CANBERRA WEEKLY: 9 JULY 2026: NEW AUSTRALIAN CRIME FICTION by MATT NABLE, SHERRYL CLARK and JASON SUMMERS

This week in the Canberra Weekly I reviewed three new Australian crime fiction novels by Jason Summers, Sherryl Clark and Matt Nable.

First up was Red Lake, (Macmillan, 30 June 2026), by Jason Summers. Red Lake is Summers’ first novel for Macmillam, after a prolific series of Kindle and self published books.

In the Canberra Weekly I said:

“Jason Summers hits all the tropes of recent Australian outback crime fiction with Red Lake.

Former Sydney Homicide Detective Harper Quinn returns to her Riverina hometown in search of a quieter life for her family. The relative peace of her new job as a small town detective is broken, however, when a body is found at the abandoned lakeside waterpark. The murder sends shockwaves through the community, especially as it seems to be linked to the disappearance of Harper’s brother thirty years ago.  A smoothly written crime tale with some nicely orchestrated twists and a strong sense of place, Red Lake is an enjoyable read.”

I also did a longer review here: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/australian-crime-fiction-june-2026-red-lake-by-jason-summers-and-find-me-by-holly-craig/

I think that For All The Dead Girls, (Harper Collins, 30 June 2026), is a real step-up in quality and plotting by Sherryl Clark. The book’s serious themes are nicely balanced by an interesting and tense plot, and by some well fleshed out characters. The central character’s background story is also well developed and engaging, although it does help if you have read the first book in the series – Woman Missing.

In the Canberra Weekly I said:

“Sherryl Clark’s second book about Melbourne PI Lou Alcott, For All The Dead Girls, is a powerful novel that mixes high tension with strong themes around gender violence and toxic misogyny.

Lou, still recovering from her last case, is sent to help with the extraction of a woman and child from a dangerous domestic situation near Goulburn. She gets them out, but soon finds herself the target of a dark-web hate group. As the violence escalates, Lou and her firm desperately try to find the person behind the group and a series of related killings. A first rate read, but not for the faint-hearted.”

I also did a longer review here: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/new-australian-crime-fiction-july-2026-for-all-the-dead-girls-by-sherryl-clark-and-mire-by-matt-nable/

With Mire, (Hachette, 7 July 2026), actor and writer Matt Nable has produced a tough, uncompromising crime story that delves into greed and consequences.

In the Canberra Weekly I said:

“Dan Milligan enjoyed all the money and excesses of the high life as a Sydney financial whiz until the stock market plummeted in 1987. Now reduced to running a lawn mowing business on the New South Wales south coast, he is trying to enjoy the peace of the outdoors and cheaper thrills. An unexpected find, and a bad decision, however, leads him back into trouble, this time involving a local drug syndicate and the New York Mafia.

An intense, character driven crime story, Mire excels in its portrayal of the 1980s and early 1990s. The pace is steady and the ending suitably dark and violent.” 

I also did a longer review here: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/new-australian-crime-fiction-july-2026-for-all-the-dead-girls-by-sherryl-clark-and-mire-by-matt-nable/

So some quite different crime novels by three relatively newer Australian crime writers. For All The Dead Girls is probably my favourite of the three, although I think fans of rural crime stories will probably enjoy Jason Summers’ Red Lake more.

Happy reading!