Sunday 3 November 2024

My Family and Other Suspects

My Family and Other Suspects by Kate Emery. Allen & Unwin October 2024. YA Crime Fiction paperback RRP $19.99. ISBN 9781760529215

Reviewed by Debra Williams

14-year-old Ruth is stuck in her step-grandmother Gertie’s home for the weekend, along with assorted relatives: her dad, half-cousin Dylan, aunties Bec and Vinka and their boyfriends (although one boyfriend is in hospital for most of the book.) Without mobile coverage or internet access, Ruth, a fan of Enola Holmes stories, digs into old Agatha Christie novels. Dylan shares her interest in crime fiction and the two have great discussions, that is, when Ruth isn’t eavesdropping on the adult’s conversations.

Gertie dies suddenly in mysterious circumstances, and Ruth and Dylan decide to investigate, suspecting foul play. The further they delve, the more secrets they discover within the family framework. With a couple of outsiders, it appears there is more than one person who would have a motive for doing away with good old Gertie. Who is hiding what? There is certainly an imposter or two. A murder does take place, but as is typical with crime fiction the reader is thrown off the scent. The impossibly handsome farmer neighbour is certainly too good to be true. And what about those boyfriends?

This is an engaging and entertaining novel for young adults. Ruth is an entirely likeable and resourceful character, and the plot has plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.

Author Kate Emery lives in Perth. She works as a senior reporter for The West Australian. Her first novel, titled The Not So Chosen One, was shortlisted for the 2020 Text Prize, the Aurealis Awards (as Best Fantasy Novel), and was longlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year Awards for older readers.

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