Voices in the Dark

by Fleur McDonald

A powerful and poignant rural family story told by the acclaimed Fleur McDonald, bestselling author of Broad River Station and Into the Night.

Sassi Stapleton is called home after news her grandmother is unwell. Less than an hour away from her hometown, Barker, she swerves to miss a roo and her car rolls down an embankment and she's left hanging. By the time she is found, her grandmother has already passed away.

Sassi's mother, Amber, returns from South Africa, and as soon as she arrives family tensions between her and her brother, Abe, are back in the forefront of everyone's minds.

When it quickly becomes clear that Sassi's grandfather Mr Stapleton is unable to live alone, the hunt is on to find a carer. Rasha enters the family home, firmly entrenching herself as someone they can't do without, and before long Mr Stapleton is happier than he has been in years.

Then bruises start appearing on Mr Stapleton and he becomes withdrawn, refusing to talk even to Sassi.

None of the family are convinced that Rasha could hurt anyone. Amber is his daughter; Sassi, his granddaughter. None of these three could hurt Mr Stapleton.

Or could they?

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Australia, Contemporary, Crime

368 pages, ebook

First published October 31, 2023

About the author

After growing up on a farm near Orroroo in South Australia, Fleur McDonald’s first job was jillarooing in the outback. She has been involved in agriculture all her life, including helping manage a 8000-acre station for twenty years. Today Fleur and her energetic kelpie, Jack, live in Esperance, Western Australia,

Fleur is the author of 23 bestselling novels and two children's books.

Fleur chats about her daily writing life on her blog http://fleurmcdonald.com,
Facebook - Fleur McDonald Author
Instagram @fleurmcdonald
Tiktok @fleurmcdonaldauthor

Reviews

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 4 out of 5]

EXCERPT: When her ringtone, Kaylee Bell's 'Keith' had ripped through the kitchen causing her to jump, Sassi knew there was something amiss. No one called so late at night.
The photo that had been taken last Christmas of her and Abe flashed onto the screen and her first thought had been: Which one is it? Which grandparent?
'It's bad, Sassi,' her uncle told her when she answered.
Her hands shaking, she'd slid down next to Jarrah and buried her fingers in the kelpie's caramel fur.
'What's happened?'
'Not sure. Dad managed to raise the alarm, but . . .' His voice had trailed off and Sassi realised her kettle was screaming a high-pitched whistle above her. Sticking a finger in her ear and ignoring the sound, she stayed where she was.
'The ambo couldn't say much, but he suggested we get everyone together as quickly as we can. I've rung your mother.'
Sassi snorted. 'She won't be much use.'
'Sassi.' As always Abe's calm and conciliatory tone didn't change. Sassi was angry and he was the peacemaker. 'She's going to be on the first plane she can get out of South Africa.'
She'd probably prefer the borders were still shut so she didn't have to come back.'
Abe ignored her comments. 'You need to come now,' he said. 'Don't wait.'

ABOUT 'VOICES IN THE DARK': Sassi Stapleton is called home after news her grandmother is unwell. Less than an hour away from her hometown, Barker, she swerves to miss a roo and her car rolls down an embankment and she's left hanging. By the time she is found, her grandmother has already passed away.

Sassi's mother, Amber, returns from South Africa, and as soon as she arrives family tensions between her and her brother, Abe, are back in the forefront of everyone's minds.

When it quickly becomes clear that Sassi's grandfather Mr Stapleton is unable to live alone, the hunt is on to find a carer. Rasha enters the family home, firmly entrenching herself as someone they can't do without, and before long Mr Stapleton is happier than he has been in years.

Then bruises start appearing on Mr Stapleton and he becomes withdrawn, refusing to talk even to Sassi.

None of the family are convinced that Rasha could hurt anyone. Amber is his daughter; Sassi, his granddaughter. None of these three could hurt Mr Stapleton. Could they?

MY THOUGHTS: I really enjoy reading stories set in small towns, Australian ones in particular, and Voices in the Dark set in the small town of Barker, four hours out of Adelaide, South Australia, didn't disappoint. This is a family drama with no romance but a lot of love, secrets, lies, greed and resentment to fuel the storyline.

Small towns can be difficult to live in. Everyone knows everyone else's business. Scandals never really die, beliefs are firmly entrenched, and grudges can be held for generations. But when the chips are down, everyone pulls together. Barker is no different. Sassi is still that 'illegitimate Stapleton kid', and Rasha is 'a person of color' taking work away from the locals. 'She doesn't belong here.'

Voices in the Dark is very much a character driven drama, and I loved the characters - well, most of them anyway. There's a few louts and larrikins in Barker, but then aren't there in every town? And Amber, Sassi's mother, is, and I'm being kind here, a complicated character. She's arrogant, entitled, racist and cold . . . I couldn't find one spark of warmth or humanity in her. But she too has a tragic back story.

There are some wonderful relationships that I loved reading about - Abe and his wife Renee and their twin sons being one; Dave, the local detective and his wife Kim are another. There's an enticing bit of drama going on in Dave's family as well as in his workplace.

There's a bit of a story behind Detective Dave Burrows. He appeared in Fleur McDonald's first book, 'Dust'. Since then, he's appeared as a secondary character in sixteen of her novels and has taken a lead role in another six. I guess if you've read a lot of this author's work, you will already be familiar with him. Unfortunately I haven't, but that is something I am going to remedy.

I also love Sassi and Abe's relationship. They are more like brother and sister than uncle and niece. Sassi is a lovely character. She's had a bit of a rough time of it, having been abandoned by her mother as a young child; her grandmother's death is more like the loss of a mother and the sudden disintegration of her long-term relationship is a shock, but she is a strong young woman who has her focus in the right place.

I do have some qualms about how the book ended. I'm not entirely sure that Dave did the right thing here. If you read or have read Voices in the Dark, I'd love to know what you think.

A good, solid four-star read that has left me wanting to read more from this author.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

#VoicesintheDark #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: After growing up on a farm near Orroroo in South Australia, Fleur McDonald’s first job was jillarooing in the outback. She has been involved in agriculture all her life, including helping manage an 8000-acre station for twenty years. Today Fleur and her energetic kelpie, Jack, live in Esperance, Western Australia,

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Allen & Unwin via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Voices in the Dark by Fleur McDonald for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Voices in the Dark by Fleur McDonald

Synopsis /

Sassi Stapleton is called home after news her grandmother is unwell. Less than an hour away from her hometown, Barker, she swerves to miss a roo and her car rolls down an embankment and she's left hanging. By the time she is found, her grandmother has already passed away.

Sassi's mother, Amber, returns from South Africa, and as soon as she arrives family tensions between her and her brother, Abe, are back in the forefront of everyone's minds.

When it quickly becomes clear that Sassi's grandfather Mr Stapleton is unable to live alone, the hunt is on to find a carer. Rasha enters the family home, firmly entrenching herself as someone they can't do without, and before long Mr Stapleton is happier than he has been in years.

Then bruises start appearing on Mr Stapleton and he becomes withdrawn, refusing to talk even to Sassi. None of the family are convinced that Rasha could hurt anyone. Amber is his daughter; Sassi, his granddaughter. None of these three could hurt Mr Stapleton.


My Thoughts /

3.5 rounded up

Best-selling rural fiction author, Fleur McDonald takes us to the South Australian outback with this her latest novel, Voices in the Dark. For those not familiar, SA is a very beautiful area - here are a few things you can look forward to doing.
🌟Visit Australia's largest outback mountain range, The Flinders Ranges.
🌟Get lost in the cosmos without ever leaving Earth - visit Arkaroola's International Dark Sky Sanctuary.
🌟Visit River Murray Dark Sky Reserve, an area of land which is protected from light pollution.
🌟Adelaide is the world's second National Park City, encircled by parklands and generous green space. FYI, back in 2021 Adelaide got the nod in the Global Liveability Ranking for the world's third most liveable city.

I'll take off my travel guide hat now and return you to the topic in hand, the book.

Would you believe that Voices in the Dark is the 22nd novel in which Detective Dave Burrows makes an appearance? I kid you not. There are 15 primary works in the Detective Dave Burrows series, with another 7 books where he is cast as the lead character in a series called Young Detective Dave Burrows. This bit of trivia makes me happy, because after reading and enjoying Voices in the Dark, I now have a big back catalogue of books to add to my reading list.

Receiving news that her grandmother is gravely ill, Sassi Stapleton is making the long drive from New South Wales back to her hometown of Barker, South Australia. It's an emotional time for Sassi - she knows that this trip home will be the last chance she'll have to spend time with her grandmother before she passes. After driving through the night, and less than an hour from her final destination, a kangaroo suddenly jumps from the side of the road right into the path of her Ute. Unable to veer away in time, Sassi's car swerves violently off the road and rolls down an embankment, coming to rest upside down on its roof.

When she hadn't turned up at the homestead by morning, Sassi's Uncle Abe contacts Detective Dave Burrows at the Barker Police Station. Dave starts a search and locates Sassi, she's trapped, but otherwise free from injury. When she finally makes it back home, Sassi learns that her grandmother has already passed away; along with her chance to say a final goodbye.

Being back in Barker is not easy for Sassi, there are a lot of ghosts. Cara, her grandmother, was a source of strength for Sassi when her biological mother deserted her when she was young and left her in their [grandparents] care. Now back, she's realised how much her grandparents have aged since she's been away. Things go from bad to worse when her mother, Amber, arrives from South Africa for the funeral and her Pa, who suffered a stroke a few years earlier, is now struggling with everyday tasks.

This is a bit of a slow burn. The author spends a lot of time detailing the minutiae of daily life on a working property. Told in multiple POVs, the author explores the issue of family estrangement and succession. We learn that Barker's residents and its community spirit are the backbone of the town, providing a sense of belonging, and family, and the feeling that you're not alone. The author also touches on heavier social issues, like racism, sexual assault, and elder abuse. While these are not explored in any great depth, McDonald has written these themes with an obvious understanding of compassion and empathy for her characters.

Barker is most likely no different to any other small remote rural farming community anywhere in the world. It has its pros and cons; and policing such a vast area takes a certain type of cop. From my read of this story, I can understand why Detective Dave Burrows has such a big following. While this story had him on the periphery - just going about his job as a country cop, and mentoring his young constable, we were privy to glimpses of his personal life and his relationship with his wife, Kim.

This is not one of my favoured reading genres, but I can think of worse ways to pass time. Overall, I enjoyed the author's writing style, and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more about Detective Burrows in the future.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sassi Stapleton and her dog Jarrah were on their way to Barker in South Australia, Sassi's home town, as her uncle Abe had called to say her granny was not well. He told her to "come now", so Sassi had, driving from New South Wales during the night. The accident happened when she was only an hour or so away from Barker, and when she regained consciousness, she found she was trapped upside down in her vehicle, with Jarrah whimpering somewhere beside her. Rescued and taken to the hospital, Sassi was shattered to learn her granny had lost her battle for life...

Detective Dave Burrows and his new constable, Mia, were at the accident scene, thankful there were very few injuries. Abe had given the overdue alert to Dave, and was grateful Sassi was found alive. When Amber, Sassi's estranged mother, arrived from South Africa for the funeral, she and Sassi stayed with Sassi's Pa, who had suffered a stroke a couple of years prior, and needed care. His inability to speak properly created problems, but soon Sassi was interpreting. But he needed fulltime care, and when they found Rasha, she was ideal in a carer's role. But who was hurting Mr Stapleton? The bruises appearing on him, the fear in his eyes devastated Sassi. Could they find the culprit?

Voices in the Dark is another exceptional story by Aussie author Fleur McDonald which I loved. Dave had a more minor role in this one, but he and his wife Kim, still featured. With well written characters, heartwarming moments mixed with some heartbreaking ones, all came together to form a suspenseful rural novel, written by an author who is a master of her genre. Highly recommended.

With thanks to Allen & Unwin for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sassi Stapleton receives a call from her uncle Abe to say her grandmother Cora is unwell, Sassi and her dog Jarrah hop in her ute and start the long drive to Barker. Being a country girl Sassi knows it’s important to stop and have a break, stay alert and be on the lookout for kangaroos.

Sassi is less than an hour from Barker, when a roo jumps in front of her ute, she rolls down a steep embankment and she's trapped in her vehicle. Abe contacts Detective Dave Burrows he’s in charge of the Barker police station, he sends a search party, they find Sassi, luckily she’s not badly hurt and unfortunately her grandmother passed away and she didn't get to say goodbye.

Sassi was raised by her gran and pa, her mother Amber lives in South Africa, the family are shocked when she arrives and instantly the atmosphere become tense. Amber was only sixteen when Sassi was born, her relationship with her parents has been sporadic and she left Sassi with them when she was five.

After the funeral, it’s clear Mr. Stapleton needs proper in-home care, he had a stroke a few years ago, his speech is slurred and he can’t walk unaided. Abe runs the family farm, he’s married, has twins boys, he's the only male to take care of his fathers personal needs and he's too busy. Rasha moved to Barker from the city, she’s Sudanese, and she’s willing to be Mr. Stapleton's career. The family are really happy, Amber treats her like a maid and then they notice he has bruises.

An investigation into what’s happened to Mr. Stapleton begins, everyone is questioned, including Abe, his wife Renee, Sassi, Rasha and Amber. Detective Burrows looks into the case, he’s got years of experience under his belt, both Rasha and Amber seem uncomfortable and he has a pretty good idea of who’s not telling the truth and why.

I received a digital copy of Voices in the Dark from NetGalley and Allen & Unwin in exchange for an honest review. Fleur McDonald is one of Australia’s most popular and prolific rural fiction authors, I can understand why and her character Dave Burrows has featured in previous books and he's a legend.

I enjoy reading stories set in small Australian country towns, it has a character driven plot and I really liked Sassi, Abe and Renee, Dave and his wife Kim, Mia, Hamish the ambo, twins Jimmy and Harry and of course Jarrah. A story about long kept family secrets, unknown resentment, lies and greed. Solving the mystery of who's been hurting a defenseless Mr. Stapleton and it's a very low act and unanswered questions about Sassi's father. Five stars from me, I'm keen to read other books by Ms. McDonald and I highly recommend her latest novel.

[Veronica ⭐️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always eagerly await each new release by Fleur McDonald. Her knowledge of and dedication to small communities, farming and the problems they face shines through in her stories.

Voices in the Dark is a stand alone rural suspense novel featuring country cop Dave Burrows however he is not the main character in this story.

Sassi Stapleton is driving to Barker after a late night call asking her to come immediately as her grandmother is seriously ill. When Sassi doesn't arrive at the expected time, her uncle notifies Dave and the police get into action.
Fleur McDonald packs an emotional punch as the police, ambulance and emergency services work together in a harrowing rescue scene.

Voices in the Dark focuses on the Stapleton family and their struggles to reconnect and get over the demons of the past. There are lots of appearances from characters I have grown to love from previous books. Mia the young constable, Dave and Kim all have strong parts in this story. Lots of well placed backstory keeps new readers up to speed.

Fleur writes magnificent stories about country people, farming and the problems remote areas face but also highlights the special bond small communities have. Even though the gossip abounds they will do anything to help each other.

Voices in the Dark is a story about family secrets, elder abuse, letting go of resentments, moving forward and starting over.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Dave Burrows so much, this was a once sitting read, there was no way I was putting this one down till I got to the end, this is such a great story and takes in an issue that sadly is growing and it is done so well and Dave handles everything so well, I loved seeing Mia again and Kim and being in the town of Barker, another awesome read.

Sassie Stapleton grew up in Barker on a farm, bought up by her grandparents, she now is managing a feedlot in NSW, her uncle is now living on the farm with his young family and her loving grandparents are in a house in town, Pa has had a stroke and Granny is caring for him., Sassie gets a call from her uncle come home and quick her granny is unwell, but a kangaroo stops her from seeing her beloved granny.

Amber, Sassie’s mum moved away when Sassie was very young and is married and living in South Africa, she arrives home as well and the tensions are running high not only with Sassie but also Abe, Amber’s brother. The family need to organize care for Mr. Stapleton, Dave and Kim suggest a new woman n town Rasha she has moved from Sudan to make a better life for her two children, a meeting is held and Mr. Stapleton is very happy with Rasha but then suddenly he is found with bruising and is not communicating like he was, what has happened, who is hurting him and why?

Dave and Mia are called in, who could be hurting Pa, Sassie and Abe are beside themselves and then there is the missing items from the house, there is a lot of uncovering to do and the answers will shock the family. I loved this one from start to finish, the characters are so fabulous the story is well written and Dave has a few things happening in his personal life as well, more to come I am sure.

Thank you MS McDonald for another brilliant story, I look forward to the next book, I do highly recommend this one it is not to be missed.

My thanks to the publisher Allen & Unwin and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

*https://www.instagram.com/mrsb_book_r...

Despite two children and an energetic kelpie to contend with, Fleur McDonald continues to triumph and her stories are always filled with inspiring women who survive against the odds in the outback. Voices in the Dark is McDonald’s latest showcase. A tale of intricate family relationships, withheld information, the harsh reality of farming and a dash of mystery, Fleur McDonald has compiled an engrossing new read.

🌑Opening with a dramatic car accident, Voices in the Dark is a story of an estranged family, secrets and reconnection, Voices in the Dark is another highly readable story from Australian sensation Fleur McDonald. It is always a true pleasure to be able to read and review the esteemed voice of the outback’s work. Voices in the Dark is no exception. After receiving a lucrative spot on the DMCPR book tour of this latest Fleur McDonald showcase, I raced through this new Fleur McDonald composition. With an appearance from none other than the amazing Dave Burrows and his sidekick Mia, this title will thrill fans of McDonald’s work and newbies alike.

🌑Think tough rural Australian life coupled with true blue common life problems and you pretty much have the plot for Voices in the Dark. McDonald's characters grapple with relationship strains, family troubles, accidents, secrets, a lack of resources, abuse, care of the elderly, money tussles and so much drama. The emotion runs high at many points of this consuming story. As we have come to expect from this seasoned Australian author, the feelings the cast experience are spot on. McDonald incorporates plenty of activity for her protagonists, both new and returning to contend with as the story unfurls. It is a suspense filled journey from open to close in this rural yarn.

🌑Voices in the Dark is a prime example of a classic Fleur McDonald outback recital.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever I pick up a book by Aussie author Fleur McDonald I know I’m going to enjoy it and the rating is going to be high and I’m pleased to say Voices in the Dark was another five-star rating from me.

Once again Detective Dave Burrows features in this book and I just love his character. Rural suspense at its best. This book held my interest from the start to the last page. Highly recommended.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read and review.

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 4 out of 5]

Voices in the Dark is the 22nd novel in which Detective Dave Burrows appears. He features in six, the most recent being Into the Night, and has a peripheral role in sixteen others, including this one, which follows the events of Broad River Station, but can be read as a stand alone.

Informed that her grandmother is gravely ill, Sassi Stapleton doesn’t hesitate to make the long drive from New South Wales to the South Australian town of Barker, hoping for the chance to say goodbye to the woman who raised her. It’s just past dawn when a kangaroo causes Sassi to veer off the road, trapping her in her rolled car, and while she is rescued with only minor injuries, Sassi is devastated to learn that her beloved grandmother is already gone. Being back in Barker is not easy for Sassi, who is still disappointed that there was no opportunity for her to work on the family’s farm, and it becomes more difficult when her estranged mother, Amber, shows up, but Sassi has resolved to do whatever she can to support her Pa, who struggles with daily tasks after a crippling stroke.

As the main character, Sassi carries the story well, with the Stapleton family drama dominating the storyline of Voices in the Dark. McDonald explores the issues of family estrangement, farm succession, and racism, as well as some particular sensitive subjects such as rape, and elder abuse. Somewhat surprisingly there is very little suspense in the plot, though there are some tense incidents. There’s no romance either, but I enjoyed the blossoming of new friendships.

Though Dave doesn’t feature in Voices of the Dark, readers familiar with his character will enjoy the scenes in which he appears. While some simply involve him doing his job as a police officer, and mentoring his new constable, Mia Worth, others reveal glimpses of his personal life, including his relationship with his wife Kim, and his two, now adult, daughters from his first marriage.

An engaging novel, I spent an afternoon happy immersed in Voices of the Dark, and I look forward to the next book to feature Dave Burrows and the community of Barker.

[Gloria (Ms. G's Bookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️4.5 Stars⭐️
I enjoyed this rural suspense story featuring country Detective Dave Burrows by Fleur McDonald, it’s a fascinating story about family secrets, lies, misplaced trust and intriguing characters.

When our female protagonist Sassi Stapleton swerves to miss a kangaroo she rolls her car down an embankment and is lucky to be rescued. Sassi and her dog Jarrah were on their way to Barker to visit her dying grandmother.

Sassi was raised by her gran and pa at the family farm where her uncle Abe now lives and is devastated when she finds out her gran has passed away before she could get there. Gran was pa’s carer and the family now need to organise care for him. Sassi’s estranged mother unexpected return from South Africa shocks the family and tensions grow between her and Sassi.

Dave and his wife Kim suggest Rasha who would be a suitable carer for Mr Stapleton, she has recently moved to Barker from Sudan for a better life.

Is Rasha causing pa to become bruised, can they entrust his care to a stranger?

A well written story in a wonderful Australian rural setting, I always look forward to a new Fleur McDonald release.

Publication Date 31 October 2023
Publisher Allen & Unwin Australia

Thank you to the lovely team Allen and Unwin and DMCPR Media for a copy of the book and having me on the book tour.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Allen & Unwin for sending us a copy to read and review.
Voices In The Dark is a slow burn family mystery with favourite returning character Detective Dave in a minor role.
With many titles under her belt, the popular author hits the new release shelves with a tale of small town drama, a homecoming, secrets and how the past can affect future.
Sassi Stapleton is on a long drive home after she receives a late night phone call that her grandmother is very sick when she ends up in a ditch.
Unfortunately her grandmother passes away while she is waiting to be rescued.
Not long after arriving, her estranged mother Amber, also turns up after receiving the same phone call.
But living under the same roof after all this time, tensions arise, secrets appear and the shocking truth is only around the corner.
Interlaced with the outback saga, we get to hear about return characters and their daily life and work, though just in a secondary sub plot and only slightly mixed with the main story.
Heavier on the emotion and melodrama more so than the suspense this time around and enough to sink your teeth into and be happy with.
Not my favourite Fleur book, I’m thinking I much prefer when Detective Dave is the lead, but good for an afternoon of reading and escape.

[Janelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another Detective Dave Burrows novel and while it isn’t a crime being investigated until close to the end, he isn’t the main focus of the book. It’s about a farming family, the grandmother dies so granddaughter Sassi , is returning from NSW and her mother, Amber returns from South Africa after a long absence. Sassi was brought up by her grandparents. It’s an easy, well written and interesting rural read and I was quite invested in the story. I did find the ending too quick and a bit underwhelming which lowered my rating. (Amber really deserved some sort of punishment just for her racism

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Dave Burrows is back (trust me you can read this one as a standalone) with new police partner Mia. New cases to solve especially surrounding the Stapleton family. Sassi Stapleton gets a phone call from her Uncle Abe to advise her grandmother Cora is very unwell and needs to get to Baker as soon as she can. She bundles her dog Jarrah up and makes her way to the small South Australian town. Sassi had an accident hitting a kangaroo and woke up being trapped in the car that was upside down. Luckily help was on its way when Uncle Abe notified police that Sassi hadn't turned up yet. Rushed to hospital, she learns that she is too late and her grandmother passed away. Absolutely heartbroken to hear the news. Sassi's mother Amber returns from South Africa and brings tension with her. They hire Rasha to take car of Mr Stapleton (grandfather) and she is doing an amazing job until they find signs of abuse. The police are called but who could be doing this to the old man?

Voices in the dark by Fleur McDonald is a rural town story full of family mystery and has a few trigger warnings. This was such a quick and easy read for me. I enjoyed the writing style, the characters and now I want to read more Detective Dave Burrows.

Thank you @dmcprmedia and @allenandunwin for sending me a gifted copy and to be involved in the book tour.

[Trudi Lawley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Def wasn’t one of my faves. Didn’t have the mystery factor her books normally do.

[Beccabeccabooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐮𝐫 𝐌𝐜𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐝: Guess what, I'm in the middle of writing a new novel!
𝐌𝐞: Will Detective Dave be in it?
𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐮𝐫 𝐌𝐜𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐝: Of course
𝐌𝐞: Jumps to Amazon and preorders

#truestory. It's the same deal EVERY TIME a book featuring the iconic Detective Dave Burrowes is announced.

Like every other older Detective Dave book, Voices in the Dark gives him a minor role. I actually don't care. Any time spent with my bookish crush is time well spent.

This has to be my favourite of all Fleur's books. This time, we get acquainted with the Stapleton family, two generations of sheep farmers from Barker, South Australia.

Matriarch Cora is seriously unwell, so son Abe urgently calls his niece, Sassi, home. Jumping in her ute with pup Jarrah, she undertakes a mercy dash throughout the night, only to end up trapped in a ditch an hour from Barker. Sadly, by the time that she was rescued, the woman who raised her had passed.

For Sassi, the last time she was home was when her Pa had a stroke. Now, rushing to her Uncle Abe and Aunt Renee's side, it becomes evident that he needs more care that the family can provide. Even Sassi's mother, Amber, only sixteen when she gave birth, agrees, however reluctantly.

Rasha is a Sudanese woman who's moved to Barker with her kids, hoping for a better life. She's the perfect fit as Pa's carer, even though Amber treats her as a slave. However, Sassi and Abe can't fault her treatment at all- until bruises appear on Pa's delicate skin and his demeanour changes drastically.

Dave immediately launches an elder abuse investigation, and his main focus is on Amber and Rasha. One of these is lying through their teeth, and Dave knows exactly who. All the tension that has built up within the Stapleton family for years will come to a dramatic conclusion when long buried secrets are finally uncovered.

As mentioned, Dave plays a minor role. For a long time, I've been wondering what has become of his daughters Bec and Alice. When news comes about of his eldest daughter's engagement, Dave becomes withdrawn and somewhat of a loose cannon ( again- younger Dave was bit of a hot head but has calmed dramatically over the years). Even his wife Kim can't get through to him- after all, he's had little to no contact with his girls for years and desperately misses them. Damn you, Mel (ex-wife), her dad, and notorious crim Bulldust for causing all of this pain!

I can't fault Voices in the Dark at all. You're guaranteed top notch story telling with Fleur. She immediately draws you into her character's world, effectively making you their friend or family. I enjoyed getting to know Rasha, Sassi, Pa, Abe, Renee, and the cheeky twins. Hopefully, we'll see more of them in the future! It was great to see rookie cop Mia again, too - Dave's a wonderful mentor to her!

But... When is my dude Jack going to get his own series? HE'S ALMOST A DETECTIVE!!! Yay Jack!!

5 🌟

[Carol - Reading Writing and Riesling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who doesnt love a Dave Burrows mystery? This is another great episode in this series.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strong start to 2024. What a great read, I'll definitely be checking out more books from Fleur.

[Kim Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great story about Dave & the community of Barker.
I want the next instalment now 😂

[J.D. Lear · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I wasn’t enjoying this book. It meandered and nothing really seemed to be happening. The characters were well written (though I had a little trouble remembering who was who due to the foreign names, but that’s a me problem) and distinct with their own quirks and idiosyncrasies and truly, it was the characters that pulled me along for the ride despite the lack of any real plot.

There were moments during my reading where I literally had to pause and think about what I had just read. It felt as though the book were speaking directly to me and what I was dealing with in my own life at that point in time. Two characters in particular resonated with me: Minjun, the aimless barista, and Mincheol, the lost (and maybe depressed) high school student. The themes of finding acceptance where you are, despite what society thinks you should be doing was particularly poignant.

A conversation between Minjun and his high school friend Sungchul resonated with me.

”It’s not because we’re lacking that we can’t find a job.” Minjun’s face darkened as he downed his shot too. ”So, what’s the problem?” This was the question that Sungchul had asked him tens — no, hundreds — of times; the question that also plagued him constantly. ”Because the hole is small. Or maybe there isn’t a hole in the first place,” Minjun said as he poured Sungchul another shot. ”What hole? The hole of job seekers?” ”Nah, the buttonhole.” The two of them emptied their glasses. ”In high school, my mum used to say that if the first button is done up properly, the rest of the buttons will line up neatly, and just like that, life will be smooth sailing. The first button, she said, is getting into a good university. I was so relieved when I got my acceptance letter. If I continued at this pace, it seemed that I could easily do up the second, third and the rest of the buttons too…” … ”Recently, I’ve been starting to think that we spent all our energies making the buttons, but there’s something we forgot… There were no holes in the first place… How silly. We could have just worn a buttonless shirt instead. But now, we’re stuck with a shirt fastened at the top and a trail of useless buttons. This is not a shirt, it’s a joke. The shirt is a joke, and wearing it makes me a joke. Isn’t it hilarious? I worked so hard only to look like a joke. My life’s a tragic comedy.” Page52-54

The dream that if I just attended a good university, the rest of my life would fall into my lap and I would be happy was sold to me in high school as well. I enjoyed university, I got a lot out of it beyond my degree. I don’t entirely regret it. But at the same time, I now have a degree I’m not using and a large student loan I am skeptical about whether I’ll ever be able to pay off. At times, especially when the black dog is sitting at my shoulder, I feel a lot like Minjun and Sungchul in this scene.

Further on in the book, a book club is held where a number of characters, some we have met and some who we meet for the first time (and some we never actually see again in the book) discuss parts of a referenced as The Refusal of Work: The Theory and Practice of Resistance to Work by David Frayne. They quote:

“What is so great about work that sees society constantly trying to create more of it? Why, at the pinnacle of society’s productive development, is there still thought to be a need for everybody to work most of the time?" [They then spoke in discussion of this passage.] ”You need to work to make a living. This is what society has ingrained in us, so I’m not able to immediately separate the two concepts. Reading the book makes me feel like making a living without a job is theoretically possible, but I still find it hard to embrace it — it’s too idealistic. But the book does help me to better understand why I think of work in a certain way — why I think it’s beneficial to humans, why I think skivers are lazy and useless people, and why I spent so much effort on finding a good job. Am I the only one who feels empty after reading this? It’s like the book is telling us our present views and perspectives of work were arbitrarily shaped by people in the past, and here we are, accepting it as though it’s a universal truth.” Page 136-137.

The person speaking in this part isn’t even a recurring character. He’s a one off who doesn’t even have a name, only a description (man in mid-forties, on a diet). Because of this, I feel more like this is the author’s words and views being projected through the nameless character. Objectively, this isn’t a good way to tell a story. The writing is powerful, but perhaps it would have been better in a book review, or an essay. Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop does this a number of times throughout the novel. Each time, the writing is beautiful but, in the larger scheme of the story, it is pointless. The book club meeting could be a good way to show character growth of Minjun, who’s point of view this chapter is technically from even though we don’t get any real thoughts or dialogue from him, or even of Yeongju, the main character of the story. And yet neither of these two characters participate or say the most memorable parts of the discussion. Instead that is relegated to nameless characters.

Of all the characters, Mincheol has the best character arc in my opinion. He starts out as a disengaged teenager who only wants to sit at home and play computer games, ignoring the world and not bothering with his studies. Having retreated to the comfort of video games when life gets hard myself, I could definitely relate. His mother strikes up a friendship with Yeongju, the bookshop owner, and convinces her son to visit the bookshop every week. What starts out as a reluctant acceptance in order to avoid cram school grows into a genuine joy by the end of the book, something Mincheol looks forward to. He is accepted at the bookshop for who he is. He doesn’t have to read if he doesn’t want to and, so long as he doesn’t bother the other patrons, he’s free to do as he wishes. Which, most of the time, is watching other people do their own thing.

Towards the end of the novel, he is watching another character, Seungwoo, writing on his laptop as he tries to work out how to start the writing assignment his mother gave him: Should he pursue something he liked, or something he was good at? How many times I have agonised over the very same question! Seungwoo reflects on the question with the following paragraph:

Seungwoo thought he understood what Mincheol was struggling with, and what he was curious about. It wasn’t just a teenage worry; many continued to fret over it in their thirties and forties. In fact, just five years earlier Seungwoo had probably been stewing over the same worry. Despite getting parched lips and puffy eyes, he doggedly held on to his job because he couldn’t quite let go. He was doing something he liked, how dare he give it up? Yet, he wasn’t happy. At the same time, he fretted about possibly living with regrets if he gave up what he liked. Page 220

I first felt this feeling about three or four years into my first “real job” a full time technical writer for a large tech company. I had finished my degree in writing (which I had grown to hate by the end of the course) and had a real writing job. Working for the man, doing what I was good at. Day in day out.

Until I wasn’t good at it anymore.

Of course I didn’t realise it back then, didn’t even really know what burnout was, though my team lead had tried to tentatively bring it up with me. I was in denial. How could I be burnt out? All my life, all through school, I had one dream: I was going to be a writer! And now look at me! I did it!

And I hated it. Something I couldn’t admit to anyone, least of all myself.

I was at that job for five years before my poor performance caught up with me and I resigned before they could fire me. It took literally eight years for me to be able to pick up a book to read for fun again, and ten years before I could start enjoying writing again.

”’Being happy by doing something you enjoy… yes, that’s possible. I’m sure there’re such people out there. At the same time, there’s also people who are happy when doing something they’re good at.” Mincheol frowned. “Are you saying it’s a case-by-case thing?” ”Doing what you like doesn’t guarantee happiness. Unless you’re also in an excellent environment, then maybe. Sometimes, it’s the environment that’s more important. If you’re in an ill-suited environment, what you enjoy can become something you want to give up. What I’m saying is, not everyone fits into the mould of finding happiness just by discovering what they like. That’s too simplified, not to mention naive.” … The fact that he enjoyed his work — and was good at it — became shackles… He endured and endured until one day, he threw in the towel. That day, when it struck him that liking the work and being forced to work in an unsupportive environment were completely different matters, he gave up what he enjoyed. … ”Does that mean it’s the same with the things you’re good at? If you aren’t in an environment that allows you to enjoy the work you’re good at…” ”Yup, the same logic.” Seungwoo nodded. Mincheol was still frowning. ”That said, you can’t just sit there and blame the environment for everything.” ”What should we do then?” ”Nobody can predict the future. To know whether you enjoy the work, you need to give it a try… Don’t decide the future before it happens.” p221-223

Are things perfect in my life now? Certainly not. There are things I wish I could change. But, like the characters in this novel, I am learning to accept where I am in life and find happiness in what I’m doing. I’m writing more now than I have since I was a teenager and I am loving it again for the first time in years. I’ve got a list of books I want to read and am looking forward to reading and reflecting on all of them.

For now, that is enough.

So, is Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop a good novel? No, I wouldn’t say so. But having said that, I still read it in its entirety and enjoyed it. I was happy when the characters succeeded and sad when they failed and, more than that, I was comforted by the cosy vibes of acceptance the book conveyed. It’s definitely worth a read if you’re looking for something a little slower pace that warms your heart.

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting insight into a rural community. But I think the characters, especially Amber, needed to be fleshed out more. Amber was very one dimensional.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is the author’s 22nd novel in which Detective Dave Burrows appears. I have read some of them and so had come across the character before, however he is not the MC in Voices in the dark.
This is a stand-alone rural suspense story and I enjoy reading books which are set in small Australian country towns. This one did not disappoint and held my interest from the first page to the last.
I thought that this was a compelling story that shows how small communities rally together in a time of need.

[Rina · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Sassi Stapleton received a middle-of-the-night phone call to tell her that her beloved grandmother was unwell, she put her job on hold, packed her ute and set off on the long drive home, knowing her grandfather would need her. On the other side of the world, Sassi's estranged mother, Amber, received a similar call and shocked the whole family when she flew home from South Africa. With everyone under the same roof, tensions escalated as family secrets were unveiled.

Well, this was my first Dave Burrows book but I can attest that it can be read as a standalone, although I’m sure your reading experience would be greatly enhanced if you’ve read Fleur’s previous books.

I warmed up to Sassi and Mia in no time. They were both strong, assertive females in non-traditional professions. The book opening was immediately high action and I was hooked in, just like that. There were certain aspects of Amber’s storyline that I thought was a bit underdeveloped. I wish we could’ve got more of her PoV to understand the challenges she had to face.

Dave himself turned out to be a very interesting character. Far from perfect, I found him playing ‘god’ a little bit (which he admitted himself). I didn’t expect this from him. I need to read all the other books to get to know him better!

The highlight for me was actually all the details on Australian farming aspects, financials and operations. I loved these, and found that I learned a lot! I’m going to have ro read all the other Dave Burrows books!

(Thanks to DMCPR Media and Allen & Unwin for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review)

See my bookstagram review.

[Vikki Bullock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fleur. McDonald writes a beautiful story of family, belonging and small town friendships.
Fleur delivers a fabulous read, taking us back to Barker and the much-loved Detective Dave Burrows.
I particularly enjoyed this story with its mixture of the pull of the land, family angst and community. There’s not so much detective work but more, delving deeper into the characters and their lives.
Dave is torn between his responsibilities, both public and private, but helping others is who he is.
The Stapleton family are characters with a mix of flaws and strengths, all returning home to face loss and an uncertain future.
Sassi was raised by her grandparents and is frustrated by her mother’s lack of communication, being home to face her beloved grandmother’s death is difficult enough.
I loved the strong characters in this story, the family farm is central but secrets and greed could ruin everyone’s hopes and dreams. I would strongly recommend this book, .

Thank you to the publisher Allen & Unwin, NetGalley and the amazingly talented Fleur McDonald for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fleur has a great capacity to understand emotions and in her character Detective Dave Burrows she portrays this very well. Anger, shame, aggression. They all have origins. Maybe because he’s experienced these he is able to explore how they live in those he deals with.
Not just a hum drum story. Well worth putting in the time to read.
I like the setting too. Country town far from Adelaide, Australia.

[Lizp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Fleur McDonald read. It was a gift and I really enjoyed reading it.

Twenty eight year old Sassi, a farmer, gets a late night call from Abe, her uncle. She has a bad feeling that it’s either her Nan or granda who is dying or is at death’s door. As she was raised by them, she’s shaken and shocked. Abe says it’s her Nan who is dying. He says it’s crucial that she comes home asap to the family sheep farm. She and her dog, Jarrah jump in the car and take off to the grandparents’ home. She has a crash en route near to their home but is not badly injured. Her Nan dies before she gets home.

Sassi’s mum, who abandoned her as a child, returns from South Africa. She’s a difficult person; snobby and superior. There’s a stilted relationship between Sassi and her mum, Amber. There’s also an issue about who Sassi’s dad is. Amber was only 16 when she had Sassi and never revealed who her dad was.

Sassi becomes friendly with two of the local cops, one male, Dave ( in charge) and one female, Mia, a junior. She has a good relationship with her uncle, Abe who is only 5 years older than her, and his wife Renee and their cute four year old twins. Her granda seems to have dementia, or at least aphasia. He needs home help. They get the help of a Sudanese woman called Rasha who some of the racist locals are set against. The granda and Rasha get along well.

Bruises appear on the granda and he becomes withdrawn, refusing to talk to anyone. Sassi doesn’t believe Rasha could have done this to him. She wonders about her mum’s possible involvement, who’s acting strangely. She also wonders if her mum might have been raped as a teenager and if she was the product of that rape.

This is an engaging family drama featuring love, secrets, lies, and greed . The small town is rife with rumours and long held grudges rear their ugly heads. Sassi is referred to by gossiping locals as the Stapleton illegitimate daughter, who has no real place in the town.

Dave, the local detective and his wife Kim play quite a big part in the story. Dave, a volatile character, has a complicated back story. He has apparently appeared in a number of the earlier of McDonald’s books. Mia, who recently lost her own Nan who reared her, is also hot tempered.

Sassi and Abe have a close brother and sister like relationship, which helps when her arrogant mum causes issues, not least with Rasha who she treats like a serf! Sassi is grieving hard for her nan, who was more like a mum to her. She also had a long term relationship with a guy who dumped her only months earlier, which depresses her as he texts out of the blue just as her nan has passed.

The characters in this book are very well drawn. This is a well written, fast paced, and absorbing story which I would recommend to others.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is a part of McDonald’s long-running series centred on the town of Barker. Like many others in that series, it’s hard to define by genre: not quite crime, not quite rural romance (particularly in this case), but not quite what you’d expect of a contemporary novel either.

Detective Dave Burrows, a recurring character and fan favorite, is again a part of the story, although the prime focus is elsewhere. Still, his approach to policework – ethical but balanced with compassion – is an important part of how things play out.

Sassi Stapleton is hurrying back to Barker to reach her critically ill grandmother. Sassi was raised by her grandparents after her mother all but abandoned her, and is desperate to reach what is likely to be her grandmother’s deathbed.

Her grandmother’s death sparks something of a family crisis. Her irascible grandfather is too unwell to be left alone, but doesn’t want to leave his home. Sassi has a job to return to, and her Uncle Abe has his hands full with the family farm and his own young family. And then Sassi’s mother Amber arrives, sowing discord and disruption.

McDonald writes with empathy and compassion about even the most unpleasant of characters. She brings readers to understand what motivates them even where you can’t endorse their actions. She often touches on issues of particular concern to more rural parts of Australia: notably farm succession, and what happens to members of the family who can’t stay on the family property.

This plot doesn’t hold a lot of surprises (unlike some of McDonald’s work), but was nevertheless absorbing. This is an interesting and generally appealing cast of characters dealing with problems many people will recognise.

I enjoyed this a great deal. McDonald is a very experienced writer, and she tells a good story in an entertaining way. She advances Dave Burrows’ personal story in a way that will engage new readers, while satisfying long time fans.

This is highly recommended for long term readers of the series – it offers everything you expect and want from the series. For new readers, it’s an accessible and entertaining way into an excellent series of novels.

You may also be interested in my review of another novel by Fleur McDonald:
https://otherdreamsotherlives.home.bl...

If you enjoyed this review, please visit www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog to read more.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

New genre- rural drama! I’m not sure I’ve read an Aussie outback fiction without someone being violently murdered or disappearing. I mean, someone does die, but it’s not suspicious, rather the deleterious effects of aging.
Sassi Stapleton’s nan is unwell and she is rushing to her home town, Barker, to say farewell.
She doesn’t quite make it in time #neverswerveforaroo and nor does her estranged mother Amber, travelling back from South Africa. Tensions run high as the family is reunited and has to decide on the best way to provide ongoing care for Sassi’s Grandpa.
Fleur McDonald has written a whole lot of books about Barker and its townspeople. It’s a bit of a long running saga, like an agricultural ‘Days of our lives.’ So i have jumped in notably late; there’s a lot of missed back story that had to be succinctly summarised without losing the current narrative.
There’s an obvious love of the land here - country life and farming communities. Some sadly accurate highlighting of small town troubles. And wholesome stitched cushion lines - ‘forgiveness sets people free’ ‘anger is a symptom of hurt’.
This story included the much loved character of ‘Dave Burrows the surly cop’ who’s appeared in 22 of her novels. Interestingly, as a stand-alone book, I didn’t love Dave. I didn’t enjoy the power he held, the entitlement behind the decision he made by the books end. I think I needed more of his back story here.
Sassi could have been more sassy- I’d have loved to see a little more pep, a bit more rage.
I did love Harry and Jimmy the 4 year old twins. They were perfection. My 4 year old combo, Alex and Ben, also have a propensity towards boundless energy, fact collecting and inexplicably rocking up pants less. And yes Renee, I hear you, ‘bring on school!!’.
I feel like Fleur will have a dedicated army of readers ready to devour this next chapter of Barkers’ story. Some new characters are introduced and I’m hoping it’s setting up for a Hamish/Sassi romance 😉 😉
As an aside - the Stroke Foundation https://strokefoundation.org.au/ is an amazing resource for stroke survivors, carers and anyone wanting to learn more.
Thanks for including me in the #voicesinthedarktour and thank you @fleurmcdonald
@dmcprmedia 
@allenandunwin for an early copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
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[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sassi Stapleton returns to Barker when her Uncle Abe tells her that the grandmother who raised her is seriously ill. On the way and close to Barker, Sassi swerves to miss a roo and her car goes down an embankment and rolls.
Once cleared of serious injury from the accident, Sassi learns that her beloved grandmother has passed away. Her estranged mother Amber also arrives in Barker and Sassi is once more confronted with the fact that her mother left her in the care of her grandparents and left Barker.
Sassi's grandfather had suffered a stroke some time previously and, with the loss of his wife of many years, he becomes even more distant and confused.
With both Amber and Sassi being in Barker only for a short time, it is decided by the family that he will need someone to care for him. With Abe and his wife Renee in charge of the family farm and 4 year old twin boys, it is clear outside help is needed. New to town and looking for a new life for her children, Sudanese Rasha is chosen for the job.
Amber displays odd and secretive behaviour, Sassi continues to question about her unknown father and when Pa shows signs of injury, tensions escalate within the family.
There is more of Dave and Kim in this story when Dave learns his elder daughter Rebecca is engaged. It brings back to Dave all the occurred twenty two years previously and that he has not seen his daughters in over ten years. When his Constable Mia is also confronted and injured, his judgement is temporarily impaired.
This is a story of family drama and secrets. I loved it and highly recommend all of Fleur McDonald's books.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wondered why the author took so long to get to the point in this novel. I found the continual 'grieving' references a bit much after a while. Much of the story was just waffling on about the need for the new constable to pull her head in, the death of a grandmother (actually two but that is irrelvant right now), and a mother absent for many years returning.

To be honest, I found that Dave's character was totally OUT of character for him and I wondered if Ms McDonald wanted to spice things up. It just didn't feel like 'him' at all, in the sense of all the other books showing him as a very good detective. I seriously could not accept his reasonings doing what he did.

Touched on racism, fine, Ms McDonald's books did need to keep up with the times in this area. I would have liked to know more about Rasha and her history rather than some short-winded explanation she left Sudan to raise her two children. WHY??? Will her story come up another time? I hope so.

I am noticing in many of the later books the stories seem to be wrapped up with no attempt to even hint at anything of the outcome prior. Suddenly Dave will have some unknown to the reader, evidence to wrap it all up, the criminal suddenly slumping their shoulders in a 'yep, you got me' attitude. I remember the Columbo series in the 1970s on TV being just like this, but at least you got a hint beforehand of where he was going!

It just was a mess of a book, to be honest. I do like her writing style but this was a bit 'off' this time round.

[Callista · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an interesting one. The first three quarters felt very much world building, getting to know the characters in Barker and Sassi and her family dynamics, all of which were important. But it made for exciting mystery feel so quick, almost too quick, suddenly there was an issue and a mystery to solve and then as quickly as that came along they solved who did it and the story kind of wrapped up. I also feel there was a bit too much about the cops personal lives, Dave and Mia. I get it, they’re characters in some of Fleur’s other books, but it sort of felt unnecessary for someone who is reading this as a stand alone. I also wish we went more into Amber’s life and past, she went through a lot and its understandable why she was so standoffish and rude, but her story just really breezed by too quick for me, it could’ve been nice to delve into it more rather than have it unfold so quickly. I just think the pacing of this story could’ve been better.
Other than that, I really did enjoy this book. It was so Australian in some of the lingo used and the way people spoke, I really enjoyed this outback/country town story. I also really liked Sassi, she was a really sweet character and I loved reading her story and seeing her emotions and she waded through a bit of a rocky family dynamic.