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Cass Tuplin #1
Murder with the Lot
A smart, sassy self-appointed private investigator, Cass Tuplin is unforgettable and the town of Rusty Bore will never be the same...
Cass Tuplin's takeaway isn't the last shop left in Rusty Bore. There's also Vern's General Store. But it's true the town's not exactly overflowing with residents, and a stranger in Cass's shop is quite an event. Especially one like Clarence: suspicious, bleeding, looking for a burger with the lot and somewhere quiet to stay. Cass knows just the place. Then she finds out more about Clarence and wants him out of town, but it turns out that's not as easy as it sounds.
Cass Tuplin's takeaway isn't the last shop left in Rusty Bore. There's also Vern's General Store. But it's true the town's not exactly overflowing with residents, and a stranger in Cass's shop is quite an event. Especially one like Clarence: suspicious, bleeding, looking for a burger with the lot and somewhere quiet to stay. Cass knows just the place. Then she finds out more about Clarence and wants him out of town, but it turns out that's not as easy as it sounds.
272 pages, Paperback
First published February 27, 2013
7 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Sue Williams
4 books22 followersThere is more than one author with this name
Sue Williams is the author of a crime series set in Rusty Bore, population 147. Sue was raised in country Victoria and hotly denies this provided any inspiration for her writing. She is a science writer and chartered accountant who also holds a PhD in marine biology. These days, Sue lives in Melbourne with her husband.
The Rusty Bore mysteries are Murder with the Lot (2013), Dead Men Don’t Order Flake (2016) and Live and Let Fry (2018). Sue is currently working on the fourth book in the series.
Sue Williams is the author of a crime series set in Rusty Bore, population 147. Sue was raised in country Victoria and hotly denies this provided any inspiration for her writing. She is a science writer and chartered accountant who also holds a PhD in marine biology. These days, Sue lives in Melbourne with her husband.
The Rusty Bore mysteries are Murder with the Lot (2013), Dead Men Don’t Order Flake (2016) and Live and Let Fry (2018). Sue is currently working on the fourth book in the series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
May 28, 2016
Murder With The Lot is the first book in the Cass Tuplin murder mystery series by Australian science and travel writer, chartered accountant, marine biologist and author, Sue Williams. Rusty Bore, pop. 147, is a dying town in the Victorian Mallee. Almost two years a widow, the owner of Rusty Bore Take Away is in the prime of her life, or so Cass Tuplin, mother of two adult sons, tells herself (and others) on a regular basis, especially when it’s suggested her standards for a prospective partner might be set too high.
But she is distracted from all this when a slightly oily-looking young man in a suit, going by the name of Clarence….”Brown”, comes into the Take Away. “Skinny and slope-shouldered, he was holding tight to a briefcase, a scruffy-looking number with one of those combination locks near the handle….he looked like an accountant who’d been shoved backwards through his ledger…”. Clarence orders a burger, drips blood from an arm enclosed in a ripped and tattered sleeve onto her floor, expresses concern that someone might be tailing him, mumbles about writing a best-selling book and offers Cass an obscenely large sum for the rental of her old friend, Ernie’s shack up by Lake Perry.
The next morning, Cass gives directions for the shack to an expensively-dressed woman and her granddaughter, who are apparently family in search of said Clarence. But, plagued by misgivings about this hasty rental, Cass heads north to return the rental fee, only to find the woman’s body on the edge of Lake Perry, a fatal gunshot wound conspicuous on her forehead. When she rings Leading Senior Constable Dean Tuplin to report this murder, he is sceptical (possibly with good reason), and by the time he arrives, at the end of a dust storm, the body is nowhere to be found.
So begins this lively tale of murder, blackmail, arson, dog bites, accidental shootings, rumballs, trust funds and take away food. Williams sets her scene with consummate ease: the dust, the salt lake, the small-town mindset are all expertly conveyed. The novel features a cast of quirky characters: a masseuse with a bunch of pet ferrets; a one-armed general store owner with ear for gossip; an internet-surfing care-home resident with a taste for movies; a pedantic cop more interested in revenue-raising than clues; and an unemployed vegetarian environmental activist trying to give up bacon.
Cass herself has a wild imagination that leads her to jump to (often erroneous) conclusions on a bare minimum of facts, causing embarrassment and irritation to one son and engendering concern for her welfare in the other. Although “…you might be misguided, reckless and naïve, but you’re definitely courageous, Mum” and her heart does seem to be in the right place.
Williams’s character descriptions are a delight: “She was young, anywhere from thirteen to eighteen. Her face had that perilous blend of innocence and over-confidence, a girl her parents would never stop worrying about” and “The tall man got out first, his calf-length leather coat flapping around him in the wind. That’d have to be a two-cow coat, I thought, he must have been close to seven foot” are examples.
The plot is original and clever: murder victims and suspects begin to accumulate, with twists and red herrings keeping the pages turning. There is plenty of laugh-out-loud humour and Williams manages to include a plug for marine biology and for Aussie crime fiction: Arthur Upfield’s Death of A Lake gets a mention. W.H. Chong’s imaginative cover encloses a brilliant debut novel that will have readers eagerly awaiting the sequel.
But she is distracted from all this when a slightly oily-looking young man in a suit, going by the name of Clarence….”Brown”, comes into the Take Away. “Skinny and slope-shouldered, he was holding tight to a briefcase, a scruffy-looking number with one of those combination locks near the handle….he looked like an accountant who’d been shoved backwards through his ledger…”. Clarence orders a burger, drips blood from an arm enclosed in a ripped and tattered sleeve onto her floor, expresses concern that someone might be tailing him, mumbles about writing a best-selling book and offers Cass an obscenely large sum for the rental of her old friend, Ernie’s shack up by Lake Perry.
The next morning, Cass gives directions for the shack to an expensively-dressed woman and her granddaughter, who are apparently family in search of said Clarence. But, plagued by misgivings about this hasty rental, Cass heads north to return the rental fee, only to find the woman’s body on the edge of Lake Perry, a fatal gunshot wound conspicuous on her forehead. When she rings Leading Senior Constable Dean Tuplin to report this murder, he is sceptical (possibly with good reason), and by the time he arrives, at the end of a dust storm, the body is nowhere to be found.
So begins this lively tale of murder, blackmail, arson, dog bites, accidental shootings, rumballs, trust funds and take away food. Williams sets her scene with consummate ease: the dust, the salt lake, the small-town mindset are all expertly conveyed. The novel features a cast of quirky characters: a masseuse with a bunch of pet ferrets; a one-armed general store owner with ear for gossip; an internet-surfing care-home resident with a taste for movies; a pedantic cop more interested in revenue-raising than clues; and an unemployed vegetarian environmental activist trying to give up bacon.
Cass herself has a wild imagination that leads her to jump to (often erroneous) conclusions on a bare minimum of facts, causing embarrassment and irritation to one son and engendering concern for her welfare in the other. Although “…you might be misguided, reckless and naïve, but you’re definitely courageous, Mum” and her heart does seem to be in the right place.
Williams’s character descriptions are a delight: “She was young, anywhere from thirteen to eighteen. Her face had that perilous blend of innocence and over-confidence, a girl her parents would never stop worrying about” and “The tall man got out first, his calf-length leather coat flapping around him in the wind. That’d have to be a two-cow coat, I thought, he must have been close to seven foot” are examples.
The plot is original and clever: murder victims and suspects begin to accumulate, with twists and red herrings keeping the pages turning. There is plenty of laugh-out-loud humour and Williams manages to include a plug for marine biology and for Aussie crime fiction: Arthur Upfield’s Death of A Lake gets a mention. W.H. Chong’s imaginative cover encloses a brilliant debut novel that will have readers eagerly awaiting the sequel.
July 16, 2016
Cass Tuplin, owner of the local fish and chip and burger takeaway in the small rural town of Rusty Bore is a nosy woman. So she can't help herself when a stranger comes to town and strange things start to happen. She just has to investigate. Her friends and two sons think she's delusional and making things up but Cass knows what she's seen and it's all very suspicious.
Sue Williams has written a humorous mystery set in a small run down Mallee town, suffering from drought. Cass is a funny woman but also bold and brave and will stop at nothing to protect her sons, policeman Dean and environmental activist Brad. her characters are very Aussie, right down to the unpleasant Sergeant Monaghan (who is so big Cass reckons his leather coat needed two cows to make it). An enjoyable read if you like a bit of fun and laugh out loud humour with your mysteries.
Sue Williams has written a humorous mystery set in a small run down Mallee town, suffering from drought. Cass is a funny woman but also bold and brave and will stop at nothing to protect her sons, policeman Dean and environmental activist Brad. her characters are very Aussie, right down to the unpleasant Sergeant Monaghan (who is so big Cass reckons his leather coat needed two cows to make it). An enjoyable read if you like a bit of fun and laugh out loud humour with your mysteries.
March 12, 2013
MURDER WITH THE LOT is set in the fictional Mallee town of Rusty Bore, featuring Cass Tuplin, fish and chip shop owner, mother, and self-appointed private investigator. The story is told all from Cass's viewpoint, a viewpoint which is somewhat skewed towards a ... how should we put this ... less than realistic outlook. Not only is the Mallee still deep in the middle of the drought that just about broke everyone's spirit, but Rusty Bore is a town that's been hit particularly hard. Loss of people to the "Big Smoke" just down the road, loss of passing traffic, loss of money and even interest from the locals, means that Rusty Bore is quietly rusting to a close. Which doesn't stop Cass from opening the fish and chip shop daily, dolling out the dim sims and a hefty dose of nosiness to the few people she comes across. All the while barracking for her son the cop from the nearest town, and under-estimating her other son, the less successful activist, who comes and goes from the family home. Not that Cass hasn't had her fair share of disappointment, what with the sudden death of her beloved husband, and a passing recognition that there may not be a future in her current life.
Needless to say the storyline of MURDER WITH THE LOT is set up for humour. There are wise cracks and in jokes coming at the reader from all sides. There's the expected red-headed chip shop owner references, the mad mother stuff, the long-suffering son stuff, and the potential merger with the one-armed bloke that runs the General Store... stuff. There's also a lot of slapstick with accidental shootings, much rushing about, car's with non-working door's and love interests who might be a bit dodgy. And there's that good old chestnut - the disappearing body - to be toyed with for quite a long time.
Part of the problem with that sort of first-person viewpoint of everything is that the reader is really going to have to identify with Cass, and she is a very funny character. For a while. Until the point where the humour did seem to become somewhat heavy-handed and repetitive. Which was a pity, as there were ever such tiny glimpses of pathos and self-awareness that just occasionally managed to get their heads above the tide of jokes and thick skin of our Cass.
All of which probably sounds like I didn't really like this book, which isn't strictly true. The central plot was an interesting idea, and I'd be barracking for anything set out here in the bush which doesn't immediately make out that the whole place has mad, toothless locals lurking behind every saltbush just waiting for a city person to terrorise.... I think my real problem with MURDER WITH THE LOT is that I wasn't convinced that Cass needed to play the daft card quite as often as she did. Perhaps it's another book for fans of light-hearted crazy, with a crime at the centre that's less confrontational than you'd think what with shootings, and missing bodies and all. It is, however, probably a book for locals. I suspect overseas readers might be begging for a map, a dictionary of local terminology, a short course in the in-jokes, a compass and probably a tour guide...
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
Needless to say the storyline of MURDER WITH THE LOT is set up for humour. There are wise cracks and in jokes coming at the reader from all sides. There's the expected red-headed chip shop owner references, the mad mother stuff, the long-suffering son stuff, and the potential merger with the one-armed bloke that runs the General Store... stuff. There's also a lot of slapstick with accidental shootings, much rushing about, car's with non-working door's and love interests who might be a bit dodgy. And there's that good old chestnut - the disappearing body - to be toyed with for quite a long time.
Part of the problem with that sort of first-person viewpoint of everything is that the reader is really going to have to identify with Cass, and she is a very funny character. For a while. Until the point where the humour did seem to become somewhat heavy-handed and repetitive. Which was a pity, as there were ever such tiny glimpses of pathos and self-awareness that just occasionally managed to get their heads above the tide of jokes and thick skin of our Cass.
All of which probably sounds like I didn't really like this book, which isn't strictly true. The central plot was an interesting idea, and I'd be barracking for anything set out here in the bush which doesn't immediately make out that the whole place has mad, toothless locals lurking behind every saltbush just waiting for a city person to terrorise.... I think my real problem with MURDER WITH THE LOT is that I wasn't convinced that Cass needed to play the daft card quite as often as she did. Perhaps it's another book for fans of light-hearted crazy, with a crime at the centre that's less confrontational than you'd think what with shootings, and missing bodies and all. It is, however, probably a book for locals. I suspect overseas readers might be begging for a map, a dictionary of local terminology, a short course in the in-jokes, a compass and probably a tour guide...
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
June 2, 2018
Dean was a bit of a mistake...he stopped a whole lot of things from happening in our lives, Piero’s and mine. Especially mine. Motherhood’s a special joy of course. But sometimes joy’s not everything it’s cracked up to be.
When Clarence Brown entered widow Cass Tuplin’s takeaway at Rusty Bore in the Victorian mallee country, blood dripping from his sleeve and hands over a wad of notes to rent Ernie’s tumbledown shack by Perry Lake, it triggers a sequence of events no-one could have foreseen. A dead body turns up and then goes missing, a suspicious briefcase, a new admirer, and of course, ferrets. Younger son Brad is an environmentalist incapable of holding down a job, elder son Dean is the local cop who refuses to take his mother's concerns seriously, forcing Cass to investigate herself.
Seemed like Brad was getting kind of close to Madison. How close? I didn’t fancy being mother-in-law to a load of hissing ferrets.
He had nice hands, square, solid hands. They’d known exactly how to fix that door, would probably be good at other things as well. Knocking up a coffee table, working on your broken bedhead. Hands that were lingering and warm and would know how to hold your shoulders...
The only sound was something scratching in the roof. A small and scuttly something, possibly a rat type of something. I opened the door. I listened, plate balanced in one sweaty hand. No telly noises., no stomping around the house sounds, no bathroom sloshing. I slithered in, as noiseless as a scrap of whispered scandal.
Only thing I didn't like was the absence of chapter numbers, especially when I lost my place (why do Victorian authors do that???)
Verdict: a wonderful romp, written with a delicious dry wit.
When Clarence Brown entered widow Cass Tuplin’s takeaway at Rusty Bore in the Victorian mallee country, blood dripping from his sleeve and hands over a wad of notes to rent Ernie’s tumbledown shack by Perry Lake, it triggers a sequence of events no-one could have foreseen. A dead body turns up and then goes missing, a suspicious briefcase, a new admirer, and of course, ferrets. Younger son Brad is an environmentalist incapable of holding down a job, elder son Dean is the local cop who refuses to take his mother's concerns seriously, forcing Cass to investigate herself.
Seemed like Brad was getting kind of close to Madison. How close? I didn’t fancy being mother-in-law to a load of hissing ferrets.
He had nice hands, square, solid hands. They’d known exactly how to fix that door, would probably be good at other things as well. Knocking up a coffee table, working on your broken bedhead. Hands that were lingering and warm and would know how to hold your shoulders...
The only sound was something scratching in the roof. A small and scuttly something, possibly a rat type of something. I opened the door. I listened, plate balanced in one sweaty hand. No telly noises., no stomping around the house sounds, no bathroom sloshing. I slithered in, as noiseless as a scrap of whispered scandal.
Only thing I didn't like was the absence of chapter numbers, especially when I lost my place (why do Victorian authors do that???)
Verdict: a wonderful romp, written with a delicious dry wit.
March 4, 2013
I got my copy of Murder With the Lot from a Sisters In Crime event where the author was promoting this debut novel. As soon as I heard the setting was a fictional Mallee town (I have spent some time living in this part of Victoria and have a fairly good knowledge of country life), with some unique characters, I knew I would love this book. I was right I could not put this book down. Cass, the local fish'n'chip lady, fancies herself as a "crime solver". However, Dean, the local cop (who also happens to be Cass's son)thinks his Mum is suffering from some kind of dementia. I mean how can a dead body keep disappearing? I found Sue's writing very entertaining and easy to read. Her characters are realistic and most are likeable!! I would strongly recommend this novel to anyone who likes a novel where the crime is not too blood thirsty and storyline can be amusing in parts!! Will be keeping my eyes open for Sue's next novel.
August 28, 2016
Reading the comment on the front cover of Sue's book, I was instantly sucked in. " A well-sauced outback caper, with Chiko Rolls-and murder."Who could resist? And I must say I had a ball with this book. Even though about two thirds in I began to suspect some things I still rushed to the end and was constantly engaged and entertained. Cass is a most unlikely heroine. The owner of a fish and chip shop in a struggling country town, she is frustrating and annoying at times but mostly ballsy and funny and she was after all'' runner-up Chiko Chick 1983." I couldn't help but laugh out loud at her sons' reference to her age and her needing to be in a home, "he doesn't have his aged mother looking after him" and "I'd moved rapidly onto geriatric."Cass is only 45 years old for goodness sake. Hardly an age to be treating her like an old woman!!! What an insult. This was a witty and hilarious read but also a good whodunnit'. I can't wait now to read the next instalment of the adventures of Cass Tuplin.
September 5, 2021
Fun, local Murder mystery with a humorous twist. Would love to visit Rusty Bore!
April 17, 2013
I went to a Sister in Crime night to hear Katherine Howell (of whom I had read) speak, and the other speaker was a first time author Sue Williams. She was dryly sweet and I put her on my ‘to read’ list, but as comedy crime isn’t really my thing (prefer thrillers) I lingered a bit. Then I won a copy of her book which rather spurred me on to read her, and what a good thing!
Murder with the Lot …is well rather like the title (which she said in the talk was a problem initially because she had her man ordering fish’n’chips and it took the editor to suggest that he could order a hamburger after all…). It has a bit of everything; murder, missing bodies, villains, disbelieving sons, a love story of sorts. Most of all though it has a totally absorbing heroine, who a little like my brief impression of the author, is dry and quirky and lots of fun. There were times I laughed out loud (not common for me in books) at some of the ridiculous things Cass does, but even more so at her one liner takes. While she’s worrying about her son her elderly friend is caring on in the background about how he kept all the women away from her (dead) husband by telling them he had VD. This is just a snippet of the type or wry humour that the book is bursting with. I have read other crime comedy, but none as funny as this. Right to the end, this is a heroine who should never be let loose with a gun, but be sure when she is, you’ll need to duck while you’re reading on.
Murder with the Lot …is well rather like the title (which she said in the talk was a problem initially because she had her man ordering fish’n’chips and it took the editor to suggest that he could order a hamburger after all…). It has a bit of everything; murder, missing bodies, villains, disbelieving sons, a love story of sorts. Most of all though it has a totally absorbing heroine, who a little like my brief impression of the author, is dry and quirky and lots of fun. There were times I laughed out loud (not common for me in books) at some of the ridiculous things Cass does, but even more so at her one liner takes. While she’s worrying about her son her elderly friend is caring on in the background about how he kept all the women away from her (dead) husband by telling them he had VD. This is just a snippet of the type or wry humour that the book is bursting with. I have read other crime comedy, but none as funny as this. Right to the end, this is a heroine who should never be let loose with a gun, but be sure when she is, you’ll need to duck while you’re reading on.
August 6, 2013
MURDER WITH THE LOT by Sue Williams
I won't go into the synopsis, as the other reviewers have been meticulous in that regard.
At first I liked this book. Cass appeared to be a funny, hardworking woman who runs a takeaway shop in the outback. However, it soon becomes apparent that this woman is a bit dim. Why would she give a total, bloodied stranger the key to a shack belonging to an elderly man in a nursing home and take five thousand dollars as rent? Five thousand dollars? Really.
Things go downhill from there. As Cass gets more involved and snoops into everything but her own business, the plot gets more chaotic and she becomes less likeable. I wasn't sure who was doing what to whom long before the ending. Her unfortunate son almost loses his job because of her shenanigans and she pretty much gets what she deserves when... no spoilers as that would not be fair.
I stuck with it because this is a fellow Australian author, but it was a disappointment.
I won't go into the synopsis, as the other reviewers have been meticulous in that regard.
At first I liked this book. Cass appeared to be a funny, hardworking woman who runs a takeaway shop in the outback. However, it soon becomes apparent that this woman is a bit dim. Why would she give a total, bloodied stranger the key to a shack belonging to an elderly man in a nursing home and take five thousand dollars as rent? Five thousand dollars? Really.
Things go downhill from there. As Cass gets more involved and snoops into everything but her own business, the plot gets more chaotic and she becomes less likeable. I wasn't sure who was doing what to whom long before the ending. Her unfortunate son almost loses his job because of her shenanigans and she pretty much gets what she deserves when... no spoilers as that would not be fair.
I stuck with it because this is a fellow Australian author, but it was a disappointment.
February 10, 2014
I agree with Karen's review I really enjoyed it laughing outboard at several parts, but as the story went on I felt 'She can't be that dim surely" and while the police disbelief was understandable they did nothing about her story which seems a bit far fetched .But Fun!
September 11, 2015
Williams is an Australian, with a wonderful tongue-in-cheek style, a mix of subtle and laugh-out-loud humour, individual characters, and a crazy plot that keeps you turning the pages.
Cass Tuplin is a widow running one of the last two retail outlets in the dry and dusty township of Rusty Bore (near Muddy Soak, and Hustle). Vern, up the road, sells everything except the takeaways Cass does so well – when she has customers. Vern wants a merger (read takeover), but Cass isn’t willing to sell. Meanwhile a young stranger turns up, bleeding enough to be noticeable, and looking for somewhere to stay. Cass offers him her friend Ernie’s abandoned place – an isolated spot out in the country. This unwise move brings Cass a lot of trouble, involvement with a murder that no one else believes has happened (including her older son, a cynical and know-it-all policeman), meetings with some very dodgy characters, and enough knockings around to put her in the same class as one of Dick Francis’ resilient heroes. She also has to deal with her other son, Brad, a bit of a loser-cum-sponger-cum-environmental activist, his girlfriend and her half dozen ferrets, his pregnant ‘friend,’ and her own potential boyfriend who may be one or the goodies...or one of the baddies.
The story is told by Cass herself in a wonderful freewheeling style that continually undercuts itself, throws ironies around by the mile, and in general offers us a character we love from page one, even when she’s driving her family and several other people crazy.
Cass Tuplin is a widow running one of the last two retail outlets in the dry and dusty township of Rusty Bore (near Muddy Soak, and Hustle). Vern, up the road, sells everything except the takeaways Cass does so well – when she has customers. Vern wants a merger (read takeover), but Cass isn’t willing to sell. Meanwhile a young stranger turns up, bleeding enough to be noticeable, and looking for somewhere to stay. Cass offers him her friend Ernie’s abandoned place – an isolated spot out in the country. This unwise move brings Cass a lot of trouble, involvement with a murder that no one else believes has happened (including her older son, a cynical and know-it-all policeman), meetings with some very dodgy characters, and enough knockings around to put her in the same class as one of Dick Francis’ resilient heroes. She also has to deal with her other son, Brad, a bit of a loser-cum-sponger-cum-environmental activist, his girlfriend and her half dozen ferrets, his pregnant ‘friend,’ and her own potential boyfriend who may be one or the goodies...or one of the baddies.
The story is told by Cass herself in a wonderful freewheeling style that continually undercuts itself, throws ironies around by the mile, and in general offers us a character we love from page one, even when she’s driving her family and several other people crazy.
October 26, 2016
The sequel to this book was reviewed in our local newspaper, and since the series is written by an Aussie, and set in the Mallee, I thought I'd give it a go.
Unfortunately my sense of humour is obviously off-skew compared to other readers'. I found the main character, Cass, annoyingly stupid. What she said and did irritated me no end. I had no sympathy for her, and felt sorry for her sons.
I guessed who the murderer was before the end, but kept reading to see how long it would take this bumbling woman to figure things out. (Right up to the very end, of course.) I did feel sorry for her that her policeman son took no notice of her, but why the heck she didn't take photos on her phone, especially after the body disappeared the first time, is beyond me. Since she was obviously pretty dim, with a previous history of dimness, maybe her son could be forgiven. But unfortunately there were further murders, which may not have taken place if both son and mother had behaved differently. Two stars, because I did hang on to the end, but I won't be reading that sequel.
Unfortunately my sense of humour is obviously off-skew compared to other readers'. I found the main character, Cass, annoyingly stupid. What she said and did irritated me no end. I had no sympathy for her, and felt sorry for her sons.
I guessed who the murderer was before the end, but kept reading to see how long it would take this bumbling woman to figure things out. (Right up to the very end, of course.) I did feel sorry for her that her policeman son took no notice of her, but why the heck she didn't take photos on her phone, especially after the body disappeared the first time, is beyond me. Since she was obviously pretty dim, with a previous history of dimness, maybe her son could be forgiven. But unfortunately there were further murders, which may not have taken place if both son and mother had behaved differently. Two stars, because I did hang on to the end, but I won't be reading that sequel.
October 11, 2014
I would like to go to Rusty Bore and order take away from Cass Tuplin. It would be cool if we could chat a bit too. She seems like a great character - a real human with real flaws and quirks and good dose of parental pride in there. Places with names such as Muddy Soak, Hustle and Rusty Bore would definitely be on my itinerary. The settings in this story are vivid and appealing. Who would have thought such little places would be the centre of such a gripping crime story? Take the time to read this book, visit its places and meet its people. This highly entertaining read will have you grinning many a time - especially with great lines such as "His voice had more husk than a woman in death-grip underwear can generally withstand." I shall say no more
August 22, 2016
Laugh out loud, quirky crime fiction, starring middle-aged female protagonist with two grown sons. Love the small town setting in rural Victoria, Australia, with the shops, places to eat, people to visit and social complications portrayed with dead-on accuracy and humour. Loved the lyrical descriptions of landscape, conveying the stark beauty of rural locations. If you like crime with laughs, home truths, danger and a vividly portrayed setting, you will probably love this book too. A very welcome new voice in Australian crime fiction.
September 18, 2013
I listened to Sue Williams speak once and she was terrific to listen to. I couldn't wait to read more about Cass. Her personality came through nice and strong during the story. There was a great Australian theme to story, especially being based in a small outback town.
October 20, 2013
A lot of fun to read.
August 9, 2014
Quirky mystery, with a good storyline, interesting characters with an Australian laconic sense of humour (think of Mother and Son) and a novel murder scenario.
July 11, 2018
Only OK. Plot holes a mile wide, hard to keep up with who was who. Taken as a comedy it was mildly entertaining.
May 3, 2020
I was torn between rating this 2 or 3 stars, so rounded up to 3.
This is the first novel in the Cass Tuplin series, and what drew me to read this is the Australian setting. The first few pages start off well, giving the reader a good look at who Cass is, and some of the other characters of Rusty Bore. Then it goes off kilter a little, and I think the author tries to inject unreal occurrences into this novel to keep the reader interested. It doesn't always work.
I think there could have been a little more focus on describing the outback setting, as I got the sense we were given descriptions of buildings and people, but not so much about the land itself. I was hoping for more descriptions of the land, and that may have made the read more enriching.
Cass is not an easy character to like. She's stubborn, seems to relish talking over her adult sons and basically wants to run their lives (even to their detriment), and does display some cases of bad judgement. She's a tough woman living in a dying town, so I guess that type of characterisation fits. It's just not an easy character to sympathise with.
Well, nobody is perfect, but in the first few chapters there is one decision that starts this whole affair, and I think that particular part of the plot could have been workshopped more. It just didn't seem believable.
As for the mystery - it had me guessing. So high marks there!
I can't say I'd read the next novels in the series. Yes, I finished this book and didn't hate it, but I had to push myself to complete it, and one of the reasons I did read the entire book is I really hate starting a book and not finishing.
This is the first novel in the Cass Tuplin series, and what drew me to read this is the Australian setting. The first few pages start off well, giving the reader a good look at who Cass is, and some of the other characters of Rusty Bore. Then it goes off kilter a little, and I think the author tries to inject unreal occurrences into this novel to keep the reader interested. It doesn't always work.
I think there could have been a little more focus on describing the outback setting, as I got the sense we were given descriptions of buildings and people, but not so much about the land itself. I was hoping for more descriptions of the land, and that may have made the read more enriching.
Cass is not an easy character to like. She's stubborn, seems to relish talking over her adult sons and basically wants to run their lives (even to their detriment), and does display some cases of bad judgement. She's a tough woman living in a dying town, so I guess that type of characterisation fits. It's just not an easy character to sympathise with.
Well, nobody is perfect, but in the first few chapters there is one decision that starts this whole affair, and I think that particular part of the plot could have been workshopped more. It just didn't seem believable.
As for the mystery - it had me guessing. So high marks there!
I can't say I'd read the next novels in the series. Yes, I finished this book and didn't hate it, but I had to push myself to complete it, and one of the reasons I did read the entire book is I really hate starting a book and not finishing.
March 17, 2019
This is a fun and undemanding book set in Rusty Bore, a small drought-ravaged mallee community in Australia. The central character is Cass Tuplin, a widow who runs the takeaway food store in the town. Her son is a local policeman and her other son has a somewhat alternate lifestyle.
Throw in a murder, corrupt police, quirky characters and strange events and the formula works.
I enjoyed it and will look forward to more in the series.
Throw in a murder, corrupt police, quirky characters and strange events and the formula works.
I enjoyed it and will look forward to more in the series.
January 12, 2019
This is a very jolly light-hearted murder mystery. Can one actually say that when characters do die? Anyway, the lead character is an amusing, opinionated, feisty, curious mother of 2 adult boys living in a small country town in Victoria, Australia. It's not my normal cup of tea but it was entertaining enough for a holiday read.
July 30, 2022
Could have had a bit more guidance as a debut novel. Didn’t learn much about who Cass Tuplin is: her history, motivations, her likes/dislikes, even her age or appearances. When one sentences reads ‘her cousin’s, sisters, neighbour’s, motherhood in law’ or something similar you know the plot is in trouble. Am hoping subsequent instalments improve.
August 5, 2018
3.5
A quick, enjoyable romp with a funny, strongly-written, if slightly bewildering protagonist.
Maybe it's me but I kept forgetting who some of the bit-part characters were when referred to only by their first names later in the book.
A quick, enjoyable romp with a funny, strongly-written, if slightly bewildering protagonist.
Maybe it's me but I kept forgetting who some of the bit-part characters were when referred to only by their first names later in the book.
March 15, 2023
A delightful rollicking tale set in parched outback Oz. Cass is a solid, true blue fish & chip monopolist, with two charming sons. They all get into a tangle of trouble while Cass tries to get to the bottom of the mystery. Loved it.
April 12, 2023
This was an easy, fast paced read that helped me get out of my reading slump. Similar to a ‘whodunit’ but with a touch more Aussie-pestering-mother-figure. Not ideal that I picked the ending about half way through, so lost a star for predictability. But overall, a decent read.
September 5, 2018
I didn’t much care for this book; the style and protagonist both grated on me for some reason.
October 28, 2018
A good read, unfortunately I read the books out of order so that confused me but that was my own fault!!
July 6, 2019
This quirky book kept me entertained from whoa to go.
October 20, 2022
The story of a widow running a fish and chip takeaway in a very small town in the hot dry Mallee country who becomes an amateur detective - because no-one will believe she saw a murdered person.
July 22, 2020
It seems that Sue Williams has many strings to her bow, marine biologist, accountant and science writer. Sadly, I don’t think she can add ‘crime writer’ to her resume. This book started off well, the characters were interesting, the set-up intriguing and Williams kept the laughs coming. Midway through though, the novel becomes confused with multiple characters and perplexing situations. A couple of strange left turns late in the piece rendered the work very unlikable for me, not helped by a predictable and anti-climactic ending. Which is a shame as I did enjoy the book at the beginning and felt that Williams had a flair for comedy. But it seems like the laugh was on me and I will not be joining Cass Tuplin, fish and chip proprietor and part time sleuth for any further adventures.
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