The Grapevine is a claustrophobic crime thriller set in a close-knit community. Kemp tells her story with lucid prose and sharp humour, and the oppressive atmosphere and heat of a Canberra Christmas is tangible, tempers frayed. But I was disappointed by the characterisation: there seemed to be nothing below the surface. There are many secrets, but all of them are known to the reader, which diminishes the tension somewhat. Even the final twist feels a little predictable.

The Grapevine is a debut with potential, but it ultimately left me wanting a little more.

The residents of Warrah Place are united when it comes to solving the strange disappearance of Antonio, a young Lothario whose family have recently moved into the ‘Italian House’. His foot is found and 12 year old Tammy decides to do her own investigations. Colin, the slightly younger neighbour is at a loose end too, he loves trying on the contents of Tammy’s wardrobe and tags along for the ride. The cosmopolitan bunch of neighbours are full of intrigue, their different characters often at odds with each other. Friendships are forged from unusual happenings. A lonely Chinese neighbour gives a lift to Ursula, a closet Lesbian; two unhappy women who are able to open up to each other. It’s a lovely moment told with great pathos. Alongside all this intrigue are young Tammy’s observations on the life of ants - her self designated school assignment! Beautifully written with moments of humour, tragedy and friendship, the basis of which are all connected to the victim Antonio! My only criticism would be the constant hopping from past to present which took a little getting used to!

The book started off with a bang, setting the scene of the housewife cleaning up her husbands mistakes, as the book goes on it delves into the societies norms of secrets & lies that can be hidden in a close knit community like the setting of this thriller book, if you enjoy a good murder mystery thriller I would recommend. I throughly enjoyed, thankyou net galley for sharing this arc

I really enjoyed this story and its definitely different from others I've read. A brilliant murder mystery in a small town full of secrets. A great debut xx

I have really struggled to get through this book. I understand that it is focusing on careful observation of people behaviour but i have found each chapter very similar with little progress in the story- just more descriptive thinking from each character.
Not for me.

In Kate Kemp's engrossing novel, »The Grapevine«, the tranquil facade of Australian suburbia in 1979 fractures with the chilling revelation of a murder.

The narrative starts with a horrified housewife trying to erase the gruesome aftermath of her husband's crime—the slaying of their neighbor, Antonio Marietti. This stark opening sets the stage for an enthralling exploration of secrets, deceit, and the twisted underbelly of seemingly ordinary lives.

The plot unravels through the perspective of young Tammy, an inquisitive aspiring scientist caught up in the mounting tensions of her neighborhood. As rumors of Antonio's death spread, an atmosphere of suspicion and intrigue descends, turning once-familiar faces into enigmatic suspects. Each character is deftly crafted, revealing hidden agendas and vulnerabilities. The neighborhood comes alive as a tapestry of secrets and lies, with every closed door harboring potential darkness, leaving readers to question their trust in the characters.

Kemp's writing style strikes a balance between vivid description and approachability, drawing readers into her characters' emotional world. The stifling heat of summer and the suffocating weight of unspoken truths are nearly tangible. Deeply ingrained emotions like fear, guilt, curiosity, and betrayal are woven seamlessly into the narrative, highlighting the complex dynamics within a tight-knit community.

While feminist undertones are evident, Kemp skillfully avoids sermonizing and maintains a riveting plot that leaves readers guessing at every turn.

The story raises thought-provoking questions about the masks people wear to conceal their darker sides, as well as the consequences of maintaining appearances in a society that expects conformity.

Ultimately, »The Grapevine« is a tantalizing mystery and an astute social commentary rolled into one, leaving readers to ponder the depths of human nature long after finishing the book.

I felt slightly claustrophobic reading this. A place where the curtains twitch and your neighbours know way too much about you.
Despite that, there's still some secrets kept hidden.
I've said before, I really enjoy these kid led tales, and it was interesting to see the world alongside Tammy and Colin.
Fills in the blank spaces of the crime at a good pace all thr way to the end.
Very entertaining.

This is a compulsive read. I really enjoyed it. Very atmospheric and the details made the setting and characters live in my mind. It’s a whodunnit, but one that it more about the characters lives than ‘just’ the crime.

Curtain twitching on overdrive. The Grapevine is proof that life in suburbia is never quite as it seems. A wonderful cast of characters (don't we all know a Cecil?) this is a book to devour

This book is brilliantly written! I loved everything about it and would highly recommend it!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC

The hook: a quiet suburban street in Canberra, Australia 1979. What a lovely place to live. Unless you're the teenage Italian boy whose dismembered foot has been found in the wasteland at the back.
Full intrigue along with a. stunning and evocative claustrophobic 1970s setting. This is written with effortless grace. It's a rich tapestry of a book that's psychologically astute. Think 'The List of Suspicious Things' but warmer and with kangaroos.
It's loaded with clever takedown of misogyny, homophobia, racism and xenophobia. The wit and humour is subtle but cutting.
You'll love this.if: you like sharp takedowns of the flaws of people and society.