The Secrets of the Huon Wren

A mesmerising tale of love, heartache and healing . . . I laughed, I cried, I was totally swept away.

Sandie Docker

Two women. Two journeys. A tender, powerfully wrought telling of love and loss before the high mountains and rolling hills of Tasmania's rural north-west.

Robyn Mundy

They say we shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but this story is beautiful inside and out. It follows the story of Tasmanian journalist, Allira, who meets dementia patient, Nora, at a Launceston nursing home one day, when she is there looking for an inspiring story to tell . . . Van Ryn cleverly melds together the story of a young Nora in the 1950s with Allira's modern day hunt for a truth long buried.

Mercedes Maguire, The Daily Telegraph

For a dedicated fiction reader such as myself, I would suggest that it's rare for a debut novel to be as dazzlingly accomplished as this one. The writing style, character evocation and storytelling reveal a natural-born novelist with a bright future.

Anne Lim, Eternity magazine

The writing is elevated and breathtaking in parts. The story is believable and never tips into being overly sentimental. It is grounded, beautiful and real, which helped me connect with all the characters instantly. I was so invested in the story that my life just seemed to fall away around me.

Nicola SKinstad, Good Reading

Such a poignant, tender read—I loved it!

Tess Woods

A tender and moving story told over two timelines and linking two fascinating women... Set between 2019 and the 1950s it tackles complex subjects with heart. A beautiful book and an absorbing read.

Sarah Jones, Fox Footy