Beautifully written book based in a street of houses in Australia. A young local lad is murdered and Tammy a 12 year old girl decides to look into the matter.
We see the lives of all the neighbours in the street, How they interact and the secrets they keep.
A little drawn out at times, but I enjoyed the story and all the characters.

1979 Suburbian Australia. The grapevine is told from the point of view of 12 year old Tammy. When a neighbour is murdered she sets to investigating.

A very readable, relatable debut novel. Tongues are wagging, secrets are being uncovered and neighbours are suspicious of everyone.

Great characters and well written!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the copy to review.

In a suburban neighbourhood alive with secrets and lies, perhaps the strangest secret is what lies behind the death of Antonio Marietti's death. It is the height of summer in Australia at the tale end of the 1970s and something is decidedly in the neighbourhood of Warra.

On the cusp of becoming a teenager, Tammy is a keen observer on the lives of those who live in her locality, and is determined define that the truth behind Anthony's death. The problem is, she may find out more than she bargained for!

This is an interesting and well observed coming of age tale that will appeal to a wide range of readers. It gets 3.5 stars.

It’s January 1979, Canberra. Australia, and the heat is overwhelming. The residents of Warrah Place, a small but select enclave, are definitely struggling with the temperature. When a body part is discovered nearby, and then identified by one of the locals, suspicions and accusations abound. The racist in the street is confident it is one of the ‘foreigners’ who is responsible, or perhaps one of the many boyfriends of the single woman with loose morals who lives in the only social housing residence. Secrets and lies abound, slowly indiscretions and guilt unravel, and along the way friendships are made and broken. As the plot progresses we see that it is not only the weather that’s suffocating, but the relationships too.

With a compelling start, this book really pulled me in. With Tammy and Colin giving some light relief, it is has a dark core, with the community very much the main character as a whole. It’s a story of what goes on behind closed (though not locked in this case!!) doors, and how relationships are not always what they seem on the surface.

A very different murder mystery, that leads the reader along with an unexpected twist. The ‘after’ chapters enlighten and surprise!

A very strong debut.

Thank you NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group.

A slower read than the usual murder mystery as the focus is less about the truth of the murder and so much more about the ripple effect on all of the local community.. It’s not without its dark aspects and some heartfelt trauma for many of the characters but this is offset by the innate comic input from the two main children in the story. An unexpected twist at the end and snapshots of some welcome positive outcomes..

This is the whole package. It starts with the aftermath of a very grisly murder and then takes us forwards and backwards to discover the secrets, lies and passions that lead us to the tragedy. The characters that we meet in this suburban close in Canberra are richly painted, full of surprises and it’s the irrepressible Tammy -with her side-kick of cross dressing Colin - that drives us forward into the lives behind the shuttered windows. I loved this, enjoyed the telling and am missing the neighbours.

I really loved this book. Although the main event of the book was a murder, it was not a standard murder novel which I really liked. The book focuses on the lives of the residents who live in the same street as the murder victim, a young girl Tammy whos mother is very distant, Ursala who is living with a secret and Naomi who is a wife and mother who is hiding secrets of her own.

This book is very well written, I believe this is the authors debut novel, I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more work by her.

I was asked by NetGalley to review this book.

This was a really good read, set in Australia in the 1970s and a crime novel. The murder starts at the beginning of the story.

This was some neighbourhood, bonds, friendships, lies and deception thrown into the mix. There is suspicion from all angles in this neighbourhood.

Tammy who lives on the street Young Tammy is facscinated by this and delves into the murder and then starts to unearth all sorts of secrets and musteries on this street I loved this an excellent romp.

Due for publication 13 March 2025.

I never completely got into this book and it wasn't really what I was expecting. I was expecting it to be more of a thriller. I found some of the characters frustrating. It was an easy read although I felt maybe it could have been a bit shorter.

As much as The Grapevine is a murder mystery, it’s also an exploration of community dynamics. While the pace can be slow as the narrative delves into the characters’ backstories, this depth adds richness to the story. Overall, I enjoyed this book and the backdrop of Australia as well. I did at times lose track of who was who for some characters, however, the main characters kept me interested until the very end.

This debut novel is set in 1979, Canberra, Australia. The murder happens in the first chapter. The remainder of the book
the reader is being introduced to all the characters, of which there are many, who live in the quiet suburban court, trying to work out who the murderer is. There are lots of accusations, suspicions, secrets and different points of view.
This isn't your usual crime novel, it's a story about human behaviour, with 12yr old Tammy attempting to piece together the evidence.

The author has included plenty of twists and turns, just the right amount of humour and a great conclusion.

Thankyou to Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another book I enjoyed from Netgalley. This is set in Australia with a murder in the neighbourhood right at the beginning of the story. Tammy is getting ready for high school but is bored through the summer holidays. Antonio and his family live in what the neighbours call the Italian house. His family are in Italy for the summer but he stays behind lacking many things including ambition. Tammy decides on finding out about Antonio’s murder and decides to investigate and solve this. She listens and learns about her neighbours and how they integrate with one another and becomes fascinated by them. She did not realise how they are with one another behind closed doors. She begins looking at the people Antonio worked for as an odd job man. As she progresses with her investigations she becomes aware that her mom does not like the way she is acting and this brings in another set of issues. Eventually Antonio’s body is found in a way which is disturbing to all concerned. The murderer is uncovered and although I did think I would realise who it was, I was surprised about the manner in which it happened. I liked Tammy as a character. As far as the other people in the book are concerned, I thought they all played a good part in the story. Downtrodden, passive aggressive, not interested etc. A good story and one I read through the day to find out what happened which is something I do not usually do

I loved this novel. I suppose my view was coloured by the fact that I was in Australia whilst reading it, but, that aside, it's a brilliant debut novel. Murder, twists and suspense are high on the narrative agenda, but there is also a meld of community prejudice and religious ideas that lurk and really deepen the unrest. It's a must for those who enjoy an excellent crime novel. My grateful thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for the privilege of the early read.

Thank you for allowing me to read the advance review copy of this book. It became dark but still amusing quite early on and the characters unfolded beautifully. There were twists and turns all through and the ending was very satisfying.

Set in the 1970s in Australia - and a quiet residential street there has just been a murder. A body part of a young man in his 20s has been found - and his neighbours in the street are immediately all under suspicion.
A story of gossip and suspicion. A young girl desperate to find out who has killed Antonio, who she had a juvenile crush on. Listening in to neighbours conversations, and uncovering way more about her neighbours in the process.
At first it gave me "The trouble with goats and sheep" vibes, but it was darker than this. However the period also bring a lot of similarities to Joanna Cannon's books.
A great read, that totally pulled me in. Simmering tension throughout and a good ending. IYKYK

Set in the sweltering Australian summer of 1979, The Grapevine by Kate Kemp is a gripping suburban drama steeped in mystery and neighbourhood intrigue. The story opens with a chilling scene: a housewife scrubbing bloodstains from her bathroom floor at 3 am while her husband remains unnervingly calm after murdering their neighbour, Antonio Marietti. From this compelling hook, Kemp masterfully unravels a tale of secrets, lies, and the complex bonds that tie a community together.

Warrah Place, a seemingly idyllic cul-de-sac, becomes a hive of gossip and suspicion as news of Antonio's death spreads. Kemp’s writing captures the atmosphere of the close-knit neighbourhood with sharp insight, depicting a community where every glance, every whisper, carries the weight of unspoken truths.

At the heart of the story is twelve-year-old Tammy, whose sharp observational skills and unyielding curiosity provide a refreshing and engaging perspective. Tammy’s amateur sleuthing reveals not just the circumstances of Antonio’s death but also the hidden lives of her neighbours, peeling back the facade of suburban respectability. Kemp uses Tammy's innocent yet perceptive lens to great effect, highlighting the dissonance between appearances and reality.

While the murder serves as the story's catalyst, The Grapevine is less about the act itself and more about the ripple effects it creates. Kemp delves deeply into the lives of Warrah Place's residents, exploring themes of betrayal, loyalty, and the power dynamics within relationships. The shifting points of view allow readers to see the events from multiple angles, deepening the suspense and complicating the question of guilt.

The book’s strength lies in its characterisation. Kemp paints vivid portraits of each resident, from the housewife hiding her dark secret to the nosy neighbour with her skeletons in the closet. Their interactions, alliances, and conflicts create a rich tapestry of human drama, keeping the reader hooked as the truth slowly comes to light.

The Grapevine is a compelling blend of psychological suspense and domestic drama. Its exploration of small-town dynamics, combined with a well-paced narrative and richly drawn characters, makes it a standout mystery. Fans of atmospheric, character-driven stories will find much to love in this taut, evocative tale.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

This book wasn’t for me and it was a relief to have reached the end. I found it disappointing. I’d expected more of a thriller than a people watching exercise.

Simply astounded that this is a debut novel. An absolutely brilliant read which I couldn't consume quick enough. And that plot twist at the end. Tell me I didn’t miss any of the hints that had to be woven into this piece.

It opens in a suburban neighbourhood in Australia. It’s 3 am in the morning and Naomi and Richard are scrubbing blood off the bathroom tiles while their young son, Colin stands nearby. There has been a murder on the close of a young Italian boy Antonio Marietti and it’s obvious that the couple have something to do with it.

It's the summer holiday and Tammy a bored 12-year-old decides to look for clues in order to solve the murder. Through her perspective we are slowly introduced to the community where we see that it is not all that it seems to be. There is prejudice, homophobia and religious ideologies at play simmering slowly and threatening to boil over in the heat. It is no surprise then that led by the misogynist Cecil fingers start to point towards the immigrant Neighbours.

Kemp’s ability to carve out individual and credible female voices were the hook for me as each displayed the vulnerability and strength of women who are invisible yet silenced by the mere fact of their gender. I was fully invested in each and every one of these characters some of which resonated with me.

This author will definitely be on my list and I can't wait to see what else she has in store.
Thank you NetGalley and Orion Books for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication. Highly recommend.

This is a difficult one to rate, it was a very slow burn, but not really a thriller? More a study on people. It was interesting though and I enjoyed getting to know the characters. Some were infuriating! I also enjoyed the Australian setting, it's not something I read of very often.

The story was fairly flat and the ending was very anticlimactic, but I couldn't really expect all that different. There wasn't exactly a build up in the first place... I'd like to know what other people think, as this was a bit of a weird one for me.

I really like this book. All the characters draw you in and are all a bit broken in their own way. You think you know someone and they all turn out not to be quite what you think. The end wasn’t my favourite but I got really into the story itself. Would happily recommend and thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.