All the Reviews

The Singapore School of Villainy, Shamini Flint

For those reading the Inspector Singh Investigates series in order, THE SINGAPORE SCHOOL OF VILLAINY is the third book. Given these are a series, is it necessary to read them in order? Whilst there's always something gained when reading books in the order that the author wrote them, this is a case where I'm not sure you need to be too obsessive about it. Of course, from the start you'll get to know the good Inspector a little more, but to be honest, there's not a lot of expansion of character going on here. It's obvious that Singh's constantly in trouble with his superiors, that he's ... Read Review

Compulsively Murdering Mao, Bill Green

A little book I've had salted away for quite some time, it took the sad death of Bill Green to get me to stop dipping into and out of it, and sit down and read it.  Having finished it, the quote from Mungo McCallum on the back sums up the political component: 

Spells out in blistering openness the excesses and dilemmas that characterised Australian politics.

But there's also a little more to this book, knowing, from chatting to the author, that part of the action - something about a plucky Australian going up against a CIA ... Read Review

Counter Attack, Mark Abernethy

When it comes to writing military intelligence, covert operation styled thrillers there have been some particularly well known authors over the years.  Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum, Ian Fleming and Len Deighton come to mind immediately.  Until Mark Abernethy created Alan (Mac) McQueen, there have been fewer options to choose from set in this part of the world, seen from an Australian perspective.  Mac is our super-spy, the covert operative who knows everyone, works in our geographical region, is fearless in pursuit of the goal of whatever operation he's sent on, and frighteningly able to ... Read Review

Death of the Mantis, Michael Stanley

DEATH OF THE MANTIS is the third book in the Detective David 'Kubu' Bengu series from writing duo Stanley Trollip and Michael Sears, under the pen name of Michael Stanley.  (For those that haven't read this series 'Kubu' means hippopotamus which is a commentary on Bengu's size.)  I remember, before this book was completed, the authors explaining the life and plight of the Bushman, a race of people who come from the Kalahari Desert, who traditionally live a nomadic, simple existence with their own sacred places, rituals and beliefs - not unlike our own Aboriginal races lifestyle and ... Read Review

Don Vito, Massimo Ciancimino & Francesco La Licata

I like true crime books that tell me something about the circumstances and motivations for why people get into the situations that they do.  I even like confessional true crime as long as it's not too self-serving or overtly engaged in historical rewriting.  But I think I've just discovered that the subject, the crimes, the individuals have to be somebody that I have some sort of knowledge of, or connection with.  Be it that they are from the same country, city or state as me, or maybe if it's something that is of universal interest.  Alas my interest in the Mafia in Italy is very ... Read Review

Jane Blonde - Sensational Spylet, Jill Marshall

It's been a long time since I was eight years old, and I did grow up in the time of Trixie Belden, The Famous Five and Alfred Hitchcock mysteries, so JANE BLONDE SENSATIONAL SPYLET has come as more than a bit of a surprise.  

I can see that the idea of plain mousey little Janey Brown being transformed into sensational spylet Jane Blonde with the aid of some gadgetry, some blonding of the hair, a bit of bling, a slick little silver outfit and some flashy gadgetry and boots sounds pretty good.  I can see how this book might appeal to an eight, maybe ten year old girl, ... Read Review

How the Dead See, David Owen

It's just so heartening to know that the Pufferfish Series lives on that it's difficult to remain objective about the latest book.  HOW THE DEAD SEE is the second of the re-emergence of David Owen's much loved, acerbic, dry, funny, dark and quite prickly Detective Inspector Franz Heineken.  

There are some things that never change in these books - Pufferfish (his nickname is a direct correlation between Heineken's prickly, dangerous, lurking personality and that of the fish in question), is, as always, dry, prickly, and acerbic, with the addition of being quietly and ... Read Review

The Acid House, Irvine Welsh

I admit I had very little idea what to expect when I picked up THE ACID HOUSE, but TRAINSPOTTING worked for me so I thought why not.

Welsh does bizarre, in your face scenarios; flawed, mad, bad, unlucky or just flat out odd characters; and he does a great line in Scottish venacular.  What he doesn't do is pull any punches.

As with many short story collections from a single author, there are some that will work better than others for all readers.  But to be a reader of this book you're going to have to have a high tolerance for "language", in your face drug ... Read Review

Fair Cop, Christine Nixon & Jo Chandler

Even taking into account the idea that a biography, particularly biography from someone with a very recent high public profile, will have a certain "take" on events, FAIR COP is an extremely worthwhile read.  Adore or abhor Christine Nixon she is a woman who achieved astounding heights, and therefore had a long way to fall (be it that she jumped, was pushed, or deserved to trip).  

FAIR COP takes the reader back to Nixon's childhood and then through family life with her policeman father, and very forthright mother, to joining the NSW police force.  It tracks her career, ... Read Review