All the Reviews

LINE OF SIGHT by Western Australian based writer David Whish-Wilson, uses the real-life murder of brothel madam Shirley Finn as the basis for his fictional murder of Ruby Devine (hat-tip to Tilly perhaps?)

In the fictional version the facts of Ruby's murder are extremely similar to that of Shirley's but what Ruby has that Shirley didn't seem to get, is a cop who remained a friend, long after her death.  Frank and Ruby's friendship goes back to their days in the wild gold-mining town Kalgoorlie.  Famous for money and vice, Swann attempted harm minimisation when it came to ... Read review

Some reviews are just flat out hard to write.  Normally it's because the book is good, and I'm in real danger of gushing.  Particularly in this case, where gushing got dangerously close to an understatement.

BEYOND REACH is the 10th Joe Faraday and Paul Winter book from British author Graham Hurley.  The series started out as a police procedural, with a good strong "villain" character - a bit of a rough diamond in drug lord with a decent streak, Bazza Mackenzie.  Joe is a long-term cop, once completely content in his role as a DI, single-parent to his profoundly deaf son ... Read review

I think it's only fair that I warn you to stand by for some slightly enthusiastic reviews.  I've had one of those outstanding periods of reading where there have just been some fabulous books and TRICK OF THE DARK is one of them.

In this book of masterful storytelling by Val McDermid, TRICK OF THE DARK is a character study with the tension of a really good thriller.  It also does something that I suspect some readers could find confronting, in that most of the characters in this book, including the lead Charlie Flint, are extremely flawed individuals.  It's also probably ... Read review

THE LONG GLASGOW KISS is the second book from Craig Russell featuring Lennox, Canadian raised, returned soldier, Private Investigator who dances a fine line between the law and the gangsters.  Glasgow in the 1950's is controlled by the Three Kings, dangerous men who have divided up the spoils of organised crime and negotiated a sort of working relationship.  It goes without saying that they don't trust each other, and Lennox often finds himself caught up in the middle.  But Lennox is one of those lone-wolf; act first, think later; never take a step backwards sort of characters - ... Read review

Relationships (personal, business, familial, friendship) are complicated things, as the 6th Tony Hill and Carol Jordan book FEVER IN THE BONE explores.

The central investigation centres around the brutal deaths of a number of apparently unconnected teenage victims.  Starting out with a look at the victims themselves, and therefore into their family relationships, McDermid simultaneously weaves in a closer look at the families of her main characters.  Tony's hitherto unknown father, and his non-relationship with his mother; the strange little "family" that is Hill and ... Read review

This is going to sound like one very weird review - but I just can't figure out how to explain the effect of CROOKS LIKE US by Peter Doyle without using words like fascinating, haunting, astounding, beautiful and absolutely and utterly mesmerising.

This book is a fascinating compilation of photographs and stories from the 1920's and 30's (or thereabouts) in Sydney.  During this period for some reason, police in Sydney Central Station started taking photos of people who passed through.  Many of them are between arrest and charge, and certainly before court or any other ... Read review

I've been happily reading the Anna Travis series by Lynda La Plante since the first book and enjoying them.  Despite a few odds and ends that can be mildly annoying.  Ongoing romantic angst, a tricky senior officer (in this case the early on love interest as well), and some seriously big books without always having quite enough story to fill out all of the pages.  

BLIND FURY, unfortunately, nearly defeated me before the end.  Which is a pity.  Because the investigative elements of this book are actually not too bad.  It does take a while for things to get moving mind you ... Read review

As I was reading this book I couldn't help but create a checklist of the things that make up seriously good crime fiction for me, and apply it as I went.

A sense of place that puts you right on the spot, without turning into a travelogue.  Something that gives you a sense of the smell, the look, the way that people move around and interact with their location.  THE OLD SCHOOL is set in Bankstown, a suburb of Sydney almost tailor-made for the action that is taking place - multitudes of cultures living up close and personal, dodgy dealings in all walks of life, overcrowded ... Read review

BENEATH THE BLEEDING is the fifth book in the Tony Hill / Carol Jordan series from Scottish writer Val McDermid.  Which fans of this writer will already know.  Fans will also know that anybody as daft as me, who would leave this book on the review pile for as long as I have, is really missing out on a very good thing.

Now there are plenty of serial or multiple killer books floating around out there, and many readers are well over the whole idea, but you do have to give a moment's thought to revising that attitude when the writer is as talented and assured as McDermid.  ... Read review