Fire Autumn — Anne Brooksbank

When a boat explodes in the bay, sparking a bushfire, 12-year-old Dan's world goes up in flames. By nightfall, police have unearthed bones beneath the family shed, and his dad is dragged into a murder case that feels dangerously convincing. With their home reduced to ash, and Paddy the dog missing, Dan and his sharp-eyed neighbour Lily set out to uncover the truth. Through caves and bush tracks they chase secrets the adults don't want to face. Someone is watching from the hill. The past won't stay buried, and the next blaze is already on the wind.Gritty, urgent and deeply Australian, Fire Autumn is a heart-thumping mystery about loyalty, secrets, and the courage you need when everything goes up in smoke.