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Goodwood
It wasn't just one person who went missing, it was two people. Two very different people. They were there, and then they were gone, as if through a crack in the sky. After that, in a small town like Goodwood, where we had what Nan called 'a high density of acquaintanceship', everything stopped. Or at least it felt that way. The normal feeling of things stopped.
Goodwood is a small town where everyone knows everything about everyone. It's a place where it's impossible to keep a secret.
In 1992, when Jean Brown is seventeen, a terrible thing happens. Two terrible things. Rosie White, the coolest girl in town, vanishes overnight. One week later, Goodwood's most popular resident, Bart McDonald, sets off on a fishing trip and never comes home.
People die in Goodwood, of course, but never like this. They don't just disappear.
As the intensity of speculation about the fates of Rosie and Bart heightens, Jean, who is keeping secrets of her own, and the rest of Goodwood are left reeling.
Rich in character and complexity, its humour both droll and tender, Goodwood is a compelling ride into a small community, torn apart by dark rumours and mystery.
Goodwood is a small town where everyone knows everything about everyone. It's a place where it's impossible to keep a secret.
In 1992, when Jean Brown is seventeen, a terrible thing happens. Two terrible things. Rosie White, the coolest girl in town, vanishes overnight. One week later, Goodwood's most popular resident, Bart McDonald, sets off on a fishing trip and never comes home.
People die in Goodwood, of course, but never like this. They don't just disappear.
As the intensity of speculation about the fates of Rosie and Bart heightens, Jean, who is keeping secrets of her own, and the rest of Goodwood are left reeling.
Rich in character and complexity, its humour both droll and tender, Goodwood is a compelling ride into a small community, torn apart by dark rumours and mystery.
304 pages, Paperback
First published September 28, 2016
87 people are currently reading
1683 people want to read
About the author
Holly Throsby
5 books188 followersHolly Throsby is a songwriter, musician and novelist from Sydney. She has released four solo albums, a children’s album called See! and her most recent album in 2011 was called Team. Holly has been nominated for four ARIA Awards – two for Best Female Artist, one for Best Children’s Album, and one as part of Seeker Lover Keeper, her band with Sally Seltmann and Sarah Blasko.
Holly is also a council member for the animal protection institute, Voiceless.
She likes good books, cryptic crosswords, small towns and dogs.
Holly is also a council member for the animal protection institute, Voiceless.
She likes good books, cryptic crosswords, small towns and dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 414 reviews
May 29, 2018
***Maybe a teenie tiny spoiler..
This was a slow burn. Many lovely Aussie moments captured, like chops grilling and mozzies buzzing. As this was an audio read, I did not jot down any of these lovely moments, this is what I find to be hard about the audio format. I can't stop driving to capture moments that I really enjoyed.
Australian families, honest hard working people, confused youth.. sexuality, desperation. Two missing locals in a small hardworking town. Everyone knows everyone else's business, so how on earth did two of these said locals disappear in such close succession?
I read this some time ago, I do not seem to be in the position to review as I go these days, which is a shame. One funny part of this story was a poor woman who had some kind of strange phobia. She was scared of magpies and wore a bike helmet with things sticking out of it to detract the birds. She fell into some glass and almost bled to death running away from the magpies. Oh my goodness it was horrible! She was scared and ended up needing to be!
This was a sad story of a town wanting to be happy, small town people wanting more than what they have, and a younger generation a little mixed up.
This was a slow burn. Many lovely Aussie moments captured, like chops grilling and mozzies buzzing. As this was an audio read, I did not jot down any of these lovely moments, this is what I find to be hard about the audio format. I can't stop driving to capture moments that I really enjoyed.
Australian families, honest hard working people, confused youth.. sexuality, desperation. Two missing locals in a small hardworking town. Everyone knows everyone else's business, so how on earth did two of these said locals disappear in such close succession?
I read this some time ago, I do not seem to be in the position to review as I go these days, which is a shame. One funny part of this story was a poor woman who had some kind of strange phobia. She was scared of magpies and wore a bike helmet with things sticking out of it to detract the birds. She fell into some glass and almost bled to death running away from the magpies. Oh my goodness it was horrible! She was scared and ended up needing to be!
This was a sad story of a town wanting to be happy, small town people wanting more than what they have, and a younger generation a little mixed up.
February 19, 2017
This book is told in a simple way. It is the point of view of 17 year old Jean. At times she seemed even younger. It concerns the town of Goodwood and two people who disappear within a week, which makes you think it is going to be some sort of murder mystery. But I found too much time was wasted on introducing a multitude of characters that ended up becoming a blur. I found they were not fleshed out enough, so that I had trouble distinguishing one from the other. Added to that, I found I didn’t relate to the main character at all.
There were some lovely touches of writing but on the whole not enough to keep me interested. I found most of the time I didn’t want to pick the book back up, but found other things to do instead. Or I found myself skimming descriptions of people and places that had no bearing on the story. This isn’t a bad book. There will be people out there who will love it. I just wasn’t one of them, which is a shame as I was really looking forward to reading it. Expectations can sometimes present a problem. In the end it turned out it be something other than what I expected. This is a debut novel so that could account for some of the difficulties I had with it. On the other hand, the person who initially recommended it to me, a young woman, loved it so it could be an age difference thing? Or it could just be different taste in books? Best idea, read it and make up your own mind.
There were some lovely touches of writing but on the whole not enough to keep me interested. I found most of the time I didn’t want to pick the book back up, but found other things to do instead. Or I found myself skimming descriptions of people and places that had no bearing on the story. This isn’t a bad book. There will be people out there who will love it. I just wasn’t one of them, which is a shame as I was really looking forward to reading it. Expectations can sometimes present a problem. In the end it turned out it be something other than what I expected. This is a debut novel so that could account for some of the difficulties I had with it. On the other hand, the person who initially recommended it to me, a young woman, loved it so it could be an age difference thing? Or it could just be different taste in books? Best idea, read it and make up your own mind.
December 21, 2018
A charming small town cosy mystery set in a NSW coastal country town. It’s not a fast read but what I enjoyed was getting to know the many different characters. Set in the 90’s I loved all the little references dotted around, it felt like I was reliving parts of my own childhood, many references making me smile with nostalgia. My only criticism was that there was a host of characters to keep track of and at times I had to really concentrate to remember who was who in the zoo. I did really enjoyed Holly Throsby’s witty observations, so quaintly spot on and so authentically Australian.
February 10, 2017
I sometimes worry that I'm too harsh on Australian fiction and my expectations are too high. But when I come across Aus fiction that I do love I loyally support and promote it and I'm always looking for Aus fiction to love. Sadly this novel was disappointing. Firstly, there are far too many characters and they're not differentiated enough to be able to tell them apart. It's a huge cast and I kind of lost interest even trying to keep everybody straight. This has not happened for years. There are also some major problems with perspective. I did read an ARC so it's possible this was fixed for the finished book. The novel is also far too long and the pacing is all over the place. The writing is fine without ever reaching greatness. Also, the crimes are horrible. And because we're not in expert hands I didn't feel they were well handled at all. The whimsical nature of the book clashed with the seriousness of the situation. The positives? Great portrait of a small country town. Great 90s setting. But I wanted a much more memorable protagonist and a pacier plot. Heartbroken as I really thought I'd love this.
September 25, 2022
“We didn’t know then that it wouldn’t be long now. That the calendar was just running backwards from the day when there would be answers. At that time, all there was were questions, which drifted around Goodwood like despair…”
Goodwood is the first novel by Australian songwriter, musician and novelist, Holly Throsby. The audio version is narrated by Rebekah Robertson. In little rural NSW town of Goodwood nothing much happens. Until, in August of 1992, two residents go missing, a week apart. Eighteen-year-old Rosie White is absent from her room on a Sunday morning. While the town puzzles over that, their favourite butcher, Bart McDonald fails to return from his regular Sunday fish on the lake.
The town soon learns that his boat has been found on the lake without any sign of Bart, and when the lake is dragged, no body is found. They’ve always believed that theirs is a safe town, but now: “Goodwood had never been visited by such collective worry, and we were not familiar with the burden of the unknown.”
Seventeen-year-old Jean and her best friend George observe and discuss what they see. Their teenaged thoughts and emotions are complicated by this disquiet that settles on the town, although Jean is also distracted by the arrival in town of Evie, the most beautiful girl she has ever seen.
The uncertainty has a negative effect on the town: people are sad and anxious; many rally together and support one another; with others, tension rises and tempers flare; the uglier side of some relationships is exposed.
Readers should not expect an action-packed page-turner. Rather, the pace befits the small-town setting, and while there are mysteries to be solved, and the reader will be kept guessing as each piece of relevant information is revealed, this is more a study of an Australian country town than a crime thriller.
Some elements of this novel (small town where everyone knows everyone, the observations of the young female narrator and her best friend, the mysteriously missing residents) are reminiscent of Joanna Cannon’s The Trouble With Goats and Sheep, a favourable comparison.
Throsby’s depiction of the Australian small town is faultless: her setting so well rendered that readers familiar with the area may well have a certain town fixed in their minds. But it could be any NSW small town with its attractive and its less desirable qualities, and that includes the residents.
While some are necessarily a little stereotypical and therefore one-dimensional (the gossipy grocer, the outraged-at-anything-new old couple, the busybody neighbour, the obligatory sleazebag) and others are quite quirky, the townspeople are, of course, what makes this novel. And if they are all are believably flawed, many are also kind and generous and wise and some have unexpected depth. It soon becomes apparent why they love their town.
Throsby certainly has a way with words: “A woman who had long ago lost her mooring and sunk like a ship into her peculiar home. A person who had become more like a rumour than a human being.” The cute little map in the front is appreciated. This tale is clever and captivating and heart-warming and there’s plenty of (sometimes very black) humour. An outstanding debut.
Goodwood is the first novel by Australian songwriter, musician and novelist, Holly Throsby. The audio version is narrated by Rebekah Robertson. In little rural NSW town of Goodwood nothing much happens. Until, in August of 1992, two residents go missing, a week apart. Eighteen-year-old Rosie White is absent from her room on a Sunday morning. While the town puzzles over that, their favourite butcher, Bart McDonald fails to return from his regular Sunday fish on the lake.
The town soon learns that his boat has been found on the lake without any sign of Bart, and when the lake is dragged, no body is found. They’ve always believed that theirs is a safe town, but now: “Goodwood had never been visited by such collective worry, and we were not familiar with the burden of the unknown.”
Seventeen-year-old Jean and her best friend George observe and discuss what they see. Their teenaged thoughts and emotions are complicated by this disquiet that settles on the town, although Jean is also distracted by the arrival in town of Evie, the most beautiful girl she has ever seen.
The uncertainty has a negative effect on the town: people are sad and anxious; many rally together and support one another; with others, tension rises and tempers flare; the uglier side of some relationships is exposed.
Readers should not expect an action-packed page-turner. Rather, the pace befits the small-town setting, and while there are mysteries to be solved, and the reader will be kept guessing as each piece of relevant information is revealed, this is more a study of an Australian country town than a crime thriller.
Some elements of this novel (small town where everyone knows everyone, the observations of the young female narrator and her best friend, the mysteriously missing residents) are reminiscent of Joanna Cannon’s The Trouble With Goats and Sheep, a favourable comparison.
Throsby’s depiction of the Australian small town is faultless: her setting so well rendered that readers familiar with the area may well have a certain town fixed in their minds. But it could be any NSW small town with its attractive and its less desirable qualities, and that includes the residents.
While some are necessarily a little stereotypical and therefore one-dimensional (the gossipy grocer, the outraged-at-anything-new old couple, the busybody neighbour, the obligatory sleazebag) and others are quite quirky, the townspeople are, of course, what makes this novel. And if they are all are believably flawed, many are also kind and generous and wise and some have unexpected depth. It soon becomes apparent why they love their town.
Throsby certainly has a way with words: “A woman who had long ago lost her mooring and sunk like a ship into her peculiar home. A person who had become more like a rumour than a human being.” The cute little map in the front is appreciated. This tale is clever and captivating and heart-warming and there’s plenty of (sometimes very black) humour. An outstanding debut.
September 12, 2016
I feel like I just time travelled. Holly Throsby has perfectly captured life as a 17 year old in a small town in 1992. Nostalgia sans overt sentimentality.
The plot twisted and turned enough to keep me interested but it is the characterisation here that is really on song. Goodwood's inhabitants are portrayed with humour and pathos, from the eccentrics to the deadbeats to the pillars of the community. I felt I had a glimpse into the inner world of even the most minor characters.
I fell a little bit in love with Jean and her family and I was so very moved by the interactions between Jean and Evie, such beauty and tenderness. (If I had any teenage girls in my life they'd be getting this for Christmas for sure.)
I've been a fan of Throsby's songwriting for a dozen years so it's no real surprise her debut novel is a wonderful, assured read.
Thanks to Allen and Unwin for the advance reader copy.
The plot twisted and turned enough to keep me interested but it is the characterisation here that is really on song. Goodwood's inhabitants are portrayed with humour and pathos, from the eccentrics to the deadbeats to the pillars of the community. I felt I had a glimpse into the inner world of even the most minor characters.
I fell a little bit in love with Jean and her family and I was so very moved by the interactions between Jean and Evie, such beauty and tenderness. (If I had any teenage girls in my life they'd be getting this for Christmas for sure.)
I've been a fan of Throsby's songwriting for a dozen years so it's no real surprise her debut novel is a wonderful, assured read.
Thanks to Allen and Unwin for the advance reader copy.
September 21, 2022
“We didn’t know then that it wouldn’t be long now. That the calendar was just running backwards from the day when there would be answers. At that time, all there was were questions, which drifted around Goodwood like despair…”
Goodwood is the first novel by Australian songwriter, musician and novelist, Holly Throsby. In little rural NSW town of Goodwood nothing much happens. Until, in August of 1992, two residents go missing, a week apart. Eighteen-year-old Rosie White is absent from her room on a Sunday morning. While the town puzzles over that, their favourite butcher, Bart McDonald fails to return from his regular Sunday fish on the lake.
The town soon learns that his boat has been found on the lake without any sign of Bart, and when the lake is dragged, no body is found. They’ve always believed that theirs is a safe town, but now: “Goodwood had never been visited by such collective worry, and we were not familiar with the burden of the unknown.”
Seventeen-year-old Jean and her best friend George observe and discuss what they see. Their teenaged thoughts and emotions are complicated by this disquiet that settles on the town, although Jean is also distracted by the arrival in town of Evie, the most beautiful girl she has ever seen.
The uncertainty has a negative effect on the town: people are sad and anxious; many rally together and support one another; with others, tension rises and tempers flare; the uglier side of some relationships is exposed.
Readers should not expect an action-packed page-turner. Rather, the pace befits the small-town setting, and while there are mysteries to be solved, and the reader will be kept guessing as each piece of relevant information is revealed, this is more a study of an Australian country town than a crime thriller.
Some elements of this novel (small town where everyone knows everyone, the observations of the young female narrator and her best friend, the mysteriously missing residents) are reminiscent of Joanna Cannon’s The Trouble With Goats and Sheep, a favourable comparison.
Throsby’s depiction of the Australian small town is faultless: her setting so well rendered that readers familiar with the area may well have a certain town fixed in their minds. But it could be any NSW small town with its attractive and its less desirable qualities, and that includes the residents.
While some are necessarily a little stereotypical and therefore one-dimensional (the gossipy grocer, the outraged-at-anything-new old couple, the busybody neighbour, the obligatory sleazebag) and others are quite quirky, the townspeople are, of course, what makes this novel. And if they are all are believably flawed, many are also kind and generous and wise and some have unexpected depth. It soon becomes apparent why they love their town.
Throsby certainly has a way with words: “A woman who had long ago lost her mooring and sunk like a ship into her peculiar home. A person who had become more like a rumour than a human being.” The cute little map in the front is appreciated. This tale is clever and captivating and heart-warming and there’s plenty of (sometimes very black) humour. An outstanding debut.
Goodwood is the first novel by Australian songwriter, musician and novelist, Holly Throsby. In little rural NSW town of Goodwood nothing much happens. Until, in August of 1992, two residents go missing, a week apart. Eighteen-year-old Rosie White is absent from her room on a Sunday morning. While the town puzzles over that, their favourite butcher, Bart McDonald fails to return from his regular Sunday fish on the lake.
The town soon learns that his boat has been found on the lake without any sign of Bart, and when the lake is dragged, no body is found. They’ve always believed that theirs is a safe town, but now: “Goodwood had never been visited by such collective worry, and we were not familiar with the burden of the unknown.”
Seventeen-year-old Jean and her best friend George observe and discuss what they see. Their teenaged thoughts and emotions are complicated by this disquiet that settles on the town, although Jean is also distracted by the arrival in town of Evie, the most beautiful girl she has ever seen.
The uncertainty has a negative effect on the town: people are sad and anxious; many rally together and support one another; with others, tension rises and tempers flare; the uglier side of some relationships is exposed.
Readers should not expect an action-packed page-turner. Rather, the pace befits the small-town setting, and while there are mysteries to be solved, and the reader will be kept guessing as each piece of relevant information is revealed, this is more a study of an Australian country town than a crime thriller.
Some elements of this novel (small town where everyone knows everyone, the observations of the young female narrator and her best friend, the mysteriously missing residents) are reminiscent of Joanna Cannon’s The Trouble With Goats and Sheep, a favourable comparison.
Throsby’s depiction of the Australian small town is faultless: her setting so well rendered that readers familiar with the area may well have a certain town fixed in their minds. But it could be any NSW small town with its attractive and its less desirable qualities, and that includes the residents.
While some are necessarily a little stereotypical and therefore one-dimensional (the gossipy grocer, the outraged-at-anything-new old couple, the busybody neighbour, the obligatory sleazebag) and others are quite quirky, the townspeople are, of course, what makes this novel. And if they are all are believably flawed, many are also kind and generous and wise and some have unexpected depth. It soon becomes apparent why they love their town.
Throsby certainly has a way with words: “A woman who had long ago lost her mooring and sunk like a ship into her peculiar home. A person who had become more like a rumour than a human being.” The cute little map in the front is appreciated. This tale is clever and captivating and heart-warming and there’s plenty of (sometimes very black) humour. An outstanding debut.
September 27, 2016
I love a little thing called Australian small town fiction, which is the focus of debut author Holly Throsby’s novel, Goodwood. Goodwood is your typical Australian town, complete with a set of Aussie stereotypes. The story is primarily told from the eyes of a perceptive teenage girl named Jean Brown. Goodwood in a sense is a coming of age story, as Jean conveys the feelings experienced in Goodwood as two beloved townsfolk disappear. The novel also explores how the town of Goodwood deals with this scandal and how/why these two residents have vanished.
Goodwood is an example of small town fiction done well, with a full-bodied Australian flavour. Holly Throsby displays her talent as a debut writer in her approach to this novel. What arises from this story is an intriguing tale and it is the type of book that the reader cannot help but get completely involved in Goodwood’s mystery. Throsby has created a great set of characters in Goodwood, they all in their own ways embody the traits of a typical Australian. Consequently, the dialogue that emits from these characters is authentic and personable. The insertion of Jean Brown as the narrator, was a good choice on the author’s behalf. I really did enjoy her version of the strange events that took place, in what seemed like a pretty ordinary town. I feel the standout feature of this novel has to be the setting and time period. Growing up in a coastal Australian town in the 1990’s, allowed me to experience an overwhelming sense of nostalgia while reading this book, which I appreciated. In addition, I found humour could also be drawn from many parts of Goodwood. In particular, the sense of everybody knowing each other’s business gave me a chuckle or two, while reading the novel. Overall, I feel Throsby gives the reader a very accurate picture of small town life in 1990’s Australia, which is nicely tied together with great characterisation and an added compelling mystery.
Holly Throsby displays her ability to successfully make the transfer from singer/songwriter to writer in her debut novel, Goodwood. As a fan of Australian based small town fiction, this one really hit the spot for me.
*This review also appears on my blog:https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com...
(With thanks to The Reading Room/Allen & Unwin for a copy of this book for review purposes)
Goodwood is an example of small town fiction done well, with a full-bodied Australian flavour. Holly Throsby displays her talent as a debut writer in her approach to this novel. What arises from this story is an intriguing tale and it is the type of book that the reader cannot help but get completely involved in Goodwood’s mystery. Throsby has created a great set of characters in Goodwood, they all in their own ways embody the traits of a typical Australian. Consequently, the dialogue that emits from these characters is authentic and personable. The insertion of Jean Brown as the narrator, was a good choice on the author’s behalf. I really did enjoy her version of the strange events that took place, in what seemed like a pretty ordinary town. I feel the standout feature of this novel has to be the setting and time period. Growing up in a coastal Australian town in the 1990’s, allowed me to experience an overwhelming sense of nostalgia while reading this book, which I appreciated. In addition, I found humour could also be drawn from many parts of Goodwood. In particular, the sense of everybody knowing each other’s business gave me a chuckle or two, while reading the novel. Overall, I feel Throsby gives the reader a very accurate picture of small town life in 1990’s Australia, which is nicely tied together with great characterisation and an added compelling mystery.
Holly Throsby displays her ability to successfully make the transfer from singer/songwriter to writer in her debut novel, Goodwood. As a fan of Australian based small town fiction, this one really hit the spot for me.
*This review also appears on my blog:https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com...
(With thanks to The Reading Room/Allen & Unwin for a copy of this book for review purposes)
August 23, 2016
This is an Arc from work that I took home the other day. I have found it so good I couldn't put it down. Goodwood is a small township in Australia. It's a place where everyone knows your business or do they. It comes with a big mystery which is that two of the towns people go missing. This turns this little township upside down. It is a funny, sad and interesting story of life in a small town. The story is told by Jean, who is on the verge of adulthood and finding her true self. I like this bunch of characters, my heart was in this story with them.
September 30, 2016
Actual rating: 2.5/5 stars
I'm very disappointed to say that this book is just not for me. It doesn't quite capture the essence of a good mystery novel. There was a complete lack of suspense, and the story just felt really flat and boring.
The story started off with 17-year old Jean, a juvenile teenager who - like the rest of the town - is simple and friendly. I really liked how Jean was portrayed at the beginning of the book. She's a girl with brimming curiosity, loves books, music and her family. But of course, her whole personality just shifts as the story progresses. That's part of her character development, after all, but I feel like her voice grows more passive and the further I read the more I feel like I could no longer relate to her. I also thought that seeing as she's the main character, she contributed almost nothing to the story. Jean is just a 'minor witness' in the story. She has nothing to offer to the table because she isn't in any part of the whole mystery to begin with. I feel like if we've gotten Rosie's perspective before her disappearance or a close friend of hers, the story would actually go somewhere.
The writing has so much potential too - but it completely drew me off after reading the first half of the book. It got to the point where I just wanted to put the book down, but I went on anyway. I skimmed through a few pages, found nothing that might lead me to the answer, continued skimming, and before I knew it I was left with five chapters. Only then did I give my full attention. Then again, I thought the ending wasn't anything special either. I have to admit - it had a good build up to begin with, but it seems like the author just wants the readers to run in circles, drop a couple of hints in the last remaining chapters and then gradually reveal the answer to the mystery. There was just this lack of intensity that could have made the book more exciting.
I don't have much to say about this book, really. I wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for a fast-paced mystery thriller. If you like books with slow build-ups, then give this one a try. I'm personally not a fan of it, but of course everyone is entitled to their own opinions. The book has its pros, it's just that to me the cons pretty much outweighs them.
Thank you so much Allen&Unwin for sending over the book in exchange for an honest review!
I'm very disappointed to say that this book is just not for me. It doesn't quite capture the essence of a good mystery novel. There was a complete lack of suspense, and the story just felt really flat and boring.
The story started off with 17-year old Jean, a juvenile teenager who - like the rest of the town - is simple and friendly. I really liked how Jean was portrayed at the beginning of the book. She's a girl with brimming curiosity, loves books, music and her family. But of course, her whole personality just shifts as the story progresses. That's part of her character development, after all, but I feel like her voice grows more passive and the further I read the more I feel like I could no longer relate to her. I also thought that seeing as she's the main character, she contributed almost nothing to the story. Jean is just a 'minor witness' in the story. She has nothing to offer to the table because she isn't in any part of the whole mystery to begin with. I feel like if we've gotten Rosie's perspective before her disappearance or a close friend of hers, the story would actually go somewhere.
The writing has so much potential too - but it completely drew me off after reading the first half of the book. It got to the point where I just wanted to put the book down, but I went on anyway. I skimmed through a few pages, found nothing that might lead me to the answer, continued skimming, and before I knew it I was left with five chapters. Only then did I give my full attention. Then again, I thought the ending wasn't anything special either. I have to admit - it had a good build up to begin with, but it seems like the author just wants the readers to run in circles, drop a couple of hints in the last remaining chapters and then gradually reveal the answer to the mystery. There was just this lack of intensity that could have made the book more exciting.
I don't have much to say about this book, really. I wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for a fast-paced mystery thriller. If you like books with slow build-ups, then give this one a try. I'm personally not a fan of it, but of course everyone is entitled to their own opinions. The book has its pros, it's just that to me the cons pretty much outweighs them.
Thank you so much Allen&Unwin for sending over the book in exchange for an honest review!
January 2, 2017
Argh. This could have been so much more. Throsby's language and turns of phrase were so beautiful in parts. The initial description of the townsfolk knowing each other's business was lovely and rang true.
The story had enough suspense and plot diversions to be interesting. Unfortunately it became all bogged down in endless repetition. Repeating who was related to whom and how, who lived next door to each other. Even complete sentences were repeated at various times in the book. If this was a narrative device to show the smallness and repetitive nature of a small community, then I feel it fell short. I would be interested to hear the authors view on this.
Also I felt there was serious holes in the story when Mack the police officer openly discussed the case with various family members at the local bistro. Ummmmm no. Even in small towns this just does not happen. Even in the 1990s. Just inappropriate.
The characters were interesting. Especially Mack, the policeman. I just felt none of them had the to,e to shine due to the laboured writing style.
The "romance" of the book I felt to be forced and did not ring true. I guess it was supposed to be a surprise element, but really did not inspire any connection to the characters.
I'm sorry to say this was not my favourite debut. I feel Throsby shows potential and this work could have benefited from stronger editing. I would try another book by this author in the future.
The story had enough suspense and plot diversions to be interesting. Unfortunately it became all bogged down in endless repetition. Repeating who was related to whom and how, who lived next door to each other. Even complete sentences were repeated at various times in the book. If this was a narrative device to show the smallness and repetitive nature of a small community, then I feel it fell short. I would be interested to hear the authors view on this.
Also I felt there was serious holes in the story when Mack the police officer openly discussed the case with various family members at the local bistro. Ummmmm no. Even in small towns this just does not happen. Even in the 1990s. Just inappropriate.
The characters were interesting. Especially Mack, the policeman. I just felt none of them had the to,e to shine due to the laboured writing style.
The "romance" of the book I felt to be forced and did not ring true. I guess it was supposed to be a surprise element, but really did not inspire any connection to the characters.
I'm sorry to say this was not my favourite debut. I feel Throsby shows potential and this work could have benefited from stronger editing. I would try another book by this author in the future.
August 20, 2016
If you are looking for an Australian story beautifully told then Goodwood is your next book. It's a coming of age novel with an incredible sense of place. Set in a quiet rural town, two well loved people go missing a week apart. Their departures don't seem to be connected.
What resonated with me most was not what happened so much, but how Holly Throsby told the story...with humour, beautiful descriptions and great characters.
I don't want to compare Goodwood to another book, it stands on it's own. But if you loved Jasper Jones, you will love Goodwood.
What resonated with me most was not what happened so much, but how Holly Throsby told the story...with humour, beautiful descriptions and great characters.
I don't want to compare Goodwood to another book, it stands on it's own. But if you loved Jasper Jones, you will love Goodwood.
December 26, 2016
This started off really promising. Was practically unputdownable at the beginning and had me hooked. Two people, completely different, go missing within a week of each other in this small town and the mystery of what has happened to them begins. Whilst the lead up to unraveling what has occurred was suspenseful the ending left me a little flat. It all seemed to come to an end quite abruptly and left me feeling a little unsatisfied. Perhaps it was just the timing of when I read this book. The distractions of festive preparations taking away from my total absorption and enjoyment of the story. Overall though it was a good debut novel, which I'm glad I read and would recommend. It just didn't leave me gasping at any point so a 3.5 star read for me.
August 8, 2019
Small town living in 1990's Australia is big in GOODWOOD, which is interesting as this is a slow burning, confined, seemingly "small" story in the life of 17 year old Jean. She lives in Goodwood, a small town, near a bigger town, with her mother, near her grandparents, surrounded by people she knows, or is somehow related to, all of whom are known, related to somebody. It's the sort of town where you go to the bigger town to do the big shop, but the local town is where you get the essentials - and the gossip - and the support and understanding. There is so much that rings true about that time, and the reality of small town life that you can really believe / understand how it is that the disappearance of two people from such a small community has such a profound impact. Even more understandable is Jean's confusion and her way of processing not just the disappearances, but the fallout for everyone in the town. Suspicion and fear don't rub along well in a world with, as Jean's Nan puts it, "a high density of acquaintanceship".
Small is a poor description to use for this novel but it's a hard one to explain. It's small in that the location, the events, the impact is local and the ramifications don't seem to stretch much outside the community. It's not small in that those ramifications are pretty shattering for that small a community, but they are illustrated more in the day to day, than in grand psychological analysis. It's also a slow burner, languid, as the mystery behind these two disappearances is used to explore consequence and the impact of the unexpected. Jean's observations about the communities reactions, the slow twitch of discomfort that everyone is experiencing, and the different ways it manifests is beautifully executed. Dryly funny, observant and both young and old for her age, Jean's the perfect sort of character to carry the narrative here forward and a bit sideways at times. GOODWOOD is not really about the investigation of disappearance, it's about the fallout.
Jean's style is enhanced by a great supporting cast, with plenty of believable characters in their own right, many of whom are able to drop a truism into a conversation as effortlessly as they do a little gem of Australian-style wisdom. Jean's Nan made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion, as she let go lines that my own Grandmother would have happily and unflinchingly served up.
GOODWOOD came flagged as a crime fiction novel, and the thing I'm increasingly coming to admire in Australian Crime writing circles is how widely that genre definition is starting to spread. This isn't crime / investigation as mentioned above, but it's definitely possible crime / fallout and ramifications.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
Small is a poor description to use for this novel but it's a hard one to explain. It's small in that the location, the events, the impact is local and the ramifications don't seem to stretch much outside the community. It's not small in that those ramifications are pretty shattering for that small a community, but they are illustrated more in the day to day, than in grand psychological analysis. It's also a slow burner, languid, as the mystery behind these two disappearances is used to explore consequence and the impact of the unexpected. Jean's observations about the communities reactions, the slow twitch of discomfort that everyone is experiencing, and the different ways it manifests is beautifully executed. Dryly funny, observant and both young and old for her age, Jean's the perfect sort of character to carry the narrative here forward and a bit sideways at times. GOODWOOD is not really about the investigation of disappearance, it's about the fallout.
Jean's style is enhanced by a great supporting cast, with plenty of believable characters in their own right, many of whom are able to drop a truism into a conversation as effortlessly as they do a little gem of Australian-style wisdom. Jean's Nan made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion, as she let go lines that my own Grandmother would have happily and unflinchingly served up.
GOODWOOD came flagged as a crime fiction novel, and the thing I'm increasingly coming to admire in Australian Crime writing circles is how widely that genre definition is starting to spread. This isn't crime / investigation as mentioned above, but it's definitely possible crime / fallout and ramifications.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
August 7, 2017
I was surprised by this one. Very simply written, it tells the tale of the small town of Goodwood and the mystery of two people who went missing a week apart. The story is narrated by 17 year old Jean and is at times humorous, clever and sadly truthful about the lives some people live.
I was surprised this book was not aimed at the YA market with its story of small town living, domestic violence, sexual awakening and message of finding something in life that makes you happy.
My main complaint was there were too many characters, but I guess the author wanted to make her point that in a small town everyone knows everyone.
I was surprised this book was not aimed at the YA market with its story of small town living, domestic violence, sexual awakening and message of finding something in life that makes you happy.
My main complaint was there were too many characters, but I guess the author wanted to make her point that in a small town everyone knows everyone.
November 2, 2016
Goodwood was fantastic. I loved the voice of the character, the totally plausible Australian small town setting and the mystery underlying the story. I don't exaggerate when I say I think we have a modern aussie classic on our hands. This will be the book to buzz about this Christmas.
January 11, 2017
I enjoyed this book, which combines two mysteries with a coming of age story and a vivid portrayal of small town life.
The pleasant face of the town of Goodwood is peeled back following two disappearances, with dark secrets coming out from behind closed doors. The characters, who initially seem to be typical small town caricatures, become more interesting and complex as their responses to the disappearances are explored. The young protagonist, Jean, clearly grows throughout the book as she learns about the darker side of human nature.
In spite of the dark subject matter, there are plenty of moments of light and humour throughout the book. It's well-written and I found it to be a relatively easy read.
The pleasant face of the town of Goodwood is peeled back following two disappearances, with dark secrets coming out from behind closed doors. The characters, who initially seem to be typical small town caricatures, become more interesting and complex as their responses to the disappearances are explored. The young protagonist, Jean, clearly grows throughout the book as she learns about the darker side of human nature.
In spite of the dark subject matter, there are plenty of moments of light and humour throughout the book. It's well-written and I found it to be a relatively easy read.
November 5, 2016
This was slow at times and really hard to keep track of a whole town's worth of characters.
October 14, 2020
Beautifully written with silver-tongued sentences and poignant prose. However, the pace was problematic and the mystery was rather messily mopped up.
April 4, 2017
I don't know what this book is trying to be. Part of me wants to say that it is a clone of Jasper Jones, just with two disappearances instead of one. The mystery was good, but told through the wrong eyes. The main character, Jean, constantly is telling us what other people are thinking and doing as if she is spreading rumors. It makes the characters feel one dimensional, images in Jean's mind that all have to think and act in a certain way.
The story is told, and not shown. And it is exhausting having to read narration that doubles back over itself and gives retrospective comments. Towards the end of the book we are constantly reminded that we don't know what happened to one of the disappeared and that everything will change when we do. It would be a disappointing book if we didn't find out what happened to them. Statements like "We didn't know then that it would be long now." pulled me out of the story at the moment and are totally unnecessary at any point in the novel, especially when you're 95% of the way through. I do appreciate that this book attempted something different with the romance (because every YA must have romance) and the detail went into constructing the town. To anyone who was a teen in the early 90s, this probably would offer more enjoyment. Overall, this book was disappointing, but I did enjoy it more than Jasper Jones if that is a helpful comparison.
The story is told, and not shown. And it is exhausting having to read narration that doubles back over itself and gives retrospective comments. Towards the end of the book we are constantly reminded that we don't know what happened to one of the disappeared and that everything will change when we do. It would be a disappointing book if we didn't find out what happened to them. Statements like "We didn't know then that it would be long now." pulled me out of the story at the moment and are totally unnecessary at any point in the novel, especially when you're 95% of the way through. I do appreciate that this book attempted something different with the romance (because every YA must have romance) and the detail went into constructing the town. To anyone who was a teen in the early 90s, this probably would offer more enjoyment. Overall, this book was disappointing, but I did enjoy it more than Jasper Jones if that is a helpful comparison.
February 1, 2017
A beautiful novel about small town machinations and set against a young adult coming of age story. Loved it.
February 5, 2017
I imagine Goodwood would be something like Bridport. These days, after my home location by the river down south, it is well and truly my favourite place on our island. That, my son, with his lovely partner and my mint new granddaughter, live there is part of the reason – but not all. There's more to it than that.
Of course there are differences between the two towns. Briddy is a two pub affair, Goodwood has just a single to slake the thirst of the locals. The former comes alive during the summer months, but for the remainder is a sleepy place, like Goodwood year round. My son's town sits on Anderson Bay, the fictional locale on a lake. But it's the feel of these places – they're welcoming and close knit. There's neighbourliness like you do not get in suburbia or with inner city living. And there's nothing much that happens that doesn't reach the ears of the denizens of each. Most would reckon they had a fair handle on each other's business – mostly a blessing, particularly when times get tough.
But over the course of a couple of weeks, back in '92, all that changes for Goodwood with two local identities disappearing in quick succession – both seemingly without a trace. It's up to the town's copper, Mack, to sort it all out, find them or give some closure on both if the unthinkable has happened. What has become of Rosie, the gorgeous young lass who works at the fish'n'chippery; or of Bart, the local butcher – a jovial fella with a heart of gold?
Jean, our narrator, is looking back from the present to this tumultuous period for the town – events occurred that threw her young adult years out of kilter. She stumbled across a clue that she figured may have been linked to the whole business, but what to do, what to do? And not far away from Goodwood, to increase the tension, some backpackers have disappeared as well in a certain forest. We all know how that turned out.
Goodwood is the fictional creation of Holly Throsby who, up until its release, has been better known as one of our leading singer songwriters, as well as for being the daughter of much loved media personality Margaret. The novel was a project for Throsby while she was off the road expecting her her first child Alvy, now two. And the book really is a stunning debut and I am not alone in ranking it on the same level as Craig Silvey's classic small town drama 'Jasper Jones' (can't wait for the film of that title coming soon).
As with that book, Throsby's in no way hurries to put the pieces together. Although the pace is leisurely it is a cracking read – for me a page-turner of the first order. Apart from the town's mystery, there is much else on young Jean's mind – her mother's chest pains, just what exactly is her relationship with the lad who loves to stare at cows and then there is the new girl in town, Evie, whom she's not quite sure about.
As with my Bridport, one of the main activities in the place is fishing – and this figures huge for a place like Goodwood as well. Both towns are full of eccentric characters and maybe a busy body or two, as with most communities of that size. And no doubt there are secrets to be found behind closed doors – but for the fictional town many of these are exposed by the jittery times after the disappearances as Mack starts to make headway with his investigations. Maybe the two are linked in someway.
I was pleased to read Throsby is now working on her sixth album. But even better news is that she's making headway with her second novel. Shes really off to a flyer with 'Goodwood' and hopefully the longer form of writing will not remain for long the second string to her bow - as good as her music is.
Of course there are differences between the two towns. Briddy is a two pub affair, Goodwood has just a single to slake the thirst of the locals. The former comes alive during the summer months, but for the remainder is a sleepy place, like Goodwood year round. My son's town sits on Anderson Bay, the fictional locale on a lake. But it's the feel of these places – they're welcoming and close knit. There's neighbourliness like you do not get in suburbia or with inner city living. And there's nothing much that happens that doesn't reach the ears of the denizens of each. Most would reckon they had a fair handle on each other's business – mostly a blessing, particularly when times get tough.
But over the course of a couple of weeks, back in '92, all that changes for Goodwood with two local identities disappearing in quick succession – both seemingly without a trace. It's up to the town's copper, Mack, to sort it all out, find them or give some closure on both if the unthinkable has happened. What has become of Rosie, the gorgeous young lass who works at the fish'n'chippery; or of Bart, the local butcher – a jovial fella with a heart of gold?
Jean, our narrator, is looking back from the present to this tumultuous period for the town – events occurred that threw her young adult years out of kilter. She stumbled across a clue that she figured may have been linked to the whole business, but what to do, what to do? And not far away from Goodwood, to increase the tension, some backpackers have disappeared as well in a certain forest. We all know how that turned out.
Goodwood is the fictional creation of Holly Throsby who, up until its release, has been better known as one of our leading singer songwriters, as well as for being the daughter of much loved media personality Margaret. The novel was a project for Throsby while she was off the road expecting her her first child Alvy, now two. And the book really is a stunning debut and I am not alone in ranking it on the same level as Craig Silvey's classic small town drama 'Jasper Jones' (can't wait for the film of that title coming soon).
As with that book, Throsby's in no way hurries to put the pieces together. Although the pace is leisurely it is a cracking read – for me a page-turner of the first order. Apart from the town's mystery, there is much else on young Jean's mind – her mother's chest pains, just what exactly is her relationship with the lad who loves to stare at cows and then there is the new girl in town, Evie, whom she's not quite sure about.
As with my Bridport, one of the main activities in the place is fishing – and this figures huge for a place like Goodwood as well. Both towns are full of eccentric characters and maybe a busy body or two, as with most communities of that size. And no doubt there are secrets to be found behind closed doors – but for the fictional town many of these are exposed by the jittery times after the disappearances as Mack starts to make headway with his investigations. Maybe the two are linked in someway.
I was pleased to read Throsby is now working on her sixth album. But even better news is that she's making headway with her second novel. Shes really off to a flyer with 'Goodwood' and hopefully the longer form of writing will not remain for long the second string to her bow - as good as her music is.
July 24, 2017
I really enjoyed Goodwood. It's a slow burn and a small story, but I think that's the point. Goodwood isn't just one story, it's a dozen small stories of individual lives woven together in a small community before the internet gave us instant access to global news.
Holly Throsby is a fabulous storyteller and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the mystery unfold through Jean's eyes. There are bigger issues at play, but we never forget that Jean is only 17 years old. And when you're 17 years old your priorities are rather different to your priorities when you're an adult.
When Bart the butcher vanishes, Jean muses:
"Suffice to say, buying meat became a sombre affair and some people in town were subdued into reluctant vegetarianism, or drove the forty minutes to the big Woolworths in Clarke."
It probably helps that I was just starting high school in 1992 - the year this book is set - but I LOVED the 90s details. I spent half the book exclaiming 'Oh my goodness! I remember [insert lost 90s relic here]!!'
It was so much fun. Throsby does an incredible job of intertwining outstanding imagery with pop culture references that had me jiggling in my seat to remembered tunes:
"Dismay had spread from the town and seeped in through our open window. I chopped the onions. Tears ran down my face but I hardly noticed them. I could hear Fitzy calling out, Myrtle, Myrtle. Mum and Mack shared a moment of weighty silence. Paul Simon was singing. He said that if he could call us Betty then we could call him Al. The crickets chirped loudly. I was on my way to the pantry for the olive oil when the phone rang."
If you love a good story set in small-town Australia along with fabulous, quirky and entertaining writing, you'll love this book.
Holly Throsby is a fabulous storyteller and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the mystery unfold through Jean's eyes. There are bigger issues at play, but we never forget that Jean is only 17 years old. And when you're 17 years old your priorities are rather different to your priorities when you're an adult.
When Bart the butcher vanishes, Jean muses:
"Suffice to say, buying meat became a sombre affair and some people in town were subdued into reluctant vegetarianism, or drove the forty minutes to the big Woolworths in Clarke."
It probably helps that I was just starting high school in 1992 - the year this book is set - but I LOVED the 90s details. I spent half the book exclaiming 'Oh my goodness! I remember [insert lost 90s relic here]!!'
It was so much fun. Throsby does an incredible job of intertwining outstanding imagery with pop culture references that had me jiggling in my seat to remembered tunes:
"Dismay had spread from the town and seeped in through our open window. I chopped the onions. Tears ran down my face but I hardly noticed them. I could hear Fitzy calling out, Myrtle, Myrtle. Mum and Mack shared a moment of weighty silence. Paul Simon was singing. He said that if he could call us Betty then we could call him Al. The crickets chirped loudly. I was on my way to the pantry for the olive oil when the phone rang."
If you love a good story set in small-town Australia along with fabulous, quirky and entertaining writing, you'll love this book.
October 12, 2016
Goodwood is Australian author Holly Throsby’s first novel; but she’s also a songwriter and musician who’s released solo albums and a children’s album.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the sense of uncertainty and loss of innocence. It’s not a novel of suspense or a thriller. Sure, Jean, her family and the town are focussed around the double disappearances but they never really seem to worry there’s a baddie in their midst. There are the usual miscreants who’ve been problems all of their lives but any fear seems to mostly come from external sources.
Throsby offers up some great female role models for Jean. Her own mother and grandmother are both well-educated, considerate and contemplative women… and though Jean’s a tad disdainful when it comes to her Pop, local police officer (and her mother’s cousin) Mack, gives us a respectful and nuanced male lead.
This was a happily understated and very enjoyable read and great debut. And incidentally I note it very much reflects the author (an authenticity that’s nice to see) as I scanned through Throsby’s website.
Read the full review on my site: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
3.5 stars
What I enjoyed most about this book was the sense of uncertainty and loss of innocence. It’s not a novel of suspense or a thriller. Sure, Jean, her family and the town are focussed around the double disappearances but they never really seem to worry there’s a baddie in their midst. There are the usual miscreants who’ve been problems all of their lives but any fear seems to mostly come from external sources.
Throsby offers up some great female role models for Jean. Her own mother and grandmother are both well-educated, considerate and contemplative women… and though Jean’s a tad disdainful when it comes to her Pop, local police officer (and her mother’s cousin) Mack, gives us a respectful and nuanced male lead.
This was a happily understated and very enjoyable read and great debut. And incidentally I note it very much reflects the author (an authenticity that’s nice to see) as I scanned through Throsby’s website.
Read the full review on my site: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
3.5 stars
April 25, 2017
Review
I won a copy of this book and I really looked forward to reading it. I loved the cover and the blurb seemed interesting.
I’ve put off writing my review because I really did not care for the book at all, this was disappointing as the beginning of the story seemed so good.
I soon became overloaded with characters, so many of them yet I don’t feel I got to know even one.
The whole story just seemed a bit half hearted to me, it meandered here there and everywhere like a first draft awaiting a massive edit.
It is as if the author has ideas, but lacks the writing expertise to transform them into a suspenseful and interesting novel.
Even the lesbian hook up seemed like an afterthought, just dropped in there merely for the sake of it.
It all just seemed to lack effort, and maybe with a little more application it could have been a good story, and that is the reason for my awarding two stars rather than just one. Hopefully the author will make the time and the effort to hone her novel writing skills.
Book provided by Allen & Unwin
I won a copy of this book and I really looked forward to reading it. I loved the cover and the blurb seemed interesting.
I’ve put off writing my review because I really did not care for the book at all, this was disappointing as the beginning of the story seemed so good.
I soon became overloaded with characters, so many of them yet I don’t feel I got to know even one.
The whole story just seemed a bit half hearted to me, it meandered here there and everywhere like a first draft awaiting a massive edit.
It is as if the author has ideas, but lacks the writing expertise to transform them into a suspenseful and interesting novel.
Even the lesbian hook up seemed like an afterthought, just dropped in there merely for the sake of it.
It all just seemed to lack effort, and maybe with a little more application it could have been a good story, and that is the reason for my awarding two stars rather than just one. Hopefully the author will make the time and the effort to hone her novel writing skills.
Book provided by Allen & Unwin
March 25, 2017
Written by musician Holly Throsby, Goodwood is the story of a sleepy Australian town where everyone knows everyone and nothing eventful ever happens, until two people who are seemingly unrelated go missing in the same week. Told through the eyes of Jean, a sixteen year old high school girl, what unfurls is the retelling of the events that followed the disappearances. This book was chock full of Australian cultural references, but not so stereotypiclly that I was rolling my eyes. Rather I was nodding, laughing, crying, biting my nails, feeling the sadness and the grief and the exhilaration along with all of the characters. It was at times laugh out loud funny, at times tear jerking, and was tender and wonderful. I thoroughly and unexpectedly enjoyed Goodwood and look forward to reading Throsby's future writing projects. It seems a talented musician can also be a talented novelist.
November 1, 2016
As a big fan of Holly Throsby's music, I jumped at the chance to read her debut novel. Set in the fictional regional town of Goodwood, the small town's array of characters are disrupted by the disappearance of not one, but two prominent members of the town community - young, elusive teen Rosie and charismatic, community focused butcher Bart. Throsby has a lovely turn of phrase in her exploration of the simple, yet complex, caring, yet gossipy members of the town, but ultimately this novel plodded along with a mystery that failed to deliver.
November 15, 2016
Very slow story with an enormous cast of characters with similar names. Nice descriptions of Australian living in the 90's, but so very twee. The pace picked up in the last 100 pages (this book could have been half the length) and then ending was the mystery equivalent of "and then they woke up and it was all a dream". Pretty meh.
December 10, 2016
Just as it says on the back cover, "rich in character and complexity, its humour both droll and tender, Goodwood is a compelling ride into a small community, torn apart by dark rumours and mystery." A perfect description of Holly Throsby's debut novel. Eagerly look forward to the next from her.
April 17, 2017
Started out pretty loose and hard to find anything impressive, but it really kicks in nicely. Couldn't put it down today, read the last 60% in one day! So it is very entertaining and compelling in regard to the "who done it, who is doing it, and who" factors.
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