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 Toby Schmitz to discuss their novel The Empress Murders.

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

This is a free monthly digital book club – hosted by Ben Hobson – brought to you via Libby, the library reading app.

Date and time	Registration
Tuesday 24 March, 6.30-7.30pm (AEST)	Libby Reads featuring Toby Schmitz A Zoom link will be sent via email upon registering

About the book

It's 1925 and the Empress of Australia is making her regular Atlantic crossing, New York–bound, with a full manifest of passengers.
 
When a dead body is uncovered onboard, it is up to Inspector Archie Daniels to find the killer. But solving one murder quickly turns into solving two, then three, and it becomes clear that Daniels must act fast to avoid an all-souls-lost–level calamity. No one, from the horrendously wealthy and entitled first-class passengers to those they consider the dregs of empire below deck, is safe. And no one can get off... 
 
The Empress Murders is a razor-sharp, mind-bendingly clever novel that is both a witty, bloodthirsty whodunnit and an excoriating look at the excesses of the British Empire, just as the sun begins to set on it. 

About the author

Toby Schmitz is a writer, director and actor. He was most recently seen on television in Boy Swallows Universe and on stage in Gaslight. He has received nominations for his performances in The Seagull, Thyestes, Much Ado About Nothing, Measure for Measure, Ruben Guthrie and The Great. His television credits include The Twelve and Black Sails. He is also a celebrated playwright. His plays include Degenerate Art, I Want to Sleep With Tom Stoppard and Capture the Flag. He was awarded the Patrick White Award for his play Lucky.

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.