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The Heartwood Hotel
‘The Heartwood is the core of this district. It always has been so, but it’s still just a building. It’s your family – you and Adam and old Tiger – who animate it, keep the heart beating, so to speak.’ Holding on in TewingaIn the abandoned railhead town of Tewinga, now almost a ghost town, Lyn and Adam Portman struggle to keep the Heartwood Hotel afloat. Lyn loves her husband and longs to be a mother. But she’s kept busy caring for her elderly father, her community, and Max, the young worker who reminds her of the brother she’s lost and dearly misses.Mysteries and ConcernsWhen he fails to return from a day trip, Lyn’s concern deepens as the length of his absence grows, the more so with rumours of criminal activity at a nearby station. Meanwhile, a chance meeting uncovers a family bombshell that leaves Lyn reeling. Resilience and RevelationsThe community must pull together as never before, proving that sometimes the smallest towns have the biggest hearts – and hide the darkest secrets.From the bestselling author of Secrets of the Springs, this is another captivating outback mystery from Australia’s authentic rural writer and beloved voice of the bush.___________________Praise for Kerry McGinnis"McGinnis is a natural storyteller with a deep understanding of life on the land." - The Weekly Times"McGinnis has the eye of a painter; she writes as she sees and the land comes alive." - Weekend Australian"Anything McGinnis writes begs to be read aloud around a campfire." - Country Style___________________Additional Books by Kerry McGinnisExpand your collection with these captivating novels from Kerry Creek*Gathering Storms*The Missing Girl*Croc Country*The Roadhouse*The Heartwood Hotel*Secrets of the Springs*Out of Alice*Tracking North*Wildhorse Creek*Mallee Sky*The Waddi TreeExperience the captivating narratives and immersive landscapes of Kerry McGinnis's books. Order now!
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 2, 2018
14 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Kerry McGinnis
22 books79 followersKerry McGinnis was born in Adelaide and, at the age of twelve, took up a life of droving with her father and three siblings. The family travelled extensively across the Northern Territory and Queensland before settling on a station in the Gulf Country. Kerry has worked as a shepherd, droving hand, gardener, stock-camp and station cook, eventually running a property at Bowthorn, near Mount Isa. She is the author of two volumes of memoir and now lives in Bundaberg.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
July 26, 2021
EXCERPT: 'By the way, what's Safi short for?'
'Saffron,' he responded. 'Boy! That takes me back. She hated it - changed it when she was ten, if you can believe it!' He chuckled suddenly. 'She was the most pig-headed brat you ever saw. Call her Saffron and she'd just ignore you - even Mum.'
'So . . . who is she, Charlie?'
There was a brief silence. 'My - our - sister. I forgot you wouldn't know. How did you come to hear about her, anyway?'
'I found her photo. What's the big mystery, Charlie? How come none of you boys, let alone Mum and Dad, ever mentioned her to me? Did she die?'
ABOUT 'THE HEARTWOOD HOTEL': The Heartwood is the core of this district. It always has been so, but it's still just a building. It's your family - you and Adam and old Tiger - who animate it, keep the heart beating, so to speak.'
In the abandoned railhead town of Tewinga, now almost a ghost town, Lyn and Adam Portman struggle to keep the Heartwood Hotel afloat. Lyn loves her husband and longs to be a mother. But she's kept busy caring for her elderly father, her community, and Max, the young worker who reminds her of the brother she's lost and dearly misses.
When he fails to return from a day trip, Lyn's concern deepens as the length of his absence grows, the more so with rumours of criminal activity at a nearby station. Meanwhile, a chance meeting uncovers a family bombshell that leaves Lyn reeling. The community must pull together as never before, proving that sometimes the smallest towns have the biggest hearts - and hide the darkest secrets.
MY THOUGHTS: Set in the remote hinterland of Queensland Australia, somewhere between Hamilton and Charters Towers, Tewinga, home to a pub, with petrol, a one man Police Station, a general store and a camp ground, is the setting for this multi-layered outback mystery.
Who is Safi?
Where has Max disappeared to?
What is the secret behind all the wealth at one of the stations?
Tewinga may almost be a ghost town, but there's always plenty going on. Monthly CWA dances, gossip in the bar. The way everyone pulls together when there's a crisis. McGinnis has truly captured the spirit of the outback. I felt right at home here. The characters are so real that I'm sure I've met some of them on my travels.
An author I will be reading more of.
⭐⭐⭐.8
#TheHeartwoodHotel
I: #kerrymcginnis #penguinbooksaus
T: @PenguinBooksAus
#australianfiction #crime #familydrama #mystery
THE AUTHOR: Kerry McGinnis was born in Adelaide and, at the age of twelve, took up a life of droving with her father and three siblings. The family travelled extensively across the Northern Territory and Queensland before settling on a station in the Gulf Country. Kerry has worked as a shepherd, droving hand, gardener, stock-camp and station cook, eventually running a property at Bowthorn, near Mount Isa. She is the author of two volumes of memoir and now lives in Bundaberg.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to fellow Waitomo District Library Book Club members, Betty and Elsie, for recommending The Heartwood Hotel by Kerry McGinnis. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'Saffron,' he responded. 'Boy! That takes me back. She hated it - changed it when she was ten, if you can believe it!' He chuckled suddenly. 'She was the most pig-headed brat you ever saw. Call her Saffron and she'd just ignore you - even Mum.'
'So . . . who is she, Charlie?'
There was a brief silence. 'My - our - sister. I forgot you wouldn't know. How did you come to hear about her, anyway?'
'I found her photo. What's the big mystery, Charlie? How come none of you boys, let alone Mum and Dad, ever mentioned her to me? Did she die?'
ABOUT 'THE HEARTWOOD HOTEL': The Heartwood is the core of this district. It always has been so, but it's still just a building. It's your family - you and Adam and old Tiger - who animate it, keep the heart beating, so to speak.'
In the abandoned railhead town of Tewinga, now almost a ghost town, Lyn and Adam Portman struggle to keep the Heartwood Hotel afloat. Lyn loves her husband and longs to be a mother. But she's kept busy caring for her elderly father, her community, and Max, the young worker who reminds her of the brother she's lost and dearly misses.
When he fails to return from a day trip, Lyn's concern deepens as the length of his absence grows, the more so with rumours of criminal activity at a nearby station. Meanwhile, a chance meeting uncovers a family bombshell that leaves Lyn reeling. The community must pull together as never before, proving that sometimes the smallest towns have the biggest hearts - and hide the darkest secrets.
MY THOUGHTS: Set in the remote hinterland of Queensland Australia, somewhere between Hamilton and Charters Towers, Tewinga, home to a pub, with petrol, a one man Police Station, a general store and a camp ground, is the setting for this multi-layered outback mystery.
Who is Safi?
Where has Max disappeared to?
What is the secret behind all the wealth at one of the stations?
Tewinga may almost be a ghost town, but there's always plenty going on. Monthly CWA dances, gossip in the bar. The way everyone pulls together when there's a crisis. McGinnis has truly captured the spirit of the outback. I felt right at home here. The characters are so real that I'm sure I've met some of them on my travels.
An author I will be reading more of.
⭐⭐⭐.8
#TheHeartwoodHotel
I: #kerrymcginnis #penguinbooksaus
T: @PenguinBooksAus
#australianfiction #crime #familydrama #mystery
THE AUTHOR: Kerry McGinnis was born in Adelaide and, at the age of twelve, took up a life of droving with her father and three siblings. The family travelled extensively across the Northern Territory and Queensland before settling on a station in the Gulf Country. Kerry has worked as a shepherd, droving hand, gardener, stock-camp and station cook, eventually running a property at Bowthorn, near Mount Isa. She is the author of two volumes of memoir and now lives in Bundaberg.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to fellow Waitomo District Library Book Club members, Betty and Elsie, for recommending The Heartwood Hotel by Kerry McGinnis. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
November 23, 2018
I've read many books that are based on rural towns in Australia and I never become tired or bored with reading about them. In fact, I find them really interesting and at times heartbreaking and intriguing and Heartwood Hotel was all of that with a bit of mystery put into the mix as well. Rural towns are the spirit and soul of our country and when things get tough they know how to pull together as a community and get through the tough times.
Aussie author Kerry McGinnis has written another fabulous book which I actually didn't want to put down, but I also didn't want it to end. I loved this book and have no hesitation in highly recommending it to anyone who loves reading.
Aussie author Kerry McGinnis has written another fabulous book which I actually didn't want to put down, but I also didn't want it to end. I loved this book and have no hesitation in highly recommending it to anyone who loves reading.
August 1, 2018
Lyn Portman and her husband Adam had returned to the small Queensland outback town of Tewinga, where Heartwood Hotel reigned supreme over the area, and where Lyn’s dad, Tiger was still living. He needed care though after his beloved wife, and Lyn’s mother had passed away. Lyn knew she and Adam were needed in the district. The arrival of Max, a backpacker from Adelaide on his gap year before starting uni and his serious law degree was a boon for them, as he was a hard worker and friendly – they would be sorry when he moved on.
The day after the rodeo, Max headed off on his bike for a little R & R – he told Lyn and Tiger he would be back the next day. But Max didn’t return. Lyn’s mild concerns became serious worry although the police weren’t taking her seriously. But with the rumour of drugs and criminals in the area, Lyn called Max’s parents – but would it be too late? Max was nowhere to be found and with the days that had passed, the chance of finding him alive became more remote.
What would happen to Lyn and Adam – to old Tiger, and to Max? And when Lyn discovered something set in her family’s past that could change the future, she was astounded at the family secrets she’d known nothing about…
The Heartwood Hotel is another exceptional contemporary, outback rural mystery novel by Aussie author Kerry McGinnis which I devoured. A mix of intrigue, secrets, heartache, hope and family sweep through the Australian outback country, with the bulldust and flies, the changing seasons and the heart of the community – always there for the neighbours. A fabulous novel, The Heartwood Hotel is one I highly recommend.
With thanks to Penguin Random House for my ARC to read and review.
The day after the rodeo, Max headed off on his bike for a little R & R – he told Lyn and Tiger he would be back the next day. But Max didn’t return. Lyn’s mild concerns became serious worry although the police weren’t taking her seriously. But with the rumour of drugs and criminals in the area, Lyn called Max’s parents – but would it be too late? Max was nowhere to be found and with the days that had passed, the chance of finding him alive became more remote.
What would happen to Lyn and Adam – to old Tiger, and to Max? And when Lyn discovered something set in her family’s past that could change the future, she was astounded at the family secrets she’d known nothing about…
The Heartwood Hotel is another exceptional contemporary, outback rural mystery novel by Aussie author Kerry McGinnis which I devoured. A mix of intrigue, secrets, heartache, hope and family sweep through the Australian outback country, with the bulldust and flies, the changing seasons and the heart of the community – always there for the neighbours. A fabulous novel, The Heartwood Hotel is one I highly recommend.
With thanks to Penguin Random House for my ARC to read and review.
March 18, 2019
The railhead town of Tewinga is almost a ghost town. It is where ex-nurse Lyn has come back to with her husband Adam to help support her father, Tiger, who is struggling after the death of his wife Evelyn. Lyn and Adam run the general store and help out with Tiger and the Heartwood Hotel. Lyn is desperate to be a mother but so far that joy has not happened for her. Lyn is active in the local CWA and in helping others in her community. Lyn and Max have hired a young worker Max who has taken time off from his studies. A hard worker, he finds a soft spot in Lyn’s heart as he reminds her very much of her brother Matt who died years before. When Max goes missing, Lyn is concerned. Is her concern warranted? Certain people in the area don’t think so and don’t want to know. But events soon prove that there is a lot more going on in the area than any of them dreamt of. Evil forces are at work and more than one person is threatened.
I have read several book by this author and enjoyed them all. Kerry portrays the community, the setting and the inhabitants well. Lyn, Adam, Tiger and Max are all easy to like. I loved this description where Lyn recognises the effect loss had on Tiger’s life. ‘He was like an old gum, its trunk hollowed by white- ants, its limbs ravaged by fires and drought- only a matter of time before it fell.’ Others in the community, like the taciturn Kirsty, who runs the camping ground, and her son Benjy also have a part to play in this tale where secrets are uncovered.
It is obvious from the way this is written that the author is totally familiar with a community and setting like this. That authenticity shows throughout. I loved the way the community rallied when disaster struck and also could still enjoy such simple things as the CWA dances. Though it may be a small town, life is never dull. There is a lot of action in this novel. Tension is ramped up towards the end. By that point I couldn’t have put the book down even if I wanted to, not that I did. This is a great rural read and I was thoroughly involved from start to finish. Another terrific book from a very accomplished author.
I have read several book by this author and enjoyed them all. Kerry portrays the community, the setting and the inhabitants well. Lyn, Adam, Tiger and Max are all easy to like. I loved this description where Lyn recognises the effect loss had on Tiger’s life. ‘He was like an old gum, its trunk hollowed by white- ants, its limbs ravaged by fires and drought- only a matter of time before it fell.’ Others in the community, like the taciturn Kirsty, who runs the camping ground, and her son Benjy also have a part to play in this tale where secrets are uncovered.
It is obvious from the way this is written that the author is totally familiar with a community and setting like this. That authenticity shows throughout. I loved the way the community rallied when disaster struck and also could still enjoy such simple things as the CWA dances. Though it may be a small town, life is never dull. There is a lot of action in this novel. Tension is ramped up towards the end. By that point I couldn’t have put the book down even if I wanted to, not that I did. This is a great rural read and I was thoroughly involved from start to finish. Another terrific book from a very accomplished author.
July 28, 2018
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
The latest novel from Australian author Kerry McGinnis is an outback mystery novel, with elements of suspense and intrigue. McGinnis has a great signature style. Her rural fiction novels are told with both grit and a depth of understanding that comes directly from her own experiences of living in the outback. The Heartwood Hotel is a strong testimony to the lives of those that live and work in remote Australia, presented in the form of a captivating piece of fiction.
Tewinga is the chosen site for the action of The Heartwood Hotel to play out. It is a ghost town of sorts, an isolated railhead town that is the home to less than ten inhabitants. Helping to keep Tewinga ticking over is couple Lyn and Adam Portman. Lyn is an ex nurse, who has returned to Tewinga with her husband to assist her ageing father in the care of the family business. While Lyn struggles to keep the business afloat with the help of her husband and Max, a young worker, she also struggles with her desire to be a mother, a wish that so far has not been granted. But trouble soon befalls Lyn and the town when Max goes missing. With rumours of criminal activity in the area nearby, concerns over Max’s whereabouts heightens. At the same time, Lyn is issued with a shock to system when she is given details about her family history. It is a lot to deal with, but the small community of Tewinga rally together as these life changing secrets are finally revealed.
I have to support the back cover endorsement of The Heartwood Hotel given by another rural fiction author I adore, Fleur McDonald. McDonald states, ‘Kerry McGinnis writes like poetry…The way she recalls places and feelings and is able to write about them with such authority is why she stands out among Australian authors’. I have to agree with all Fleur McDonald has to say here, this isn’t my first experience of Kerry McGinnis’ writing, but each time I read one of her books, I am reminded that she is an authentic country fiction voice. The hard yards McGinnis has put into her life living and working on the tough outback lands of remote Australia shines like a beacon of light in all of her writing endeavours. The Heartwood Hotel, her latest, is no exception.
Kerry McGinnis is a trusted rural fiction novelist, I found The Heartwood Hotel wholly engaging, well composed and intricately plotted. The characters that populate the pages of this novel, both primary and secondary, piqued my curiosity level, many times over. Each has their own unique character arc that is intricately linked to the wider picture of The Heartwood Hotel. What I collected most from the approach McGinnis takes to her characters, is that these are figures clearly modelled upon those she has encountered in real life. It provides the book with another strong line of authenticity.
There are plenty of narrative threads to ensure The Heartwood Hotel ticks over and keeps the reader completely involved. I enjoyed the contrast between the personal issues experienced by the lead character Lynn (her longing for a child and parentage) along with the wider issues stake (disappearance and possible outback crime). All these narrative ropes tie together in one immense knot. The end result is definitely well worth your time.
I am left with no other option but completely back this new novel from Kerry McGinnis. The Heartwood Hotel reels you in from the opening page and it does not cease its clasp until the final paragraph. If you have a predisposition for legitimate outback novels, The Heartwood Hotel is a great book to select. It is full of tension and mystery. The Heartwood Hotel reminds us that those tiny towns that we often simply pass through on our way to another destination have big secrets to divulge.
The Heartwood Hotel is another successful tale from a commanding voice in Australian outback based rural fiction.
*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Heartwood Hotel, is book #85 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
The latest novel from Australian author Kerry McGinnis is an outback mystery novel, with elements of suspense and intrigue. McGinnis has a great signature style. Her rural fiction novels are told with both grit and a depth of understanding that comes directly from her own experiences of living in the outback. The Heartwood Hotel is a strong testimony to the lives of those that live and work in remote Australia, presented in the form of a captivating piece of fiction.
Tewinga is the chosen site for the action of The Heartwood Hotel to play out. It is a ghost town of sorts, an isolated railhead town that is the home to less than ten inhabitants. Helping to keep Tewinga ticking over is couple Lyn and Adam Portman. Lyn is an ex nurse, who has returned to Tewinga with her husband to assist her ageing father in the care of the family business. While Lyn struggles to keep the business afloat with the help of her husband and Max, a young worker, she also struggles with her desire to be a mother, a wish that so far has not been granted. But trouble soon befalls Lyn and the town when Max goes missing. With rumours of criminal activity in the area nearby, concerns over Max’s whereabouts heightens. At the same time, Lyn is issued with a shock to system when she is given details about her family history. It is a lot to deal with, but the small community of Tewinga rally together as these life changing secrets are finally revealed.
I have to support the back cover endorsement of The Heartwood Hotel given by another rural fiction author I adore, Fleur McDonald. McDonald states, ‘Kerry McGinnis writes like poetry…The way she recalls places and feelings and is able to write about them with such authority is why she stands out among Australian authors’. I have to agree with all Fleur McDonald has to say here, this isn’t my first experience of Kerry McGinnis’ writing, but each time I read one of her books, I am reminded that she is an authentic country fiction voice. The hard yards McGinnis has put into her life living and working on the tough outback lands of remote Australia shines like a beacon of light in all of her writing endeavours. The Heartwood Hotel, her latest, is no exception.
Kerry McGinnis is a trusted rural fiction novelist, I found The Heartwood Hotel wholly engaging, well composed and intricately plotted. The characters that populate the pages of this novel, both primary and secondary, piqued my curiosity level, many times over. Each has their own unique character arc that is intricately linked to the wider picture of The Heartwood Hotel. What I collected most from the approach McGinnis takes to her characters, is that these are figures clearly modelled upon those she has encountered in real life. It provides the book with another strong line of authenticity.
There are plenty of narrative threads to ensure The Heartwood Hotel ticks over and keeps the reader completely involved. I enjoyed the contrast between the personal issues experienced by the lead character Lynn (her longing for a child and parentage) along with the wider issues stake (disappearance and possible outback crime). All these narrative ropes tie together in one immense knot. The end result is definitely well worth your time.
I am left with no other option but completely back this new novel from Kerry McGinnis. The Heartwood Hotel reels you in from the opening page and it does not cease its clasp until the final paragraph. If you have a predisposition for legitimate outback novels, The Heartwood Hotel is a great book to select. It is full of tension and mystery. The Heartwood Hotel reminds us that those tiny towns that we often simply pass through on our way to another destination have big secrets to divulge.
The Heartwood Hotel is another successful tale from a commanding voice in Australian outback based rural fiction.
*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Heartwood Hotel, is book #85 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
May 19, 2025
So, I'll be honest, I got this mainly because I'm a Petra Yared fan (she's the narrator for the audio version), and I'd probably have still made the purchase had she just been reading the phone book for eight hours so I didn't initially care a whole bunch what the book was actually ABOUT.
But The Heartwood Hotel was so good, it actually won me over on its own merits. Because while I honestly don't think I'd have actively sought out this particular title if Petra wasn't attached to it, if I'd read or listened to it by an off chance, I definitely would have loved it anyway/all the same.
It's the story of Lyn, an almost thirty year old, who lives in the middle of nowhere in Australia to help her elderly widowed father and PTSD afflicted husband run a shop and a hotel. She forms an attachment to one of their passing workers because he reminds her of one of her brothers, who died years before in unclear circumstances. When this worker goes missing and she attempts to find him, she unwittingly gets mixed up with drug dealers and a corrupt cop, while at the same time dealing with recent revelations about her parentage and childhood.
I found myself constantly trying to guess what would happen next. I was at something of a disadvantage because a) I only owned the audio format not the paperback or Kindle at the time (I've since bought a paperback copy as well), so it wasn't like I could simply flip ahead to satisfy my curiosity and b) this isn't my usual genre so I'm unfamiliar with any major tropes. Initially I was thinking it would all be tied in, the brother's death and mother's disappearance would be about a hidden drug ring too, but I actually really like that the book didn't go that route. At the end of the day Heartwood Hotel's charm is that it's about ordinary people briefly mixed up in extraordinary circumstances, it's realistic, not conspiratorial.
I grew to deeply care about all the characters, from Lyn and Adam (they really are such a sweet couple), to Tiger and Max and Cathy and Saffron aka "Saffie" too (and we don't even meet her properly until the very end of the book)!
I would definitely check out another book by Kerry McGinnis as I deeply enjoyed her writing style for this one.
As for Petra's narration, she was a fantastic reader, even better than I expected. Her voice really suited the tone of the story and the characters and there was just a pleasant upbeat lilt to how she read this book that I found really relaxing, almost like she was smiling while reading aloud.
But The Heartwood Hotel was so good, it actually won me over on its own merits. Because while I honestly don't think I'd have actively sought out this particular title if Petra wasn't attached to it, if I'd read or listened to it by an off chance, I definitely would have loved it anyway/all the same.
It's the story of Lyn, an almost thirty year old, who lives in the middle of nowhere in Australia to help her elderly widowed father and PTSD afflicted husband run a shop and a hotel. She forms an attachment to one of their passing workers because he reminds her of one of her brothers, who died years before in unclear circumstances. When this worker goes missing and she attempts to find him, she unwittingly gets mixed up with drug dealers and a corrupt cop, while at the same time dealing with recent revelations about her parentage and childhood.
I found myself constantly trying to guess what would happen next. I was at something of a disadvantage because a) I only owned the audio format not the paperback or Kindle at the time (I've since bought a paperback copy as well), so it wasn't like I could simply flip ahead to satisfy my curiosity and b) this isn't my usual genre so I'm unfamiliar with any major tropes. Initially I was thinking it would all be tied in, the brother's death and mother's disappearance would be about a hidden drug ring too, but I actually really like that the book didn't go that route. At the end of the day Heartwood Hotel's charm is that it's about ordinary people briefly mixed up in extraordinary circumstances, it's realistic, not conspiratorial.
I grew to deeply care about all the characters, from Lyn and Adam (they really are such a sweet couple), to Tiger and Max and Cathy and Saffron aka "Saffie" too (and we don't even meet her properly until the very end of the book)!
I would definitely check out another book by Kerry McGinnis as I deeply enjoyed her writing style for this one.
As for Petra's narration, she was a fantastic reader, even better than I expected. Her voice really suited the tone of the story and the characters and there was just a pleasant upbeat lilt to how she read this book that I found really relaxing, almost like she was smiling while reading aloud.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2020
Review to come
June 14, 2018
It's the hard working, country community which is the central character of 'The Heartwood Hotel' told through the resourcefulness of Lyn, the ex-nurse who has returned reluctantly, with her husband, to run the pub , store and everything else for her ageing Dad. Lots of food. Country cooking details. Catering for the C.W.A. , rodeo and the charity car rally. Could only have been written by an author who has lived in such a community. The description of volunteers cleaning up the hall for the dance is so believable. But actually it's a family history mystery as Lyn discovers she's not who she thought she was.
The township is slowly introduced, with just a suggestion of future danger of deaths on the remote road and tragedies underlying the day-to-day survival. The novel is well structured and the themes woven and resolved by the end. The characters are credible and the relationships believable, especially the mutual support of the husband and wife. And Lyn's fondness for the young worker who reminds her of her dead brother. And her desire for a child. One of the challenges about writing a country town with such a big cast is to distinguish the people, not just by their jobs. Mc Ginnis does this. Lyn is a kind and resourceful woman, but no fool. I'd like her for a neighbour.
Then there's the high drama of possible drugs, police and arson, but really it's a novel about a community, who see it as their duty to turn up for a neighbour's funeral or to help out. A satisfying read. With lots of keenly observed detail about living in the bush. Highly recommended.
The township is slowly introduced, with just a suggestion of future danger of deaths on the remote road and tragedies underlying the day-to-day survival. The novel is well structured and the themes woven and resolved by the end. The characters are credible and the relationships believable, especially the mutual support of the husband and wife. And Lyn's fondness for the young worker who reminds her of her dead brother. And her desire for a child. One of the challenges about writing a country town with such a big cast is to distinguish the people, not just by their jobs. Mc Ginnis does this. Lyn is a kind and resourceful woman, but no fool. I'd like her for a neighbour.
Then there's the high drama of possible drugs, police and arson, but really it's a novel about a community, who see it as their duty to turn up for a neighbour's funeral or to help out. A satisfying read. With lots of keenly observed detail about living in the bush. Highly recommended.
January 12, 2022
Audiobook 🔉
An absolute delight to listen to!
I enjoyed the setting (even if I'd never live there myself) and the character. It's truly touching to have this protagonist who sincerely cares about everyone (literally everyone) around her. It was a little bit hard to gauge the time setting though as there was a distinct lack of technology and they were just about to install a pay phone in the pub at the beginning of the novel. And then, I keep questioning things that happened in the novel which would probably be acceptable or thought of as the acceptable things then but these days, may not be... not in novels set in these times anyway.
As long as you've got a good grip on the time setting in this novel, The Heartwood Hotel is an enjoyable and even intriguing read combining mysteries of present and past in a small community that always band together.
An absolute delight to listen to!
I enjoyed the setting (even if I'd never live there myself) and the character. It's truly touching to have this protagonist who sincerely cares about everyone (literally everyone) around her. It was a little bit hard to gauge the time setting though as there was a distinct lack of technology and they were just about to install a pay phone in the pub at the beginning of the novel. And then, I keep questioning things that happened in the novel which would probably be acceptable or thought of as the acceptable things then but these days, may not be... not in novels set in these times anyway.
As long as you've got a good grip on the time setting in this novel, The Heartwood Hotel is an enjoyable and even intriguing read combining mysteries of present and past in a small community that always band together.
September 7, 2023
A lovely outback mystery. One I enjoyed listening to very much.
Listened to the audiobook on BorrowBox
Published by Bolinda audio
Narrated by Petra Yared
Duration: 9 hrs, 24 min. 1.50x Speed
Listened to the audiobook on BorrowBox
Published by Bolinda audio
Narrated by Petra Yared
Duration: 9 hrs, 24 min. 1.50x Speed
January 15, 2021
The Heartwood Hotel is about a pub, community secrets and family. In a small rural town of Tewinga, Lyn and Adam Portman are working hard to keep their Pub afloat. However, everything change for Lyn when one of their young workers, Max went missing and finding out about a family secret. The Heartwood Hotel readers will continue to follow Lyn Portman to find out what happens to Max.
The Heartwood Hotel is another fantastic book by Kerry McGinnis. I engaged with the plot and characters from the first page and could not put it down until the last page. More I read of Kerry McGinnis books the more I love her writing style. I love Kerry McGinnis's portrayal of her characters and how they intertwine with each other throughout this book. The Heartwood Hotel is well written and researched by Kerry McGinnis. I like Kerry McGinnis's description of The Heartwood Hotel's settings that allows me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of The Heartwood Hotel will learn about the problems and the role of a rural pub in Australia. The readers of The Heartwood Hotel will also understand the issues that teenage mothers have during and after childbirth.
I recommend this book.
The Heartwood Hotel is another fantastic book by Kerry McGinnis. I engaged with the plot and characters from the first page and could not put it down until the last page. More I read of Kerry McGinnis books the more I love her writing style. I love Kerry McGinnis's portrayal of her characters and how they intertwine with each other throughout this book. The Heartwood Hotel is well written and researched by Kerry McGinnis. I like Kerry McGinnis's description of The Heartwood Hotel's settings that allows me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of The Heartwood Hotel will learn about the problems and the role of a rural pub in Australia. The readers of The Heartwood Hotel will also understand the issues that teenage mothers have during and after childbirth.
I recommend this book.
March 8, 2020
Fluffy
July 8, 2018
Kerry McGinnis always writes a story that is both interesting and unique. His novels combine family tension with suspense in a rural setting that is not your average country town. She’s done it again in The Heartwood Hotel, a story set in a town with less than ten inhabitants. Don’t think though for a minute that this story is going to be dull – there is enough action and intrigue for a much larger town!
I think this book is set in the early 1990s (it was a little difficult to tell, as there is a reference to the wet season of 1990-91), so there isn’t any internet, mobile phones or social media in this story. In fact, a minor subplot involves the installation of a Telecom pay phone! Once I got this straight in my head, I was fine with this book as I knew we couldn’t locate any lost people with their phone signal or use GPS. The time period makes the setting even quainter – there are paper letters involved and people can truly just disappear. For Lyn and Adam Portman, living in Tewinga is somewhat of a blessing and a curse. Running the only store, petrol pump and pub in town with Lyn’s father is a seven day a week, 365 day a year job. But it helps calm Adam, who is a Vietnam veteran and lets Lyn keep an eye on her aging father. It’s a happy, simple life until it’s not. There are some nasty types on a nearby station who take pot-shots at Lyn and Adam’s worker, Max. The local policeman is too lazy to care. Then things really kick off with a helicopter crash and Max failing to return from a weekend expedition. Lyn is sure something bad has happened, but the police aren’t keen to take things seriously. Meanwhile, a chance finding of a photograph and a conversation between Lyn and her brother start a chain of events that will reveal the secrets in Lyn’s family. Will she make it through the drama unscathed?
As you might have guessed, there is a lot happening in The Heartwood Hotel. On reflection, I have a lot of appreciation for Kerry McGinnis’s plotting skills. Everything in the story happens for a reason and ties in just so to the other events (even if you can’t quite see it at the time). While Lyn is a very clever and compassionate character, she’s not quite perfect which prevented her from being annoying. Max, the worker, is a sweetheart, who you can’t help but worry for. Both his youth and shy courtship of a governess on a local station is lovely to read. Likewise, Max’s father is sturdy and wise. Kirsty and son Benjy, who run the campground, are quite intriguing characters. Kirsty quite clearly has a history of troubled times, but she’s a gruff, stoic character who will bring a smile or two to your face as she slowly becomes part of the community. Perhaps my favourite ‘character’ of all was the tiny town of Terwinga. A blink and you’ll miss it place with just a few buildings at the end of a deserted railhead town, it got under my skin. I can still picture the buildings, the way sunlight and the heat got into them and see the dust moving down the street. It’s an authentic representation of the beauty of the Australian Outback and the history these now quiet towns hold.
Overall, The Heartwood Hotel is a captivating read combining suspense with family drama. I look forward to reading more and more by Kerry McGinnis to capture the Australian Outback when I can’t get there myself.
Thank you to Penguin Australia for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
I think this book is set in the early 1990s (it was a little difficult to tell, as there is a reference to the wet season of 1990-91), so there isn’t any internet, mobile phones or social media in this story. In fact, a minor subplot involves the installation of a Telecom pay phone! Once I got this straight in my head, I was fine with this book as I knew we couldn’t locate any lost people with their phone signal or use GPS. The time period makes the setting even quainter – there are paper letters involved and people can truly just disappear. For Lyn and Adam Portman, living in Tewinga is somewhat of a blessing and a curse. Running the only store, petrol pump and pub in town with Lyn’s father is a seven day a week, 365 day a year job. But it helps calm Adam, who is a Vietnam veteran and lets Lyn keep an eye on her aging father. It’s a happy, simple life until it’s not. There are some nasty types on a nearby station who take pot-shots at Lyn and Adam’s worker, Max. The local policeman is too lazy to care. Then things really kick off with a helicopter crash and Max failing to return from a weekend expedition. Lyn is sure something bad has happened, but the police aren’t keen to take things seriously. Meanwhile, a chance finding of a photograph and a conversation between Lyn and her brother start a chain of events that will reveal the secrets in Lyn’s family. Will she make it through the drama unscathed?
As you might have guessed, there is a lot happening in The Heartwood Hotel. On reflection, I have a lot of appreciation for Kerry McGinnis’s plotting skills. Everything in the story happens for a reason and ties in just so to the other events (even if you can’t quite see it at the time). While Lyn is a very clever and compassionate character, she’s not quite perfect which prevented her from being annoying. Max, the worker, is a sweetheart, who you can’t help but worry for. Both his youth and shy courtship of a governess on a local station is lovely to read. Likewise, Max’s father is sturdy and wise. Kirsty and son Benjy, who run the campground, are quite intriguing characters. Kirsty quite clearly has a history of troubled times, but she’s a gruff, stoic character who will bring a smile or two to your face as she slowly becomes part of the community. Perhaps my favourite ‘character’ of all was the tiny town of Terwinga. A blink and you’ll miss it place with just a few buildings at the end of a deserted railhead town, it got under my skin. I can still picture the buildings, the way sunlight and the heat got into them and see the dust moving down the street. It’s an authentic representation of the beauty of the Australian Outback and the history these now quiet towns hold.
Overall, The Heartwood Hotel is a captivating read combining suspense with family drama. I look forward to reading more and more by Kerry McGinnis to capture the Australian Outback when I can’t get there myself.
Thank you to Penguin Australia for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
October 19, 2021
Read another book by this author last year. This book was a bit reminiscent of that one as there were themes repeated. However, I really like the setting in the gulf country and the characters. The author clearly knows this area very well. Easy reading, or listening in my case with an audiobook. Not at all mentally taxing so if you're in the mood give it a go. One too many dramas thrown in for my liking with the threads not really tied together well. Had a poor last quarter as though the author hadn't thought enough about the ending. First half was much better.
July 27, 2018
I was lucky enough to finally meet Kerry last week and got her to sign my copy of The Heartwood Hotel. This novel has a small cast of characters but the story grabbed me right at the get go. With the outback flavour and crime element this novel should capture a wide range of readers. I love Kerry's way with words and with her personal experiences of living in these outback areas she paints a great picture for the readers mind. Highly recommend this novel.
July 28, 2021
Wow, I love the Australian bush-lifestyle.
When you read such a book it takes you to a journey far to other places. I never seen or imagined in my life who a small town in middle of Australia looks like (small communities, farmers, cuttles, goats to milk, campers coming a going....) But when you read this book you mind paint for you a picture that's unique.. I imagined the flame in the old-home that night Max was found.. with people sitting silent and surprised.
When you read such a book it takes you to a journey far to other places. I never seen or imagined in my life who a small town in middle of Australia looks like (small communities, farmers, cuttles, goats to milk, campers coming a going....) But when you read this book you mind paint for you a picture that's unique.. I imagined the flame in the old-home that night Max was found.. with people sitting silent and surprised.
August 14, 2018
An Australian story with the small rural town of Tewinga at its heart. There is a lot to like here - family, community life, mystery and drama. The storyline was a little bit predictable, but it was a great story to pass time with on a long train journey. You never know what goes on in a small country town!
August 26, 2018
This book had more action than I could almost endure. There was so many things happening that I just could not put the book down. Just lucky that it was Saturday when it was really happening otherwise I may not have made it to work! A fantastic read with lots of curve balls.
October 5, 2018
Quite a nice story about Lyn & Adam in an outback country town in far North Queensland. I found this story a little long and drawn out in places, but it was still a nice read. Also, it’s lovely to read a story that mentions my home town of Toowoomba.
October 21, 2018
I love Kerry’s books, so full of real characters and so knowledgeable about the trials and tribulations in the bush. This story has a lovely bunch of characters with an added mix of danger and criminal activities. Love the descriptions of life in little Aussie towns.
April 5, 2020
I really enjoyed the account of small town Australia and its cast of characters. Then the plot kicked in and it jumped the shark a bit. Not believable and the characters became more and more black and white. If it had finished half way through I'd have given it more stars!
January 31, 2019
Good Australian fiction. Crime and secrets....likeable characters and a good sense of atmosphere. Very enjoyable.
July 7, 2019
Feel like there is a sequel somewhere. No satisfactory conclusion to the relationship developments at the end nor the criminal investigation. Too many cups of tea as well. Lyn was also disappointingly very middle aged at 30.
July 2, 2020
I enjoyed this story of Lyn and her family in outback Australia.
March 9, 2023
Compelling main characters and a solid story that kept me curious.
October 2, 2023
A tail of the struggles of a dying Aussie town, the towns people trying to keep the heads above water..
The true outback of Australia... Enjoyed the read
The true outback of Australia... Enjoyed the read
November 9, 2024
Quite enjoyed this story but I would have e liked an epilogue at the end to find out about the baby being born to Lyn and Adam
March 27, 2025
Heartwarming easy to read book with a storyline that keeps you interested. Brings the isolation of the outback into reality
March 23, 2021
Same same...
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