CANBERRA WEEKLY 12 AUGUST 2021: AUSTRALIAN CRIME FICTION
This week in the Canberra Weekly I reviewed three outstanding new Australian crime fiction titles by Kyle Perry, Gabriel Bergmoser and Tony Park.
First up was Kyle Perry’s exquisitely plotted The Deep (Michael Joseph). This follow-up to his highly praised first novel, The Bluffs, confirmed Perry’s status as a rising star of the Australian crime fiction scene. In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“Kyle Perry’s The Bluffs was one of the stand-out Australian crime fiction debuts of 2020. Set in the remote wilderness of Tasmania’s Great Western Tiers it was a tightly constructed and gripping story. Now with The Deep, Perry shifts the action to the rugged and dangerous coast of south-eastern Tasmania. It opens in dramatic fashion, when a thirteen-year-old boy staggers out of the ocean, bruised and weirdly tattooed. The long missing son of an infamous local drug family, his reappearance sets in train a violent series of events. An exquisitely plotted and well written story, The Deep confirms Perry’s status as a rising star of Australian crime writing.”
Kyle Perry’s The Bluffs was recently shortlisted for the 2021 NED KELLY AWARD FOR BEST DEBUT CRIME FICTION and The Deep is certainly guaranteed to further his standing and appeal.
I did a longer review of The Deep on 20 July 2021: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/the-deep-by-kyle-perry-michael-joseph-20-july-2021/
I thought that Gabriel Bergmoser was unlucky not to have his debut novel The Hunted (Harper Collins) also nominated for a Ned Kelly Award. In my view, it, along with Perry’s The Bluffs, was the outstanding debut of 2020. Maybe its thriller nature and explicit violence put off some people, but there were some deep themes running beneath the fast pace and exciting narrative.
Bergmoser’s second crime novel, The Inheritance, continues the adventures of Maggie and maintains the same frenetic pace.
In the Canberra Weekly I said that:
“Gabriel Bergmoser also burst onto the Australian crime fiction scene in 2020 with the visceral and highly exciting The Hunted. The Inheritance continues the adventures of the enigmatic Maggie, who finds herself caught up in the blood-soaked search for a hard drive of dangerous information left by her dead, ex-cop father. The Inheritance captures the pedal-to-the-metal pace and thrills of Bergmoser’s first book, but adds a more substantial plot and richer characters. The story unfolds quickly, and it swiftly builds to an explosive climax. A ferocious tale about a troubled heroine who makes most of the fictional tough guys look like wimps.”
A terrific read.
I also did a longer review on 28 July 2021: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/july-justice-new-tough-novels-by-s-a-cosby-steve-cavanagh-and-gabriel-bergmoser/
Tony Park is a veteran of the Australian thriller scene and his African based novels never fail to entertain.
His latest, Blood Trail, is another top-notch effort that makes great use of the recent impact of the pandemic on the poaching of wildlife.
In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“Tony Park is Australia’s premier adventure writer, and his African-based novels are always a highlight of the reading year. His latest, Blood Trail, once again tackles the emotional issue of wildlife poaching, but Park gives it an up-to-date feel by exploring how COVID has made it harder for the rangers protecting the animals. The pandemic and its effect on the local population is seamlessly integrated into the plot and, in many ways, is the driving impetus for the action. The story unfolds smoothly and there are some nice twists, engaging characters and plenty of excitement. A good piece of international escapism, especially for those of us who miss overseas travel.“
I don’t think that Tony Park gets as much attention as he deserves in Australia and encourage you to hunt out his books and give them a go.
I also did a longer review on 31 July 2021: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/blood-trail-by-tony-park-macmillan-august-2021/
In all, three very good crime novels to get into, especially if you are still stuck in lockdown!
Thanks to the publishers and the Canberra Weekly for the books. This review and others can be found on the Canberra Weekly site: https://canberraweekly.com.au/book-talk-3-australian-crime-novels/