The Grapevine
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The Grapevine
Buy Now for $27.99
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Narrated by:
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Jennifer Vuletic
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By:
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Kate Kemp
About this listen
There are secrets behind every closed door in the Warrah Place neighbourhood, and who killed Antonio Marietti is the biggest one of all . . .
It's the height of summer in Australia, 1979, and on a quiet suburban cul-de-sac in Canberra a housewife is scrubbing the yellow and white chequered tiles of the bathroom floor. But all is not as it seems. For one thing, it's 3 am. For another, she is trying desperately to remove all traces of blood before they stain. Her husband seems remarkably calm, considering he has just murdered their neighbour.
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 . . .
Critic Reviews
'The Grapevine took me hostage . . . Gorgeous writing, complex, nuanced characterisation . . . and the atmospheric setting of Canberra in the summer heat . . . A fascinating, engaging book.' MARIAN KEYES
'Kemp re-creates 1970s Canberra with deft elegance, triggering a time-travelling sensory overload with her prose . . . The result is a novel that doesn't just inhabit its time but dissects it with the keen curiosity of an anthropologist ready to catalogue its secrets.' THE SATURDAY PAPER
'a sensational study of characters, culture clashes, identity and the quest for change, with a murder backdrop' HERALD SUN
'Kemp is deft at crafting credible and complex suspects amid a 1970s suburban milieu that plays to nostalgia and pierces it, too.' THE SATURDAY AGE
'An atmospheric, slow-burn mystery with an unanticipated twist, more satisfying for drawing out the darkness and disorder under the prim veneer of suburban life' WA TODAY
'The Grapevine was a joy to read. Its flowing, witty prose and deft characterisation transported me effortlessly into a small suburban street in 1970s Australia' DIANNE YARWOOD
'With a youthful (and wilful) detective reminiscent of Tippy Chan from RWR McDonald's The Nancys and the heady nostalgia of Holly Throsby's Clarke, Kemp's debut is an engrossing slice of deceptive life.' BOOKS+PUBLISHING
Similar to 'Cedar Valley' by Holly Throsby, the story unfolds through the interactions and gossip among the locals, with informal meetings happening on the island in the centre of Warrah Place. Much like my childhood hero, Harriet the Spy, twelve-year-old Tammy is outside looking in, observing, and taking notes in her notebook. Tammy is relatable and endearing, and her friendship with Colin examines the power of connection, curiosity, and the resilience of youth. Following the death of Antonio Marietti and other spoilery backstories of each neighbour, the story evolves in an atmosphere of gossip and speculation that challenges perceptions and exposes the realities of 1970s Australia. It addresses themes of racism, misogyny, homophobia, and family violence.
This is Kate Kemp's debut novel, and I will be watching for whatever she writes next (I peeked at her Instagram, and it looks like a second novel is in the works). If you enjoy the works of Holly Throsby, Hailey Scrivenor, or Jane Harper, I think you will enjoy The Grapevine.
Also, can we talk about the cover art? The colours, the 70-style Australian floral wallpaper, and the phone receiver convey the idea of gossip, give us a location, and perfectly set the scene.
Big thumbs up! 👍 Go read a book.
Body count: 1.
I LOVED this book.
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easy read, humour of a community.
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