Author: Susan Duncan
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Genre: Crime & Mystery, Contemporary Fiction
Year of release: 2023
Release date: 29 /08/23
Rating 🌟🌟🌟
Synopsis
When five couples pool their resources to live in a house located where a turquoise lagoon meets the sea, the quirky little offshore community of Cook’s Basin is shocked. How will ten people – one in a wheelchair and one with a hauntingly familiar face – survive where the only way in or out is by boat?
When a member of the household is found floating face down in the bay, the police insist the death was accidental but the bizarre circumstances have locals scratching their heads.
Former journalist turned café owner Kate Jackson is curious to discover why a group of retirees in their late seventies would choose such an isolated location. Then a throw-away line in an old magazine story leads to shocking revelations.
Review
Five recently retired septuagenarians pool their resources to live out their days in a house in the seaside community of Cook’s Basin. Ettie Brookbank, a trusted local and one of the owners of The Briny café, along with other locals, has taken note of the new arrivals. The residents are a little concerned about how the newcomers will manage in their offshore community, where the only way in and out is by boat. This might prove difficult for some, but it seems downright impossible for one of the new arrivals who requires a wheelchair. The locals decide to wait and see how their new neighbours settle in before passing judgment.
Moving day arrives, and things go according to plan. The new arrivals even make an effort to get to know the locals. Ettie soon realises she knows one of the newcomers and hopes there won’t be too much tension.
A few days pass, and the community settles back into its normal rhythm—until a member of the septuagenarian household is found floating face down in the water. While the police note the death as an accident, the locals begin to ask questions given the bizarre circumstances. All might not be well in the normally peaceful town.
News of the death spreads quickly. Kate Jackson, a business partner of Ettie’s at The Briny café and a recent arrival in the Cook’s Basin community, is a former journalist with a knack for investigation. She has her own growing list of questions, the most prominent being: why would a group of septuagenarians choose to live in such an isolated location?
As Kate delves into research mode, she uncovers a discovery that will rock the seaside community and change the locals forever.
Over the last couple of years, I’ve been drawn to books featuring septuagenarians—characters aged between 70 and 79. There’s something about their outlook on life that I find incredibly appealing as a reader. So, when Sleepless in Stringybark Bay arrived in bookstores, I knew I had to dive into this title as soon as possible.
I picked up this book not knowing anything about it, but I quickly found myself drawn to Ettie, Sam, Jimmy, and the other locals in the seaside town of Cook’s Basin. They made for a pleasant and engaging cast of characters, and the author’s skilled writing really brought Cook’s Basin to life for me as a reader. However, while reading, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was missing something—I just couldn’t put my finger on it.
When I reached the end of the book, I investigated the author’s previous novels and discovered that some of the characters had appeared in earlier works. While this detail doesn’t make the books part of a series, I feel it would have been helpful to know this beforehand. This lack of context didn’t completely detract from the plot, but it did make forming a strong connection with certain characters a bit challenging.
Author Susan Duncan has done a wonderful job bringing these characters to life. Thanks to her skilled writing, I could appreciate the time and effort she put into developing them and their stories. This is especially true for the character of Ettie Brookbank. I felt that Ettie was exceptionally well-developed—I never had to wonder what she was thinking or question her involvement in the overall plot. This depth of characterisation made it easy for me to connect with and care about her as a reader.
In contrast, when it came to Kate Jackson, I was hopeful that I’d warm to her as Sleepless in Stringybark Bay progressed, particularly in the resolution chapters. Unfortunately, this didn’t happen. Instead, I found myself feeling indifferent towards her. I rarely detach from characters, even if I don’t love them, but with Kate, I struggled to sympathise. Her frosty demeanour and seemingly permanent bad mood made it difficult to engage with her. This might have been better explained in a previous novel, but I feel the author could have softened her a little or provided a brief recap of her backstory for new readers.
Minor characters are well-suited to the story and appreciated the moments of light entertainment they brought to an otherwise dark and sombre main storyline. Each contributed to the narrative in their own unique way.
From the very first chapter, I was drawn into the world of Sleepless in Stringybark Bay. The characters felt vivid and relatable, the setting was beautifully rendered, and the conflict unfolded with just the right amount of intrigue to keep me turning the pages. However, as I neared the final chapters, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the story might end too abruptly, with the plot still unresolved. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case—Susan Duncan masterfully tied it all together in a way that felt both satisfying and complete.
This isn’t a novel to rush through. Sleepless in Stringybark Bay is best savoured, making it the perfect companion for a holiday getaway or a relaxing long weekend at home. It’s a story that rewards patience, inviting readers to linger in its world and fully immerse themselves in the lives of its characters.
I found the main theme of murder in a small seaside community intriguing. It didn’t take long for me to become fully invested in uncovering the identity of the killer, and the answer genuinely surprised me. The author did a marvellous job of avoiding any obvious breadcrumbs that might have prematurely revealed the killer’s identity—I didn’t suspect them at all. This attention to detail added to my enjoyment of the story and contributed to my decision to give the book a solid three-star rating.
I’m curious to explore more books by this author, particularly if they’re connected to this community, as I enjoyed the setting and the intricate storytelling.
For the most part, Sleepless in Stringybark Bay successfully avoids many of the clichés that can make this genre feel predictable or off-putting. When familiar tropes do appear, they feel well-suited to the story or the characters experiencing them. Without giving away spoilers, I will say there was one moment that felt a little too cliché for my liking, but the resolution for those characters was surprisingly refreshing.
Sub plots + tropes included in Sleepless in Stringybark Bay:
- Motherhood
- Parenting
- Relationships
- Small Community/ tight knit community
- Secrets
- Lies
- Death
- Grief
- Everyone’s a suspect
- Female friendship
- New to the community
- Old friends reunited
- Light bulb moment
- The big reveal
The ending of this book was thoroughly satisfying, leaving me with a sense of closure while also keeping the residents of Cook’s Basin lingering in my thoughts long after I turned the final page. I didn’t expect these characters to stay with me the way they have, and it’s a testament to the author’s skill in crafting such a memorable community. I’m now eagerly looking forward to diving into Finding Joy in Oyster Bay in the coming weeks!
I highly recommend Sleepless in Stringybark Bay to a mature audience seeking a compelling and well-crafted read. Fans of cosy crime, mystery, and contemporary fiction will find plenty to enjoy in this book, from its intriguing plot to the richly drawn characters and atmospheric seaside setting. Susan Duncan’s storytelling effortlessly weaves suspense, small-town drama, and heartfelt moments into a narrative that keeps you hooked until the very end. Whether you’re a long-time lover of the genre or someone looking for a fresh and engaging read, this book is sure to deliver a rewarding experience.