AustCrimeFiction - All Blogs

It was a very good Christmas / New Year Break with just enough hot weather to make me stay inside, watch the cricket (can anybody explain what it was that the Poms were doing out there...), and read some fabulous books. So I'm doing a bit of catch up as many of these are still from last year.

From the Blurb:

He’s back…

Eight years ago, ‘The Inside Man’ murdered four women and left three more in critical condition – all of them with their stomachs slit open and a plastic doll stitched inside.

And then the killer just … disappeared.

Another series I got embarrassingly behind with, but used my time off over Christmas / New Year to devote some well-rewarded time to.

From the Blurb:

I was lucky enough recently to generate the eBook version of this book for Derek, and whilst you don't get much of a chance to read a lot while you're doing that, there were more than enough glimpses too intrigue.  It's not a case that I know anything at all about, but it definitely looks like something utterly incomprehensible. 

From the Blurb:

Dead By Friday – How lust and greed led to murder in the suburbs

For review on http://www.newtownreviewofbooks.com(link is external) and for pleasure reading in the stinking heat! (It's too hot to move, so sad, what a tragedy - I'm just going to have to read this book...)

From the Blurb:

Review book from http://www.thereadingroom.com(link is external)

From the Blurb:

From birth, Noah Hogarty has lived with severe cerebral palsy. He is nearly blind, unable to speak, and cannot run, walk, or crawl. Yet his mind works just as well as any other twelve-year-old’s—maybe even better. And Noah holds a secret dream: to become a great spy, following in the footsteps of his aunt, Liv “Boots” Bergen.

Review book from http://www.thereadingroom.com(link is external)

From the Blurb:

As a "non-welded to any particular ereader device", ebook fan, I've bought books at a lot of different ebook retailers, and I've read them on a lot of different devices / ebook clients. My go to device for ebooks is my Android tablet these days, mostly because of the choices it gives me.

Another re-read as I work my way slowly, with so much enjoyment, back through this very favourite series. 

From the Blurb:

When last seen, the singularly inept wizard Rincewind had fallen off the edge of the world. Now magically, he's turned up again, and this time he's brought the Luggage.

But that's not all....

Noticed this out of the corner of my eye a while ago and have been meaning to mention how excited I got when I saw Momentum Books listing some of my favourite J.R. Carroll books and one I've not read before. 8 Hours to Die. These books were unbelievably hard to find when I finally twigged to their existence and in the main I ended up getting copies at second hand bookshops from one end of Victoria to another. Which meant every new find was a thing of real joy. And now, thanks to Momentum I'll be able to start from scratch and reread every one of them. Released early next year.

Dabbling once more in the fabulous Green Classic Penguin offerings.

From the Blurb:

Tempted by the idea of duck shooting, Carruthers joins his friend Davies on a yachting expedition in the Baltic. But Davies has more on his mind than killing fowl. As they navigate the waters and treacherous, shifting sands on board the Dulcibella, Carruthers learns the real reason behind their trip – and how the safety of Britain depends on it. The Riddle of the Sands is full of danger, double-crosses, and discoveries on which the fate of nations hangs by a thread.

Very very happy to have had a chance to read this... 

From the Blurb:

In 1994 Sisters in Crime Australia realised that one of the best ways to uncover, encourage and foster a new generation of women crime writers was to host a writing competition.

The Scarlet Stiletto Awards for women's crime and mystery writing was born.

Little did we - the Convenors of Sisters in Crime, aka the Stiletto judges - know what we were in for or just how successful the competition's primary mission would be.

Extremely interesting thriller set in New Zealand.

From the Blurb:

When Abraham Khan releases an e-book condemning radical Islam, the consequences hit him fast and hard -- an armed fanatic smashes into his home one evening, trying to kill him. He survives the harrowing attempt. Just barely. But will he survive the next one?

Maya Raines is the security operator brought in to protect Abraham. She is tough and committed. The very best at what she does. Always one step ahead of the threat.

For review at http://www.newtownreviewofbooks.com(link is external) this is the first of the Rainbow books

From the Blurb:

She's a surgeon, she's beautiful and she desperately wants Mister Rainbow to shed some light on her husband's past. But when he does, she wishes he hadn't. Because what Rainbow discovers is a handless hood - and a whole lot of murders.

Ninth (really!) book in the Anna Travis series. A series, to be honest, I lost interest in a while ago - but this was sent to me, so I thought it was worth checking to see if I've been missing out.

From the Blurb:

No idea why I picked up this book - but very glad I did.

From the Blurb:

Janusz Kiszka, unofficial 'fixer' to East London’s Polish community, and a man with his own distinctive moral code, has been hired to track down a missing waitress. Meanwhile, DC Natalie Kershaw, a rookie detective who’s not afraid of breaking a few rules, investigates the suspicious deaths of two Polish girls.

They hail from very different worlds, but Kiszka and Kershaw are set on collision course…

I think I'm safe in saying that this is a new scenario for me - fleeing New York City and heading for China... interesting :)

From the Blurb:

A beautiful couple of kid's ebooks - I will admit I tore through the first of the series last night and loved it. But will review properly asap.

From the Blurb:

Sleuth Astrid is a hi tech, mind-reading chook who rides a Harley, uses a z-com and solves mysteries like finding the magician’s lost sense of humour.

Sleuth Astrid (e-books) junior mystery easy-to-read series. Designed and illustrated by Jane Connory.

A beautiful couple of kid's ebooks - After tearing through the first, will be sitting down with the second tonight.

From the Blurb:

Astrid has to find the Voice of the Coach in time for the Saturday Grand Final.

Sleuth Astrid is a hi tech, mind-reading chook who rides a Harley, uses a z-com and solves mysteries like finding the footy coach's lost voice. Hazel researched with footy fans and went to a match. Zany illustrations with chapter picture clues by Jane Connory.

A pseudonym for two journalist brothers, Max Landorff's Tretjak comes for the "Fixer" subgenre of crime fiction.

From the Blurb:

Gabriel Tretjak is the "fixer," hired by rich clients to fix their lives, to challenge fate on their behalf. He does so without moral limitations or scruples. His methods draw on the latest research into the human brain and advances in psychology. His prices are high, but his clients are always willing to pay. No matter how desperate their situation, they want a happy ending; but happy for whom?

A special treat read and hurried because the latest one was released last week. I'm fairly sure I'm never going to catch up every again.

From the Blurb:

It's been some time since Rebus was forced to retire, and he now works as a civilian in a cold-case unit. So when a long-dead case bursts back into life, he can't resist the opportunity to get his feed under the CID desk once more. But Rebus is as stubborn and anarchic as ever, and he quickly finds himself in deep with pretty much everyone, including DI Siobhan Clarke.

It's a Christopher Brookmyre book. Of course I was going to read it.

From the Blurb:

Is the devil merely the name we give the worst in ourselves?

When private investigator Jasmine Sharp is hired to find Tessa Garrion, a young woman who has vanished without trace, it becomes increasingly clear that there are those who want her to stay that way. What begins as a simple search awakens a malevolence that has lain dormant for three decades, putting Jasmine in the crosshairs of those who would stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried.

Noir + short stories is a favourite combination.

From the Blurb:

English writer Paul D Brazill's 13 Shots Of Noir is a collection of short stories in the vein of Roald Dahl, The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. The first story, "The Tut", was nominated for a 2010 Spinetingler Award, while the story "Anger Management" was chosen as one of the Predators and Editors top twenty crime stories.

Crime, horror and dark fiction are contained within the pages of 13 Shots Of Noir.

A rather locally looking book with a number of references to Ballarat, which seems to mean that the author is about an hour from Ballarat on one side, and I'm about an hour the other. And then there's the action set around the Malthouse, a place I remember with considerable fondness during the MWF.

From the Blurb:

For review at http://newtownreviewofbooks.com/(link is external)

From the Blurb:

When Hirsch heads up Bitter Wash Road to investigate the gunfire he finds himself cut off without back-up. A pair of thrill killers has been targeting isolated farmhouses on lonely backroads, but Hirsch’s first thought is that ‘back-up’ is nearby—and about to put a bullet in him.

Sometimes life is very good to the humble reader and this past weekend was one of those times.

From the Blurb:

After narrowly escaping Nazi terror, Rowland Sinclair and his companions land in London, believing they are safe.

But they are wrong.

A bizzare murder plunges the hapless Australians into a queer world of British aristocracy, Fascist Blackshirts, illicit love, scandal and spies.

A world where gentlemen are not always what they are dressed up to be.

I have been looking forward to this book for quite a while now, so decided to treat myself ;)

From the Blurb:

Can you commit the perfect crime?

Pilgrim is the codename for a man who doesn't exist. The adopted son of a wealthy American family, he once headed up a secret espionage unit for US intelligence. Before he disappeared into anonymous retirement, he wrote the definitive book on forensic criminal investigation.

The latest from the Miss Fisher series, which dovetailed nicely with Friday night appointment viewing (which is no mean feat given Friday night happy hour at the local is a very important event in these parts...)

From the Blurb:

To the accompaniment of heavenly choirs singing, the fearless Miss Phryne Fisher returns in her 20th adventure with musical score in hand.

Sometimes life can be very good to the dedicated reader. In 2002 I cannot tell you how excited I was when HALF PAST DEAD dropped into my line of sight. At the time I was obsessed with the local crime writing scene - having originally been "rehooked" by Marele Day, Patricia Carlon, Peter Corris, Shane Maloney and what, at the time, was building to an increasingly wide variety of locally set, locally relevant crime writing. A HAND IN THE BUSH followed in 2005 and I still have my paperback with the cartoon cover, signed by Jane after a panel at the Melbourne Writers Festival.

Way back in the deep dark past of my reading habits I will admit that I did kind of like the odd Charlotte MacLeod style book. Even wandered around in Maggody for a while, before developing a taste for the darker things in life (red wine / dark chocolate / dark storylines). But the occasional dip into the cozy world has actually worked a few times this year, so I thought why not another go. And besides, Bendigo and the word "nefarious". One of my favourite words.

From the Blurb:

Welcome to the sleepy town of Majic, where neighbourhood watch is a killer …

Reading this for a discussion on 4MA(link is external).

From the Blurb:

The latest in a series that I lost a bit of interest in a while ago. Thought a re-check of reaction was more than overdue.

From the Blurb:

When a severed arm is discovered by a couple on honeymoon in the Florida Keys, former police detective - now reluctant restaurant inspector - Andrew Yancy senses that something doesn't add up. Determined to get his badge back, he undertakes an unofficial investigation of his own.

A debut book which, part of the way in, is thus far just fabulous.

From the Blurb:

Crime and courtroom drama meet island humour and romance in this award-winning debut novel.

I'm not sure if the author's bio is a hint to what is coming in this book, or the book is a hint about the author's bio. Either way I'm not quite 50% of the way in and already laughing. Which I hope is the right reaction...

From the Blurb:

New police procedural from Karen M Davis, an ex-cop from NSW.

From the Blurb:

For eight years Lexie Rogers has been a uniform cop in Sydney’s red light district, Kings Cross. Having survived a violent knife attack, she’s seen it all – and far more than most cops her age. Now she’s back at work as the newest member of the Bondi Junction Detective’s Office and ready to start again.

Every now and again I get a chance to read something that's not local :) :) :) This is a thriller from the author of The Good Thief's Guide series.

From the Blurb:

What do you do if your fiancée goes missing, presumed taken?

If you're Daniel Trent, a highly-trained specialist in hostage negotiation, the answer is simple: You find out who took her and you make them talk.

For more: http://www.austcrimewriters.com/content/2013-ned-kelly-awards(link is external)

Winner - Best First Fiction

Zane Lovitt - The Midnight Promise

Winner - True Crime

Robin de Crespigny - The People Smuggler

Winner - Best Fiction

Geoffrey McGeachin - Blackwattle Creek

Belfast born, Australian resident, Adrian McKinty has won the 2014 Ned Kelly Award for crime fiction for his novel IN THE MORNING I’LL BE GONE (reviewed here).

McKinty, who settled in Melbourne five years ago, received the honour at the Brisbane Writers Festival on Saturday night when the Australian Crime Writer’s Association (ACWA) celebrated the best crime-related books of the year.

A True Crime series that goes back in time and through SA, WA and the NT in general. I have struggled with the style of these collections in the past, and again, this is an erratic compilation. Review to come asap as I'm behind. So very very behind.

From the Blurb:

To be reviewed at http://www.newtownreviewofbooks.com(link is external) - this is a book I've been seriously looking forward to reading.

From the Blurb:

For ex-detective Frank Swann, being on the outside of Western Australia's police force is the only way to get justice done.

Barry Maitland's Brock & Kolla series has been around for quite a while now, and it's quietly worked its way into the Must Read Pile.

From the Blurb:

Felt like a foray into some true crime - this being the first of a few I want to read, even though I haven't watched the TV Underbelly franchise for many a season now.

From the Blurb:

In the 1920s, Squizzy Taylor was a household name for all the wrong reasons - armed robbery, fraud, sly grog and prostitution rackets, race fixing, extortion, jury rigging and illegal gambling. Squizzy was a dandy, a bootlegger and Melbourne's most notorious criminal. From 1915 to 1927 he and his gang waged open warfare against their rivals across Melbourne.

For review at http://www.newtownreviewofbooks(link is external) - the third Harry Curry book from Stuart Littlemore - these are marginally crime in the way that Rumpole is crime. Not that I'm saying that these compare, but they are certainly of a similar sentiment.

From the Blurb:

The irreverent Harry Curry and beauteous Arabella Engineer are back in a new suite of legal misadventures and relationship jousts.

My first selection from the new Penguin Green Classics series, partially because Mary Braddon has an Australian family connection, and partially because it's been a long time since I read this first.

From the Blurb:

When his uncle, Sir Michael Audley marries a beautiful and enigmatic young woman, Richard suppresses his misgivings. But the strange behaviours of Lady Audley and the suspicious disappearance of his friend, George Talboys, lead him to explore her mysterious past – with grave consequences.

Via: http://www.booksellerandpublisher.com.au/DetailPage.aspx?type=item&id=27957(link is external)

The shortlists for this year’s Davitt Awards, presented by Sisters in Crime Australia for the best crime and mystery books by Australian women in 2012, have been announced. The shortlisted titles in each category are:

AustCrimeWriters have just announced a competition for people to win the winners of this year's Ned Kelly Awards - by guessing the winners :)

Enter here:  http://www.austcrimewriters.com/content/enter-win-complete-set-winner-books

I suspect this sort of book should come with a cholesterol warning or something... certainly I got to the bit about custard out of a bowl and fresh raspberries and realised I was very hungry... which isn't right at 1.00am.

From the Blurb:

Tabitha Darling has always had a dab hand for pastry and a knack for getting into trouble. Which was fine when she was a tearaway teen, but not so useful now she’s trying to run a hipster urban cafe, invent the perfect trendy dessert, and stop feeding the many (oh so unfashionable) policemen in her life.

AustCrimeWriters have just announced the shortlist for the 2013 Ned Kelly Awards at: http://www.austcrimewriters.com/content/announcing-2013-ned-kelly-shortlist(link is external)

The judges' comments, and the lists are now available at: http://www.austcrimewriters.com/content/2013-ned-kelly-awards(link is external)

Debut book from an author with an interesting background for this sort of writing :)

From the Blurb:

A car crash fourteen years ago.
The result — amnesia.
A terrible accident … or was it?

Since that fateful day, computer expert David Hayes has been consumed by his need to learn more about his past. Frustrated at every turn, his search seems destined to fail until the sudden arrival of a photograph from his past — a photograph that shatters everything.

Sometimes a book comes along and I find myself tempted to write FICTION on a post-it note and stick it on the cover, just to remind myself. Of course this is fictional, and there are aspects of it that are obviously so. Will be interesting to see where it goes as I'm only about 3/4s of the way through. So far, I'm not all that convinced by the comparison with Temple's books. This is a bit of a doorstopper for a start.

From the Blurb:

What a fantastic way to start off an announcement. Of course it could be that I'm getting old, but increasingly I'm finding there's absolutely nothing wrong with acknowledging where we came from. Penguin's page http://www.penguin.com.au/green-popular-penguins goes(link is external) onto say:

I've stopped panicking over how many books there are that I am so far behind with reading. You can't bet city hall after all, but it's a nice feeling to know there are so many great local options (this is from NZ) if you're not up with the series (which is brilliant so you should be).

From the Blurb:

There's been quite a bit of chat about the unmasking of JK Rowling as the author of this book. So much so I got to have a lovely chat with Cassie McCullagh from Radio National's The List. Which you can listen to here: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/thelist/the-television-revolution2c-cuckoo27s-calling-and-zombie-apoc/4828762

We've been doing a lot of driving around this week and mostly my stints have been in pea-souper fog. Which after the desperately dry last winter is actually a very nice change. Except when you're trying to do it at 100ks an hour :) So I suspect the cover is what called me to this book, although I did really enjoy the first one RIVER OF SHADOWS. 

From the Blurb:

I suspect the Gibraltar tourist board are slightly relieved that Mogford tends to place his bodies off Rock (so to speak), otherwise, in such a small location, things could seem a little gruesome. In this case Sanguinetti is off to Malta.

From the Blurb

Just as a degree of calm returns to Spike Sanguinetti's life in Gibraltar, he receives the shocking news that his Maltese uncle and aunt are dead after a domestic dispute escalated into a blood-soaked murder-suicide.