New Titles and Recommendations June 2026

Mystery 
Book cover of The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave
Teh First Time I Saw Him | Larua Dave
Mystery 
Their Last Cry book cover by Wendy Dranfield
Their Last Cry | Wendy Dranfield
Mystery 
Book cover for The Girl in the Loch thriller
The Girl in the Loch | Andrew James Greig
Mystery 
Book cover of The Rest Is Death by James Oswald
The Rest Is Death | James Oswald
Mystery
Holy Island book cover by LJ Ross, DCI Ryan Mystery
Holy Island | LJ Ross
Mystery 
Watch Them Fall by Marion Todd crime thriller book cover
Watch Them Fall | Marion Todd
Aust. Mystery
Dark Sanctuary thriller novel cover by Sarah Barrie
Dark Sanctuary | Sarah Barrie
Aust. Mystery
Book cover of The Bookshop of Buried Pasts by Sarah Clutton
The Bookshop of Buried Pasts | Sarah Clutton
Aust. Mystery
Red Belly Crossing novel cover by Candice Fox
Red Belly Corssing | Candice Fox
Aust. Mystery
The Model Murder | Amanda Hampson
Aust. Mystery
Murder in Paris book cover by Kirsty Manning
Murder in Paris | Kirsty Manning
Aust. Mystery
The Couples Retreat book cover by Mercedes Mercier
The Couple's Retreat | Mercedes Mercer
Aust. Mystery
Book cover of Three Reasons for Revenge by Dervla McTiernan
Three Reasons For Revenge | Dervla McTiernan
Aust. Novel/Hist.
Book cover of The Palace of Lost Virtue
The Palace of Lost Virtue | Anthea Hodgson
Aust. Novel/Hist.
When Lemons give you life | Anna Johnston
Aust. Novel/Hist.
Every Wild Soul book cover by Katherine Johnson, Australian Fiction Prize winner
Every Wild Soul | Katherine Johnson
Aust. Novel/Hist.
After the Noise | Kerri Rogan
Historical
The Storyteller's Secret book cover by Sophie Austin
The Storytellers Secret | Sophie Austin
Historical
The Parisian Chapter book cover by Janet Skeslien Charles
The Parisian Chapter | Janet Skeslien
Psychological
Book cover of The Missing Mother by Mali Cornish
The Missing Mother | Mali Cornish
Scandanavian
Can't Run, Can't Hide thriller book cover by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
Can't Run, Can't Hide | Yrsa Sigurðardóttir
Scandanavian
Hidden in Lies book cover by Viveca Sten
Hidden in Lies | Viveca Sten
Non Fiction
Sisters Under Fire book cover by Colin Burgess
Sisters Under Fire | Colin Burgess
Non Fiction
Book cover of Look After Your Feet by Rosalie Ham
Look after your Feet | Rosalie Ham
Non Fiction
Book cover of Ellen Savage and the Heroes of AHS Centaur
Ellen Savage and the Heroes of AHS Centaur | Grantlee Kieza
Non Fiction
Book cover of The Titanic Story of Evelyn by Lisa Wilkinson
The Titanic Story of Evelyn | Lisa Wilkinson

Rosemary's Newsletter

Authors of the Month
Professional woman in navy pinstripe vest and white shirt

Anthea Hodgson

Anthea is a country girl from the WA Wheatbelt. She worked as a radio producer in WA, NSW and Queensland before returning to WA, where she lives with her husband and two children. She is the author of The Drifter, The Cowgirl and the highly acclaimed 2023 historical novel based on the Bangka Island Massacre, The War Nurses. She is co-host of the Rachael Johns Book Club on facebook and the podcast Reading Between Deadlines

Mark Smith

Mark lives on the West Coast of Victoria, where he writes and runs outdoor education programs for young adults. In addition to writing, he is an experienced speaker & facilitator at schools, literary festivals and book launches across the country.

Both Anthea & Mark will be in conversation at the BMI this month. Find out more below.

Author Anthea Hodgson with her book The Palace of Lost Virtue

Also coming in July…

Author Sherryl Clark in conversation event promotional image
Author Petronella McGovern promoting book event conversation
Author Phillipa Nefri Clark promotional event poster

Book of the Month

Three Reasons for Revenge

Dervla McTiernan

Alexis Turner walks into the police station to report an assault. By the end of the day, she is nowhere to be found.

Soon after she disappears, three identical packages arrive at three very different doors: a respected psychologist’s home, a socialite’s mansion, and a struggling single father’s run-down apartment. Inside, each gift is perfectly tailored to its recipient- and each will tear apart the life of its intended victim.

Detective Sergant Judith Lee is smart and experienced, but this is no ordinary case. Someone with intimate knowledge of their targets is orchestrating those attacks. Someone who knows exactly how to hurt each victim where they’re most vulnerable. And she’s convinced that, somehow, it connects back to Alexis Turner. As she races to uncover the connection between three seemingly unrelated people, Judith discovers she’s no longer just investigating the game-she’s being forced to play.

Book cover of Three Reasons for Revenge by Dervla McTiernan

Recommeded Reads

Sisters Under Fire

Colin Burgess

Nursing Sisters Margaret Anderson and Vera Torney of the 2/13 Australian General Hospital felt far from heroic as they evacuated Singapore on the converted cargo ship Empire Star in 1942. After Japanese occupation, every nurse without exception had requested to stay and tend to their wounded patients, but instead were ordered to evacuate as part of a hastily contrived and ultimately perilous escape plan.

She last saw its owner, reclusive artist Dorothea Roe, sixteen years ago, during a tragic summer that changed her life for ever. Now, with partner Josh in tow, it’s a chance for a fresh start. But after discovering an old box with her name on it in Dorothea’s abandoned study, Imogen starts to believe the woman was trying to send he

r a secret message. And when rumours begin to swirl that Dorothea was murdered, she starts to suspect that this gift might not be the lifeline she thought it was…

Sisters Under Fire book cover by Colin Burgess

The Storytellers Secret

Sophie Austin

From the stage of the Penny Farthing Theatre, Ava Adams uses hypnotism to draw long- buried memories from the lost and the lonely. Taught by her late mother, Ava once believed in her gift -until heartbreak shattered her confidence.

Damien Carter is running from disaster when he sees Ava’s face on a faded poster. It feels like he’s been waiting for her all his life. But as dark forces conspire to break them, can they reach beyond the prison of their memories to find redempton together?

The Storyteller's Secret book cover by Sophie Austin

The Parisian Chapter

Janet Skeslien Charles

It’s been five years since Lily Jacobsen and her best friend Mary Louise arrived in Paris from their small town in Montana. Determined to establish themselves as artists, they shared a tiny apartment. But when Mary Louise moves out, Lily feels alone in the city of light and needs a new way to support herself. She lands a job as a programs manager at the American Library in Paris following in the footsteps of Odile, her beloved French
neighbour in Montana who told her stories of heroic World War 11 librarians when Lilly was growing up.

At work, Lily meets an extraordinary cast of characters. In the library’s attic, Lily discovers a box of archives that may be a link to Odile’s own Parisian chapter.

The Parisian Chapter book cover by Janet Skeslien Charles

Find out about our Author Talks

with Fiona Lowe

Tue 21 April at 6pm

Minerva's Secrets Night Tours

Tue 19 May with special visit to Lantern Vaults

Tour 1 at 7pm – Tour 2 at 9pm. 

Linen & Lace Exhbition

Includes Devonshire Tea | $20

Sat & Sun 22, 23 Oct
10am-4pm

Remembrance Day:

A Surgeon Commander & A Leading Cook - Recent War Memoribilia

Wed 29 Oct & 5 Nov, 5.30pm

Thu 16 Oct – 19 Oct 

 Coming soon

Rozzi Bazzani. Stella Day Out: Katia Ariel & Samah Sabawi, Rachael Johns

 Coming soon

Dianne Dempsey, Chrissie Bellbrae, Paula Gleeson, Rozzi Bazzani.

Raise a Glass for Brass

The Little Brass Band BMI Fundraiser

Sun 10 August at 2pm

Tracey Lee Holmes: A Life Through Sport

Thu 4 September at 6pm

 Coming in November

Stella Day Out, Ballarat, Rachael Johns & Margaret Hickey

Ballarat Winter Festival

Events at BMI

5 July – 27 July 

Ballarat Pride Month

Events at BMI

The Month of June 

Ballart Seniors Festival 

Celebrate at the BMI.

 October 2025

with Gail Holmes

 Wed 4 June at 6pm

with Nicole Alexander

28 May at 6pm

Ballarat Heritage Festival BMI Day Tours

Two tours  on 20 &  21 May 

 

portrait of author with book cover

Australian Heritage Festival

Natasha Lester in conversation

1 May at 6pm

guides dressed in period costum

Australian Heritage Festival

Minerva's Secrets

25 April – Tour 1 at 7.30pm – fully booked
Tour 2 at 9.30pm – still tickets. 

portrait of author with book cover

Australian Heritage Festival

Natasha Lester in conversation

1 May at 6pm

Dame Nellie Melba Birthday Celebration

  Performance – 18 May.

Ballarat Heritage Festival Events at the BMI

16 to 25 May 

Spring Season, History Talks:

Ballarat's Henry Lawson - The Dragon's Den - Gold! Gold! Gold!

Wed 3, 17 & 24 September, 5.30pm

Australian Heritage Festival Events at the BMI

18 April to 18 May

Dame Nellie Melba Birthday Celebration

  Performance – 18 May.

Christmas Holiday Closures | Library

Monday 23 December – Sunday 5 January

Devonshire Tea & Fashion Parade

Bubbly on arrival & Featuring quality items from our Vintage Shop | $60

The Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute 2026 Calendar

Featuring illustrations from our Heritage Book Collection $40

Tax Deductible 

Your gift will be tax-deductible this financial year if you make it before June 30.

We need
your help.

2024 End of Financial Year Appeal 

Or alternatively go to our Donations web page.

Our Challenge

Like many organisations the BMI faces significant funding challenges. 

We thank you for your support.

BMI Fundraiser

Featuring:
The Hideaways,
The Harmonies &
Surf Shadows. 

2 course dinner & lots
of dancing