4.5★s
Sleepless In Stringybark Bay is the third novel by Australian author, Susan Duncan to be set within the community of Cook’s Basin, following on from The Briny Café and Gone Fishing. When the people of Cook’s Basin hear who is moving into the recently renovated the fairytale house with the country’s longest jetty, they’re very interested and not a little sceptical: bargeman Sam Scully thinks they’re a “bunch of dreamers in denial. The grand plan would end in disaster.”

The organiser, Mike Melrose explains that there will be five couples, five households moving into the place they’re calling GeriEcstasy. Most have been friends since primary school, have maintained close contact and married within the group. But many in Cook’s Basin are baffled by a group of multi-millionaires choosing to reside in a tough location more suited to young, fit people with a knowledge of boats and a degree in the unreliability of winds, tides and weather.

Café part-owner, Ettie Brookbank immediately recognises one of their number, and goes a bit fan-girly, when they arrive for welcome refreshments at The Briny Café: Donna Harris, a one-time famous actress. But the woman’s breathtaking rudeness is a shocking disappointment. And, having met the rest of the newcomers, Ettie quickly dubs them the GeriAncients.

Meanwhile, there’s trouble in paradise as Sam begins to realise that his relationship with journalist and café part-owner, Kate Jackson is in danger of being derailed. Kate can’t help feeling claustrophobic within a good-hearted community that sometimes doesn’t know when to retreat, is missing the stimulation of journalism, and in denial about the baby that’s due to arrive within a few short months. Sam is seeing is a woman who finds the responsibility of relationships—even friendships—too much to bear.

When Sam and his first mate, Jimmy (plus his loyal border collie Longfellow) bring his barge to that long jetty at midnight a week later, intending to take advantage of the king tide to unload seawall reinforcements, the last thing they expect to find is a body floating face-down: one of their newest residents, Cameron Smith is clearly dead.

And while the autopsy potentially allows for an accidental cause of death, Kate isn’t the only one in the community who is unconvinced. Despite his genuine grief, the ultimatum and threats from Cameron’s partner, Brian, to the remaining residents, give him a sort of motive. But Fast Freddy notes that Mike Melrose is a bit economical with the truth about a certain item ditched in the sea.

With the GeriAncients looking for someone to take Brian’s spot, Kate suggests elderly Lizzie, living alone but managing less ably than before. But concern that there might be a murderer in the group has her worried for Lizzie’s welfare: the journalist in her starts doing some research...

Meanwhile, further encounters with Donna Harris prove that she can be charming, but can also seem to have venom instead of blood running through her veins. Her housemates say that she was beautiful, funny, and generous in her youth, if not always kind and tactful, but never mean, not until the last few years.

Readers familiar with Cook’s Basin from earlier books will be familiar with the characters, their quirks and their almost unlimited capacity for generosity and care for those around them, but before the cause of Cameron’s death is decided, there will be another death, a picnic that ends badly, a destructive storm and a baby born.

Duncan gives her characters wise words and insightful observations: “we women, none of us are immune to men who make our legs go weak even though we know with absolute certainty, we should be using them to run” and the community she depicts is one that many would be happy to join. A very enjoyable cosy Aussie mystery.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Allen & Unwin.