{"product_id":"the-hobart-hotel-the-new-must-read-2026-tasmanian-historical-novel-about-a-jewel-thief-turned-spy-by-mary-lou-stephens","title":"The Hobart Hotel. The new must-read 2026 Tasmanian historical novel about a jewel-thief-turned-spy. By Mary-Lou Stephens.","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eGlamour, intrigue and two women who will gamble their lives to survive ... the compelling new Tasmanian historical fiction from a bestselling Australian author.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDecember 1939: The grand opening of Australia's most glamorous and talked about hotel, the Wrest Point Riviera.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe equally glamorous Sabine Winters, recently arrived in Hobart from the Continent, anticipates a safe port from the storm that rages in Europe along with a few select items of jewellery to add to her (stolen) collection. What she doesn't expect is to be blackmailed into becoming a spy, torn from the safety of Tasmania and taken to the viper's nest of intrigue and plots that is South America during the rise of Nazi power. Her instincts and charms will only get her so far ...\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFebruary 1973: The grand opening of Australia's most glamorous, talked about and controversial hotel, the Wrest Point Hotel Casino.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJenny Davies anticipates a night surrounded by dizzying decor and thrilling action. What she doesn't expect is an invitation to become a Ladybird, one of the casino's croupiers. But Jenny's choice to pursue this exclusive career creates a devastating chain of events that could destroy her life as she knows it. Can a mysterious letter and the gift of a key from a relative Jenny has never heard of somehow be the answer to all of her problems?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for The Hobart Hotel\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e'This dual-time, glamorous story of intrigue, spies, trust, deceit, friendship, daring and luck - and so much more - will absolutely sweep you off your feet.' KAREN BROOKS, bestselling Australian author\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMary-Lou Stephens was born in Tasmania, studied acting at The Victorian College of the Arts and played in bands in Melbourne, Hobart and Sydney. Eventually she got a proper job - in radio, where she was a presenter and music director, first with commercial radio and then with the ABC. She received rave reviews for her memoir Sex, Drugs and Meditation (2013), the true story of how meditation changed her life, saved her job and helped her find a husband.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Australian called her debut novel,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThe Last of the Apple Blossom (\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2021), 'an outstanding historical novel about women and the secrets and burdens they carry'. She is also the author of the bestselling novel \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Chocolate Factory (2024).\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMary-Lou has worked and played all over Australia. Now she travels the world with her husband, slowly, and writes, mostly.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 mui-style-tgrox\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 detail-label mui-style-tgrox\"\u003eISBN:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e9781038940346\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 mui-style-tgrox\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 detail-label mui-style-tgrox\"\u003eISBN-10:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e1038940346\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 mui-style-tgrox\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 detail-label mui-style-tgrox\"\u003ePublished:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e31st March 2026\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 mui-style-tgrox\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 detail-label mui-style-tgrox\"\u003eFormat:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003ePaperback\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 mui-style-tgrox\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 detail-label mui-style-tgrox\"\u003eLanguage:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eEnglish\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 mui-style-tgrox\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 detail-label mui-style-tgrox\"\u003eAudience:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eGeneral Adult\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 mui-style-tgrox\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 detail-label mui-style-tgrox\"\u003ePublisher:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eHarperCollins Publishers\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 mui-style-tgrox\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 detail-label mui-style-tgrox\"\u003eCountry of Publication:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eAU\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 mui-style-tgrox\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 detail-label mui-style-tgrox\"\u003eDimensions (cm):\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e23.5 x 15.5 x 2.9\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 mui-style-tgrox\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 detail-label mui-style-tgrox\"\u003eWeight (kg):\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e0.48\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Free by Nature","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47558593773746,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0774\/1685\/7778\/files\/HobartHotel.jpg?v=1780735580","url":"https:\/\/www.freebynature.com.au\/products\/the-hobart-hotel-the-new-must-read-2026-tasmanian-historical-novel-about-a-jewel-thief-turned-spy-by-mary-lou-stephens","provider":"Free by Nature","version":"1.0","type":"link"}