AustCrimeFiction - All Posts

Exit .45, Ben Sanders

Karen — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 02:24:14 +0000

REVIEW

Exit .45, Ben Sanders

Review Written By

Karen Chisholm

Thursday, November 30, 2023

When Marshall Grade agrees to meet his former NYPD colleague Ray Vialoux, he does not expect Ray to end up dead on the floor of a New York restaurant. Full Review at: Newtown Review of Books

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I received a copy of this book from the publisher or author.

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Author

Ben Sanders

ISBN

9781761065590

Year of Publication

2022

Series

Marshall Grade

Book Number (in series)

BLURB

Marshall Grade returns in an action-packed thrillride through the New York underworld.

When a former NYPD colleague is shot dead in front of him, private investigator Marshall Grade discovers there's far more to the killing than meets the eye.

Ray Vialoux is in trouble. Big trouble. And he needs Marshall Grade's help.

Reluctantly, Grade agrees to meet. Over dinner in a Brooklyn restaurant, he learns that his former NYPD colleague owes money - a lot of money - to the wrong people. But the conversation is cut short by gunfire, and suddenly Ray is lying dead on the restaurant floor.

As Marshall investigates the circumstances leading up to the murder, tracking down the drug dealers, bag men, bent cops and mob players within Ray's orbit, it becomes clear there's far more to the killing than a gambling debt. Just who is responsible for Vialoux's death . . . and why? What secrets are his family hiding? And can Marshall find the answers before his own history marks him as the prime suspect?

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#crimefiction

Crime Fiction

New Zealand

#yeahnoir

Exit .45

Ben Sanders

Review	Exit .45, Ben Sanders	Karen Chisholm	Thursday, November 30, 2023
Blog	Currently Reading - November 2023	Karen Chisholm	Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Blog	2023 Ngaio Marsh Longlist Announced	Karen Chisholm	Monday, July 3, 2023

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Suburban True Crime, Emily Webb

Karen — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 02:18:08 +0000

REVIEW

Suburban True Crime, Emily Webb

Review Written By

Karen Chisholm

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

The collection of cases covered by Emily Webb's SUBURBAN TRUE CRIME go back to the 1940's, through to more recent times, covering a wide range of different murders and disappearances that have occurred in Australian suburban locations.

In the author acknowledgement at the front of the book she provides some context for this collection:

It's been several years since my books MURDER IN SUBURBIA and SUBURBAN NIGHTMARE were published in 2013 and 2016 respectively.

SUBURBAN TRUE CRIME features some cases that were included in MURDER IN SUBURBIA and SUBURBAN NIGHTMARE, and it has been updated with new information and interviews. There's also two new chapters about the still unsolved 1967 murder of a woman named Margaret Pavarno in an armed robbery at her workplace, and the 1984 murder of six-year-old Kylie Maybury.

For further context, Emily Webb teamed up with Meshel Laurie in 2017 to create the podcast AUSTRALIAN TRUE CRIME. She says in the acknowledgement as well that she doesn't take true crime writing lightly, believing she has a responsibility to do what we can in our communities to reduce the systemic causes of violent offending and to help people who have been affected by crime and trauma.

Whilst some true crime writing does have a tendency to either dwell on details, or insert the author into the storyline in some manner, Webb avoids both of these traps. Her telling of a range of tales reads as factual, careful and very considered. She describes unsolved murders, abductions, rapes and the most awful of events with an awareness of loved ones left behind, and in a way that doesn't glorify or give potential offenders a sense of power and/or achievement. That doesn't mean that she shies away from explaining what happened to many of these victims, it, fortunately, lacks the sensationalism that can sometimes be found in these sorts of accounts.

It's also rather sobering to discover the number of cases that are still unsolved, and the number from this reader's own living memory. But the one aspect that has really stayed with me is from the chapter "The Unsolved University Murder", which relates the murder in 1977 of a young woman at Paul's College, Sydney University. In that chapter Webb discusses the issue of safety of women on university campuses.

Disturbingly, many women students came out and spoke of a culture of sexual humiliation of women on campus that was regarded by men as part of 'college fun'. (Detailed in a letter to The Editor of the Sydney Morning Herald).

Women on campus pushed for better security after the shocking murder, with "good results". Better lighting, gatekeepers at the main gates, and phones placed around campus, with a direct line to a 24-hour security office. An evening mini-bus service was instigated.

In 1977 there's no mention of what was done to address the appalling behaviour of men involved in the culture of sexual humiliation.

The 'root and boot' ethos (St Paul's College) that was revealed in a Facebook post on the St Paul's 2017 page gave tips for young men at the college to be 'rescued' after a one-night stand when they couldn't 'get rid' of the women they'd had sex with.

The post had almost 100 likes.

Book Source Declaration

I received a copy of this book from the publisher or author.

BOOK DETAILS

BOOK INFORMATION

Author

Emily Webb

ISBN

9781922615787

Year of Publication

2022

BLURB

Chilling cases of murder and crime that have happened in the quiet streets of Australia’s suburbs.

Featuring contemporary cases as well as some shocking historical murders you’ve probably never heard of, Suburban True Crime proves you shouldn’t say “it could never happen here”.

This collection of cases that are hard to believe, except they really happened – and all in the streets and homes of the Australia many of us know and live. The suburbs.

These cases range from recent murders to some historical stories that will shock and surprise. Some of the cases you’ll know and there’s crimes you’ve never heard of. These cases will shock and surprise you including the still-unsolved mistaken identity murder of Melbourne mother Jane Thurgood-Dove and the horrifying story of a man who killed in Australia and then was released from prison, only to kill again in the United States.

There’s also some historical crimes that shocked the community at the time but have now faded into obscurity, including cases of child murder in the 1970s. Think nothing ever happens where you live? Think again.

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Review	Suburban True Crime, Emily Webb	Karen Chisholm	Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Blog	Currently Reading - November 2023	Karen Chisholm	Tuesday, October 17, 2023

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The Drowning, Bryan Brown

Karen — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 02:13:53 +0000

REVIEW

The Drowning, Bryan Brown

Review Written By

Karen Chisholm

Thursday, November 16, 2023

My review of Bryan Brown's first full length crime novel - The Drowning has been posted at Newtown Review of Books:

https://newtownreviewofbooks.com.au/bryan-brown-the-drowning-reviewed-b…

"Actor and Australian icon Bryan Brown brings his laconic style to his first full-length crime novel."

Book Source Declaration

I received a copy of this book from the publisher or author.

BOOK DETAILS

BOOK INFORMATION

Author

Bryan Brown

ISBN

9781761187926

Year of Publication

2023

BLURB

The body of a local teenage boy is found on the beach of a sleepy northern New South Wales town. David went for an evening swim and got into trouble . . . at least, that's what it looks like.

Three weeks before, Leila, a young backpacker, didn't turn up for her shift at the local cafe. Benny, the owner, isn't worried. It happens - backpackers are always on the move. There'll be another one.

One of the locals, Adrian, has been a help to Benny. He's found him a nice little sideline. Not exactly legal. Is that all Adrian is arranging on the coast? He once was a cop but has he gone bad?

And in the back-blocks outside town, a bikie gang is gearing up for a large consignment from South America.

Murder, drugs, liaisons and lies are stirring up this small coastal town.

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Review	The Drowning, Bryan Brown	Karen Chisholm	Thursday, November 16, 2023
Blog	Currently Reading - October 2023	Karen Chisholm	Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Blog	Currently Reading - November 2023	Karen Chisholm	Tuesday, October 17, 2023

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Offline, Anne Holt

Karen — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 05:59:15 +0000

REVIEW

Offline, Anne Holt

Review Written By

Karen Chisholm

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

I'm behind with this series, and heartily confused about the order in which to read them. But this fortuitous find in a neglected stack of purchased books, is blurbed as the "long-awaited sequel to 1222". Which I did really enjoy. It's also listed as the 9th Hanne Wilhelmsen novel, but I do remember at the time that I read 1222 (the 8th) it was the only one in translation I could get. Or something.

OFFLINE is an interesting undertaking for a number of reasons. Written after the 2011 terrorist attacks in Norway, the car bomb in Oslo, then the shooting of 69, mostly young people, on the island of Utøya, it purposefully explores the difficulties in predicting terrorism attacks, and identifying likely perpetrators. More chillingly, it explores the idea of misdirected attention / expectations of who is committing terrorist acts and purposeful demonisation. Given it was published in 2015, it is still very relevant to today.

Right from the start there's something a bit odd about the bomb that goes off in the Islamic Cooperation Council's offices in Oslo, killing twenty-three people. Police and Security services are in pursuit of a shadowy organisation, ever heard of before, who claim responsibility, whilst also trying to prevent a potential follow-up attack on a major yearly celebration in Norway. There's some fascinating insights into the problems that occur when groups or individuals are "dark" or offline. How authorities experience so much difficulty in discovering intent, activities, purpose when the perpetrators are careful about keeping their activities out of the usual online world.

Meanwhile Hanne Wilhelmsen, wheelchair-bound for some years since the events of the earlier novel 1222, is back working as a special advisor on cold case investigations, in cooperation with a young, keen police officer who is assigned to assist her. Initially her only connections to the terrorism bombings are a cracked lounge window from the first bomb, and her long-time friend Billy T., who is convinced his son is involved with the group responsible. It's as she tries to help Billy find out the truth, and some connections appear with the cold case that she is looking into, that Wilhelmsen realises that there is something very threatening, and unexpected behind these bombings, and they have a very limited amount of time to stop it.

There are now (I think) 12 books in this series, some of which are still not translated, so it might be best to dive in wherever you can get your hands on one. They are well worth it, Wilhemsen is a strong female character who is perfect for solving crimes with brain power as opposed to physical activity. She's also not an idealised character - tricky to get along with, notoriously grumpy, she's also generous to those who she admires, and a loving joint mum to her daughter. This novel, in particular, includes many snippets of the ups and downs of raising teenagers, in a mixed-race, same-sex family. There are also great insights into the pressures felt by senior management and officers in a police force that's under pressure from political figures as well as a population who are alternatively frightened, and reckless in the face of a very real threat to safety. And then there's Billy T., who is another wonderful character, full of complication and doubt, and determined to get to the truth no matter what.

Anne Holt has been referred to as the 'godmother of modern Norwegian crime fiction'. Her past experience working for the Oslo Police Department, before founding her own law firm and serving as Norway's Minister for Justice for a year provides her not just with the qualifications to understand the subject matter, but one would imagine, some insight into what it's like for the legal and political system to come to grips with all sorts of criminal activities. She certainly knows how to produce well written, atmospheric character driven crime fiction which tackles important questions along the way.

BOOK DETAILS

BOOK INFORMATION

Author

Anne Holt

ISBN

9781782398806

Year of Publication

2017

Series

Hanne Wilhelmsen

Book Number (in series)

BLURB

It has been eleven years since Hanne Wilhelmsen's life was forever changed by an assault that left her wheelchair bound. Now, Hanne's self-imposed exile is nearing its end. When Oslo comes under attack from Islamic extremists in a series of explosions, the city is left reeling. A militant group claim responsibility, but the Norwegian police force doubt on the authenticity of the declaration, and the group's very existence. The unfolding drama is brought to Hanne's door by her former partner Billy T., who is convinced that his son, Linus, is involved in the recent events. He begs Hanne for help. But Hanne soon learns that she cannot protect Linus, Billy T. or the people of Oslo. Those bent of destruction are one step ahead, and many lives will be lost before the truth is revealed...Don't miss this unforgettable sequel to Anne Holt's biggest bestseller 1222 - and penultimate novel in the Hanne Wilhelmsen series.

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Review	Offline, Anne Holt	Karen Chisholm	Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Blog	Currently Reading - October 2023	Karen Chisholm	Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Blog	Currently Reading - November 2023	Karen Chisholm	Tuesday, October 17, 2023

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Paper Cage, Tom Baragwanath

Karen — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 01:54:29 +0000

REVIEW

Paper Cage, Tom Baragwanath

Review Written By

Karen Chisholm

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

A finalist in the Ngaio Awards for Best First Crime Novel, Paper Cage is the story of a divided community and a string of missing children. Full Review at Newtown Review of Books

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I received a copy of this book from the publisher or author.

BOOK DETAILS

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Author

Tom Baragwanath

ISBN

9781922458759

Year of Publication

2022

BLURB

Masterton isn’t a big town. The community’s tight, if not always harmonious. So when a child goes missing it’s a big deal for everyone. And when a second kid disappears, the whole town’s holding their own children that little bit tighter.

Lorraine doesn’t have kids, but she has a nephew. She’s holding him a bit tighter, too, because she works for the police, and she knows they don’t have any idea.

Lo’s not a cop, she’s a records clerk. She sits out back among the piles of paper, making connections, remembering things. Working things out that the actual cops don’t want to hear about.

Until the new investigator, Hayes, arrives from Wellington, and realises Lo’s the only person there with answers to any of his questions. Which is just as well—because the clock is running down for the children of the town.

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Review	Paper Cage, Tom Baragwanath	Karen Chisholm	Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Blog	2023 Ngaio Marsh Longlist Announced	Karen Chisholm	Monday, July 3, 2023

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Curses and Cousins, Helen Vivienne Fletcher

Karen — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 04:00:12 +0000

REVIEW

Curses and Cousins, Helen Vivienne Fletcher

Review Written By

Karen Chisholm

Thursday, October 19, 2023

The second in this YA / Kids series from New Zealand writer, Helen Vivienne Fletcher, CURSES AND COUSINS follows on pretty closely from the earlier book, FAMILIARS AND FOES. Closely enough that it would probably be a good idea for kids to read both books in order, just so they have a feel for Adeline, Coco and Hemi.

Listing the characters in that order is on purpose - Adeline and Coco were a closely knit unit before Hemi and Adeline became partners in the first novel, expectant parents in this one. Coco, an assistance dog, has been with Adeline and through a lot of stuff for many years. The stuff being ghostly, witchy and more than a bit crazy at points, combined with severe epilepsy and a longing for connection. In this outing, Hemi's cousin has arrived, bringing a host of ghostly visitors with her. Strange, ominous omens start to appear, upsetting the balance of the household, but when Coco's threatened enough, is enough, as far as Adeline is concerned.

This is a lovely little series, from a well known Children and Young People's author in her native country. https://www.helenvfletcher.com/books-1

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I received a copy of this book from the publisher or author.

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Author

Helen Vivienne Fletcher

Year of Publication

2022

Series

Familiar Magic

Book Number (in series)

BLURB

Adeline and Hemi finally have everything they ever wanted. A loving partnership, baby on the way, and who could forget Adeline’s beautiful assistance dog, Coco?

But… things never stay peaceful for long when magic is involved. Hemi’s cousin arrives, bringing some unwelcome visitors with her. A whole host of ghosts have moved themselves in, and not one of them can hear Adeline.

Strange, ominous omens start to appear, upsetting the balance of the household. When one of these threatens Coco’s life, Adeline has to act.

Will this cousin’s visit leave them all cursed?

Tags

Helen Vivienne Fletcher

Review

Curses and Cousins, Helen Vivienne Fletcher

Karen Chisholm

Thursday, October 19, 2023

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The Doctor's Wife, Fiona Sussman

Karen — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 01:32:00 +0000

REVIEW

The Doctor's Wife, Fiona Sussman

Review Written By

Karen Chisholm

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Fiona Sussman’s fifth novel pieces together a suspicious death, a fatal illness and erratic behaviour within a group of lifelong friends.

Full review at: Newtown Review of Books

Book Source Declaration

I received a copy of this book from the publisher or author.

BOOK DETAILS

BOOK INFORMATION

Author

Fiona Sussman

ISBN

9781776890439

Year of Publication

2022

BLURB

Nothing in Stan Andino's unremarkable life could prepare him for the day he discovers his wife in the living room, naked except for a black apron, bleaching out a stain in the carpet that only she can see.

A CT scan one week later explains the seemingly inexplicable; Carmen Andino has a brain tumour.

As Stan and their teenage sons grapple with the diagnosis and frightening personality changes in their wife and mother, Austin Lamb, close friend and local doctor, does everything possible to assist the family in crisis.

Months later, just when it feels as though life couldn't possibly get any worse for the Andinos, the body of Austin Lamb's wife Tibbie is discovered at the bottom of the Browns Bay cliffs.

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Review	The Doctor's Wife, Fiona Sussman	Karen Chisholm	Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Blog	2023 Ngaio Marsh Longlist Announced	Karen Chisholm	Monday, July 3, 2023

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The Promise, Damon Galgut

Karen — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 01:01:43 +0000

REVIEW

The Promise, Damon Galgut

Review Written By

Karen Chisholm

Monday, October 9, 2023

As one participant in yesterday's discussion put it - the story of a crumbling family, in a crumbling society, The Promise tells the tale, in particular, of three siblings, Anton, Astrid and Amor, their parents and extended family, against the backdrop of the ending of apartheid in South Africa.

From a white farming family, the three sibling's story is told in a series of deaths and the ramifications of each of those on them, and a long-standing promise to the black maid and lifelong companion of them all - Salome. Starting with the death of their mother, and her deathbed return to her Jewish faith, the ructions that this, and the promise she extracts from her husband to give Salome the house and land that she lives on (pointed echo here with the current Australian Voice discussions), start out a story that then moves onwards in time, in a meandering roundabout sort of manner. Next up is their father, his attachment to a Christian Minister and the religion that has some feeling of a cult about it, the father's subsequent death and brother Anton's inheriting of the farm. But Anton's troubled and tortured and never settles, whilst middle child Astrid marries in haste, has kids, and strives for something that she can't describe. Meanwhile younger sister Amor can no longer stomach what she sees as the morally bankrupt, unquestioning nature of the family and breaks away, building a life that's based on her own hardwork and sacrifice, not her inheritance. Somehow though, this is, in itself, oddly morally ambiguous, despite her good works, she's as lonely, disconnected and empty as her other siblings.

Galgut's writing, and powers of observation are acute in this novel, as is his willingness to call out the white gaze. He uses a stream of conscious approach that takes its directional cues from small observations and happenings, moving the story from one viewpoint to another, gently but unrelentingly probing the easy view, revealing the truth behind the things we know and what we're all prepared to say.

Disturbing on one level, engaging and, once you adjust to the methodology behind the writing, and the printed styling (no grammatical marks for example), absolutely enthralling.

One that made the vast majority of the participants in the discussion very keen to seek out further work by the same author.

BOOK DETAILS

BOOK INFORMATION

Author

Damon Galgut

Year of Publication

2021

BLURB

The Promise , winner of the 2021 Booker Prize, charts the crash and burn of a white South African family, living on a farm outside Pretoria. The Swarts are gathering for Ma's funeral. The younger generation, Anton and Amor, detest everything the family stand for -- not least the failed promise to the Black woman who has worked for them her whole life. After years of service, Salome was promised her own house, her own land... yet somehow, as each decade passes, that promise remains unfulfilled.

The narrator's eye shifts and blinks: moving fluidly between characters, flying into their dreams; deliciously lethal in its observation. And as the country moves from old deep divisions to its new so-called fairer society, the lost promise of more than just one family hovers behind the novel's title.

In this story of a diminished family, sharp and tender emotional truths hit home. Confident, deft and quietly powerful, The Promise is literary fiction at its finest.

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#fiction

Fiction

Review

The Promise, Damon Galgut

Karen Chisholm

Monday, October 9, 2023

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Life, Keith Richards

Karen — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 03:07:50 +0000

REVIEW

Life, Keith Richards

Review Written By

Karen Chisholm

Thursday, October 5, 2023

I've had this book in the queues for such a long time, one to dip in and out of at those moments when a bit of amusement was required, I thought. Until the day I wasn't dipping, and couldn't put it down.

Told very much in his own voice (I think there was a ghostwriter involved / not sure), this is a rollicking roam through the life, times, trials, triumphs and tribulations of the (to my ears at least) greatest band ever. Full of very funny one-liners and some utterly brutal honesty about a life that's been lived to the edges always.

There's plenty here for music lovers, music players, the reminiscers and the "would remember it all but for being there" readers. There's some slashing down of some of the myths and legends around the Stones and there's some from their side telling of the various drug busts, arrests, court cases and trouble that followed all of them over the years. He's honest about the estrangement with Mick Jagger, his friendship with current and past members of the Band, and the music legends, and everyday people that he's come across in his life.

He's brutally honest about past relationships and somehow he comes across as less of a playboy music legend, and surprisingly touchingly, a really decent bloke who thinks about stuff, loves his family, and keeps it as real as you can when you're Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones.

One for a lot of readers - not just fans of the Stones.

BOOK DETAILS

BOOK INFORMATION

Author

Keith Richards

ISBN

9780297854395

Year of Publication

2010

BLURB

With the Rolling Stones, Keith Richards created the riffs, the lyrics and the songs that roused the world, and over four decades he lived the original rock and roll taking the chances he wanted, speaking his mind, and making it all work in a way that no one before him had ever done. Now, at last, the man himself tells us the story of life in the crossfire hurricane. And what a life. Listening obsessively to Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters records as a child in post-war Kent. Learning guitar and forming a band with Mick Jagger and Brian Jones. The Rolling Stones' first fame and success as a bad-boy band. The notorious Redlands drug bust and subsequent series of confrontations with a nervous establishment that led to his enduring image as outlaw and folk hero. Creating immortal riffs such as the ones in 'Jumping Jack Flash' and 'Street Fighting Man' and 'Honky Tonk Women'. Falling in love with Anita Pallenberg and the death of Brian Jones. Tax exile in France, wildfire tours of the US, 'Exile on Main Street' and 'Some Girls'. Ever increasing fame, isolation and addiction. Falling in love with Patti Hansen. Estrangement from Mick Jagger and subsequent reconciliation. Solo albums and performances with his band the Xpensive Winos. Marriage, family and the road that goes on for ever. In a voice that is uniquely and intimately his own, with the disarming honesty that has always been his trademark, Keith Richards brings us the essential life story of our times.

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Review

Life, Keith Richards

Karen Chisholm

Thursday, October 5, 2023

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Remember Me, Charity Norman

Karen — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 01:03:04 +0000

REVIEW

Remember Me, Charity Norman

Review Written By

Karen Chisholm

Thursday, October 5, 2023

A dementia diagnosis reveals clues to a decades-old mystery in this new novel from the author of The Secrets of Strangers – Charity Norman’s third to be shortlisted for NZ’s Ngaio Marsh Awards.

Full Review at: Newtown Review of Books

Book Source Declaration

I received a copy of this book from the publisher or author.

BOOK DETAILS

BOOK INFORMATION

Author

Charity Norman

ISBN

9781761065170

Year of Publication

2022

BLURB

They never found Leah Parata. Not a boot, not a backpack, not a turquoise beanie. After she left me that day, she vanished off the face of the earth.

A close-knit community is ripped apart by disturbing revelations that cast new light on a young woman's disappearance twenty-five years ago.

After years of living overseas, Emily Kirkland returns to New Zealand to care for her father, Felix, who suffers from dementia. As his memory fades and his guard slips, she begins to understand him for the first time - and to glimpse shattering truths about his past. Truths she'd rather were kept buried.

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Review	Remember Me, Charity Norman	Karen Chisholm	Thursday, October 5, 2023
Blog	2023 Ngaio Marsh Award Winners	Karen Chisholm	Thursday, August 10, 2023
Blog	2023 Ngaio Marsh Longlist Announced	Karen Chisholm	Monday, July 3, 2023

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