Transit Lounge

Book title: The Maskeys by Stuart Everly-Wilson

Reviewer: Jelena Curic 

I once had a neighbour who got mad at us for dumping grass cuttings on his lawn. In the end, there were no hard feelings; we still shared a drink at the street Christmas party, he didn’t burn down our house.

In Stuart Everly-Wilson’s The Maskeys, the neighbours are the kind that you do not want to piss off, and the grass they deal with is not being dumped on anyone's yard, more kept way out in the mountains under a watchful eye.

Australian readers can’t get enough of what goes on in small country towns and especially if that town has a crime family that has a stranglehold on it. Everly-Wilson gives us a family that is so dysfunctional it makes your husband's family look normal. Characters that brim with anger and resentment, PHD’s in manipulation and control. George and Hilda Maskey watch over a family viewed with suspicion and fear. Throw into the mix: everything going sideways when Rodney, George’s bestie, a lonely soul looking for love (isn’t everyone?) who endlessly reads romance novels, is kidnapped by a group of other locals.

There is more to this book than you first think. The characters are big, bold, brash and ugly. You may not want to hang out with them, but you definitely want to know more about them.

Let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a small country town filled to the brim with gossip, crime, a Mystic (oh yes, there’s a Mystic) and romance; country style. This is a read worth your time.

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Reviewer’s bio:

Jelena Curic is a writer of literary fiction, crime and comedy. Along with writing novels, short stories and comedy pieces, she is also the resident Diva in the Croatian community singing most weekends. Her stories can be found in BAD Western Sydney and BAD Western Sydney: The Second Case, Living Stories: The Other City, Short Stories Unlimited Leaving Home Anthology, and she was short-listed for the Born Writers Award 2023 and 2024. Sing to Me is her debut novel.

Book title: Crimson Velvet Heart by Carmel Bird

Reviewer: Magda Cawthorne

Carmel Bird’s Crimson Velvet Heart reimagines the short life of Princess Marie-Adélaïde of Savoy, married at twelve to the Duke of Burgundy, grandson and heir of Louis XIV. The novel is set in the royal court of late 1600's France when the Treaty of Turin was signed to end the Nine Year War. From history, we know that at the age of eleven, Marie-Adélaïde is sent to marry the king's grandson Duke of Burgundy as part of that agreement. As a child, she dazzles King Louis XIV with her beauty and vivacity and they spend many hours together. Sadly, she died at age twenty seven from measles.

Carmel Bird combines meticulous research and imagination to bring the era, its characters and the palace of Versailles to life. The book is richly descriptive and layered. Readers who enjoy detailed historical fiction will find much to appreciate.

The friendship between Marie-Adélaïde and her companion Sister Clare add an extra layer; Clare is a quiet witness to what unfolds. But there is always a thread of discomfort running through the novel — the fascination of the 42 year old king with the 11 year old child he’s chosen as his grandson’s bride, gives the story an unsettling tone. Marie-Adélaïde dies young and that knowledge hovers over the novel from the very beginning, and gives this story a sad edge.

Crimson Velvet Heart is an incredibly interesting story, well worth telling. It is full of historical insight, giving us pause to consider how the world has changed, and asks patience from its readers, as it weaves all the threads together.

Loved reading about Crimson Velvet Heart? Imagine the impact of helping a child discover their first favourite book.

By supporting Booktober, you’re helping the next generation in Western Sydney and regional NSW find their voice - and maybe even write the books you’ll be reading in the future.

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Reviewer’s bio:

Magda Cawthorne is the author and photographer of two editions of Hidden History of the Blue Mountains. Her books reflect a fascination with the stories behind familiar places and the lives of those who came before us.

Raised in country New South Wales by first-generation migrant parents, Magda developed an early curiosity about the cultural layers that shape — and continue to shape — Australian local histories.

She is now working on a new photographic storybook about the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, alongside a contemporary novel set in a small New South Wales town in the near future. A passionate advocate for emerging writers, Australian authors, and independent publishing, Magda continues to champion diverse voices and the value of storytelling.