Libby Book Club for WA

The Libby Book Club for WA is a monthly digital book club available exclusively to Western Australian library members (State Library and public library), hosted by local author David Allan-Petale. The book club, delivered online - will take place on the third Wednesday of every month. Join the State Library of Western Australia - it's free.

May Book Club 

This month’s featured title, Death Holds the Key, should be available to borrow from your local library with no waitlists or holds on the Libby reading app! 

During this book club, guests will have the opportunity to ask questions, interact with the authors, and enjoy a bookish discussion. Hosted by David Allan-Petale – brought to you via Libby, the library reading app. This event will be hosted via Zoom - the link will be sent to online attendees on the day of the event.

Download the Libby reading app to borrow the free ebook or audiobook from your library using your phone or tablet. 

Blurb about Death Holds the Key

When loathed landholder Fred O'Donnell is found dead in a locked room with a bullet in his chest, rookie Detective Hartley must seek help from a mysterious wanderer to solve the case. And it's one where everyone, including his family, has a motive and a secret to keep.

Featuring the mendicant monk from Thorpe's previous novel, Death Leaves the Station, readers will be drawn into the world of small-town Western Australia in the late 1920s, delighting in the characters as they navigate the strained sensibilities and dark secrets of the past.

Full of twists and turns, this seemingly impossible murder mystery is cosy crime writing at its finest.

Alexander Thorpe

Alexander Thorpe is from Fremantle, Western Australia. He has written advertising copy for pool cleaners and concrete supply companies, taught English in Joseph Stalin’s hometown and almost managed to read half of James Joyce’s Ulysses twice (which is more or less the same as having almost managed to read the whole book). Alex has written for news outlets, travel journals, marketing companies and educational providers. Death Holds the Key is his second novel

David Allan-Petale 

David Allan-Petale is a Perth/Boorloo writer whose debut novel ‘Locust Summer’ (Fremantle Press) was longlisted for the 2021 ALS Gold Medal and shortlisted for the 2022 WA Premier’s Book Awards. The manuscript was shortlisted for the 2017 Australian/ Vogel’s Literary Award, and developed through a fellowship at Varuna, the National Writers’ House. David worked for many years as a journalist in WA and internationally with BBC World and Al Jazeera, and is passionate about helping the arts sector thrive.    

Libby Book Club for WA

The Libby Book Club for WA is a free monthly digital book club hosted by author David Allan-Petale - brought to you by OverDrive Australia for all members of the State Library and Public Libraries, Western Australia. We welcome guests to join us the third Wednesday of each month to engage and interact with authors from all genres. The Zoom link will be emailed to all attendees on the day of the event.