Catch us the foxes by Nicola West

Marlowe 'Lo' Robertson is an aspiring journalist, living in country Australia, a few hours out of Sydney. She is stuck covering the town's annual show for the local paper, taking photos of the whole event. As she makes her way to meet her father, the town's police chief, she stumbles across a body - the reigning showgirl, Lily Williams, Lo's friend. Lo notices strange markings on Lily's back, but when she gets her father and they return to Lily's body, he instructs her not to reveal the information to anyone. She promises, but it doesn't sit right. Lo hides the photos she took when she found Lily, and begins her own investigation. Perhaps things aren't what they seem in Lo's peaceful sleepy home town - and Lo dives right into the mystery.

This gripping story will have you hooked early on - with relatable characters, vivid scenery, mystery and thriller combined to make a novel you can't put down. Short, punchy chapters enable the story to progress quickly, as do the twists and turns that Nicola West has woven through the novel. With a well written, strong female lead, readers will find Lo tenacious in her search for the truth. Fans of Karen M. McManus (One of Us is Lying; Two Can Keep a Secret) and Candice Fox will love this book. There are some issues through the book that are not dealt with in an entirely appropriate manner - particularly revolving around homophobic behaviour and demonising mental illness. Even factoring in that the story takes place seven years ago (the novel is a book within a book), the terms, actions and negativity revolving around some of these issues are dated and not exactly appropriate. This aside, the book has been well written and is quite an addictive book to read really.

Themes: Australian Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Relationships, Trust, Power, LGBTQIA+ People.

Melanie Pages