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A Little Bird
A homecoming snares a young woman in a dangerous tangle of lies, secrets, and bad blood in this gripping novel by the bestselling author of An Accusation.
Running from a bad relationship, journalist Jo Sharpe heads home to Arthurville, the drought-stricken town she turned her back on years earlier. While some things have changed—her relationship with her ailing, crotchety father, her new job at the community newspaper—Jo finds that her return has rekindled the grief and uncertainty she experienced during her childhood following the inexplicable disappearance of her mother and baby sister.
Returning to Arthurville has its unexpected pleasures, though, as Jo happily reconnects with old friends and makes a few new ones. But she can’t let go of her search for answers to that long-ago mystery. And as she keeps investigating, the splash she’s making begins to ripple outward—far beyond the disappearance of her mother and sister.
Jo is determined to dig as deep as it takes to get answers. But it’s not long before she realises that someone among the familiar faces doesn’t want her picking through the debris of the past. And they’ll go to any lengths to silence the little bird before she sings the truth.
Running from a bad relationship, journalist Jo Sharpe heads home to Arthurville, the drought-stricken town she turned her back on years earlier. While some things have changed—her relationship with her ailing, crotchety father, her new job at the community newspaper—Jo finds that her return has rekindled the grief and uncertainty she experienced during her childhood following the inexplicable disappearance of her mother and baby sister.
Returning to Arthurville has its unexpected pleasures, though, as Jo happily reconnects with old friends and makes a few new ones. But she can’t let go of her search for answers to that long-ago mystery. And as she keeps investigating, the splash she’s making begins to ripple outward—far beyond the disappearance of her mother and sister.
Jo is determined to dig as deep as it takes to get answers. But it’s not long before she realises that someone among the familiar faces doesn’t want her picking through the debris of the past. And they’ll go to any lengths to silence the little bird before she sings the truth.
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First published November 30, 2021
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About the author
Wendy James
41 books185 followersWendy James is the celebrated author of eight novels, including the bestselling The Mistake and the compelling The Golden Child, which was shortlisted for the 2017 Ned Kelly Award for crime. Her debut novel, Out of the Silence, won the 2006 Ned Kelly Award for first crime novel, and was shortlisted for the Nita May Dobbie award for women's writing. Wendy works as an editor at the Australian Institute of Health Innovation and writes some of the sharpest and most topical domestic noir novels in the country.
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December 13, 2021
A Little Bird by Wendy James
Journalist, Jo Sharpe, returns to her hometown of Arthurville after a failed long term relationship. A job at the tiny community newspaper has been practically thrown in her lap so she drags herself home to live with her estranged father. Jo's grump of a father drinks too much, smokes too much, and has major health issues. He raised Jo himself after Jo's mom left with her baby sister, Amy, when Jo was eight.
Turns out Jo's new job is challenging for all it's not. She's not allowed to write anything negative, there aren't any other reporters, and she's not allowed to report on anything that isn't trivial. At least there is the The Little Bird gossip column where anonymous writers have been able to use their humor to relate the scandals of the town.
Coming home brings up the feelings and hurts that Jo has been tamping down all these years. She digs up information that leads her to believe her mom's disappearance might not have been voluntary. As she remembers more of her mom's last days with the family and as she starts rattling some bushes, it's obvious someone is trying to keep the past hidden.
This is a very slow moving character study and may move too slowly for some readers. I enjoyed how I came to like many of the imperfect characters and how even side characters are given room to make an impression. So much is not as it seems and there is something dark under the surface of this close knit little community.
Publication: November 30th 2021
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.
Journalist, Jo Sharpe, returns to her hometown of Arthurville after a failed long term relationship. A job at the tiny community newspaper has been practically thrown in her lap so she drags herself home to live with her estranged father. Jo's grump of a father drinks too much, smokes too much, and has major health issues. He raised Jo himself after Jo's mom left with her baby sister, Amy, when Jo was eight.
Turns out Jo's new job is challenging for all it's not. She's not allowed to write anything negative, there aren't any other reporters, and she's not allowed to report on anything that isn't trivial. At least there is the The Little Bird gossip column where anonymous writers have been able to use their humor to relate the scandals of the town.
Coming home brings up the feelings and hurts that Jo has been tamping down all these years. She digs up information that leads her to believe her mom's disappearance might not have been voluntary. As she remembers more of her mom's last days with the family and as she starts rattling some bushes, it's obvious someone is trying to keep the past hidden.
This is a very slow moving character study and may move too slowly for some readers. I enjoyed how I came to like many of the imperfect characters and how even side characters are given room to make an impression. So much is not as it seems and there is something dark under the surface of this close knit little community.
Publication: November 30th 2021
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.
December 9, 2021
I always like to note that a 3* from me means that the book was good, just not great, for me.
The novel is set in dual timelines. The present is narrated by Jo Sharpe, the past by her mother, Merry. There is also a column entitled “A Little Bird” which also takes place in the past.
Jo Sharpe is on her way back home to Arthurville, Australia. She had left years ago for a city life in Sydney. She has returned for a multitude of reasons. She is leaving a bad relationship, has just lost her job in the city and she is still searching for what really happened to her mother 20+ years ago.
Jo was offered a job at the local newspaper. As a journalist she had thought she would be covering a multitude of stories from the town. However, when she arrives she is told that they want her to only write happy, or feel good stories. The area has been suffering from a severe drought, is virtually so dry that there is no grass, the river is almost non-existent in parts and everyone is just tired of it all!
Jo and her father have not spoken or seen each other in two years. They have always had a strained relationship, her father choosing to lose himself in whiskey every evening.
The characters are mostly likeable, but somewhat stereotypical. The most wealthy family are the Beauforts, owning much of the best land and an estate named Pembroke. Jo’s mother Merry was part of this family, but turned her back on them when she married Michael Sharp.
Jo reconnects with some old friends and life isn’t so bad. Her relationship with her father is also improving.
Still, the mystery of her mother’s disappearance remains Jo’s main focus and she continues to dig through any old information that she can find.
I found that the book moved at a very slow pace. I noticed at around 82% on my Kindle that the suspense and actual mystery started to unfold. I also was disappointed in the lack of description of the area, there were only short mentions of the drought stricken area without much detail.
I would recommend this to people who enjoy more of a cozy mystery.
This novel is set to publish on November 30, 2021.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley.
The novel is set in dual timelines. The present is narrated by Jo Sharpe, the past by her mother, Merry. There is also a column entitled “A Little Bird” which also takes place in the past.
Jo Sharpe is on her way back home to Arthurville, Australia. She had left years ago for a city life in Sydney. She has returned for a multitude of reasons. She is leaving a bad relationship, has just lost her job in the city and she is still searching for what really happened to her mother 20+ years ago.
Jo was offered a job at the local newspaper. As a journalist she had thought she would be covering a multitude of stories from the town. However, when she arrives she is told that they want her to only write happy, or feel good stories. The area has been suffering from a severe drought, is virtually so dry that there is no grass, the river is almost non-existent in parts and everyone is just tired of it all!
Jo and her father have not spoken or seen each other in two years. They have always had a strained relationship, her father choosing to lose himself in whiskey every evening.
The characters are mostly likeable, but somewhat stereotypical. The most wealthy family are the Beauforts, owning much of the best land and an estate named Pembroke. Jo’s mother Merry was part of this family, but turned her back on them when she married Michael Sharp.
Jo reconnects with some old friends and life isn’t so bad. Her relationship with her father is also improving.
Still, the mystery of her mother’s disappearance remains Jo’s main focus and she continues to dig through any old information that she can find.
I found that the book moved at a very slow pace. I noticed at around 82% on my Kindle that the suspense and actual mystery started to unfold. I also was disappointed in the lack of description of the area, there were only short mentions of the drought stricken area without much detail.
I would recommend this to people who enjoy more of a cozy mystery.
This novel is set to publish on November 30, 2021.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley.
December 7, 2021
EXCERPT: She hadn't thought, hadn't worried. That had always been her major failing, this failure to see into the future, this ability to shrug off the consequences, to wait until it was too late to remedy. That was how she'd ended up pregnant and married in the first place. It was how she'd ended up pregnant to a man she'd known for only a few days.
It was how she ended up dead.
ABOUT 'A LITTLE BIRD': Running from a bad relationship, journalist Jo Sharpe heads home to Arthurville, the drought-stricken town she turned her back on years earlier. While some things have changed—her relationship with her ailing, crotchety father, her new job at the community newspaper—Jo finds that her return has rekindled the grief and uncertainty she experienced during her childhood following the inexplicable disappearance of her mother and baby sister.
Returning to Arthurville has its unexpected pleasures, though, as Jo happily reconnects with old friends and makes a few new ones. But she can’t let go of her search for answers to that long-ago mystery. And as she keeps investigating, the splash she’s making begins to ripple outward—far beyond the disappearance of her mother and sister.
Jo is determined to dig as deep as it takes to get answers. But it’s not long before she realises that someone among the familiar faces doesn’t want her picking through the debris of the past. And they’ll go to any lengths to silence the little bird before she sings the truth.
MY THOUGHTS: Wendy James has been called 'Queen of Australia's domestic thriller' and 'master of suburban suspense'. I would have to agree. I read A Little Bird in one sitting, it's characters and setting enchanting me, the plot captivating me.
Set in a small town on the Western Plains of NSW, Australia, Arthurville was a once thriving community. Now, in the grip of a relentless drought and as a result of young people moving to the cities for work, it's once bustling main street is mostly boarded up, and the young who have remained in town are mostly unemployed and addicted to drink and or drugs. But it is also a town stuck in some kind of time warp. One where relationships and family breeding are still important; where old social traditions still matter; where a hierarchy is still in place and where some people will kill rather than have their secrets revealed.
A Little Bird is quietly brilliant, very much a character based mystery set over two timelines: the 1990's through Miranda's (Merry's) eyes; and 2018 when Jo, Merry's daughter, having lost both her relationship and her job in Sydney, returns home to be with her father while he receives treatment for cancer - not that he's grateful - and as the only paid employee of the local paper, where she is only allowed to write 'good news'.
The characterisation is strong with much of the story resting firmly on Jo's shoulders. It's a story that examines the bonds of family and friendship and long term relationships; the fact that they are not always as they seem; that our memories can deceive us.
These are characters that I could see and hear; I could feel that infernal red dust that leaves a fine layer over everything; and enjoyed the atmosphere of the pub where the locals go to escape the relentless heat.
James writing is vivid, the plot compelling, the outcome shocking.
She has previously written a novel called Where Have You Been, which is a good question. Where have I been that I have never before read this author?
⭐⭐⭐⭐.6
#ALittleBird #NetGalley
I: @wendyjamesbooks @amazonpublishing
T: #wendyjamesbooks @AmazonPub
#fivestarread #contemporaryfiction #mystery #suspense
THE AUTHOR: Wendy James is the celebrated author of eight novels, including the bestselling The Mistake and the compelling The Golden Child, which was shortlisted for the 2017 Ned Kelly Award for crime. Her debut novel, Out of the Silence, won the 2006 Ned Kelly Award for first crime novel, and was shortlisted for the Nita May Dobbie award for women's writing. Wendy works as an editor at the Australian Institute of Health Innovation and writes some of the sharpest and most topical domestic noir novels in the country.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of A Little Bird by Wendy James for review. 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 is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
It was how she ended up dead.
ABOUT 'A LITTLE BIRD': Running from a bad relationship, journalist Jo Sharpe heads home to Arthurville, the drought-stricken town she turned her back on years earlier. While some things have changed—her relationship with her ailing, crotchety father, her new job at the community newspaper—Jo finds that her return has rekindled the grief and uncertainty she experienced during her childhood following the inexplicable disappearance of her mother and baby sister.
Returning to Arthurville has its unexpected pleasures, though, as Jo happily reconnects with old friends and makes a few new ones. But she can’t let go of her search for answers to that long-ago mystery. And as she keeps investigating, the splash she’s making begins to ripple outward—far beyond the disappearance of her mother and sister.
Jo is determined to dig as deep as it takes to get answers. But it’s not long before she realises that someone among the familiar faces doesn’t want her picking through the debris of the past. And they’ll go to any lengths to silence the little bird before she sings the truth.
MY THOUGHTS: Wendy James has been called 'Queen of Australia's domestic thriller' and 'master of suburban suspense'. I would have to agree. I read A Little Bird in one sitting, it's characters and setting enchanting me, the plot captivating me.
Set in a small town on the Western Plains of NSW, Australia, Arthurville was a once thriving community. Now, in the grip of a relentless drought and as a result of young people moving to the cities for work, it's once bustling main street is mostly boarded up, and the young who have remained in town are mostly unemployed and addicted to drink and or drugs. But it is also a town stuck in some kind of time warp. One where relationships and family breeding are still important; where old social traditions still matter; where a hierarchy is still in place and where some people will kill rather than have their secrets revealed.
A Little Bird is quietly brilliant, very much a character based mystery set over two timelines: the 1990's through Miranda's (Merry's) eyes; and 2018 when Jo, Merry's daughter, having lost both her relationship and her job in Sydney, returns home to be with her father while he receives treatment for cancer - not that he's grateful - and as the only paid employee of the local paper, where she is only allowed to write 'good news'.
The characterisation is strong with much of the story resting firmly on Jo's shoulders. It's a story that examines the bonds of family and friendship and long term relationships; the fact that they are not always as they seem; that our memories can deceive us.
These are characters that I could see and hear; I could feel that infernal red dust that leaves a fine layer over everything; and enjoyed the atmosphere of the pub where the locals go to escape the relentless heat.
James writing is vivid, the plot compelling, the outcome shocking.
She has previously written a novel called Where Have You Been, which is a good question. Where have I been that I have never before read this author?
⭐⭐⭐⭐.6
#ALittleBird #NetGalley
I: @wendyjamesbooks @amazonpublishing
T: #wendyjamesbooks @AmazonPub
#fivestarread #contemporaryfiction #mystery #suspense
THE AUTHOR: Wendy James is the celebrated author of eight novels, including the bestselling The Mistake and the compelling The Golden Child, which was shortlisted for the 2017 Ned Kelly Award for crime. Her debut novel, Out of the Silence, won the 2006 Ned Kelly Award for first crime novel, and was shortlisted for the Nita May Dobbie award for women's writing. Wendy works as an editor at the Australian Institute of Health Innovation and writes some of the sharpest and most topical domestic noir novels in the country.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of A Little Bird by Wendy James for review. 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 is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
November 27, 2021
I enjoyed this Australian story by an Aussie author very much indeed. The heat and the country life style were evident throughout the story and the cover picture says it all!
Jo Sharpe, journalist, has spent years in the city but returns to her country home town when her father is sick and she herself has had a relationship end in a bad way. Being back brings up her past, significantly the unexplained disappearance of her mother and baby sister when Jo was eight years old. Events pile up and Jo is forced to find out the truth of what happened all those years ago.
I really liked the way the mystery was revealed bit by bit, and the way Jo researched and uncovered the facts. The person responsible for the whole afair was the most unlikely character in the story - at least for me it was! Totally a nice twist and a shock at the end.
I thought this was an interesting and well written book with realistic characters and a good interpretation of the Australian country life style. I enjoyed Jo's developing romance with one of her exes from the past and thought it rounded things off well.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Jo Sharpe, journalist, has spent years in the city but returns to her country home town when her father is sick and she herself has had a relationship end in a bad way. Being back brings up her past, significantly the unexplained disappearance of her mother and baby sister when Jo was eight years old. Events pile up and Jo is forced to find out the truth of what happened all those years ago.
I really liked the way the mystery was revealed bit by bit, and the way Jo researched and uncovered the facts. The person responsible for the whole afair was the most unlikely character in the story - at least for me it was! Totally a nice twist and a shock at the end.
I thought this was an interesting and well written book with realistic characters and a good interpretation of the Australian country life style. I enjoyed Jo's developing romance with one of her exes from the past and thought it rounded things off well.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
August 4, 2021
Jo Sharpe reluctantly returns home to Arthurville in 2018 to take up a job at the local newspaper The Chronicle. She lives with her curmudgeonly father, always a drinkers but especially so after Jo’s mother Merry (Miranda) and baby sister Amy left them with no warning in July 1994. A letter received a few weeks later tells them that they are fine and not to search for her. The story is told from in and around 1994 by Merry and by Jo in 2018.
First of all, I love the setting of the small Aussie ‘nowhere town’. It’s vivid with the drought conditions being so easy to picture and the atmosphere conveyed especially the heat is so well done, as is the representation of the small community and its people. The fantastic cover reflects the scene too. The characterisation is also very good, the central protagonists are very likeable, even Jo’s dada grows on you as you can really see the impact that Merry’s disappearance has had on him. There’s plenty of good humour especially in The Little Bird column of the newspaper which wittily depicts the local gossip and little hints of scandal. Merry’s past is full of questions especially her well to do background and her story is very interesting with good hints of mystery. The deeper into the plot the novel goes the story just gets better and better and you appreciate that there’s way more going on in Arthurville than you could ever imagine. It’s not a particularly fast paced novel, it slowly meanders to the truth but it’s not that kind of book. The slowish pace actually suits this small community, it reflects them and I don't think it would work if written any other way. The ending is good, I don't see that one coming!!
Overall, a well written easy read with lots of atmosphere and perfect for fans of Jane Harper.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Lake Union for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
First of all, I love the setting of the small Aussie ‘nowhere town’. It’s vivid with the drought conditions being so easy to picture and the atmosphere conveyed especially the heat is so well done, as is the representation of the small community and its people. The fantastic cover reflects the scene too. The characterisation is also very good, the central protagonists are very likeable, even Jo’s dada grows on you as you can really see the impact that Merry’s disappearance has had on him. There’s plenty of good humour especially in The Little Bird column of the newspaper which wittily depicts the local gossip and little hints of scandal. Merry’s past is full of questions especially her well to do background and her story is very interesting with good hints of mystery. The deeper into the plot the novel goes the story just gets better and better and you appreciate that there’s way more going on in Arthurville than you could ever imagine. It’s not a particularly fast paced novel, it slowly meanders to the truth but it’s not that kind of book. The slowish pace actually suits this small community, it reflects them and I don't think it would work if written any other way. The ending is good, I don't see that one coming!!
Overall, a well written easy read with lots of atmosphere and perfect for fans of Jane Harper.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Lake Union for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
November 19, 2021
After the breakup of a bad long term relationship, Jo Sharpe decides to take up the offer of a job and return to her home town of Arthurville in western New South Wales. Her mother, Merry left her and her father, taking baby Amy with her when Jo was eight, leaving Jo to grow up with only her grieving and emotionally distant father to look after her. After finishing school, she left for the bright lights of the city, eventually becoming a journalist. Her new job on the community paper requires her to write only good news stories about the town and its people so she finds herself meeting old friends and getting to know the community again.When she discovers some old copies of a column that her mother used to write for the paper called 'A Little Bird', she also discovers some of the towns dark secrets.
This is more a slow boiling domestic mystery rather than a pacy thriller, with the characters very much at the centre with their long held secrets and lies. The main characters as well as some of the minor ones are well developed and give a good sense of the life of the town. Written in two lines, Jo recounts the events that she remembers from her childhoods well as her new life in the town. Threaded throughout is Merry's own story of the events leading up to her disappearance. After gradually releasing little hints and clues throughout the book, the pieces all start to slot together in the last quarter of the book as Jo discovers that Merry's disappearance was only part of the picture. Recommended for all those who enjoy small town, character driven mysteries.
With thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for a copy to read
This is more a slow boiling domestic mystery rather than a pacy thriller, with the characters very much at the centre with their long held secrets and lies. The main characters as well as some of the minor ones are well developed and give a good sense of the life of the town. Written in two lines, Jo recounts the events that she remembers from her childhoods well as her new life in the town. Threaded throughout is Merry's own story of the events leading up to her disappearance. After gradually releasing little hints and clues throughout the book, the pieces all start to slot together in the last quarter of the book as Jo discovers that Merry's disappearance was only part of the picture. Recommended for all those who enjoy small town, character driven mysteries.
With thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for a copy to read
November 25, 2021
The memories of her mother and baby sister’s disappearance twenty five years ago hadn’t left Jo Sharpe since that day, and now, arriving back in Arthurville to a new job and a frail, embittered father, she wondered whether she’d done the right thing in returning. Her new job at the local newspaper, The Chronicle, was a step-down for Jo, but she knew it was what she needed. Her latest relationship in tatters, there was nothing left in the city for her. Now, catching up with old friends, finding a lot of changes since she’d last been home, and realizing the heat in the small, dusty town hadn’t improved, Jo strangely felt like she was home.
The mystery of her mum’s disappearance along with baby sister Amy, was one that Jo needed to solve, for herself and her father. But where would she start? And would she find answers? It seemed like there were a lot of secrets around the town; could she crack them open?
A Little Bird is the latest novel by Aussie author Wendy James and it’s a slow burn, which gradually had me reading faster to find what was going to happen next. An excellent psychological thriller, I enjoyed Jo’s character – strong, resilient and resourceful – along with many of the other side characters. I have no hesitation in recommending A Little Bird to fans of both the genre, and the author.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
The mystery of her mum’s disappearance along with baby sister Amy, was one that Jo needed to solve, for herself and her father. But where would she start? And would she find answers? It seemed like there were a lot of secrets around the town; could she crack them open?
A Little Bird is the latest novel by Aussie author Wendy James and it’s a slow burn, which gradually had me reading faster to find what was going to happen next. An excellent psychological thriller, I enjoyed Jo’s character – strong, resilient and resourceful – along with many of the other side characters. I have no hesitation in recommending A Little Bird to fans of both the genre, and the author.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
November 21, 2021
It’s been a pleasure discovering many more Australian books and authors this year. So when I saw this book I was keen to read it. Jo Sharpe returns to her (fictional) hometown of Arthurville in the central west of New South Wales after a disastrous relationship breakdown. The book is set in 2 timelines - 1994 from Merry’s POV (Jo’s mother) and 2018 from Jo’s POV. Jo is a journalist and is happy to get a job in the very small local paper, the Chronicle. In fact she is the only reporter, along with a part time photographer and editor Edith.
Her role is to report on local events and provide ‘feel good’ stories, not hard hitting journalism. Nevertheless she soon settles back into the community and reconnects with old friends and acquaintances. Her curmudgeonly father has not changed much. In fact their relationship is quite amusing. But Jo can’t help re-visiting the loss of her mother and younger sister, Amy, who disappeared without trace when Jo was 8 years old. Her father went into an alcoholic fog for months afterwards.
Jo discovers snippets of information about her mother but when she digs into the dusty old stationery cupboard at the office she finds a treasure trove - notebooks and diaries from her mother who also worked at the paper. This was news to Jo. And the place is in the grip of a bad drought, the river level has dropped and by chance a car is discovered, it’s roof now clear of the water. Is it Jo’s mother and sister? How did they die?
This book started quite slowly but eventually it took off and I became very invested in the story. It was extremely well written and the characters were lively and realistic. I adored Shep - the part Indigenous teenage flame of Jo’s and now local priest. He is the unlikeliest priest ever and is doing good work with local youths. The young larrikins were brilliantly portrayed as well. All the characters seemed so true to life in a small Australian town and I should know, I live in one!
The book had quite an exciting and surprising climax as the truth about Jo’s mother is revealed. It was a pleasure to read a story written in my own, Australian ‘voice’ and the language was spot on. If anyone is wondering, a “dunny” is an outdoor toilet, very common in small towns until quite recently! Many thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
Her role is to report on local events and provide ‘feel good’ stories, not hard hitting journalism. Nevertheless she soon settles back into the community and reconnects with old friends and acquaintances. Her curmudgeonly father has not changed much. In fact their relationship is quite amusing. But Jo can’t help re-visiting the loss of her mother and younger sister, Amy, who disappeared without trace when Jo was 8 years old. Her father went into an alcoholic fog for months afterwards.
Jo discovers snippets of information about her mother but when she digs into the dusty old stationery cupboard at the office she finds a treasure trove - notebooks and diaries from her mother who also worked at the paper. This was news to Jo. And the place is in the grip of a bad drought, the river level has dropped and by chance a car is discovered, it’s roof now clear of the water. Is it Jo’s mother and sister? How did they die?
This book started quite slowly but eventually it took off and I became very invested in the story. It was extremely well written and the characters were lively and realistic. I adored Shep - the part Indigenous teenage flame of Jo’s and now local priest. He is the unlikeliest priest ever and is doing good work with local youths. The young larrikins were brilliantly portrayed as well. All the characters seemed so true to life in a small Australian town and I should know, I live in one!
The book had quite an exciting and surprising climax as the truth about Jo’s mother is revealed. It was a pleasure to read a story written in my own, Australian ‘voice’ and the language was spot on. If anyone is wondering, a “dunny” is an outdoor toilet, very common in small towns until quite recently! Many thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
November 24, 2021
In a Nutshell: A slow-paced, engrossing tale of past secrets and lies revealing themselves to a young woman on her return home.
Story:
This was quite an interesting story though the pace kept going up and down. The prologue set in 1994 grabbed my attention right from the start. (I love books that get their prologue right. So many books just include an excerpt from the latter half of the book in the name of a prologue. The right amount of intrigue must be created without revealing any spoiler. This book’s prologue gets a 10/5.) I was completely hooked until 35% or so, then the pace dipped a bit and my interest went a little down, until a big reveal around the midway mark and my speed sprang up again. This sustained for a few chapters and then again the pace went down. But regardless of the pace, the story was captivating enough to keep me hooked until the end. I was not able to guess the resolution of the key suspense point of the novel -- Merry’s abrupt disappearance from the life of her family -- and that added to my satisfaction. The actual revelation seemed a little farfetched but not so much that it couldn’t be accepted.
Unlike whatever I have read so far that is set in Australia, this book doesn’t show the usual sand and surf and cityscapes of the vast continent. Instead, the story is set in Arthurville, a town in New South Wales and part of the Australian outback with red dirt and extreme drought and dry heat. (See the cover!) It was a great experience to see this newer side of Australia through a novel. And it was even more wonderful to see this setting being used to the maximum in the storyline. It isn’t just a story in Australia; it’s a story IN Australia!
The key characters of the story are carved very well. Not just Jo and Merry but the other town residents also have strong and distinct personalities that impact the story in the right way. They are also not uni-dimensional but well-layered. Some are stereotypical but even within the clichéd portrayals, they spring some surprises at us. Thus most of the people come across as realistic and believable, a huge plus. The characters also include some Wiradjuri people, bonus points for bringing in genuineness to the narrative by including the Aboriginal Australian people.
Another plus point is how it assimilates Aussie lingo into the writing seamlessly. Australian English has a lot of its own idiosyncrasies but hardly any novel incorporates these amazing regional touches into the content, that too so naturally. What’s even more wonderful is that the author doesn’t bother to explain the words to us. You read, you guess the meaning, or you check in your dictionary. If you want to increase your knowledge of “Australian English” beyond the banal “mate”, this is a great book to go for. I simply loved the authenticity of the language and the approach of the author.
Overall, I enjoyed this book quite a lot. Except for the pace issues, I didn’t find much else to take away from my experience. The narrative is not entirely predictable, and the writing is pretty captivating. Most importantly, the story stays true to the locale. Much recommended if you want to read a slow but engrossing, character-driven domestic thriller that brings rural Australia alive in your mind.
I loved these two quotes from the book:
4.25 stars.
My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of “A Little Bird”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Story:
Just out of a bad relationship, Jo Sharpe, a journalist, heads back to her hometown to work with the local community newspaper. Her return comes after many years, as she had wanted to escape the memories of her childhood, what with the sudden disappearance of her mother and younger sister from their lives, leaving her father drowning his sorrows in alcohol and Jo all alone. Now an adult, Jo is determined to dig deeper into the mystery, but soon realises that not everything is as it had appeared earlier.
The story comes to us from the first person perspective of Jo in 2018, Jo in 1993 and the third person pov of her mother Merry from 1985 onwards.
This was quite an interesting story though the pace kept going up and down. The prologue set in 1994 grabbed my attention right from the start. (I love books that get their prologue right. So many books just include an excerpt from the latter half of the book in the name of a prologue. The right amount of intrigue must be created without revealing any spoiler. This book’s prologue gets a 10/5.) I was completely hooked until 35% or so, then the pace dipped a bit and my interest went a little down, until a big reveal around the midway mark and my speed sprang up again. This sustained for a few chapters and then again the pace went down. But regardless of the pace, the story was captivating enough to keep me hooked until the end. I was not able to guess the resolution of the key suspense point of the novel -- Merry’s abrupt disappearance from the life of her family -- and that added to my satisfaction. The actual revelation seemed a little farfetched but not so much that it couldn’t be accepted.
Unlike whatever I have read so far that is set in Australia, this book doesn’t show the usual sand and surf and cityscapes of the vast continent. Instead, the story is set in Arthurville, a town in New South Wales and part of the Australian outback with red dirt and extreme drought and dry heat. (See the cover!) It was a great experience to see this newer side of Australia through a novel. And it was even more wonderful to see this setting being used to the maximum in the storyline. It isn’t just a story in Australia; it’s a story IN Australia!
The key characters of the story are carved very well. Not just Jo and Merry but the other town residents also have strong and distinct personalities that impact the story in the right way. They are also not uni-dimensional but well-layered. Some are stereotypical but even within the clichéd portrayals, they spring some surprises at us. Thus most of the people come across as realistic and believable, a huge plus. The characters also include some Wiradjuri people, bonus points for bringing in genuineness to the narrative by including the Aboriginal Australian people.
Another plus point is how it assimilates Aussie lingo into the writing seamlessly. Australian English has a lot of its own idiosyncrasies but hardly any novel incorporates these amazing regional touches into the content, that too so naturally. What’s even more wonderful is that the author doesn’t bother to explain the words to us. You read, you guess the meaning, or you check in your dictionary. If you want to increase your knowledge of “Australian English” beyond the banal “mate”, this is a great book to go for. I simply loved the authenticity of the language and the approach of the author.
Overall, I enjoyed this book quite a lot. Except for the pace issues, I didn’t find much else to take away from my experience. The narrative is not entirely predictable, and the writing is pretty captivating. Most importantly, the story stays true to the locale. Much recommended if you want to read a slow but engrossing, character-driven domestic thriller that brings rural Australia alive in your mind.
I loved these two quotes from the book:
♦ "Change for the sake of change isn't necessarily a good thing."
♦ "Hope doesn’t rely on possibilities or probabilities or proof—all it needs is a ready heart, an open mind."
4.25 stars.
My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of “A Little Bird”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
December 29, 2021
Jo Sharpe is returning to her hometown of Arthurville after escaping a bad relationship. Jo was offered a job at the local newspaper which she accepted, but how would she cope living back with her estranged and cantankerous old father.
Arthurville is not only a drought-stricken town, but it’s also where Jo’s mum and sister disappeared twenty-five years ago. Jo was determined to find the answers to their disappearance, but this could be more difficult than she first thought as the town was hiding secrets that had been buried for many years and getting the locals to open up about what they knew would be a challenge.
A Little Bird by Australian author Wendy James was an enjoyable read. I felt it was a bit slow as it wasn’t a fast-paced book, but in saying that it still had enough mystery/suspense to keep me interested with quite a lot of detailed descriptions which I really enjoyed. Recommended.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read and review.
Arthurville is not only a drought-stricken town, but it’s also where Jo’s mum and sister disappeared twenty-five years ago. Jo was determined to find the answers to their disappearance, but this could be more difficult than she first thought as the town was hiding secrets that had been buried for many years and getting the locals to open up about what they knew would be a challenge.
A Little Bird by Australian author Wendy James was an enjoyable read. I felt it was a bit slow as it wasn’t a fast-paced book, but in saying that it still had enough mystery/suspense to keep me interested with quite a lot of detailed descriptions which I really enjoyed. Recommended.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read and review.
November 2, 2021
Josephine Sharpe returns home to Arthurville, her dad Michael still lives there, and she’s been offered a job working as a journalist for the local community newspaper. Her father Mick still drinks too much, sits around the house all day and Jo’s living with her dad. The newsletter's really small, with a tight budget, and Jo's to concentrate on covering happy events. Things like grandparent’s day at the primary school, what’s happening at the local cricket club and town meetings.
You can understand why Mick Sharpe struggles, his wife Miranda and baby daughter Amy disappeared in 1994, and haven’t been seen since. Merry went missing just before Jo turned eight, it was the talk of the town and it still is twenty four years later. Was Merry unhappy being married to Mick, wanted to make a fresh start and she sent a letter a few months after she disappeared from Queensland?
Returning to Arthurville for Jo’s bittersweet, she meets up with old friends and the small town hasn't changed. She want's answers to her questions about her mum’s troubled relationship with her family, why she didn’t speak to her mother Ruth and brother Roland Beaufort. They live at Pembroke, a grand house and property, they disowned her mother when she married Mick and they didn’t worry about Jo’s welfare after her mother left.
Jo’s starts looking into her mother’s disappearance, and she remembers small things that happened around the time she left, and somethings don’t make any sense. Jo focuses on the facts and little details; her parent’s marriage, was her mother keeping secrets, her mum's friends, family, work colleagues and people she knew in Arthurville. Merry's job, she uncovers her mother wrote articles for the Chronicle and she wasn’t just a secretary.
The Little Bird by Wendy James, is a small town thriller, about family rifts and grudges, shocking secrets, stunning revelations, and Merry's not the first person to have gone missing in the small town and with so many hidden clues! I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley, I found the story fascinating and it wasn't at all predictable and five stars from me. https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
You can understand why Mick Sharpe struggles, his wife Miranda and baby daughter Amy disappeared in 1994, and haven’t been seen since. Merry went missing just before Jo turned eight, it was the talk of the town and it still is twenty four years later. Was Merry unhappy being married to Mick, wanted to make a fresh start and she sent a letter a few months after she disappeared from Queensland?
Returning to Arthurville for Jo’s bittersweet, she meets up with old friends and the small town hasn't changed. She want's answers to her questions about her mum’s troubled relationship with her family, why she didn’t speak to her mother Ruth and brother Roland Beaufort. They live at Pembroke, a grand house and property, they disowned her mother when she married Mick and they didn’t worry about Jo’s welfare after her mother left.
Jo’s starts looking into her mother’s disappearance, and she remembers small things that happened around the time she left, and somethings don’t make any sense. Jo focuses on the facts and little details; her parent’s marriage, was her mother keeping secrets, her mum's friends, family, work colleagues and people she knew in Arthurville. Merry's job, she uncovers her mother wrote articles for the Chronicle and she wasn’t just a secretary.
The Little Bird by Wendy James, is a small town thriller, about family rifts and grudges, shocking secrets, stunning revelations, and Merry's not the first person to have gone missing in the small town and with so many hidden clues! I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley, I found the story fascinating and it wasn't at all predictable and five stars from me. https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
November 19, 2021
4.5★s
A Little Bird is the ninth novel by award-winning, best-selling Australian author, Wendy James. After fourteen years in the city, journalist Josephine Sharpe returns to her hometown of Arthurville for a number of reasons: the end of a toxic relationship and an ailing father make the job offer from the Arthurville Chronicle seem more attractive that it might otherwise be.
In this small-budget publication funded by subscriptions and wealthy donors, her brief is to report only the positive aspects of the town’s happenings. Catching up with old friends and acquaintances is how she escapes too much time with her cantankerous Dad. Underlying it all, though, is something they never talk about: how her mother drove away with her baby sister, Amy when Jo was eight, and never returned.
A note left behind, and a letter later sent to her estranged mother, Ruth Beaufort, these were the last anyone ever heard from Miranda Sharpe. But now, remarks from people who knew Merry, casual comments, have Jo wondering just what she missed understanding at eight years old.
She discovers a box at the Chronicle that seems to indicate Merry wrote the anonymous gossip column, A Little Bird, with its light, amusing take on the town’s people and events, though occasionally laced with malice. And while her father has always been unforthcoming about his wife’s departure, friends are less reticent, and she begins to wonder if her mother really chose to leave her.
And then an accidental discovery changes everything…
Jo and Merry narrate this dual-timeline mystery. It is a novel in which the plot, replete with twists and red herrings, keeps the pages turning and even the most astute reader guessing about quite what happened to Merry Sharpe, until the pieces of the puzzle fall, chillingly, into place. James effortlessly evokes the Australian country town vibe and her characters are easily recognisable to anyone who has lived in one.
Just one thing unfortunately diminishes the reader’s enjoyment of this excellent tale: parts of the back-cover blurb are quite misleading, creating an expectation in the reader that leads to frustration when it is not realised because some aspects mentioned don’t occur until well after the eighty per cent mark, if at all. Nonetheless, this is impressive Australian rural crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing
A Little Bird is the ninth novel by award-winning, best-selling Australian author, Wendy James. After fourteen years in the city, journalist Josephine Sharpe returns to her hometown of Arthurville for a number of reasons: the end of a toxic relationship and an ailing father make the job offer from the Arthurville Chronicle seem more attractive that it might otherwise be.
In this small-budget publication funded by subscriptions and wealthy donors, her brief is to report only the positive aspects of the town’s happenings. Catching up with old friends and acquaintances is how she escapes too much time with her cantankerous Dad. Underlying it all, though, is something they never talk about: how her mother drove away with her baby sister, Amy when Jo was eight, and never returned.
A note left behind, and a letter later sent to her estranged mother, Ruth Beaufort, these were the last anyone ever heard from Miranda Sharpe. But now, remarks from people who knew Merry, casual comments, have Jo wondering just what she missed understanding at eight years old.
She discovers a box at the Chronicle that seems to indicate Merry wrote the anonymous gossip column, A Little Bird, with its light, amusing take on the town’s people and events, though occasionally laced with malice. And while her father has always been unforthcoming about his wife’s departure, friends are less reticent, and she begins to wonder if her mother really chose to leave her.
And then an accidental discovery changes everything…
Jo and Merry narrate this dual-timeline mystery. It is a novel in which the plot, replete with twists and red herrings, keeps the pages turning and even the most astute reader guessing about quite what happened to Merry Sharpe, until the pieces of the puzzle fall, chillingly, into place. James effortlessly evokes the Australian country town vibe and her characters are easily recognisable to anyone who has lived in one.
Just one thing unfortunately diminishes the reader’s enjoyment of this excellent tale: parts of the back-cover blurb are quite misleading, creating an expectation in the reader that leads to frustration when it is not realised because some aspects mentioned don’t occur until well after the eighty per cent mark, if at all. Nonetheless, this is impressive Australian rural crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing
October 22, 2022
Journalist Jo Sharpe, after the end of a relationship, ends up up back at Arthurville, the town where she grew up. She has a job with the community newspaper. Arthurville is severely stricken stricken. While there has been some changes in the town Jo's relationship with her crotchety father, who has pancreatic cancer, is just as difficult and uncommunicative as it became in teenage years. Jo’s mother Miranda known as Merry disappeared when Jo was a child along with her her baby sister Amy. Jo always wanted to believe her mother was alive and happy and would one day come back. It never happened and her father turned increasingly to solitude and alcohol.
Jo reconnects with some old friends but the mystery of what happened to her mother and sister plagues her thoughts. Jo is determined to dig till she gets answers, but for reasons of their own, there is someone who does not want her digging into the past. They will go to whatever lengths are necessary to prevent the truth coming out. The passages called 'a little bird' which was written anonymously back in the past play a big part in uncovering the truth.
I found this an interesting read. It’s not gripping exactly but it certainly kept my interest. Like Jo, I wanted to know what happened to her mother and sister. I liked the way relationships were explored. The Aussie drought stricken country setting is evocative. You can just about taste the red dust. And I liked the way the story was told in two time frames and voices with Merry's story and Jo's story. Some complex local characters add to the interest. An enjoyable read I would recommend. to those who like an Aussie rural tale with a mystery. Or is it a murder?
Jo reconnects with some old friends but the mystery of what happened to her mother and sister plagues her thoughts. Jo is determined to dig till she gets answers, but for reasons of their own, there is someone who does not want her digging into the past. They will go to whatever lengths are necessary to prevent the truth coming out. The passages called 'a little bird' which was written anonymously back in the past play a big part in uncovering the truth.
I found this an interesting read. It’s not gripping exactly but it certainly kept my interest. Like Jo, I wanted to know what happened to her mother and sister. I liked the way relationships were explored. The Aussie drought stricken country setting is evocative. You can just about taste the red dust. And I liked the way the story was told in two time frames and voices with Merry's story and Jo's story. Some complex local characters add to the interest. An enjoyable read I would recommend. to those who like an Aussie rural tale with a mystery. Or is it a murder?
January 22, 2023
Setting: Arthurville, NSW, Australia; 2018 & 1994.
Jo Sharpe is tempted back to her childhood home by the offer of a job as journalist on the local paper, The Arthurville Chronicle. She returns with considerable trepidation to a town where her formerly drunken and now ill father still resides and from which her mother, Merry, left in 1994 with Jo's baby sister and was never seen again. Reliving the trauma of her mum disappearing when she was just eight years old, Jo also reconnects with a couple of her former boyfriends, including Shep (who is now the local vicar) and Lachlan (whose mother Kirsty was good friends with her mother). As she settles back into Arthurville life and her new job at the local paper, she discovers that her mother also used to work there - and a box of old papers and notebooks she finds hidden away reveal that her mother used to write the anonymous 'A Little Bird' columns which were so popular in the paper at the time, which revealed almost scandalous stories about unnamed local dignitaries and pillars of the community. Then, a chance visit to a local man to discuss the prospect of a human interest article leads to a discovery that throws past events wide open, a past that someone in Arthurville does not want to see revealed...
This was another excellent book from this author, after I had previously read An Accusation. The setting and storytelling have a real Aussie vibe - you can almost feel the heat and the effects of the long-standing drought. The characters are excellent and the storyline twists and turns through a series of flashbacks to Merry's life and what drove her do what she did. Towards the end, I had guessed who the culprit was but this didn't detract at all from the enjoyment of the book. More please Wendy! - 9/10.
Jo Sharpe is tempted back to her childhood home by the offer of a job as journalist on the local paper, The Arthurville Chronicle. She returns with considerable trepidation to a town where her formerly drunken and now ill father still resides and from which her mother, Merry, left in 1994 with Jo's baby sister and was never seen again. Reliving the trauma of her mum disappearing when she was just eight years old, Jo also reconnects with a couple of her former boyfriends, including Shep (who is now the local vicar) and Lachlan (whose mother Kirsty was good friends with her mother). As she settles back into Arthurville life and her new job at the local paper, she discovers that her mother also used to work there - and a box of old papers and notebooks she finds hidden away reveal that her mother used to write the anonymous 'A Little Bird' columns which were so popular in the paper at the time, which revealed almost scandalous stories about unnamed local dignitaries and pillars of the community. Then, a chance visit to a local man to discuss the prospect of a human interest article leads to a discovery that throws past events wide open, a past that someone in Arthurville does not want to see revealed...
This was another excellent book from this author, after I had previously read An Accusation. The setting and storytelling have a real Aussie vibe - you can almost feel the heat and the effects of the long-standing drought. The characters are excellent and the storyline twists and turns through a series of flashbacks to Merry's life and what drove her do what she did. Towards the end, I had guessed who the culprit was but this didn't detract at all from the enjoyment of the book. More please Wendy! - 9/10.
July 20, 2021
After many years working for a newspaper in the city, Jo returns to her home town in the Australian outback to reconnect with her father and to look into the disappearance of her mother and baby sister that happened twenty five years before.
I really enjoyed this book, it has some great characters and an ending I didn’t predict.
I will be looking out for more work by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book, it has some great characters and an ending I didn’t predict.
I will be looking out for more work by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 23, 2021
I really loved this book and couldn’t wait to get back to reading it once I got started. It’s about Jo who returns to her hometown after a long absence. She had fallen out with her father who had issues with the man she had taken up with in the city and so they had lost touch, and it turns out dear old Dad was right all along. Back she comes and settles in with her Dad who is anything but easy to live with. She starts her new job and it’s nothing like she was used to in the city. The country newspaper has been severely downgraded and now only deals with “good news stories”. Her mother and baby sister disappeared 20 years earlier and she would really love to know what happened to them. Clues start to appear and as she digs deeper I start to feel a little uneasy for her safety. The ending was surprising, but made sense.
March 27, 2022
4.5 stars
Journalist Jo Sharpe returns to Arthurville, home of her birth, the drought-stricken town she turned her back on years ago. (Though today it would be in post-flood recovery.) She gets a job on the local newspaper running the same gossip column (A Little Bird) that she discovers her mother had nearly thirty years ago before she went missing with Jo’s baby sister, never to be seen again. Jo makes new connections with old friends and erstwhile lovers; digs up secrets, reconciles with her crusty, ailing dad; stirs up old resentments with her mother’s estranged family and finds the more she starts sifting around the past, the more she unearths old feelings of grief and regret. When the truth about her mother and sister is revealed, someone who wants it to stay buried is hell-bent on silencing the little bird.
Although there’s a crime – several – at the heart of this book, it’s really about families and class and reconciling the past with the present and coming home to the town you loved and hated and seeing it again through different eyes. There are small details of life in a country town, and of growing up different and needing to escape the claustrophobic grip of a small town and be anonymous in some big city, all of which will resonate with readers like this one who grew up in small towns he loves to visit (and never will move back). But you don’t have to be a rural type to appreciate the beautifully drawn characters and class structures and the suspenseful twists in this page-turning mystery. In a month of disasters Wendy James’s ‘A Little Bird’ shone through like a cheerful beacon and reminded me of what country towns used to be like before the floods.
Journalist Jo Sharpe returns to Arthurville, home of her birth, the drought-stricken town she turned her back on years ago. (Though today it would be in post-flood recovery.) She gets a job on the local newspaper running the same gossip column (A Little Bird) that she discovers her mother had nearly thirty years ago before she went missing with Jo’s baby sister, never to be seen again. Jo makes new connections with old friends and erstwhile lovers; digs up secrets, reconciles with her crusty, ailing dad; stirs up old resentments with her mother’s estranged family and finds the more she starts sifting around the past, the more she unearths old feelings of grief and regret. When the truth about her mother and sister is revealed, someone who wants it to stay buried is hell-bent on silencing the little bird.
Although there’s a crime – several – at the heart of this book, it’s really about families and class and reconciling the past with the present and coming home to the town you loved and hated and seeing it again through different eyes. There are small details of life in a country town, and of growing up different and needing to escape the claustrophobic grip of a small town and be anonymous in some big city, all of which will resonate with readers like this one who grew up in small towns he loves to visit (and never will move back). But you don’t have to be a rural type to appreciate the beautifully drawn characters and class structures and the suspenseful twists in this page-turning mystery. In a month of disasters Wendy James’s ‘A Little Bird’ shone through like a cheerful beacon and reminded me of what country towns used to be like before the floods.
August 18, 2021
I have just finished reading A Little Bird by Author Wendy James. This is the first book by the author for me.
The main character Jo Sharpe has returned to her hometown of Arthurville, where her mother and baby sister suddenly left and the disappeared 24 years earlier
She has taken up a job at the local newspaper, and finds out while living in her hometown what really happened to her family.
This to me was a little on the slow side, although an overall good read.
Thank You to NetGalley, Author Wendy James, and Lake Union Publishing for my advanced copy to read, and review.
#ALittleBird #NetGalley
The main character Jo Sharpe has returned to her hometown of Arthurville, where her mother and baby sister suddenly left and the disappeared 24 years earlier
She has taken up a job at the local newspaper, and finds out while living in her hometown what really happened to her family.
This to me was a little on the slow side, although an overall good read.
Thank You to NetGalley, Author Wendy James, and Lake Union Publishing for my advanced copy to read, and review.
#ALittleBird #NetGalley
December 8, 2021
‘Bad news might be real life, but believe me, no one wants to hear about it anymore.’
A relationship break-down, her father’s illness and a job offer bring Jo Sharpe home in 2018 to the small drought-stricken town of Arthurville in remote, rural Australia. Jo has mixed feelings about returning: her mother and baby sister left Arthurville in 1994 and apart from one letter, neither have been heard from since.
Jo’s job on the ‘Chronicle’ is to produce six pages of good news each week. Not as easy as you might think given that the town is gripped by drought, but Jo settles in, rekindling some old friendships and making new friends. But being back in Arthurville rekindles Jo’s desire to find out why her mother left, taking her sister but leaving Jo behind. Her father, ill and ill-tempered, does not want to revisit the past. And then Jo finds some papers which, while they may shed some light on the past, raise plenty of questions.
The story shifts between Jo in 2018 and 1994, where Jo’s mother Merry is the narrator. As the two narratives unfold, we learn of secrets held, of ill-feeling and misunderstandings. And at the heart of it all is someone who would rather kill than concede ground.
I enjoyed this story with its complex, flawed characters and with a few twists that kept me guessing until very near the end. Ms James has published eight novels so far, and as this is only the third I have read, I have five others to look forward to.
If you enjoy domestic thrillers in a rural setting then I can recommend this,
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
A relationship break-down, her father’s illness and a job offer bring Jo Sharpe home in 2018 to the small drought-stricken town of Arthurville in remote, rural Australia. Jo has mixed feelings about returning: her mother and baby sister left Arthurville in 1994 and apart from one letter, neither have been heard from since.
Jo’s job on the ‘Chronicle’ is to produce six pages of good news each week. Not as easy as you might think given that the town is gripped by drought, but Jo settles in, rekindling some old friendships and making new friends. But being back in Arthurville rekindles Jo’s desire to find out why her mother left, taking her sister but leaving Jo behind. Her father, ill and ill-tempered, does not want to revisit the past. And then Jo finds some papers which, while they may shed some light on the past, raise plenty of questions.
The story shifts between Jo in 2018 and 1994, where Jo’s mother Merry is the narrator. As the two narratives unfold, we learn of secrets held, of ill-feeling and misunderstandings. And at the heart of it all is someone who would rather kill than concede ground.
I enjoyed this story with its complex, flawed characters and with a few twists that kept me guessing until very near the end. Ms James has published eight novels so far, and as this is only the third I have read, I have five others to look forward to.
If you enjoy domestic thrillers in a rural setting then I can recommend this,
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
February 12, 2022
What a terrific book. My third by Ms James and first outside of her hometown of Newcastle. Based in the outback, a fictional town based on Wellington, between Orange and Dubbo. As I've spent a fair bit of time in that area, I got the feel of place.
It started very slow, with Jo, now in her thirties, returning to her home town to live with her Dad after being a jornalist with a big paper in Sydney, her job and relationship went South. Working for the local paper that her mother did over 20 years ago before she and her little sister went missing.
This was a well written thriller, which did not become a thriller until over half way through, and handled by Ms James very well. Good story, good characters, well worth the time. Recommended if you like Aussie Outback thrillers.
It started very slow, with Jo, now in her thirties, returning to her home town to live with her Dad after being a jornalist with a big paper in Sydney, her job and relationship went South. Working for the local paper that her mother did over 20 years ago before she and her little sister went missing.
This was a well written thriller, which did not become a thriller until over half way through, and handled by Ms James very well. Good story, good characters, well worth the time. Recommended if you like Aussie Outback thrillers.
October 7, 2021
Wendy James has long been a go-to author when I crave a good Australian mystery, so I was excited to see that she has a new book coming out! Jo Sharpe, her main protagonist in A LITTLE BIRD, is a journalist who returns to her small rural hometown to look after her ailing father and take on a position at the local paper, The Chronicle. Arthurville holds mixed memories for her, mostly connected to the abandonment by her mother and baby sister twenty years ago, with only a short note telling Jo’s father not to look for them. Jo still cannot come to terms with the fact that her mother would just up and leave her older child behind and is keen to talk to people who knew her and can shed some light on her mental state at the time of her disappearance.
James masterfully recreates the claustrophobic atmosphere of a remote, close-knit rural community rife with gossip and speculation. It made a perfect backdrop to this slow, character driven mystery and added some colourful characters into the mix. I loved to get an insight into Jo’s grief and confusion related to her mother’s abandonment, and her longing for answers. As someone who also lost her mother as a child, I could easily understand the gaping hole her mother’s absence has left in her heart.
Rolling out in two separate timeframes, A LITTLE BIRD will work towards answering Jo’s many questions, even though the ending was not something I had anticipated. As with her previous book THE ACCUSATION, James uses her insight into the human psyche and her excellent characterisations to build an air of mystery and tension, which was my favourite part of the story and one that will make me come back for more of her stories in future. Atmospheric and insightful, the book captured my heart and kept me turning the pages, breaking my heart bit by bit as the story progressed. Readers who enjoy a slower, character driven mystery with a small town setting should definitely pick this one up!
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
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James masterfully recreates the claustrophobic atmosphere of a remote, close-knit rural community rife with gossip and speculation. It made a perfect backdrop to this slow, character driven mystery and added some colourful characters into the mix. I loved to get an insight into Jo’s grief and confusion related to her mother’s abandonment, and her longing for answers. As someone who also lost her mother as a child, I could easily understand the gaping hole her mother’s absence has left in her heart.
Rolling out in two separate timeframes, A LITTLE BIRD will work towards answering Jo’s many questions, even though the ending was not something I had anticipated. As with her previous book THE ACCUSATION, James uses her insight into the human psyche and her excellent characterisations to build an air of mystery and tension, which was my favourite part of the story and one that will make me come back for more of her stories in future. Atmospheric and insightful, the book captured my heart and kept me turning the pages, breaking my heart bit by bit as the story progressed. Readers who enjoy a slower, character driven mystery with a small town setting should definitely pick this one up!
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
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January 10, 2022
A Little Bird is an intriguing, character-driven mystery from Australian author Wendy James.
When the end of her relationship coincides with learning her father is ill, journalist Jo Sharpe reluctantly returns to her home town of Arthurville in western New South Wales to take up a position at the town’s local newspaper. Her father, a grumpy alcoholic, bitter about his wife’s desertion over twenty years ago, hasn’t changed much but the town, in the grip of drought, is in obvious decline.
One of Jo’s first assignments for the Arthurville Chronicle, which is really not more than a community newsletter, takes her to Pembroke, her wealthy grandmothers estate on the outskirts of town. The Beaufort’s are little more than strangers to Jo, given they disowned her mother, Miranda aka Merry when she married Jo’s working class father, and failed to reach out even after Merry vanished, taking Jo’s baby sister Amy with her, in 1995.
Confronted with her past, Jo is motivated to re-examine her mother’s disappearance, and makes a shocking discovery that changes everything.
Shifting between the past and present, as Merry’s history unfolds, exposing her frame of mind prior to her disappearance, Jo’s narrative, set in 2018, is related in the first person.
Jo is a well-developed, likeable character. She presents as resilient, smart and determined, though her vulnerabilities, stemming from her mother’s abandonment, her father’s neglect, and the collapse of her long term romantic relationship, are evident.
The small community of Arthurville is realistically portrayed, a conservative rural town affected by drought and the subsequent economic downturn. Of its residents I was fond of local vicar Shep, with whom Jo rekindles a relationship, as well as the teens he is mentoring.
Jo’s investigation begins as she reconnects with the people from her past, most notably her mother’s friend, Kirsty, who provides Jo with some information that prompts her to look at Merry’s disappearance differently. While I felt the pacing was a little slow through the first half of the novel, there is a gradual increase of tension during the second half. I really liked the way the mystery played out, I thought James’ plotting was clever, and I was anxious to understand Merry and Amy’s fate.
A slow-burning, but gripping domestic thriller, I enjoyed A Little Bird.
When the end of her relationship coincides with learning her father is ill, journalist Jo Sharpe reluctantly returns to her home town of Arthurville in western New South Wales to take up a position at the town’s local newspaper. Her father, a grumpy alcoholic, bitter about his wife’s desertion over twenty years ago, hasn’t changed much but the town, in the grip of drought, is in obvious decline.
One of Jo’s first assignments for the Arthurville Chronicle, which is really not more than a community newsletter, takes her to Pembroke, her wealthy grandmothers estate on the outskirts of town. The Beaufort’s are little more than strangers to Jo, given they disowned her mother, Miranda aka Merry when she married Jo’s working class father, and failed to reach out even after Merry vanished, taking Jo’s baby sister Amy with her, in 1995.
Confronted with her past, Jo is motivated to re-examine her mother’s disappearance, and makes a shocking discovery that changes everything.
Shifting between the past and present, as Merry’s history unfolds, exposing her frame of mind prior to her disappearance, Jo’s narrative, set in 2018, is related in the first person.
Jo is a well-developed, likeable character. She presents as resilient, smart and determined, though her vulnerabilities, stemming from her mother’s abandonment, her father’s neglect, and the collapse of her long term romantic relationship, are evident.
The small community of Arthurville is realistically portrayed, a conservative rural town affected by drought and the subsequent economic downturn. Of its residents I was fond of local vicar Shep, with whom Jo rekindles a relationship, as well as the teens he is mentoring.
Jo’s investigation begins as she reconnects with the people from her past, most notably her mother’s friend, Kirsty, who provides Jo with some information that prompts her to look at Merry’s disappearance differently. While I felt the pacing was a little slow through the first half of the novel, there is a gradual increase of tension during the second half. I really liked the way the mystery played out, I thought James’ plotting was clever, and I was anxious to understand Merry and Amy’s fate.
A slow-burning, but gripping domestic thriller, I enjoyed A Little Bird.
November 13, 2024
A missing mother, a daughter coming back home decides to try to find out what happened to her all those year ago. With a gorgeous cover and an interesting addition of a Little Bird article style POV, I really thought I'd love this one. I did this as an audio - and it was okay, but I wouldn't say that it helped pull me into the story.
And that was my biggest struggle - feeling that tight tension of a mystery. I kept wanting to felt driven to know more - but the chapters were sooooo long. Listening, I find my mind drifting and would come back in some other POV but in the same chapter and I would realize I wasn't sure which POV I was even in. I wish I'd loved it but I just never found the groove with this one.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
And that was my biggest struggle - feeling that tight tension of a mystery. I kept wanting to felt driven to know more - but the chapters were sooooo long. Listening, I find my mind drifting and would come back in some other POV but in the same chapter and I would realize I wasn't sure which POV I was even in. I wish I'd loved it but I just never found the groove with this one.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
October 9, 2021
I'm struggling to even say something about this, because it was just so basic. You know those "YOU Can Write A MYSTERY NOVEL In TWO WEEKS!!!" books? I think this is the kind of result you'd get. The writing was okay, if nothing to get excited about; the Australian setting was basically nonexistent, because there really was no atmosphere to speak of. The story (what there is of it) could have basically taken place anywhere hot enough to suffer from drought. I found this really, really disappointing; I get that an Australian author will treat their surroundings like it's nothing special, but to me it is, and that's what I like about authors like Jane Harper -- they put you inside their world. The world of "A Little Bird" is Generic Boring Anytown, because that's what she's focused on; her MC is stuck in what's for her a highly undesirable place she has lots of ambivalent feelings about (which, on a side note, mostly get telegraphed in instead of being fully explored), so it seems Ms. James has no interest in giving the place shape, detail and colour.
The story itself was... meh. You literally have to reach the 50% point for anything to happen. Seriously. 50 freaking percent. Until then, it's just the MC moping around, flashbacks to her mom's life story (in more detail than seems necessary, especially as her past ), and some 1990's examples of the local gossip column that made no real sense to me, plot-wise, but maybe that was because I had basically checked out mentally after said 50% of drawn-out nothing.
The MC suffered from terminal genericness as well; yes, she can drive like a badass (ooh), and she's supposedly this super duper journalist, but apart from that she's really just a cypher. If you've read one or two mysteries you've spotted the killer as soon as they enter the stage, because it's one of those "don't know why yet, but can only be them" things (as it turns out, the motive is straight from Generic Central as well). The plot leans heavily on coincidence and the kind of unlikeliness you'd better not think too hard about, e.g. highly important documents are found by a cursory glance inside a drawer in a semi-public location, where they've sat undiscovered for thirty years (!), and of course the local drunk or whatever he is has something in his possession that the MC can immediately identify as belonging to her mother the minute she walks in, because of course it's totally unique. I didn't get what the MC's old crush and his teen delinquents-with-a-heart-of-gold had to do with anything, or the MC's weird cousin; her dad's dying from cancer one minute, then turns out to be basically fine the next, all leading to much wringing of hands and thinking of maudlin thoughts; there's a bit of misplaced Teen Drama when the MC (who's in her late thirties but reads like a fairly slow nineteen-year-old) gets to hear what really happened that Fateful Night her teen crush stood her up in the park (groan), and frankly, do I care?!
This isn't even so-bad-it's-good territory, because it isn't even all that bad, it's just boring and very, very basic. I usually love to read, but I had to force myself to return to "A Little Bird" every time I put it down, and really, that's the worst thing I can say about a book. In a week or so I'll have forgotten it even existed.
A heart-felt thanks to Netgalley and the publisher -- this book sounded really intriguing on paper, but the end result simply didn't do it for me.
The story itself was... meh. You literally have to reach the 50% point for anything to happen. Seriously. 50 freaking percent. Until then, it's just the MC moping around, flashbacks to her mom's life story (in more detail than seems necessary, especially as her past ), and some 1990's examples of the local gossip column that made no real sense to me, plot-wise, but maybe that was because I had basically checked out mentally after said 50% of drawn-out nothing.
The MC suffered from terminal genericness as well; yes, she can drive like a badass (ooh), and she's supposedly this super duper journalist, but apart from that she's really just a cypher. If you've read one or two mysteries you've spotted the killer as soon as they enter the stage, because it's one of those "don't know why yet, but can only be them" things (as it turns out, the motive is straight from Generic Central as well). The plot leans heavily on coincidence and the kind of unlikeliness you'd better not think too hard about, e.g. highly important documents are found by a cursory glance inside a drawer in a semi-public location, where they've sat undiscovered for thirty years (!), and of course the local drunk or whatever he is has something in his possession that the MC can immediately identify as belonging to her mother the minute she walks in, because of course it's totally unique. I didn't get what the MC's old crush and his teen delinquents-with-a-heart-of-gold had to do with anything, or the MC's weird cousin; her dad's dying from cancer one minute, then turns out to be basically fine the next, all leading to much wringing of hands and thinking of maudlin thoughts; there's a bit of misplaced Teen Drama when the MC (who's in her late thirties but reads like a fairly slow nineteen-year-old) gets to hear what really happened that Fateful Night her teen crush stood her up in the park (groan), and frankly, do I care?!
This isn't even so-bad-it's-good territory, because it isn't even all that bad, it's just boring and very, very basic. I usually love to read, but I had to force myself to return to "A Little Bird" every time I put it down, and really, that's the worst thing I can say about a book. In a week or so I'll have forgotten it even existed.
A heart-felt thanks to Netgalley and the publisher -- this book sounded really intriguing on paper, but the end result simply didn't do it for me.
December 19, 2021
New author for me and I’m officially
Hooked. This was a great story of having to return home to a small town after escaping and on return almost all of the past is thrown in your face. Some things change, others do not. What simmers underneath that part of the story is our main character, Jo, whose mother and little sister left home, left both Jo and her father, behind. There was a short note that was left. However, there was a fight between mother and father the night before.
No one has seen Jo’s mom and young sister or heard from them for over 20 years. There really is no information to be had why. Jo’s dad has not handled their escape well, he’s a heavy drinker and a crass individual. Now Jo is coming back home to live with her father and his idiosyncrasies and shes also trying to find out what really happened that day and trying to shine light into her relationship with her mother and what did she miss from her mother growing up?
Well done plot and story kept me entertained. Want to read more by this author!
Hooked. This was a great story of having to return home to a small town after escaping and on return almost all of the past is thrown in your face. Some things change, others do not. What simmers underneath that part of the story is our main character, Jo, whose mother and little sister left home, left both Jo and her father, behind. There was a short note that was left. However, there was a fight between mother and father the night before.
No one has seen Jo’s mom and young sister or heard from them for over 20 years. There really is no information to be had why. Jo’s dad has not handled their escape well, he’s a heavy drinker and a crass individual. Now Jo is coming back home to live with her father and his idiosyncrasies and shes also trying to find out what really happened that day and trying to shine light into her relationship with her mother and what did she miss from her mother growing up?
Well done plot and story kept me entertained. Want to read more by this author!
November 6, 2021
I could not put this book down! This is a slow moving mystery, but I felt that it was perfectly paced - each little nugget of information was just building that sense of unease. I loved the dual timeline with Jo returning back to her hometown, reconnecting with her father & trying to find out more information about her mother's disappearance, and with Merry as we see her life up to her disappearance. Secrets are revealed as Jo keeps digging, and I loved the way everything came together - I didn't see the ending coming!
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing & NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing & NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.
March 12, 2022
I really enjoyed James’ book AN ACCUSATION, so I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed, which was partly due to some clumsy plotting, but mostly because of reader/genre incompatibility, so to be fair, I settled on three stars.
While technically this is a mystery story, I would firmly categorize it as that ill-defined genre, “women’s fiction,” which for me means that whatever else is happening (mystery, historical fiction etc.), the book will gloss over any dark aspects of the story and sentimentality will triumph—family bonds reaffirmed, old grudges forgiven, warm fuzzies for all. Is this a bad thing? No, not at all. Lots of readers love it. But it’s not for me. I prefer my fiction dark and gritty.
Second issue was the dual time line. This seems to be super popular right now, and I am growing bored with it. In this case, it was handled by having the characters in the present time line get a clue, then flashing back to the previous time line to show what happened, then back to the present to let it really sink in. James isn’t the only writer who does this; Fiona Valpy is even worse. And I hate it. I feel like the author is spoon feeding me everything in tiny, manageable doses, like they’re afraid I might miss something. Just tell me once, please. I promise I’m smart enough to get it.
This probably makes it sound like I hated the book, but honestly, I didn’t. It was a quick, entertaining read and James is a good writer. The characters were OK. The setting was fabulous, so well depicted I could almost taste the dust.
Recommended if you like the dual timeline device and prefer a more sentimental story to a darker one.
While technically this is a mystery story, I would firmly categorize it as that ill-defined genre, “women’s fiction,” which for me means that whatever else is happening (mystery, historical fiction etc.), the book will gloss over any dark aspects of the story and sentimentality will triumph—family bonds reaffirmed, old grudges forgiven, warm fuzzies for all. Is this a bad thing? No, not at all. Lots of readers love it. But it’s not for me. I prefer my fiction dark and gritty.
Second issue was the dual time line. This seems to be super popular right now, and I am growing bored with it. In this case, it was handled by having the characters in the present time line get a clue, then flashing back to the previous time line to show what happened, then back to the present to let it really sink in. James isn’t the only writer who does this; Fiona Valpy is even worse. And I hate it. I feel like the author is spoon feeding me everything in tiny, manageable doses, like they’re afraid I might miss something. Just tell me once, please. I promise I’m smart enough to get it.
This probably makes it sound like I hated the book, but honestly, I didn’t. It was a quick, entertaining read and James is a good writer. The characters were OK. The setting was fabulous, so well depicted I could almost taste the dust.
Recommended if you like the dual timeline device and prefer a more sentimental story to a darker one.
August 19, 2022
Secrets long forgotten, a missing mother and baby daughter.... good one!
August 2, 2021
Most of the books I have been reading lately has been set in the UK, so picking up Wendy James’ A Little Bird which is set in Australia was a refreshing change. This book is classified as general fiction, but it turned out to be a great crime mystery.
Set in a stunning small Australian town this book keeps you glued to the pages as you try to find out what happened to Jo’s mother and baby sister. A twenty-five-year-old mystery that slowly unfolds while you are drawn into the small-town community and all the secrets they are hiding. This is a fantastically crafted story that will have you reading late into the night. It’s filled with mystery that twists and turns leaving you feeling like you are part of the small-town gossip mill.
I haven’t read anything by Wendy James before and this book left me feeling like I have been missing out. She created a colourful community full of interesting characters. The story moves between 1994 and 2018 with Jo and her mother taking turns revealing their stories. As a bonus, you are given little newspaper clippings from a gossip column in between. This makes it an interesting, gripping read as the then and now stories are revealed.
Twenty-five- tears ago Merry – Miranda Sharpe - drove off with her baby daughter, Amy, in the car and she has not been seen since. Jo never understood why her mother left her behind. Now her father has taken ill and she has received a job offer that will allow her to return home to Arthurville.
After a breakup with her boyfriend and her desire to look after her father, this job turns out to be perfectly timed.
Once home, Jo reconnects with old friends and her job has her crossing paths with her uncle and grandmother on her mother’s side. People she never got to know as a child. Being back home, memories of her mother return and Jo slowly starts piecing the details about her mother’s disappearance together. Will she be able to uncover the truth among all the secrets the community members are keeping?
A Little Bird felt like a slow read. I found myself drawn into this small-town community as the various secrets were revealed. Allowing me to escape into this little town’s history. I enjoyed how it was laid back and relaxing. I finished the book in three sittings, so it wasn’t a slow read at all. The ending was brilliant and held an unexpected twist. I was completely off in my prediction, and I love that. The final surprise added to the book’s enjoyment.
Jo Sharpe is a young woman with a lot of questions and the author managed to create this character with just enough insecurity to make her realistic. I simply loved Mick – Michael Sharpe – this difficult grumpy old drunk crept into your heart and you cannot help but smile at his nasty attitude. Being a man full of regret and sadness you understand his moods.
A Little Bird is one of those unlikely choices for me that I found I simply couldn’t get enough of. While it does not fall into my usual crime thriller genre of choice this book holds enough mystery to provide an intriguing read. I was completely wrapped up in the story and looked forward to getting to the truth behind Merry’s disappearance. I loved it.
A Little Bird will appeal to women’s fiction fans as well as mystery readers. It is a touching, sad story that is full of mystery with twists and turns as you join Jo in her hunt for the truth. I loved this story and I recommend that you add it to your TBR if you are looking for something a little different to read.
Set in a stunning small Australian town this book keeps you glued to the pages as you try to find out what happened to Jo’s mother and baby sister. A twenty-five-year-old mystery that slowly unfolds while you are drawn into the small-town community and all the secrets they are hiding. This is a fantastically crafted story that will have you reading late into the night. It’s filled with mystery that twists and turns leaving you feeling like you are part of the small-town gossip mill.
I haven’t read anything by Wendy James before and this book left me feeling like I have been missing out. She created a colourful community full of interesting characters. The story moves between 1994 and 2018 with Jo and her mother taking turns revealing their stories. As a bonus, you are given little newspaper clippings from a gossip column in between. This makes it an interesting, gripping read as the then and now stories are revealed.
Twenty-five- tears ago Merry – Miranda Sharpe - drove off with her baby daughter, Amy, in the car and she has not been seen since. Jo never understood why her mother left her behind. Now her father has taken ill and she has received a job offer that will allow her to return home to Arthurville.
After a breakup with her boyfriend and her desire to look after her father, this job turns out to be perfectly timed.
Once home, Jo reconnects with old friends and her job has her crossing paths with her uncle and grandmother on her mother’s side. People she never got to know as a child. Being back home, memories of her mother return and Jo slowly starts piecing the details about her mother’s disappearance together. Will she be able to uncover the truth among all the secrets the community members are keeping?
A Little Bird felt like a slow read. I found myself drawn into this small-town community as the various secrets were revealed. Allowing me to escape into this little town’s history. I enjoyed how it was laid back and relaxing. I finished the book in three sittings, so it wasn’t a slow read at all. The ending was brilliant and held an unexpected twist. I was completely off in my prediction, and I love that. The final surprise added to the book’s enjoyment.
Jo Sharpe is a young woman with a lot of questions and the author managed to create this character with just enough insecurity to make her realistic. I simply loved Mick – Michael Sharpe – this difficult grumpy old drunk crept into your heart and you cannot help but smile at his nasty attitude. Being a man full of regret and sadness you understand his moods.
A Little Bird is one of those unlikely choices for me that I found I simply couldn’t get enough of. While it does not fall into my usual crime thriller genre of choice this book holds enough mystery to provide an intriguing read. I was completely wrapped up in the story and looked forward to getting to the truth behind Merry’s disappearance. I loved it.
A Little Bird will appeal to women’s fiction fans as well as mystery readers. It is a touching, sad story that is full of mystery with twists and turns as you join Jo in her hunt for the truth. I loved this story and I recommend that you add it to your TBR if you are looking for something a little different to read.
October 24, 2021
Josephine "Jo" Sharpe is our main narrator in this Australian novel. She returns home to the backwater town Arthurville with a bit of reluctance because of her family's past and also to help her father as he is in poor health.
Mick doesn't blink an eye when Jo arrives at the unkempt home desite the fact that they haven't spoken for over two years. They rarely commmunicate and yet they coexist and skirt the big issue about her mother and baby sister disappearing over 20 years ago.
Jo was a journalist in a large city and her new job at The Chronicle has her writing fluff material such as the grandparent's day gathering and who won first prize for their crafting assignments. In the dilapidated newspaper office she comes across old newspaper clippings with a gossip column called The Little Bird. Eventually Jo discovers her mother had a hand in this anonymous column which shared salacious community information such as who may be having an affair or who may have dented the fences in front of the drug store, all without naming names of course.
There are multiple narrators in this story and you will be taken back to the 1990's when Jo's mother Merry up and leaves with the baby Amy. Merry was from a weathy family and was destined for university in Sydney until she ran into Mick one day. Mick is/was a working class man who would never have crossed paths with Merry in any social setting. As it worked out, Merry became pregnant and all the big plans went up in smoke. Her family was....displeased.
You will go back and forth between the two time lines, mysteries are revealed and finally by the end of the book you'll discover what happened to baby Amy and Jo's young mother.
Overall it was a decent read but a bit slow here and there. I was wanting more atmospheric details about the Australian setting but there is little of that. There is the occasional mention of the extreme heat and dusty roads but that's it.
Publication date November 30, 2021 by Lake Union Publishing. Genre: General Fiction and Women's Fiction.
Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader's copy of this book. I was not compensated for the review, all opinions are mine.
Mick doesn't blink an eye when Jo arrives at the unkempt home desite the fact that they haven't spoken for over two years. They rarely commmunicate and yet they coexist and skirt the big issue about her mother and baby sister disappearing over 20 years ago.
Jo was a journalist in a large city and her new job at The Chronicle has her writing fluff material such as the grandparent's day gathering and who won first prize for their crafting assignments. In the dilapidated newspaper office she comes across old newspaper clippings with a gossip column called The Little Bird. Eventually Jo discovers her mother had a hand in this anonymous column which shared salacious community information such as who may be having an affair or who may have dented the fences in front of the drug store, all without naming names of course.
There are multiple narrators in this story and you will be taken back to the 1990's when Jo's mother Merry up and leaves with the baby Amy. Merry was from a weathy family and was destined for university in Sydney until she ran into Mick one day. Mick is/was a working class man who would never have crossed paths with Merry in any social setting. As it worked out, Merry became pregnant and all the big plans went up in smoke. Her family was....displeased.
You will go back and forth between the two time lines, mysteries are revealed and finally by the end of the book you'll discover what happened to baby Amy and Jo's young mother.
Overall it was a decent read but a bit slow here and there. I was wanting more atmospheric details about the Australian setting but there is little of that. There is the occasional mention of the extreme heat and dusty roads but that's it.
Publication date November 30, 2021 by Lake Union Publishing. Genre: General Fiction and Women's Fiction.
Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader's copy of this book. I was not compensated for the review, all opinions are mine.
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