CANBERRA WEEKLY 8 AUGUST 2024: NEW BOOKS FROM MARGARET HICKEY, HAYLEY SCRIVENOR and GABRIEL BERGMOSER
This week in the Canberra Weekly I review three new rural Australian crime novels by Gabriel Bergmoser, Hayley Scrivenor and Margaret Hickey.
Gabriel Bergmoser has quickly established himself as one of Australia’s most exciting crime thriller writers.
The first two books in his series about the nomadic Maggie, The Hunted and The Inheritance were addictive ‘pedal to the metal’ thrillers, and last year’s standalone novel, The Caretaker, was one of my favourite books of 2023.
Bergmoser’s latest book, The Hitchhiker (Harper Collins, 31 July 2024), started life as an Audible Original story, before being recast as a short novel, and is another thrilling read.
In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“Pushing fifty and reeling from an ugly divorce, Paul decides that it is time for an adventure and heads into the Australian outback. Things take a sinister turn when he decides to pick up a hitchhiker, Jesse. Clutching a ragged backpack, and with his eyes locked on the rearview mirror, Jesse is clearly running from something. But what? As the trip continues and others are dragged into Paul and Jesse’s orbit, the stakes are raised, and the body count rises.
This is a twisted cat-and-mouse thriller that quickly drags you in and keeps you riveted to the page until the bloody conclusion. Highly recommended.”
I recently did a longer review of The Hitchhiker here: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/australian-outback-noir-2024-new-books-by-margaret-hickey-and-gabriel-bergmoser/
Hayley Scrivenor’s debut novel Dirt Town featured on a number of ‘Year’s Best’ lists in 2022 and won several awards, including the ABIA General Fiction Book of the Year 2023.
Dirt Town featured vivid writing, rich characters and a strong sense of place, and these elements are again present in Hayley’s new novel, Girl Falling (Macmillan, 30 July 2024).
Girl Falling is a slow burn of a suspense thriller where the developments in the plot flow naturally from the characters’ development, rather than from a contrived twist. It is very much a character driven crime story. In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“Hayley Scrivenor’s first novel, Dirt Town, drew world-wide acclaim for its originality and strong sense of place. She has now followed it up with a powerful new novel, Girl Falling, about friendship and obsession. Set in the Blue Mountains, it revolves around an ill-fated climbing trip.
Finn and Daphne used to be inseparable as school friends, but have drifted apart. Daphne is now at university, while Finn is falling in love with beautiful newcomer, Magdu. When the three girls go mountain climbing one day, only two return. A tense and intimate examination of relationships and truth.”
Fans of well written ‘friendship’ thrillers will like this one. It also has a terrific cover.
Located in Victoria’s high country, Margaret Hickey’s The Creeper, (Penguin, 30 July 2024), is a stand out crime novel and probably her best book to date.
It is strongly plotted tale that makes the most of its dual ‘past’ and ‘present’ timeline story, and builds to an exciting conclusion, with a neat sting in the tail.
In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“Bush walks and mountains also feature in Margaret Hickey’s terrific new novel, The Creeper. For ten years the Victorian high country town of Edenville has been haunted by the horrific murders of five hikers. Also found dead near the scene was Bill ‘Creeper’ Durant, an expert deer-hunter, and a man known for stalking campers. The police readily conclude that it was an act of murder-suicide. But with the anniversary quickly approaching, questions are being raised, and newly minted Detective Constable Sally White finds herself querying what really happened ten years ago.
Underpinned by great characters and astute plotting, this is a superior piece of crime fiction.”
I also did a longer review here: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/australian-outback-noir-2024-new-books-by-margaret-hickey-and-gabriel-bergmoser/
So, three really strong Australian crime novels that make good, natural use of their rural settings.
Thanks to the publishers and the Canberra Weekly. The reviews, and other book news and reviews, can be found on the Canberra Weekly/Daily website: https://canberradaily.com.au/category/entertainment/books/
Happy reading!