All the Reviews

The Fatal Flaw, Roger Maynard (review by sunniefromoz)

FATAL FLAW follows the investigation, the inquest and the trial which convicted New Zealander Glenn O'Neill.

Although the record shows that O'Neill was the killer, his conviction was based on an early confession which was later recanted by him.  The rest of the evidence was largely circumstantial and there were many unanswered questions which haven't completely closed the matter.

Norfolk Island is a somewhat hierarchical community, with descendents of the Bounty mutineers and Pitcairn Islander at the top.  it is also a community which is very protective of ... Read Review

A Carrion Death, Michael Stanley

Set in Botswana, A CARRION DEATH introduces the reader to, amongst a lot of other characters, Assistant Superintendent David Bengu.  David is a big man.  A very big man.  As a young man, his friend Angus coined the nickname Kubu - which means Hippopotamus in Setswana.  That friend belongs to one of the families in Botswana - his father, until he died, and his uncle have run the Botswana Cattle and Mining Company for many years. His friend - Angus and his twin sister Dianna are about to reach the age at which they inherit and they can take over from their uncle Cecil.

In ... Read Review

Done Deal, Tony Berry

I wanted to read this book for a few reasons - for a start it's set in my home town, in and around the suburb of Richmond.  Okay I have a passing knowledge only of Richmond having spent an inglorious 6 months or so around that area many many many many years ago and nothing much since then - should go back / there's some good Vietnamese restaurants in that area.  But I digress.  The other reason I wanted to read this book is that it's obtained online via Lulu - and I've been quite a fan and follower of the Lulu business model for years - they provide an outlet for so many open source ... Read Review

Disco for the Departed, Colin Cotterill

If you haven't followed the adventures of Dr Siri, his nurse Dtui and his morgue assistant Mr Geung, then you're really missing out.  In DISCO FOR THE DEPARTED, Dr Siri and Dtui are sent into the mountains to investigate the mummified body of a man found buried under a concrete path at the mountain hide-out of the President of the People's Republic of Laos.  The investigation has a certain level of sensitivity because of where the body was found needless to say.  Mr Geung remains in Vientiane to look after the morgue and he takes his responsibilities very seriously.

Cuban ... Read Review

A Greater Evil, Natasha Cooper

A GREATER EVIL is the eight book in the series feature Trish Maguire - barrister and a bit of a champion of the underdog.   In this book she takes on the challenge of proving one-time client (as a badly abused child) Sam Foundling didn't kill his pregnant wife Cecilia.  Co-incidentally, Sam is one of Trish's favourite sculptors, long before she connected him with the child she had defended many years before (surname change on his part).  Cecilia, co-incidentally has been working with Trish on an insurance case involving the iconic, but structurally faulty Arrow Building.  Cecilia is, ... Read Review

A Deadly Business, Lenny Bartulin

Jack's life has certainly been a roller-coaster - there are liberal hints throughout the book of a somewhat less than spotless background and there's a pared down, minimalist sort of a private life.  But his bookshop is something that is his, and he obviously knows a bit about the business.  So he's surprised when somebody starts offering ridiculous amounts of money per copy for the books of a very obscure local poet - Edward Kass.  But cash is cash, so after tracking down a copies he delivers them as requested.  

Hammond Kasprowicz doesn't really come across as a ... Read Review

The Big Score, Peter Corris

There are probably more, but immediate reactions on getting a book of short stories, is that there are precious few Crime Fiction short story collections by Australian authors around (I'm probably about to be proven totally wrong!).  But there's something very engaging about a good collection - engaging enough to make you find yourself volunteering to run the errands, wait outside for whatever or whoever - because it will give you a precious few minutes or so to read another of this collection.

Cliff finds himself named as a killer in the dying breathe of a victim; tracks ... Read Review

Beneath the Blonde, Stella Duffy

Firstly, BENEATH THE BLONDE isn't the first in the Saz Martin series so you're just going to have to accept some back story to the main character and a reason for her past injuries.  As well as there being a backstory to her relationship with Molly (her live in girlfriend), ex-girlfriend Cassie and a bunch of other things that are pulled into this book.  

A lot of that understanding is going to be required because BENEATH THE BLONDE is as much about Saz and her reactions - to Siobhan, to Molly, to the band, the people around the band and the travelling.  The story of who ... Read Review

Die With Me, Elena Forbes

There's a bit of a clue to the context for Gemma's death on the front cover of DIE WITH ME - "You could find your new best friend on the net ... or discover your worst nightmare".  Oh dear, another the Internet is all bad story?  Well no.

Gemma's death is written off as a suicide when she is first discovered.  She seems to have jumped from high up in the church, dying on the floor of the dark church on a dark evening.  But postmortem tests show a small amount of alcohol and GHB in her system, and there's the astute observation of Dr Fiona Blake who notices a small lock of ... Read Review