As the third wave of the virus hits, all inhabitants of Melbourne are given until 8 pm to get to their homes. Wherever they are when the curfew begins, they must live for four weeks and stay within five kilometres. When Lou’s son, Samuel, doesn’t arrive home by nightfall, she begins to panic.
He doesn’t answer his phone. He doesn’t message. His social media channels are inactive. Lou is out of her mind with worry, but she can’t go to the police, because she has secrets of her own. Secrets that Samuel just can’t find out about. Lou must find her son herself and bring him home.
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Read some great reviews from our Preview readers here:
Home Before Night is a fast-paced crime thriller filled with twists and turns. The novel is set during the Covid lockdowns in Melbourne with all inhabitants given until 8 pm to get to their homes. When Lou’s son Samuel does not arrive home in time, she starts panicking. I loved the suspense in this novel, which kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel as it felt so realistic due to experiencing the Melbourne lockdowns myself. The characters were well-written and the story had a good pace. I would highly recommend this book to any Melbournians and lovers of thrillers. Sharon, VIC, 5 Stars
JP Pomare does it again! What a fantastic page-turning thriller. I was consumed by this novel for two whole days, I just could not put it down. Once again he delivers with a twist that you don’t see coming. This book definitely needs to be on your TBR pile for 2023. Gisella, NSW, 5 Stars
Wow! What a read this book was. I really enjoyed the well-written storyline that is tied to events that have occurred in the not-so-distant past. This makes it realistic for the readers of today and threads a believable story web throughout the book. The central characters of Lou and Marko are compelling in the way they stumble through a broken relationship with the bitterness from past experiences and events. It certainly kept me enthralled right to the end and I would recommend it to any lovers of modern Australian crime fiction. Gillian, QLD, 5 Stars
This book kept me captivated till the last page. The storyline, including events of the past and present, kept me intrigued right until the twists and turns revealed the plot at the finish. A real page-turner and I will look for more books by this author. Diana, VIC, 5 Stars
I found this book quite gripping from the first page – set in my hometown and during an all too familiar lockdown due to the pandemic. The sense of fear from Lou is palpable on the page… and her desperate worry for her son’s safety. The author’s clever use of telling the story from different viewpoints works well. And, just when you think you know where the story is going… BOOM! Plot twist! I’ll be looking for more books by this author. Easy to read, hard to put down. Margaret, VIC, 5 Stars
Any book that has been written by J.P. Pomare is bound to be a great read. This was definitely that! Even though it is a short book at 183 pages, it still packs the punch. This author has something that all thriller, crime, and mystery readers love, the ability to keep you guessing. You might think you know, but do you really? Right turn, Left turn, Stop, Start, Repeat! JP is a master at this! His books are always entertaining, twisty-turny thriller reads. Get your copy soon! Alison, TAS, 5 Stars
When the third wave of the virus hits the City of Melbourne, its inhabitants are given an 8 pm curfew to get home or live wherever they are for four weeks when the curfew begins. When Lou’s son, Samuel, doesn’t come home she begins to panic. This book grabbed me from the get-go and kept me turning the pages. It is a very short novel and very much to the point and guts of the story. It is very easy to see how the decisions we make, although they seem right at the time, can eat away at our future lives and come back to haunt us. I recommend this book for those who enjoy a great mystery/thriller. Carolyn, WA, 5 Stars
I was totally enthralled from page one to the last page,with a whole different outcome at the end. The book draws you into another part of the main characters’ past. I always enjoy a great mystery and will be checking out some more of this author’s books. It was a quick and intriguing story. Denise, QLD, 5 Stars
An excellent tense and twisty thriller set in the Covid years. A mother’s instincts tell her that something is wrong with her son when he doesn’t come home in time for the curfew. But not everything is as it seems, and new plots appear as more characters are introduced. I found it hard to have sympathy for the main character, but the writing is so compelling that I couldn’t put the book down. I didn’t see the final twist coming. I highly recommend this book. Marjolaine, WA, 5 Stars
If I’d come across this book in a bookstore, I may have bypassed it, being just under 200 pages, but I have to say, this book packed a punch, lighter only in word count. I also wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy a story based in “Lockdown”, but it actually added drama to the context of the story. I enjoyed that there were only a handful of characters and not huge passages of descriptive fillers, which I’ve found a lot of current writers are using. I can’t say I had a favourite character, as most were unlikeable, I feel on purpose, and really only got a visual in my head of main character Lou. The most impressive thing about the book is that, once again, J.P. Pomare has written a book where I haven’t been able to guess the twist, so huge kudos for this. Well done. Marcia, QLD, 5 Stars
Well, this book may have less than two-hundred pages, but packed a real punch with a plot that contains twists and turns that start from the first page and don’t stop until the very end. Mothers know their children well and can usually tell when things are not as they seem. At first, this mother was accused of being paranoid by her ex-husband and decided to hire a private detective to look into her son’s girlfriend and her father. On the trail to her son, things promise to get more and more interesting with each and every turned page. A must-read book for those who enjoy reading crime. Vicki, VIC, 5 Stars
Great read, so hard to put down. A real ‘Do as I say, not as I do’. Draws you into this great tale with the likable Lou, but then it’s constantly changing, consistently intriguing, and rivetingly unpredictable. Lisa, WA, 5 Stars
Wow! You know you’re in for a thrilling page-turner with a J.P. Pomare novel and this does not disappoint. Set in lockdown days, the story involves Lou, whose 18-year-old son Samuel doesn’t make it home in time for curfew. He doesn’t answer her calls and her worries escalate. Past secrets involving Lou and her ex-husband Marko mean she feels unable to contact the police. Lou’s anxiety and increasingly erratic behaviour make for a very compelling read. The expected twist is well-constructed and the ending feels ‘right’. I really enjoyed this book. Denise, QLD, 5 Stars
He has done it again! J.P. Pomare could write anything and I would read it. There were so many of his signature twists, whilst being set during the pandemic added an eerie quality that everyone could relate to. I loved it! Daneka, QLD, 5 Stars
The Prologue pulls you in and you are caught in a rip with this unputdownable page-turner. A great example of COVID noir with a touch of Rear Window, I could have read this claustrophobic, adrenaline-fuelled ride in one sitting. J.P. Pomare appears to be known for his plot twists, and if the clever and unexpected ending in this book is anything to go by, then I look forward to reading each and every one of his back catalogue as this is the first time I have read anything by this author. The biggest surprise for me was to find that the book was not written by a woman, and although not particularly endearing, the character of the mother, Lou, felt very honest and authentic, and more than a touch needy and desperate. Michelle, VIC, 4 Stars
Melbourne is heading back into Covid lockdown and you have until 8 pm to get home. But what happens when your loved one never arrives? Our protagonist, Lou, is an overprotective mother whose world seems to revolve, almost unhealthily, around her 19-year-old son. When said son doesn’t arrive home in time for lockdown curfew and doesn’t answer her call or messages Lou begins spiraling into paranoia, not helped by her lockdown drinking. I thought I knew where the story was going but once again Pomare throws in a twist that you never saw coming. The story kind of plods along and is slow to build for the first three quarters, and I didn’t find any of the characters particularly likeable, but it all makes sense by the end. The short chapters have you turning the pages saying ‘just one more’. Overall, a decent quick read that draws you in. Kim, VIC, 4 Stars
A terrific read with twists and turns that will you keep on the edge of your seat, up all night reading! Set against the backdrop of a COVID lockdown. With the announcement of an impending curfew, a mother is desperate to contact her son. But where is Samuel and why isn’t he answering Lou’s calls? Lou is desperate to contact him and as her anxiety increases, we find out more about the secrets she keeps. Highly recommended. Terese, TAS, 4 Stars
I was enthralled at the twist in every chapter, always expecting the past to be revealed, but the suspense kept me interested. I felt sorry for Samuel being so misunderstood in his relationship with his girlfriend and family. I thoroughly enjoyed the writing of J.P. Pomare and I WANT MORE. Brilliantly written. Pat, SA, 4 Stars
I have not read anything by this author previously. This book is set in the recent past, during a Covid lockdown in Melbourne, with an 8 pm curfew. Lou’s teenage son Sam doesn’t return home in time by curfew. Is she a paranoid helicopter parent, or is her intuition correct? Initially, I found Lou an unappealing protagonist, but as I read further the twists and turns of the story had me gripped to the very end. Suspenseful and unexpected, it captures and enhances the fear and isolation of the Covid lockdowns, and has you guessing until the very end. It may well be a book studied in years to come as a description of life in the early days of the Covid epidemic, as well as an excellent thriller. Nicola, NSW, 4 Stars
WOW… Big time plot twist! J.P. Pomare did not disappoint! I thoroughly enjoyed this new thriller! Great characters and a great storyline! I would highly recommend this page-turner to anyone who loves a quick and easy read! Caren, SA, 4 Stars
This was my first J.P. Pomare book but it definitely won’t be my last. This book was very hard to put down, as I really wanted to know what happened next. I found all of the characters very unlikable but I think it helped with the plot and the general feel of the story. Meg, SA, 4 Stars
A clever and twisty tale involving secrets from the past that have a habit of turning up when you least expect it. Mostly told by Lou, the story centres around the disappearance of her son, Samuel. Lots of suspense and a twist I didn’t see coming. J.P. has done it again! Judi, NSW, 4 Stars
Wow. Wow. Wow. What a twisty, turvy story that hooked you in from the start as you felt the emotions of the mother and what she must be feeling as she’s waiting to hear from her son. Living in what we hope is a post-pandemic world now, it really brought back the emotions of what living in lockdown was like for millions of people and the uncertainty faced by all without the added pressure of wondering where your loved ones were or what they might be doing. J.P. Pomare never disappoints. One of his best so far in my opinion. Tracy, WA, 4 Stars
Set in Melbourne, Victoria during lockdown, a mother is frantic when she doesn’t hear from he son. He is supposed to be home with her to ensure he is safe from lockdown fines. When time goes on, things do not seem right for her son. She has always told her son there are to be no secrets, that secrets come out for the worst. Quite a thrilling ride this book takes you on. Easy to read. Renee, QLD, 4 Stars
This was a very fast read for me, not only because it was a relatively short novel, but because it was a gripping page-turner that captured my interest in the plight of the main characters from the first pages. I had to know what was going to happen next and I thought I had it worked out, but this twisty, fast-paced thriller took the characters on an unexpected path. It is set during a time of what seemed to be a very harsh lockdown of the pandemic and centres around a mother Lou trying to locate her son Samuel. The pace of the story does not let up and, although this is not my most favourite genre, I would read more of J.P.Pomare’s novels after having enjoyed this one. Regina, NSW, 4 Stars
A compelling read. A smaller-sized novel that packs a punch. Amazing to think how life was during the pandemic. An entertaining read, with unexpected twists throughout. Matilda, QLD, 4 Stars
Set in suburban Victoria during the 2020/2021 covid lockdowns, the story centres around Lou and her son Samuel. Lou has to ponder whether Samuel is in danger, or whether he is just being a typical 19-year-old boy trying to build his own independence at a time when the world has changed unexpectedly around them. Lou has raised her son to be honest and has never before had to suspect him of harbouring secrets and lies. This is a short, easy read, engaging and told in a way that keeps you guessing. Bree, NSW, 4 Stars
This did not take me long to read because it is a page-turner. It got me intrigued right from the start: what was going to happen next and what would be the outcome? It stirs up emotions of all kinds. There are connections to be made and surprises along the way. It is a very entertaining thriller book. I found the ending a bit of a shock and found it hard to read, but of course I wanted to know the ending so persevered. It was not what I expected, again full of surprises. Recommended for readers of crime thrillers set in the present time. Linda, VIC, 4 Stars
This snack-sized thriller has all the ingredients, my tastebuds crave… Its short chapters left me hanging from cliffs and craving just one more page, then one more page, then one more page!!! Current and relatable, the story is set during the times of Covid lockdown. Lou is an overprotective mother, somewhat depressed, questionably paranoid, and prone to turn to alcohol for relief, leaving you wondering, just how reliable is her narration? The story is peppered with clues I was hungry to piece together and just as I was sure I had all the answers, certain I knew where the story was leading, I’d be thrown through a loop and hurled in a new direction! The twists and turns just kept on coming! This book is the perfect little ride for between those heavier reads, or for those looking for a couple of hours of pure gripping entertainment. It has a great plot, page-turning suspense, and a final twist you will never see coming! Natalie, NSW, 4 Stars
Wow! The fear I felt as a mother was real right from the start of this one. Another great read from J.P. Pomare – fast-paced thriller with a twist I didn’t see coming. I do feel like the characters were missing some development in places but he captured the emotions perfectly. Kate, VIC, 3 Stars
An easy, enjoyable read. I felt the twist would have benefitted from being alluded to earlier. A large portion of the book focussed on a different aspect and I felt it wasn’t fully addressed by the ending. Lisha, WA, 3 Stars
This fast-paced novella-sized thriller explores the loneliness and alcoholic tendencies of a single mum to a teenager old enough to do his own thing. She’s held a huge secret with her ex-husband for a long time and it’s starting to claw at her. Exploring these themes as well as overprotective parenting, paranoia, religion, and adoption, there are red herrings sprinkled throughout that had me wondering if I really knew what was going on… The twists and turns from one possibility to the next continue right to the end with the final twist. A tense and compelling read. Sue, QLD, 3 Stars
J.P. Pomare is building a reputation for quality suspense thrillers so I was keen to read his new offering, Home Before Night. Set in the midst of Melbourne’s COVID lockdowns, we follow the sudden disappearance of single mum Lou’s son Samuel. The take-home messages are basically that things aren’t as simple as they may seem, everyone has secrets, and the past may come back to bite you! I found the early part of the book a bit slow and somewhat bleak (perhaps mirroring the COVID times), but with a decent twist and dramatic finale. There are themes of infertility, addiction and suicide, and overall this is quite a dark book. I’m now keen to try some of the author’s other works. Imogen, VIC, 3 Stars
Home Before Night is a suspenseful mystery by J.P.Pomare, the master of the twist. It is a short and quick read at 183 pages but difficult subject matter and references to the pandemic could trigger some readers. The main character/narrator is difficult and needy and could rub people up the wrong way. I liked the book but found it not up to the standard of his other thrillers. Janelle, NSW, 3 Stars
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