AustCrimeFiction - All Blogs

New book from a new author - being read for a discussion on Murder & Mayhem.

From the Blurb:

When Rodney Hill, wrongly arrested for a series of murders, hangs himself, Jill Kennedy, the forensic pscyhologist whose profile led to Hill's arrest, gives up her work with the police and moves to the peaceful village of Kelton Bridge to write self-help books, enjoy a quiet life with her cats and perhaps an occasional flutter on the horses.

Opening Lines:

This is a stonking great 596 page paperback - the sort of book I'm grateful I'm not trying to read in hardback - if I dozed off and dropped it on my nose I'd probably end up with concussion! 

From the Blurb:

Book trailer for PD Martin's The Killing Hands, book 4 in the Sophie Anderson series. In The Killing Hands, a victim has literally had his throat ripped out and the trail leads back to LA's underworld and a brilliant killer who's carved a trail of death in organized crime across the U.S.

Wander over to YouTube for a look :  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGo8fHdKAM0

This is a most unexpected pleasure - cross genre, nicely twisty and bendy, just flat out entertaining at points.

From the Blurb:

A Question of Power - The Geoff Clark Case is a book on the story of a man who spent his life gaining power only to be accused of its ultimate abuse.

From the Blurb:

Geoff Clark was once the most powerful Aboriginal man in Australia.  As chairman of ATSIC, he was at the pinnacle of his career when, in 2001, newspaper reports revealed that four women accused him of rape.  The crimes they described were brutal - but the claims, dating back to the 1970s, were difficult to test.

The death of my beautiful German Shepherd Phoenix earlier this week means I'm looking for books at the moment that distract, and to be honest I wasn't convinced I wanted to read My Life by the wife of Carl Williams - Roberta.  Tied up with the gangland wars in Melbourne, Roberta was married to Carl at a time when he became one of the most prolific killers in Melbourne's history.  This book is very much told in her own voice, but more on that when I get a chance to put some semi-coherent comments together.

From the Blurb:

Text have started an annual prize to be awarded to an outstanding unpublished manuscript, aiming to discover wonderful new books for young adults and children by Australian and New Zealand writers.  The Billionaire's Curse is the first winner.

From the Blurb:

Gerald has become the richest thirteen-year-old on the planet.  The world's most valuable diamond has been stolen, and it seems there has been a murder.  Now Gerald's life is in danger.

Opening Lines:

'Nothing ... is ... certain!'

CHILDREN’S AUTHOR FIRED UP OVER NEGLECT OF ‘’’TWEENS’ LITERATURE

Melbourne children’s writer, Goldie Alexander, is so fired up about the lack of media and critical attention to ‘‘tweens’ books – for readers between eight and twelve  – that she’s surprised hedges all over Melbourne haven’t gone up in smoke in sympathy . 

Having really enjoyed an earlier book by this author, I'd been looking at this one on the review stack for a while now.  (And I have read it now, I'm doing a spot of catching up around here).

From the Blurb:

DCI Andrew Fenwick is on a tough case.  The Choir Boy investigation, a project outside ordinary police jurisdiction, aims to expose an infamous and increasingly powerful paedophile ring.  Moreover, with eleven-year-old schoolboy Sam Bowyers missing every second counts.

Opening Lines:

This is a review book I was sent forever ago, which I've been meaning to pick up. 

From the Blurb:

Pattie Boyd was at the heart of the Sixties revolution; the most famous muse in the history of rock 'n' roll.  She married both George Harrison and Eric Clapton - two of the most addictive, promiscuous musical geniuses of the twentieth century - and inspired Harrison's Something and Clapton's Lalya.

Opening Lines:

At the last Crime & Justice Festival way back whenever that was (feels like a hundred years ago), Lucy mentioned this book, and that it was a bit of a rarity.  And I was kicking myself as I had seen a copy of it earlier in the bookshop but somebody more awake than me bet me to it.

So a bit of a quest was launched (I do so love a quest), and was lucky enough to track down a copy in a very nice secondhand bookshop in Ballarat - no luck alas with a brand new copy.

Boy I'm glad I did - even if I had to drive from Bendigo to Ballarat in one day!

I was alerted to this writer by somebody who dropped in here a while ago with a comment and, needless to say, had to get hold of a copy. 

I'm really behind with review writing at the moment and I promise to extract that digit later in the week - but in the meantime I'm churning through some book reading!

From the Blurb:

I wonder if anyone else has "one of those authors that I've never read and know I should have"?  Olen Steinhauer's definitely in that category for me - I've been hoarding his books for years now (I think 4_Mystery_Addicts got me interested in the first place) and ever since then I've never had a chance to pick one up.  I was particularly chuffed to get a copy of THE TOURIST as a review book because I just had to pick it up... didn't I!

From the Blurb:

Approaching a book by one of your all time favourite musicians is particularly fraught when you're fully aware that Nick Cave doesn't do anything mainstream.  I've never really understood why I like his music so much as it often explores themes and meaning that I'm less than interested in, but there you go, there's some sort of visceral appeal I guess.  So with INTO MY ARMS cycling around in the back of my head, The Death of Bunny Munro it is.

From the Blurb:

Roger Rogerson's one of those names that Australians (particularly those from New South Wales) are probably going to recognise immediately.  He's an ex-NSW policeman with a reputation.  This book is Rogerson writing about Rogerson as the blurb puts it "from the horse's mouth".

From the Blurb:

This book comes with the following quote on the front cover:

'The most exciting crime writer to have emerged in Britain for years'  Ian Rankin

Now normally you have to take those quotes with a grain of salt, but seriously, if you've never read any of Denise Mina's books it's a gap you should fill.  Her Garnethill trilogy (Garnethill, Exile and Resolution) are simply mind-bogglingly good.  Compromised, flawed central heroine - fantastic books.

Still Midnight features another fantastic female central character - Alex Morrow.

From the Blurb:

The earliest Australian Crime Fiction book I've ever found reference to is Ellen Davitt's Force and Fraud which was originally published in 1865, but for sheer numbers and prolific writing Fergus Hume is somebody that needs mentioning.

Starting with The Mystery of the Hansom Cab published in 1886, Fergus Hume went on to have about 137 books published up until 1932.

I'm normally one who can take or leave a prologue - hate the ones that seem to give away the entire point of the book, but LENNOX has a really good prologue.  Clever, kind of funny, it certainly made me sit up and pay attention.

From the Blurb:

Private Investigator Lennox stands somewhere between legal and illegal, honour and greed, crims and cops.  The one clear thing about Lennox is his certainty that only the toughest and most ruthless survive in his home town of Glasgow.

Opening Lines:

After a fantastic book like TRUTH, I find it's often best to turn to another favourite author - but one whose style is completely different.  Christopher Brookmyre is always a handy choice as, well his style is COMPLETELY different from anybody else!

From the Blurb:

A gothic nightmare for the twenty-first century...

Well it's a month since the Crime & Justice festival and I've decided to stop saying I'm running late in the occasional paltry commentary on things and just say I'm not going to be rushed into anything.

But we were lucky enough to spend the weekend at the 2nd Crime & Justice Festival put on by Readers Feast bookshop.

What a great little festival it's shaping up to be.

Concentrating on crime fiction and crime / justice issues, there was another wonderful guest lineup this year, and it was very gratifying to see an increase in the number of participants.

I had intended to spend this afternoon catching up with some reviews.

But the postwoman delivered a parcel this morning and in it was a thing of great joy.

Something I've been anticipating for quite a while.

The sequel to THE BROKEN SHORE

I promise I will catch up on reviews for other excellent books I've read recently, but I'm a little distracted.

From the Blurb:

This is the latest book from Irish (now living in Australia) writer Adrian McKinty.  Not one of Michael Forsythe "The Dead" trilogy, this book comes from a considerably different angle. 

From the Blurb:

I'm not too sure why this book, of all the books waiting to be read around here appealed, but it did.  Started it last night.  Debut book introducing a very interesting new central DI character - Wagstaffe (or Staffe).

From the Blurb:

D.I. Will Wagstaffe - 'Staffe' to friends and enemies alike - is a man with many burdens.  On the eve of leaving for a personal trip abroad he is called to the scene of a horrific crime:  a known paedophile has been butchered in his own home.

Opening LInes:

I like these sorts of true crime books as fill-ins, especially if I've recently read a few hefty fictional tomes.

From the Blurb:

This revised, expanded collection of true crime by Australia's foremost crime writers digs beneath the polite exterior of modern Australian life to expose its chilling core.

Opening Lines:

DEAD-END ROAD is the third book from Richard Kunzmann, but the first I've read.  This was a scheduled read on the Murder & Mayhem list, which is why I'm out of order again with a series.

So far - very confronting.

From the Blurb:

After two years' absence, Detective Harry Mason has rejoined the South African Police Service, but is now moved to the Serious and Violent Crimes unit.

Opening Lines:

I missed the launch of this book recently, but I sure as hell wasn't going to miss reading the book.  This is the third in a series of compilations of true crime stories, written by a wide range of authors with varying backgrounds, varying viewpoints about varying crimes.

From the Blurb:

Take a walk outside the law with some of Australia's best crime writers.  Investigate the criminals who deal in murder, drugs and kidnapping; the cops who track them down; and the journalists who report their stories.

Opening Lines:

Article from Jason Steger in today's Age about Shane's award which was presented at last nights Ned Kelly Awards.

We'll have to keep an eye on the Ned Kelly site for a list of winners from last night as we're not bothering with MWF events this year.

Follow this link(link is external) for a full story on Chloe Hooper's win in the inaugural John Button Prize for her book The Tall Man.

Thank you very very much to Perry from Matilda(link is external) who was at Friday night's Ned Kelly awards and kindly let me know the winners:

Non-Fiction 
THE TALL MAN by Chloe Hooper

First Fiction 
GHOSTLINES by Nick Gadd

This book won the Pengin Most Wanted Competition recently - it's got a most unusual central protagonist and is set in Colonial 1880's Sydney.

From the Blurb:

One of the convict colony's soldiers has been murdered and Governor Ralph Darling is not pleased.

All you aspiring female writers out there, don't forget that entries for the 2009 Scarlett Stiletto's presented by the Sisters in Crime finishes on Monday 31st August.

For a wonderful article on the history of the Stiletto Awards read Meg Vann's interview with Carmel Shute here:

http://blog.awmonline.com.au/2009/08/18/the-first-cut/(link is external)

To be brutally honest, this is one of those books that I've known I should have read, and yet I've been very very leery of doing so.  The subject matter is uncomfortable, the events confronting.

It's not good enough to shy away because the truth is uncomfortable.

From the Blurb:

I recently had to spend a bit of fill in time waiting for a car service to be completed, so I spent some time in the library.  And started reading this book.  It seemed churlish not to borrow it, but I've not had time to finish it since.  So now I am.

From the Blurb:

Roy Angel is not a man for paperwork.  He's never completed a risk assessment form in his life.  NOw he's wishing he had - his life could depend on it ...

Opening Lines:

At a fantastic night out and ceremony last night the Sisters in Crime 2009 Davitt Award winners were announced, wined, dined, feted and photographed. 

The nights festivities were highlighted by a chat between Sue Turnbull and Justice Elizabeth King of the Supreme Court of Victoria, some fabulous food and 130+ Sisters in Crime and Brothers in Law turning out on a cold Melbourne night to celebrate some absolutely fantastic authors and books.

But without further ado - the winners of the categories in the order they were announced:

TRUE CRIME

Katherine has just let me know that her third book - Cold Justice, has been pushed back to a new release date of February 2010.  Darn - that makes the wait just that little bit longer for those of us who are really hanging out for the next instalment from this great Australian author.

Stil - February, summer, hot, no excuse not to sit quietly and read a good book!

At the close of a long day, Inspector Stephen Villani stands in the bathroom of a luxury apartment high above the city. In the glass bath, a young woman lies dead, a panic button within reach.

So begins the sequel to Peter Temple's bestselling masterpiece, The Broken Shore, winner of the Gold Dagger for Best Crime Award.

A little break from my Davitt catchup whilst I attend to a group read on Murder and Mayhem!

From the Blurb:

Two seven-year-old boys have been abducted from the streets of Glasgow.  Both had already endured years of neglect and betrayal - but for Detective Inspector Colin Anderson the case is especially disturbing, because the boys look so much like his own son Peter...

Opening Lines:

I haven't read a Phryne Fisher book in simply ages, so I've picked this one up in my pursuit of reading all nominees for next Friday's Davitt Awards.

From the Blurb:

Melbourne, 1929.  The year starts off for glamorous private investigator Phryne Fisher with a rather trying heatwave and more mysteries than you could prod a parasol at.

Opening LInes:

It had been such an agreeable day until then.

http://www.nedkellyawards.com/2009.html(link is external)

Best first fiction
Ghostlines, Nick Gadd *
Crooked, Camilla Nelson *
The Build Up, Phillip Gwynee *

Best Fiction
Bright Air Barry Maitland *
Deep Water Peter Corris *
Smoke & Mirrors Kel Robertson *

I know, I know, I'm supposed to be catching up on Davitt Award nominee books (I've got a few left to go), but I got distracted.  It happens.

From the Blurb:

It's market day in St Denis, a small town in the Perigord region of south-west France.  The locals are on the alert because inspectors are about to make a 'surprise visit', hoping to enforce the unpopular and bureaucratic EU hygiene rules.  But for Captain Bruno Courreges, St Denis' Chief of Police, this particular market day turns into something far more serious.

Caroline Petit's second Leah Kolbe book is set in Hong Kong and Macau at the time of the Sino-Japanese war and, to be perfectly frank, it's a tremendous book - I'm nearly finished after picking it up yesterday - but more asap.

From the Blurb:

It's always very pleasing to see a new local author popup on the shelves of the local bookshops, and Michael Duffy will be a name known already to many newspaper readers and listeners to Radio National.  It was particularly pleasing to find a previously unknown (to me at least) connection to The Saints'.  To hear The Tower's theme, The Saints' recording of Sydney crime song 'Water and Wine', go to http://www.cityofsharks.com(link is external)

From the Blurb:

Purchase a copy of the new Linwood Barclay novel, Fear the Worst(link is external), keep your receipt and enter the competition here before the 31 August 2009 and you could win a collection of Orion crime titles of your choice (to the value of $1000 AUD).

For more - have a look on Hachette's site:

http://www.hha.com.au/promotions/feartheworst/index.php

After NATURAL HISTORY, I've really been looking forward to the next novel from Neil Cross - and BURIAL arrived today.

From the Blurb:

Nathan has never been able to forget the worst night of his life:  the party that led to the sudden, shocking disappearance of a young woman.

Opening LInes:

The doorbell rang.

Nathan had a feeling - but he dismissed it, muted the TV and went to the door.

There's a new Wyatt on the way - so I'm catching up on the couple that I've been waiting to read for a while - Kickback being the first of them.

From the Blurb:

Wyatt robs banks, and lifts payrolls.  Most men like him are dead or in gaol.  But Wyatt stamps a cold, pitiless style on his heists - and makes sure that he never gets caught.

Opening Lines:

Stuart Black's first crime novel - SHALLOW WATER - is due out on the 24th of September, but I've been lucky enough to receive an advanced readers copy, which I've started.  More on the release date, when I'll publish a proper review.

From the Blurb:

A lifeless body by the side of the road in Notting Hill ...  A gorgeous but high maintenance wife self destructing because she's been denied access to the family fortune ... Another death - this time in the shallows of the stunning Great Barrier Reef ...

Opening LInes:

Starting this book for a buddy read on Murder & Mayhem(link is external) later today.  It's blurbed as being witty and melancholy by turns, if the plot of this eccentric tale of greed and witchcraft doesn't have your mouth watering, the loving descriptions of French good will.

Personally I'm fighting off a very strong urge to get a pet Truffle hunting pig just like Roseline.

From the Blurb:

The 8th Brodie Farrell Mystery, Closer Still is another book in Jo Bannister's impressive list of 30 or so books.

From the Blurb:

Detective Superintendent Jack Deacon doesn't take kindly to personal threats.  So when a local gangster starts taking an interest in his partner Brodie Farrell and their infant son, Deacon is prepared to do whatever it takes to protect them.

Opening Lines:

It was later than he thought.  He'd been in the back room of The Rose for hours, conducting business.

This is the third book from Alex Palmer - her second book The Tattooed Man won the Canberra Critics Circle Award, the first book Blood Redemption won the Ned Kelly Award for Best First Crime Novel, the Canberra Critics Circle Award for Literature and the Sisters in Crime Davitt Award.

From the Blurb:

Two years have passed since top cop Paul Harrigan walked away from the New South Wales Police Force to be his ownman.  Since then his life has been a gift, and his home with his partner Agent Grace Riordan and their daughter a sanctuary.

One of the interesting sessions at the 2009 Crime & Justice Festival was Lucy Sussex presenting a talk on Mary Fortune.  Mary Fortune (c 1833-1909) was a pioneer Australian crime fiction author, and for too long she's been little known / little discussed.

Another one started and finished over the weekend (you have to love Festivals where finding a seat in the sun, out of the wind and reading is an experience to be shared with total strangers), The Water's Edge is the latest Karin Fossum book featuring Inspector Sejer (who is probably as close to a current day Martin Beck as you're ever going to find).

From the Blurb: