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More books by Justine Larbalestier
Description
Sydney’s deadly Razorhurst neighborhood, 1932. Gloriana Nelson and Mr. Davidson, two ruthless mob bosses, have reached a fragile peace — one maintained by “razor men.” Kelpie, orphaned and homeless, is blessed (and cursed) with the ability to see Razorhurst’s many ghosts. They tell secrets that the living can’t know about the ...
Sydney’s deadly Razorhurst neighborhood, 1932. Gloriana Nelson and Mr. Davidson, two ruthless mob bosses, have reached a fragile peace — one maintained by “razor men.” Kelpie, orphaned and homeless, is blessed (and cursed) with the ability to see Razorhurst’s many ghosts. They tell secrets that the living can’t know about the cracks already forming in the mobs’ truce.
Kelpie meets Dymphna Campbell, Gloriana’s prize moll, over the body of the latest of Dymphna’s beaus to meet an untimely end—a string that’s earned her the nickname the “Angel of Death.” Dymphna can see ghosts, too, and she knows that Gloriana’s hold is crumbling one henchman at a time. As loyalties shift and betrayal threatens the two girls at every turn, Dymphna is determined to rise to the top with Kelpie at her side.
Media
“Vivid and bloody and bold and fast—I feel like Razorhurst is in my bones now.”
—#1 New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert
“A bloody and evocative novel, written in clean and lively prose.”
—Sydney Morning Herald
“A timeless tale of love and violence in long lost Razorhurst with characters I truly cared about.”
–Melina Marchetta
“Razorhurst is magnificent – beautiful prose and good storytelling.”
–Amber Benson, author of The Witches Of Echo Park and star of Buffy the Vampire Slayer
“Sure, it is shiny and chilly and bloody and sharp, like the razor of the title, but Larbalestier's book is also magical and glamorous. Everything comes together in a surprising, gory, inevitable ending from one of the smartest writers in YA fiction.”
–E. Lockhart, author of We Were Liars
“Razorhurst by Justine Larbalestier is a bloody masterpiece (pun intended) – the kind of book that feels classic and timeless and sharp with characters that live & breathe off the page. In short: wow. ”
—Courtney Summers, author of This Is Not A Test
“Characters both living and dead reveal crucial pieces of the plot slowly over the course of one harrowing day. Larbalestier pulls no punches with the gruesome, gory details about the violence of poverty, and the result is a dark, unforgettable and blood-soaked tale of outlaws and masterminds.”
–Kirkus on Razorhurst
“Larbalestier (Liar) packs plenty of danger into the single day this novel covers, but frequent interludes of backstory keep things from feeling rushed. The narrative also benefits from a colorful, well-rendered cast, human and ghost alike. While the writing style calls to mind fiction of an earlier era, this story’s interwoven intrigue and empathy make it feel timeless.”
–Publishers Weekly, Starred Review on Razorhurst
“Yoking paranormal thriller, roman noir, and historical fiction, RAZORHURST teems with precisely realized period details and an expansive cast of unsavory characters, as well as numerous allusions to the films noirs and Sydney history that inspired Larbalestier... intensely lucid and sharp. ”
–The Horn Book Magazine
“Larbalestier weaves the history of Surry Hills into a story that is full of violence, sex, crime, corruption, nobility, love and lust, bringing a lost place to life even as she grabs us by the lapels and drags us through a fantastic supernatural caper story ... this one takes [Larbalestier's] storytelling to a whole new level. ”
–Cory Doctorow for BoingBoing.com on Razorhurst
“Vivid ... lavishly imagined ... Larbalestier's elaborate world is sure to linger.”
–Los Angeles Times on Razorhurst
“Razorhurst is both fast-paced thriller and noir but with a paranormal twist ... Larbalestier’s most compelling character isn’t a person or even a ghost but rather a place.”
–Boston Herald on Razorhurst
“RAZORHURST by Justine Larbalestier takes readers down a dark and dangerous story of mobs and those that desire power.”
–Fresh Fiction
“Vividly characterized and completely immersive, this unusual mix of noir, horror and historical fiction is engaging from the first line. ”
–Ethel Turner Prize Judges on Razorhurst
“Reading like a detailed painting in novel form, this haunting, gorgeously rendered supernatural/historical novel captures the rough and tumble world of gangsters and molls in all its bloody, vicious glory ... The novel is as much about the place and time as it is about the young women, and readers interested in immersing themselves completely in an unforgettable setting will revel in this well-researched, true-to-life adventure. ”
–Bulletin of The Center for Children's Books on Razorhurst
“[Razhorhurst] is a grisly, teasing, frightening, beautiful book ... The chase-and-caper plot comes in fast, staccato bursts ... Still, unexpected kindness wells up through the cracks in story and style, showing how varied lives on the edge of desperation can find some kind of compromise that allows for hope. ”