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The Painted Sky

Alice Campion (Pseudonym)

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Dec 09, 2014 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: aussie-authors, net-galley, romantic-suspense, 2015-release, mystery, read-on-kindle, suspense, arc, own-read, rural

When Uncle Russell left the old, rundown property at Wandalla, part of rural outback New South Wales to Nina Larkin, she was more than a little surprised. Never having been close to him, she hadn’t been back to the property since she was a girl. She had grown up happily with her Mum and Dad at Wandalla, but when her father, celebrated artist Jim Larkin disappeared when she was eight years old, her Mum had made their permanent home in Sydney. But six months previously her Mum had passed away – de When Uncle Russell left the old, rundown property at Wandalla, part of rural outback New South Wales to Nina Larkin, she was more than a little surprised. Never having been close to him, she hadn’t been back to the property since she was a girl. She had grown up happily with her Mum and Dad at Wandalla, but when her father, celebrated artist Jim Larkin disappeared when she was eight years old, her Mum had made their permanent home in Sydney. But six months previously her Mum had passed away – devastated and grieving, Nina decided now was the time to find her father; find out what had happened to him all those years before.

The local solicitor, Harrison Grey didn’t seem to want her there though. Nina couldn’t work out his reluctance; also his push for her to sell the property to wealthy landowner Hilary Flint. But she was determined to stay on her land, at least until she found what she sought; dilapidated and falling down though it was, Nina needed to go through her uncle’s belongings to see if she could find any reference to her father. She needed answers…

Nina’s shock and sadness at the state of the old farmhouse shook her – what had Uncle Russell’s last few years been like? With her faithful little dog Bach by her side, she began to clean first the kitchen then the other rooms. Meeting up with friends she hadn’t seen since she had played with them in the schoolyard was a little strange too – brothers Ben and Heath Blackett were men now; but what had happened to them? And now Heath was engaged to be married – she shouldn’t feel those same flutters in her tummy that she’d had as a girl – surely that childhood crush was gone by now!

When Hilary first spoke to Nina, she was vindictive; nasty – but when she spotted the gold locket Nina wore around her neck she went ballistic. What on earth was wrong with her? Why did she seem to hate Nina – she had only just met her? Would Nina discover the truth she so desperately craved, or would she be driven back to Sydney once again?

I thoroughly enjoyed The Painted Sky by Alice Campion (the pseudonym for five members of a Sydney bookclub). The blend of mystery and suspense, along with a touch of romance and intrigue made for an excellent rural romantic suspense novel which is fresh and entertaining. I have no hesitation in highly recommending The Painted Sky to all.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review. ...more

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Nov 02, 2015 Tianne Shaw rated it it was amazing

For 5 co authors this book blends seamlessly along. They set to write a modern Thorn Birds but instead have a tale of mystery and family skeletons entwined. A terrific read that covers the mystery,romance and family ties of rural Australia. Just read it and see if you can put it down.

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