CANBERRA WEEKLY JUNE 2026: NEW BOOKS by JO MURRAY, MICHAEL CONNELLY, INESSA JACKSON, MARK SMITH, V. A. VAZQUEZ and AYESHA INOON
I had two columns in the Canberra Weekly in June 2026, which covered a range of crime fiction from international writers Michael Connelly, Jo Murray, and V. A. Vazquez, and local Australian authors Mark Smith and Inessa Jackson. There was also a powerful non-crime novel by Canberra writer Ayesha Inoon.
The first column from 4 June 2026 featured a trio of very good books from international powerhouse Michael Connelly, new British author Jo Murray and Australian Mark Smith.
First up is Jo Murray’s twisty courtroom drama, Dissection Of A Murder, (Macmillan).
In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“Fans of clever, twisty courtroom dramas will eagerly devour Jo Murray’s stunning debut, Dissection Of A Murder.
Young London lawyer Leila Reynolds is surprised when she is given her first murder case. The victim is a well-known judge, and the accused is a minor crook, Jack Millman, who Leila previously represented. Jack, who specifically requested Leila, is refusing to talk, and she only has limited time to concoct a defence, in what seems to be an unwinnable case, while keeping her own secrets buried. This is a very enjoyable legal thriller that features riveting courtroom scenes, and dazzles with its final surprises. Highly recommended.”
I really enjoyed Dissection Of A Murder, which kept me reading well into the night and surprised me with some really good twists.
I did a longer review here: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/may-mayhem-new-crime-novels-by-john-connolly-jo-murray-and-mike-ripley/
Also very good was the latest novel from American crime maestro Michael Connelly.
Ironwood, (Allen & Unwin), is the second book in Connelly’s new series about former LA Homicide Detective Stilwell, no first name, who has been sent to the usually peaceful Catalina Island as a disciplinary measure. With a guest appearance from Connelly regular Renée Ballard and a vague sighting of Bosch, Ironwood is an enjoyable addition to his steadily increasing canon.
In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“Michael Connelly is in good form with his second novel about Detective Stilwell from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, who has been ‘exiled’ to a low-key policing role on Catalina Island. His caseload mainly involves small acts of vandalism and unruly tourists, but when a drug bust goes wrong, and officers are shot, he finds himself benched from the investigation. With time on his hands he looks into a strange disappearance that leads him to Detective Renée Ballard and a very active cold case.
Ironwood is vintage Connelly, with great police detail, steadily building suspense and a tense and unexpected ending.”
A very good read. A longer review is here: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/ironwood-by-michael-connelly/
Too much of Australia’s crime fiction is set in small, dusty rural towns full of decay and secrets. In Where Truth Ends, (Macmillan), relative newcomer Mark Smith ventures into the rarified airs of urban environmental crime and possible government conspiracy.
In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“Melbourne climate protestor Meg Maher thought that she was engaging in a peaceful demonstration, but when it ends in a violent explosion, she finds herself on the run. The authorities label it a terrorist incident, and every anonymous member of her group becomes a suspect. As the investigation closes in, Meg is forced to question everything about what happened, who did what, and whether the group was infiltrated by other elements who now want her out of the way.
Where Truth Ends is a highly charged thriller that ventures into new territory for local crime writing, and provides both excitement and interesting political insight.”
A longer review can be found here: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/australian-crime-fiction-june-2026-devil-mountain-by-inessa-jackson-and-where-truth-ends-by-mark-smith/
In the more recent column (18 June 2026) I looked at recent books by debut writers Inessa Jackson and V. A. Vazquez. I also reviewed a new non-crime book by local Canberra author Ayesha Inoon.
The Death Row Club, (Simon & Schuster, 30 June 2026), by American author V. A. Vazquez is a cleverly constructed crime novel, that makes much of its central conceit about a club for the adult children of serial killers. The fact that the existence of such a club does not seem too far fetched, probably says a lot about the United States in 2026.
In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“Family also features in V. A. Vazquez’s fresh debut crime novel, The Death Row Club.
Nicola Fischer is spiralling. Her father was just convicted of murdering five young women, including her best friend, and her local American community has turned against her. When she is invited to an exclusive, off-grid annual gathering for people like her, the adult children of serial killers, she eagerly accepts. It is the chance to mix with people in the same unwanted situation as her, however, when an unexpected guest turns up and a murder occurs, she finds herself trapped in the wilderness with no way out. Good escapist fun.”
The Death Row Club will be released in Australia on 30 June. It seems to have already been published in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Inessa Jackson’s Devil Mountain, (Affirm), does not move too far from recent small town crime tropes, but it does so in a very engaging manne,r and with an interesting suggestion of the supernatural.
In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“When Detective Sergeant Anastasia Brown is sent to investigate a grisly murder in a small New South Wales town, she welcomes the chance to run from heartbreak and humiliation. However, this is no ordinary murder. The body of a popular doctor has been found on the mountain, chained and burned, with arcane symbols carved into the soles of his feet. With a town full of suspects, and rumours of ghosts and witches, Ana has her work cut out, especially when her recent past catches up with her.
Easy flowing, with some nice twists and a good pace, Devil Mountain is an enjoyable winter read.”
I did a longer review here: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/australian-crime-fiction-june-2026-devil-mountain-by-inessa-jackson-and-where-truth-ends-by-mark-smith/
The Sisters Of Serendib, (HQ), by Ayesha Inoon, is not a crime novel, but a moving tale about the plight of refugees in Australia and the lasting trauma that many of them experience.
In the Canberra Weekly I said:
“The Sisters Of Serendib by Canberra author Ayesha Inoon is a moving story about family and the bonds of sisterhood.
When a mother dies on an asylum boat fleeing war-torn Sri Lanka, her three daughters are separated and scattered across Australia. Years later, the eldest, Janu, still remembers the home she left behind and the sisters she lost. Gradually she discovers clues to her sisters’ new identities and locations, and begins the quest to reunite them, but can something broken ever be fully repaired. A poignant and timely novel about the human cost of international turmoil and the strength of family.”
With the rise of far right paranoia and quick vote grabs in Australia, it is a good time to read a moving novel about the other side of the story.
So six very different, but entertaining books, for your mid-year reading.