3.5 Stars from me
This is a slow and steady burn, which kinda feels right given the evident sweltering heat that covers everything and everyone in an exhausted, sticky, treacle as they go about their day.
The story is told predominantly from the POV of 12 year old Tammy who is nosey, bright, opinionated, unsubtle and determined to solve the mystery of who murdered her friend/crush Antonio.
Being an unusual girl, Tammy seeks out extra homework on the last day of term and so there are poignant little ant facts throughout 🐜 🐜 🐜
There are seemingly an abundance of suspects as Antonio was mature for his age and had varying relationships with the other characters – quite the charmer to all and even had time to befriend a 12 year old girl. At points, it feels as though almost every other character could have been the murderer.
I’ve given it 3.5 stars mainly because it is such a slow burn which isn’t my preferred reading style but honestly I am stunned this is by a debut author as it felt exceptionally polished.
My thanks to the author, NetGalley and Orion Publishing for an ARC in return for an honest review.
Blurb: Australia, 1979.
It’s the height of summer and on a quiet suburban cul-de-sac a housewife is scrubbing the yellow and white chequered tiles of her bathroom floor. But all is not as it seems. For one thing, it’s 3 a.m. For another, she is trying desperately to remove all traces of blood before they stain. Her husband seems remarkably calm, considering their neighbour has just been murdered.
As the sun rises on Warrah Place, news of Antonio Marietti’s death spreads like wildfire, gossip is exchanged in whispers and suspicion mounts. Twelve-year-old Tammy launches her own investigation, determined to find out what happened, but she is not the only one whose well-meaning efforts uncover more mysteries than they solve. There are secrets behind every closed door in the neighbourhood – and the identity of the murderer is only one of them . . .
Richly atmospheric and simmering with tension, The Grapevine is an acutely observed debut novel about prejudice and suspicion, the hidden lives of women, and how the ties that bind a community can also threaten to break it.
Read and Rated 