Over Sixty Winter 2022 Digital

WINTER 2022 | OVERSIXTY.COM.AU 28 Lee Christine Author of Crackenback L ee Christine's novel Crackenback is the second in her series featuring Detective Sergeant Pierce Ryder and the Snowy Mountains of NSW. With the first book in the series, Charlotte Pass, receiving an ARRA award for favourite romantic suspense in 2020, it's fair to say that Christine's move from romantic fiction to contemporary suspense fiction has been a resounding success. " It was a natural progression, " says Christine. " My romantic suspense novels always contained a meaty crime. As I went along, I found my crime plots becoming more intricate while there was less emphasis on the romance. Having said that, I always like the characters to care about one another, whether it's a close friend, a workmate, a family member, or someone they're interested in romantically. If the characters care about each other, then the stakes are higher. " It's no coincidence that the Snowy Mountains and its unique environment also plays a key role in her plots, as it's a place familiar to Christine from holidays in the area over many years. " I start with a place, " she says of her writing process. " The natural topography of theland, thepeople who live there, and the kind of work that they do. " Christine lives in Newcastle with her husband and her Irish WheatenTerrier, Honey. You'll find the condensed version of Crackenback in the latest release of Reader's Digest Select Editions. To join the Select Editions Club, phone 1300 300 030 or go to readersdigest.com.au/selecteditions BOOK CLUB The Queen Andrew Morton (HARDIE GRANT) The writer who so memorably detailed Diana’s private world in Diana, Her True Story , Andrew Morton now turns his attentions to Queen Elizabeth II herself, in this insightful biography. Despite praying for a younger brother to spare her from fulfilling her destiny as Britain’s future Queen, history had other plans. Now as the first monarch to reign for 70 years, Morton explores all that has shaped her remarkable life. YiayiaNext Door Daniel&LukeMancuso (with Yiayia) (PAN MACMILLAN) Brothers Daniel and Luke Mancuso tragically lost their mother to domestic violence. Amid their grief, their Greek neighbour (Yiayia) offered her love and support via home-cooked meals passed over the fence. Their special bond was documented on the popular Instagram page Yiayia Next Door. Now everyone can enjoy Yiayia’s home cooking, with this collection of traditional recipes from her kitchen and those of other Australian yiayias. Three Minutes With Spirit Cael O’Donnell (PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE) Former mental health therapist Cael O’Donnell now uses his abilities as a psychic medium to help hundreds of thousands around the world to deepen their connection to their inner self. In Three Minutes With Spirit , Australia’s number one Tiktok medium explains how exploring the three interconnected aspects of our existence – source, spirit and self – we can find true purpose and direction in life and deal with loss. French Braid Anne Tyler (PENGUIN) One of the world’s best-loved writers, Anne Tyler is doing what she does best – delving inside the intricacies and intimacies of a family across the generations, with her inimitable humour and keen observation. With her children now moved out of home, Mercy Garrett slowly removes herself from the family home into a nearby art studio apartment, and everyone in the family pretends not to notice – including her hapless husband Robin. Wake Shelley Burr (HACHETTE) In this gripping crime fiction debut, Canberran author Shelley Burr explores the impact high-profile crimes have on those left behind. When she was a girl, Mina McCreery’s sister Evelyn disappeared from the room they shared, leaving no trace, the crime becoming a favourite of true crime enthusiasts. Now a reclusive adult, Mina’s life is about to be rocked again when Lane Holland, a private investigator, asks to reinvestigate the case. James Patterson by James Patterson:The Stories ofMy Life James Patterson (PENGUIN) He’s a world renowned author with fans around the globe, so it stands to reason that when it came time to tell the story of James Patterson’s own life, he was the only man for the task. And what a life it has been! From nearly dying on the day he was born, to growing up disliking reading, to his interactions with the rich and famous, James’s autobiography is every bit as engrossing as the fiction he writes. ENTERTAINMENT