{"title":"Mary Fortune","description":"\u003cp\u003eWelcome to our curated collection featuring the works of Mary Fortune, a pioneering figure in the world of crime and thriller fiction. With her gripping narratives and keen eye for detail, Fortune's stories are masterclasses in suspense and intrigue, enticing readers into the shadowy realms of misdeeds and mystery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAmong her captivating works are \u003cem\u003eNothing But Murders\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eBloodshed and Hanging\u003c\/em\u003e, books that exemplify her deft storytelling and commitment to the genre. Known for her vivid characterisation and intricate plots, Mary Fortune crafts tales where every twist and turn is both unexpected and immensely satisfying.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs one of the earliest women writers in crime and detective fiction, Fortune's contributions have not only entertained but also helped shape the landscape of the genre. Her books are a must-read for anyone who delights in the tantalising dance of crime and logic, wrapped up in the compelling puzzles she so brilliantly constructs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eExplore our collection of Mary Fortune's works and immerse yourself in narratives where suspense rules and nothing is quite what it seems.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"nothing-but-murders-and-bloodshed-and-hanging-by-mary-fortune-9781959163091","title":"Nothing But Murders And Bloodshed And Hanging","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eA murderer is identified by a team of oxen. A dead man rises from a watery grave to indict his killer. A phantom hearse gliding through Melbourne's slums foretells violent death. A seamstress turns detective to avenge her friend's homicide. A locked-tent mystery.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSuch are the themes of Mary Fortune's ingenious and dramatic crime stories. Between 1865 and 1910, she wrote over 500 of them; they comprise the first-ever detective fiction series written by a woman. Set in the outback, on the goldfields, and in the burgeoning metropolis of Melbourne, they offer a vivid account of life and death in colonial-era Australia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFortune tackled subjects such as murder, armed robbery, bootlegging, and sexual violence with a frankness unprecedented for a woman in the 19th century, in styles ranging from melodrama and Gothic horror to social realism and what is now called noir. This book brings together 17 of her finest stories, edited and introduced by literary historians Lucy Sussex and Megan Brown.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBorn in Ireland in 1832, Fortune arrived in Australia during the gold rush, which she observed firsthand and depicted in many of her stories. A brief, bigamous marriage to a policeman gave her inside knowledge to write about crime, and over the next 40 years, her prolific output was serialised under the title \u003cem\u003eThe Detective's Album\u003c\/em\u003e in the mass-circulation Australian Journal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eShe often lived precariously—struggling with alcohol, unable to prevent her son drifting into a life of crime—and preserved her privacy by publishing under pseudonyms. Her anonymity meant that when she died in 1911, she was almost lost to literary history. Only recently have Mary Fortune's true identity and her extraordinary life story emerged.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis collection, together with a simultaneously published biography, will confirm Mary Fortune's status as a trailblazing crime writer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"The themes of marriage, murder, and gendered violence resonate with contemporary concerns. The writing is beautiful, complex, and thrilling... From the small towns of the goldfields to the arid yet lush landscape of the outback, and back to society living in Melbourne, these stories will enthral you.\" – Candice Fox\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47072636240108,"sku":"9781959163091","price":52.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/14926763482885.jpg?v=1765121835"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/mary-fortune.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}