Kerry Greenwood introduces readers to the glamorous and witty Phryne Fisher in “Cocaine Blues.” Set in 1920s Melbourne, the book follows Phryne as she leaves London to investigate a wealthy family’s concerns about their daughter.
As a detective, Phryne navigates the city’s jazz clubs, opium dens, and high society to uncover secrets and solve crimes. The story combines a stylish protagonist with vibrant descriptions of Melbourne’s roaring twenties.
The novel “The Mystery of a Hansom Cab” by Fergus Hume begins with a murder in a hansom cab in Melbourne. The story follows the investigation into the crime, uncovering secrets about the city’s upper class and underworld.
It paints a vivid picture of 19th-century Melbourne, with its mix of opulence and darker edges. The twists and revelations keep the mystery alive until the very end.
The novel “The Slap” by Christos Tsiolkas begins at a backyard barbecue in suburban Melbourne, where a man slaps a child who isn’t his own. This single act causes ripple effects throughout a close-knit group of family and friends, exposing tensions and hidden conflicts.
Each chapter is told from a different character’s perspective, offering insight into their lives and relationships, while raising questions about loyalty, parenting, and cultural values in contemporary Australia.
“Truth” by Peter Temple is a dark crime novel set in Melbourne. The story follows homicide detective Stephen Villani as he investigates a brutal murder in the middle of political corruption and personal chaos.
The city’s gritty underbelly is vividly portrayed, and Villani’s struggles with his family and past mistakes add depth to the narrative.
“Bad Debts” by Peter Temple is a crime novel set in Melbourne. It follows Jack Irish, a former lawyer turned investigator, as he digs into the mysterious death of a former client. The story explores the darker corners of the city, from backroom corruption to seedy neighborhoods.
Jack’s hunt for the truth pulls him into a web of politics and personal danger, painting a gritty picture of Melbourne’s underbelly.
A. S. Patrić’s “Black Rock White City” follows Jovan, a Serbian refugee in Melbourne, as he works as a hospital cleaner and grapples with the scars of his past. His wife, Suzana, struggles with her own grief as they try to rebuild their lives in a new country.
The story focuses on Jovan’s encounters with a series of disturbing graffiti in the hospital, which leads to a deeper look at loss, trauma, and survival. The Melbourne setting acts as an atmospheric backdrop to this deeply human tale.
“Monkey Grip” by Helen Garner is set in 1970s Melbourne and follows the lives of Nora and her friends as they navigate love, addiction, and unconventional relationships.
Nora becomes involved with Javo, a heroin addict, and the story explores their intense and chaotic connection. The novel captures the atmosphere of shared houses, the rhythms of the city, and the messy, emotional struggles of its characters.
The book “Power Without Glory” by Frank Hardy tells the story of John West, a powerful businessman and political figure in a working-class Melbourne suburb. It explores his rise to influence, his corruption, and the impact of his actions on those around him.
Set against a richly detailed backdrop of early 20th-century Melbourne, it captures the tensions of class, politics, and morality in a changing society.
Shane Maloney’s “The Brush-Off” is a witty crime novel set in Melbourne, where politics and art collide. Murray Whelan, a political fixer, gets dragged into a tangled mess after the suspicious death of an artist tied to an important cultural project.
As he tries to untangle the mystery, he navigates Melbourne’s art scene and backroom political deals, all while juggling a chaotic personal life. The story captures the city’s character with sharp humor and an eye for its quirks.
“The Children’s Bach” by Helen Garner is set in Melbourne and follows a seemingly ordinary family whose lives are quietly disrupted when they encounter a group of unconventional outsiders.
The story focuses on the relationships between the characters, such as the reserved Athena, her husband Dexter, and others who influence their world.
The book explores everyday life, love, and change with moments that feel deeply authentic, all against the backdrop of suburban Melbourne.
The novel “My Brother Jack” by George Johnston tells the story of two brothers, David and Jack Merrick, growing up in Melbourne during the early 20th century. David, a reflective and sensitive character, contrasts sharply with Jack, who is brash and straightforward.
Through their lives, the book captures the struggles of post-war Australia, exploring themes like ambition, family, and the changes rippling through society. David’s journey from his childhood to adulthood, including his growth as a writer, is central to the story.
Melbourne serves as a vivid backdrop, with its streets and suburbs reflecting the era’s hardships and dreams.
The novel “Stiff” by Shane Maloney is a crime story set in Melbourne, following the misadventures of Murray Whelan, a political adviser who stumbles into chaos when a meatpacker’s death turns out to be more than an accident.
Murray navigates shady dealings, an election campaign, and his own messy personal life, all with a mix of wit and desperation. The local flavor of Melbourne’s suburbs adds richness to the story.
Martin Boyd wrote “The Cardboard Crown,” a novel about Guy Langton, who discovers his grandmother Alice’s diaries while sorting through family papers.
These diaries reveal the hidden truths of a once-respected Melbourne family, uncovering secrets about love, ambition, and betrayal.
The book explores the tensions between personal desires and societal expectations in the context of Australia’s shifting identity and its ties to England.
Through Alice’s story and Guy’s reflections, the novel paints a vivid picture of family dynamics and the complexities of heritage.
The book “The Getting of Wisdom” by Henry Handel Richardson follows Laura Tweedle Ramsbotham, a young girl from the countryside, as she navigates life at a strict boarding school in Melbourne.
Laura struggles to fit in, facing the challenges of peer pressure and societal expectations. The story paints a vivid picture of her awkward attempts to find her place while grappling with issues like jealousy and pride.
It captures the transformative experiences of adolescence in a city setting that feels real and relatable.
“The Rosie Project” by Graeme Simsion follows Don Tillman, a genetics professor who struggles with social interactions and decides to approach finding a wife with a scientific method he calls The Wife Project.
His life takes an unexpected turn when he meets Rosie, who is on her own quest to find her biological father. Their connection grows as they work on her search together, shaking up Don’s structured and logical world. The story is both funny and heartwarming.
The novel “Three Dollars” by Elliot Perlman tells the story of Eddie, a man who navigates the challenges of work, family, and morality in modern Melbourne.
Set against the backdrop of economic uncertainty, Eddie, who works as a public servant, finds himself with only three dollars to his name as he faces life’s ups and downs.
The book explores his relationships, particularly with his wife Tanya and their young child, while touching on themes of fairness and the human cost of corporate greed.
Barbara Biggs wrote “Chat Room,” a novel about a teenage girl named Katrina who meets an older man online. The story follows Katrina as their interactions take a dark turn, revealing unsettling truths about the dangers of the digital world.
Set in Melbourne, the book captures the unease and vulnerability of navigating life as a young person in the internet age. It’s a chilling portrayal of trust and deception.
“A Difficult Young Man” by Martin Boyd is part of the Langton series, which follows the lives of an upper-class Australian family. The story focuses on Dominic Langton, a charismatic and restless figure who defies the expectations of his family and society.
Set in early 20th-century Melbourne, the novel explores family tensions and social values as seen through Dominic’s bold decisions and his relationships with those around him.
Henry Handel Richardson wrote “The Fortunes of Richard Mahony,” a story about an ambitious man who rises and falls in colonial Australia.
Set in 19th-century Melbourne and nearby goldfields, the book follows Richard Mahony, a doctor who struggles with his ideals and his place in society. His journey includes moments of success, personal conflict, and challenges tied to his restless nature.
The novel paints a vivid picture of Melbourne during the gold rush era, with its promise of wealth and its harsh realities.
“The Gift of Speed” by Steven Carroll is set in the Melbourne suburbs during the 1960s. It follows Michael, a boy coming of age in a world shaped by cricket, family dynamics, and the cultural shifts of the time.
The Ashes series is a backdrop to his father’s obsessions, while Michael wrestles with his own dreams and the tensions within his household. The story captures the atmosphere of suburban life and the bonds, frustrations, and ambitions that define it.
The novel “Illywhacker” by Peter Carey tells the story of Herbert Badgery, a 139-year-old man who calls himself a con artist.
Set in Melbourne and other parts of Australia, the book follows his larger-than-life tales, from selling fraudulent inventions to starting an aviary business. It’s full of quirky characters, strange twists, and a humorous look at Australian identity and history.
“The Lost Dog” by Michelle de Kretser is about Tom Loxley, a man who loses his dog in the Australian bush. Set in Melbourne, the story touches on his relationships, including his complicated bond with Nelly Zhang, an artist with a mysterious past.
The novel weaves Tom’s search for his dog with his memories and the lingering shadows of his heritage, painting a vivid picture of inner struggles and his connection to the city.
Nevil Shute’s “On the Beach” is a chilling novel set in a post-apocalyptic Melbourne. After a nuclear war wipes out most of the world, the last survivors in Australia await the arrival of deadly radiation.
The story follows a group of characters, including a naval officer and a young woman, as they navigate their remaining days and try to find meaning in the face of inevitable death.
It paints a vivid picture of a city grappling with despair and fleeting hope under the shadow of global catastrophe.
“The Time We Have Taken” by Steven Carroll follows the lives of suburban residents in a Melbourne neighborhood during the 1970s. The novel explores their quiet struggles, relationships, and reflections on change as their world shifts around them.
The story centers on an aging couple, Irene and Michael, whose marriage faces unspoken tensions, while a new plan for urban redevelopment looms over the community. Through their personal experiences, the book paints a picture of a city caught between the past and the future.