien is researching Alexander Compton and his wife Catherine, there is a real mystery in this and he is determined to get answers, when he meets local, Lottie, he feels a pull towards her and soon they are searching the history of the area and uncovering so many clues and discovering that there is a link to what they are both researching the search is on and Lottie and Damien are getting closer every day, the chemistry is heating up.

This is such an awesome story, a dual time line, a mystery to uncover from the past that had me so invested, I found it very hard to put it down, fabulous characters, fabulous setting I can’t highly recommend this one enough, just wow. It is a beautifully told mystery and romance story and one I was sorry to see finish, a fabulous read.

My thanks to Allen & Unwin for my copy to read and review.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Congratulations Karly on your 25th book. I have been working my way through your backlist ( starting with the most recent ones) and this one is in my top 3. Brilliant from start to finish. I couldnt stop reading as I wanted to know the answer to the mystery.

What I loved about this book was how it involved family history. As someone who is fascinated by ancestry I really enjoyed reading about it. This one was about colonial times . I also liked the idea of the opal ring , as there is a missing opal story in my family.

I also loved the characters. The chemistry between Damian and Lottie was perfect. I felt it. Lottie and Cher's witty comments made me laugh throughout the book.

Highly recommend.

[Veronica ⭐️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just perfect!! Rural fiction with a compelling mystery and a heartwarming romance.
I loved every word!

I loved the different personalities of the residents of the town of Banalla. They were an eclectic mix of flamboyant and stalwart and each character added a layer of richness to the story.

The mystery of Catherine's disappearance was well plotted as Lottie and Damian pieced together snippets of information from old letters and newspapers as they navigate both their relationship and the mystery they're trying to solve.

Karly Lane brings the two separate plots of the heirloom opal ring Lottie's mum believed to be cursed and the disappearance of Catherine together in a believable way with a few chapters in bushranger Jack's point of view to clear up the mystery.

Have you ever read a book that while you can't turn the pages fast enough you also don't want it to end? Needle in a Haystack is that kind of book!

[Craig and Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big thanks to Allen & Unwin for sending us a copy to read and review.
Part of the rural romance cool club, Karly Lane is releasing her 25th novel and it’s another huge success.
Needle In A Haystack is an authentic rural tale with plenty to embrace.
Lottie Fairchild owns an antique shop in a small country town.
She also loves history, in fact she is distantly related to the notorious bushranger Jack McNally.
Weeks away from celebrating the towns history festival, special guest speaker Professor Damian Loxley arrives early, keen to research the local past.
Sparks ignite between the two and love blossoms.
But as truth begins to uncover, could danger be closer than they think….
A delightful read to snuggle up with.
Not only do we get a slow burn love story but there’s a historical mystery thread as well and this elevated my reading experience.
By the end of the book I had a crush on Professor Damian and I adored Cher.
Banalla is a very welcoming town with many zany characters.
A country affairs of the heart drama with a hint of humour and slathers of community spirit.

[Natalie M · Rating 4 out of 5]

To the tee a classic rural romance.

Lovely writing, amidst a quaint but vibrant rural town in NSW. The characters had enough charm to deliver entertainment and connection. One or two old fashioned ideas but I can live with that when the read doesn’t pretend to be anything outlandish.

The perfect holiday read.

[EmG ReadsDaily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully heartwarming Australian romance and a fantastic 25th rural romance!

[Cindy Spear · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I love this very Australian rural cover with the rocks, old homestead relic and wallabies in the background. It hints at so many key elements in the story! The past and present come together in a twilight experience as noted by the rich evening hues that backlight the scene. This impressive cover reflects accurately what’s inside.

Needle in a Haystack is a beautifully written riveting read from the very talented Karly Lane. It has so many things I love: mystery, romance, history and suspense to name a few. As always with Karly’s books, once I start I cannot put them down. And this one is extra special. Bursting with heart, passion, intrigue and discovery. The title is appropriate, too. This historic cold case of the strange disappearance of a colonial lady named Charlotte Fairchild-Loxely, is a real challenge because there are so few clues or facts available. But it is up to our two main narrative leads, Lottie and Damian, to uncover the truth together and crack an amazing mystery that surrounds the notorious bushranger Jack McNally. There are some clever twists and turns: including a little help from one of Australia’s unique animals.

From the opening scene, we are painted a comforting picture of Banalla: one that not only shows how things are today but also how the little town has changed over the years—mostly in the use of the church. This may reflect current spiritual beliefs. But other beliefs like age old curses remain. One is held by Lottie’s mother, connected to an opal ring, that has darkened a long line of women in her family.

Also, in the first chapter, are some beautiful Australian descriptions of Lottie’s Grandmother’s cottage, complete with the smell of eucalyptus and wattle, and the call of the magpies. A real picture of peace and contentment permeates this opening scene. Again, the past and present coincide. Plus, we learn of Lottie’s love of history and know this will play a big part in the plot.

Karly informs us in her Acknowledgment notes that this lovely fictional rural setting of Banalla was inspired by the picturesque town of Uralla in NSW on the Northern Tablelands. This lured me to wander through some historical references on line to learn more about this area and its rich history of Captain Thunderbolt (Frederick Ward) bushranger stories. A man known as the ‘gentleman bushranger’ because he aimed to avoid violence in his robberies. There is a statue of him in Uralla which represents his weapon of choice, a fast horse, that carries him swiftly away from the crime scene.

Karly had a great well of inspiration to draw from and although she certainly gleans some of Thunderbolt’s characteristics, and other fascinating bushranger history, her star bushranger Jack McNally is her own unique creation. She adds lots of imaginative elements and characteristics to give us an exciting villain that takes us on a rollicking, contradictory, heart-thumping read. I say contradictory because you don’t expect a bushranger to act gentlemanly or care about his victims as Jack does. But his actions prove this when he encounters a wealthy couple on the road he has planned to rob. He acts more like a bushranger towards the husband but to the wife, he earns his gentlemanly title. Her delicate fate becomes the core search of the mystery that modern day historian Damian tries to uncover. I found this part of the story absolutely fascinating. There are flashbacks neatly tucked into the modern story-line that allows us to be transported to the past, to experience Jack McNally’s robberies, relationships and reactions.

Damian is writing a book about his finds on Catherine’s disappearance and Lottie is writing one about her family’s connections to this unusual bushranger. So their sharing of a common interest, puts them in a positive position. As they help each other, their own feelings develop into something more than they had planned. But friction develops when the demands of work rise.

I enjoyed getting to know all the characters: mainly Lottie, Damian, Cher and Hannah in the modern story line and Jack, Emeline, Kate and Catherine in the past. Love abounds in this story. Besides the exciting quest to solve the historic mystery, as noted, there is a romance brewing between Lottie and Damian. We learn, too, about the tragic love between Jack and Emeline. And his beautiful love poem just gripped my heart. Catherine’s love for her husband, Alexander, is acknowledged as well.

There is so much I loved about Needle in a Haystack. When I turned the last page, I felt satisfied, refreshed and inspired. This impressive, engaging family roots story unveils the charm and mystery of the past while drawing upon the beauty and intrigue of the present. This delicate dance of imagination and fact— created the best story possible. Needle in a Haystack is a passionate historical adventure I will never forget. An absolute must read for 2025! 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Allen and Unwin for a review copy.

[Karina Peacock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book!

Gripped me right from the start and never let go!!

Sadly I did finish in an afternoon, but that only tells you how good it was!!!

[Joanne McKinnon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great story, loved it ! loved it !!
“Needle In A Haystack” this is a charming, page turning book about mystery and romance set in a charming small town.
Always love a story with a dual time line, there’s a mystery to uncover from the past, couldn’t wait to find out what happened. Some fabulous characters, I especially loved Cher, Lotties best friend, who is a rather flamboyant figure and the neighbouring shop owner of a swanky cafe and tapas bar.

Lottie Fairchild loves history, she is fascinated by the legends of love and curses handed down through her family. Owner of a little antique shop and is on the committee that is about to launch a new festival celebrating local history, including the town’s local gentleman bushranger Jack McNally.
But when the festival guest speaker Professor Damian Loxley comes into town early he meets Lottie and she is the perfect local guide.
Damian a Professor of history and an Author, is keen to research Jack McNally and the mysterious disappearance of a colonial lady Catherine Compton.

Sparks ignite between Lottie and Damian and love starts to blossom but little do they both understand what danger can come as truth begins to be uncovered!

Can I say by the end of the book I had a little crush on Professor Damian.
A story with hints of humour, community spirit, such an awesome read.

[Chelsea Pinkard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-4.25 stars - Another one of those rare books that felt like it was written just for me, a rural Aussie romance between a history-loving antiques shop owner and a motorbike-riding history professor where they’re investigating a colonial cold case?! Sign me up! This was a quick, enjoyable and not overly complicated book to read which I really liked. The veneration of bushrangers came into play, as somebody who hates the fact that they’re celebrated when they were literal criminals, and the story spun about Jack McNally was pretty much if you squashed Australia’s two most famous bushrangers, Ned Kelly and Matthew Brady together (gang of brothers + gentleman thief). Anyway, quite liked this one overall!

[Susan Mackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soooo good! Loved the story the mystery, the ring, the characters.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very easy read and read it in a few hours. I really enjoyed the mix of live, history and mystery and it kept me going to find out the twists and links

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Needle in a Haystack by Australian author Karly Lane is a moving and emotionally layered fictional story of history, mystery, and romance.

Lottie Fairchild lives in Banalla, New South Wales in a little old cottage on the hill once owned by her grandmother. She has a love of history and when she found out her Mum was going to sell the local family antique store Lottie left her government HR job in Sydney and returned home to save it. It also gave her a chance to start drafting a book on the history of her family and the curses handed down as well as their ties to the town.

Banalla is known for its infamous bush ranger Jack McNally who holds the record for the biggest stagecoach robbery in the country. Lottie is part of the committee organising a festival to celebrate the local history and McNally. When guest speaker history professor and author Damian Loxley comes to town early, he meets Lottie and discovers they have interests in common.

Damian is researching Alexander Compton and the mysterious disappearance of his wife Catherine. Lottie is excited at the prospect to show him around Banalla and her own research. Will they be able to uncover the truth and solve the mystery that surrounds the disappearance of Catherine and the notorious bushranger?

The plot develops at a relaxing pace, with unexpected twists and turns along the way to spark renewed interest. The descriptive narrative is well-constructed, and dialogue is used effectively as the reader is immersed in the world of a dual timeline between past and present. This is a romance, but it goes far beyond most books in the genre, offering a wealth of knowledge, a glimpse into a little-known, and sensory delight.

Lane knows how to get to the soul of a character swiftly and naturally, and readers are quickly gripped by the cast in a beautifully written tale of a historic mystery and family connections, steeped in emotional authenticity and quiet grace.

Lottie makes for a truly compelling, relatable protagonist, she is a strong, independent woman and I was drawn to her from the start with her love of history, curses, and her little antique shop. Damián brings an extra layer of warmth and charm to the story, making the character dynamics even more fun to read. These characters make an impression on you and will have you rooting for them to end up together.

The supporting characters: Jack, Emeline, Kate, Catherine, Hannah, and Cher leap off the page, each are well rounded and believable, with heart, quirks, and emotional depth. Readers will find a redeeming value in each of them.



There’s beauty to behold in the lyrical prose that evokes the Banalla setting, and it is clear in the tenderness and authenticity of the descriptions that Lane treats this place with reverence and love. I found myself daydreaming I was sitting on the front veranda of Grandma Rosemary’s little old cottage immersing myself with the view as I breathed in the smells of eucalyptus and wattle and listening to the sounds of magpies and kookaburras.

Karly Lane never disappoints her readers; she has a knack for perfectly capturing the mood, setting the scene, and bringing out emotions in her readers. I can always count on her books being beautifully written and allow the reader to visualize what they are reading.

Romance readers, chick lit readers, and those readers who just need a change of pace from more intense books, Needle in a Haystack is exactly what you are looking for. A wonderful romantic, wholesome, and satisfying story that has a happy ending. What more could you ask for? I highly recommend.

Thank you, Beauty & Lace and Allen & Unwin, for the opportunity to read and review.

[what.karli.reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.75/5 stars

𝙰 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚛𝚞𝚛𝚊𝚕 𝙰𝚞𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊 𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚞𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚛/𝚖𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚛𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚘𝚗𝚎.

𝙰𝚗 𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚜.

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚠𝚘 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙿𝙾𝚅’𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛.

𝙸𝚏 𝚊𝚕𝚜𝚘 𝚊 𝚏𝚊𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝙺𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚢’𝚜 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚔 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚞𝚙 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚊 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful story by Karly Lane combining present day and early Australian days in the time when bushrangers were very present. I enjoyed the country feel of the story, the characters and the connection to Jack McNally.

[Dragonladymoi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy Karly Lane novels and this story was not an exception; wth the added bonus of a fictional history quest to spice up the romance. Definitely a four and a half star novel!

[Stitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delightful book to read. A bit of history, a bit of romance in a Australian small town setting.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story. Loved Lottie and Cher.

[Robecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this book, kept me intrigued! fastest book I've read in many years

[Jackie Withers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can never go wrong with a Karly Lane book, loved it

[Linda McLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this author. i am looking forward to reading more of hers.

[Dianne Cameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice easy read

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karly Lane has done it again and written yet another engaging and enthralling Australian romance story. It's full of history, drama, and some heartache. I enjoyed everything about this book.

[Tish · Rating 4 out of 5]

great story as always Karly 😁

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy Karly Lane’s writing and this one was very enjoyable.

[Robyn Coyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful read by Karly Lane. So enjoyable. Just love the way Karly writes.

[Lisa Mcmaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story from KARLY. Loved the history and bush ranger theme

[De-anne Tasker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Great storyline & mystery. Plan to share book with others.