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Gabe Ahern #2
No Trace
From the author of WILD DOGS comes an electrifying combination of outback action thriller and the classic locked room mystery.
‘Did you have to kill them all?’
It’s the question Gabe Ahern has been running from since he bust open a major criminal operation – and left a dozen men dead. He knows that one day the ‘bad guys’ will come for revenge.
A skilled dog-trapper, Gabe has one leave no sign, leave no trace. And for the last year he’s been successfully hiding out on a friend’s remote cattle property in the Pilbara.
But when Goldmont Station opens its gates to a bunch of city folk eager for an authentic outback experience, Gabe can feel eyes on his back. Are all these visitors really tourists?
In the space of 24 hours, the station’s helicopter falls from the sky . . . the phones and internet go down . . . and one of the guests turns up dead . . .
With major flooding suddenly cutting off all exit roads, Gabe fears he’s as trapped as the dogs he hunts. And that his bloody past has finally caught up with him.
PRAISE FOR WILD DOGS
'Tough, fast and hard – my kind of book.' Lee Child
'Will leave you breathless. Wild Dogs is a wild ride, with some thought-provoking themes, unexpected twists, all set against a haunting landscape.’ Weekend Australian
‘This hard-bitten action novel reads like an Aussie western ... the book’s setting is atmospheric, and its action sequences surge with adrenaline and suspense as a deadly game of cat and mouse unfolds.’ Sydney Morning Herald
'High octane, full throttle.’ H e rald Sun
‘Did you have to kill them all?’
It’s the question Gabe Ahern has been running from since he bust open a major criminal operation – and left a dozen men dead. He knows that one day the ‘bad guys’ will come for revenge.
A skilled dog-trapper, Gabe has one leave no sign, leave no trace. And for the last year he’s been successfully hiding out on a friend’s remote cattle property in the Pilbara.
But when Goldmont Station opens its gates to a bunch of city folk eager for an authentic outback experience, Gabe can feel eyes on his back. Are all these visitors really tourists?
In the space of 24 hours, the station’s helicopter falls from the sky . . . the phones and internet go down . . . and one of the guests turns up dead . . .
With major flooding suddenly cutting off all exit roads, Gabe fears he’s as trapped as the dogs he hunts. And that his bloody past has finally caught up with him.
PRAISE FOR WILD DOGS
'Tough, fast and hard – my kind of book.' Lee Child
'Will leave you breathless. Wild Dogs is a wild ride, with some thought-provoking themes, unexpected twists, all set against a haunting landscape.’ Weekend Australian
‘This hard-bitten action novel reads like an Aussie western ... the book’s setting is atmospheric, and its action sequences surge with adrenaline and suspense as a deadly game of cat and mouse unfolds.’ Sydney Morning Herald
'High octane, full throttle.’ H e rald Sun
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 16, 2023
20 people are currently reading
375 people want to read
About the author
Michael Trant
4 books97 followersMichael Trant is a WA country boy just beginning his new life as an author, following a wide range of careers from marine draftsman to farmer, and pastoralist to FIFO pot-washer. Michael is now based in Perth, having grown up on the family farm at Eneabba, before moving to Geraldton then out to Yalgoo. His debut novel Ridgeview Station was inspired by his time on Gabyon Station, and he highly recommends a visit for those curious about life on a sheep station.
Michael writes with an authentic rural voice, drawing on his experiences to open readers to places and lifestyles foreign to many. He has a passion for farming, writing, and gaming, the order of which vary throughout the year. He still works on farms as a tractor driver, mainly to annoy those teachers who claimed no one would pay him to stare out a window all day.
He is the author of Ridgeview Station, Wild Dogs, and No Trace.
Michael writes with an authentic rural voice, drawing on his experiences to open readers to places and lifestyles foreign to many. He has a passion for farming, writing, and gaming, the order of which vary throughout the year. He still works on farms as a tractor driver, mainly to annoy those teachers who claimed no one would pay him to stare out a window all day.
He is the author of Ridgeview Station, Wild Dogs, and No Trace.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
November 19, 2023
Gabe Ahern was working on Goldmont Station with his friend Cameron and the family as a dog trapper. The cattle station was overrun with wild dogs and Gabe's success as a trapper gradually brought the station back to the way it should be. Now, with tourists, the muster crew, plenty of staff and the odd stranger, Gabe often felt overcome. His comfort zone was to be alone, to leave no trace, but it was sometimes difficult. And when he received the phone call from Turner, the policeman who was in charge when Gabe brought certain criminals to justice, saying the brother, Troy, was out of prison, Gabe wondered if he should move on again.
The suddenness of the accidents which happened on the station made Gabe wonder if they were in fact accidents, and when the internet and phones went down, and a flooding event hit them, Gabe, Cameron and the crew wondered where to turn next. Was it Gabe's nemesis after him, or was he just paranoid?
No Trace by Aussie author Michael Trant is another tension filled, jaw dropping psychological thriller which I couldn't put down. The characters are excellent, especially Gabe, and I loved catching up with him again! Some interesting words about Gabe at the end of the book by the author, and I'm glad he went the way he did :) I'm very much looking forward to Mr Trant's next thriller. Highly recommended.
The suddenness of the accidents which happened on the station made Gabe wonder if they were in fact accidents, and when the internet and phones went down, and a flooding event hit them, Gabe, Cameron and the crew wondered where to turn next. Was it Gabe's nemesis after him, or was he just paranoid?
No Trace by Aussie author Michael Trant is another tension filled, jaw dropping psychological thriller which I couldn't put down. The characters are excellent, especially Gabe, and I loved catching up with him again! Some interesting words about Gabe at the end of the book by the author, and I'm glad he went the way he did :) I'm very much looking forward to Mr Trant's next thriller. Highly recommended.
July 8, 2023
5★
“‘You’re him! That guy! The one who uncovered that people-smuggling ring a few years back. Irene, you remember. We watched the news, were amazed because we’d only been in Carnarvon the month before.’
Gabe said nothing, but inwardly swore to himself. He should have stayed up at the workers’ quarters. F*king tourists.”
Gabe has more reason than most to want to avoid the tourists, especially nosy, talkative ones like Frank. This is book 2 of Wild Dogs, but you don’t need to have read Wild Dogs to enjoy this one. I loved it. I loved the first book as well, because Trant knows his country, the way people live, and the way they talk in rural and outback Australia.
The author does an excellent job of filling in any back story to explain why Gabe is as he is and why he’s been trying to lie low and leave no trace. As the man said above, he had been featured in the news for breaking up an operation that was smuggling both drugs and people. A lot of people were killed in a shootout, and the brother of one will be out for blood as soon as he’s out of prison.
Gabe is a dogger, hired by landholders to trap and kill wild dogs that are savaging livestock. He uses poisoned baits, traps, and cunning to keep the numbers down. In my experience, he is more careful than many about keeping his gear and clothing far separate from other places and people. When someone mentioned they had once given up smoking, Gabe just nodded.
“He’d never bothered to try, always figuring his body was probably already a cocktail of sheep dip, backliner, and only God knows what else, accumulated over a lifetime of working with fairly nasty stuff without much thought of PPE until his official dogging course had wised him up somewhat. But whoever manned the crematorium when his time came was going to need a damn hazmat suit.”
Tourists, city folk, just make it harder, and what’s more, they bring their opinions with them. Goldmont is a working cattle station with mickey bulls that got missed during calf-marking and are now big, well-grown beasts that have been brought in for cutting and branding. The tourists are all watching, and the ever-inquisitive Frank asks Gabe more about the smugglers and refugees. Gabe tells him that Amin, his family, and the others are mostly still stuck in detention.
“‘Nasty business.’ Frank said. Gabe only grunted at the understatement. Inside the yard, Dalton waved his hat at the mickey who was still refusing to run up the race. Others yelled encouragement from the safety of the top rail, where the best advice always originated.
‘Still,’ the man continued, ‘what can they expect really? Dealing with criminals like that, arriving here illegally.’
Gabe turned to face the couple, choosing his words carefully and spoke very slowly.
‘They were going to be shot by the Taliban.’
‘Of course,’ Frank said hurriedly. ‘But there are the correct channels to go through aren’t there? A proper process? If everyone starts jumping queues. . .’
A sudden chorus of alarmed cries drew their eyes to the yard. Dalton was sprinting for the rails. The mickey bull only a hair’s breadth behind him. The wiry young jackaroo reached for the top rail, got a boot on the bottom one and vaulted up and over, horns missing his backside by centimetres. A cheer went up from the onlookers again, and he grinned madly at his audience. The bull having bounced off the steel panel, snorted and swung its head from side to side, searching for another target upon which to unleash its frustrations.
Frank and Irene had joined in the cheers at Dalton’s escape. Gabe said nothing.
‘Quick fellow, isn’t he?’ Frank said. ‘Another second and that bull would have got him.’
‘Yep.’ Gabe pointed at the man gate. ‘How well do you reckon he would have fared going through the correct channels?’
Love it! I’ve always said I wished that all young offenders (and not so young) who got into trouble because they just wanted the thrill of an adrenalin rush should come to work in cattle yards, where you may have to leap instantly for the top rail when separating brahma cows and calves. No time to ‘exit’ any other way.
But I digress. Gabe is paranoid about being watched, followed, wondering if someone on the station is after him. A relative of someone he killed? Not only that, he’s a Vietnam vet, so the station helicopter triggers bad memories, as do sounds like gunshots.
When there is an unexplained death and all forms of communication have shut down, his alarm level rises, so that he (and we) begin to suspect all of the tourists and staff. They are then cut off by sudden flooding rain and the chopper is out of action, creating a ‘locked-room ‘mystery of sorts. It is also atmospheric:
“His headlights cut great white beams through the darkness. The air, thick with insects, revelling in the abundant moisture that had lingered after the rain. His windscreen was caked in midges, mosquitoes, and moth guts. The larger creatures, bouncing off the glass, were sharp cracks. A mopoke swooped past, almost sharing the same fate, But Gabe automatically touched the brake and swerved to avoid the bird, even as his mind was elsewhere.”
Ric Herbert narrated this so well, that I might have to go back and listen to him read the first book, which I read. I generally prefer to read rather than listen, but a good narrator can really get in your head. Excellent!
“‘You’re him! That guy! The one who uncovered that people-smuggling ring a few years back. Irene, you remember. We watched the news, were amazed because we’d only been in Carnarvon the month before.’
Gabe said nothing, but inwardly swore to himself. He should have stayed up at the workers’ quarters. F*king tourists.”
Gabe has more reason than most to want to avoid the tourists, especially nosy, talkative ones like Frank. This is book 2 of Wild Dogs, but you don’t need to have read Wild Dogs to enjoy this one. I loved it. I loved the first book as well, because Trant knows his country, the way people live, and the way they talk in rural and outback Australia.
The author does an excellent job of filling in any back story to explain why Gabe is as he is and why he’s been trying to lie low and leave no trace. As the man said above, he had been featured in the news for breaking up an operation that was smuggling both drugs and people. A lot of people were killed in a shootout, and the brother of one will be out for blood as soon as he’s out of prison.
Gabe is a dogger, hired by landholders to trap and kill wild dogs that are savaging livestock. He uses poisoned baits, traps, and cunning to keep the numbers down. In my experience, he is more careful than many about keeping his gear and clothing far separate from other places and people. When someone mentioned they had once given up smoking, Gabe just nodded.
“He’d never bothered to try, always figuring his body was probably already a cocktail of sheep dip, backliner, and only God knows what else, accumulated over a lifetime of working with fairly nasty stuff without much thought of PPE until his official dogging course had wised him up somewhat. But whoever manned the crematorium when his time came was going to need a damn hazmat suit.”
Tourists, city folk, just make it harder, and what’s more, they bring their opinions with them. Goldmont is a working cattle station with mickey bulls that got missed during calf-marking and are now big, well-grown beasts that have been brought in for cutting and branding. The tourists are all watching, and the ever-inquisitive Frank asks Gabe more about the smugglers and refugees. Gabe tells him that Amin, his family, and the others are mostly still stuck in detention.
“‘Nasty business.’ Frank said. Gabe only grunted at the understatement. Inside the yard, Dalton waved his hat at the mickey who was still refusing to run up the race. Others yelled encouragement from the safety of the top rail, where the best advice always originated.
‘Still,’ the man continued, ‘what can they expect really? Dealing with criminals like that, arriving here illegally.’
Gabe turned to face the couple, choosing his words carefully and spoke very slowly.
‘They were going to be shot by the Taliban.’
‘Of course,’ Frank said hurriedly. ‘But there are the correct channels to go through aren’t there? A proper process? If everyone starts jumping queues. . .’
A sudden chorus of alarmed cries drew their eyes to the yard. Dalton was sprinting for the rails. The mickey bull only a hair’s breadth behind him. The wiry young jackaroo reached for the top rail, got a boot on the bottom one and vaulted up and over, horns missing his backside by centimetres. A cheer went up from the onlookers again, and he grinned madly at his audience. The bull having bounced off the steel panel, snorted and swung its head from side to side, searching for another target upon which to unleash its frustrations.
Frank and Irene had joined in the cheers at Dalton’s escape. Gabe said nothing.
‘Quick fellow, isn’t he?’ Frank said. ‘Another second and that bull would have got him.’
‘Yep.’ Gabe pointed at the man gate. ‘How well do you reckon he would have fared going through the correct channels?’
Love it! I’ve always said I wished that all young offenders (and not so young) who got into trouble because they just wanted the thrill of an adrenalin rush should come to work in cattle yards, where you may have to leap instantly for the top rail when separating brahma cows and calves. No time to ‘exit’ any other way.
But I digress. Gabe is paranoid about being watched, followed, wondering if someone on the station is after him. A relative of someone he killed? Not only that, he’s a Vietnam vet, so the station helicopter triggers bad memories, as do sounds like gunshots.
When there is an unexplained death and all forms of communication have shut down, his alarm level rises, so that he (and we) begin to suspect all of the tourists and staff. They are then cut off by sudden flooding rain and the chopper is out of action, creating a ‘locked-room ‘mystery of sorts. It is also atmospheric:
“His headlights cut great white beams through the darkness. The air, thick with insects, revelling in the abundant moisture that had lingered after the rain. His windscreen was caked in midges, mosquitoes, and moth guts. The larger creatures, bouncing off the glass, were sharp cracks. A mopoke swooped past, almost sharing the same fate, But Gabe automatically touched the brake and swerved to avoid the bird, even as his mind was elsewhere.”
Ric Herbert narrated this so well, that I might have to go back and listen to him read the first book, which I read. I generally prefer to read rather than listen, but a good narrator can really get in your head. Excellent!
July 8, 2023
The second book to feature outback dog trapper Gabe Ahern, No Trace provides a full-on suspense thriller set on a remote cattle station. Whereas the previous book, Wild Dogs, was a hell-for-leather chase through the desert this reads more like an “And Then There Were None” style story, a suspense thriller that builds in intensity.
Goldmont Station is not only a working cattle station but it’s also a tourist spot, giving visitors the opportunity to experience the rough and tumble of a working farm. As well as the owners and Gabe, who’s working there to control the wild dog population, there are around 10 tourists enjoying the outback lifestyle.
But then the incidents take place in close succession. First the station’s helicopter malfunctions soon after take off and crashes back to earth. Next, the phones and internet all fail, leaving the entire station cut off from the rest of the world. Finally, one of the tourist guests goes missing only to be discovered lying dead behind one of the out-buildings, having suffered a savage blow to the head.
Before the phones had gone out, Gabe had heard from the police inspector he worked with during the events recounted in Wild Dogs. One of the men who had been imprisoned, the brother of a man Gabe had killed, was being released. The chances are, this man is hell-bent on revenge and he may have managed to send someone ahead to confirm Gabe’s whereabouts. The question going through his mind is, could this man somehow be responsible for what’s been happening at Goldmont.
Gabe Ahern is a gruff, short-tempered old bloke who prefers to work alone where he can be with his own thoughts and doesn’t have to answer to anyone. He’s at his best when he’s out tracking game, reading the signs left behind and communing closely with the surrounding landscape. His presence on a cattle station open to tourist visitors is not exactly his ideal environment but, when you’re on the run from potential attackers, you take what you can get and the owner of the station is an old friend.
Set totally within the boundaries of the Goldmont Station, this is a story that depends on strong and believable characters and that’s what Michael Trant delivers. From a wide range of backgrounds, there is the inevitable friction between people thrown together in extremely trying conditions. But each one is fully formed, believable and relatable. It’s from within this cast that we’re provided with a number of true surprises that adds an extra dimension to the story.
No Trace is a tense thriller filled with growing suspense fuelled by the certainty that someone amongst the group is plotting against them. It’s a murder mystery that promises - and delivers - a devastating climax.
This is an outstanding follow-up to Wild Dogs and confirms that, no matter how stand-offish Gabe comes across, there’s a lot to like about the mangy old fella.
Goldmont Station is not only a working cattle station but it’s also a tourist spot, giving visitors the opportunity to experience the rough and tumble of a working farm. As well as the owners and Gabe, who’s working there to control the wild dog population, there are around 10 tourists enjoying the outback lifestyle.
But then the incidents take place in close succession. First the station’s helicopter malfunctions soon after take off and crashes back to earth. Next, the phones and internet all fail, leaving the entire station cut off from the rest of the world. Finally, one of the tourist guests goes missing only to be discovered lying dead behind one of the out-buildings, having suffered a savage blow to the head.
Before the phones had gone out, Gabe had heard from the police inspector he worked with during the events recounted in Wild Dogs. One of the men who had been imprisoned, the brother of a man Gabe had killed, was being released. The chances are, this man is hell-bent on revenge and he may have managed to send someone ahead to confirm Gabe’s whereabouts. The question going through his mind is, could this man somehow be responsible for what’s been happening at Goldmont.
Gabe Ahern is a gruff, short-tempered old bloke who prefers to work alone where he can be with his own thoughts and doesn’t have to answer to anyone. He’s at his best when he’s out tracking game, reading the signs left behind and communing closely with the surrounding landscape. His presence on a cattle station open to tourist visitors is not exactly his ideal environment but, when you’re on the run from potential attackers, you take what you can get and the owner of the station is an old friend.
Set totally within the boundaries of the Goldmont Station, this is a story that depends on strong and believable characters and that’s what Michael Trant delivers. From a wide range of backgrounds, there is the inevitable friction between people thrown together in extremely trying conditions. But each one is fully formed, believable and relatable. It’s from within this cast that we’re provided with a number of true surprises that adds an extra dimension to the story.
No Trace is a tense thriller filled with growing suspense fuelled by the certainty that someone amongst the group is plotting against them. It’s a murder mystery that promises - and delivers - a devastating climax.
This is an outstanding follow-up to Wild Dogs and confirms that, no matter how stand-offish Gabe comes across, there’s a lot to like about the mangy old fella.
July 31, 2023
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
4.5 stars
WA tractor driver and published author Michael Trant is back with a brand new book titled No Trace. This pulse pounding outback spectacular exposes the raw, wild and hostile world of rural Australia.
No Trace allows us to reconnect with Gabe Ahern, who previously appeared in Michael Trant’s last release, Wild Dogs. This fearless dog trapper is trying keep a low profile after his successful stint as the man who uncovered a large drug and people smuggling ring. After he cracked this noteworthy case, Gabe caught the attention of the media, much to his disgust. Gabe is now working on his friend’s cattle station, but he is unable to keep a low profile when the station is flooded with tourists . While Gabe grapples with his new hero status, he faces a number of challenges in his current role. With incoming floods, the station is sent into a state of isolation. Then an unusual series of events occur, including a tragic helicopter accident and a fire. When a body is discovered this becomes the final straw. Will Gabe win this new outback war?
Three books in and Michael Trant has truly made his mark on the publishing scene with his outback thrillers. No Trace is a book that I more than happy to throw my support behind. Thrilling, exciting, dangerous and fast going, it was a great feeling to rejoin dog trapper Gabe Ahern on his latest rural quest for justice.
Michael Trant is a true blue country boy who hails from my home state of Western Australia. It is great to see this passionate farmer, writer and gamer apply his huge range of experience to his latest remote thriller showpiece. No Trace relies on Trant’s wealth of experience as a farmer to regale a tale of outback terror, crisis, confusion and emergency. There are many risks and storms for Trant’s hero Gabe to grapple with, but Gabe takes it in his stride, tackling each problem as it comes. Gabe is not a perfect outback sleuth by any means. Hardened by his previous experiences, Gabe is consumed by trauma, anxiety, morality and inner angst. At times we witness the panicked moments in Gabe’s life, but we also observe his brilliance. I’m pretty sure I would feel comfortable with Gabe by my side if I had to deal with a life threatening outback emergency. Although Gabe is slightly gruff and impersonable, he is a genuine soul, with a true desire to restore the equilibrium of the country he deeply respects.
In No Trace expect to be dazzled by plenty of generous outback descriptions of living in such an untouched corner of the earth. In the same breath, Trant makes us deeply aware of the pitfalls and clear dangers of living in such a cut-off corner of the state of Western Australia. These areas of the book thrilled me the most. These setting passages felt familiar in some ways and undiscovered in other respects. Trant maintains this balance well through the progression of No Trace. Trant also maximises the tension and sense of claustrophobia as the cast grapple with one crisis after the other. These problems are delivered in rather quick blows, keeping the action and pace to a high octane level. The murder mystery element was probably the starring feature of No Trace. Trant closes in on this perplexing situation well, delivering a good mix of red herrings and possible clues as to what is happening in this pressure filled scene. It’s all wrapped up fantastically by the end.
A legitimate outback dash awaits in No Trace. I definitely recommend this booming remote area thriller to readers of rural action novels.
*I wish to thank the author/Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
4.5 stars
WA tractor driver and published author Michael Trant is back with a brand new book titled No Trace. This pulse pounding outback spectacular exposes the raw, wild and hostile world of rural Australia.
No Trace allows us to reconnect with Gabe Ahern, who previously appeared in Michael Trant’s last release, Wild Dogs. This fearless dog trapper is trying keep a low profile after his successful stint as the man who uncovered a large drug and people smuggling ring. After he cracked this noteworthy case, Gabe caught the attention of the media, much to his disgust. Gabe is now working on his friend’s cattle station, but he is unable to keep a low profile when the station is flooded with tourists . While Gabe grapples with his new hero status, he faces a number of challenges in his current role. With incoming floods, the station is sent into a state of isolation. Then an unusual series of events occur, including a tragic helicopter accident and a fire. When a body is discovered this becomes the final straw. Will Gabe win this new outback war?
Three books in and Michael Trant has truly made his mark on the publishing scene with his outback thrillers. No Trace is a book that I more than happy to throw my support behind. Thrilling, exciting, dangerous and fast going, it was a great feeling to rejoin dog trapper Gabe Ahern on his latest rural quest for justice.
Michael Trant is a true blue country boy who hails from my home state of Western Australia. It is great to see this passionate farmer, writer and gamer apply his huge range of experience to his latest remote thriller showpiece. No Trace relies on Trant’s wealth of experience as a farmer to regale a tale of outback terror, crisis, confusion and emergency. There are many risks and storms for Trant’s hero Gabe to grapple with, but Gabe takes it in his stride, tackling each problem as it comes. Gabe is not a perfect outback sleuth by any means. Hardened by his previous experiences, Gabe is consumed by trauma, anxiety, morality and inner angst. At times we witness the panicked moments in Gabe’s life, but we also observe his brilliance. I’m pretty sure I would feel comfortable with Gabe by my side if I had to deal with a life threatening outback emergency. Although Gabe is slightly gruff and impersonable, he is a genuine soul, with a true desire to restore the equilibrium of the country he deeply respects.
In No Trace expect to be dazzled by plenty of generous outback descriptions of living in such an untouched corner of the earth. In the same breath, Trant makes us deeply aware of the pitfalls and clear dangers of living in such a cut-off corner of the state of Western Australia. These areas of the book thrilled me the most. These setting passages felt familiar in some ways and undiscovered in other respects. Trant maintains this balance well through the progression of No Trace. Trant also maximises the tension and sense of claustrophobia as the cast grapple with one crisis after the other. These problems are delivered in rather quick blows, keeping the action and pace to a high octane level. The murder mystery element was probably the starring feature of No Trace. Trant closes in on this perplexing situation well, delivering a good mix of red herrings and possible clues as to what is happening in this pressure filled scene. It’s all wrapped up fantastically by the end.
A legitimate outback dash awaits in No Trace. I definitely recommend this booming remote area thriller to readers of rural action novels.
*I wish to thank the author/Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
October 1, 2023
After reading Aussie author Michael Trant’s first book Wild Dogs I knew this book would be as good if not maybe better and I was right.
If like me you enjoy a good thriller, crime or mystery filled with tension and suspense then this book is a must for you. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Highly recommended.
If like me you enjoy a good thriller, crime or mystery filled with tension and suspense then this book is a must for you. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Highly recommended.
November 24, 2025
Another great Australian crime fiction story, featuring my favourite gruff bushman, Gabe Ahern!
May 30, 2023
Thank you Penguin for sending us a copy to read and review.
The outback of Australia is not for the faint hearted.
A dry, hot and empty land where dangers lurk in every crevice.
The people that live there are tough and it’s big enough for the unscrupulous to hide.
Gabe has been living on a remote cattle station hunting wild dogs and keeping a low profile as he knows he is a target.
His past could cloud the present and his life at risk.
Drama on the station sees perilous situations that he unavoidably has to get involved in with unexpected outcomes.
Technology outages, a flood and a helicopter mishap all culminate quickly and not everyone will make it out alive.
Fast packed action and high doses of tensions frame a narrative with a character that is steadfast, abrasive and true to the core.
I met Gabe in Wild Dogs where he became particularly noteworthy with his political convictions and social conscience with the plight of refugees.
Certainly not cut from the same red neck cloth some outback guys are.
A few references remind us he is still an advocate for fairness and justice.
This Aussie crime thriller kept me on the edge of my seat and had unexpected turns that enhanced the overall experience.
Michael is an automatic read for me.
The outback of Australia is not for the faint hearted.
A dry, hot and empty land where dangers lurk in every crevice.
The people that live there are tough and it’s big enough for the unscrupulous to hide.
Gabe has been living on a remote cattle station hunting wild dogs and keeping a low profile as he knows he is a target.
His past could cloud the present and his life at risk.
Drama on the station sees perilous situations that he unavoidably has to get involved in with unexpected outcomes.
Technology outages, a flood and a helicopter mishap all culminate quickly and not everyone will make it out alive.
Fast packed action and high doses of tensions frame a narrative with a character that is steadfast, abrasive and true to the core.
I met Gabe in Wild Dogs where he became particularly noteworthy with his political convictions and social conscience with the plight of refugees.
Certainly not cut from the same red neck cloth some outback guys are.
A few references remind us he is still an advocate for fairness and justice.
This Aussie crime thriller kept me on the edge of my seat and had unexpected turns that enhanced the overall experience.
Michael is an automatic read for me.
August 7, 2023
Another fantastic Australian crime novel, full of action and adventure. Hard to put down once you start, very intense. Great to have more from Gabe after Wild Dogs.
July 30, 2023
I'm a bit behind in my reviews, so as well as reading the novel, I've also managed to listen to the audiobook narrated by Ric Herbert who does a fabulous job once again of bringing Gabe to life and I have to say whether you read it or listen to it, this is a must-read novel.
After being completely blown away by Michael Trant's novel Wild Dogs this time last year, I was super excited to get to the post office and find a copy of his new novel and follow-up No Trace waiting for me. Once again I found myself being taken on a hell of a ride with this outback action thriller. Gabe who's been laying low on a friend's cattle property, Goldmont Station since all hell broke loose with the people smugglers and drug dealers the last time we met up with him. Gabe killed a lot of bad men trying to save Amin, the Afghan refugee he saved from being executed and his family and fellow refugees and those bad guys who escaped are probably not too happy with him (understatement of the year).
Gabe is still working as a dogger, but is full-time at Goldmont Station, staying low but remaining on edge, the fear of being recognised or found is always there. As well as Gabe's friend and his family and the workers, several tourists have arrived at the station to stay and learn about station life. Gabe has some well-earned paranoia and when bad things start happening on the station he doesn't think it's just bad luck. Who are the tourists really? Can they all be trusted? and why are they there?
Bad luck seems to have arrived at Goldmont, with a helicopter crash, a dead body and an accident involving a child and everyone is drawn into the danger that has followed Gabe. Gabe once again shows that beneath his grumpy, taciturn persona is a man who will do whatever it takes to keep innocent people from being harmed even at the cost of his own life.
This book was just as hard to put down as Wild Dogs and my eyes were hanging out of my head by the time I finished it at 1 am because there was no way I could sleep while Gabe and everyone caught up in the danger were still in trouble.
After being completely blown away by Michael Trant's novel Wild Dogs this time last year, I was super excited to get to the post office and find a copy of his new novel and follow-up No Trace waiting for me. Once again I found myself being taken on a hell of a ride with this outback action thriller. Gabe who's been laying low on a friend's cattle property, Goldmont Station since all hell broke loose with the people smugglers and drug dealers the last time we met up with him. Gabe killed a lot of bad men trying to save Amin, the Afghan refugee he saved from being executed and his family and fellow refugees and those bad guys who escaped are probably not too happy with him (understatement of the year).
Gabe is still working as a dogger, but is full-time at Goldmont Station, staying low but remaining on edge, the fear of being recognised or found is always there. As well as Gabe's friend and his family and the workers, several tourists have arrived at the station to stay and learn about station life. Gabe has some well-earned paranoia and when bad things start happening on the station he doesn't think it's just bad luck. Who are the tourists really? Can they all be trusted? and why are they there?
Bad luck seems to have arrived at Goldmont, with a helicopter crash, a dead body and an accident involving a child and everyone is drawn into the danger that has followed Gabe. Gabe once again shows that beneath his grumpy, taciturn persona is a man who will do whatever it takes to keep innocent people from being harmed even at the cost of his own life.
This book was just as hard to put down as Wild Dogs and my eyes were hanging out of my head by the time I finished it at 1 am because there was no way I could sleep while Gabe and everyone caught up in the danger were still in trouble.
January 14, 2024
No Trace is about revenge, love, respect and friendship. After all the publicity and worry about people out for revenge, Gabe Ahern went out to the isolated rural property of a friend to help remove wild dogs. When strange things started to happen on the property, Gabe Ahern began to worry that his enemies had found him. The readers of No Trace will continue to follow Gabe Ahern to discover what happens.
No Trace is another excellent book by Michael Trant, which continues the story of Gabe Ahern, the hero of Wild Dogs. I enjoyed the twists and turns in the story that led me on a wild ride. I like how Michael Trant showed life on an isolated rural property. I love Michael Trant's portrayal of his characters and their interaction throughout this book. No Trace is well-written and researched by Michael Trant. I like Michael Trant's description of the settings of No Trace, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of No Trace will learn about the dangers of poison on a rural property. Also, the readers of No Trace will understand the consequences of revenge and hatred on everyone involved.
I recommend this book.
No Trace is another excellent book by Michael Trant, which continues the story of Gabe Ahern, the hero of Wild Dogs. I enjoyed the twists and turns in the story that led me on a wild ride. I like how Michael Trant showed life on an isolated rural property. I love Michael Trant's portrayal of his characters and their interaction throughout this book. No Trace is well-written and researched by Michael Trant. I like Michael Trant's description of the settings of No Trace, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of No Trace will learn about the dangers of poison on a rural property. Also, the readers of No Trace will understand the consequences of revenge and hatred on everyone involved.
I recommend this book.
June 17, 2023
What a brilliant book, so many twists and turns and unexpected happenings. Gave, the dogger, who has had ‘adventures’ in the previous books is the main character again. He is a lovable, typical north Aussie dogger. Life hasn’t been overly kind to him. In a previous book he helped capture (and kill) people who were responsible for bringing in refugees and enslaving them. The countryside is so typically north west Australia.
It is not necessary to have read the previous books, but you should as they are an excellent read.
It is not necessary to have read the previous books, but you should as they are an excellent read.
June 3, 2023
No Trace picks up where Wild Dogs (2022) left off. A little worse-for-wear, dogger Gabe Ahern has got through the investigation associated with busting a drug and people smuggling ring and is lying low on an isolated cattle property in the Pilbara. Tough times has encouraged farmers to diversify, and when the mustering is over, the family have a tourist season. The influx of people impact the safety of our reluctant, traumatised hero, who grows increasingly paranoid. Turns out there is something going on, but finding out who is after him before someone gets hurt proves difficult, particularly when multiple tourists work out exactly who he is: "You’re him, that guy, the one who uncovered that people-smuggling ring a few years back. Irene, you remember?"
Author Michael Trant has done a good job with this fast-paced book. Gabe is a likeable character, if florid in his expression, including about his dinner: "a meal so rare any half-decent vet could’ve got the thing going again." What I liked was the way meeting Amin has moderated his racism and ignorance about refugees, and he now corrects other people he meets. The tense scene rescuing Liam was hard to put down, and Gabe handled the later attention with his usual reluctance: "He wasn’t a hero, not in his eyes, just the one with the least to lose if it had gone badly."
Once again the landscape is as much a character as each of the tourists in the novel, with drought and flooding rain both daily realities for the people on Goldmont Station: "It seemed the rules changed every time some natural disaster occurred, whether it be fire, flood or drought, as each news outlet tried to outdo themselves with superlatives." Yep, I enjoyed this outback noir, possibly more than Wild Dogs and definitely more than Ridgeway Station.
Author Michael Trant has done a good job with this fast-paced book. Gabe is a likeable character, if florid in his expression, including about his dinner: "a meal so rare any half-decent vet could’ve got the thing going again." What I liked was the way meeting Amin has moderated his racism and ignorance about refugees, and he now corrects other people he meets. The tense scene rescuing Liam was hard to put down, and Gabe handled the later attention with his usual reluctance: "He wasn’t a hero, not in his eyes, just the one with the least to lose if it had gone badly."
Once again the landscape is as much a character as each of the tourists in the novel, with drought and flooding rain both daily realities for the people on Goldmont Station: "It seemed the rules changed every time some natural disaster occurred, whether it be fire, flood or drought, as each news outlet tried to outdo themselves with superlatives." Yep, I enjoyed this outback noir, possibly more than Wild Dogs and definitely more than Ridgeway Station.
March 24, 2024
Gabe Ahern has been hiding in the outback, hunting wild dogs for a farm/tourist camp, ever since taking down a human smuggling conspiracy. With a new group of city folks wanting to experience life in the outback, Gabe feels that someone is planning some payback. One accident after another isolates the farm from the outside world, and he knows someone is closing in on him. He has to use his hunting skills before he becomes the next target.
This was a truly enjoyable mystery thriller, with bucket loads of suspense and intrigue. The authenticity of the Australian hinterland made for an exciting read. Highly recommended.
This was a truly enjoyable mystery thriller, with bucket loads of suspense and intrigue. The authenticity of the Australian hinterland made for an exciting read. Highly recommended.
June 18, 2023
Agatha Christie meets rural crime noir, crashing through the outback in a dogger's ute drunk on cheap whisky and bent on revenge. Strap yourself in for this outback whodunit where no one is who they seem and the plot twists are more cunning than a feral dog on steroids.
November 6, 2025
Curmudgeonly Gabe is my new favourite hero. The language in this book is also spot on. A great Australian read.
June 3, 2023
Read it in 3 hours in one sitting. Couldnt put it down
March 3, 2024
I loved this book. Maybe even more so than Wild Dogs. Perhaps due to having already developed that love for the old curmudgeon that is Gabe Ahern.
Michael does such a wonderful job of making you care for, root for and relate to his characters, and then he throws in a bombshell of unexpected doubt. The whole way through you’re suspicious and wondering who the culprit is, creating an internal conflict for some characters who are hard not to like.
There was one particular scene in this book that quite literally kept me edge seated, my finger nails mere stumps and eventually reduced me to a blubbering mess of snot and tears.
Lots of twists, action, heartfelt and relatable relationships. 5/5 and can’t wait to read Gabe’s next adventure.
Michael does such a wonderful job of making you care for, root for and relate to his characters, and then he throws in a bombshell of unexpected doubt. The whole way through you’re suspicious and wondering who the culprit is, creating an internal conflict for some characters who are hard not to like.
There was one particular scene in this book that quite literally kept me edge seated, my finger nails mere stumps and eventually reduced me to a blubbering mess of snot and tears.
Lots of twists, action, heartfelt and relatable relationships. 5/5 and can’t wait to read Gabe’s next adventure.
May 28, 2023
Wild dog trapper Gabe Ahern is becoming one of my favourite action thriller heroes. Rather than resembling a Hollywood movie-inspired idea of an alpha male action star, as heroes often do, he is a normal man who finds himself in an extraordinary situation. Gabe is an honest, unassuming, straight-talking country bloke. He's smart, practical and, as long as he can start his day with a rollie cigarette and a coffee, he's very low maintenance. If you ran into trouble in the remote Pilbara desert and your car broke down, he is the guy you'd want to see coming along the road.
In the prequel, Wild Dogs, Gabe thwarts a violent, deadly people smuggling cartel. No Trace begins as these vengeful criminals are released from jail. Gabe, an experienced bushman in his mid-fifties, is working on an isolated homestead that offers the outback experience to tourists and backpackers. Located at the top end of Western Australia, Goldmont Station is a powerful setting for this outback locked room mystery, the location is both claustrophobic and starkly beautiful. When things go wrong - helicopter sabotage, odd behaviour, a missing child, a mysterious death - there is no one to help except those staying on the homestead. And when it rains and the floodwater arrives, no one can leave.
Gabe is used to trusting his instincts in his line of work, yet he's beginning to doubt who he can trust on the station, including himself. The danger the homesteaders face is realistic and understated; in one heartwrenching scene, a child becomes trapped underground in a borehole and Gabe and the farmhands race against the clock to save him. Gabe is good at problem solving, but the challenge is that he's struggling to identify exactly what the problem is, and how it involves him. Michael Trant expertly dishes out red herrings, intrigue, well imagined characters, some romance, culminating with an unexpected twist in this robust action thriller. Highly recommended!
In the prequel, Wild Dogs, Gabe thwarts a violent, deadly people smuggling cartel. No Trace begins as these vengeful criminals are released from jail. Gabe, an experienced bushman in his mid-fifties, is working on an isolated homestead that offers the outback experience to tourists and backpackers. Located at the top end of Western Australia, Goldmont Station is a powerful setting for this outback locked room mystery, the location is both claustrophobic and starkly beautiful. When things go wrong - helicopter sabotage, odd behaviour, a missing child, a mysterious death - there is no one to help except those staying on the homestead. And when it rains and the floodwater arrives, no one can leave.
Gabe is used to trusting his instincts in his line of work, yet he's beginning to doubt who he can trust on the station, including himself. The danger the homesteaders face is realistic and understated; in one heartwrenching scene, a child becomes trapped underground in a borehole and Gabe and the farmhands race against the clock to save him. Gabe is good at problem solving, but the challenge is that he's struggling to identify exactly what the problem is, and how it involves him. Michael Trant expertly dishes out red herrings, intrigue, well imagined characters, some romance, culminating with an unexpected twist in this robust action thriller. Highly recommended!
May 26, 2023
The follow-up to Trant’s Wild Dogs, it is a suspenseful read with plenty of action and some great descriptions of the Australian outback. After the events of Wild Dogs, in which Gabe Ahern ended a major criminal operation in a very bloody manner, the wily dog trapper has headed into the vastness of the Western Australian desert.
A skilled hunter, Gabe has one rule: leave no sign, leave no trace. And for the past year he’s been successfully hiding out on a friend’s remote cattle property in the Pilbara. But when Goldmont Station opens its gates to a bunch of city folk eager for an authentic outback experience, Gabe can feel eyes on his back. Are all these visitors really tourists?
In the space of 24 hours, the station’s helicopter falls from the sky, the phones and internet go down, and one of the guests turns up dead. With major flooding suddenly cutting off all exit roads, Gabe fears he is as trapped as the dogs he hunts. And that his bloody past has finally caught up with him.
No Trace is a spectacularly good crime thriller. The story is an enjoyable mixture of thriller action and murder mystery, and it builds to a taut and bloody climax. The characters are well formed and believable, and the ageing and taciturn Gabe Ahern is a marvellous creation. There are some gripping set-pieces, including the desperate attempted rescue of a young child who has fallen down a borehole, and the concluding confrontations are very exciting.
The central murder mystery works well and the final outcome is a bit of a surprise.
In all, a really good book that deserves wide readership.
See the full review here: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/a...
A skilled hunter, Gabe has one rule: leave no sign, leave no trace. And for the past year he’s been successfully hiding out on a friend’s remote cattle property in the Pilbara. But when Goldmont Station opens its gates to a bunch of city folk eager for an authentic outback experience, Gabe can feel eyes on his back. Are all these visitors really tourists?
In the space of 24 hours, the station’s helicopter falls from the sky, the phones and internet go down, and one of the guests turns up dead. With major flooding suddenly cutting off all exit roads, Gabe fears he is as trapped as the dogs he hunts. And that his bloody past has finally caught up with him.
No Trace is a spectacularly good crime thriller. The story is an enjoyable mixture of thriller action and murder mystery, and it builds to a taut and bloody climax. The characters are well formed and believable, and the ageing and taciturn Gabe Ahern is a marvellous creation. There are some gripping set-pieces, including the desperate attempted rescue of a young child who has fallen down a borehole, and the concluding confrontations are very exciting.
The central murder mystery works well and the final outcome is a bit of a surprise.
In all, a really good book that deserves wide readership.
See the full review here: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/a...
November 23, 2024
Gabe is "hiding out", working on a friend's outback property when things start to go wrong, and it seems those out for revenge have found him. Typical Aussie outback locations provide scope for tensions to build. Then Mother Nature also steps in to complicate matters further. I liked Gabe's character and will look for the first book in this series.
I "read" this book vis audiobook format. The narrator was impressive in projecting Gabe's laconic Aussie drawl and building suspense.
‘Did you have to kill them all?’
It’s the question Gabe Ahern has been running from since he bust open a major criminal operation – and left a dozen men dead. He knows that one day the ‘bad guys’ will come for revenge.
A skilled dog-trapper, Gabe has one leave no sign, leave no trace. And for the last year he’s been successfully hiding out on a friend’s remote cattle property in the Pilbara.
But when Goldmont Station opens its gates to a bunch of city folk eager for an authentic outback experience, Gabe can feel eyes on his back. Are all these visitors really tourists?
In the space of 24 hours, the station’s helicopter falls from the sky . . . the phones and internet go down . . . and one of the guests turns up dead . . .
With major flooding suddenly cutting off all exit roads, Gabe fears he’s as trapped as the dogs he hunts. And that his bloody past has finally caught up with him.
I "read" this book vis audiobook format. The narrator was impressive in projecting Gabe's laconic Aussie drawl and building suspense.
‘Did you have to kill them all?’
It’s the question Gabe Ahern has been running from since he bust open a major criminal operation – and left a dozen men dead. He knows that one day the ‘bad guys’ will come for revenge.
A skilled dog-trapper, Gabe has one leave no sign, leave no trace. And for the last year he’s been successfully hiding out on a friend’s remote cattle property in the Pilbara.
But when Goldmont Station opens its gates to a bunch of city folk eager for an authentic outback experience, Gabe can feel eyes on his back. Are all these visitors really tourists?
In the space of 24 hours, the station’s helicopter falls from the sky . . . the phones and internet go down . . . and one of the guests turns up dead . . .
With major flooding suddenly cutting off all exit roads, Gabe fears he’s as trapped as the dogs he hunts. And that his bloody past has finally caught up with him.
January 23, 2024
I liked the first book in this series and gave it three stars. In my review I said there was too much going on and too many characters. This second books in the series seems to have progressed immensely and not only was it easier to follow, but it gave enough information about what happened in the first book to make me understand the context for this one. I enjoyed it so much that I'm awarding it a rare 5 stars, my first for 2024.
Another reviewer described the book as a "locked room mystery" and I agree that's what made it so engaging and entertaining. An isolated station, an interesting cast of residents and visitors, a series of unfortunate events and the threat of the past all collide to create a cracker of a story that hooked me from start to finish.
I enjoy the way in which the author uses the location in remote Western Australia as a menacing and threatening character in its own right.
The author's note (at the end of the book) about the main character are worth reading. I'm grateful he listened to his publisher and changed his original plan to make his first book, Wild Dogs, a stand alone. May there be many more.
Another reviewer described the book as a "locked room mystery" and I agree that's what made it so engaging and entertaining. An isolated station, an interesting cast of residents and visitors, a series of unfortunate events and the threat of the past all collide to create a cracker of a story that hooked me from start to finish.
I enjoy the way in which the author uses the location in remote Western Australia as a menacing and threatening character in its own right.
The author's note (at the end of the book) about the main character are worth reading. I'm grateful he listened to his publisher and changed his original plan to make his first book, Wild Dogs, a stand alone. May there be many more.
January 27, 2024
I picked this one up on a Kindle sale for my summer holiday reads. I have followed (and met) this awesome fellow WA author, but had yet to read his first story featuring Gabe Ahern, called Wild Dogs. So this meant, I was reading Michael Trant for the first time, as well as reading Gabe.
I loved Gabe... let me say that right at the get-go. Surly, sore, grumpy all the time (ALL the time) - he reminds me of my Dad! He's a great character and must be so much fun to write.
So, this book is set after Gabe's heroics at the end of Wild Dogs (which I don't know much about although it is covered briefly in summation/discussion). After about a year of peace with a mate at a remote cattle station, the bad guys are about to play a get out of jail card and come after Gabe again - but we also know from the beginning that somebody else, connected to the jail bird, is also out to get him. And this person is far closer to Gabe.
Now, I did pick who this was, but that only meant I got to enjoy the story with my brilliant sense of foresight, and got vindicated at the end when I was right!
I think this hero shines, and I enjoyed both the story and the writing style. I'll have to go grab Wild Dogs.
I loved Gabe... let me say that right at the get-go. Surly, sore, grumpy all the time (ALL the time) - he reminds me of my Dad! He's a great character and must be so much fun to write.
So, this book is set after Gabe's heroics at the end of Wild Dogs (which I don't know much about although it is covered briefly in summation/discussion). After about a year of peace with a mate at a remote cattle station, the bad guys are about to play a get out of jail card and come after Gabe again - but we also know from the beginning that somebody else, connected to the jail bird, is also out to get him. And this person is far closer to Gabe.
Now, I did pick who this was, but that only meant I got to enjoy the story with my brilliant sense of foresight, and got vindicated at the end when I was right!
I think this hero shines, and I enjoyed both the story and the writing style. I'll have to go grab Wild Dogs.
January 15, 2025
Michael Trant has managed to complete the Dogger's story, which we first read in "Wild Dogs," with assurance and energy. The author uses an authentic voice (aptly captured - most if the time - by Rick Herbert) that easily transported me to the atmosphere of the remote Goldmont Station in the midwest of Western Australia.
The cattle muster was over. The fear, uncertainty, and thirst for revenge were just about to begin. Gabe Ahern was about to face the drastic consequences of his exploits the year before when he saved a family of refugees and helped bust a human trafficking operation in the process.
I enjoyed the roller coaster ride as much as the evocation of the harsh but beautiful Pilbara setting. I liked the further deepening of Gabe's character and the interplay between his friend Cameron and tourist Frank. Even his softer side took an age to squeeze out, true to form. In addition, Trant managed not to cross the line into "I don't believe this now" territory in his set pieces, not easy to do.
This was enjoyable, sometimes thought-provoking reading. I look forward to what Michael Trant comes up with next. He has a setting that surely will birth someone?
The cattle muster was over. The fear, uncertainty, and thirst for revenge were just about to begin. Gabe Ahern was about to face the drastic consequences of his exploits the year before when he saved a family of refugees and helped bust a human trafficking operation in the process.
I enjoyed the roller coaster ride as much as the evocation of the harsh but beautiful Pilbara setting. I liked the further deepening of Gabe's character and the interplay between his friend Cameron and tourist Frank. Even his softer side took an age to squeeze out, true to form. In addition, Trant managed not to cross the line into "I don't believe this now" territory in his set pieces, not easy to do.
This was enjoyable, sometimes thought-provoking reading. I look forward to what Michael Trant comes up with next. He has a setting that surely will birth someone?
December 30, 2023
Go read this book.
That's all I need to tell you, but I'll go on a bit.
I don't usually read this genre, but I'll certainly be reading Michael Trant's other books.
To say I couldn't put the book down would be an understatement.
It starts all nice and chummy, with all the tourists rolling up into the cattle station for the stay of a lifetime. Then one thing after another goes to hell, and you're on an amazing ride that you don't want to ever end. I loved the main character, Gabe, and will now have to go back and read Wild Dogs which is where his journey began. He's a grumpy old bugger, but a real bushie and I love reading about real Australian characters, people who love the dirt and the sky and the nitty gritty bits of life.
The part when they're trying to dig one of the characters out of a well (no spoilers) was incredible. I think it went over several chapters, but I had to read them all before I put the book down and tried to sleep.
You go read this book, I'll go read his other one.
That's all I need to tell you, but I'll go on a bit.
I don't usually read this genre, but I'll certainly be reading Michael Trant's other books.
To say I couldn't put the book down would be an understatement.
It starts all nice and chummy, with all the tourists rolling up into the cattle station for the stay of a lifetime. Then one thing after another goes to hell, and you're on an amazing ride that you don't want to ever end. I loved the main character, Gabe, and will now have to go back and read Wild Dogs which is where his journey began. He's a grumpy old bugger, but a real bushie and I love reading about real Australian characters, people who love the dirt and the sky and the nitty gritty bits of life.
The part when they're trying to dig one of the characters out of a well (no spoilers) was incredible. I think it went over several chapters, but I had to read them all before I put the book down and tried to sleep.
You go read this book, I'll go read his other one.
July 9, 2023
Oh Gabe it was so good to catch up, but you do know how to get yourself into a spot of bother, don't you? And, I really thought you had kicked the bucket in Wild Dogs and I shed a tear or two for you.
We catch up with Gabe trying to lay low after the drama of Wild Dogs, working on a mate's cattle station as the dogger and general dogs body. But lately he has felt like he is being watched. Is it all in his mind, or is there someone out to get him? Is it one of the station tourists? Is it Troy Wheldon, now out of jail?
In the space of a few days, the station chopper has avoided a crash landing, one of the guests has turned up dead, the phones and internet are down and there is now a flood on the way. Could it all be coincidence, or is someone trying to cause trouble?
If you like great down to earth Aussie characters, plenty of action and suspense, then this book is for you. I enjoyed this as much as Wild Dogs and look forward to the authors next outing.
We catch up with Gabe trying to lay low after the drama of Wild Dogs, working on a mate's cattle station as the dogger and general dogs body. But lately he has felt like he is being watched. Is it all in his mind, or is there someone out to get him? Is it one of the station tourists? Is it Troy Wheldon, now out of jail?
In the space of a few days, the station chopper has avoided a crash landing, one of the guests has turned up dead, the phones and internet are down and there is now a flood on the way. Could it all be coincidence, or is someone trying to cause trouble?
If you like great down to earth Aussie characters, plenty of action and suspense, then this book is for you. I enjoyed this as much as Wild Dogs and look forward to the authors next outing.
October 20, 2023
An Aussie Noir novel, No Trace by Michael Trant (2023) once again features his iconic bushman, Gabe Ahern. After successfully surviving his mix-up with people smugglers, wild dog hunter Gabe takes a job at Goldmont Station, in outback Western Australia. When a group of tourists arrive to experience an authentic outback adventure, Gabe begins to question whether you are ever truly free from your past. Gabe suspects someone is exacting revenge, as he battles nightmares and misdeeds begin to occur around him. As the danger mounts, a dead tourist is discovered as the approaching rains see their telephone lines and internet not working. Once again Gabe must confront an unknown enemy and tourists hiding secrets, with the biggest surprise reveal regarding his past. A classic atmospheric thriller, which makes a grand standalone read with a five stars do not miss rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without inducement.
December 19, 2025
A great murder-mystery based in the outback of Australia.
Gabe Ahern is a skilled dog-trapped who happened to stumble onto a major crime operation in his recent past which left numerous people dead and some in prison. He knows that they will be out for revenge, so he has been hiding out on a remote property in the Pilbara. When the property opens its gates to the public for an authentic outback experience Gabe is left feeling vulnerable. On top of that he has been notified by the police that one of the crooks involved in the operation has been released from prison.
When the station's helicopter crashes to the ground, the phones and internet aren't working , and one of the guests turns up dead, amongst other issues,and also major flooding at their doorstep, things get very interesting in this fast-paced story filled with lots of multi-layered characters and a sense of foreboding for the main character.
Will certainly need to get my hands Michael Trant's other titles.
Gabe Ahern is a skilled dog-trapped who happened to stumble onto a major crime operation in his recent past which left numerous people dead and some in prison. He knows that they will be out for revenge, so he has been hiding out on a remote property in the Pilbara. When the property opens its gates to the public for an authentic outback experience Gabe is left feeling vulnerable. On top of that he has been notified by the police that one of the crooks involved in the operation has been released from prison.
When the station's helicopter crashes to the ground, the phones and internet aren't working , and one of the guests turns up dead, amongst other issues,and also major flooding at their doorstep, things get very interesting in this fast-paced story filled with lots of multi-layered characters and a sense of foreboding for the main character.
Will certainly need to get my hands Michael Trant's other titles.
July 30, 2023
If you live or have lived in Australia, you must read Wild Dogs by Michael Tranter. Gabe Ahern is the best character! A grumpy old dogger who doesn't like people, a bit broken and now haunted by what happened in Wild Dogs.
If you like your novels fast paced, your characters likeable, flawed but resourceful, then No Traces is your book. Utterly gripping. You can't put it down. And towards the end, there is an incident which lasts a couple of chapters. I defy anyone to be able to stop reading until they know what happens.
Lots of twists and false leads but Gabe is pure gold. Bush-wise, smart and so resourceful.
My favourite Australian author. He thoroughly deserves Lee Child's comment on Wild Dogs, "Tough, fast and hard - my kind of book." My kind of book also. Very highly recommended.
If you like your novels fast paced, your characters likeable, flawed but resourceful, then No Traces is your book. Utterly gripping. You can't put it down. And towards the end, there is an incident which lasts a couple of chapters. I defy anyone to be able to stop reading until they know what happens.
Lots of twists and false leads but Gabe is pure gold. Bush-wise, smart and so resourceful.
My favourite Australian author. He thoroughly deserves Lee Child's comment on Wild Dogs, "Tough, fast and hard - my kind of book." My kind of book also. Very highly recommended.
November 10, 2024
It was great to pick up again with Gabe Ahern, a real knock-about, down-to-earth, outback character who became a reluctant hero in Wild Dogs, the first instalment of his story. In this book he is once again lying low, shunning the limelight following the investigations and subsequent court cases in the aftermath of a drug ring and people smuggling bust. He’s been contentedly working on a remote Pilbara cattle property. But mustering season is now over and the tourists have arrived. And that makes Gabe uneasy. Too many people for his liking, especially when several recognise him and start poking their noses into his business. A string of mishaps and accidents on the station adds to his suspicions. Action-packed and with wonderful depictions of the Australian outback, this was another easy reading page-turner. For me, not as good as Wild Dogs but a worthy follow up.
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