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austcrimefiction.org
kc@austcrimefiction
@austcrimefiction.org
700 followers 1.5K following 880 posts
Reads a bit of crime fiction. AustCrimeFiction.org since 2006. Owned by lots of Aussie Terriers, cats & farm animals. Gin drinker, old lefty, whinges about weather. Dja Dja Wurrung country.

All the sites at: https://linktr.ee/kcfromaustcrime
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austcrimefiction.org
Needless to say this photo is from a week or so ago because she's not getting out of bed for anybody, and has trust issues now. Oh such major trust issues.

Poor darling. What a thing to put an elderly lady through.
One "small" black pig side on - the photo is from a couple of weeks ago because she's not having a bar of us today.
November 28, 2025 at 2:52 AM
austcrimefiction.org
One of these is not like the others
3 Aussie terriers and one large ginger cat asleep in a bed together
November 22, 2025 at 11:28 AM
austcrimefiction.org
Some #YeahNoir Reviews today:

A House Built on Sand, Tina Shaw: tinyl.co/3zHG

Ōkiwi Brown, Cristina Sanders: tinyl.co/3zHH

The Mires, Tina Makereti: tinyl.co/3zHJ

Different, yet there's something about the threads in all of these that resonates.

#BookSky ⚡📚💙
#CrimeFiction
The book cover for A House Built on Sand by Tina Shaw has a "sticker" on it 'Winner Michael Gifkins Prize' and the quote 'A beautiful story, this tangled yarn of dementia and love - harrowing, haunting and tender. Michelle Elvy, author of The Other Side of Better' This image is a painting looking down towards a pale green sea washing over yellow and pink tinged sand. The image of the book cover for Ōkiwi Brown by Cristina Sanders includes the tagline 'From the bestselling author of Mrs Jewell And the Wreck of the General Grant'. The image is a dark beige background with a series of black "cutouts" around it including a noose, saw, pen, male figure, dog, bird, building / house, whale tail, and a bottle. The book cover for The Mires by Tina Makereti has the quotes 'a work of art. Laura Jean McKay', 'A truly magnificent novel. Shankari Chandran' and 'poignant, earnest and lyrical, this story will settle in your bones. Maxine Beneba Clarke' The image has a maroon background with an "inset" in the shape of a face with hair flowing behind. The inset is coloured by water, with a kingfisher type bird flying downwards, a small lizard in its beak. There are reeds and the feeling of movement in the water.
November 19, 2025 at 1:40 AM
austcrimefiction.org
The dogs got a new bed, big enough for the 4 of them. Or one grumpy cat.
A very large dog bed with one ginger cat asleep in it on his own.
November 14, 2025 at 11:21 AM
austcrimefiction.org
Today's review is the excellent Softly Calls the Devil by Chris Blake (who has hidden form in writing excellent novels)

tinyl.co/3xNh

Told in a brisk, no nonsense tone that is richly interlaced with laconic humour & compelling observation, this delivers.

#BookSky ⚡📚💙
#CrimeFiction
#YeahNoir
The image of the book cover for Softly Calls the Devil by Chris Blake includes the quotes 'World-class crime fiction. Craig Sisterson' and 'A cracking crime tale. JP Pomare'. The image is of a wide blue green river, with small rapids, in a deep rocky gorge with wild bush atop the cliffs.
November 12, 2025 at 4:19 AM
austcrimefiction.org
This little butter wouldn't melt face frightened the living daylights out of us yesterday when she got violently ill very suddenly. Severe gallbladder infection that looked for all the world like a bile duct rupture or liver tumour. Thank the dog for vets!
Very sad looking elderly Australian terrier
November 7, 2025 at 11:56 AM
austcrimefiction.org
This week's reading updates start out with:

#Review Pacific Heights by S.R. White (an author I'm badly behind with) tinyl.co/3sWM

and

#AmReading Softly Calls the Devil by Chris Blake. At least I'm not too far behind with this one tinyl.co/3sWK

#BookSky ⚡📚💙
#CrimeFiction
#AusCrime
#YeahNoir
The image of the book cover for Pacific Heights by S.R. White including the tagline 'The International Bestseller' and the quote 'S.R. white is the real deal. Chris Hammer'. The image is a view looking slightly up towards a multistorey building with lights on in a number of the windows. The sky above is big, and very dark blue / cloudy. There are palm trees standing either side of the building. The image of the book cover for Softly Calls the Devil by Chris Blake includes the quotes 'World-class crime fiction. Craig Sisterson' and 'A cracking crime tale. JP Pomare'. The image is of a wide blue green river, with small rapids, in a deep rocky gorge with wild bush atop the cliffs.
October 27, 2025 at 3:26 AM
austcrimefiction.org
Today's slightly lukewarm review of The Hidden by Bryan Brown tinyl.co/3oqT

The style was there, the subject matter didn't hit the mark for this reader. Another from the YMMV pile I suspect

#BookSky ⚡📚💙
#CrimeFiction
#AusCrime
The image of the book cover for The Hidden by Bryan Brown includes the tagline 'The New Thriller from the Author of The Drowning' and the quote 'Tight, tense, this mystery rockets along. All you can do is hang on and hope your favourites survive.' CANDICE FOX The image is in the style of a painting or drawing featuring a large white rooster standing on a post within a wire fence in the centre front, looking over a green field with sheep on one side and a man on a pale horse on the other. There are low hills either side of a distant vista of flat water.
October 13, 2025 at 1:45 AM
austcrimefiction.org
Today's Reviews:

The bittersweet Murder in the Cathedral by Kerry Greenwood: tinyl.co/3oJ2

and

the rural noir Dust by Michael Brissenden tinyl.co/3oJ3

Very VERY different novels - loved both of them.

#BookSky ⚡📚💙
#CrimeFiction
#AusCrime
The image of the book cover for Murder in the Cathedral by Kerry Greenwood, includes the tagline 'The NEW Miss Phryne Fisher Mystery'. The image is of a beautiful young woman, with her back to the viewer, head turned so tat you can see her face, her hair is in a black bob style. She's wearing a pale blue backless gown with elaborate patterning on the fabric and wide straps over her shoulders, with her arms outstretched, holding the dress ut. She has a key hanging from one hand. In the background is a stylised view of a country house, and ghostly image of a car in the front. The image of the book cover for Dust by Michael Brissenden has the tagline 'As the Lake Dries up, the bodies rise to the top. and the quote 'Searing and raw, beautiful and tender for its profound humanity ... a superb novel, confronting and oh so real. Paul Daley' The image is of a cracked, red, dry lake bed leading to a small amount of red, dirty looking water in the middle, with a bright, clear sky overhead.
October 10, 2025 at 2:25 AM
austcrimefiction.org
World's going to hell in a handbasket. Here's 3 goslings hatched yesterday guarded by their 3 very stroppy parents.
Gander with his back to the camera, and two geese, protecting three yellow and black goslings. Himself's got the bruised back legs to prove just how protective they are.
October 2, 2025 at 1:58 AM
austcrimefiction.org
Tonight's walk and this idiot marched into the dam like she could walk on water. Had to be forcefully discouraged. She's as blind as a bat and deaf but I thought she'd gone senile as well. Until we got to the dead kangaroo on the other side of the dam. Nothing wrong with her sense of smell then
An elderly sleeping Aussie Terrier who is now dry
September 30, 2025 at 1:27 PM
austcrimefiction.org
Today's review is of the hilarious and hectic Everyone In This Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson

tinyl.co/3ln3

A review in which I freely admit it'll be another couple of readings before I get all the clues in a straight line. Love this series.

#BookSky ⚡📚💙
#CrimeFiction
#AusCrime
The book cover for Everyone In This Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson is a white background with a greyed out circling dotted line joining the words of the title: Everyone - grey with the top half of the o the eye mask and beanie of a bank robber in This - slightly angled in grey again Bank - graduated golden yellow with the top area of the capital A in the form of a flame Is A - slightly angled in grey again with the S in the shape of a dollar sign Thief - Grey capital letters with the F slightly out of line as if being picked up by the bright green parrot with a red billed sitting on the edge of a blacked out "gunshot" hole. The Author's name is at the top of the book directly under the line 'Over 1.5 million copies sold worldwide' and the tagline at the bottom 'Ten Suspects. Ten Heists. A Mystery only Ernest Cunningham can solve'
September 30, 2025 at 3:00 AM
austcrimefiction.org
Couple of reviews of very different offerings today:

The Birthmark Murders by Janus Lucky tinyl.co/3jWB First novel, dry & darkly humorous.

The White Feather Murders by Laraine Stephens tinyl.co/3jWE historical setting, full of dash, speed & flair.

#BookSky ⚡📚💙
#CrimeFiction
#AusCrime
#YeahNoir
The image of the book cover for The Birthmark Murders by Janus Lucky has the tagline 'Death is a Cabaret, Old Chum'. The cover is a darkened background and flat surface on which a dark red leather bound book is sitting upright, the golden edges of the pages on display with the front of the book having a golden border in the red, a circle motif at the top and ML in the centre in large gold lettering. There is blood dropping from the side of the book to form a pool, it's originating from what could be a bullet hole. The image of the book cover for The White Feather Murders by Laraine Stephens includes the tagline 'a Reggie de Costa Mystery'. The background is lots of slightly indistinct white feathers, with a bottle of ink, with a couple of splatters over the top of it. There's a quill dipped in the dark ink, which has a white shaft, white outer vanes leading up to pale brown colouring at the inner vane to the top.
September 22, 2025 at 4:18 AM
austcrimefiction.org
Haven't seen the vets for a week or so, so Mambo and his teeth and Lillie here with an infection in her very private parts. That was an examination that none of us are going to forget in a hurry...
A black pig, side on with straw from her bed in her face, she's just woken up, isn't 100% well and grumpy. To be fair she's pretty well always grumpy
September 18, 2025 at 10:11 AM
austcrimefiction.org
Poor boy, as of yesterday afternoon, no more front teeth. Dental procedure all done, he's recovering well and we're trying not to be too chuffed about him not being able to bite (mostly just us) anymore
September 17, 2025 at 7:13 AM
austcrimefiction.org
Having finished a few review books in the last few weeks, and being totally unable to decide what's next, I've gone with an old one on the list I've been meaning to read for ages:

www.austcrimefiction.org/book/dead-li...

Call it sheer indulgence....

#BookSky ⚡📚💙
#CrimeFiction
The image of the book cover for Dead Lions by Mick Herron includes the tagline 'Winner of the CWA Gold Dagger Award'. The image is of a brightly lit city street and skyscrapers at night, with the outline of a male figure wearing a fedora hat overlaid.
September 15, 2025 at 2:29 AM
austcrimefiction.org
Today's review is from @sakienvirotech.com on the much discussed recent release The Turing Protocol by Nick Croydon. Fair to say, he had ... issues....

tinyl.co/3fWn

#BookSky ⚡📚💙
#CrimeFiction
#AusCrime
The image of the book cover for The Turing Protocol by Nick Croydon includes the tagling 'If you had the power to change history, would you dare?'. The image is of a wide city street, lined with old, multi storey buildings. There's fire burning at the front, and the blue of the sky is overlaid with a lined image.
September 5, 2025 at 2:36 AM
austcrimefiction.org
Today a couple of reviews are from the #yeahnoir piles. Very different:

The Deeper the Dead, Catherine Lea tinyl.co/3ec4
and
The Night She Fell, Eileen Merriman

Police procedural and a psychological teenage angst about control and exploitation.

#BookSky ⚡📚💙
#CrimeFiction
The image of the book cover for The Deeper the Dead by Catherine Lea with the taglines 'The Deeper the Secrets, the Deadlier their Keepers.' and 'A DI Nyree Bradshaw Novel'. The image is looking down a wooden jetty over water with small waves across is, glowing yellow reflecting the yellow, cloudy sky above. There are hints of oranges and yellows in the cloud cover - it's dawn or dusk. The book cover for The Night She Fell by Eileen Merriman includes the quotes 'Enthralling, clever and pacy, a deliciously evil exploration of narcissism. Rose Carlyle Bestselling Author of The Girl in the Mirror. The image is of a double story building in shadow / low light. One window, on the top corner is lit, and there is the figure of a woman standing in it.
September 2, 2025 at 6:41 AM
austcrimefiction.org
Two new reviews today

Highway 13, Fiona McFarlane: tinyl.co/3eKE
Very clever connected short stories.

The Hollow Girl, Lyn Yeowart tinyl.co/3eKG
Gives a voice to young woman in a devastating scenario

Both exploring consequences of criminal behaviour.

#BookSky ⚡📚💙
#CrimeFiction
#AusCrime
The image of the book cover for Highway Thirteen by Fiona McFarlane. One cover has a foggy view of a road winding through heavy bush with a flock of sulphur crested cockatoos flying across the road, the second cover is more stylised, with a drawing of a straight road, white lines heavy in the centre, and grey guardrails to the both sides, surrounded by low scrub. The cover shown here is the first, more atmospheric one. The image of the book cover for The Hollow Girl by Lyn Yeowart with the tagline 'If you take a life, someone has to pay the price.'. The image is of foggy view of a large house at the end of a straight, damp looking roadway, surrounded by trees and close cut grass. There's a woman's figure walking away from the viewer towards the house.
September 1, 2025 at 3:16 AM
austcrimefiction.org
My #review of the latest by prolific, and always clever / fun author @sularigentill.bsky.social Five Found Dead:

www.austcrimefiction.org/review/five-...

... hugely entertaining novel, fascinatingly clever ...

#BookSky ⚡📚💙
#CrimeFiction
#AusCrime
The image of the book cover for Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill includes the taglines 'A Novel' and 'USA Today Bestselling Author of The Woman in the Library' as well as the quote 'Stunningly original and thoroughly captivating. Andrew Child, bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series for The Mystery Writer'. The image is of a train against a background of a dark blue, black night sky with a few high trees above the train roof. The train itself has one window brightly lit and there is the silhouette of a woman standing, with her back to the viewer in the window.
August 18, 2025 at 3:26 AM
austcrimefiction.org
From the YMMV stacks, a rare DNF:

The Empress Murders by Toby Schmitz - I don't know, maybe I missed the point.

www.austcrimefiction.org/review/the-e...

... when housework starts to sound appealing, I'm in the wrong book.

#BookSky ⚡📚💙
#CrimeFiction
#AusCrime
The image of the book cover for The Empress Murders by Toby Schmitz includes the tagline 'Prepare for a rough crossing' and a quote 'A tease and claustrophobic mystery told with startling wit. Tim Minchin'. The image is the title of the book "floating" on water, on a slight angle with a large liner with the ship's name "Empress of Australia" on the front bow.
August 18, 2025 at 3:06 AM
austcrimefiction.org
Review of #yeahnoir The Secret of the Angel Who Died at Midnight by Rosy Fenwicke

tinyl.co/3YSH

Set in a wine-growing region, the sense of place is pretty strong, drawing on a small town with tensions between the old residents & newcomers staying very close to home.

#BookSky ⚡📚💙
#CrimeFiction
The image of the book cover for The Secret of the Angel Who Died at Midnight by Rosy Fenwicke with the tagline 'A DSS Kate Sutton Murder Mystery". The image is a view into a classic city park with lots of bare deciduous trees on green grass. There are white gate pillars at the entrance with a curved wrought iron archway over the main pillars. The main pathway is straight, with some sort of statue at the end of it.
August 4, 2025 at 6:54 AM
austcrimefiction.org
This week was the start of a catch up on #yeahnoir reviews:

The Defiance of Frances Dickinson by Wendy Parkins tinyl.co/3XwU

Fox Spirit on a Distant Cloud, Lee Murray tinyl.co/3XwV

Glass Barbie, Michel Botur tinyl.co/3XwW

Dark Sky, Marie Connolly tinyl.co/3XwX

#BookSky ⚡📚💙
#CrimeFiction
The image of the book cover for The Defiance of Frances Dickinson by Wendy Parkins with the tagline 'Inspired by a True Story', the background is an elaborate configuration of gold leaves on a grey / green background reminiscent of flock styled wallpapers. Over the top is a white area which looks like it is a tear in the wallpaper, with a few cracks in the wall behind, and the title of the book is printed on that area. The image of the book cover for Fox Spirit on a Distant Cloud by Lee Murray is an image of an impressionist view of a body of water with bright white and yellow clouds above, a tree to the side, and an image made up of black and yellow lines. The whole thing is reminiscent of a stylised Asian inspired painting. The image of the book cover for Glass Barbie by Michael Botur includes the quotes 'Hilarious and big-hearted' 'Botur rips the scab off NZ's underbelly' and 'Pacey, funny and frequently hair-raising.' The image has a pink background with the title in large black lettering at the top with bloody smeared around it. There are three iterations of the same figure in a blue top and cap, and lighter blue trousers, running or walking away from the viewer. There's a gun and other things on his belt. The image is a shot across an old city crammed with buildings, a river crossed by bridges, and a cloudy purple sky above with birds flying. There's a crest in the centre of the image. The image of the book cover for Dark Sky by Marie Connolly includes the taglines 'A Nellie Prayle Mystery' and 'Murder Among the Stars' The image is an observatory dome with the roof opening showing bright light inside. There's a big starry night sky all around.
August 1, 2025 at 3:32 AM
austcrimefiction.org
Today's review, out now Stillwater by Tanya Scott

tinyl.co/3XQm

Oldish ground, elegantly dug over.

#BookSky ⚡📚💙
#CrimeFiction
#AusCrime
The image of the book cover for Stillwater by Tanya Scott includes the tagline 'A violent past he'd rather forget. Secrets that could get him killed.' and a quote 'Tanya Scott explodes onto the crime scene with this rip-roaring debut that I read in a single sitting. Stillwater is an instant classic of the genre. Hayley Scrivenor' The image is of a body of still water in a orange tinged low light. There are trees above the pond, but the reflection in the water is a brightly lit city skyline of high buildings.
July 30, 2025 at 1:53 AM
austcrimefiction.org
Review of Liar's Game by Jack Beaumont - the third in the Frenchman series, released tomorrow:

tinyl.co/3Wyp

... modern day espionage ... informed by some frighteningly current threats and plotlines.

#CrimeFiction
#AusCrime
#Booksky 💙📚⚡
The image of the book cover for Liar's Game by Jack Beaumont, with the tagline 'A Frenchman thriller'. The image is of a man standing on a high vantage point, legs braced, a gun in his hand pointed downwards. He's wearing a thigh length dark coat, and looking out across Paris with the Eiffel Tower as the central point.
July 28, 2025 at 3:50 AM