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This features the shortlisted short story by Suraya Dewing, Maia. £8.99

A young boy is shot and one of the members of an elite gun clan takes his own life. The truth behind what happened lies only in those present, and in the forgotten memories of a seven-year-old child, Claudia Cabriati. Fear and the bitter stench of death have haunted Claudia for much of her life, even now as a grown woman, along with odd dreams, puzzling cards and the bone-chilling sensation of being watched. When a vaguely familiar woman possessing secret knowledge about Claudia’s family is murdered, it sets off a string of horrifying events including the brutal murder of a mysterious man and the shocking revelations of family skeletons better left buried. As Claudia battles her adversaries and her own personal demons in search of answers, she begins questioning her relationship with the man helping her, a man she barely knows. As she starts to learn just who she might be, this mysterious man’s own personal demons must be revealed.

This year’s collection of winning short stories published by Rangitawa Publishing includes a short story by Linda Alley, one of our regular serial chapter writers. Congratulations Linda!

Crate of Lies is an espionage and suspense novel by Ray Stone. This is his fourth novel in the genre. The first chapter sets up the scene with a 1952 event, which is beautifully crafted. The reader feels he or she is almost part of the scene with vivid descriptions of a snowstorm. The nub of the novel is in the truck’s freight – highly valuable icons stolen by the Nazis. The novel then launches in 2016 in the Bering Strait. Something is definitely not right. The crew on the Valerie Nintz are very agitated as the Coastguard demands to inspect the Valerie Nintz, a trawler which is carrying some very interesting crates and is not in its reported location. When it off loads its illegal cargo it explodes and the sea swallows up all record of what it carried. Then we meet Harry Cohen, London desk for the Mossad and a leading English dealer in fine arts and rare stones. This is Raithe Ravelle’s boss. He is part of an allied group masterminding a peace agreement in the Middle East. Authorities agree to complex deals but are afraid of broken promises. Nothing is as it seems and we soon discover that terrorist organisations have infiltrated legitimate government agencies. People who claim to be working towards an agreement between enemies are in fact, out to thwart the hero; Raithe’s efforts to get the Amber Room into the right hands and the peace negotiations resolved. There are narrow escapes, as one would expect in a novel of this genre, and there are several frenetic chases across continents. An unexpected love interest that seems to throw the hero off course, appears. Then she makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Raithe. He dusts himself off and resumes the chase across continents to ensure that the secret of the Amber Room does not get into the wrong hands. Every narrow escape adds to the mounting head count until the hero and anti-hero meet and there is a final shoot out. The story line is frenetic. There are moments of brilliance in this story and these are to be savoured and enjoyed. Be ready for fast pace and a huge cast.

Enda Osin, correspondent for the Herald, loves political intrigue. After receiving a strange telephone message he thinks is for someone else, he is quickly embroiled in murder, industrial espionage, and a race against time to prevent the world’s first hyper-speed aircraft from crashing. The head of a Russian spy cell knows enough about Enda to manipulate him into unknowingly deliver secret plans into Moscow’s hands. Involved in an unbelievably complex and clever plot, Enda and his wife, beautiful Jessica Du Ross and right-hand man, ‘Fish,’ find themselves on the run from the police and a ruthless Russian agent, Voss, who has orders to kill. In desperation, Enda looks to MI6 for help but is hampered in his quest to expose a mole within the British secret service. MI5 and MI6 are playing politics with each other and with Moscow in a power game to use the mole for their own purposes. In a final double twist, an agent returns to Moscow, Enda sends a gift to the Americans and ‘Fish’ reveals a shocking secret.

Bend with the Wind is about two young people caught in the crossfire of political unrest.

Sophie and Joe meet in 1980. She is a Pākehā University student and he is a Māori police officer. Events from 100 years earlier cast a shadow over them and, as they struggle with their different histories, they discover that love can build a path through their differences and give hope to a world deeply divided by politics and prejudice. All of this takes place during the 1981 Springbok Tour, which ruptured New Zealand society, turned friend against friend and split families apart, including Sophie’s.

Raymond Stone, who has been with The Story Mint since our first days and has worked extraordinarily hard to get The Story Mint established, has published his latest novel, ‘Isia’s Secret’. It is a great read, full of action and complications. Enda Osin and his assistant Jessica Du Rosse unravel the political intrigue behind Isia’s death, and her connection to a Greek shipping magnate who has plans to be a political powerbroker so he can influence decisions over Cyprus and gain sovereignty.

This is a review by one reader:
An intelligent and interesting political thriller, with historical and current events and situations utilized flawlessly to create a building intrigue to a nervous suspense. A wonderful visual created throughout on the sea and ports of the Mediterranean. The author injects light-hearted sarcasm through one character, so that the compelling intrigue is relieved by some laugh-out-loud tongue-in-cheek self-banter. The international historical concept brings to mind writers like Tom Clancy and John Le Carre, and after a most enjoyable, involving read, I do hope to see this visually stunning description on the big screen one day. -Flo Ginsburg

It was meant to be his night.

Confident of his rock band's success in the upcoming contest and with beautiful Kelly as his partner for the ball, he was going to show those Salamander bully boys he was beyond being messed with!

Instead it turned out to be the worst night of his life, spiralling him down into a dark plan of revenge. A few days later, facing a prison sentence, Rhys Rimes lands in Tokyo under the employ of Mike Deng from the Internet Crimes Bureau facing a challenge of global proportions that will change him forever.

Only his father Derek knows the truth, but Derek is about to lose everything in a business deal gone wrong!

In a fast paced tale of bullying, cyber-crime and a young man grappling with who he is, a wickedly satisfying curry is stirred...

Ripping the wrapings off 8 original December time stories.

The Melbourne Writers' Social Group brings you a collection of short stories about Melbourne in December—a time for sun, surf, celebration, decoration, family gatherings, and reflection. Whether you enjoy the funny, fantastic, romantic, horrific, surreal, or sublime, at least one of these short stories is certain to entertain as you recognize famous landmarks or discover more about Australia's City of Literature. We invite you to sit back with a cuppa or a drink, relax, and enjoy the following stories. May they warm you or chill you, make you laugh or make you cry, and take you on a tour of one of the world’s most beloved cities.