This page is an index of all of the works currently reviewed on the blog that are written by Australian authors.
B
C. A. Broadribb
Nice Day for a Murder
A family’s universally-hated Aunt Val attends a barbecue where she is found dead in one of the bedrooms.
Nice Day for a Murder is a very competent, fast-paced mystery that had no difficulty holding my attention.
G
Sulari Gentill
A Few Right-Thinking Men
A historical mystery set in 1920s Australia in which the protagonist’s hedonistic uncle is found beaten to death by a group of assailants.
I think those expecting a puzzle mystery with multiple suspects and clues to consider may feel frustrated by how straightforward the solution to the murder turns out to be.
A Decline in Prophets
Artist Rowland Sinclair takes a cruise where he witnesses a man aggressively proposition his friend Edna and comes to blow with him. The next day that man is found to dead with Rowland’s walking stick embedded in his neck.
This second installment […develops…] a more complex plot than the predecessor while keeping its historical themes simpler, requiring less explanation and context.
Miles Off Course
Rowland Sinclair and his friends take a trip into the Outback in search of a family retainer who disappeared after making an investigation on Sinclair property.
The characterizations and setting are great. The case however seems to meander a little, making this entertaining but not as good as either preceding novel.
Kerry Greenwood
Cocaine Blues
Phryne Fisher arrives in Melbourne to investigate the reason whether a woman is being poisoned by her husband only to also find herself investigating the secret behind a cocaine smuggling ring and trying to track down a backstreet abortionist.
More adventure than detective story, this is an excellent introduction to Phryne Fisher who is a marvellous creation.
Flying Too High
Phryne tries to solve the murder of an unpleasant businessman while also rescuing a kidnapped child.
For those that read and enjoyed the first in the series, Flying Too High is a solid choice for a next step. It’s quick, exciting and certainly worth a look…
L
Constance and Gwenyth “Conyth” Little
Great Black Kanba
A young woman suffering from amnesia takes a transcontinental rail journey with a group of people who are supposedly her family. As she struggles to recover her memories she also finds that strange things are happening on board the train.
Fascinating story that blends suspense and whodunnit elements effectively, although be prepared to wait for the murder.
Various
Sydney Noir
An Akashic Noir collection of stories set in and around the city of Sydney.
This collection is not going to be for everyone but I think it is one of the most consistent I have read from Akashic so far.
Mysteries Ahoy! 