I loved Echo Lake last year so it was great to see a second book released with Rose McHugh and of course her dog Bob. Set in the Southern Highlands once again Joan Sauers writes about the area so beautifully full of history and atmosphere. While not all of it is fictional it just makes you want to visit.

This book touches close to home with her sons friend Billy being killed and a priceless violin stolen. Suspicion falls on her son Sam and Rose will do everything it takes to shield her son. Rose also finds a love interest in this book and I loved the journey she went on. That excitement of meeting someone when you are older and having a chance at love again.

Love also all the side characters that Rose has come to love in her small community. If you love a cosy mystery than I can highly recommend this book.

Thanks NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
Book two about Rose and her family picks up after Echo Lake. Rose is experiencing some after effects of almost being murdered, let's be honest, who wouldn't. She is working on her self and spending time with family and friends when a new tragedy comes knocking at her door. We all know Rose won't sit back and wait to hear what is happening, she needs to know. It's like this insatiable thirst for knowledge that keeps her finding herself in harms way.
This one was a little bit of a slow burn and build up as we get over the ramifications of Echo Lake and Rose tries to resettle. Once the action gets going however, it doesn't stop. Will Rose get her happy back? Will it all become too much and overwhelm her completely?
Well written and nice and cosy murder mystery for those wanting to sit by the fire and get some reading done. Lose yourself in the Southern Highlands of NSW with a nice whisky and get set to enjoy

Another compelling story about our curious historian turned detective Rose McHugh. It’s a page turner and fast paced crime and mystery. I enjoyed the characters in the book.

Thank you NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for amazing ARC.

Whisky Valley by Joan Sauers is the second in the enjoyable series featuring semi-retired historian Rose McHugh. In my review of the first book in the series, Echo Lake, I commented that—as an historian and a background in research—she's a feasible amateur (citizen) detective. Sauers also reintroduces characters from the first book, including Rose's son Sam and her sister Kim, and local friends George and Detective Inspector Joe Blackmore and his wife Grace. I also commented on [Echo Lake] being an atmospheric read, based in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, and again here the song sense of 'place' resonates.

I find it interesting that Sauers writes Rose and Blackmore as if there's some sexual tension or attraction between them but at the same time his wife Grace is lovely and a likeable character... so unlikely to commit some terrible offence or be killed off, clearing the path for Rose. Here however, Rose has some romance on offer in the form of local whiskey maker Diego.

I appreciate that Sauers paints Rose as someone struggling with past trauma but working through it. There's her parents deaths when she was a teenager, but more recently the events in Echo Lake means she's unable to do things she previously enjoyed, like hiking. Her therapist here becomes an integral part of the plot of this novel as it's his wife, Sonja who brings violinist Billy Mah and his quartet to town for a music festival. It also brings Sam (he and Billy were childhood besties) and Kim to town. And I must say Sauers obviously knows her music, (or does detailed research) is as she effortlessly references composers and compositions with authority. And does the same with whiskey-making through Diego.

Sauers also throws a lot of elements into the mix in the lead up-to and following Billy's disappearance. There's some rivalry (and romance?) amongst the quartet that seems to be simmering away. There's the very expensive (missing) violin bestowed upon him (complete with lustful intent) by patron of the arts Sonja who is nonchalant about embarrassing her husband with her antics. There seems to be some tension between Billy's brother and their father... a perfectionist with high expectations of his sons. And then there's Billy's own demeanor and attitude, seemingly depressed and talking about quitting music.

The theft of the violin seems the most obvious reason for murder, but then the police learn of a fight that Sam and Billy had before his disappearance and Rose finds herself needing to investigate herself to find the police an alternative suspect to her own son.

I'm really enjoying this series. I noted in my review of Echo Lake that Sauers is / was a screenwriter and I think that's evident here as well as she's able to bring scenes, characters and actions to life.

I probably should have learned the first time, with Echo Lake, that this book series is a bit too twee for me. I find the lead protagonist, Rose McHugh, more of a busy-body than a citizen detective. This book is slightly smoother than the first book. Author, Joan Sauers, has picked up where it left off, so it benefits the reader to check them out in order: "They use 'Echo Lake' as shorthand for everything that came after Rose found photos of a missing woman and was later brutally attacked by the man who had killed her." This constant harking back often annoys me if I pick them up in the wrong order, so consider yourself warned.

There's a bit of the same supernatural stuff you saw in the first book: "Her sensitivity to locations and the undercurrents from the past were now the stuff of local legend, some calling it supernatural." You'd think the author would make the eating of the orange something more vital though: like saving someone from hypoglycemia after going through all that trouble though.

There's also the same tourism forward stuff for Southern Highlanders, with pastries recommended over and over again: "One of the best things about living in Berrima is the pastry." Plus ads for Joadja estate winery, and Bendooley Estate: "It also has a cafe, a wine-tasting room and a fine dining restaurant..." Whether the locals will appreciate the snide remarks about bevies of "Bowral blondes and their partners" is another question. Highlanders are also portrayed as in need of education repeatedly: "might broaden their view of the world."

Sauers has tried to sexy up Rose a bit by giving her a romance, but even that is awkward: "There has been no tension and none of the dreaded dick-swinging between the men." Outside of the bedroom, Rose remains uptight, prim and constrained: "Rose is often moved to tears by music, but she doesn't want to lose control this early in the concert." I think I prefer my heroines to live in the moment rather than imagine what drugs are about: "Rose sits up, a bit disorientated but in a nice way, as if she's high on opium, or what she imagines being high on opium might feel like." These sort of second hand analogies kind of annoy me, as you know, reading Fifty Shades of Grey is as close to wild as Rose has ever gotten: "She looks fifty shades of despondent."

The Southern Highlands in NSW is such a beautiful part of the world and I loved reading Whisky Valley, the second book to star historian Rose. In the first book, Echo Lake, she found herself in dire straits and she is still not recovered. Rose is suffering severe anxiety and is finding it hard to go back to a normal life. She is buoyed by a visit from her son Sam and sister for along weekend of classical music, featuring her son’s best friend from high school. But of course, things go wrong and one of the musicians goes missing.

Once again Rose cannot help but try to help the investigation. Her opinions are not always welcomed but she does look at things in a different way. It was an intriguing case, with many possibilities. It is easy to picture the gorgeous tree lined streets and little cafes of the region, along with the bitter cold and wildlife. A very enjoyable read, and one that I learnt a lot by reading.

I did not know that there was a whiskey distillery down there! the day after ai finished the book, my husband and I went on a road trip to Joadja Distillery and Historic Site which features in this book. The descriptions of the narrow and rugged road into the estate was spot on and we even saw a little kangaroo on the road who quickly got out of our way. I took. My copy of the book with me and spoke with the owners who are thanked in the author’s notes. I loved that they are Spanish and that Joan has created a Spanish owner in the book called Diego, who was a fabulous character. We had a tour of the distillery and the historical sites and ai could see scenes from the book playing out. And of course we had to have a taste test and it was delicious.. 2 bottles came home with us.

So if you love a small town mystery then please do grab a copy of Whisky Valley on June 3rd. And if you don’t mind a whiskey, a vodka or a gin, then check out Joadja … you will not be sorry.

Thanks so much to Allen and Unwin for my advanced copy of this fabulous book to read, and to the author Joan, for our chats about the book and the area in which it is set.