July books of the month

20 Jul 2015

From a grieving widower caught in a tangled web with the mafia, to an adventurous young doctor headed for the outback, here are some of the newest releases to sink your teeth into.

The Homestead Girls, by Fiona McArthur, published by Penguin, RRP $32.99

Dr Billie Green decides to have a change of scenery, leaving the city for outback New South Wales with her teenage daughter, Mia, and pursuing her childhood dream of joining the Flying Doctor Service. There, she makes friends with flight nurse Daphne Prince and becomes acquainted with her handsome new boss, Morgan Blake. 

Billie and her daughter Mia move into a homestead with a grazier and an eccentric 80-year-old. Together the unlikely housemates form friendships as they tackle medical emergencies and romantic adventures together. 

The Last Four Days of Paddy Buckley, by Jeremy Massey published by Penguin, RRP $32.99

Paddy Buckley is a grieving widower in Dublin who works at funeral company Gallagher’s. One night, he accidentally hits one of the most notorious mobsters in Dublin while driving home. But the next morning, the mobster’s family comes to Gallagher’s, including Dublin’s crime boss Vincent Cullen and his entourage. When events go awry, Paddy is plunged into an unexpected eddy of intrigue, deceit and treachery. This debut novel of Jeremy Massey is a thriller, love story and black comedy all rolled in one. 

Extreme Animals by Dominic Couzens, published by New Holland, RRP $35

Did you know that the mantis shrimp can punch its way through a sheet of glass, that the bar-tailed goodwill can migrate 11,000-km non-stop from Alaska to New Zealand, or that 40 million Mexican free-tailed bats gather in a single cave in Texas?

From the biggest and smallest mammals, the highest-flying birds and insects, to the creatures that live in the hottest and coldest places, Extreme Animals is a must for all lovers of wildlife. It’s packed with a plethora of fascinating nature facts and engaging photos, taken by some of the world’s foremost nature photographers.

Varietal Wines, by James Halliday, published by Hardie Grant

Do you enjoy a decent glass of wine? Leading wine authority James Halliday has profiled 130 wine grapes and has written a history of each variety of classic, second tier and alternative varieties in this book. Each profile includes statistics, detailed information on how each wine is made, regional styles and best producer listings in both Australian and international contexts. A must-have for all wine lovers.

East: Culinary Adventures in Southeast Asia, by Leanne Kitchen and Antony Suvalko published by Hardie Grant Books, RRP $39.95

From Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos, to Indonesia, Burma and Thailand, East is a vibrant book that takes you on a wonderful journey through the authors’ personal travels in South East Asia and the beautiful recipes and meals that are encountered along the way. Filled with flavourful recipe ideas and stunning photography, East reveals a glimpse of the bold tastes, big colours and full flavours of the region.