00:09 PROGRAM ID
Take a look. Take a look inside the book. Take a look...
00:24 Frances
Hello and welcome to Hear This. I'm Frances Keyland and you're listening to the Vision Australia Library show. Today we have a special tribute to a wonderful Australian author who's recently, unfortunately passed away. And some samples of some reader recommended books. I hope you enjoy the show.
I wanted to start off today with a tribute to the wonderful Kerry Greenwood, who we sadly lost very recently. So Kerry Isobel Greenwood was born in 1954 and passed away 26th of March, 2025. Not only was she an author, she was also a lawyer and she wrote many plays and books, most notably probably most famous for a string of historical detective novels centred on the character of Phryne Fisher, which was adapted as the popular television series Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. Kerry was a very Melbourne person. She grew up in Footscray and lived most of her life in the Inner West. She began writing books at 16, but remained unpublished.
In 1988, she entered one of her eight novels for the Vogel Prize, and, although not successful, one of the judges offered her a contract for two detective novels and Cocaine Blues. Her first book in the Phryne Fisher series was published in 1989, so I thought I'd start off with a sample of the very first of the Phryne Fisher books. The Honourable Phryne Fisher, bored with her partying lifestyle in London, sets her sights on Melbourne, Australia, where she meets the beautiful Russian dancer Sasha Delis. From then on, it's all cocaine and communism - until her adventure reaches its steamy end in the Turkish baths of Little Lonsdale Street.
Let's hear a sample of Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood. It's narrated by Deirdre Rubinstein.
02:16 Deirdre Rubinstein
The glass in the French window shattered. The guests screamed over. The general exclamation could be heard the shrill shriek of Madame Sinclair, the wife of the ambassador, sir. Me? Bijou. Phryne Fisher stood quietly and groped for a cigarette lighter. So far the evening had been tedious. After the strenuous preparations for what was admittedly the social event of the year. The dinner had been a culinary masterpiece, but the conversation had been boring. She had been placed between a retired Indian colonel and an amateur cricketer. The colonel had confined himself to a few suitable comments on the food, but Bobby could recite his bowling figures for each county match for two years and did.
Then the lights had gone out and the window had smashed. Anything that interrupted the wisdom of the country house matches was a good thing, thought Franey, and found the lighter. The scene revealed in the flickering light was confused. The young women, who usually screamed were screaming. Finney's father was bellowing at Franny's mother. This too was normal. Several gentlemen had struck matches and one had pulled the bell. Franey pushed her way to the door and slipped into the front hall, where the fuse box door hung open and pulled down. The switch marked main. A flood of light restored everyone except the most gin soaked to their senses, and Madame Sinclair, clutching melodramatically at her throat, found that her diamond necklace, reputed to contain some of the stones from the Tsarina's collar, was gone.
03:57 Frances Keyland
And that was Cocaine Blues, Part One of the Phryne Fisher series by Kerry Greenwood. Kerry is [spells author's name]. And that book goes for 6.5 hours. Kerry Greenwood was one of the founding members of Sisters in Crime, and she was only 70 when she passed away. I'm reading from the Sisters in Crime website here, so...
Her prodigious output has included over 60 novels, plus plays and nonfiction works, including 23 Miss Fisher novels and seven novels in her delicious Corinna Chapman Baker Sleuth series. Vice president of Sisters in Crime Lindy Cameron and Carmel Shute, the secretary of Sisters in Crime, wrote that they were both privileged to attend Kerry's funeral in Yarraville, with a wake in nearby Seddon in the western suburbs. She was farewelled with magnificent singing and then quite a bit of eating and drinking.
For more about Kerry's remarkable life, you can read Sisters in Crime's Tribute, and you can also send your tributes to Carmel Shute. If you've got any memories of Kerry, or if you would just like to have a few words to leave about the impact that Kerry's books have had on your life, even if it's just, you know, a memorable time of reading a book on holiday, anything like that, I'm sure that will be most appreciated. So if you wanted to just write a little bit of a tribute or a bit of acknowledgement of Kerry Greenwood, the email for Carmel Shute is Admin at Sisters in Crime dot org. That's admin at Sisters in Crime.
So I thought I would also play a sample of the first book in the Corinna Chapman series, which is Earthly Delights. Banking is an alchemical process for Corinna Chapman. At 4 a.m. she starts work at Earthly Delights, her bakery in Calico Alley. But one morning Corinna receives a threatening note saying the wages of sin is death and finds a syringe in her cat's paw. A blue faced junkie has collapsed in the dark alley, and a mysterious man with beautiful eyes appears with a plan for Corinna and her bread. Then it is Goth's dead drug addicts, witchcraft, a homeless boy and a missing girl. And it seems she will never get those muffins cooked in time with flair, chutzpah and a talent for kneading. Corinna Chapman will find out who exactly is threatening her life and bake some beautiful bread.
Let's hear a sample of Earthly Delights by Kerry Greenwood. This one is also narrated by Deirdre Rubinstein.
06:43 Deirdre Rubinstein
4 a.m.. Who invented 4 a.m.? I dragged myself out of bed, slapped at the alarm, thrust bare feet into slipper wards, stood on what felt like a furry rope and was rewarded with a yowl. Oh, shit. Horatio was waiting politely at my bedside to deliver his morning greeting, and I had just begun the day with a bad deed. Merry would frown at the effect on my karma. Of course, if Horatio didn't insist on sitting in my slippers, it might cut down the number of times this happened and the consequent karmic debt. I'll probably come back as a mouse. And that would be on my good days.
Suppressing an unworthy thought that he carefully positioned his tail so that I would stand on it, and then spend ten minutes apologising to him. I spent ten minutes apologizing to him. Poor Kitty. Did the big fat woman stomp on his innocent stripey tail? I would see if a little milk would assuage his sense of insult. It did. While Horatio was giving the milk his reverent, devoted attention. I had time to flick on the heater, put on the coffee, without which no baker ever commences the day. Survey the squalor of my small stone flagged kitchen. Shiver a bit and drag on some clothes.
I tend to dress in the kitchen because there is no heating in my bedroom until the ovens come on automatically at four. I had heard the fans cut in as I shut off the alarm clock. Not a pretty sight on a cold, dark morning. A baker, long mousy, hair tied back ruthlessly. Face entirely devoid of makeup, eyes dark ringed as a result of waking when all others are sleeping. Thin faces look skeletal at this hour. Fat face is like an illustration in a textbook on forensic pathology under the heading Adipocere.
08:41 Frances Keyland
That was a sample of Earthly Delights by Kerry Greenwood, the first in the Corinna Chapman series of books. And that book goes for 8.5 hours. So an author. If you haven't tried, you might like to embark on, or if you have tried and loved, they might be really nice to revisit though it is very sad that. So vale Kerry Greenwood.
Now to a couple of reader recommended - and thank you to Karen from... for your recommendation for the book Through Ice and Fire - the adventures, science and people behind Australia's famous icebreaker Aurora australis. This is by Sarah Laverick. The wild and desolate expanses of Antarctica have been the setting for many famous exploits and misadventures, a place where every decision has life or death consequences. Legendary explorers such as Shackleton, Mawson and Scott continued to inspire to this day, and their faithful ships, the endurance, Aurora and Terra Nova are vivid characters in their fateful voyages of discovery.
The first and only Australian-built Antarctic flagship, Aurora Australis and her crews have likewise secured a place in Antarctic history. This is the thirty-year story of Aurora Australis and her diverse charges crew, technicians, scientists, explorers, writers and artists. It's the tale of a problem plagued construction to devastating fires, a crippling besetment in ice and a blizzard induced grounding in Antarctica. It tells of brave rescue missions of other ships and their grateful crews, and of the heroic administering of medical help while battling life threatening temperatures and hurricane force winds.
This is a tale of engineering brilliance, team tenacity, and human resilience. It brings polar research to life and unveils stunning scientific discoveries. It transforms the Aurora australis into a compelling character in Australia's chapter of Antarctic history, and makes heroes of the men and women who have guided her through the most inhospitable seascapes on earth. Let's hear a sample of Through Ice and Fire - the adventures, science and people behind Australia's famous icebreaker Aurora Australis. It's written by Sarah Laverick and it's narrated by Fiona McLeod.
11:13 Fiona McLeod
The Aurora australis and her crew had just begun a busy day delivering cargo at Mawson Station. The bright orange ship, nestled comfortably within the arms of Horseshoe Harbour and the inhabitants of the colourful buildings dotting the rocky Antarctic hillside, supervised the resupply operations with interest. The aurora's cranes danced over the ship brightly, punctuating the overcast sky as they feverishly lifted heavy pallets onto barges waiting patiently beside the icebreaker. The squat craft motored back and forth across the steel water to the snow speckled granite shores of the station, where a shore crane eagerly took possession of the valuable bounty.
But a slight breeze that had begun to ripple the water at lunchtime soon intensified to a gale that sent wavelets and spray whipping across the harbour, bringing the hectic operations to a halt late in the afternoon. A blizzard was coming. The crew and Expeditioners packed up their equipment, and the cranes and barges were stowed for the day. Their efforts had already paid off. The ship and shore teams had managed to unload a large portion of the precious stores that would see Mawson Station through the harsh, dark months of the approaching Antarctic winter of 2016.
It had been a good day. That evening, the auroras complement lined up for their well-earned dinner in the ship's mess. The room slowly filled with buzzing chatter and the chink of cutlery on plates. And someone pointed out that snow was now swirling against the portholes. Unperturbed, the 68 people on board continued their evening's business.
12:59 Frances Keyland
That was Through Ice and Fire - the adventures, science and people behind Australia's famous icebreaker Aurora Australis by Sarah Laverick. And that goes for 12 hours. Sarah is spelt [spells author's name]. Thank you, Karen, for that recommendation. And Karen wrote in an email that the term Triumph over adversity is a great way to describe this really interesting story of our beloved Aurora Australis. And Karen mentions she was very fortunate a long while ago to see her moored at the harbourside in Hobart. A really orange and unusual looking ship. Thank you, Karen, for that. And thank you for continuing to listen to the show and recommend books. It's lovely of you.
The next recommendation is... definitely a challenging book. It is Evil in the Suburbs, another nonfiction book by Cindy Wockner and Detective Michael Porta. The book will be difficult for some people to read, so just be aware... yeah. In August 2000, a gang of guys just lured 12 victims from train stations and via the internet in a series of planned attacks. These cases caused volatile debate about race and religion in Australia, and the cases have focused attention on multiculturalism and have split the Muslim Christian communities of Western Sydney.
Andrew recommended this book and in his email he wrote... Somehow Sydney never got over this. And he says it's also a book about the backdrop to Western Sydney and life in the dangerous area of Bankstown and the violent crime that was around there. So this book tells the full story of each of the cases - beginning with the first case, which occurred just as Sydney was dressing up for the 2000 Olympics. Michael Porta was the detective who worked with the writer, Cindy Wockner. And I thought it does come with a lot of warnings, but it sounds like a really interesting book.
And there is a conversation that Richard Fidler conducted with Cindy Wockner about this book. So if you're kind of thinking, should I read it or not, you might want to test yourself by listening to that interview with Cindy Wockner. Cindy is a senior reporter at the ABC based in Southern Queensland newsroom in Toowoomba. She previously served as the network investigations editor at News Corporation Newspapers in Australia, and has worked as a foreign correspondent. And she's co-authored three books: The Past and the Painter, Bali Nine and Evil in the Suburbs. So let's hear a sample of Evil in the Suburbs by Cindy Wockner and Michael Porta. It's narrated by Hamish Monckton.
15:54 Hamish Monckton
Natalie Vickers opened her eyes. The last vestiges of darkness were fading, and a brilliant dawn was promising to awaken the city. If she closed her eyes and kept them shut, perhaps she would not have to face the day. Perhaps the dawn would be suspended in half darkness. This was one day Natalie did not want to face. Dreaded facing. Couldn't bear facing. She had spent the night in tears, hardly sleeping a wink. But as the half light invaded her cocoon, the 18 year old realised the time had come. She could not put it off any longer. And besides, she owed it to so many people to drag herself out of bed.
But what was she going to wear? It seemed her wardrobe, despite its abundance of clothes, never had just the right outfit. In a mood already brought on by stress and lack of sleep, she whinged to her mother, annoyed that her mind was being plagued by such a petty drama when she had so much else going on. Red. Where? Red. It's a power colour, her mother suggested helpfully. Of course. Wear red, Natalie told herself. Why hadn't she thought of that herself? She needed to be powerful for the day ahead, and she needed her appearance to reflect that power, even if deep down, all she really felt was a mixture of fear and indignation, bile rising in her throat.
She tried to forget why she was getting dressed, as she chose a bright red shirt, black pants and jacket from her wardrobe. After showering, she meticulously put on each garment as though she were dressing for the job interview or performance of her life Before leaving the apartment, Natalie ensured she had her good luck charm with her. It was just a simple card printed for the funeral of her former boyfriend, who had been tragically killed. But it was much more than that. She knew that more than ever before. Today, she would need the comfort and solace that the poignant card brought her.
17:57 Frances Keyland
And that was Evil in the Suburbs by Cindy Wockner. Cindy is [spells author's name]. And that book goes for nine hours and 45 minutes. Evil in the Suburbs was originally published in 2010, and that is the only book we have by this... investigative reporter in the collection. And if you want to listen to that In Conversation, you can just go to ABC. And just in the search box, you can probably search... just by Cindy's surname. Wockner. Thank you, Andrew, for that very challenging but interesting slice of Australia's not-so-great bit of history there, but still very current.
Another writer that recently passed away is Mario Vargas Llosa. He was born in 1936 and recently passed away. And we've got a couple of books by him in the collection. He was a Peruvian novelist, essayist and aspiring politician who was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 2010. His books, published in the 60s, firmly established him as one of the leading authors of what came to be known as the magic realism school of writers. He also developed a comic vein, most evident in Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter, which was published in 1977.
At a very young age, he was working as a crime reporter on a daily newspaper, and at 19 he eloped with his much older aunt by marriage, Julia, whom he married in 1955. And that's where his novel Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter came about. William Boyd wrote the screenplay for this 1990 film, which starred Peter Falk, Keanu Reeves and Barbara Hershey, and in The Guardian obituary, they say... He wrote extensively also for the theatre and acted in several of his own plays. And he once said in an interview, when asked what he thought would make a suitable epigraph for him, and he said he lived life to the full and loved literature above all else.
So let's play a sample of Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter. Ribald, sophisticated tale of life and love in Lima in the 1950s, told from the viewpoint of 18 year old Mario. Reality merges with fantasy as Mario's sexy, sophisticated older aunt Julia, now divorced, seeks a new mate who can support her in high style. She finds instead her libidinous nephew, and their affair shocks both family and community. Mario's success at writing and romance contrasts with the fortunes of Pedro Camacho, the protagonist of the other half of the story, who is a devoted but declining author of radio soap operas. Let's hear a sample of Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter by Mario Vargas Llosa. It's narrated by Stanley Magee.
20:59 Stanley Magee
I was very young and lived with my grandparents in a villa with white walls in the calle in Miraflores. I was studying at the University of San Marcos law, as I remember. Resigned to earning myself a living later on by practicing a liberal profession. Although deep down what I really wanted was to become a writer someday. I had a job with a pompous sounding title, a modest salary, duties as a plagiarist, and flexible working hours. News director of Radio Panamericana. It consisted of cutting out interesting news items that appeared in the daily papers and rewriting them slightly so that they could be read on the air during the newscasts.
My editorial staff was limited to Pasquale, a youngster who slicked down his hair with quantities of brilliantine and loved catastrophes. There were one minute news bulletins every hour on the hour, except for those at noon and at 9 p.m., which were 15 minutes long. But we were able to prepare several of the one minute hourly ones ahead of time, so that I was often out of the office for long stretches at a time. Drinking coffee in one of the cafes on La Colmena, going to class now and again, or dropping in at the offices of Radio Central. All was much livelier than the ones where I worked.
The two radio stations belonged to the same owner and were next door to each other on the Calle Belém, just a few steps away from the Plaza San Martin. The two of them bore no resemblance whatsoever to each other, I rather like those sisters in tragic drama, one of whom has been born with every possible grace and the other with every possible defect. What was most noticeable was the contrast between them.
22:40 S2
And that was Aunt Julia and the scriptwriter by Mario Vargas Llosa. So three words... [spells author's name]. And that book goes for 14 hours and 20 minutes. And the other novel that we have in the collection by this author is Death in the Andes, published in 1993, nearly 20 years after Aunt Julia. And it's been called both a fascinating detective novel and an insightful political allegory of Peruvian society.
Now to author Anna Mazzola and her novel The Book of Secrets. This is historical mystery and this book is up for an award. Rome, 1659 - months after the plague has ravaged the city, men are still dying in unnatural numbers, and rumour has it that their corpses do not decay as they should. The papal authorities commission prosecutor Stefano Bracci to investigate, telling him he will need considerable metal to reach the truth. To the west of the Tiber, Girolama and her female friends are at work helping other women with childbirths and foretelling their futures. Elsewhere in the city, a young wife, Anna, must find a way to escape her abusive husband.
But in a city made by men, for men, there are no easy paths out. Stefano's investigation at the tour di Nona prison will introduce him to horror, magic and an astonishing cast of characters. He will be left wondering if certain deeds should remain forever Ever unpunished. Laodicea a sample of The Book of Secrets by Anna Mazzola. It's narrated by Genevieve Gaunt.
24:33 Genevieve Gaunt
The angels stare stone-eyed at the casket. Their chiselled faces are smooth and untroubled. As they are throughout the many funerals, marriages and baptisms that take place beneath them every day. Mostly this past year it has been funerals, for the plague has swept through Rome and the mosaic of states that make up Italy. Now, though, the plague is silent, having burnt itself out. It is not plague that killed this man on the floor of Santa Maria del Popolo. Girolamo watches the mourners as they walk past the body laid out for burial, bowing their heads, murmuring, some touch the arm or gloved hand of the willow, tall young woman who stands near her dead husband's casket, her face shrouded in a black veil.
Behind her waits another woman, older, broader, but with a similar bearing. This, Gerolama thinks, must be the widow's mother, for her protective gaze doesn't leave her daughter. There are two young men by the casket now. They're peering too closely, speaking in a manner not suited to a funeral, to the death of a man who died at just 30 years of age. Death might have ravaged Rome, the plague carrying off the good and the evil, the young and the old. But it has in Girolamo's experience, not inured people to it. They still grieve as deeply as they ever did, each loss a puncture to the soul. These two young men, though, seem untouched by grief or pity. They might be visiting the waxworks at a fair.
She hears one Say what? Rosy cheeks. He looks better in death than he did in life. I'd say it rather suited him.
26:29 S2
And that was a sample of The Book of Secrets by Anna Mazzola. Anna is [spells author's name]. And that book goes for 12 hours. This book was originally published in March of last year. The website Hachette Australia, Hachette call it... chilling and mesmerising and darkly delicious. It's a new novel from Anna Mazzola, author of The Clockwork Girl and The House of Whispers, both of which we have in the collection. And we also have Anna Mazzola's first novel, The Unseeing, which was published to critical acclaim in 2016. She is a criminal justice solicitor and lives in London with her husband and two children. So this is her fifth novel, The Book of Secrets, and it's been shortlisted for the gold and historical CWA Dagger award list for mystery detective fiction.
Thank you for joining us on Hear This today. I'm Frances Keyland, and thank you to Karen and Andrew. Any recommendations you would like to send in? Please do. We always love a good recommended title. Books that we would not normally discover come to light. If you'd like to join the library, the number to call is 1300 654 656. That's 1300 654 656. Or you can email library@visionaustralia.org. That's library at Vision Australia dot org. Have a lovely break and we'll be back next week with more Hear This.
