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The Lightning Ridge Ladies
  • Published: 16 September 2025
  • ISBN: 9781761350115
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • Format: Trade Paperback
  • Pages: 384
  • RRP: $34.99
Categories:

The Lightning Ridge Ladies

Formats & editions
Tr. Paperback
16 Sept 2025
EBook
16 Sept 2025
Audiobook
16 Sept 2025
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The heartwarming new rural romance from the bestselling author of Back to Birdsville.

Still heartbroken after the death of her twin brother, Dr Bella Grey moves to Lightning Ridge for a fresh start managing the outback town’s general practice. It’s a far cry from her city roots, but she quickly bonds with the charming locals and the Lightning Ridge Ladies. At one of their weekly gatherings, Bella meets the vivacious opal jeweller Meesha, who might just be the fast friend she has been hoping to find.

Bella is also hiding a secret: she’s desperate to uncover the truth about what happened to her twin, William, and moving to the town where he took his life – where his body was never found – seemed like the best place to start. When she learns that TJ, Meesha’s opal supplier, knew William before he died, she’s convinced he can help. But the irresistibly handsome miner has wrapped himself in so many secrets, it seems impossible to unravel them.

Set in the heart of Australia’s opal-mining district and imbued with the harsh beauty of that unique setting, The Lightning Ridge Ladies is a gorgeous tale of outback community and female friendship.
  • Published: 16 September 2025
  • ISBN: 9781761350115
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • Format: Trade Paperback
  • Pages: 384
  • RRP: $34.99
Categories:

About the author

Fiona McArthur

Drawing from her earlier life as a rural midwife, Fiona McArthur shares her love of working with women, families and health professionals in her books. In her compassionate, pacey fiction, her love of the Australian landscape meshes beautifully with warm, funny, multigenerational characters as she highlights challenges for rural and remote families, and the strength shared between women. Happy endings are a must.
Fiona is the author of the non-fiction book Aussie Midwives, and lives on a farm with her husband in northern New South Wales. She was awarded the NSW Excellence in Midwifery Award in 2015 and the Australian Ruby Award for Contemporary Romantic Fiction in 2020, and was shortlisted for the same award in 2023.
Find her at FionaMcArthurAuthor.com

portrait photo of Fiona McArthur

Also by Fiona McArthur

Back To Birdsville
As the River Rises
The Opal Miner's Daughter
The Farmer’s Friend
The Bush Telegraph
The Desert Midwife
Mothers' Day
See all

Discover more

Video
The Lightning Ridge Ladies by Fiona McArthur Trailer

Read more: https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-lightning-ridge-ladies-9781761350115 Still heartbroken after the death of her twin brother, Dr Bella Grey moves to Lightning Ridge for a fresh start managing the outback town’s general practice. It’s a far cry from her city roots, but she quickly bonds with the charming locals and the Lightning Ridge Ladies. At one of their weekly gatherings, Bella meets the vivacious opal jeweller Meesha, who might just be the fast friend she has been hoping to find. Bella is also hiding a secret: she’s desperate to uncover the truth about what happened to her twin, William, and moving to the town where he took his life – where his body was never found – seemed like the best place to start. When she learns that TJ, Meesha’s opal supplier, knew William before he died, she’s convinced he can help. But the irresistibly handsome miner has wrapped himself in so many secrets, it seems impossible to unravel them. Set in the heart of Australia’s opal-mining district and imbued with the harsh beauty of that unique setting, The Lightning Ridge Ladies is a gorgeous tale of outback community and female friendship.

Article
The Lightning Ridge Ladies: Book Club Notes

The heartwarming new rural romance from the bestselling author of Back to Birdsville.