Sadly this book just was not for me. This sat on my kindle for quite some time - twice I have attempted to read and twice I did not finish.

Thankyou for the opportunity but I will not be providing feedback on any commercial sites for this book.

Full of twists and turns
A review of Catch Us the Foxes by Nicola West
by Christine Yunn-Yu Sun

Catch Us the Foxes, debut novel by Australian author Nicola West, is a psychological thriller full of twists and turns. It is a good example of “a story within a story” or “embedded narrative”, the literary device that allows a character to become a narrator.

In this case, an award-winning journalist tells readers about her book, a personal account of her investigation of the death of her best friend in Kiama, New South Wales – yes, a real town. As the protagonist turns first-person narrator, it makes readers feel like “we are led on, like little children, by a way that we know not” as described by George Eliot in her debut novel Adam Bede..

Indeed, in her book titled “The Showgirl's Secret”, the protagonist Marlowe Robertson leads readers on a wild chase for the killer of Lily Williams, the town's showgirl of the year, whose mutilated body is found hear the showground. Strange symbols are carved into her flesh, a fact that the local police manage to cover up.

Considering the police chief is her father, and as rumours, innuendos and conspiracy theories begin to surface, Marlowe is determined to track down the killer and expose the truths surrounding the death. Not just for Lily's sake, but to make a name for herself by breaking the biggest story in her life.

It is the classic scenario of a small town mystery, the “fit in or f*ck off” attitude and the “us versus them” mentality, combined with young, ambitious people being desperate to escape the place that traps them. Further throw in the dark secret(s) that the locals try to hide from outsiders, and – voila! – you have a template for writing a book.

But what makes Catch Us the Foxes stand out from numerous other similar stories is the author's ability to maintain the suspension of disbelief through to the very last page. Additionally, by forcing the characters to repeatedly alter their perceptions of each other, West challenges her readers every time they think they have grasped the plot and its resolution(s).

The result can be frustrating, particularly on those occasions when the story's pacing becomes unsteady due to the protagonist’s inner debates and struggles. But that is precisely the catch of the story. Just as Marlowe starts questioning her own sanity, readers find themselves having to abandon their deductive reasoning once again.

This reviewer has mixed feelings about this book. Not just as a reader feeling outsmarted and outmanoeuvred by the author, but also as a fellow writer asking, “How long is a piece of string?” Ultimately: “How much rope is enough?”

With that said, for those desiring to read for pleasure, this is definitely an gripping, entertaining book. As for those aspiring authors, there is much to learn from Catch Us the Foxes, first and foremost being the one literary device that cannot be named here as a spoiler. Hint: Think of Edgar Allan Poe's “The Tell-Tale Heart” and Agatha Christie's The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.

Note: This review is based on a digital copy of the book borrowed from this reviewer's local library in August/September 2023, as this reviewer somehow missed the opportunity to read the NetGalley copy back in 2021. The review is scheduled to be published via this reviewer's weekly column "Passion for Prose" via The Star Mail in Melbourne, Australia, on October 3, 2023.. After that, it will be published via this reviewer's blog "Voices under the Sun". and its associated social media pages.

"twin peaks meets the dry" is always going to be a tough act to follow...almost like we shouldn't advertise media based on how it compares to other media.......just a thought

ANYWAY i do enjoy an aussie book based in a real town (kiama rep!!!!!) but lets not demonise a real place next time ok?

it's well paced but the plot twists are fairly predictable. unnecessary homophobia, and demonising mental illness is probably not the best choice.

I love finding books set in Australia, something about scenery that makes sense to where I grew up and where I live now just makes a read that much better, that much easier. Especially when the book itself is one I was going to join regardless, so intriguing yet dark, I found myself drawn into the story and never wanting to quite put it down until I got to the climax.

I would rate this book 2.5 out of 5 stars,

I didn't particularly enjoy this one. I have a real problem with a real town in Australia being used the way this town is portrayed in the book; the author could easily have used a fictional town.

Catch the Foxes is a clever and dark thriller that will keep you guessing right until the very last page. A lot of people didn't like the fact that the author used the name of a real town, however I think it adds to the story and makes it more exciting

Rounded down (3.5) A gritty Australian thriller. Caution mild spoilers ahead. This could have been amazing but fell flat in a few spots. I agree with other reviewers that a fictional town would have worked just as well. It really demonised Kiama. I think the author brilliantly portrayed the feeling of a small conservative town and how suffocating and xenophobic they can be. The unreliable narrator is something I loved, along with the main characters asexuality, its not something you see much of outside of LGBTQIA+ specific literature. I find a lot of thrillers these days are going for that one last twist in the last 5% of the book and I felt this fell flat and was totally at odds with the character we had seen develop throughout the book.

I wanted to love this book, set on the South Coast of NSW Australia and a murder mystery as well. Unfortunately I found the premise a bit far fetched, initially it was good but way too many attempts at plot twists made it difficult to follow and abit messy. I’d be interested to read future works by West to watch her development as a writer, this book just wasn’t for me.

I found this review quite difficult to write as I went through various opinions while reading the book. The title got my attention as Foxes are thought of as lonesome, secretive and not to be trusted. I tried to work out whom this may be whilst reading each chapter.
West introduces interesting characters and theories and manages to encapsulate small town attitudes but at the same time I was unsure which direction the book was going.
I know that I look for books that are unconventional and this one certainly challenged me. At times I wasn't sure if I was reading a gothic teen novel but I did enjoy this book and highly recommend reading it.
This was a debut novel for West and in my opinion is heading for an interesting literary future.

A small town setting, and the cult storyline really drew me to this novel, but the characterisations really put me off. Also the ending was a major letdown. Plus the plot was slow. So, all in all, not my cup of tea I’m afraid.

Book blurb…

Some secrets you try to hide. Others you don’t dare let out …

Twin Peaks meets The Dry in a deliciously dark and twisted tale that unravels a small Australian country town

Ambitious young journalist Marlowe ‘Lo’ Robertson would do anything to escape the suffocating confines of her small home town. While begrudgingly covering the annual show for the local newspaper, Lo is horrified to discover the mutilated corpse of her best friend – the town's reigning showgirl, Lily Williams.
Seven strange symbols have been ruthlessly carved into Lily’s back. But when Lo reports her grisly find to the town’s police chief, he makes her promise not to tell anyone about the symbols. Lo obliges, though it’s not like she has much of a choice – after all, he is also her father.

When Lily’s murder makes headlines around the country and the town is invaded by the media, Lo seizes the opportunity to track down the killer and make a name for herself by breaking the biggest story of her life.

What Lo uncovers is that her sleepy home town has been harbouring a deadly secret, one so shocking that it will captivate the entire nation.

Lo’s story will change the course of her life forever, but in a way she could never have dreamed of.

My thoughts…

I enjoyed the story of Marlowe uncovering the truth behind the murder of her friend. Great characterisation. I loved the setting. (You do need to pay attention to what story the author is trying to tell, so don’t skim this book.)

Things get a little creepy as you discover certain story threads/links. I did feel for Marlowe. She was an interesting character that was way too close to the truth for her own good.

When Marlowe ('Lo') discovers her friend dead at the local fair, her father (the town's head cop) asks her to cover up the markings that were on the corpse.
Lo is a budding journalist, and so of course ignores her father and starts to investigate the murder herself.
I had a few issues while reading this:
1) The story is over-the-top convoluted and hard to believe
2) The setting is a real town (Kiama) which makes the story even harder to believe. If you are going to make this convoluted crazy story atleast make a fictional small town name up
3) The characters, especially Lo, are all totally unlikeable

Overall I didn't enjoy this book, but if you know nothing about Kiama and are more forgiving of complicated "big bad" storylines and unlikeable characters you may want to give it a try.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Going against the grain here, but I couldn’t even finish this…. Didn’t capture me at all unfortunately.

Lo Robertson is desperate to escape her sleepy country town. When covering the local show as a photographer, she stumbles across the body of her friend Lily. She discovers symbols carved into Lily’s back, but is told by her father - the chief of police - not to tell anyone about them. Intrigued, Lo is led on a detective mission to find out what really happened to Lily - and uncovers some sinister truths about her small town.

I loved this book. It was bookended with an interview with Lo about the book she has written, with the main part of the novel being this book - about her experience of finding Lily and the aftermath. West has an incredible way of writing that draws the reader right in. There were moments where I had to remind myself to breathe as I was holding my breath out of fear and anticipation! The ending was brilliantly executed.

A must read from a debut Australian author!

Thanks @netgalley and @simonschusterau for the review copy.

The cover on this book is captivating. I loved reading about the towns of where I live. The story kept me engaged the whole way through. Lots of characters to keep you on your toes.

Not really the book it was advertised as... definitely not like 'Twin Peaks' or 'The Dry'. It is a debut and I am sure the author's writing will improve with future books, especially if she has a good editor, The characters weren't likeable or believable and the plot failed to convince or engage me. Indeed it was a struggle to get through and there was a lot of skimming! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, and to the author; writing is a long hard journey but worth it! Keep going!

Set in Australia small town, a journalist and author Marlowe and co-creator of the Lily Foundation. Marlowe daughter of a police officer is interviewed by a past breakfast show hostess to talk about her book about Lily’s murder and the creation of the foundation. The interview brings forward flashbacks to Marlowe on her past hidden childhood memories including relationship with Lily, her father, and friends who help her to discover how and why Lily was murdered. A story full of mystery and thrilling twists and turns to which I found it extremely difficult to put the book down. Marlowe finds out what occurred, who’s involved and her hidden memories and secrets had her discover how involved she was in the hide and seek game of Catch Us the Foxes. A great thrilling book which is full of surprises recommended for readers who follow this genre of mystery and thriller.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Simon & Schuster Australia via NetGalley in exchange for my review of Catch Us the Foxes by Nicola West. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own thoughts, feelings and viewpoints of the book.
#CatchUstheFoxes #NetGalley

Review run date was set for 07 July 2021 for Netgalley, today 14 October 2021 my review is posted on my linked WordPress blog, Facebook blog, Amazon.com.au, goodreads and non-linked retailers.

My WordPress blog link is http://bluefalkon95adorationofallgenres.wordpress.com
My Facebook reader blog page link, is https://www.facebook.com/BlueFalkon95-Readers-blog-104660277776984

Catch Us The Foxes is an accomplished debut with an original premise and a very twisty road thru the story to a spectacularly unexpected ending.
I loved it,

Ok wow!..that had so many unexpected twists and turns & I have to admit to being a bit stunned by the ending.
Just like the main character Marlowe every time I thought I understood what was going on something else would pop up to make me question everything I thought I knew.
This is another small town Aussie crime/murder mystery novel but with some very big differences - which ultimately make it unique - to others published in recent years. The premise of a journalist revealing the true story behind her award-winning book really hooked me in.
We holidayed near Kiama in 2019 and have visited the blowhole and other locations in the book which certainly helped me to visualise the settings.
There probably needs to be a few trigger warnings in reviews about this one but if you do mention what they are you could also give away some key plot points.
I don’t think I’ll forget this one in a hurry.

This book is created as a book within a book, which I am totally open to. I love reading something different that expands the mind. The book is twisty and turny and honestly, I really enjoyed it. I do think that there area some areas within the book that could have been handled with a little more sensitivity.

Great debut, I look forward to reading more of her work.