This is a good novel of suspense, beginning with a murder that leads to a complex investigation. Clues are included but so are plot twists and red herrings. Riley is a well developed character and a dedicated detective. The setting was well crafted with plenty of descriptions. It is a good book for those who like a police procedural plot involving a methodical investigation.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. Mine is an independent review.

I struggle to read books in series since I feel like I never know what's going on. I think it's a me thing.

Broke Road - Matthew Spencer
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Another book read for #aussieaugust2025 and one I was really excited to pick up. I read Black River back in 2023 and I was excited that book 2 in the Rose Riley series was being released. Matthew Spencer knows how to write a police procedural!
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A dead woman sees Detective Rose Riley and her partner Priya Patel sent to the Hunter Valley to investigate. Journalist Adam Bowman also turns up after the story and they soon team up to help each other.
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I kept trying to guess who might have been responsible, but we are given so many characters that it could be that I was left guessing until the very end.
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I’m a massive fan of Rose Riley and this series so I’m looking forward to book 3.

Broke Road is the second crime novel in the Rose Riley series. The plot revolves around Detective Riley, as she investigates the murder of a young woman in a wine tourism destination near Sydney, Australia. As Riley and her partner, Priya Patel, followed many leads, it started to feel more complex than a simple homicide. What could be the motive driving the killer?

The case escalates when forensic evidence links this murder to two other unsolved cases of married women, revealing a serial killer...

I wasn't sure I was going to like Broke Road because the beginning of the book was all about the names of roads that were being driven on, and whether right or left turns were being made, etc. I can see how that might be interesting to someone familiar with that part of Australia, but for me, it was boring and extraneous. Once I got into the storyline, however, I was hooked!

I liked Riley and Patel a lot, and as the book was getting close to the end, I could NOT imagine how the crime was going to be solved! Kudos, Mr. Spencer!

Thank you, #ThomasAndMercer, for providing this book for review and consideration via #NetGalley.

#Crime #Mystery #Australia #MathewSpencer

A really enjoyable read, particularly as I’m currently traveling in Australia, so the places and characters are more vibrant. Terrific twisted plot, and a great set of characters. I look forward to the next one!

A Detective Rose Riley crime mystery, Broke Road (2025) by Matthew Spencer is set in the wine country of the Hunter Valley in New South Wales. When a woman’s body is found killed in her house in Red Creek, with no sign of forced entry, Rose, Priya and Rodrigues, a local detective investigate. Once again, journalist Adam Bowman is also following the case for an exclusive report, as a range of suspects and motivations are canvassed. A truly enjoyable Aussie noir crime team gradually discover the various links and clues that lead to the killer and a number of other serious crimes. A delightfully engaging narrative with rich characters and a solid crime tale with a four and a half star read rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement. With thanks to Thomas & Mercer and the author for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes.

A murder in a rural Australian town without evidence of violence is the beginning of this crime noir story that has links across the country.
While Broke Road was a good read, it wasn't a great read. It was well written and had suspense. Especially as it drew towards the end when things hotted up. There were a number of red herrings in the story. However, the killer was there in front--one of those that says to you, that is way too obvious so it can't possibly be them.

The characters were good. Riley, Patel, etc. But I would recommend that you read Black River before digging into this one. As a police procedural it will suit those readers who like that kind of thing as well as the noir element.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this story.

Broke Road is a book I've been looking forward to ever since reading Black River and it didn't disappoint. It's a fast-paced mystery, with a gradually revealing plot and one that I enjoyed a lot. On the basis of the two books I've read by Spencer so far, he's one to watch out for and I'll be eagerly hoping for a third book featuring Rose Riley.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer Publishing, and the author, Matthew Spencer, for the opportunity to review the recently released book, Broke Road, his second in the Rose Riley series. My review reflects my candid opinion. I enjoyed the book and the characters. Rose Riley and her partner Priya Patel are sent to an area of Australia known for it mines and its wines to investigate the murder of the beautiful Penelope Armytage in her home in a rural new development. Her husband, Nigel a geologist, was at a mining meeting and discovered his wife half naked upon arriving home; there were no signs of a break-in or anything missing. Rose and Priya book rooms at a local hotel; they set up an investigation center nearby with the assistance of a local detective, Christian Rodriguez. While there is no dearth of local suspects, things get even more complicated when it was discovered that there were two other very similar murders in the region. Fourteen months before Penny's murder another young and very attractive 25 year old woman, Gina Watson, was murdered in the same way, and nine month before, 29 year old Jennifer Morrow was found murdered in her home. In all three cases the husbands were not home at the time of the murders and ultimately were considered strong suspects. Oh my, hold onto your seat as it gets very interesting as the three local police work with Rose and Priya. Broke Road is a great suspenseful novel; the storyline was well developed, and held my interest from the first page to the last. I did occasionally feel the author provided more descriptive information and the geography of the area was confusing to me. Those slight concerns did not minimize my enjoyment at all; in fact I'm hoping there will be a third Rose Riley book soon. 4stars

Matthew Spencer’s BLACK RIVER stood out as one of the best Australian debuts of 2022, and he has now followed it up with the even better BROKE ROAD.

BROKE ROAD once more features Homicide Detective Sergeant Rose Riley and crime reporter Adam Bowman, but moves the action from Sydney’s Parramatta River to the wine region of the Hunter Valley.

Rose is urgently sent to the Hunter when a young woman is found dead in her isolated town house in rural Red Creek, an up-and-coming wine tourism destination outside Sydney. No forced entry. No signs of struggle. Her geologist husband has an alibi, though it’s not exactly solid. Pressure is quickly placed on Rose to find the killer when a tabloid journalist spins her own damning narrative about the husband for personal gain, but things are not that straight forward. While Riley and her partner, Priya Patel, work the case with a local detective, crime reporter Adam Bowman, in hope of a new book, follows his own leads that steer him towards the suggestion of small town corruption and broader crimes.

BROKE ROAD is an engaging police investigation novel featuring well-crafted characters and convincing police procedures. The plot moves at a steady pace, with twists and developments that keep you interested and keenly turning the pages. Spencer skillfully guides the reader through the investigation, without the burden of excessive procedural detail, while managing the multiple plotlines effectively. The descriptions of the semi-rural community are sharp and effective, with Spencer nicely capturing the tension between the old coal mining communities and the new facade of glamour brought by the trendy wineries. He also has a good way with dialogue, capturing the rhythm of conversations and filling it with natural sounding local language and touches of Australian humour.

The characters are credible, and the local inhabitants are good, interesting guides to the intricacies of mining and wine making. It is also nice to read a police novel in which the lead detective is not suffering from pages of trauma from past cases, or addiction, or childhood drama, or unfaithful spouses. Riley is credible and interesting with a believable background, but she does not waste the reader’s time with too much introspection.

A couple of occurrences are perhaps too coincidental, as is Bowman’s involvement, but not enough to detract from what is a first class crime novel. 4.5 - rounded up

This was a very good read it’s has plenty of twists and throughout that make you not want to put the book down.
The story itself was suspenseful and enjoyable. The characters were great and the style of writing was perfect.
Matthew Spencer masterfully creates an atmosphere of tension and unease, making you question everything and everyone. If you're a fan of twisty, edge-of-your-seat thrillers, this book is a must-read.

Matthew Spencer delivers a gripping and atmospheric crime novel with Broke Road, featuring Detective Rose Riley as she unravels a dark and twisted mystery. This story follows a familiar but compelling investigative arc, rooted in classic murder mystery traditions, yet made fresh by the strange and unpredictable nature of the case.

The narrative begins with a disturbing crime that quickly escalates into something far more complex than a simple homicide. As Detective Riley digs deeper, what initially seems like an isolated incident spirals into a web of secrets, hidden motives, and connections that stretch far beyond the surface.

Spencer crafts a suspenseful and well-paced plot, with enough twists to keep readers engaged while still grounding the investigation in realism. Riley is a sharp and determined lead, whose persistence and intuition guide the reader through the maze of clues and red herrings. The bizarre elements of the case only add to the intrigue, creating a story that is both unsettling and addictive.

Broke Road is a strong entry into the detective thriller genre, blending procedural detail with psychological depth. Fans of classic crime fiction and layered mysteries will find this a rewarding and entertaining read.

DS Rose Riley and her partner are called to investigate a murder in Red Creek, a small town in Australia’s Hunter Valley wine country. Penelope Armytage was found dead in her townhouse. The door was locked from the inside with no other way in or out. Suspicion falls on the husband, of course, but he has a strong alibi. As Rose and Priya interview the local residents they discover that Red Creek guards its many secrets well. Then a search turns up a disturbing pattern with two other suspicious deaths in different cities. Rose and her team race to connect the three cases before there can be another attack, perhaps on one of their own.

Broke Road is the talented Matthew Spencer’s second in this compelling series and it does not disappoint. Well described characters, especially the team of Rose, Priya and newsman Adam, a wine country location catering to tourists and a carefully plotted mystery combine to make this police procedural impossible to put down. I look forward to the next in the Rose Riley series. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Matthew Spencer for this ARC.

4,5 stars.

Mathew Spencer’s Broke Road second installment in the Rose Reilly series is an intriguing mystery.

Sydney-based Detective Sergeant Rose Riley and her partner Constable Priya Patel are investigating the murder of Penelope Armytage. Her husband, Nigel, discovered her body after returning home from working late. The clues are scarce as Rose, Priya, and local Detective Senior Constable Christian Rodrigues hunt for a clever killer.

The investigation is slow going and takes an unexpected turn when identical murders to Penelope’s are discovered in two other cities. Rose goes to see the investigators on those cases while Priya and Christian work on the current murder. They also are dealing with a reporter who seems to have inside information about the case.

Reporter Adam Bowman is also in town. Staying at the local pub, he hears local information that he follows up on. Adam also aids Rose and Priya at different points during the investigation.

Broke Road is a riveting mystery with a bucolic setting. Rose has keen investigative instincts that rarely fail her. Priya, Adam, and Christian prove to be invaluable as they search for the under the radar serial killer. With a startling plot twist, Mathew Spencer brings this captivating mystery to a satisfying conclusion. Old and new fans of the Rose Reilly series are sure to enjoy this newest mystery.

Australian crime author Matthew Spencer burst onto the scene with his compulsive debut Black River. That book introduced readers to detective sergeant Rose Riley and journalist Adam Bowman and revolved around a death at an exclusive Sydney school. Both Riley and Bowman are back for a more regional crime outing in the follow-up Broke Road.
Broke Road is the road that runs through the Hunter Valley, a popular tourist destination a couple of hours north of Sydney due to its many wineries. Rose Riley is sent up to the area with partner Priya Patel to investigate the murder of a woman in a new development. She is told to be wary of the local force and so sets up her incident room away from the Cessnock police station. Soon the media is interested and on their heels comes Bowman, now working freelance after doing well out of a true crime book that he published following the Black River case. Riley soon finds the case is more complicated than it first appeared, with plenty of suspects and a connection to similar cases elsewhere.
Broke Road is a bit more of a straight forward procedural than Black River. Spencer uses it to fill in some of Riley’s backstory as it turns out she grew up in the area. He also, once again, used his knowledge as a former journalist to dig into the role and conduct of the media in cases like this. Bowman is the reader’s guide to a world of confected or beaten up stories and hand-in-glove relationships between business interests and the media. The relationship between the two (and with Patel) is an ongoing highlight of this series.
Given how little Australian crime fiction is set in Sydney, it is in some ways a shame that Spencer followed most other Australian crime authors from the city into the regions. But that said, he does deliver a great regional crime novel. Spencer captures the landscapes and divided culture of the Hunter Valley – between the tourist and those who service the wine and tourist trade, and the locals in nearby Cessnock. And he does this through a red-herring and shifty character filled murder mystery that builds to a tense conclusion.

Woah!!! This book was hectic in a good way! True police procedural with a crime that certainly made me re think staying in a hotel anytime soon!

I enjoyed the authors writing style, his descriptions of people and places and the behind the scenes look at the detectives solving crimes.

Broke Road is a strong follow-up to the first Rose Riley novel, Black River, though it also works well as a standalone. This time, Detective Rose Riley and her partner, Priya Patel, are called to investigate the murder of a woman found dead in her home in the scenic wine country of the Hunter Valley, New South Wales. As in the previous book, investigative journalist Adam Bowman reappears — offering his help, and of course, hoping for a story.

I found the story a little slow to get into, and there were quite a few characters to keep track of. I really enjoyed how Rose and Priya worked together, and with the locals, to get to the bottom of it and how they tracked it to other murders. Was a great police procedural story, where I wasn't ever quite sure which way it would turn out.

Homicide Detective Sergeant Rose Riley and her partner Priya Patel are called to Australia’s wine country. In Red Creek in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia, a woman has been found murdered in her home. The scene is in an isolated town house that will be part of a much larger development to support wine tourism. There are no signs of a struggle and the wife’s geologist husband has an alibi, but it’s not solid. They’re joined by local Detective Senior Constable Christian Rodrigues while an analyst supports them remotely. A tabloid journalist is quick to put her spin on the events and crime reporter Adam Bowman follows his own leads.

The characterization is well-done. Riley is courageous, dedicated, and organized. Patel is smart and funny. Both are great investigators. Rodrigues know the locals and Bowman is trusted by Riley. The other characters have adequate characterization for their roles. The author does a great job of balancing the personal and professional lives of the main characters.

This is an excellent police procedural. There are plenty of twists, turns, and red herrings. There are several references to the events that occurred in the first book in the series and readers gain some background on Riley’s childhood. They also get insight into the cultural clashes between those associated with the wine and tourism business and those who have lived in the area for generations working in the coal industry or making a living marginal farming.

The story captivated me from the first page to its conclusion. It also did a great job of portraying the town, its people, and their cultural lifestyles. The investigation builds momentum until it comes to its satisfying conclusion. It’s well-plotted and beautifully executed. I had to do some research on locations mentioned in the book. There were some Australian terms that I wasn’t familiar with, but most of those could be deciphered through context.

Overall, this is an excellent police procedural and mystery with compelling characters and engrossing plot that unfolds at a moderate pace. If you’re a fan of contemporary of the genre, then this is a series to consider. I can’t wait to read what happens in book three.

Thomas and Mercer and Matthew Spencer provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for July 08, 2025.

BROKE ROAD is the follow up to the excellent BLACK RIVER (https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/black-river-matthew-spencer ), the opening salvo in the series, featuring the determined and dedicated DS Rose Riley, journalist Adam Beaumont, and a serial killer that didn't make this reviewer want to chuck that first book against a wall, hard.

Riley is back, with her sidekick Priya Patel, and Beaumont, this time in the wine tourism area of the Hunter Valley around Cessnock when a young woman is found dead in an isolated new townhouse, by her husband late one night. No forced entry and no signs of a struggle means that the husband is obviously suspect number one, and whilst a local tabloid journalist is busy spinning her own story about all of that, Riley is questioning everything and everybody. When Beaumont arrives on scene they slip back into the sort of working relationship that opened up in the first novel, collaborative without being unbelievable, cautious and friendly, Riley, Patel and Beaumont are joined by a local cop this time, in an investigation that takes some most unexpected turns along the way.

There are quite a few references back to the earlier novel, particularly in terms of how these three main characters met, and developed the friendship that they have. This novel also looks back a little further at Riley's own childhood, in this region, on a farm that was marginal, before the wine industry moved in and turned the place into a tourism mecca. There are nice touches of the clash between the old and the new, the old pub where Beaumont finds himself staying, compared to the swish new, hands off model motel where the women are staying. The older residents, many of whom have now found work, for the incomers, the big winemakers, the restaurateurs and the entrepreneurs. The differences between the region midweek and weekends when the tourists arrive, and finally the tension between the mining industry and the winemakers, something reflected in the household of the dead woman who worked in PR and marketing for the wine industry, and her coal mining geologist husband.

Whilst there is a lot going on locally, including some hefty doses of corruption involving some of those wealthy incomers, the police and the local media, the investigation finds tentacles outside the area - to Adelaide, Canberra and potentially other locations, and it's those leads that flush out some complicated connections. To say nothing of the goings on at the motel where RIley and Patel are staying. All of which makes up for a wild ride of a read, which for this reviewer, was basically a one sitting inhalation.

The balance between personal and professional here is great, as is the sheer slog of detective work, analysis and thinking outside the box that goes towards an investigation that could easily have got bogged in the local. The characters are great - flawed but not overtly so, dedicated, determined, and a bit messy along the way, these three are a great, and surprisingly believable team, given we're talking a journo and a couple of cops. The friendship is well portrayed, the interactions really fun to read, and the sense of place well executed.

Wine growing areas, where the tourists and the developers arrive in a landscape that's originally settled into marginal farming, with old families, old connections, and many layers of stories make for an interesting place to set a story that's about the murder of an incomer, a woman who on the face of it had no reason to die. Take that idyllic place, and stick in an undercurrent of sick, perverted weirdo's and you've got a well executed, disquieting novel that works on a number of levels.

3.5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the early digital copy of Matthew Spencer's Broke Road. I eagerly anticipated this, as I had read the first book in the Detective Rose Riley series, Black River, in 2023, one of my favourite books of that year. The author writes in-depth studies of homicide cases with details of the detective work involved. Matthew Spencer is well on his way to joining the ranks of top Australian crime writers. Broke Road is a meticulous and thoroughly researched police procedural. It shows how solving a criminal case can be grim, challenging and tedious work, but rewarding when the perpetrator is brought to justice.

Riley and her police partner, Patel, are based in Sydney. We follow their investigation as they investigate who murdered a woman in the wine-making area of the Hunter Valley. At first, her husband, a geologist, is a prime suspect. Forensic evidence links her murder to the deaths of a couple of other women killed in the same manner. It seems that Riley and Patel are now searching for a serial killer. He must be caught before another murder occurs. They interview suspects and witnesses, gather clues and collect evidence.

Crime reporter, Adam Bowman, returns and follows his own leads and informants, and Bowman, Patel and Riley share their results. The three have a pleasant, cooperative working relationship. Bowman was a dejected, failing reporter when he was drawn into Riley's investigation in the previous book. He wrote a bestselling true crime book about Detective Riley's last case, resulting in greater prominence for both. Broke Road works well as a stand-alone, although it includes characters from the earlier book.

I wasn't as engaged in this book as in the previous one, which is probably my fault. I had lived and worked in the locations mentioned in the first Rose Riley book many years ago, and could visualize the places. I struggled to keep track of all the unfamiliar names of towns and villages in the Hunter Valley area and the names of buildings, residential housing areas, etc. In the town where the first woman was murdered, there was a social division. Those involved in the wine-making industry were the elite, and the coal miners and others held a lower status. There were many suspects, and it slowed me down to avoid being confused by all the names of characters and place names. Some Australian slang and expressions, wine terms and police jargon needed to be grasped from context.

I found Riley, Patel, and Bowman likeable, memorable, and dedicated to solving a complex crime. I hope there is another book where they can work together. I enjoyed all the details associated with the police procedural. Recommended for the many fans of rural Australian mysteries, and author Matthew Spencer is a rising star in this genre.. Publication is due July 08/2025.