Victoria Purman has taken me back to 1956 and the world of radio serials, a time when families sat around the radio and listened to their favourite stories and we meet Miss Martha Berry a woman who lived in a man’s world, come along and meet Martha and the characters who work at ABC Radio Sydney.

Martha has worked at ABC Radio for twenty four years and loves her job, she has moved from one position to another never complaining just doing her job, she is polite as you would expect a woman to be, she has just turned fifty and lives with her mother Violet, when she is offered the job of secretary to new up and coming writer producer, Quentin Quinn who is going to create a new show, As The Sun Sets Martha is thrilled but what she discovers is a young man who really has no idea, with a week to go before production should start he has written no words and Martha steps up to save the show and soon she is ghost writing the show.

As The Sun Sets is about an everyday family living in Sydney and Martha makes it so realistic, although some subjects cause a few problems she gets them through while keeping her secret, Quentin takes all of the accolades and the show is a big hit, as big as the long running Blue Hills which is also written and produced by a female Gwen Meredith. How long will this continue, will she be able to keep things going without anyone knowing that she is actually writing the show?

MS Purman opens up a world that was dominated by men it was the 1950’s and she bought it all to life so realistically, I loved Martha so much the way she took on the radio world and made such a success of it, I loved her strength and the courage she had to stand up when needed and I loved the other characters that made this story the best, I remember listening to serials on the radio and it bought back many memories.

I do highly recommend this one I was cheering Martha on throughout this story, Victoria Purman is a must read author for me, she never disappoints and this one is awesome. I loved it.

My thanks to Netgalley for my digital copy to read and review.

A nostalgic delight.

The Radio Hour is a truly wonderful story filled with nostalgia of the time when radio was golden and radio serials floated over the airwaves and in to the family home.

It was also a time when women were not often allowed to reach their full potential in the workplace.

Not considered equal to men in many professions, it is in true Victoria Purman style that her female characters grow and evolve and overcome these obstacles and their true abilities are recognised.

The Radio Hour has a delightful cast of characters and like all good stories there is always one of two as well that we like to despise and quietly cheer when they finally get there comeuppance.

The Radio Hour gives us a wonderful portrayal of what it was like in the 1950's and 1960's for women to work in radio in Australia. I am old enough to remember radio serials, I listened when I stayed with my grandmother to series such as Portia Faces Life and Doctor Paul! I remember those short fifteen minute episodes and the music that introduced them.

Victoria Purman gives us a fictional series As the Sun Sets to show us what life was like back then especially for the women who worked in radio. Well to say they worked in radio is a bit of a stretch because really they were mainly the secretaries and general dogsbodies of the men who worked in radio. Through the character Martha Berry and her young friends April, May, June and Miss Jones we get a window in to what it was like.

I read on because I was feeling frustrated at how bad it was for women in the work force. Attitudes have changed since then, although I think there are still vestiges of that still around in the various work forces.  I kept thinking - come on Martha - call it in for what it is.

However when things do hit the fan it was very satisfying and I felt like cheering for these women who finally take a big step forward.

This was an interesting piece of historical fiction about Australia in 1956, probably even more interesting to Australians than to people like me who were raised in a different country.

The story features Martha Berry, 50 years old, single, and working for the ABC in radio, immediately prior to the advent of TV. It is an industry hugely biased towards men, where women must lose their jobs if they marry. Martha manages to make her mark but she is one of the lucky ones.

I must admit I did not enjoy it as much as many other reviewers did but it was full of historical facts and the characters were engaging.

What an uplifting and exquisitely presented story on the radio era of Australia! Ms Purman is meticulous in her research and masterful in her writing style making the journey back in time both enjoyable and enlightening. Her pen, like a torch, shines its light on Australian 1950s social inequality—particularly the demeaning treatment of women during that era. The Radio Hour explores and exposes the unequal opportunities and rewards as far as careers and pay are concerned. Men were granted higher wages and positions; therefore better status. Sometimes these promotions were not deserved, as seen in one producer/writer who was promoted about his skill. Rampant sexual harassment often called horseplay went unpunished, too. Needless to say, many women suffered under male rule and their condescending attitudes and atrocious actions. And then there was the ludicrous practice of women being forced to leave their careers when they got married. This rule was particularly enforced in public service positions. It certainly was unfair as it did not apply to men. Without doubt, it was heartbreaking to read of all the injustices in The Radio Hour of these women who initially had not been recognised for their hard work and abilities.

But Martha is the heroine of this novel. I loved her wisdom, strength of character, her steadiness, resourcefulness, patience, wit, self-confidence and creative brilliance. Her comment “books are as important to me as breathing’ is so relatable! And although she is hidden in the shadows for a while, she eventually steps out into the light encouraged by others who see her talent. I was so happy at the outcome. How she makes a difference and leads other women to do the same. This part of the story is very uplifting as she is a trail blazer, a powerhouse that infuses so much heart and happiness into the history of radio in Australia just before television makes its grand appearance. She persists and makes a difference. Even though she is a fictional character, women like her would have existed.

A quote by Victorian era female author George Eliot appears more than once in this novel. First at the very start after the dedication, then through Martha in the story and last by the author in her notes. It’s like an undercurrent of encouraging whispers running just below the surface coursing through the plot fuelling Martha’s courage to keep writing those scripts. It is never too late to be what you might have been. This quote is so appropriate for the novel. And when the ladies talk about their dreams and ambitions, it was interesting to hear what each one had hoped for but had to settle for less. June wanted to be an air stewardess but she was too tall and too heavy. April wanted to be a teacher. Initially Martha thought she had no dreams or ambitions except what life had set out for her. But looking at her interests and experience—writing and producing became the right job for her. Putting her talent to work, woke something inside her and then she began to dream and achieve what may have first seemed impossible. I loved how she encouraged the calendar girls April, May, June and became a shining example for the women. Eventually others began to respect her, too..

This story provides plenty of inside information on the workings of a radio station and writing a series. It also shows interesting comparisons between television and radio for the actors. Then there are the less positive comparisons of personnel. The rights of women on the job as compared to men. Women had low pay, no increases. They were expected to just type, not think. They were to prepare tea and coffee and be eye candy. Then there was the discrimination against women who chose to marry but wanted to continue working. It forced women to remain single if they wanted a career. When a woman producer loses the plot and tosses her typewriter out the window (based on a true event), you can understand her frustration!

The Radio Hour honours and champion’s women in the past who fought hard for their rightful place and acknowledgement in the world of men. These women deserved to be noticed, respected and admired and the author has created such well-formed characters—you empathise with them. Plus you loathe the ones who are horrid towards them! And cheer the women when they challenge an archaic system!

Ms Purman has delivered a brilliant novel full of truth, wisdom, charm, humour and girl power! She has a thorough understanding and knowledge of the past radio realm in which these characters dwell. This is a wonderful read I happily add to my special collection. In fact, there has not been a single book of Victoria Purman’s I have not loved. I always know when I dive into her books, I am going on a magnificent and important journey with a great heroine as my guide into Australia’s less advertised history. Polite Martha is one such example: a pure powerhouse character I will never forget. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks HQ Fiction and Netgalley for my review copy.

Martha Berry is fifty years old and she lives with her widowed mother Violet in Randwick, Sydney. She works as a secretary at the ABC, the national radio broadcaster and she’s one of nice and diligent women who do their jobs every day, with little acknowledgment, praise or gratitude shown by their bosses.

Martha's informed she’s going to be the secretary for a new producer, a young talent, he’s in charge of creating the story-line and characters for the new radio serial, As The Sun Sets, and it will be aired straight after the successful and long running drama Blue Hills. Martha can’t believe their choice, he’s in his early twenties and clueless, rude and can’t even remember her name and she waits patiently for him to start doing what he’s being paid to do and the deadline is looming.

Martha starts secretly ghost-writing the scripts and coming up with ground breaking storylines, ones the mainly female audience can relate to and during the 1950’s when many subjects were taboo. Martha knows she risks being exposed for breaking the rules and losing her job, and when the radio program is a huge success and she’s not the one getting the praise and the pats on the back.

I received a copy of The Radio Hour by Victoria Purman from Harlequin Australia and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Ms. Purman’s books are thoroughly researched and she has an inside knowledge about radio broadcasting, they never disappoint or lack depth and I didn’t want her latest novel to end.

The story is full of likeable characters, like Martha, April, May and June and other’s I detested and once you read the book you will understand why. I learnt a lot about radio serials, dramas and how much time and effort went into creating a fifteen minute episode. The plight of working women in post-World War Two Australia, they were discriminated against, men made all the decisions, they didn’t want to hear anything to do with ‘women’s problems’ it wasn’t discussed, and especially on air. I could relate to Martha, her struggles and insecurities and the sexist behaviour she faced in the workplace. Yes she started off as one of the invisible women of her generation, underestimated, never promoted or given a pay rise, she spent her days typing and making endless cups of tea for ungrateful men and she grabbed her chance and didn't let it go.

Martha Berry was a wise and intelligent lady, brave, funny and resourceful, a ground breaker, champion for migrants and a leader. Five stars from me, Ms. Purman has out done herself, and I highly recommend The Radio Hour and her previous novel The Woman’s Work.

EXCERPT: Martha knew her place. She was there to assist those who made the big, important decisions. She - and the new crop like April, May and June - were secretaries and would always be secretaries. It was only the most exceptional women - like Gwen Meredith and Joyce Wiggans and Kay Kinane and Therese Denny - who would climb the ranks. In all her years, Martha had worked for a succession of men, each younger than the last, most coming directly from Sydney University with a degree in something or other, usually English or Philosophy, and a relationship with radio that extended to listening to it in the homes they still lived in with their parents in a leafy part of Sydney with a view of the harbour.
Of course, they didn't need typing skills or management credentials or any familiarity at all with a studio, a script or even a microphone. They were young men with promise and intelligence and, most importantly, the immense good fortune of knowing just the right person - a neighbour, an old school chum's father, an old school chum - who would, at the appropriate time at the club or the Members' Stand at the Sydney Cricket Ground, whisper something in the right ear just as the broadcaster was inducting a new intake of producers.

ABOUT 'THE RADIO HOUR': Martha Berry is fifty years old, a spinster, and one of an army of polite and invisible women in 1956 Sydney who go to work each day and get things done without fuss, fanfare or reward.

Working at the country's national broadcaster, she's seen highly praised talent come and go over the years but when she is sent to work as a secretary on a brand-new radio serial, created to follow in the footsteps of Australia's longest running show, Blue Hills, she finds herself at the mercy of an egotistical and erratic young producer without a clue, a conservative broadcaster frightened by the word 'pregnant' and a motley cast of actors with ideas of their own about their roles in the show.

When Martha is forced to step in to rescue the serial from impending cancellation, she ends up secretly ghost-writing scripts for As The Sun Sets, creating mayhem with management, and coming up with storylines that resonate with the serial's growing and loyal audience of women listeners.

But she can't keep her secret forever and when she's threatened with exposure, Martha has to decide if she wants to remain in the shadows, or to finally step into the spotlight.

MY THOUGHTS: I have many wonderful memories of childhood afternoons in front of the coal range listening to the radio with my nana. For some reason, one particular memory stands out and still makes me smile - listening to the final of an apple peeling contest being broadcast live from one of the big regional A & P (Agriculture & Pastoral) shows. The excitement was intense! The crowd was cheering and barracking for their favorites and commiserating loudly if someone broke their string of peel before they got to the end of the apple and was disqualified. The commentator was almost beside himself trying to keep up with all the action. There were no first names - it was Mrs Smith and Miss Brown and as I listened, I could imagine those house-worn hands deftly peeling the four Granny Smith apples each contestant had been provided, careful not to slip and ruin their chances.

The Radio Hour by Victoria Purman brought those memories back to me. And memories of sitting with Aunty Ella and Uncle Charlie late each afternoon listening to The Archers as Ella sipped her sherry and Charlie his stout. Good memories I have of people I loved long since passed on.

This is the second book I have read recently which introduces each chapter with a short precis or 'teaser' . . . Chapter One in which our heroine - spinster, secretary and loyal daughter Miss Martha Berry - discovers she's about to embark on a new assignment. I love it!

I have never read anything by Victoria Purman before, but can she tell a story! The Radio Hour is filled with memorable characters, and not just our heroine. Martha's mother and her neighbours who gather daily over a pot of tea and fresh baking to listen to and dissect that day's installments of their favorite serials. The cast of As the Sun Sets; a mix of old thesps clinging to the last vestiges of their fame. and bright new talent but all of them quite aware of what Martha is doing and quietly supportive of her.

1956 - and women have very few rights. They can't work in a government department after marriage. They are fair game for the lecherous old men on the staff whose exploits are generally greeted with 'boys will be boys', or 'what did you do to make him do that?' The 'Old Boy' network is alive and thriving, and it's who you know not what you know that will secure you the best career.

A lot of the issues Victoria Purman tackled in The Radio Hour are still issues today - the disparity in pay between males and females and sexual harassment to name but two.

The Radio Hour is a compelling story of how women shored up the careers of men; of their strong friendships and family relationships and of the hardships and bias facing Australia's new citizens.

I admired Martha's strength, although she initially seemed anything but strong. She took common problems that weren't to be discussed in polite society and cleverly wove them into the fabric of the radio drama she was (secretly) scripting and thrilled hundreds of thousands of women.

I will be seeking out the back titles of this author. definitely a strong recommendation from me!

The Radio Hour by Victoria Purman is scheduled for publication 1st May 2024.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.4

#TheRadioHour #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Victoria Purman is a regular guest at writers festivals, a mentor and workshop presenter across Australia, and has judged the fiction category for the 2018 Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature and the 2022 ASA/HQ Commercial Fiction Prize for an unpublished manuscript.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA vis NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Radio Hour by Victoria Purman for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5!
The Radio Hour was my first novel by Aussie author Victoria Purman and I really enjoyed the writing style. Each chapter started with a little teaser about the chapter, for example, " Chapter one: In which our heronie - spinster, secretary and loyal daugher Miss Martha Berry - discovers she's about to embark on a new assignment" and the chapters were relatively short. I loved learning about how radio worked and the interactions between all the characters. I particulalry liked how the women looked out for each other. Martha was a strong, middle aged woman, who had never married but instead focussed her efforts on her work and looking after her ageing mother. She had great relationships and I particularly liked how she worked with the cast of the radio show, and how she mentored her young friends April, May and June. I really felt like I was taken back into the 1950s and got a true sense of what it was like for woman during this time. Great story.

‘Martha knew her place. She was there to assist those who made the big, important, creative decisions.’

Sydney, 1956. Martha Berry, a fifty-year-old spinster, works for Australia’s national broadcaster, the ABC. Martha, who lives with her widowed mother Violet in Randwick, has worked for the ABC as a secretary for twenty-four years. She moved from one position to another, providing support where needed. And then Martha is assigned to work as a secretary to Quentin Quinn, a young man chosen to create a new radio serial. This new serial, As the Sun Sets, focussed on everyday families, is to follow the popular Blue Hills (written by Gwen Meredith) each day.

Alas, Quentin Quinn is no Gwen Meredith. Not only does he have no idea about writing for radio, but his frequent absences on long liquid lunches hardly inspire confidence. Added to this, he can’t be bothered learning Miss Berry’s name, and constantly refers to her as Mrs Barry. Yes, another form of invisibility.

With the serial on the brink of cancellation, without a single episode recorded, Martha starts ghost-writing scripts. She’s also able to steer Quentin Quinn towards making good character selections for the various parts. Martha convinces Quinn that she’s typed the scripts from notes he leaves her, and As the Sun Sets seems to be on the road to success.

But even though the introduction of television into Australia is imminent, words like ‘menopause’ cannot be mentioned on the ABC.
Management is concerned that As the Sun Sets has gone too far, until feedback from the serial’s loyal female listeners convinces them that the storylines matter. ‘Change of life’ is substituted for menopause (yes, euphemisms also matter) and the serial continues.
With just about everyone involved in the production of As the Sun Sets aware of Martha’s role, she needs to decide whether to stay in the background or step into the spotlight.

I am old enough to remember both Blue Hills (my grandparents listened each evening) and to be aware of the impact of the marriage bar which had married women barred from employment in the Commonwealth Public Service. The marriage bar was finally lifted in 1966. Martha Berry may be fictional, but she represents many women in the two generations preceding mine. Paid work for many women was seen as a temporary step between school and marriage, with few exceptions. Gwen Meredith was one.

I really enjoyed this novel, with its reminders of the R.G. Menzies era, of the importance of radio serials such as Blue Hills and Portia Faces Life before television, and of the important roles played by so many women behind the scenes. And more power to Martha Berry! Not only does she find her own role, but she also helps other younger women find theirs as well.

Another terrific read from Ms Purman!

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

It’s been awhile since I’ve read a ‘historical’ novel from this author and I really enjoyed it.
Set in the 1950’s Martha Berry has been working at the National Broadcaster The Radio ABC for over 24years. Now just turned 50years old and never married (hence why she is still working at the Radio ABC) she has constantly been passed over for promotions and shuffled from position to position within the company. But television is on the threatening horizon and they are desperate to have an another successful radio serial. Martha is given the position of secretary to the new playwright employed but he is sorely lacking and Martha has to step up and take over to protect the series but she must do this without anyone knowing.
Very entertaining but also a sobering look how many women were treated in years gone by…and in a few instances not much has changed in modern days (but hopefully that is on the turn)
The characters felt true to life and I loved seeing Martha grow with confidence.
An entertaining and easy read
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read.

Martha Berry loved her job at the ABC. She'd been there for twenty four years as a secretary and had just turned fifty. Her latest position was secretary to Quentin Quinn, a clueless young man who had no idea about writing and producing the script for an on-air radio program. The new show was to follow on from the highly popular Blue Hills which aired each day at lunch time with a repeat in the evening. The new program - As the Sun Sets - would be a down-to-earth serial about families, and would cater to the huge audience of women who never missed an episode, and that included Martha's mother and her two neighbours.

As it became increasingly obvious to Martha that Quinn had no idea, she decided to rescue the serial before it was cancelled, by ghost-writing each episode. And it was a huge success. Quinn loved the accolades he received, while Martha gritted her teeth and kept writing. But something was bound to happen; she couldn't keep covering for him forever...

The Radio Hour by Aussie author Victoria Purman brought back vivid memories for me - we all sat around the radio when I was young to listen to Blue Hills with Gwen Meredith. And I loved Martha's character, her love of her mother Violet and caring for her as she became debilitated by arthritis. The vision of "back in the day" - Australia in the 1950s and '60s - when women were to be seen and not heard; only secretaries and supports for the men; tea ladies and an all round dogsbody - felt so real. Thank goodness things have changed! Each chapter started with a teaser into what would happen - that was clever. I really enjoyed Ms Purman's latest historical novel which took us back to days gone by in Australia. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Way back in 2013 I was offered an Advanced Readers Copy by a debut author named Victoria Purman. It was [book:Nobody But Him|18187341], a romance set in South Australia. I inhaled the story, the rest of the series as they came out, and have read every books Victoria has released since. Not once has she ever let me down. The Radio Hour is no exception, it is an amazingly insightful read. I was gripped from the very first page and stayed up until the wee small hours to finish it.

Looking at women in the workplace in 1950s Australia, although I am certain this happened world wide, our ‘everywoman’ is Martha Berry. She is fifty years old and lives with her widowed mother Violet in Randwick, Sydney. Martha works as a secretary at the ABC, the national radio broadcaster of Australia. Martha is not married which is why she is still at work. Back in those days married women had to stop working working in Government positions as soon as they married - and were never employed if they are already married. Because they weren’t considered to be as capable as men, women were little more than servants, doing everything that their male supervisors didn’t want to do, or thought was beneath them. Women certainly weren’t considered to be smart or capable.

There is a quote in the book which I think sums the story up:

<i>“…Too many women kept too many secrets. For too long, women had buried their ambitions and their intelligence, succumbed to the law of the land made by men, and put up with behaviour and situations no man had a right to impose on them. They had made excuses and apologised for the bad behaviour of some men, had covered up for the failings of other men, and had silently laboured and toiled without complaining. Because it was their lot. Because it was what women did...”</i>

Martha is assigned to be the secretary for a new producer, Quentin Quinn, an up-and-coming genius with great references. He is to create the story-line and characters for the new radio serial, which will be aired straight after the successful and long running drama Blue Hills. Martha soon realises his talent is only for getting drunk! Worried that if he is fired then she will be out of a job she starts to ghostwrite the scripts, and chooses the cast. Her storyline’s are taken from real life experiences of Martha, her work colleagues and from the letters of women who start writing to the ABC praising the new show. Her story lines cover such controversial subjects as menopause, Italians and inappropriate behaviour by male bosses in the workplace. Quentin is perplexed about the storyline’s he is coming up with, but Martha has him convinced they are his ideas and he accepts all the glory. How long can Martha fool the management? What will happen if she got caught? This is what kept me glued to the pages. I had to know!

Victoria Purman has written another superlative story and I can heartily recommend you get your hands on a copy as soon as you can!

With thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Australia for my copy to review

Victoria Purman writes the most wonderful post-WW2 stories, where women are at the forefront of male-centric and yes, misogynistic industries.

And boy, does she smash the patriarchy lol

In The Radio Hour, Martha Berry is another woman who is overlooked, underpaid while the men steal their glory. And I couldn't help but love some characters, and absolutely loathe others *cough cough Quentin cough cough*

Ms Purman writes here stories that you can imagine yourself in the story with the characters, drinking tea with the calendar girls, and eating cake with Martha, her mother and her adorable neighbours.

The biggest thing with this, and all Victoria Purman novels - don't underestimate women!

I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

The Radio Hour is the seventh historical novel by best-selling Australian author, Victoria Purman. In it, she immerses the reader in mid-nineteen-fifties Sydney, when radio, king of home entertainment for two decades, is under threat from that new phenomenon, television. And in a society where women are still very much second-class citizens, Miss Martha Berry, with twenty-four years’ experience in almost every department at the ABC, is assigned as secretary to the new young producer of “As the Sun Sets”, the soon-to-start radio drama serial with a city setting that execs hope will find equal favour with audiences as their iconic Blue Hills.

It’s quickly apparent that after smoking, long lunches, drinking, Quentin Quinn’s greatest talent is for procrastination and, if the show is to air, Martha will have to take action. But is it wise to allow him to take credit for the scripts she writes while he’s passed out after boozy lunches? Especially as he’s so dismissive of her stellar abilities and essential input. In reality, she doesn’t have a choice.

But, from her own experiences, and those of neighbours, colleagues and listeners, she crafts scripts that address issues challenging women, to the consternation of the execs, and the gratitude of loyal listeners. Her characters deal with menopause and an inappropriate employer, while also interacting with Italian immigrants setting up business in the neighbourhood.

Meticulously-researched popular culture references will likely evoke a good dose of nostalgia in readers of a certain vintage, and firmly establish the era. Purman’s depiction of the prevailing sexist attitude rings true and will certainly resonate with many women, although she’s careful not to tar all the men with the same brush, slotting several supportive males into key roles.

The issues of lower pay, menial tasks, workplace sexual harassment, feeling invisible, and being dismissed when married, all get an airing. Each chapter is prefaced with a teaser in the fashion of a radio drama episode. Funny, enthralling, heart-warming and uplifting, this is another Purman winner.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Better Reading Preview and HQ Fiction.

Oh wow, Victoria Purman has excelled herself with her latest offering!
I was hooked right from the first sentence.
I'm only a few years older than Martha Berry, so I found it really easy to relate to her. Unlike Martha, I am married, but I didn't meet my husband until I was 39.

I love how each chapter of the book begins with a precis of what to expect, just like the radio serials did. The story just flows effortlessly. There are no superfluous words.

The characters are just so believable. I found myself loathing Quentin Quinn, the egotistical young producer hired to create the new serial As The Sun Sets. I was right behind Martha, cheering when she steps up to save the day by writing the scripts herself, drawing on her own experiences to create the wonderful characters.

Her poor mother Violet suffers in silence with her arthritis. One of my Mum's friends was like this and her poor fingers were all curled up on themselves, but she never once complained. Like Violet she just got on with things.

Victoria has really covered the way things were for young women back in the 1950's and earlier. Not being able to work once they married due to the marriage bar, only being employed as secretaries or similar, wage inequality and sexual harrassment just to name a few.

This truly was a delight to read. Thank you to #NetGalley and #HarlequinAustralia for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Harlequin Australia, HQ (Fiction, Non-Fiction, YA) & MIRA, and author Victoria Purman, for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for May 01, 2024.

Australian author, Victoria Purman has written a stunning historical fiction read which has reinvigorated my memories for this period.

The Radio Hour rewinds the clock, back to 1956. The setting is Randwick, which is in the south-eastern suburbs of Sydney, Australia. Fifty-year-old spinster, Martha Berry is one of an army of polite, invisible women who go to work each day and get the job done, without fuss, without acclamation, or reward.

"Martha Berry was quite used to people talking about her as if she wasn't there - invisible and indispensable."

For the last 20-something years, Martha has worked tirelessly for the country's national broadcasting network. She has seen and worked for many talented people during her time with the broadcaster, but when her boss asked her to work as a script typist for Quentin Quinn - the writer and producer of a new radio serial called 'As the Sun Sets' - she had no idea how, in that moment, her life would change.

The beginning of each chapter is introduced with a short precis of events which are about to take place. Much like how I would imagine would occur at the beginning of each radio serial about to be aired that day. Imagine the voiceover if you will. Serious. Masculine. "On today's episode of Diary of a Worm, Mr Wigglesworth digs a tunnel". But in all seriousness, I thought it was a good add, however, in a few instances, they acted more like spoilers, so I ended up deciding to skip them altogether.

Purman has written relatable characters. Some are appealing - Martha, her mother, and their neighbours; together with Martha's work friends - April, May, and June (whom she lovingly refers to as 'the calendar girls'). Some are not as pleasant - writer and producer Quentin Quinn and sound technician Hansy Hooper. The storyline is simple - the writing and production of a radio serial. However, Purman's attention to detail with the historical narrative, together with the fact that she 'shows' the reader throughout the story, makes this a very enjoyable read.

When the outside world is still impacted by the lingering effects of war, rationing, sickness, and the mental health of returning soldiers, no wonder these radio serials were so popular. Get together with your friends, your neighbours, put the kettle on, have your cheese and pickle sandwiches ready, and together you all listen in for 15 minutes each day to what's happening in someone else's world.

To those of us who are old enough to remember this time - this story is a fantastic reminiscence. To those of you who were not blessed to have been acquainted with this time - The Radio Hour will be a most satisfying introduction.

Victoria Purman, The Radio Hour, Harlequin Australia, HQ & Mira, 2024.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

The Radio Hour is an absolute delight. Victoria Purman’s skill in writing historical fiction is just one of the delights. The way in which she weaves historical information throughout a plot that depicts Australian Broadcasting Commission radio in the 1950s, while also delving into the past, is thoroughly engaging. Purnam’s skill is formidable – so rarely is historical fiction written with such excellent attention to the adage ‘show, don’t tell’ that this book really stands out. ‘Show don’t tell’ is usually used in relation to film scripts, so for the writer of a novel to be able to slip the facts into the narrative so seamlessly is special. Together with a meticulous historical narrative which deals with serious issues there are charming (and not so charming) characters, a simple but effective story line and humour.

Each chapter is introduced with a precis of the events that will take place. As well as giving the narrative the flavour of the time, this device is reminiscent of the way in which the radio serial that is to become the focus of the plot is introduced. It will follow the familiar Blue Hills to which audiences all over Australia listened as it was played in its 1.00 and evening timeslots on each weekday. In chapter 1 Miss Martha Berry, who has been filling in for a secretary who is on holiday, is advised that she will be working for a new radio producer. Quentin Quinn is to be the writer and producer of As the Sun Sets.

Martha Berry lives with her mother who, with her friends, listens avidly to Blue Hills, both the afternoon and evening versions. At work, Martha is friendly with a group of young women, April, May and June with whom she lunches, and mentors where possible. Less friendly and less pleasant are Quentin Quinn and Hansy Hooper, the sound technician. Increasingly familiar are Jack, Vera and Betty Percy, the family of As the Sun Sets, and the actors who play them. Some real ABC characters appear, most are imaginary, but all bring to the narrative a real understanding of the ABC and its programs, the world of radio and the place of women. The comparison with men’s progression through the ranks – not for them being known as the tea girl, the secretary, or the script girl if she is lucky, or suffering the marriage bar or unequal pay – is well made.

The world outside the ABC, still impacted by two world wars, the flu epidemic, rationing, the Depression and sexual discrimination is wonderfully observed. From the fear of the impact of television, Barossa Pearl (so awful) to celebrate, audiences’ pleasure in serials such as The Lawsons, Blue Hills and, on the commercial stations of course, When a Girl Marries, Portia Faces Life and Doctor Paul, an array of historical information is imparted. Often the rendition is amusing, sometimes it is heartrending, but it is never dull.

The Radio hour includes a note on where the narrative has departed from authenticity (one event took place at a different period from that in the book but is based on a real event) and a list of books that were used for research. Two of these are on my own bookshelf – and well worth a read for those for whom the novel is history. For many readers, me included, Blue Hills was part of their childhood; radio was the entertainment of choice until the advent of television, and as Purnam describes, a wooden cabinet on legs. For all those who can remember, this is a wonderful look into the past, with the realities of discrimination against women as an additional focus; for those for whom this is history, what a delightful way to learn. And most importantly for both audiences, what a truly captivating novel.