Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

2/5 Ok.

This book has so much promise from the outset. I probably enjoyed the first quarter as this “making a murderer’ kind of true crime story builds.

Sadly once it hits the peaks it’s all painfully slowly downhill from there. Drawn out, disjointed and I have got to be honest , Boring through the middle.

Unpleasant characters, a back story that just felt like it’s there to fill pages. BUT It is clever which gets the 2 star ok rating

It’s far far too long, when I thought it was over the epilogue is then page after page.

I’ll stick to Garry Fisher for my Aussie crime as this was just trying to be too cool and it’s missed the mark very widely.

True crime producer Jack Quick investigates the murder conviction of Curtis Wade for his television documentary. He soon feels that Curtis was wrongly convicted and helps that Curtis is released from prison. Things soon start getting intense after that and the book grips the reader until the very end! Recommended.

CW: violence, eating disorders.

Jack Quick produces a true crime show and he features the case of Eliza Dacey, who was murdered four years ago. The case against the suspect was shaky and Jack believes Curtis Wade when he said he was innocent. Now Jack has found a piece of evidence that throws doubt on Wade's innocence, but he is now out of prison due to a retrial with double jeopardy attached. Then another woman is murdered, and Jack knows he needs to set things right.

The synopsis to this sounded great, but the execution of it wasn't as exciting as it could have been. I found the main character a bit on the insipid side, although it was an unusual decision for the male MC to have an eating disorder. Boys and men who suffer with eating disorders can feel alienated from seeking the help needed, due to the fact that as girls tend to suffer at higher rates, help can be completely female-focused. The plot itself was good, but the story meandered around too much in some parts. I feel it could have been better, but that doesn't mean it was a terrible read.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Four years after grape picker Eliza Dacey was murdered in wine country north of Sydney, her case is back in the public eye. Her killer was quickly caught, or was he? Documentary maker Jack Quinn has doubts about winemaker Curtis Wade’s guilt, and by the end of his true crime series the wide public believes there’s been a miscarriage of justice. But has Jack skewed things to tell the story he wanted? When Wade is exonerated only for another body to surface, Jack’s doubts fester and he returns to the scene of the crimes. Stevenson delivers a quaffable mystery with layers of flavour; he brings the Australian wine country setting to rich and vivid life, and leaves readers with a strong finish.

Stevenson makes great use of his premise: true crime podcast creator's pursuit of facts regarding past murder case leads to overturning trial verdict and release of the man found guilty for the crime. Another murder occurs and he begins to fear his actions may have allowed a dangerous man to escape justice. Deft and brisk plotting, male protagonist has interesting achilles heel of bulimia - described and employed with sensitivity- due to childhood trauma which contributes to his insecurities and fuels his need to be in control of events. Highly recommended, especially for fans of Chris Hammer and Jane Harper.

A modern perspective on a murder mystery.
​
Instead of a sleuthing detective, hobbyist or pathologist, in this story a television producer hides evidence while he finds the real killer. The murder happened four years previously, and a documentary series in the style of the BBC's programmes Rough Justice, the show points at the convicted murderer's innocence and he is released from prison. Almost immediately a very similar murder happens again, casting doubt on this overturned sentence.

Only, the television front man isn't sure of his original views and sets about finding out whether the murderer is the original killer, whether there is a copycat or something completely different. At odds with the investigating police, the rural residents of the accused and a host of others, he tries to keep one step ahead of the killer/s, the police and the television station without making an idiot of himself or breaking the law. Well, not too much.

This is an original debut novel set in Australia. The protagonist has his own issues and has to deal with several aspects of guilt. The 'vines' from the title refer to the growing of grapes (where the body was found) and highlights the wine-growing industry, the competition and economy. All interesting stuff and new to me.

The plot is sound but it doesn't always flow well, and it is a little muddled and bitty in places thus losing the pace. The characters are quite rounded and sympathetic. But the significant feature of this book is the power of the media, how it can sway opinion and at speed. Very much of our time and the growing trend and popularity of the true-crime documentary, this book gives us plenty to think about. A story about guilt in all its guises.

#NetGalley #SheLiesInTheVines

firstly I would like to than net galley for the arc in return for an honest review. I found this to be a real page turner, its a great debut novel and hope this author goes on to produce more in this series.
I liked the twist of putting a true crime blogger at the centre instead of the usual detective or pi. There were a few issues which are to be expected for an arc and I'm sure will be sorted before its actual release. there's some great character development in this book delving into jacks constant struggle with bulimia, the novel felt a little missing in some respects but can't quite put my finger on it. hence only 4 stars from me.

3.5 stars rounded up.
This could have been a great book. The story itself is well worthy of five stars but I felt that the execution and delivery could have been a bit more streamlined. It flitted about a bit both in time and place and it got a bit too busy in places and some of the important stuff got a bit lost in the noise.
That said though, I really did enjoy the story. Four years ago, Curtis Wade was convicted for the murder of Eliza Dacey. True Crime TV Documentary Producer Jack Quick thinks that the investigation was flawed and that the killer was brought to justice too soon. He believes that Curtis was targeted for being unliked by the whole town, the police were biased against him, and that the evidence that took him to trial was circumstantial at best. Sniffing out a ratings hit, he uses this case for his current work. With all bar the finale aired, and most of the public on his side, he is re-watching some of the footage, zooms in, and makes a shocking discovery. A discovery that could actually prove that Curtis was guilty after all. He knows he should report his findings but it will ruin both his show and his reputation so he makes a mad dash to the scene and removes said evidence, airing the finale unedited. When Curtis' conviction is quashed and he is subsequently released, an appeal having picked certain elements of the broadcast which injected doubt into the whole conviction, Jack has to face his decision square on. And then there's a new victim whose death mirrors the original murder. Has Jack made a big mistake? With only him aware of the new evidence, he goes back again, determined to find the real truth, once and for all.
I've already voiced my concerns surrounding the execution of the narrative so I won't repeat myself but some of the segues just didn't work and even didn't make sense. There was far too much for me as a reader to hold onto through confusion along the way that I actually did toy with the idea of giving up half way through. My need to know what really happened did win out so I stuck with it and was well rewarded by its conclusion as it did all wrap up nicely at the end.
Characterisation was well done, each character was well described and played their parts well. As with most books of this genre we had the obligatory secrets, lies, duplicitous behaviour and red herrings going hand in hand with the majority. As appears to be the norm these days, the main character has a secret in his past, one that has shaped the man he is today. But, unlike most, this element proves to be key to something that happens late on in the book so its inclusion was justified.
What I really did like about the book, and what saved it for me at the end of the day, was the part that the media played in swaying opinion of the masses. How things got edited, the whole picture blurred, the "facts" massaged and spun to fit the desired narrative. This is scary stuff indeed and goes on more than you'd think these days.
All in all, it's a book that I am glad I stuck with as it was one whose destination was worth of the (sometimes) painful journey. If you can get through the busy confusion, I would recommend it. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for an advance copy of She Lies in the Vines, a stand alone novel set in Australia’s Hunter Valley.

Jack Quick parlayed his true crime podcast about the four year old murder of Eliza Dacey and the conviction of her killer, Curtis Wade, into a documentary series questioning the evidence and Curtis’s conviction. When Jack finds evidence incriminating Curtis shortly before his final broadcast he buries it as it doesn’t fit his narrative. When Curtis’s conviction is overturned, based in part on the series, Jack is perturbed, knowing he’s guilty without being able to do anything about it. When another body is found, killed in the same way, Jack knows he has to do something about it.

I was looking forward to reading She Lies in the Vines as I like Australian fiction and I found the premise interesting and topical, the role true crime documentaries are currently playing in shaping the narrative of past criminal investigations. Unfortunately, the format and execution didn’t appeal to me and I struggled to finish the novel. The novel is told from Jack’s point of view and has a mostly linear timeline but it sometimes slips into the past with no real rhyme or reason and can be confusing. My main gripe, however, is the substance of the plot which has Jack running around to no good effect, based on whatever fancy his mind concocts that day. It is probably quite realistic in that I imagine it’s the way non professionals would go about investigating but it doesn’t make for good fiction as it comes across as muddled, and, after a few times, boring (“here we go again”).

The novel is not all bad as it has some good twists and an exciting finale. I also liked the writing about small town Australia which is atmospheric with the decaying economy, suspicion and defence of the rich man in town.

The novel revolves around Jack Quick and his motivations. He is well drawn but unappealing, being selfish, economical with the truth, not particularly bright and shallow. I assume that the novel is supposed to redeem him in its conclusion but I don’t really see it as his path hasn’t changed.

She Lies in the Vines is a solid read, just not to my taste.

I am a big fan of Australian crime fiction and was really looking forward to reading this book. Unfortunately it did not live upto the blurb. The beginning was full of promise but soon my attention was beginning to wander. Personally I think the book was far too long and seemed to have lost it's way. It was a struggle to finish this book. I just kept on reading hoping that it would improve. A disappointing read.
I would like to thank the author, Hodder and Stoughton and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

Whilst She Lies in the Vines had a fantastic premise, its execution let it down in the end. There were some really strong elements, ones I'm going to rave about in a moment, but ultimately I struggled to finish this.

In addition to the premise, the setting in rural Australian wine country was unique and compelling. I often felt transported there due to the author's ability to thoroughly paint a picture. Whenever I've had Australian wine I haven't given much thought to where it comes from but thanks to this book I have a much better appreciation for it.

The main character, Jack's, struggle with bulimia was brutal and raw, highlighting that it is not just an affliction for women. It was hard to read at times, but I applaud the author for including it. It is most certainly not just women who suffer from eating disorders, but it's been well established that they're the ones who it seems more acceptable for, the ones who are better able to get treatment.

His disease came out full force once he realised that it's not just a television show he made, but a living, breathing thing that destroyed the lives of many involved. Watching him come to grips with the fact that his quest for ratings had devastating ramifications was extremely thought provoking given how popular true crime documentaries are now.

However, despite having so much going for it, in the end the writing style was what didn't work for me. It was hard to follow at times and was often a bit of a slog to get through. This book was a lot longer than it needed to be and we spent way too much time in Jack's head whilst he over analysed and broke down every thought process he had. So, for me, this was a solid 3 star book- good, but not great.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this unique debut.

3 for neutral!
Was really looking forward to this book, but ultimately just could not get into it and get through many chapters. I’m a very moody reader; so if I am able to get into it at a later date, I will make sure I update my review.

Didn't quite live up the pulsating synopsis for me but still an entertaining read with a different plot to the usual murder mystery.

It was a fascinating angle with the 'real crime' documentary series and an insight into how easily we're fooled into believing what television producers want us to believe. A murder is committed and Jack is convinced the wrong man is in prison, or does he just want to make headlines with his juicy documentary into police injustice?

A re-trial is held and the accused, Curtis, walks free this time. But then the unthinkable happens. Another murder. Was Jack right to pursue his name in lights after all? Has his 'entertainment' programme essentially made a murderer a free man?

It was definitely gripping at times but lacked the heart-pounding moments I expect of my crime novels. The chapters had snippets of insights into the court trials and evidence submitted but these didn't hold my interest as much as they should have as they were few and far between.

It was still a fine debut and one I'm pleased to have read and the ending was definitely worth waiting for!

My many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with this advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

Note: published in Australia as “Greenlight”.

As a big fan of Australian crime drama, with the likes of Jane Harper, Christian White, Chris Hammer and Liane Moriarty in the mix, I was very keen to give this new Antipodean Noir my full attention. Particularly because the premise really lured me in: the creator of a crime drama series suffers a crisis of confidence - what if the man accused of this horrible crime is not the subject of a conspiracy but really did commit the act? How responsible is the show’s creator if he only puts one side of the story to the viewing public?

So, a great pedigree and a great premise. Why not 5*? The centre of the book felt rather flaccid - once the set-up had been achieved, the pace slowed significantly and that was partly to do with the way the book was written: It’s a very “tell” rather than a “show” book; there are unnecessary flashbacks which slows the real-time plot; the lack of a sense of the place - nothing like the vivid drawing of the landscape Jane Harper gives us; and finally I found some of the plot twists a little far-fetched, particularly towards the end of the book. Without wanting to give too much away, I just didn’t believe the motive or means of those at play.

This is a debut novel and I’m sure some of these issues can be resolved in the publication of any future works by this author.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and the author for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a thought provoking, atmospheric and twisted Aussie crime fiction from Benjamin Stevenson with a tremendous sense of location and climate, the sweltering and deadly heat of the never ending Australian bush. This is a story of ambition, personal integrity, an ethical quagmire, and a spotlight on a media that has the power to instrumentally shape and manipulate the stories it tells. Set north of Sydney in the Hunter Valley, four years ago Eliza Dacey was brutally murdered, her body found close to the edge of Curtis Wade's vineyard. The police acted quickly and an arrest was made shortly after, Curtis was convicted of the killing, and has since been in prison. However, the evidence that put him there is not strong, it is circumstantial, and contestable.

One person who is convinced that Curtis is innocent is experienced producer Jack Quick. There is a huge public interest in true crime, and tapping into this demand, Jack knows that conspiracies virtually guarantee large audiences. His true crime documentary on Curtis is plausible in its central thrust of arguing that the man is not guilty. So when evidence emerges that challenges the central tenet of his documentary, what does Jack do? Jack makes the momentous and morally questionable decision, to remove this obstacle from his path. Curtis Wade is released from prison, and soon after a murder takes place that bears uncanny echoes of the original murder of Eliza Dacey. A truly guilt ridden Jack begins to appreciate the horrific implications of his actions. Just what has he done? And is there any possibility that he can get to the truth of the matter?

Stevenson gives us a well plotted and compulsive mystery with a quintessentially deeply flawed protagonist in Jack Quick. We are given an insightful and detailed picture of the Australian wine industry, and an on trend contemporary theme in the rise in the true crime documentary and a public that just cannot get enough of them. This is a claustrophobic, tense and suspenseful read, richly descriptive, with characters that are difficult to like, and a compelling central premise that held my interest in this novel. Many thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC.

A brilliant mystery thriller. Completely gripped from the first page. I’d highly recommend this book
For thriller lovers xx

Perhaps it was just me not liking the writing in this book but i didn't enjoy it at all. There were no likeable characters and just didn't flow well. The idea was good but a real struggle.

Jack is a TV journalists who is working on a story of a murdered woman.
He is convinced that the wrong man has been convicted and works to get the conviction overturned. After the man has been released from prison another murder is committed that looks like the same killer.
I found the characters in this book unlikeable and the writing style also made it difficult for me to engage with the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton off my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars


A nicely topical book,because tv drama out of real crime is quite the thing now.
I really liked our flawed star... there's always a flaw,but this one was new and therefore more interesting.
I liked the fact Jack never asked if Curtis was guilty,meaning we never knew for sure,and were there for the ride.
Lots of twists and turns,during which I learnt a lot about the wine industry.

I wasn't surprised by how it all turned out,but I enjoyed the story getting us there,with a few things I didn't expect.