Audiobooks narrated by Ella James

"A photograph. A double murder. A forty-year-old cold case. Chrissy, a journalism lecturer struggling to re-enter the workforce after maternity leave, stumbles upon a decades-old mystery that could be her ticket back into the career she loves. A photograph of four young women in ski wear, taken in the Snowy Mountains in 1980, leads her to a chilling double-murder case that was never solved. Michael and Gloria Katzenbach vanished during a white-out, their bodies uncovered months later when the ice melted. The case went cold, but Chrissy is determined to find the truth. She starts with Linda, one of the women in the photograph, now in her late sixties, who shares her memories of that fateful winter. The other women in the photograph each hold pieces of the puzzle, but will Chrissy be able to find them? As she delves into the past, balancing her investigation with caring for her infant, she uncovers a web of lies, animosity and intense friendships that have been buried under layers of snow and time. The End of the Ski Season is a taut, immersive thriller that explores the lives and roles of women both then and now. It will leave you breathless."

Anna Snoekstra (Author), Anna Skellern, Billy Mcpherson, Ella James, Erik Thomson, Jay Laga'Aia, Senuri Chandrani, Socratis Otto (Narrator)

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Prisoner of the State

"At sixteen years old, Lily Arthur was caught between the women’s liberation movement of the ‘swinging sixties and the draconian ideology that young women should be punished for deviating from society's 'moral codes'. For the 'crime' of being pregnant, Lily was forcibly taken from the man she planned to marry and incarcerated in the notorious Holy Cross Home for ‘wayward’ girls in Wooloowin, Brisbane as a ‘prisoner’ of the state. Lily spent her entire pregnancy performing unpaid labour its infamous Magdalene Laundry. On 1 September 1967, the terrified teenager was taken to the Royal Brisbane Hospital where she gave birth shackled to a bed, and her newborn son cruelly stolen from her – one of 250,000 babies forcibly seized from vulnerable unmarried mothers under the Government’s illegal forced adoption policies of the era. After decades of heartache and an emotional reunion with her long-lost son, Lily remains on a crusade to expose the truth behind the crimes a country tried to hide and has taken the fight to the Human Rights Commission in Geneva, demanding justice for a generation of women who were victims of one of the worst human rights violations in contemporary Australian history. ‘Only a few mothers led the fight for justice, but an army of women stood behind them. Lily Arthur represents a mother who never gave up her child willingly and fought to make sure he and many other adopted children knows.’ KAREN WILSON-BUTERBAUGH, Director of Origins International and USA ‘Deeply personal and at times very raw insight. It is compelling, powerful, intense, no holes barred narrative. It clearly shows the lifelong impact of the illegal, cruel practices of forced adoption and a mother's fight for justice.' SENATOR RACHAEL SIEWERT ‘A heart-breaking view of crimes against humanity. For almost three decades, Lily Arthur details the legalised kidnapping of babies from millions of women in Australia and elsewhere who were brainwashed to comply with society's punishment. Punishment for getting pregnant. The truth of the horrors of adoption laid bare.' JOE SOLL LCSW, Psychotherapist, and author of Adoption Healing"

Lily Arthur (Author), Ella James (Narrator)

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On Father's Day

"A heartbreaking account of enduring suffering and loss. When Cindy Gambino dropped her three boys off at their dad's on Father’s Day 2005 she had no idea she would never see them again. By day’s end, their bodies lay at the bottom of an icy dam, a tragedy that sparked one of the most controversial and prolonged murder cases in Australian history. Award-winning author and journalist Megan Norris followed the case for eight years, chronicling Cindy’s heartbreaking journey through a trial, retrial, two failed appeals, and a 2013 High Court ruling that blocked Victorian father Robert Farquharson’s final bid for freedom, putting him behind bars for at least the next thirty-three years. Through exclusive, intimate interviews with Cindy and her family, and a meticulous examination of the overwhelming evidence before the courts, Norris details how two juries concluded Farquharson was guilty of murdering his children. This book offers valuable and first-hand insight into a crime intended to last a lifetime. Told through Cindy’s eyes in the aftermath, ‘On Father’s Day’ is a mother’s legacy to the family she left behind when she passed away in 2022. Updated with an epilogue, her heartbreaking story shows that this is a crime that goes way beyond the grave. ‘On Father’s Day’ was written by Megan at Cindy’s request. This book is her voice. ‘The best analysis I’ve read of the ultimate act of family violence… no other journalist and writer has had the involvement in this case like Norris has,’ EMILY WEBB, Author and podcaster. ‘A harrowing, deeply compelling narrative that plunges the reader into the dark heart of domestic violence and the unimaginable horror of retaliatory filicide’ DR. YVONNE KALLANE, Ph.D., MA (Human Rights), MAICD, Founder, Change the Ending ‘Extraordinary read … powerful insights into the widespread patterns of coercive control and profound impacts of enduring trauma.’ SHARON WILKINSON - DV Lawyer ‘Cindy’s experience and Megan’s thorough research provide a devastating, confronting and utterly compelling read.’ DR DEBORAH KIRKWOOD, Author of Just Say Goodbye"

Megan Norris (Author), Ella James (Narrator)

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You Must Remember This

"A moving and profound story from the author of Gemini Falls. Grace can't settle. She can't shake the feeling that someone is missing. You Must Remember This is an eloquent jumble of a family story, as experienced by Grace, an elderly woman with dementia trying to get her moorings in a worsening storm. It contemplates the perils of remembering and forgetting, making your own way in the world and how we seem bound to repeat the patterns of the past. Most profoundly it's about sensing what it's like to live on while your faculties dim, and about finding peace."

Sean Wilson (Author), Ella James (Narrator)

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The Wife's Secret

"Two different dreams Since their bitter divorce, Lisa and Rolf have forged new and separate lives. Rolf has moved out of Beacon Bay, while Lisa has remained in the tiny tropical town, a pillar of her community. One violent storm When a cyclone brings a massive tree smashing into Lisa's roof - into the home Rolf built and where they raised their family - their son, Dave, convinces Rolf that he must do the repairs. Tensions abound when Rolf arrives with glamorous stage star Renata, along with a pretty young publicist who stirs up complications for Dave and his new restaurant. Is the damage beyond repair? Their combined efforts to rebuild the community see them confronting old wounds of their own, but will Lisa be brave enough to risk her heart again, especially if that means revealing the one guilty memory that has haunted her for decades? Set on the picturesque coastline of Queensland's tropical far north, this is an uplifting story about resurrecting hope and unearthing love, even through the most turbulent of times."

Barbara Hannay (Author), Ella James (Narrator)

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Look What You Made Me Do: Fathers Who Kill

"One Australian woman is hospitalised every three hours and two more lose their lives each week as a result of family violence. But for some women there is a punishment far more enduring than injury or their own death. Look What You Made Me Do is a timely exploration of the evil inflicted by vengeful fathers who have killed their own children simply to punish partners for ending unrewarding, often abusive relationships. Drawing on her own experience as a court reporter, award-winning crime writer Megan Norris examines the revenge murders of eighteen children to shine a light on the ultimate act of family violence and the shattering legacy of grief such crimes have on surviving mothers. From the 2018 execution-style shooting murders of Sydney teenagers, Jack and Jennifer Edwards whose angry dad was granted a licence to kill despite his long-standing history of domestic violence – to the premeditated murders of Brisbane mum, Hannah Clarke and her three children whose car was torched by her vengeful ex – this book shows it is not only women who are at risk when family violence turns deadly. ‘Megan Norris has been a trailblazer. The events so accurately described in this book provide powerful insights into widespread patterns of power and control, and the profound harms that can result.’ DR DEBBIE KIRKWOOD, Author of Just Say Goodbye ‘It’s through sharing these stories that we can lift the sense of shame that clouds victim-survivors, and debunk the myths around intimacy, power and control... We must continue to create change and push for law reform.’ MARK WOOLLEY, Small Steps 4 Hannah"

Megan Norris (Author), Ella James (Narrator)

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Coerced to Courageous: Taking back your power after coercive control and domestic abuse

"‘I was so busy keeping him happy I didn’t notice how long it had been since I’d seen my friends. I seemed to apologise for everything. I was constantly tense, holding my breath, trying to predict his mood. Slowly my world became smaller, darker and lonelier.’ Coercive Control is an insidious fog. The first ‘red flags’ are so small you don’t notice them: a simple remark about how to do something ‘the right way’ or a suggestion about how you should dress. He cares about where you are and who you are with. We all want the perfect relationship, but for the courageous authors in Coerced to Courageous, their soulmate was more like checkmate. The first ‘red flags’ of Coercive Control are so subtle you barely notice them. Eventually, he has driven away your friends and family, is making all the decisions and controlling the finances, and you are trapped. These brave, resilient, brilliant women share the tools that helped them escape and rebuild their lives. They want to encourage and empower you to break the chains of coercive control and create the life you deserve. Broken to Brilliant is an Australian not-for-profit charity where domestic violence survivors mentor other survivors to rebuild successful lives using the power of story. When we saw the impact on people’s lives of our first three books, the changes made, the hope in their hearts, the joy and gratitude for their new lives, we had to continue to share stories of hope, healing & recovery. There had to be a fourth book. We applaud each of our authors for sharing their raw, vulnerable & courageous stories. Our hope is that these books will provide you with the tools to take back your power so you can rebuild your life the way you choose. Each step forward is a courageous move toward your new life filled with peace, happiness & achievement."

K C Andrews (Author), Amy Felman, Brad Davies, Cymone Rose, Ella James, Jo Van Es, Karen Jacobsen, Nat Bond, Paige Walker, Robbie Mcgregor, Suzanne Ellis, Teresa Lim (Narrator)

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Minnie: The remarkable story of a true trailblazer who found freedom and adventure in the outback

"The inspiring story of a feisty pioneering woman who sought freedom and adventure in the outback and became the first woman to work as an opal miner in Australia. People always asked her if she was ever afraid, living out in the desert alone with all those rough and scruffy men. But Minnie Berrington was not the faint-hearted type, and never had been. Being tough came naturally to her, growing up with three brothers and a family that went from riches to ruins. Only a slip of a girl, Minnie could match any man in stamina, perseverance and strength. She arrived in Coober Pedy when camels still brought in essential supplies, and water was so scarce that no-one washed. Together with the other miners, she braved the heat, the flies and the dust. Every day she waited for that special sound the pick made when it cracked opal. The first woman to dig her own shafts in the Australian opal fields, Minnie began her working life as a typist in London. But she and her younger brother, Victor, sought freedom and adventure in the 1920s and found plenty of it in the outback. 'Destined to become an outback classic' LIZ HARFULL, bestselling author of Women of the Land 'Minnie brings to life a gutsy, independent woman living a remarkable but simple life in the harshest of conditions' JULIET WILLS, author of The Diamond Dakota Mystery"

Marianne Van Velzen (Author), Ella James (Narrator)

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Here in the After

"Two damaged people, one unlikely friendship and a way to find hope in the darkness. Anna has survived the worst. So has Nat. Two broken souls, struggling to find a place in a world they no longer fit. Anna, 62, is the victim of a terrorist attack in which eleven others were murdered. Nat, 35, is an Army veteran who fought in Afghanistan. They have so little in common. And so much. A friendship stirs between them, tentative and unlikely, its foundation the violence they have seen and the memories that stalk them. Together, they begin to search for a way back home. But when Nat's wife falls unexpectedly pregnant, terrible ghosts from his wartime past rise up and much more than a friendship is at stake. Here in the After is a poignant and uplifting exploration of the legacy of trauma and the healing power of connection. 'Bold, unflinching and courageous, this book dives with sensitivity and compassion into the dark shadows of PTSD to uncover light and acceptance. Heartbreaking and devastating, but luminous, tender and hopeful.' KAREN VIGGERS, author of The Orchardist's Daughter 'A moving meditation on the toll trauma takes on the body and mind, and the human connection that can be its balm.' VANESSA MCCAUSLAND, author of The Lost Summers of Driftwood"

Marion Frith (Author), Ella James (Narrator)

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A Routine Infidelity

"A delightfully sharp and clever murder mystery, perfect for fans of Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club Private investigator Edwina ‘Ted’ Bristol deals in the cheating husbands and missing chihuahuas of Melbourne, but yearns for the heart-stopping excitement of real crime. When Ted discovers her sister, Bob, has fallen prey to an internet catfishing scam, she sets out with her beloved miniature schnauzer and shrewd sidekick, Miss Marple, to catch the swindler. Meanwhile, when conducting routine surveillance on a couple suspected of having an affair, she uncovers a plot to embezzle millions. As Bob’s case takes a series of bizarre twists and turns and the embezzlement investigation escalates into murder, Ted finds her own life in peril. Will she crack her first criminal case before it’s too late? If you love the madcap adventures of Phryne Fisher, you’re sure to love Ted Bristol, written by Elizabeth Coleman, screenwriter for Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. ‘Clever plotting, memorable characters – a delight!’ KERRY GREENWOOD"

Elizabeth Coleman (Author), Ella James (Narrator)

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Terror to Triumph: Rebuilding Your Life After Domestic Violence – Stories of Strength and Success

"‘People congratulated me when I left my abusive marriage, but I didn’t feel like celebrating. I felt loss, grief, shame, anger, resentment, regret, uncertainty, relief and excitement. How can one person feel so many emotions at once? Where could I go for help? Who would understand?’ From these questions, the charity Broken to Brilliant was born, where survivors help other survivors rebuild their lives using the power of story. In Terror to Triumph, twelve domestic violence survivors describe the terror they experienced and the additional challenges they encountered from a system that was supposed to help them. Most importantly, they tell of the practical steps they have taken – physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually – to journey from darkness to light and build new lives. They tell of continued recovery, and how they have reclaimed self to reach a sense of triumph. Broken to Brilliant is an Australian not-for-profit charity where domestic violence survivors mentor other survivors to re-establish successful lives. When we saw the impact our first book, Broken to Brilliant, had on people’s lives – how the words breathed hope into people’s hearts, how it gave them a spark that jump-started a new chapter in their lives, and how the power of people’s stories created ripples of recovery and repair – we could not turn away and stop these ripples of healing. There had to be a second book. We salute each of our authors for their courage and dedication, and hope Terror to Triumph will bring change and possibility into your life, too."

Broken To Brilliant (Author), Amy Felman, Anna Hruby, Clare Mackey, Cymone Rose, Ella James, Jo Van Es, Jules Lander, Karen Jacobsen, Nick O’rourke, Sharon Hunter, Susie Godfrey, Teresa Lim (Narrator)

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The Amazing Mrs Livesey: The Remarkable Story of Australia's Greatest Imposter

"This is the truly remarkable life story of the notorious Ethel Livesey, a serial fraudster and confidence trickster who became a media sensation after she ran out on her society wedding in 1945, and later arrested for obtaining goods by false pretences. With a prologue by Ethel Livesey’s granddaughter, this extraordinary tale of Australia’s greatest fraudster is told for the first time in rich and fascinating detail."

Freda Marnie Nicholls (Author), Ella James (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Ella James