Razorhurst

This was a fantasy novel that did not need the fantasy and a horror novel that was not horrific in the traditional sense. This novel was about a day in the life of 1930's Australia, rife with gangsters and the violent lives these women (and men) lead. The supernatural aspects of the novel deal with the two major characters ability to see ghosts. Kelpie,the first main character, is a young orphan who has lived on the street raised by ghosts that she feels she is the only one who can see. The second is Dymphna, a high class call girl who has plans to become more, and has been hiding the fact that she is also able to see ghosts.

This novel did not need the ghosts. It would have been amazing as just a plain old thriller. The story harkens back to those old gangster novels, but with an interesting twist, this is a novel about women, and strong women at that. All the women in this novel are strong and interesting characters. Kelpie lives in a world of women, men are in the periphery. They are there but are props for the women characters to move around the board that is Razorhurst.

I loved this novel. I want to read more like this novel. The female characters were rich and well developed, from the main characters of Kelpie and Dymphna, to the supporting characters, of Glorianna, Old Ma and Miss Lee. Unfortunately, the same can not be said for most of the male characters, who seemed to be a bit one demensional.

The Author was able to create a very convincing world. I felt like I was running on the streets of Razorhurst, and because the character and world building were so good, the novel flew.

This novel is receiving a well deserved 4.5 stars from me.