Brian Kavanagh has many years’ experience in the Australian Film
Industry in areas of production, direction, editing and writing. His
editing credits include The Chant Of Jimmie Blacksmith, Odd
Angry Shot, The Devil's Playground, Long Weekend, Sex Is A
Four-Letter Word and the recent comedy, Dags. He received a
Lifetime Achievement Award from the Australian Film Editors
Guild and an Australian Film Institute award for Best Editing for
Frog Dreaming. His first feature film which he produced and
directed, A City's Child, won an AFI award for actress Monica
Maughan and was invited to screen at the London Film Festival
as well as Edinburgh, Montreal, Chicago and Adelaide, where it
won the Gold Southern Cross Advertiser Award for Best Australian
Film. He is a member of the Australian Society of Authors.
Author of Belinda Lawrence mystery series,
CAPABLE OF MURDER,
THE EMBROIDERED CORPSE,
BLOODY HAM. From BeWrite Books.
<p><em style="color:rgb(24,24,24);font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:13.63636302947998px;line-height:17.563634872436523px;">After centuries of religiously motivated war, the world has been split in two. Now the Blessed Lands are ruled by pure faith, while in the Republic, reason is the guiding light—two different realms, kept apart and at peace by a treaty and an ocean.</em><br style="color:rgb(24,24,24);font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:13.63636302947998px;line-height:17.563634872436523px;" /><br style="color:rgb(24,24,24);font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:13.63636302947998px;line-height:17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="color:rgb(24,24,24);font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:13.63636302947998px;line-height:17.563634872436523px;">Children of the Republic, Helena and Jason were inseparable in their youth, until fate sent them down different paths. Grief and duty sidetracked Helena’s plans, and Jason came to detest the hollowness of his ambitions.</span><br style="color:rgb(24,24,24);font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:13.63636302947998px;line-height:17.563634872436523px;" /><br style="color:rgb(24,24,24);font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:13.63636302947998px;line-height:17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="color:rgb(24,24,24);font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:13.63636302947998px;line-height:17.563634872436523px;">These two damaged souls are reunited when a tiny boat from the Blessed Lands crashes onto the rocks near Helena’s home after an impossible journey across the forbidden ocean. On board is a single passenger, a nine-year-old girl named Kailani, who calls herself “the Daughter of the Sea and the Sky.” A new and perilous purpose binds Jason and Helena together again, as they vow to protect the lost innocent from the wrath of the authorities, no matter the risk to their future and freedom.</span><br style="color:rgb(24,24,24);font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:13.63636302947998px;line-height:17.563634872436523px;" /><br style="color:rgb(24,24,24);font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:13.63636302947998px;line-height:17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="color:rgb(24,24,24);font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:13.63636302947998px;line-height:17.563634872436523px;">But is the mysterious child simply a troubled little girl longing to return home? Or is she a powerful prophet sent to unravel the fabric of a godless Republic, as the outlaw leader of an illegal religious sect would have them believe? Whatever the answer, it will change them all forever… and perhaps their world as well.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;">Book Review: <strong>The Embroidered Corpse</strong>, by Brian Kavanagh; Genre: Contemporary Mystery </span></p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;"></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;"> ‘The Embroidered Corpse’ part of a series of mysteries by Brian Kavanagh weaves together a bit of history with the mystery. Belinda Lawrence, a most definitely contemporary woman, is both clever and admirable. The conundrum she stumbles into at the acquisition of what seems an archaic piece of tapestry provides a puzzle that starts off seeming fun, then perhaps curious… and maybe deadly. The first ‘threads’ that weave this tale together are in a controversial tale reflected by a recreation of a medieval-era tapestry. The tale threatens the very fabric of the history it depicts. Further, the revelation of a present –day A murder makes Belinda realize that while she was on a quest for the quaint, she and her best buddy, were perhaps the last people to see the victim alive.</span></p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;"> From William the Conqueror to good King Harold, uncovering the plot means figuring out some historic details; details that might well be exposed as lies, by the tapestry itself. Authentication of information is the cloth that drapes a good piece of this puzzle, from William the Conqueror to good King Harold, and on to quite an assortment of present-day characters, including a group of monks…who most assuredly couldn’t be guilty of murder – could they?</span></p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;"> The British antique hunt kicks it all off with quaint flavor. Dialogue is clever, believable, and occasionally has some fun with word choice. The agreeable Mark seems the perfect guy for Belinda too, and you’ll find yourself hoping for more in that realm, throughout. </span></p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;"> The medieval connection is vital to the puzzle, and more detailed than than one imagines at the outset – but interesting throughout. The Embroidered Corpse features a most-definitely contemporary setting, history buffs will especially enjoy this mystery. It’s as rich as the steaming date pudding with chocolate sauce they mention … now where will I find a recipe for that?</span></p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;"> Mrs. Hudson declares Kavanagh’s ‘The Embroidered Corpse,’ a jolly good read.</span></p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Arial;">The Baker Street Clarion</span></p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Arial;"> http://bakerstreetclarion.com/ </span></p><p></p>