Jeff Popple reviews three new debut novels by Australian authors. More of Jeff’s reviews can be found on his blog: murdermayhemandlongdogs.com
Black River by Matthew Spencer
Allen & Unwin, $32.99
Former journalist Matthew Spencer makes an impressive entry into Australia’s crime writing ranks with his debut, Black River. Set along the banks of Parramatta River, it is a gripping story about a murder at an elite boarding school and the possible links to a serial killer known as the Blue Moon Killer. Moving the point of view seamlessly between a worn-out journalist and a tough female police detective, Spencer maintains the momentum and the interest at a high level as the story builds to a gripping finale. Well plotted with a credible cast of characters, it is a very enjoyable read.
Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor
Macmillan, $32.99
Hayley Scrivenor also impresses with her debut about a missing schoolgirl and a decaying rural town. No-nonsense cop Sarah Michaels has to put aside her personal concerns and past history as she tries to find out what happened to 12-year-old Esther Bianchi on the way home from school. As the tension mounts, Hayley takes the reader into the heart of the small country town and exposes the strengths and weaknesses of its inhabitants. With a revolving point of view, including an inventive chorus of children’s voices, Dirt Town is an emotionally charged and compelling novel with a strong sense of place.
Abomination by Ashley Goldberg
Vintage, $32.99
Loosely based on real events, Abomination is an absorbing novel about two estranged friends whose lives reconnect following a protest calling for the extradition of a child-sex predator from Israel. Ezra and Yonatan both attended the school at which the abuser taught 20 years ago, but in the intervening years have gone their separate ways. Yonatan is now an ultra-Orthodox rabbi, whereas Ezra’s life is defined by a growing level of faithfulness. Reunited, the pair have to re-evaluate the past and its effect on them. A compassionate and engaging novel that gives a rare insight into the tensions within Australia’s Orthodox Jewish community.
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