I have sat with this review for a week because I just didn't know what to write about this wonderful new novel by Kim Kelly. Every novel she writes is so distinct from the previous ones, it is always a delight to open up her book and see the words she has written transform into something wonderful. Once again this novel is entirely different, both in the way the story is told and the story itself. It is many things, a crime novel, a love story, an insight into the publishing world, a search for redemption, a story of grief. Throughout the story, there are many serendipitous moments that are seemingly unconnected to each other but show the 'small world effect' where things are interconnected in ways we may never fully be aware of. Though some of these moments seem most unlikely or too serendipitous, I loved them all the more for this reason and I loved how they were woven into the story. Depression is an eel that slips between the ribs unnoticed until it's feeding on your heart. It darts between circumstantial sense – the relationship between bad things happening and bad feelings had – and the shark shadows of every nightmarish dream, every unnameable, aching need." I read this via Pigeonhole and one of my comments was that this is a balm for tumultuous times. Right now the world is very tumultuous so this book is the perfect antidote to all of that!

Set in Australia, near Bondi Beach, we meet characters who are either in love with each other or themselves and definitely in love with what they do, whether it is writing, publishing books or acting. Courtney Parker has been open about her own mental health struggles in interviews and through her music. She has used her platform to advocate for mental health awareness and to encourage others to seek help when needed. 7. How can “Her Last Words” contribute to ending the stigma around mental health? I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.The murders will eerily connect to a cold case from fifteen years ago, a case that Felicity was researching for her next novel, Another body will turn up but is the killer close by and trying to misdirect Amanda and her partner.

There are 6 main characters in this novel, though one, Thisbe, who is murdered at the start of the novel, is the catalyst for the things that transpire for the other characters. I loved all the characters, except Jane, I hoped with everything I had that she would get what she deserved by the end of the story. I was easily able to understand or empathise with the rest of the characters and loved being part of their journey, I wanted to be there for them for the ups and the downs, the triumphs and the defeats. I love how well Arnold balances the case along with Amanda’s personal life. Her relationship with Zoe is continuing to grow, change, and adjust to everything going on around them. When the series first started, I was not a fan of Amanda’s. She wasn’t handling things very well and the risk she put on others, in addition to her own career and life, were tough to accept. But now, I’m seeing what I believe to be pieces of who Amanda was before losing Kevin and Lindsay. It’s refreshing! Her relationship with Logan is evolving, too, but deep down, I think she aligns with Trent on a deeper level.In addition to our four main protagonists, we have a side plot. Aspiring author Jane Furlow first read Darling Boy when Thisbe was alive. She had an electronic copy. She said it was a ‘bit shit’ but then once Thisbe was out of the way she decided to publish it as her own work under the name of The Wakening Maid. Asking for trouble? Dear God Jane, your attempts at plagiarism are a ‘bit shit’ aren’t they? Did it never occur to you that there might be another copy floating around somewhere.