Frightened of the year ahead? Try this
Why horror is a force for good right now – and the Aussie film that paved the way for heart-stoppers like The Substance and Sorrow Spring.
Books
‘Ultimate truth bomb’: DNA tests exposed
Are you one of the many people who received a DNA test kit as a gift this Christmas? If so, you might need to prepare yourself for some surprising results.
‘Casual cruelty’: Social media FOMO spawns murder mystery
Social media throws up horrors, lifelines and FOMO, says a former journalist who has seen the worst of it up close. Her experience is at the heart of a new murder-mystery.
‘Dark underbelly isn’t what you see on TV’
It’s a byword for fame and bright lights, but there’s a much darker side to Los Angeles, warns Australia’s Pip Drysdale as she unveils her new stalker thriller.
More Stories
Love and a ‘dangerous, dark’ history
Australia’s Shelley Davidow was there when the Berlin Wall fell. Now she can reveal a story of impossible love set against the most heady – and horrific – moments of recent history.
‘A mad twist’: Author responds to critic
Plot twists are a key part of our favourite shows and stories – but do they always work? One of Australia’s favourite writers has a message for a reader who missed the memo.
Why I met Mum for the first time in my 50s
A highly personal quest into her own past prompted Lisa Medved to weave a powerful plot about absent parents and secrets into her critically-acclaimed historical novel.
How to tell if you’re a Mean Girl
From the workplace to parties, Mean Girls live on into adulthood, long after leaving school. And you may be one of them, without even knowing. How’s how to tell.
‘A posh Gwyneth Paltrow, with problems’
Fakes, hypocrites … and murder. All is not well in the ‘wellness’ world, as Lucy Foley shows with her take on the Instagram-curated craze.
Sex joke’s brutal backfire on genius
Everyone knows the name Oppenheimer, thanks to the blockbuster biopic. But an ugly bullying incident in the scientist’s past gives new insight into his character and motivation.
‘You can bet on that’: Radio queen’s rule
Worried our reliance on screens will mean people stop reading and kids forget how to play? Aussies have been there before, a fascinating new book reveals – and look what happened.
Joy, fear and endless shifts: the truth about motherhood
One moment you are invincible, the next you’re overcome by worry and a lifetime of work. There’s something we should know about women, says Cathy Kelly.
‘Women not welcome’ and a vegan biffo
Behind uplifting new Aussie comedy Milking Time lie serious, even confronting, stories – and at least one of them will be relevant to you, reckons Rachael Treasure.
‘I caught my kid looking at fake news’
With up to 63 per cent of kids and teens getting news from social media, how do we help them dodge fake content? Don’t panic, says Kate Temple – there is a way and you can start now.
Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/entertainment/books/page/4