The second in the series, THE SUNBAKER is another one of those novels that could be read as a standalone, but add THE BEACON (https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/the-beacon-pa-thomas) to your reading list anyway. For those that haven't yet had the pleasure, Jack Harris, disgraced son of a "major" media baron, was sidelined to the stable's least important paper - The Beacon - located in Byron Bay which turned into a happy career and personal move in the first novel. Caitlin is the lawyer daughter of the longtime, much admired editor of the paper, who met a very grisly end in that story, and she and Jack teamed up to solve that case, forming a firm friendship with a sprinkling of romantic attachment.

Fast forward to this second novel and Jack's ensconced as a journo in Byron Bay, and Caitlin's moved from her high-powered Sydney based job to work as a legal assistant to a local barrister. A high flyer in his own right, this barrister has some very dodgy clients, not that Caitlin has come across any of them. Fast forward a bit more, and local pathologist Nicola Fox heads out from Byron to her holiday home in Brunswick Heads only to discover a staged corpse lounging in a deck chair by her pool which, conveniently, points the finger of initial suspicion directly at her, but why are the organised crime squad suddenly in the picture?

There's a quote on the novel cover from William McInnes

'P.A. Thomas has a clinician's mind, a photographer's eye and the gift of great storytelling. A wonderful book'.

Given that the author has trained as a nuclear medicine specialist he does bring that clinician's mind to these novels. It's evident in the romantic frisson between the two main characters - Jack and Caitlin, prompted by medical complications. Making the romantic tension less will they / won't they and more can they? Then there's the prologue that comes with the sort of black humour that will undoubtedly ring bells with medical and ancillary support staff. Given that this is, though, the story of a series of bizarrely staged deaths, medical and forensic viewpoints are a big part of the picture, as is location and the people that keep popping up in unexpected places. This reviewer chooses to put the lock picking, housebreaking and hacking undertaken by Jack and his lifelong best friend Ricky down to that storytelling gift though.

The photographer's eye comes out in the sense of place, and the observational details scattered throughout the book. Whilst the main location for "The Beacon" newspaper and the cast of characters is Byron Bay, the crime all seems to be happening in Brunswick Heads. This gives the author a chance to draw a picture of tourist town Byron versus quiet, locals mostly, Bruns. There's a sense that crime would never happen in Bruns, and when it does, the laid back nature of the place reveals itself in the slightly haphazard observations of goings on. It also gives Thomas a chance to introduce a supporting cast of a Marilyn Monroe look-alike, way too many bands playing Simon and Garfunkel covers, and a persistent bin chicken.

Mind you, there's also the imposed humour of Caitlin's wish-list of daring doings, way too many of which require a head for heights, which Jack most definitely does not have. And then there's the distinct possibility that Jack's developing a thing for pathologist and prime suspect Nicola, which is pushing more than one or two of Caitlin's buttons.

It sounds like a lot but Thomas most definitely has a gift for storytelling. It's rollicking, fast paced, serving up of twists and turns, delivering a roller coaster of a reading ride with no sign of second novel jitters. The characterisations are great, the romantic tension believable and not at all offputting, and it's peppered with sly humour and clever hook lines. THE SUNBAKER bodes well for the life of an ongoing, long-running series.

i loved this book from the blurb and then onwards. right until the end i was completely immersed in this world. it was clever it was whip smart plotting and so were the characters.
i certainly was thinking all the way through that i wanted to hear more from Jack. id like a Jack in my life please, or if i defintely needed help!
and also Nicola who is hard to read at first and bit harder to know but that almost made me care for her more and was more indered to her when she did left people in her was there for others.
this book was just so strong in all aspects. i shut the book and felt like when youve had a brilliant meal, just really blooming satisfied and pleased with yourself!
the setting also had a soft spot for me too. and i could really picture the places that held my heart with deep familiarity.
this book was so much more than a crime novel for me.
this book is top notch.

THE SUNBAKER is funny, clever and a great crime novel!

I loved P.A. THOMAS' protagonist - Jack Harris - who is intelligent, suave and vulnerable in equal measures.

Jack, a nominal journalist living a dream existence in Byron Bay, is adept at working with his quirky friends - the genius criminal Ricky and daredevil lawyer Caitlin - to piece together bits of information and solve a couple of murders that involve decomposing dead bodies showing up on sun lounges with a cocktail.

While not cosy crime, P.A. THOMAS' humourous style and fun characters bring a levity to an otherwise gritty and dark story.

I read this in one sitting! It was a very engaging read with lots of twists. Nicola and Jack were well written characters.

I just finished an entertaining read. The Sunbaker by PA Thomas kept me turning the pages until the very last one.