The Lost Letters of Rose Carey

By: Julie Bennett

Narrated by: Arianwen Parkes-Lockwood, Emma Leonard

A stirring tale of mystery and romance, inspired by the life of 1920s Australian film icon and ‘million-dollar mermaid’ Annette Kellerman.

BLUE MOUNTAINS, 2024: Working on a documentary at the historic Carrington Hotel, videographer Emma Quinn discovers a box of handwritten letters belonging to Rose Carey, water dancer and golden girl of the silent film era. Intrigued, Emma begins to read through them, slowly uncovering a deadly secret.

SYDNEY, 1923: Rose Carey has faced enough scandal to last a lifetime. After an accident and near-death experience, the threat of bankruptcy, and rumours of her romantic entanglements, Rose decides to take matters into her own hands and propose to her business manager, Walter. A respectable marriage will redeem her reputation and give her the good publicity she needs – problems solved. But she doesn’t account for the unexpected feelings brewing between her and Walter, or for the possibility that the accident wasn’t so accidental after all …

When she suffers another brush with death, Rose realises that someone close to her wants her out of the way. Who in her close-knit circle has the most to gain? Can she trust anyone, other than herself?

'A tour de force' Meg Keneally, author of Fled

‘Part mystery, part love story, this dazzling novel completely captivated me’ Jillian Cantor, author of Half Life

'A compelling story of love, loss and the true meaning of family' Nina D. Campbell, author of Daughters of Eve

Critic reviews

'This is a must-read book for fans of Kate Morton and Natasha Lester and those who enjoy a story that develops through bittersweet, passionate, and deeply moving letters.'

‘The Lost Letters of Rose Carey is a beautifully written, expertly entwined story of two women, 100 years apart, who ultimately share a stunning connection. Part mystery, part love story, this dazzling novel completely captivated me, and I absolutely fell in love with both Julie Bennett’s modern day and historical heroines.’ (Jillian Cantor, author of Half Life)

'I was instantly captured by Emma Quinn and her struggle to conceive a child with her wife Lauren, but it was Bennett’s ability to seamlessly sew a century old mystery into the narrative through Rose Carey’s letters that saw me lose my heart to this book. A compelling story of love, loss and the true meaning of family, The Lost Letters of Rose Carey grabbed me on page one and I’m not sure it will ever truly let me go!' (Nina D. Campbell, author of Daughters of Eve)

'This novel is such an accomplished feat. The reverberation between the two protagonists, separated in time, is masterful. At its core though, it is a novel which exemplifies female power. A tour de force of female agency.' (Meg Keneally, author of Fled)

‘Matters of trust, honesty and secrets strike a chord even 100 years apart in this engaging read for historical fiction fans who’ll no doubt be googling Kellerman.’