Libby Reads with Ben Hobson

Sunshine Coast Libraries are excited to participate in Libby Reads with Ben Hobson, a monthly online event hosted by Ben Hobson best-selling author of Snake Island.   

Join Ben Hobson in conversation with author Emma Viskic to discuss their novel ‘Resurrection Bay’.

During this digital book club, guests will have the opportunity to ask questions, interact with the authors, and enjoy a well-rounded bookish discussion.  

Date and time	Registration
Tuesday 25 August, 7.30-8.30pm (AEST)	Libby Reads featuring Emma Viskic A Zoom link will be sent via email upon registering

About the book

Caleb Zelic, profoundly deaf since early childhood, has always lived on the outside - watching, picking up telltale signs people hide in a smile, a cough, a kiss. When a childhood friend is murdered, a sense of guilt and a determination to prove his own innocence sends Caleb on a hunt for the killer. But he can’t do it alone. Caleb and his troubled friend Frankie, an ex-cop, start with one clue: Scott, the last word the murder victim texted to Caleb. But Scott is always one step ahead.

This gripping, original and fast-paced crime thriller is set between a big city and a small coastal town, Resurrection Bay, where Caleb is forced to confront painful memories. Caleb is a memorable protagonist who refuses to let his deafness limit his opportunities, or his participation in the investigation. But does his persistence border on stubbornness? And at what cost? As he delves deeper into the investigation Caleb uncovers unwelcome truths about his murdered friend – and himself.

About the author

Emma Viskic is one of Australia’s foremost crime writers. Best known for her multi award-winning Caleb Zelic series, Emma’s novels have sold around the world to popular and critical acclaim. 

Emma’s debut novel, Resurrection Bay, took the crime fiction world by storm in 2015, winning the Ned Kelly Award for Best Debut and an unprecedented three Davitt Awards. It was shortlisted for the UK’s prestigious Gold Dagger and New Blood Awards and was recently voted one of the decade’s best novels by Crime Time Magazine. The sequels garnered a further two Davitt Awards and nominations for international prizes such as the Dublin Literary Award and the USA’s Barry Award. The fourth novel in the series, Those Who Perish, was recently shortlisted for The Ned Kelly Award for Best Novel.

Emma learnt Australian sign language (Auslan) to create the character of Caleb Zelic, who is profoundly deaf. Her attempts to learn to lipread were a dismal failure.

Born in Melbourne, Emma made a name for herself as a classical clarinet player before becoming a novelist. She studied at the Victorian College of the Arts in Australia and the Rotterdam Conservatorium in The Netherlands. Her musical career ranged from performing with José Carreras and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa to playing at an engagement party that ended in a brawl.

Ben Hobson

The monthly online book club host, Ben Hobson is a teacher and author, based in Brisbane. To Become a Whale, his debut novel, was released in 2017. It was longlisted for the ABIA Debut Fiction award and shortlisted for the Courier-Mail’s People’s Choice Award. His second novel, Snake Island, a literary thriller, was released in 2019. The Death of John Lacey is his third novel, which was released in February 2023. He also runs the Burgers, Beers and Books podcast.