Probably a 3.5 star book for me.

I love a good hidden past, secrets revealed, troubled family book, and this ticked all those boxes admirably.

The romance was nicely underdone, not overtaking the mystery, and the characters were realistic and believable. I would have liked it more without the supernatural dream flashbacks, but they did fill in the gaps in the past narrative.

The only thing that annoyed me:

If you know someone has a key to your house, and has already broken in once, why would you just carry on living there??? Audrey had plenty of people she could have stayed with for a night or two while she got the locks changed. I hate people in thrillers who act like idiots so the story can progress.

A solid, gripping thriller. ( )

A story told in parallel from the 1940s to the 2000s. Audrey’s ex partner Tony commits ‘suicide’ and leaves her his old family homestead at Magpie Creek in Queensland, Australia. When Audrey and their 11-year-old daughter Bronwyn move there, Audrey becomes obsessed with the story of Tony’s grandfather, Samuel, and how he was accused of murdering Tony’s grandmother Aylish in 1946. Then, there is the 'accidental death' of Tony’s teenage sister Glenda in 1986. As Audrey explores old newspaper articles, photo’s, a diary and some old letters, might she be dabbling in family secrets that people don’t want uncovered, and putting herself and Bronwyn in the sights of a man who has been murdering for a very long time... A good read - a list of characters would have been useful. ( )

I originally bought this just because it is set in Queensland, where I live, and it had a mystery. I loved it! It made me think, it made me laugh and yes, it made me cry. The story is told across two timelines, 1940s and the present, and the two intermingle. A good read. ( )

As Australian novels goes, this was a well-received one with our group. The storyline and plot kept us interested and with believable characters and an unpredictable conclusion, it ticked all the boxes for an enjoyable read.
Opinions did vary slightly when it came to the writing style though. Some felt the descriptive passages enhanced the story, providing a clear, well-defined image of the setting. Yet others found them a little too drawn out. A classic example of how different reader interpretation can work.
At times, the parallel stories (those of Audrey and Samuel), became a little muddled and mingled, so a clear head was needed, no wandering thoughts allowed! And although there were hints scattered throughout, if you were set on working out the mystery of Thornwood House, chances are you missed the boat. We know we did!

The multiple characters and their roles within the story brought to mind a few of our past reads and we felt there was a definite formula to Romer’s writing (that of rural relationships and secrets). In saying that, most of us are keen to read her newest novel Lyrebird Hill, and we welcome this author as a new and upcoming talent on the Australian fiction scene.

This was an EXCELLENT read! A great mystery. Intertwined story of past and present had me on the edge of my seat! I admit that I figured it out... but 2nd guessed myself along the way.. Loved it - old houses, new love, old love, family secrets the making of a great book always! ( )