Hear from authors Mercedes Mercier and Eve Thomson about their latest books, The Couples Retreat (Mercier) and Smother (Thomson) in conversation with Dr Samantha Battams, and network with fellow Sisters in Crime SA authors and readers. First drink and platters of food are provided with the cost of the ticket.

More information below:

Mercedes Mercier

Mercedes Mercier writes ‘just-one-more-page’ crime with twisting plots and relatable characters. As well as writing books, Mercedes has worked in the criminal justice system for over a decade, giving her unique insight into the world of crime and offenders. Mercedes lives in Adelaide with her very patient husband, identical twin daughters and beloved German shepherd dog.

The Couples Retreat

Following a decade-long career in the justice system and two gripping psychological crime novels, Mercedes Mercier returns with a bold new direction; a twisty, compulsive destination thriller, set amidst the wild beauty of Kangaroo Island. Tapping into readers’ love of luxury-gone-wrong, The Couples Retreat is Nine Perfect Strangers meets The White Lotus, but rooted in a real Australian destination, where paradise is a trap, money can’t keep you safe and no one is as perfect as they seem.

At a secluded beachfront mansion in one of Australia’s most breathtaking locations, three wealthy couples gather for a weekend of indulgence. On the surface it’s all goldflake cocktails, ocean views and carefully curated perfection, but underneath old rivalries and buried resentment continue to simmer, threatening to expose the worst in all of them.

After two days of lavish partying, two guests wake to a nightmare: the other four have been brutally murdered. With a violent storm raging and ferry services suspended, the survivors only know one terrifying thing – the killer is still on the island.

Thrust into the biggest case of her fledgling career, rookie police officer Emily Quinn is still finding her feet in the job, and in her own life. New to Kangaroo Island, and fresh from escaping an abusive relationship, Quinn is quickly confronted with the locals’ mistrust of outsiders. As the investigation spirals out of control and her dangerous exboyfriend closes in, Quinn’s past and present collide in spectacular fashion, threatening not only her new life, but the most gruesome investigation in the island's history.

The Couples Retreat is a tense, intoxicating thriller about privilege and power, friendship and jealousy, and the thin line between wanting it all and losing everything.

Eve Thomson

Eve Thomson is a partner at a leading Australian law firm, where she's a litigator, working on everything from class actions and media law to consumer protection. Her debut novel, She Too (Echo Publishing, 2023), dealt with law and celebrity, drawing from Eve's experience advising some of the country's biggest publishers on defamation matters. Eve is also a mum of two, and for her second novel, Smother, she has combined courtroom expertise with her experiences on the sidelines of kids' sports - both worlds as cut-throat and full of drama as each other. Eve lives at the beach in South Australia with her family.

Smother

Winning isn’t everything. It’s more.

Bruce College, a private school in a leafy Melbourne suburb, is a place for winners. Affectionately known as Bruisers, its boys' football program has a reputation for pumping out superstars. But when its girls' team pushes for glory, sixteen-year-old Grace Dooley is left with a catastrophic brain injury, and her parents want someone held accountable. The school points the finger at the coach, Brick Hannaford, a former professional player who is struggling with the legacy of his lauded, 300-game career. Brick says he was coaching the kids exactly as the parents and school demanded: hard.

In a rut, questioning her single-minded pursuit of a career at the expense of her personal life, lawyer Romola Cross takes on Brick's case. She soon finds herself caught up in the complex and disturbing fallout of school sport turned toxic. As Romola investigates the reasons Grace played that day, she begins to understand the pressures bearing down on the girl - from peers, teachers, coach and parents. But who should take responsibility? What will the Court's judgment be? And, once the case is over, will Romola find what she's been searching for?

Smother is a novel about chasing dreams, and how the quest for victory can risk losses far beyond those on the scoreboard. It's a story about the forces of love, ambition and fear, and finding the right balance before it all comes undone.

‘A clever legal thriller with a heart as big as the characters in the story. Original in the telling and superbly written.’ TIM AYLIFFE, author of Dark Desert Road

Contact the host of Authors Mercedes Mercier and Eve Thomson in conversation with Dr Samantha Battams