Staff Reviews

Maggie’s recipe for life by Maggie Beer

Available in print 

With over 200 delicious recipes and the latest scientific research, bestselling author Maggie Beer and leading Alzheimer’s researcher Professor Ralph Martins show us how to eat and live well to promote optimum brain health to help fight one of the most debilitating diseases of our later years. This second edition contains a new introduction and 13 recipes from the ABC TV series Maggie Beer’s Big Mission.

Maggie Beer and Professor Ralph Martins have teamed up to fight one of the most debilitating diseases of our later years. Based on the latest scientific research, Maggie has created more than 200 recipes that help provide the nutrients we need for optimum brain health. More than one million Australians are affected every day by Alzheimer’s, directly or indirectly, but the good news is that you can eat well to age well, from this moment on.

Not just jam by Matthew Evans

Available in print

Farmer, former chef and food critic Matthew Evans shares the art of preserving when the bounty is at its best.

This book is Fat Pig farm's ode to the surplus of the seasons. Overwhelmed by ripe fruit, or mountains of rhubarb, we have found ways to preserve what we grow, and what grows near us.

Not Just Jam is farmer Matthew Evans' collection of more than 90 modern recipes for old-fashioned preserving methods. It is for the forager, who scours the suburbs looking for fruit trees whose bounty is overlooked by others; for the cook, who wants their dishes to resonate with flavours borne from their own hands; and for anyone who is passionate about flavour.

It’s not hysteria by Dr Karen Tang

Available in print

Did you know that up to 90% of women experience menstrual abnormalities or pelvic problems in their lifetime? Yet these issues are overwhelmingly misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or dismissed. Conditions such as PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts, PMDD, or pelvic floor dysfunction, don’t receive the stream of funding for research and new treatments that other conditions do, despite affecting up to half the population.

It's Not Hysteria shares critical knowledge that anyone impacted by these conditions desperately needs. Covering everything from the anatomy and reproductive health basics you wish you learned at school, to issues such as abnormal periods, PCOS, endometriosis, and fibroids, to more complex aspects of gynaecologic care like fertility, sexual health, and hysterectomies. Dr Tang's accessible advice empowers readers to act and advocate for themselves with healthcare professionals.

Archaeology by Colin Renfrew, Paul Bahn, Elizabeth DeMarrais

Available in print

Known for being an accessible and authoritative introduction, Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice has been updated in the Ninth Edition to include new discoveries in archaeology, innovations in field and laboratory methods, as well as covering the latest developments in archaeological theory.

Collaborating with Colin Renfrew and Paul Bahn, new co-author, Elizabeth DeMarrais, updates earlier editions’ clear presentation of archaeology’s history, theory and ethics. The contributions made by women, people of colour, and Indigenous communities to the study of the human past are highlighted. New theoretical sections address Indigenous archaeology, ontology, post-colonial theory and historical archaeology. Sections on the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage and the changing role of museums are included. The Ninth Edition includes broader coverage of approaches to identity, ethnicity, and the archaeology of the modern world.

The caretaker by Gabriel Bergmoser

Available in print, large print and eAudiobook

Pushing fifty and reeling from an ugly divorce, Paul has decided it's time for an adventure. With the Bee Gees on the radio and the open road ahead, he sets out into the middle of nowhere, open to whatever comes.

But things take a sinister turn when he impulsively decides to pick up a hitchhiker. Clutching a ragged backpack with his eyes locked on the rear-view mirror, it's clear this twitchy young man is running from something. But what? And when the truth is revealed, how far will he - and Paul - go to survive?

A talent for murder by Peter Swanson

Available in print and eBook

Martha Ratliff conceded long ago that she'd likely spend her life alone. She was fine with it, happy with her solo existence, stimulated by her work as a librarian in Maine. But then she met Alan, a charming and sweet-natured salesman whose job took him on the road for half the year. When he asked her to marry him, she said yes, even though he still felt a little bit like a stranger.

A year in and the marriage was good, except for that strange blood streak on the back of one of his shirts he'd worn to a conference in Denver. Her curiosity turning to suspicion, Martha investigates the cities Alan visited over the past year and uncovers a disturbing pattern--five unsolved cases of murdered women. Is she married to a serial killer? Or could it merely be a coincidence?

Unsure what to think, Martha contacts an old friend from graduate school for advice. Lily Kintner once helped Martha out of a jam with an abusive boyfriend and may have some insight. Intrigued, Lily offers to meet Alan to find out what kind of man he really is . . .but what Lily uncovers is more perplexing and wicked than they ever could have expected.

The bell tower by R J Ellory

Available in print

Injured during a drug bust, Deputy Garrett Nelson finds himself out of the Sheriff's Department. Uncertain of his future, he takes a job at a Florida Penitentiary. Situated on the grounds of an old Spanish mission, the bell tower is now an execution chamber.

After a dangerous manhunt for escaped convicts through the Everglades, Nelson's belief in the justice system is tested to the limit. In a heartbreaking conflict of duty versus conscience, he must decide whether he's willing to let the State execute an innocent man or risk his own life and family in order to find the truth.

The mercy chair by M W Craven

Available in print and eAudiobook

Washington Poe has a story to tell. And he needs you to listen. You'll hear how it started with the robber birds. Crows. Dozens of them. Enough for a murder . . . He'll tell you about a man who was tied to a tree and stoned to death, a man who had tattooed himself with a code so obscure, even the gifted analyst Tilly Bradshaw struggled to break it. He'll tell you how the man's murder was connected to a tragedy that happened fifteen years earlier when a young girl massacred her entire family. And finally, he'll tell you about the mercy chair. And why people would rather kill themselves than talk about it . . . Poe hopes you've been paying attention. Because in this story, nothing is as it seems . . .

The ski trip by Sarah Clarke

Available in print and eAudiobook

When four friends embark on a boys’ skiing holiday in the Alps, they anticipate a weekend of fun, drinking, and some healthy competition on the slopes. But their trip is cut short when one of them falls to his death.

A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT… Tom’s widow, Zoe travels to France with her friend, Ivy to collect his body. While Zoe is consumed by grief, Ivy starts to question everything. OR COLD-BLOODED MURDER? The slope Tom fell from wasn’t dangerous, and tensions between the group were at breaking point in the days before his death.

But if Ivy’s suspicions are correct, Tom was killed by one of his closest friends. And they are still in the chalet…

Back Roads: the great Aussie road trip by Heather Ewart

Available in print and eBook

There's no better way to see this vast country of ours than by hitting roads along the coastline, or heading inland to the mountains, deserts and wide, open plains. As host of ABC TV's Back Roads, Heather Ewart has travelled thousands of kilometres over a multitude of routes - some bitumen, some little more than rough dirt tracks - to bring a taste of life beyond the cities to viewers.

At a time when Australians are embracing the country they live in and wanting to explore our richly diverse landscapes more than ever, Heather has some fabulous suggestions to get you started. From the dusty Oodnadatta Track to the spectacular Great Alpine Road to byways along the sparkling and pristine topaz waters around Esperance, Heather's road trips reflect her own distinct experience and come with personal tips on getting the best out of your journey.

You'll learn what sites are a must-see, where to find the town characters, when the festivals and big events are on and what preparations she considers essential. While no selection can do justice to the glorious uniqueness of Australia, Heather's recommendations, across all our states, showcase some absolute ripper road trips, along with some well-kept secrets.

So what are you waiting for? Get planning and get cracking. Pack your bags and your swags. Load your vans, fuel up, and let Heather take you across the country to discover the jewels she knows about and ones the locals wouldn't want you to miss.

The secret life of flying by Captain Jeremy Burfoot

Available in print and eAudiobook

How does a plane stay up in the air?
Does the Mile-High Club actually exist?
When you flush the toilet, where does it all go?

Buckle up for some turbulence because nothing flies under the radar for Captain Jeremy Burfoot.

With more than 35 years of airline experience, the former Qantas pilot presents an Airbus-load of stories about unruly passengers and cockpit clashes, and expertly navigates the bizarre myths surrounding everyday air travel. He explains important details like why plane wings actually bend, which in-flight surfaces carry the most germs and how to make plane food taste better.

Jam-packed with hilarity, horror stories and honest insights, The Secret Life of Flying is part memoir and part guide to the skies - a razor-sharp and First Class read for anyone who has ever wondered who's really flying the plane ...

Staying healthy when you travel by Dr Jane Wilson-Howarth

Available in print

This essential travel book is filled with over 300 pages that will prepare you for anything! Staying Healthy When You Travel is your must-have guide to staying healthy while you travel abroad, with practical advice on what to do if sickness strikes, including case histories that provide detailed, real-life perspectives. Learn how to prepare for healthy travel and avoid common ailments like bug bites, upset stomach, diarrhea, viruses, and more.

Author Dr. Jane Wilson-Howarth is an expert in parasitology, vector ecology, and child health, and she's also travelled around the world to treat the sick. In this updated edition she condenses all her years of medical experience into this incredibly helpful guide that's packed with international travel tips and crucial case histories, advice on immunizations and other precautions to take, tables and maps that match disease risk to countries, health tips to protect yourself from insects and worms, and so much more.

Before you prepare to travel in a post-COVID world and head to the airport, do your research with Staying Healthy When You Travel, and you'll be good to go!

Off the leash in Australia by Shandos Cleaver

Available in print

Planning on travel with your dog can be very stressful; whether you've already taken a few trips with your dog or you're looking for the best place to begin, this book will provide information on the top destinations in each state, with recommended pet-friendly accommodation, sightseeing, nature experiences and bucket list trips you can do with your pooch.

With a sleek design and heaps of practical information and helpful overview maps, Off the Leash in Australia will help you find inspiration for daytrips or longer adventures that will make for lasting memories with your favourite furry family member.

Tigga Mac's cake hacks by Tegan MacCormack and Katie Scoble

Available in print 

If you need inspiration and instruction, look no further than Tigga Mac’s Cake Hacks from the Aussie cake artist adored across social media.

From frogs to mermaids, sandcastles to ice-cream trucks, you’re sure to find something your little one will LOVE in this colourful collection of cake creations with its six themed chapters.

No baking skills (or big budget!) needed. You can make these creations with affordable shop-bought sponge cakes or homemade ones. Simply follow Tigga’s step-by-step decorating instructions from start to finish, all accompanied by clear photography and a full-page shot of the finished cake to guide you. The hacks are graded, so you can choose one that suits your skills, time and ambitions. And for the more challenging cakes, QR codes will lead you to follow-along video tutorials to help you on your path to birthday cake glory!

Tigga is loved by millions for her joyful energy, easy-going vibe and down-to-earth creativity. Written with longtime friend and business partner, Katie Scoble, Tigga has designed this book with parents and caregivers in mind to make the process of creating a celebration cake straightforward, foolproof – and fun!

The fishmonger’s son by Anthony Yotis and Laura di Florio Yotis

Available in print

What is the best type of fish to use for a curry or stir-fry or to cook on the barbecue? What should we look for when buying fresh fillets at the supermarket or fishmonger? What are the foolproof techniques for shucking oysters and peeling prawns?

Anthony Yotis and Laura di Florio Yotis know good seafood, and they know how to make it more accessible for home cooks. Anthony is the son of fishmonger Konstantinos Yotis, who ran a legendary seafood stall at Footscray's wholesale market for more than 40 years. Together with his wife Laura, Anthony has brought those years of expertise to their shop, and now to their debut cookbook.

The Fishmonger's Son is an invaluable collection of information, advice and recipes based on the most popular fish and shellfish to cook at home. It includes general cooking, storage and preparation tips, plus 70 delicious family recipes, from burgers, bao and tacos to pies, pasta and more.

This is the ultimate home cook's guide to buying, preparing and cooking the incredible seafood we have available in Australia.

KLIM by Michael Klim

Available in print

As one of Australia's most celebrated athletes, Michael Klim's impact extends far beyond the pool.

Klim's journey to greatness began behind the Iron Curtain, in communist-era Poland. His family made a bid for freedom in the 1980s and immigrated to Australia, where swimming became his passport into a new culture and eventually led him to become one of his adopted country's great sporting heroes.

His crowning moment came at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where he captured the hearts of millions with his gold medal performances and world record-breaking swims.

But being a champion athlete does not come without personal challenges. Beyond his achievements in the pool, Klim's life has been equally compelling. Through transitions in the business world, family life and major health trials, his natural buoyancy kept him afloat - until he faced a crisis that forced him to reassess his life and fight for his future.

From the heights of Olympic glory to the depths of personal adversity, KLIM is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance and the unsinkable human spirit.

A very French affair by Maria Hoyle

Available in print and eBook

What do you say when a man you've dated a handful of times asks you to go live with him in a mill by a river in France? The obvious answer is: 'Are you out of your mind?' Maria Hoyle's was: 'Okay.'

At the age of 63 she left her life in Auckland - her two daughters, her dog, her friends, a beautiful rental by a beach, and everything she'd loved for more than two decades - to settle in a tiny French village with a partner she barely knew. What could possibly go wrong?

Maria arrived in the remote hamlet with trepidation but also a little bravado - after all, with a degree in French, she was confident about communicating with the locals. And yes - that part was mostly fine (apart from some amusing faux pas). The true challenges were learning to communicate with her new partner, Alistair (they were smitten with each other, but also sitting on a pile of baggage and emotional wounds) and adapting to life in rural France when her idea of a great day out was shopping, lunch in a bustling café and a movie.

Does Maria have it in her to persevere? To make good friends and truly feel at home? Crucially, is she making another terrible romantic mistake - or is she finally growing and learning what it means to move beyond the infatuation stage and make a relationship work?

Maria's tale is about grabbing life with both hands whatever your age, what it means to belong, the joys and frustrations of French living, and why you should always look closely at a map before emigrating. Ultimately, though, it is a story about the greatest adventure of all. Love.

How to not work forever by Natasha Etschmann and Ana Kresina

Available in print 

If you want to live your dream life tomorrow, you need to make the right investing choices today.

If money wasn’t an issue, how would your life be different? The truth is that relying solely on your day job won't guarantee a life free from financial stress. The average nine-to-five might pay your bills, but there’s a gap you need to fill if you want to get to a financially free lifestyle you love. The key is to start investing: start small, and start now. The good news? It’s not as hard as you think! With How to Not Work Forever, you’ll discover how to make your money go further and grow faster — by investing in shares and ETFs.

How to Not Work Forever breaks down the info and tools you need to keep up with inflation and grow your wealth. Tash (aka @tashinvests) and Ana, money experts and hosts of the popular Get Rich Slow Club podcast, walk you step-by-step through setting your goals and getting started in the sharemarket. They share simple, practical advice that can help you create long-term financial freedom — the kind of freedom that lets you seize new opportunities and embrace a life that fulfils you.

Through hands-on strategies and real-world stories, you’ll discover how and what to buy, when to sell, and how to handle taxes and fees.

Take control of your money today. If you want to secure your financial freedom and future-proof your life, this is the book for you. In How to Not Work Forever, Tash and Ana make investing easy to understand and simple to action. You’ll learn how to make a plan, start investing, and build a life you love.

How to Not Work Forever is authored by general advice accredited financial educators.

Become a resilient teen with passion and purpose by Sharon Witt

Available in regular print 

Navigating the teenage years can be tricky, and sometimes overwhelming. This book encourages you to unleash your amazing potential, empowering you with practical strategies to embrace failure, cultivate a positive self-image, and harness the transformative power of resilience and goal setting.

Sharon Witt has been a secondary educator for three decades and is a highly sought-after media commentator on issues impacting young people, parenting and educational issues

Work backwards: The revolutionary method to work smarter and live better by Tim Duggan

Available in regular print and eBook 

Something’s about to break, and if we don’t change direction soon, it’s going to be us.

It doesn’t matter in which industry or where: too many of us are overworked, disengaged and apprehensive about the future of work. In his life-affirming new book, bestselling author and founder Tim Duggan argues that we approach work and life the wrong way around.

Fuelled by a powerful realignment that’s questioning the way we traditionally think about and interact with our workplaces, in Work Backwards you’ll discover:

• Why reversing your thinking can have such an oversized impact
• The four things you need to live a full life right now
• How to easily reset your life–work balance
• How to use tools like remote, hybrid and flexible work properly
• Expert guidance from the world’s leading work and happiness researchers
• A new army of people who are rethinking their relationship with work

It’s time to advantage of this once-in-a-generations opportunity to reverse your thinking and reclaim your life from work.

Unreasonable hospitality: the remarkable power of giving people more than they expect by Will Guidara

Available in regular print 

Learn the surprising power of delivering beyond your customers' expectations.

Will Guidara was twenty-six when he took the helm of Eleven Madison Park, a struggling New York City two-star brasserie that had never quite lived up to its majestic room. Eleven years later, EMP was named the best restaurant in the world.

How did Guidara pull off this unprecedented transformation? Radical reinvention, a true partnership between the kitchen and the dining room—and memorable, over-the-top, bespoke hospitality. Guidara’s team surprised a family who had never seen snow with a magical sledding trip to Central Park after their dinner; they filled a private dining room with sand, complete with Mai-Tais and beach chairs, to console a couple with a cancelled vacation. And his hospitality extended beyond those dining at the restaurant to his own team, who learned to deliver praise and criticism with intention; why the answer to some of the most pernicious business dilemmas is to give more—not less; and the magic that can happen when a busser starts thinking like an owner.

Today, every business can choose to be a hospitality business—and we can all transform ordinary transactions into extraordinary experiences. Featuring sparkling stories of his journey through restaurants, with the industry’s most famous players like Daniel Boulud and Danny Meyer, Guidara urges us all to find the magic in what we do—for ourselves, the people we work with, and the people we serve.

AI: game on : how to decide who or what decides : leveraging the predictive power of artificial intelligence for your organisation by Tim Trumper

Available in regular print

AI: Game On is written for today’s business leaders who seek to understand how AI can be leveraged for increased sustainability, improved competitive positioning and/or to drive better customer, shareholder and societal outcomes.  The aim of AI: Game On is to help business leaders thrive in a world that is more data-driven and AI-directed, providing readers with frameworks, methods, and real examples of constructive, ethical governance of AI deployment as well as harmful models which organisations and society must avoid.

AI: Game On attacks the vexing and strategic dilemma for directors and executives whose job is to “decide who or what decides”.  The book answers the questions of how and why an organisation would, and could, delegate decisions to AI and explores the consequences of such decision making.   AI: Game On strives to make sense of the trade-offs between decisions of AI and/or decisions of humans.  

AI: Game On is jam-packed with compelling use cases demonstrating how AI can break through complex and difficult business problems to create opportunities for the world that were unimaginable only twelve months ago.  Insights from AI: Game On will prove both valuable and advantageous for leaders in commercial, government or not-for-profit sectors alike.

Hand Lettering for Happiness: An Introduction to Hand Lettering & Calligraphy Techniques—Designed to Spark Joy! by Brenna Jordan

Available in regular print 

Hand letter your way to happiness with these 50 joyful projects that highlight uplifting quotes and provide a variety of techniques to learn and practice.

Learn intricate designs and styles as you invite joy into your life with Hand Lettering for Happiness. Here, you’ll learn how to illustrate beautiful pieces of art alongside quotes and affirmations all about happiness. Hand letter with intention as you hone in on the meaning behind blissful quotes and internalize the messaging behind positive affirmations.

From wreathes and accents to bolding, banners, leaves, and more you’ll practice tracing beautiful, handcrafted pieces of art before creating the personalized final project on your own paper—or use the blank pages with designed frames at the end of the book to create art you can keep forever or gift to loved ones! In today’s hectic world, it’s more important than ever to slow down, and what better way to do so than to spend time making each detail perfect on happy quotes and beautiful affirmations that you’ll want to frame and hang on your wall.

Library staff can assist you on your quest for your next favourite read - don't hesitate to ask! Step into a world of endless possibilities - visit mildura.vic.gov.au/libraries - telephone 5018 8350 – or drop in to browse the shelves for ideas at your local library.

Heroic animals by Clare Balding

Available in print

100 of the most heroic, inspirational (and sometimes hilarious) animals from history. There is no such thing as an ordinary animal. Every one has a heroic story to tell. Discover how:

• Able Seacat Simon rescued the crew of HMS Amethyst
• Bobby the Wonder Dog crossed a continent to find his family
• Gallipoli Murphy carried 250 wounded soldiers to safety
• Pickles tracked down the stolen World Cup
• And the Tamworth Two managed to save their bacon

Clare Balding's stories of daring, courageous, remarkable creatures who changed our world for the better: from the dog that inspired Lassie to the bear that fought the Nazis.

The Suitcase Baby: the heartbreaking true story of a shocking crime in 1920s Sydney by Tanya Bretherton

Available in print

SYDNEY, 1923: a suitcase washed up on a harbourside beach reveals its grisly contents - and from there, an extraordinary story unfolds.

True history that is both shocking and too real, this unforgettable tale moves at the pace of a great crime novel.

In the early hours of Saturday morning, 17 November 1923, a suitcase was found washed up on the shore of a small beach in the Sydney suburb of Mosman. What it contained - and why - would prove to be explosive.

The murdered baby in the suitcase was one of many dead infants who were turning up in the harbour, on trains and elsewhere. These innocent victims were a devastating symptom of the clash between public morality, private passion and unrelenting poverty in a fast-growing metropolis.

Police tracked down Sarah Boyd, the mother of the suitcase baby, and the complex story and subsequent murder trial of Sarah and her friend Jean Olliver became a media sensation. Sociologist Tanya Bretherton masterfully tells the engrossing and moving story of the crime that put Sarah and her baby at the centre of a social tragedy that still resonates through the decades.

The Devil's butterfly: hunting Australia's first serial killer by Jason K. Foster

Available in print

From goldfields to gallows – the international manhunt for Australia’s first serial killer.

The Devil’s Butterfly is the harrowing true story of the killer conman, Frank Butler, whose deception and duplicity sent the colony of New South Wales into a state of fear and panic.

Advertising in the Sydney papers, the charismatic Butler lured his prey towards the western goldfields with exaggerated tales of untold wealth and riches.

Five men answered, three men went missing.

Fearing capture and searching for new killing grounds, Butler flees Australia, headed for San Francisco.

Two detectives, certain they are hunting Australia’s first ‘true’ serial killer, steam across the Pacific on a speedier ship. A third detective traverses the globe, racing to America via London.

Desperate to reach San Francisco before a sociopathic killer disappears once again; will they capture their man or will the now notorious Butler escape forever?

Pain hustlers by Evan Hughes

Available in print

John Kapoor had already made a small fortune in pharmaceuticals when he developed a highly potent fentanyl-based painkiller that was as addictive as it was effective. Desperate to make the most of his new drug, he brought together an ambitious, persuasive and relentless group of young recruits who were willing to do anything to profit from this seemingly life-changing medicine.

This is the inside story of hustlers turned millionaires and a shocking exposé of how opioids entered the national bloodstream.