Hachette Australia

THIS UPDATED NEW EDITION REVEALS THE EXPLOSIVE INSIDE STORY BEHIND THE BEN ROBERTS-SMITH HEADLINES AND THE TRUTH BEHIND THE ATTACKS ON AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST NICK McKENZIE. 'There is no doubt the truth would have been concealed and our concerns buried without Nick McKenzie's relentless pursuit of justice.' SAS Afghanistan veteranWar is brutal. But there are lines that should never be crossed. In mid-2017, whispers of executions and cover-ups within Australia's most secretive and elite military unit, the SAS, reached Walkley Award-winning journalist Nick McKenzie. He and Chris Masters began an investigation that would not only reveal shocking truths about Ben Roberts-Smith VC but plunge the reporters into the defamation trial of the century. For five years, McKenzie led the investigation, waging an epic battle for the truth to be acknowledged. His fight to reveal the real face of Australia's most famous and revered SAS soldier and examine evidence of bullying, intimidation, war crimes and murder would take him across Australia and to Afghanistan. As he unearthed the secrets Ben Roberts-Smith had thought he'd long ago buried, McKenzie had to deal with death threats, powerful forces intent on destroying his career and attempts to silence brave SAS soldiers, who had witnessed their famous comrade commit unspeakable acts. And even after the trial judgement, headlines attacking McKenzie continued. However, the Federal Court of Appeal upheld the original judgment, finding again that Fairfax Media had proven the substantial truth of serious allegations against Ben Roberts-Smith - and believing eyewitness accounts from fellow Australian soldiers. This latest chapter is a defining moment for Australian journalism, press freedom and accountability within the military. Nick McKenzie broke the stories that proved the man at one time idolised by the public, politicians, the media and leading business leaders was indeed a myth. His efforts will help deliver justice to Roberts-Smith's victims and their families. Explosive and meticulously researched, Crossing the Line shares the powerful untold story of how a small group of brave soldiers and two determined reporters overcame a plot to suppress one of the greatest military scandals in Australian history. 'Extraordinary . . . Riveting . . . An insight into the finest investigative journalism in this country' Law Institute Journal'The definitive account of the fall of Ben Roberts-Smith and a vital reminder of the power of journalism. It is a tour de force.' Ben Doherty, The Guardian

SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2026 INDIE BOOK AWARD FOR FICTION SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2026 ABIA LITERARY FICTION BOOK OF THE YEARSHORTLISTED FOR THE 2026 ABA ADULT FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR'Tenderfoot is magnificent. Deeply moving. Beautiful. Powerful' TRENT DALTON 'This is a writer at the top of her game, telling a story that only she can tell' ABC ONLINE, BEST BOOKS OF 2025 'Extraordinary . . . the makings of an Australian classic' THE GUARDIAN Luminous, aching, exhilarating - a coming-of-age novel like no other, from the bestselling, award-winning author of Addition. Wait for the boxes to open, wait for the race to begin. Wait, and your greyhound will cease to be the dog you know and become an entirely different kind of animal. Brisbane, 1975: Andie Tanner's world is small but whole. Her mum is complicated, but she adores her dad and the kennel of racing greyhounds that live under their house. Andie is a serious girl with big plans: finish school with her friends, then apprentice to her father so she can become a greyhound trainer, with dogs of her very own. But real life rarely goes to plan, and the world is bigger and more complicated than Andie could imagine. When she loses everything she cares about - her family, her friends, the dogs - it's up to Andie to reclaim her future. But she'll need all her wits to survive this new reality of secrets, half-truths and addiction. 'Magnificent . . . One of my favourite books of the year' WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN'Incredible . . . It kept me up all night' THE AGE 'Tenderfoot is a breath of fresh air in Australian literature, for its compassion, its wisdom and its humour' EMILY BITTO 'The book is gently gripping. It's hard to put down' THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S WEEKLY'Compelling and heartwarming with a cast of unforgettable characters' INGA SIMPSON 'A feat of delicate foreshadowing and reflection. Tenderfoot is about the clarity of hindsight, the necessity of forgiveness' THE CONVERSATION'A total triumph' CAROLINE OVERINGTON

The devastating and gritty fourth novel from Miles Franklin shortlisted author, Michael Mohammed Ahmad. Some scars can never be seen, but will always be felt . . . long after the damage is done. Hamoodi may only be ten years old, but he already knows that to speak out is dangerous. Lessons from the mother-land have taught him that standing out can see you lose everything. Or disappear. In a new place, he has learned to be quiet, contained. He carries the wisdom and knowledge of his mother and father. They have told him to trust no one - except family. Alooshi understands first-hand the hurt words can bring. As a teenager, he's learned that knowing how to wound someone gives him power. But words can only give him so much. And when his younger cousin Hamoodi is bullied at school, Alooshi sees a way to get something else he wants. Over one day and one night, Hamoodi will come to understand how vulnerable he is. He will discover that family is complicated and trust is a cruel weapon. For him, there will always be a before and an after. He will forever struggle to un-know. But maybe, in the knowing, he will find a way to take back his power. Maybe . . . With a devastating poignancy and gritty tenderness, award-winning author Michael Mohammed Ahmad's new novel, Bugger, reveals an uncompromising representation of abuse and explores the impact one day can have on a lifetime. 'Unflinching. Devastating. Uncompromising' THE AGE'Layered and politically attuned, attentive to the intersections of race, class, gender and power . . . Ahmad's grasp of his craft and his unflinching honesty are to be lauded' THE GUARDIAN'Heart-wrenching. Meticulously realised. An expertly crafted novel. It will resonate with readers drawn to emotionally confronting, voice-driven literary fiction, particularly fans of Douglas Stuart's Shuggie Bain and Anne Enright's The Gathering' BOOKS+PUBLISHING'Incredibly powerful . . . An exceptional portrait' AUSTRALIAN BOOK REVIEW'This is a novel like no other . . . Poetic, powerful and painful' THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S WEEKLY'A convincing and evocative portrayal of the life of a child through their eyes' ABC THE BOOKSHELF'Ahmad realises some exquisite moments, when the heightened register soars and the reader is transported. In those moments, we remember that art is not so much about perfection as transformation' THE CONVERSATION

A richly imagined novel of love, fashion, scandal and one captivating woman's passionate life. We wove magic between us with our words, soul to soul, and when the sun cracked the horizon he kissed me goodnight and promised me he'd write as soon as he arrived in London. 'You won't,' I said, feeling the morning cold. 'You'll forget me.' He stood up. 'You'll see,' he said. 'We belong to each other now. Always will.' Melbourne, 1927. The summer flowers smell like Christmas the night Zara Dickins meets Harry Holt. Zara is wearing a dress she has designed and made herself: white organdie over a short black slip, with black embroidery and a crimson taffeta sash. It's party season and the university crowd are celebrating end-of-year exams. Zara loves dancing with the boys and flirting with them, but it's a game to her. Nothing serious. Until Harry. He plans to be a politician once he finishes law. She, a fashion designer, if she can find a way to break out of the secretarial pool. When he takes her hand, she doesn't want to let him go. The spark they ignite that night will last forty years. Portsea, 1967. When Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt disappears while swimming, his wife Zara loses herself in the memories of their volatile relationship. She always believed Harry when he said no matter what happened, he'd never leave. Their bond has stretched to London, Europe, India, America. It has survived anger, loss and heartbreak, media scrutiny, secrets and lies. But now all Zara wants is for Harry to come home. A vibrant and compelling story inspired by the fascinating life of fashion designer and businesswoman Dame Zara Bate. 'Utterly captivating' KATE FORSYTH'Compelling . . . An intimate and immersive memoir-like narrative . . . The Secret Year of Zara Holt will resonate with fans of Bonnie Garmus's Lessons in Chemistry, Taylor Jenkins Reid's The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Freeman's previous historical fiction novels' BOOKS+PUBLISHING'A beautiful book . . . Compulsory reading for fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S WEEKLY'A rewarding, immersive read' THE AUSTRALIAN

That afternoon, when the police and then my mother finally arrived, they found me sitting beside Marlowe holding her hand and talking to her: about a boy I had a crush on, about the buttery yellow jumpsuit I had seen in a shop window that would look perfect on her; about those two cups of half-drunk coffee sitting on the table. Who was with you, Marlow? n March of 1989, Emmerson Kerr is alone. One morning listening to her Walkman, a newsreader's words stop her dead. 'A warning to our listeners that this story is graphic in nature. The body of an 84-year-old woman has been found in the foyer of her apartment building on Sydney's lower North Shore ... 'Emmerson stood, held in place like an anchor, like a nail in wood, like the breath of a frightened woman alone in her home. She listened to the details and remembered back to that day, twelve years before, in her grandmother's Paddington studio. The 1977 murder of Marlowe Kerr - Sydney's art darling and socialite, a woman known for her lavish parties and her world-famous designs, but known to Emmerson as her colourful, loving grandmother - never solved. And now, years later, a terrifying string of crimes against older women will begin, will force ageing female residents to lock themselves inside their homes. They will be in a state of constant fear. And, as the killer's reign of terror escalates, and Emmerson starts to unearth her beloved grandmother's shady past, she becomes increasingly convinced that the same person who killed Marlowe is also responsible for the depravity that is now unfolding in the city she has always called home. Could Emmerson be the link to solving Marlowe's murder and help catch the killer before they kill agai? aut, chilling and unforgettable, The Thrill of It explores the mind of a killer and the power of a granddaughter's love. A masterful and explosive crime novel by Stella Prize longlisted and critically acclaimed author Mandy Beaumont. 'An emotional tornado of a book. Be warned: it will suck you in and spit you out a changed person' THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S WEEKLY'A fast-paced and entertaining read. Fans of Laura Elizabeth Woollett's Beautiful Revolutionary and Australian crime authors such as Garry Disher and Tom Baragwanath will appreciate this novel' BOOKS+PUBLISHING'Superbly understated . . . Beaumont exhibits a deep understanding of the mind, motivations and behaviour of this human who has let himself become a monster' ARTSHUB

The love between two family members takes us on a journey from their small backyard, across Country, to the end of time - because sometimes we need to hear all the ways we are loved. A heartfelt story from the award-winning creators of Black Cockatoo, with illustrator Jade Goodwin.''My love stretches back to Creation and forward to the end of time. I loved you then, I love you now, I''ll love you always.''After a long day, a young child and a loving family member sit on the porch at sunset watching a storm roll in. The adult whispers, ''I love you,'' but the child needs reassurance: ''How much?'' With each new declaration, we learn that the love between adult and child is boundless.A gorgeous and gentle look at all the ways we are loved.