CANBERRA WEEKLY 12 MARCH 2026: NEW AUSTRALIAN CRIME FICTION FROM FIONA HARDY, FIONA LOWE AND J. P. POMARE
This week in the Canberra Weekly I reviewed three new novels of suspense from Australian authors Fiona Hardy, Fiona Lowe and J. P. Pomare.
Children’s author turned crime writer Fiona Hardy, made an impressive entry into the genre last year with Unbury The Dead, which featured two great central characters in the form of the marginally crooked Alice and Teddy. Now the pair are back in a new adventure, Old Games, (Affirm, 24 February 2026).
In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“Fiona Hardy’s Unbury The Dead was one of my favourite Australian crime tales of 2025. Fresh and witty, it featured a great central character pairing in the form of dodgy Melbourne investigators, and marginal criminals, Alice and Teddy. Now in Old Games the pair are back, a bit more battered and a lot warier. When they are hired to find the stolen ashes of a long-dead celebrity tennis player they are expecting a simple job and a quick pay day, but things quickly escalate and soon they find themselves caught up in a complex web of old rivalries and violence. A lively and entertaining read.”
The stakes never seem as high in Old Games as they did in Unbury The Dead, but nevertheless it is a very enjoyable and nicely observed novel that excelled in its sharply observed portrayal of Australian society on the fringe.
Here is the link to the longer review I did earlier this year: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/australian-crime-fiction-february-2026-reviews-and-previews/
Fiona Lowe’s novels are more family drama and suspense, than crime, but they make for good weekend reading. Her latest, The Drowning (Harper Collins, 24 February 2026), is another pleasantly enjoyable novel.
In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“Fiona Lowe’s stories about secrets, families and moral dramas in small town Australia always make for popular reading, and The Drowning is another enjoyable tale.
As a child CC loved spending her summers with her four much richer cousins at their holiday home on the Victorian coast. She was always treated as part of the family and when she inherits a fifth of the beach front property she is delighted. Her cousins are less thrilled, and when the feud over what to do with the property turns tragic, CC finds herself in danger. Another thought-provoking, character driven story by the always reliable Ms Lowe.”
I did a slightly longer review here: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/australian-crime-fiction-march-2026-natalie-conyer-j-p-pomare-fiona-lowe/
Kiwi author, and Melbourne resident, J. P. Pomare is an inventive and unpredictable plotter who brings just the right amount of characterisation and social observation to his cleverly concocted tales of suspense. His latest, The Gambler (Hachette, 24 February 2026), is another stand-out tale.
In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“Melbourne based author J. P. Pomare is a master of the twisty, unpredictable thriller and his latest novel, The Gambler, is another tightly plotted tale that takes you down some unexpected paths.
Asked to investigate why a respected local woman opened fire at a political rally killing a young university graduate, American private eye Vince Reid is surprised to find a key witness on the run and old crimes coming to the surface. Briskly paced, The Gambler, keeps you keenly turning the pages as it weaves its way through some interesting background to an exciting and surprising conclusion. Highly recommended.”
Here is the link to a longer review I did: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/australian-crime-fiction-march-2026-natalie-conyer-j-p-pomare-fiona-lowe/
The Pomare book was probably my favourite of the three, although all of them are well worth reading, depending on your criminal preferences.
Happy reading!
Thanks to the Canberra Weekly and the publishers for the books.