Josh is a sweet, well-meaning university student with a big heart. After he impulsively steals two research mice from a campus laboratory, he hides them in the basement of the retirement village where he works. The mice are happy and so is Josh, until he discovers that the lab mice could cause a deadly disease.
Enter a cat called Harley, a dog called Bobby, the arrival of some mysterious packing boxes, and a strange spike in the village’s water bill.
As the clock ticks, and disaster looms, can the efforts of the Harewood Hall residents save the day?
Read some great reviews from our Preview readers here:
Harewood Hall is a heritage building in Perth, WA, that was once a ‘mental hospital’ and is now a retirement residence for cashed-up seniors. The seniors are for the most part well educated, well connected ands full of confidence. They hold the type of entitlement that see them complain to Fiona, the manager, whenever things do not go their way. Then there’s Josh, a young, somewhat innocent uni student who works part time as a support person. After he impulsively steals two research mice, and hides them in the basement of the retirement village. The mice thrive and Josh is content for a short while. Then he reads that the lab mice could cause a deadly disease. He needs a plan… Also at the village are a cat called Harley, a dog called Bobby. There are mysteries too. Where did the boxes come from? Why is there a spike in the resident’s water bills. I enjoyed this light-hearted romp through Harewood Hall. I quite liked the quirky residents, even Harley and Bobby and would recommend this Australian novel. I think it would make a lovely gift for someone who is living in a retirement residence. Mara, WA, 5 Stars
An often-hilarious book about the lives of residents in a retirement village and the staff and carers who interact with them. Just because they have retired doesn’t mean they have forgotten the knowledge and skills which they have spent a lifetime accumulating and as a consequence they have a tendency to ‘get the job done’ regardless of the consequences when ‘management’ happens to be a little lax in organising the tradesmen to remedy the situation. Add to this the tendency for the owner of the village to be mixed up in some sort of money laundering operation and you have a very interesting situation emerging on every other page. A great little read. Terry, SA, 5 Stars
A delightfully gentle unfolding of a mystery which enmeshes the residents and staff of Harewood Hall, a retirement village in the western suburbs of Perth, as well as a freelancing cat, a wandering dog and two white mice. Something suspicious is going at the village and it takes the residents a bit of sleuthing to find out what it is and expose the culprits. I loved the author’s technique of telling the story from the cat’s vantage points throughout the adventure and getting to know the quirks and foibles of each of the retired characters. It makes me want to live in a retirement village one day! I loved this story from Karen Herbert and heartily recommend it. Kirsten, WA, 5 Stars
A delightful read. A great starter to mystery and intrigue without being too heavy and convoluted. Hard to put down once the pages started turning. I’d say it will be the perfect book to read while enjoying sunny days outdoors. Dianne, SA, 5 Stars
‘It was time to move on.’ Welcome to Harewood Hall, a retirement community with several interesting residents. In addition to the humans, there is a stray cat called Harley (who knows just who will feed him), and a resident’s dog called Bobby (who is not well controlled). Josh, a university student, has a part-time job at Harewood Hall. He helps a couple of residents with their chores. One night, Josh impulsively steals two mice from a campus laboratory. He knows he can’t take them home, so he hides them in one of the resident’s basement storage units. It’s only temporary, Josh thinks, but a few weeks later the mice are still there. One of them does seem to be gaining weight. Meanwhile, a resident notices that the community’s water bill has increased. And what is the story behind the mysterious packing boxes, and what is happening to the funds in the Reserve Fund? The manager at Harewood Hall and the president of the Residents Committee have their hands full. Many of the residents have very different opinions about what is important, and how to progress certain issues. The story unfolds through multiple characters (including Harley). What a delightful read! Jennifer, ACT, 5 Stars
Anyone who loved Karen Herbert’s first novel – as I did – is likely to be quite disconcerted by this one. It’s an enjoyable and interesting novel, but completely different from “The River Mouth”. This is so gentle that it barely qualifies as a crime novel. It’s closer to literary fiction, a group of character studies, than any other genre. I enjoyed it a great deal, but wouldn’t like to be the person deciding where to shelve it in a bookstore. This is a very amusing novel with a sharp eye for characterisation, particularly the contradictions and hypocrisies inherent in so many of the residents. Almost everyone in the novel is well meaning – if not always pleasant – and there’s a lot of quiet humour. The crime plot is so subtle that you could miss it if you’re not paying attention. There are a couple of red herring plot strands. You’re expecting these to become major elements of the story, and yet they fade away, confounding expectations. I mightily enjoyed this, despite it being not at all what I expected. It’s a sensitive and kind portrait of a group of diverse people thrust together, amusing and engaging, intelligent and interesting. Lorraine, ACT, 5 Stars
What an absolute delight! Karen Herbert has drawn some quirky characters and placed them in a retirement village setting in Perth. They have endearing characteristics which resonate with situations and possibilities which face us all, including first commitments, continuing education options, unemployment, new relationships at any age, fears of the unknown in our future and people with well meaning ideas that don’t always pan out as expected. There is also some skulduggery hidden in the background of a couple of characters. A light and enjoyable read I would recommend this to fans of The Thursday Murder Club. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Karan, VIC, 5 Stars
Karen Herbert’s second novel, The Cast Aways of Harewood Hall is a slow build cosy mystery filled with quirky characters, plenty of intrigue and some low-key-yet-satisfactory resolutions. There is some domestic drama, but it’s the characters and their interactions that make this such an entertaining and enjoyable read. Marianne, NSW, 5 Stars
This book was a breath of fresh air in a new innovative and clever piece of work. The author really demonstrated an amazing way with words that kept me at the edge of my seat with each page. The writing was so interesting and not overly complicated and very concise that made it an instant page turner. The main characters plans, and insane adventures made you feel so connected to him and his sweet and thoughtful personality and you could see that shine through with all his actions and decisions. The themes of action, crime, mystery, and intrigue all together made me feel as though as I was a part of the novel, and I kept thinking I hope it does not end soon and praying for a sequel. All the characters really complement each other and help each other for a common goal. The character’s choices really show the reader the gravity of final decisions and the impulsive nature of life and a profound sense of community. It is a perfect read for those for love crime fiction with a whole lotta heart from a talented and renowned Australian author with hopefully more intriguing stories to tell. Daniela, NSW, 5 Stars
The Castaways of Harewood Hall is author Karen Herbert’s second novel. The subtle references to Australian flora, fauna and cities sprinkled throughout the narrative provide the perfect backdrop to this fictitious tale set amongst the community of relatable and very likeable residents of Harewood Hall. With each chapter, the reader is introduced to the narrative of a new character, including that of Harley, the cat. As the days of the week go by and the storyline develops, so too does your relationship with all of the castaways (characters) of the retirement village, as you are quickly drawn into their daily trials and tribulations, with each other and their surroundings. On a personal note, the ever frustratingly determined Martin Havelock reminded me of my own grandmother who herself was a long-standing resident of an aged care village, and would often present her “list of complaints” to management, whether warranted or not. I would recommend this book to any cosy mystery and crime fans looking for some light-hearted reading or to those who are seeking to discover their new favourite Australian author. Thank you to Better Reading Australia for the opportunity to preview this book. Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Publisher: Fremantle Press Maria, NSW, 4 Stars
I was really looking forward to reading this, especially after “The River Mouth”, and wasn’t disappointed. It’s a very different book to the previous one, and the promise of “a curious cat…” had me hooked! My favourite character was definitely Harley (the cat), and I really enjoyed his point of view throughout the story… Thanks Better Reading for the opportunity to check out another great read from Karen Herbert. Ayesha, NSW, 4 Stars
I really enjoyed The Castaways of Harewood Hall, a slowly building mystery with a subtle crime plot, which is set in a retirement residence. The story is told from multiple viewpoints including those of Bobby the dog, Harley the stray cat, Fiona the manager, and many of the residents. Another point of view comes from Josh, a university student working part-time at the residence, who is so soft-hearted, he takes two mice from the science building and, having no idea where to keep them, uses the residents’ basement storage area. The basement also stores other things that aren’t supposed to be there and this is part of the mystery. And the water bills – why are they so high? The characters feel authentic and are warmly well-drawn and engaging. Having many viewpoints, allows more exploration of each character – highlighting their quirks, sensitivities, intelligence and their attitudes towards ageing in themselves and in others. This is a warm and thoughtful novel with all the sadness and humour to be expected from a range of older Australians and I recommend it to those wishing for a light yet intriguing read. Louise, VIC, 4 Stars
The Castaways of Harewood Hall by Karen Herbert is a fun and light-hearted read. Set in a retirement village, the story follows a quirky “whodunnit” tale of intrigue involving an array of interesting characters. A real strength of this book lies in the development of the characters and the swing between multiple perspectives is seamless. A delightful and enjoyable book! Sarah, VIC, 4 Stars
The Cast Aways of Harewood Hall is a gentle, thoughtful novel about retirement village, its residents, staff and pets. The story is told from multiple points of view and the troubles dealt with by the characters are a reflection of the modern dilemmas we all face. It is a heart warming, quirky and funny slice of life story that is well observed. A very enjoyable read. Lisa, QLD, 4 Stars
A delightful read that keeps you on your toes with all the interesting characters – both human and animal kind. The quirky characters based in a retirement village take us through their everyday lives filled with dramas (pruning bushes, unstable chairs/tables, plumbing issues) and their individual views and opinions. Although death occurs in the book, it is not a sad story – especially when the animals are involved. Harley and Bobby know their place and although found wandering occasionally, stick by their owners until it’s their time to move on. This was a light read that was easy to get through. Rachael, NSW, 4 Stars
This is a light-hearted story focused on the trials and tribulations of retirement village living for the residents, staff and visitors of Harewood Hall. There is a whodunit element to the story that is slowly revealed across alternating chapters, told from the perspective of different characters, including the resident dog Bobby and resident cat Harley. The characters are likable and relatable, the retirement village environment is authentic and the character’s stories make you want to laugh and cry throughout. Another enjoyable read by Australian author Karen Herbert. Bree, NSW, 4 Stars
Perfect for lovers of an easy mystery, that’s fun and light-hearted but hits all of the right spots! Jessica, QLD, 4 Stars
Light-hearted tale of the residents and staff of Harewood Hall. Written in multiple perspectives including that of the resident stray cat, it gives an insight into each person’s journey of the quirkiness and antics of Harewood Hall. Katrina, QLD, 4 Stars
What a delightful story, set in a Retirement Village, characters include a couple of stolen lab. mice, a stray cat, a dog and residents of the Retirement Village, being from Perth and of the age bracket of the residents I enjoyed the storyline and characters. Well worth a read. Leigh, WA, 4 Stars
At first, I found the extensive detail re characters somewhat overwhelming … It felt as if the author wanted to reveal all in a hurry, before getting in to the story. However, once I read more and it all came together, I did feel empathetic towards not only the residents but also the staff. Having had family in both retirement villages and aged care, I found myself smiling and sighing as it seemed so familiar. Can’t say I expected the residents of the basement. Fiona and Josh stand out.. as caring for all …and I certainly recognised Joyce, there always seems to be one in a community. Ms Herbert brings life to all, the staff, the residents and the wonderful cat called Harley and dog, Bobby. It leaves the reader wondering what next.. a great read, when will the sequel appear? Chris Goopy Thanks to Better Reading for providing a copy for review. Chris, QLD, 4 Stars
An enjoyable tale with a fabulously eccentric cast of characters. Lighthearted and fun read, although I wanted more because it seemed to end abruptly. Lee, VIC, 3 Stars
A book about a nursing home, mice, a cat and a dog. Where will this one go? Strange things start to happen at Harewood Hall and that is what makes this quirky book with quirky characters so entertaining. The mystery is, what are the residents up to, what is happening in this residential home/community and what is in the packages that keep arriving. This is a bit of fun, a bit of mystery and a cast of characters that are not all human beings. The story is told through the eyes of some of the different characters in the book so you get a few different view points which makes it rather interesting. This is a fun book to read, quite entertaining and a little bit different than what I normally read but I quite enjoyed it. I wouldn’t call it a mystery as such but would definitely class it as a cosy read and something to enjoy if you want something a bit fun and pretty light-hearted. Donna, TAS, 3 Stars
Thank you to Better Reading and Fremantle Press for the advanced copy and opportunity to review this book. I found this book to be a really easy to read book with a lot of likeable characters. The book is set in a Retirement Village (not an aged care place as pointed out by one of the residents) and follows the day to day lives of the residents and some of the support workers. While the book indicates a mystery I did find this part of the story a bit watered down and don’t feel this is the correct genre label for the book. If you are looking for a cute afternoon read with a few laugh out loud moments I would recommend this. I would give this 3.5 stars. Diana, QLD, 3 Stars
Harewood Hall is a grand heritage building and villas serving as a retirement village in Perth, populated by sticklers. Whether the details pertain to retirement village code regulations, H&S standards, recipe ingredients, water usage or dog poop-free paths, the residents are vigorous enforcers of the rules and ensure Fiona the manager is at all times aware of their issues. They wear Country Road, discuss tax minimisation strategies, are keen to deny they are ageing, and some even discriminate against those showing the dreaded signs. They certainly do not want to believe they are societal castaways. The main characters are well developed, including Harley a stray cat who is almost prescient and privy to death, medical emergencies, the mysterious Tredwell Trades’ fracas and the refugee mice secreted in basement resident storage unit. Josh, employed as an assistant, had liberated them from the horrors of scientific research. With a broken pipe the village is cast into troubled waters: strange baggies that might contain illicit drugs, dubious payments into and out of the Reserve Fund, biosecurity risks from the transmissible disease research missing mice. Just like a water leak ‘The Cast Aways of Harewood Hall’ is a slow build to its gushing conclusion. Anita, QLD, 3 Stars
The Castaways of Harewood Hall by Karen Herbert is a gentle tale of life in a retirement village. Set in Perth overlooking the river, Herbert outlines the lives and interactions of a number of residents and workers at the village. We follow Fiona, the manager, Josh, the support worker, Paul, the head of the residents committee, Martin, a retired engineer, Joyce, a rich retiree and Harley, the stray cat. Daily life is very interesting with the various residents bringing their own individual desires, problems and interests. Interactions between residents/manager are often difficult and amusing. Ultimately Herbert espouses the benefit of community living, bringing meaning to many who live in such villages. The care and support offered making life more interesting and invigorating for retired people. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants an easy, enjoyable read. Michael, ACT, 3 Stars
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