The Cooktown Grave

by Carney Vaughan

For orphaned twins,  Danny and David Brannigan , it was said, 'growing up they were as close as two coats of paint.' If, as children, either was ever picked upon whoever did the picking would have to cope with both.

In adulthood Danny and his then boss, Jim Mitchell, were both murdered for asking the wrong questions and David, blamed for his brother's manslaughter, was gaoled but escaped.

Known only as Mac, a pseudo drunken bum and loner, David became hidden in the North Queensland fishing fleet without incident for the next ten years. But on a pub crawl in Cairns one evening he became the victim of a vicious assault and admitted - a comatose John Doe - to the Cairns Base Hospital. Upon waking David, feigning amnesia to avoid too close scrutiny by police was, nevertheless, photographed by the police rounds man from the Cairns Sentinel in an attempt to identify him. He fled the ward.

Too late!

David's photo crossed the desks of two who sought his recapture. Detective Sergeant Russell Byers wanted him back in gaol to serve his remaining term. Phillip Benson, a drug baron and engineer of Danny's murder, wanted him dead, he sent two men on a mission to kill. One a psychopath, the other a neurotic coward. Along the way, they accounted for many innocent victims in their relentless, and ultimately successful, hunt for their quarry.

David and the two killers squared off on a muddy bank in the far north of Cape York Peninsula.

316 pages, Paperback

First published November 6, 2009

About the author

Carney Vaughan started his working life as a draughtsman but switched to the electrical trades which, at that time, seemed more interesting. As an electrical contractor involved in furnace and boiler technology he has worked in many foreign countries. Carney has two children and, at the time of writing this, three feisty grandchildren. He and wife, Bev (she with the patience of a saint), now live in quiet retirement in Thirroul, a beautiful village type northern suburb of Wollongong on the New South Wales coast just seventy kilometres south of Sydney.

Reviews

[Rachel Kester · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book by Carney Vaughan will take readers on a thrilling journey as she tells the tale of orphaned twins David and Danny Brannigan. While their relationship growing up was very close, they soon found themselves caught in dangerous situations, one of which caused Danny to be murdered. After this horrendous incident occurred, his brother David is accused of manslaughter and is thrown in jail. However, he escapes. David soon changes his identity, something which seems to work until one day he is photographed at a hospital. David flees before he is caught, but two people are hot on his trail - a detective who wants him to serve the rest of his term and a drug baron who also wanted him to be murdered alongside his brother.

If you enjoy suspense novels this is one book you should definitely check out. It’s not only filled with thrilling twists and turns, but well-developed characters that add even more intrigue to the story.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I seem to be gravitating towards mysteries lately and this book is no exception. This book follows the twins Danny and David Brannigan who are orphans who were in true twin fashion, closer than most siblings are. When Danny and his boss are murdered for asking too many questions, David is blamed for their murders and barely escapes his prison sentencing. David later gets identified in a hospital and this sets many new things in motions, some with the police who want to recapture him, and others with the actual murderer of Danny who wants to silence David once and for all.
Will David be recaptured or killed? Will he ever be able to solve his twins murder? This is a satisfying murder mystery that after a slower start, picks up steam and in a fast paced manner, takes you on a wild ride through twists and turns of the story.

[Shanell Meek · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that both challenges and entertains

I love a good murder mystery novel. This one is put together pretty well! It does start out a little slow but if you get through the first couple chapters it speeds up and I didn’t want to put it down. It is a bit longer at 85 chapters but once you are into the story it’s easy to get engrossed and lose track of time. I ended up reading the whole thing last night because I had to know what was going to happen. I really enjoyed this book because it introduced me to new words/expressions that I had never heard before. I did have to look some of them up but that was kind of nice to learn something new even during my relaxing reading time! I am looking forward to reading more from Carney Vaughn. He has a way of writing that both entertains and challenges the reader.

[Pegboard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cooktown Grave by Carney Vaughan is a complex thriller that travels down the dark road of murder, drugs, and survival. David has been on the run for ten years now, just when he thinks he can relax a little he is attacked and hospitalized. He escapes just as investigators question his identity; they know he isn't who he claims to be, Mac.

Carney Vaughan skillfully twists a couple plots together until they unfold into a thriller you don't forget. The Cooktown Grave has several main characters that give this novel a rich and colorful perspective. Many of the characters are on the shady side, leaving the reader in awe at the depths of depravity. I love the mystique and mystery woven within this story. The author keeps you in suspense as to what will happen next.

[Sally M · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ok storyline, but overly violent and detailed murder scenes that were unnecessary to tell a good story.