This week in book talk, Michael Popple reviews three unique mystery debuts. You can find more of Michael’s book reviews on his blog: unseenlibrary.com
Daughters of Eve by Nina D. Campbell
Allen & Unwin, $32.99
After a despicable man is shot dead in front of her, Sydney detective Emilia Hart jumps at the chance to lead a high-profile murder case. However, the investigation gets more complicated when multiple men are murdered, each of them a suspected abuser. When a mysterious group, the Daughters of Eve, takes credit for the killings, Hart must dive into the grim recesses of domestic violence in Australia, before anarchy rules the streets. This is an amazing novel from an exceptional new Australian author. Merging a captivating mystery with topical social elements, Daughters of Eve is an enthralling and highly recommended read.
Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter by Lizzie Pook
Viking, $32.99
Western Australia, 1896. As the pearling ships return to Bannin Bay, one ship arrives with its captain missing. With no clues about what happened, and an innocent crewmember arrested for his murder, the captain’s daughter, Eliza Brightwell, is determined to find the truth. However, Eliza is unprepared for all the dark secrets about her family that she will uncover. This is a distinctive and powerful debut from Pook that drags readers to the brutal colonial landscape of Western Australia. You will swiftly fall in love with this compelling, character-driven tale that makes brilliant use of its historical setting.
The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan
Orbit, $32.99
In the mighty Sovan Empire, law and order is maintained by the Justices, powerful knights with magical abilities who investigate crimes and facilitate rigorous trials. When Justice Sir Konrad Vonvalt and his clerk Helena investigate a vicious murder in a provincial town, they uncover a dangerous conspiracy that threatens everything they hold dear. Swan makes his fantasy debut with The Justice of Kings, an exceedingly clever novel that expertly combines a high fantasy setting with a murder mystery and legal thriller storyline. Set to be one of the best fantasy novels of 2022, this is an epic ‘must read’.
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