CANBERRA WEEKLY 17 SEPTEMBER 2026: NEW AUSTRALIAN CRIME FICTION BY JAMES DUNBAR, DAVID WHISH-WILSON & ROBYN DENNISON
This week in the Canberra Weekly I reviewed three new Australian crime novels that range from dark noir to literary crime and international thrills.
James Dunbar’s Blood Moon, (Echo, 1 September 2026), is a follow-up to his Mole Creek from 2023.
The book features the two principal leads from the first novel, disgraced journalist Xander McAuslan and former Vietnam veteran Lorenzo, as well as a female, Russian assassin who is possibly the most interesting character in the book.
In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“James Dunbar made a good 2023 entry into Australia’s crime fiction ranks with Mole Creek, and has now followed it up with an exciting sequel, Blood Moon.
It opens with the main characters from the first book, disgraced journalist Xander McAuslan and former Vietnam veteran Lorenzo, being targeted by a Russian assassin. However, before the killer can strike the pair become caught up in two other crimes involving a bloody episode from the Vietnam War and the disappearance of a very successful artist. Dunbar juggles the various plot elements with considerable skill, and the result is a lively and entertaining read.”
Blood Moon is a good, fun read that seamlessly shifts between the dual plotlines in Australia and Vietnam, and between the three main characters. The storyline relating back to events during the Vietnam War probably ends weakly, but the antics involving a missing artist and the determined assassin keep the interest going to the end.
See my full review here: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/australian-crime-fiction-2026-blood-moon-by-james-dunbar/
Providing a more literary take on the crime genre is Robyn Dennison’s In Plain Sight, (Text, 1 September 2026).
A strongly character driven novel, In Plain Sight is rich in detail about the lives of the twin sisters at the core of the story and neatly captures the feel of the small town where the action takes place. The pacing is sluggish at times, but there is solid underlying tension throughout.
In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“Robyn Dennison’s adult crime debut, In Plain Sight, is a well written book that offers rich characters and a nuanced plot.
Sex-crimes detective Lara Wilton is under a cloud at work and reluctantly agrees to return to her former hometown to investigate an ugly crime involving images on an USB and identical twin sisters with a secret. The case, however, begins to stagnate when the sisters refuse to fully cooperate, and Lara finds herself caught in a web of lies and manipulation. In Plain Sight takes the familiar tropes of many recent crime novels and imbues them with depth and compassion. A thoughtful novel.”
A noteworthy crime debut.
David Whish-Wilson is one of Australia’s premier crime novelists and his latest book, Free World (Fremantle Press, 1 September 2026), is another stand-out read.
In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“David Whish-Wilson is one of Australia’s best hardboiled crime writers and Free World is another impressive, gritty tale.
Set in the final days of 1999, it finds Perth PI Lee Southern going undercover in jail. When a murder in a prison cell winds up with the wrong man dead, Southern is hired to protect the intended victim by assuming the role of his cellmate and bodyguard. As tensions simmer in the prison on the eve of the new millennium, Southern finds himself trapped with no way out. A taut, briskly paced thriller, Free World will keep you reading well into the night. Highly recommended.”
Free World is another very good crime novel by an author who deserves greater recognition in Australia.
Happy reading!!