CANBERRA WEEKLY 13 OCTOBER 2022: NEW CRIME FICTION
This week in the Canberra Weekly I reviewed three very good, new crime novels that range in location from damp Edinburgh to the harsh border region between Greece, Albania and North Macedonia to the lush area between New South Wales and Victoria.
First up was the latest entry in Ian Rankin’s iconic series about former Edinburgh police detective John Rebus, A Heart Full Of Headstones (Orion, 11 October 2022). A new Rebus novel is always a cause to celebrate, and this latest one is another terrific novel, albeit a bit melancholic.
In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“A new Rebus novel by Ian Rankin is always a delight, and his latest once again demonstrates why he is one of the best crime novelists around. The book opens with the former Edinburgh police detective about to face trial for an unspecified crime. Has John Rebus’s history of “bending rules and crossing lines” to achieve justice finally caught up with him, or is he the scapegoat for the actions of others? This well-crafted mystery contains the usual Rankin trademarks of clever plotting, sharp social commentary, gritty characters, and a wry sense of humour. Quality crime fiction that grips to the end.”
I also did a longer review a little earlier this month: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/a-heart-full-of-headstones-by-ian-rankin/
Chris Hammer’s latest novel, The Tilt (Allen & Unwin, 5 October 2022), is a heady brew of murder, rural history, old family secrets and modern day terrorism.
In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“Canberra author Chis Hammer drew world-wide acclaim for his debut novel Scrublands, and he has consolidated his standing with a good trio of follow-up books. In The Tilt jaded homicide detective Ivan Lucic, and his newly promoted colleague, Nell Buchanan, head to a small town on the New South Wales and Victorian border to investigate the discovery of an old corpse in a recently drained reservoir. Nell comes from the region, and she soon finds herself caught up in old crimes, family secrets and modern day terrorist threats. This richly described novel once more highlights Hammer’s strong storytelling ability. Highly recommended.”
I also did a longer review here: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/the-tilt-by-chris-hammer/
Peter Papathanasiou made an impressive entry into Australia’s crime writing ranks with his first novel The Stoning, and he has now followed it up an equally evocative and compelling novel in the form of The Invisible (MacLehose Press,
30 August 2022).
In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“Another Canberra author making a name for himself in the international crime fiction scene is Peter Papathanasiou. His first book, The Stoning, was very well received and his latest, The Invisible, is just as good. Burnt out from policework and unnecessary deaths, Australian detective George Manolis heads to Greece for a holiday and to visit the remote northern area where his father came from. Once there he becomes caught up in the search for a local man, without any official identity, who has disappeared in suspicious circumstances. An intriguing and tense thriller with a strong sense of place and well-drawn characters.”
There is a lot to admire in The Invisible from its strong characters to its vivid descriptions to its tackling of interesting and unusual themes. I also liked Peter’s gift for dialogue and his storytelling ability.
The Invisible was released in Australia and the United Kingdom on 1 September 2022.
So in all, some really good criminal reading and nice potential Christmas presents!