CANBERRA WEEKLY 1 JUNE 2023: THRILLING FICTION AND THE EAGLES
This week in the Canberra Weekly I reviewed two thrilling new novels by T. J. Newman and Jo Nesbo, and Mick Wall’s fascinating book about the Eagles and the LA music scene in the 1970s.
Fans of Scandinavian serial killer thrillers will welcome Killing Moon, (Harvil Secker), the latest novel by Norwegian author Jo Nesbo.
Nesbo’s Harry Hole novels are always a bloody slice of escapism and his latest certainly lives up to the dark and gripping reputation of its predecessors.
In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“Norwegian author Jo Nesbo has gained international acclaim for his series about the brilliant, but troubled, detective Harry Hole, and Killing Moon once more finds Harry in trouble and on the trail of a diabolical killer. Struck off the Norwegian police force, and down and out in Los Angeles, Harry is reluctantly convinced to return to Oslo to help track down a killer when a friend of his is threatened.
Dark and gruesome, Killing Moon drudges down some familiar snowy alleyways, but Nesbo always keeps it interesting with vivid descriptions, an abundance of detail and steadily mounting tension.”
An intense and gruesome read!
I did a slightly longer review a couple of weeks ago: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/serial-killers-mobsters-1920s-melbourne-and-a-drowning-plane-new-crime-fiction-from-t-j-newman-jo-nesbo-james-comey-and-laraine-stephens/
T. J. Newman’s Falling was one of the stand out debut thrillers of 2021 and her second novel, Drowning (Simon & Schuster), is just as good, if not better.
In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“T. J. Newman’s Drowning starts with a bang when Flight 1421 crashes six minutes after take-off from Hawaii. Frantically the survivors flee the barely floating aircraft, but the plane quickly begins sinking beneath the waves with twelve people still aboard. As the passengers and crew try to survive, an urgent rescue attempt is launched to save those trapped in the plane.
This is a frenetically paced and emotionally charged novel, that makes effective use of a constantly shifting viewpoint between the survivors and the rescue team. Newman, a former flight attendant, brings a good degree of authenticity to this gripping tale. Recommended.”
It is a gripping read that certainly lives up to the hype that has accompanied its release.
I did a slightly longer review in May 2023: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/serial-killers-mobsters-1920s-melbourne-and-a-drowning-plane-new-crime-fiction-from-t-j-newman-jo-nesbo-james-comey-and-laraine-stephens/
A change of pace is provided by Mick Wall’s Eagles: Dark Desert Highway (Trapeze).
Renowned rock journalist Mick Wall provides a fascinating portrait of the Los Angeles rock scene from the late 1960s through to the end of the 1970s. The focus is on the Eagles, but the book covers a much wider scope and is full of terrific anecdotes and sharp analysis. Wall tells his story in a clear and unbiased manner and totally enmeshes the reader in the LA music scene.
In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“Esteemed music biographer Mick Wall provides a sharp eyed view of the rise of the Eagles from obscurity to the heights of music success, and their subsequent descent into internal bloodletting and drugs. Set against a well described broader context of the 1970s music scene, Dark Desert Highway is a fascinating account full of interesting vignettes and astute observations. Wall’s depiction of LA in the early seventies is particularly well done and his crisp descriptions of the various players is engrossing.
Written in an easy flowing style, complete with frequent swearing, it is a captivating read. A must for music fans.”
I have been lucky enough to read some really good non fiction books this year, but this is one of my favourites so far. I found it absolutely absorbing. Highly recommended.
Thanks to the Canberra Weekly and the publishers for copies of the above books for review. More of the Canberra Weekly book reviews, and book news, can be found here: https://canberraweekly.com.au/category/entertainment/books/