Member Reviews
Paul P, Bookseller
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
Homicide detective Harry Belltree wouldn’t usually be looking too hard at an elderly couple’s suicide pact. Especially now, when his brother-in-law Greg has just been stabbed to death. But it seems Greg and the old couple had ties to the same man, a bent moneylender with friends in high places—and low.
Harry can’t get officially involved in Greg’s murder, but he suspects a link with two other mysterious deaths: his parents’. And when he goes off-grid to investigate, that’s when things start to get dangerous.
A gripping and suspenseful thriller set in the western suburbs of Sydney, this novel follows the story of homicide detective Harry Belltree who goes "rogue" to investigate the death of his brother-in-law - which also may be linked to the deaths of his parents three years previously, and the "suicide" of an elderly couple.
What's to like: a cracking pace - this story, once it warms up, draws the reader in quickly and keeps the pages turning, as all good thriller novels should. Corruption, conspiracy and crimials always make the best page-turners! The setting - the western suburbs of Sydney - feels authentic, as do the characters - both good and bad. Harry Belltree feels like a cross between Dirty Harry and John Luther. And that's a good thing! Kelly Pool, an ambitious reporter, works well as a foil to Harry as the "other" main character. Their interaction kept the story flowing without having to stop and explain what was going on. The plotting works really well, with a number of sub-plots that boil away beneath the surface, leaving a brilliant finale to tie all the pieces together.
What lost a "star"? There were times when I felt that some of the situations that Harry found himself in resolved themselves just a little too easily. However, in the overall scheme of the story, I was happy to let them pass in exchange for just enjoying the story.
Overall, I would happily recommend this book for crime fiction aficionados - especially those who may live in Australia, or even western Sydney itself. A lot of the detail here will strike a chord.
Paul
ARH
