When my friend was clearing out an old storeroom at her workplace, she found a huge number of books tucked away out of sight. Rather than see them thrown out, I kindly offered to adopt them all for BookCrossing.

er since this book made it to the top of my to-read list, I've had the song 'A Town Called Malice' by the Jam in my head!

Anyway, that's nothing to do with the book, and just the weird way my head works!

I started reading this and at first my heart sank - when a book appears on so many recommended reading lists, there are such high hopes for it, but the first chapter is monotonous and I struggled to get through it. Luckily, it was the only reading material on hand and so I soldiered on. Once Noel tracks down Jean and her story starts to unfold, it becomes compulsive reading.

For me, the first half of the book is the more interesting - Jean's struggles in Malay, shuffled around the island by the Japanese, not quite a POW, but not allowed to go free. The sad, needless deaths of the women and children wasn't always easy to read, but the whole episode in her life was far more interesting than her stint in Australia.

There were a couple of niggles, hence why no top marks - the reader ends up being a little removed from the action, as t eh story is told 2nd hand through the solicitor's words rather than from Jeans. You end up wondering how much was actually true, or what he'd interpreted wrong.

And Joe's constant repetition of phrases to make him seem more Australian ..... just annoying!

But overall, a good read, that I'm glad I picked up.

Here's hoping a different song will now get stuck in my head

Sent as an extra surprise RABCK to a fellow bookcrosser - hope you enjoy it.

Thank you for sending this lovely extra surprise :)

I really enjoyed this, although it made uncomfortable reading at times. It was a surprisingly quick read, quite a page turner for me.

Thanks again for sharing - I will find a new home for this one as soon as I can

Travelling again as part of Greenbadgers monthly giveaway. Hope you enjoy it x

Received yesterday. Thank you sparkish for offering this in the One a Month RABCK.

Pity I didn’t find time to read this one. Sending it to another bookcrosser to release at the NZ Uncon.

In the Waiheke UC book bag given to me yesterday at the meetup. Another classic Aussie novel! and a well-travelled vintage edition to boot. I read this years ago and really liked it. In the travel bag it goes!

Left on the bookshelf at our accommodation in the heart of Oneroa.

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