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A Gus Hawkins Mystery #1
Bone Lands
'Isn't it your job to stop people being murdered?'
1911, on a winter's night in arid New South Wales wool country, mounted trooper Augustus Hawkins discovers the bodies of three young people. They are scions of the richest family in the district, savagely murdered on a road that Hawkins should have been patrolling, had he not been busy bedding the local schoolteacher.
Detectives arrive from Sydney and the disgraced Hawkins, a traumatised veteran of the Boer War, comes under fierce scrutiny. With his honour and sanity at stake, he becomes hell-bent on finding the murderer. But as ever darker secrets are revealed about the people he thinks of as friends, Hawkins is forced to confront an uncomfortable question: who is paying the price for the new nation's prosperity?
1911, on a winter's night in arid New South Wales wool country, mounted trooper Augustus Hawkins discovers the bodies of three young people. They are scions of the richest family in the district, savagely murdered on a road that Hawkins should have been patrolling, had he not been busy bedding the local schoolteacher.
Detectives arrive from Sydney and the disgraced Hawkins, a traumatised veteran of the Boer War, comes under fierce scrutiny. With his honour and sanity at stake, he becomes hell-bent on finding the murderer. But as ever darker secrets are revealed about the people he thinks of as friends, Hawkins is forced to confront an uncomfortable question: who is paying the price for the new nation's prosperity?
384 pages, Paperback
Published March 26, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
August 14, 2024
The loneliness and the desolation of the far west reaches of New South Wales has been wonderfully captured by Pip Fioretti in her debut crime thriller Bone Lands. Set in 1911, the time and the place have been perfectly captured to create a finely crafted picture of a hardscrabble fight for survival in difficult conditions amongst tough and unforgiving people.
The story is told from the point of view of Senior Constable Gus Hawkins, veteran of the Boer War, a Mounted Trooper in the north-west New South Wales town of Calpa, out towards Bourke and Cobar.
One night after a local district dance Hawkins comes across a horrific murder scene. Three children of the area’s wealthiest landowner have been bludgeoned to death and left on the side of the road. The family is well known to Gus, particularly the surviving eldest daughter and he feels responsible because he was supposed to be out on patrol when the murder took place.
Detectives from Sydney are sent to take over the case. But it’s not long before Gus himself is in the crosshairs of the investigation thanks to a couple of poorly reasoned lies. In trying to extricate himself from the mire, largely motivated by feelings of guilt and a sense of responsibility, he finds himself on suspension.
So, of course, as any good copper with a guilty conscience would do, he decides to run his own investigation in a bid to get to the bottom of what happened that night. This is all despite the angry exhortations from the father of the three victims.
And it’s here that an important theme raises its head, that of the power of the wealthy over any pursuit of natural justice. Similarly, societal niceties tend to dominate over the truth and even as the scant evidence unearthed by Gus comes to light, he finds himself constantly shut down by the very people who should be supporting him.
Bone Lands is a well-crafted historical crime novel told in a distinctive voice that manages to bring the time and setting vividly to life. The straightforward narrative feels as though we’re being personally spoken to and exudes honesty and heartfelt emotion. Slipped neatly in amongst the more dire and serious themes that set the foundation of the story comes some wonderfully humorous moments, helping to round out Gus’ character.
Gus Hawkins is by no means a perfect man. He has a wandering eye, is scarred both physically and mentally by his wartime experiences and tends to tell it like it is - a real problem when dealing with superiors. He actually seems well suited to life at a one man police station.
Highlighted throughout the story is the difficulties faced by the bush policeman. Apart from the loneliness and isolation are the tremendous distances that must be covered as a matter of course on the job. And then there’s the dangerous fact that, although he’s got the authority to keep law and order, he doesn’t necessarily have the power to enforce it. Often outmanned and outgunned, Gus has to play the pragmatic role in order to survive.
This debut crime novel is absorbing, atmospheric and moving and it benefits from some devastating revelations as the case is brought to its dramatic conclusion. The twists are nicely concealed and provide a dramatic conclusion to what is an extremely satisfying story.
The story is told from the point of view of Senior Constable Gus Hawkins, veteran of the Boer War, a Mounted Trooper in the north-west New South Wales town of Calpa, out towards Bourke and Cobar.
One night after a local district dance Hawkins comes across a horrific murder scene. Three children of the area’s wealthiest landowner have been bludgeoned to death and left on the side of the road. The family is well known to Gus, particularly the surviving eldest daughter and he feels responsible because he was supposed to be out on patrol when the murder took place.
Detectives from Sydney are sent to take over the case. But it’s not long before Gus himself is in the crosshairs of the investigation thanks to a couple of poorly reasoned lies. In trying to extricate himself from the mire, largely motivated by feelings of guilt and a sense of responsibility, he finds himself on suspension.
So, of course, as any good copper with a guilty conscience would do, he decides to run his own investigation in a bid to get to the bottom of what happened that night. This is all despite the angry exhortations from the father of the three victims.
And it’s here that an important theme raises its head, that of the power of the wealthy over any pursuit of natural justice. Similarly, societal niceties tend to dominate over the truth and even as the scant evidence unearthed by Gus comes to light, he finds himself constantly shut down by the very people who should be supporting him.
Bone Lands is a well-crafted historical crime novel told in a distinctive voice that manages to bring the time and setting vividly to life. The straightforward narrative feels as though we’re being personally spoken to and exudes honesty and heartfelt emotion. Slipped neatly in amongst the more dire and serious themes that set the foundation of the story comes some wonderfully humorous moments, helping to round out Gus’ character.
Gus Hawkins is by no means a perfect man. He has a wandering eye, is scarred both physically and mentally by his wartime experiences and tends to tell it like it is - a real problem when dealing with superiors. He actually seems well suited to life at a one man police station.
Highlighted throughout the story is the difficulties faced by the bush policeman. Apart from the loneliness and isolation are the tremendous distances that must be covered as a matter of course on the job. And then there’s the dangerous fact that, although he’s got the authority to keep law and order, he doesn’t necessarily have the power to enforce it. Often outmanned and outgunned, Gus has to play the pragmatic role in order to survive.
This debut crime novel is absorbing, atmospheric and moving and it benefits from some devastating revelations as the case is brought to its dramatic conclusion. The twists are nicely concealed and provide a dramatic conclusion to what is an extremely satisfying story.
May 23, 2024
There is a plethora of good Australian rural crime fiction, and plenty of that set in the past. But few recent entries in this sub-genre go quite as far back is Pip Fioretti’s debut Bone Lands. Bone Lands is set in the sheep station area in North Western New South Wales near isolated towns like Cobar and Bourke (once used a byword in Australia for anyplace a long way away). But more critically it is set in 1911, not long after Australia federated and before the outbreak of World War I. There is plenty of crime here to drive the narrative but the most interesting aspect of this novel is Fioretti’s exploration of this time and place and the types of characters who inhabited it.
Augustus Hawkins is a veteran of the Boer War and has both the external scars and PTSD to prove it. He runs a small police station in the tiny town of Calpa and does his share of solving petty crimes. But on the night set aside to celebrate the coronation of King George V, after taking time off his patrol for an assignation with the local school teacher, Hawkins discovers three bodies, the grown children of Robert Kirkbride, one of the district’s wealthiest land owners. Following this discover, Hawkins’ new life starts to disintegrate. The case is high enough profile that two detectives are sent from Sydney and Hawkins is assigned to chaperoning them. But soon Hawkins is on the outer and possibly a suspect amd sees the solving of the case as his way back to respectability.
The premise of Bone Lands, that Hawkins somehow feels responsible, or is even held responsible, for the three deaths because he should have been on patrol and might have stumbled on them before the killings took place is a little flimsy. Particularly as it seems like the killing probably happened well before he would have found them anyway. But it works in the context of the society that Hawkins is in, the need for a scapegoat and in the context of what comes after becomes less and less important.
Hawkins is a damaged, alcoholic but dogged detective in the classic mode but with a backstory that is both fascinating and right for the setting. It is Hawkins’ guilt, his connections to the victims and his thirst for some kind of justice for them which drives him.
But as already mentioned, what sets this book apart is Fioretti’s rendering of the time and place. The heat and the dust, the land compacted by sheep hooves, the hardscrabble life of the shearers, the entitlement of the wealthy and the very real class divide that it created, even amongst neighbouring landowners, and family feuds that are passed down through generations. There is plenty of violence and hardship but this just feels like par for the course. Add to that the fact that many of the roadblocks that Hawkins faces in solving the crime are societal ones - issues that people have turned away from or don’t want brought to light.
Overall Bone Lands is a visceral, well-constructed debut mystery with some devastating revelations. Through this story, Fioretti shines a light on the myths that underpin modern Australia to get at the bloody, violent and commerce-driven truth that sits underneath them.
Augustus Hawkins is a veteran of the Boer War and has both the external scars and PTSD to prove it. He runs a small police station in the tiny town of Calpa and does his share of solving petty crimes. But on the night set aside to celebrate the coronation of King George V, after taking time off his patrol for an assignation with the local school teacher, Hawkins discovers three bodies, the grown children of Robert Kirkbride, one of the district’s wealthiest land owners. Following this discover, Hawkins’ new life starts to disintegrate. The case is high enough profile that two detectives are sent from Sydney and Hawkins is assigned to chaperoning them. But soon Hawkins is on the outer and possibly a suspect amd sees the solving of the case as his way back to respectability.
The premise of Bone Lands, that Hawkins somehow feels responsible, or is even held responsible, for the three deaths because he should have been on patrol and might have stumbled on them before the killings took place is a little flimsy. Particularly as it seems like the killing probably happened well before he would have found them anyway. But it works in the context of the society that Hawkins is in, the need for a scapegoat and in the context of what comes after becomes less and less important.
Hawkins is a damaged, alcoholic but dogged detective in the classic mode but with a backstory that is both fascinating and right for the setting. It is Hawkins’ guilt, his connections to the victims and his thirst for some kind of justice for them which drives him.
But as already mentioned, what sets this book apart is Fioretti’s rendering of the time and place. The heat and the dust, the land compacted by sheep hooves, the hardscrabble life of the shearers, the entitlement of the wealthy and the very real class divide that it created, even amongst neighbouring landowners, and family feuds that are passed down through generations. There is plenty of violence and hardship but this just feels like par for the course. Add to that the fact that many of the roadblocks that Hawkins faces in solving the crime are societal ones - issues that people have turned away from or don’t want brought to light.
Overall Bone Lands is a visceral, well-constructed debut mystery with some devastating revelations. Through this story, Fioretti shines a light on the myths that underpin modern Australia to get at the bloody, violent and commerce-driven truth that sits underneath them.
May 12, 2024
This is the first book I have read by this author. It is set in a rural community where a veteran of the Boer War is the local police officer. On the way home from a local dance he comes across the murdered bodies of the children of a local landholder. From there he is drawn into a complicated world of local politics as he tries to solve the case.
It was a good read and one I would recommend.
It was a good read and one I would recommend.
April 28, 2024
Oh, I enjoyed this very much.
A slow boil that takes its time to develop the story and the characters.
A very good read that's well worth the time spent within its pages.
A slow boil that takes its time to develop the story and the characters.
A very good read that's well worth the time spent within its pages.
February 27, 2025
A solid debut novel following Boer War veteran Augustus Hawkins as he solves a triple murder in early 20th century NSW. Plenty of twists to keep the pages turning.
Full of the usual tropes including small town secrets, clueless Sydney detectives, a publican with a large gut, and descriptions of desolate scrublands.
Fioretti centers Hawkins' PTSD and alcoholism. It became an interesting hurdle for the officer to overcome but the prose was too bare to do his memories and trauma justice.
The central romance was undercooked and a fresh examination of class relations within the wool industry between shearers and station owners was teased but slid into the background.
Full of the usual tropes including small town secrets, clueless Sydney detectives, a publican with a large gut, and descriptions of desolate scrublands.
Fioretti centers Hawkins' PTSD and alcoholism. It became an interesting hurdle for the officer to overcome but the prose was too bare to do his memories and trauma justice.
The central romance was undercooked and a fresh examination of class relations within the wool industry between shearers and station owners was teased but slid into the background.
October 29, 2025
This is a brilliant story with unforgettable characters. Set in 1911 outback NSW, Mounted Trooper Gus Hawkins has a terrible crime to deal with. There are many levels in this book, hierarchies everywhere, in police, landowners, men and women, between white and black. The aftermath of the Boer War is a thread, also the hardships of rural life and brutality of men. R rated for violence but just a fantastic read.
November 1, 2025
Excellent.
First book ?!
I’m following this author.
First book ?!
I’m following this author.
April 30, 2024
It's 1911 and a post Boer war veteran with PTSD is working as a mounted trooper in rural NSW when he discovers 3 siblings from a local wealthy family murdered in the middle of nowhere.
Detectives from Sydney arrive to assist in the investigation but almost from day 1, our protagonist's nose senses something isn't quite right. There are many secrets that people of influence are doing their best to keep under wraps and he gets himself in a hot water trying to uncover the truth
This story touches on so many themes - poverty, class, the effects of farming on the land, domestic violence and is a well-written, taut and oppressive crime thriller. It has an authentic voice and you feel that you're right there alongside Trooper Hawkins as he traverses the Australian bush.
I must confess I'd not heard of this author or this book and I picked it up because I loved the cover. It turned out to be a fabulous read and I recommend it! I will definitely read more by this author in the future
Detectives from Sydney arrive to assist in the investigation but almost from day 1, our protagonist's nose senses something isn't quite right. There are many secrets that people of influence are doing their best to keep under wraps and he gets himself in a hot water trying to uncover the truth
This story touches on so many themes - poverty, class, the effects of farming on the land, domestic violence and is a well-written, taut and oppressive crime thriller. It has an authentic voice and you feel that you're right there alongside Trooper Hawkins as he traverses the Australian bush.
I must confess I'd not heard of this author or this book and I picked it up because I loved the cover. It turned out to be a fabulous read and I recommend it! I will definitely read more by this author in the future
May 1, 2025
An interesting western style crime set in a small regional town. Rough as guts characters and desolate like landscapes paint a bleary picture complimentary to the brutal crimes unearthed. At times the story dragged a little, and then skipped very quickly leaving me a little uncertain if I had missed something. But overall, not a bad read.
March 20, 2024
This book had all the makings of a great turn of the century thriller, but something was missing. Don't get me wrong, it was a good read, but I can't help but feel that Fioretti tried to pack too much into the story instead of concentrating on the narrative of a returned soldier refusing to let a local murder get the better of him.
This is certainly a slow burn, and not for those who like fast action with twists at every turn. Whilst some level intrigue is maintained, the setting allows for only a short list of suspects to the murders of the Kirkbride's and it isn't hard to work out the culprits early on. There are some surprising developments along the way, but nothing that makes for an audible gasp.
This is certainly a slow burn, and not for those who like fast action with twists at every turn. Whilst some level intrigue is maintained, the setting allows for only a short list of suspects to the murders of the Kirkbride's and it isn't hard to work out the culprits early on. There are some surprising developments along the way, but nothing that makes for an audible gasp.
November 11, 2024
Excellent. The plot was intelligent (my highest accolade) and that is the most important thing. Ms Fioretti’s research into the place and time was so thorough that it made that place and time come alive. I hope she writes more books soon.
Also, I was impressed by how well Ms Fioretti could write a male character and capture male speech. Not all writers can write the opposite sex.
Also, I was impressed by how well Ms Fioretti could write a male character and capture male speech. Not all writers can write the opposite sex.
June 17, 2025
This a very enjoyable read based on a period of Australian history that I hadn't read of or thought much about. A disillusioned soldier returning from the Boer Wars, life in early rural Australia, law enforcement in a rough and ready developing society; all combine in an engaging and gripping novel. Highly recommended.
May 28, 2024
What a wonderful historical fiction read with great believable characters, settings in western NSW and a mystery to be solved. One of the best books I have read
November 21, 2024
"Bones Lands" by Pip Fioretti presents a narrative that intrigued me with its unique premise and development. Overall, I found the story to be quite engaging, particularly due to the interesting twist that unfolded near the conclusion. This unexpected turn added a layer of depth and complexity to the plot, making it memorable.
One notable aspect of the story is its pacing; it's definitely a slow burn. This might be a characteristic that some readers appreciate, as it allows for a more gradual buildup of tension and character development. If you enjoy narratives that take their time to unfold, where the focus is on atmosphere and character nuances, then "Bone Lands" might resonate with you.
The slow pacing does require a bit of patience, but those who stick with it may find that the payoff is worth the wait. The way Fioretti constructs the story, with careful attention to detail, can create an immersive experience for the reader. In conclusion, while "Bone Lands" may not be everyone's cup of tea due to its leisurely pace, it offers a rewarding experience for those who are drawn to that kind of storytelling.
One notable aspect of the story is its pacing; it's definitely a slow burn. This might be a characteristic that some readers appreciate, as it allows for a more gradual buildup of tension and character development. If you enjoy narratives that take their time to unfold, where the focus is on atmosphere and character nuances, then "Bone Lands" might resonate with you.
The slow pacing does require a bit of patience, but those who stick with it may find that the payoff is worth the wait. The way Fioretti constructs the story, with careful attention to detail, can create an immersive experience for the reader. In conclusion, while "Bone Lands" may not be everyone's cup of tea due to its leisurely pace, it offers a rewarding experience for those who are drawn to that kind of storytelling.
August 13, 2024
2/5 ⭐️⭐️
Summed Up: Rural Crime Too Early For Me
- - -
As part of my reviews, I like to keep it real - not every read is going to be a glowing 5 star experience. Life’s too short and there are too many books out there to waste time on ones that don’t hit the mark. So, if your taste is similar to mine, consider this a friendly nudge to maybe focus on a book you might enjoy more.
Bone Lands had a sky high rating and a cover that seemed right up my alley. But as my reading style is spent going on book blind dates.. well, this was one date I should’ve swiped left on 😬
The moment I opened it and realised it was set in the early 1900s, I knew we were off to a rocky start. Historical fiction from this era just doesn’t do it for me.
I got confused about whether the setting was Australia or South Africa, lost track of the characters, and all the horse riding, telegrams, and old-school vibes just made my eyes glaze over. Honestly, this book almost became my first DNF (Did Not Finish).
But I persisted and finished and I’ll give credit where it’s due - the writing itself was solid. Unfortunately, the storyline and era were just not my cup of tea.
If you’re into historical fiction from the early 1900s, this might be right up your alley. But for me? I’m ready to move on to the next blind date.
Summed Up: Rural Crime Too Early For Me
- - -
As part of my reviews, I like to keep it real - not every read is going to be a glowing 5 star experience. Life’s too short and there are too many books out there to waste time on ones that don’t hit the mark. So, if your taste is similar to mine, consider this a friendly nudge to maybe focus on a book you might enjoy more.
Bone Lands had a sky high rating and a cover that seemed right up my alley. But as my reading style is spent going on book blind dates.. well, this was one date I should’ve swiped left on 😬
The moment I opened it and realised it was set in the early 1900s, I knew we were off to a rocky start. Historical fiction from this era just doesn’t do it for me.
I got confused about whether the setting was Australia or South Africa, lost track of the characters, and all the horse riding, telegrams, and old-school vibes just made my eyes glaze over. Honestly, this book almost became my first DNF (Did Not Finish).
But I persisted and finished and I’ll give credit where it’s due - the writing itself was solid. Unfortunately, the storyline and era were just not my cup of tea.
If you’re into historical fiction from the early 1900s, this might be right up your alley. But for me? I’m ready to move on to the next blind date.
July 1, 2024
Perfectly adequate mystery thriller set in the historic Australian outback. Bone Lands does a decent job of crafting the setting and isolation. The main character also has genuine depth, and not because of his history in the war but because of his mannerism and actions, like chopping wood when angry. Little things like that felt authentic in terms of being a man.
It does languish on actions a bit, at times, like putting on clothes and getting food. Some travel is also a little boring (the stuff most books skip over), but admittedly it would have been hard to balance between the author was trying to craft the atmosphere.
The case itself was okay, although a bit deflating: . Would not surprise me if this was the first in a series.
It does languish on actions a bit, at times, like putting on clothes and getting food. Some travel is also a little boring (the stuff most books skip over), but admittedly it would have been hard to balance between the author was trying to craft the atmosphere.
The case itself was okay, although a bit deflating: . Would not surprise me if this was the first in a series.
November 19, 2025
wow, what great story telling.
March 20, 2024
I love it when a good friend (thanks Fiona Stager) presses a book into my hands, a book that I’ve never heard of (BONE LANDS Affirm Press 2024) by a new (to me) author, Pip Fioretti, and says: ‘I’m keen to know what you think of this!’, because I have no clue about the genre, the author, the plot, any reviews; it is a totally clean and unknown slate from which to begin. What did Fiona mean? Did she love it or hate it? (She loved it) and WOW, I thoroughly enjoyed Bone Lands, for reasons I will elaborate. It’s not even out until the 26 March, but as they say, do yourself a favour and pre-order from your favourite indie bookstore so that you’re ahead of the pack when word gets out.
Bone Lands is an historical crime novel written in an absolutely unique and distinctive voice. And while the setting, the crime/s, the characters and the plot are all well-crafted, it is the voice which elevates this novel above others. Reading this book is like sitting beside a campfire while an old-timer tells a story about days past. The dialogue is authentic and natural, the narrative is compelling and page-turning and the characters are unforgettable – I cared about them and was uncertain what would happen to them, both vital in any book.
Set in 1911 in the arid back blocks of New South Wales wool country, the story features mounted trooper Augustus Hawkins, who is responsible for the local one-man police station.
‘Isn’t it your job to stop people being murdered?’ is a question asked of Gus many times during this story, but it begins with his discovery of three dead bodies on a cold winter’s night. Not just any bodies, but three of the four young adult siblings of one of the richest families in the region, the Kirkbrides. All three have been brutally murdered. This is the first (but not the only) time that Gus gets asked that question, because at the time of the murder, when he was supposed to be patrolling an evening busy with boozing and rowdy shearers and farmhands in the midst of a rare night of dance and frivolity, he had his trousers off and was busy bedding the local schoolteacher. Took his eye off the ball, for sure, and he begins paying for it almost immediately.
Despite being a distinguished but traumatised veteran of the Boer War, Hawkins is summarily put in his place by the arrival of Sydney detectives. When his honour, dignity and professionalism are questioned, he is determined to not only find the murderer, but to reveal the dark secrets harboured by the region, not only its miscreants but its eminent families too.
Themes explored are race, misogyny, class, colonialism, land destruction, loyalty, betrayal and intergenerational revenge and violence. It’s not only the lowly, poor, filthy hardscrabblers who get up to no good. The rich and successful families, with large landholdings and even larger egos and reputations, do their own share of scheming, manipulating and blackmailing.
Trooper Hawkins (Gus) narrates the story in the first person, and it is something about this and the clever but casual language that makes this book so readable. It is, as I said, as if he is telling you the story face-to-face, with honesty, insight and sometimes incomprehension. And the humour! You mightn’t think an author could come up with much levity in a story so dire, but some of the situational comedy, and certainly the witty, pithy and perceptive thoughts and dialogue add a certain something to this book that really makes it stand out. There it is again – the VOICE.
There is a cracker of a twist (or few) towards the end that I did not see coming.
The author has a background in art and was inspired by such iconic Australian paintings as ‘Shearing the Rams’ and the ‘Ned Kelly’ series, and this is evident in her evocative portrayal of the difficult and dangerous conditions of life on the land at the time, and the harsh and brutal native bush surroundings.
‘The Death of John Lacey’ by Ben Hobson is the book that comes closest to mind when I’m trying to think of any comparison reads, but anyone who enjoys good historical crime fiction, especially set in Australia post-invasion, will devour this book with enthusiasm.
Bone Lands is an historical crime novel written in an absolutely unique and distinctive voice. And while the setting, the crime/s, the characters and the plot are all well-crafted, it is the voice which elevates this novel above others. Reading this book is like sitting beside a campfire while an old-timer tells a story about days past. The dialogue is authentic and natural, the narrative is compelling and page-turning and the characters are unforgettable – I cared about them and was uncertain what would happen to them, both vital in any book.
Set in 1911 in the arid back blocks of New South Wales wool country, the story features mounted trooper Augustus Hawkins, who is responsible for the local one-man police station.
‘Isn’t it your job to stop people being murdered?’ is a question asked of Gus many times during this story, but it begins with his discovery of three dead bodies on a cold winter’s night. Not just any bodies, but three of the four young adult siblings of one of the richest families in the region, the Kirkbrides. All three have been brutally murdered. This is the first (but not the only) time that Gus gets asked that question, because at the time of the murder, when he was supposed to be patrolling an evening busy with boozing and rowdy shearers and farmhands in the midst of a rare night of dance and frivolity, he had his trousers off and was busy bedding the local schoolteacher. Took his eye off the ball, for sure, and he begins paying for it almost immediately.
Despite being a distinguished but traumatised veteran of the Boer War, Hawkins is summarily put in his place by the arrival of Sydney detectives. When his honour, dignity and professionalism are questioned, he is determined to not only find the murderer, but to reveal the dark secrets harboured by the region, not only its miscreants but its eminent families too.
Themes explored are race, misogyny, class, colonialism, land destruction, loyalty, betrayal and intergenerational revenge and violence. It’s not only the lowly, poor, filthy hardscrabblers who get up to no good. The rich and successful families, with large landholdings and even larger egos and reputations, do their own share of scheming, manipulating and blackmailing.
Trooper Hawkins (Gus) narrates the story in the first person, and it is something about this and the clever but casual language that makes this book so readable. It is, as I said, as if he is telling you the story face-to-face, with honesty, insight and sometimes incomprehension. And the humour! You mightn’t think an author could come up with much levity in a story so dire, but some of the situational comedy, and certainly the witty, pithy and perceptive thoughts and dialogue add a certain something to this book that really makes it stand out. There it is again – the VOICE.
There is a cracker of a twist (or few) towards the end that I did not see coming.
The author has a background in art and was inspired by such iconic Australian paintings as ‘Shearing the Rams’ and the ‘Ned Kelly’ series, and this is evident in her evocative portrayal of the difficult and dangerous conditions of life on the land at the time, and the harsh and brutal native bush surroundings.
‘The Death of John Lacey’ by Ben Hobson is the book that comes closest to mind when I’m trying to think of any comparison reads, but anyone who enjoys good historical crime fiction, especially set in Australia post-invasion, will devour this book with enthusiasm.
September 22, 2024
Reasonably entertaining tale set in 1911, about the murders of three siblings on a wet stormy night who were travelling home on the night of a local dance that was also held to celebrate the arrival of a country's new King (of the UK and its Empire, of which Australia was part.)
The main protagonist of the book is Gus Hawkins, a local trooper who is assigned to investigate the killings and bring the perpetrators to justice. He knows the siblings who were killed and is in love with their older sister who is still alive but not mentally well after the shocking news of her siblings' grisly demise.
The book is very much a character study of Gus, who has scars, both mental and physical, from his time in the Boer War. He has taken a post in this remote part of the state of New South Wales, and clearly suffers from PTSD. We also look at the other people, some primitive, who live and work in this tough and harsh environment.
To me, the book was more successful as a portrait of a time and place than it was as a mystery story. It was perhaps a little longer than it needed to be and would meander, wandering away from its original plot/story at times. I sometimes had trouble keeping track of the various characters, remembering who was who, maybe that was just me. Or maybe some characters remained underdeveloped.
We do eventually get to know what happened that night, when the siblings made that fatal night journey. We also learn that some characters aren't all they seem to be, that they harbor some dreadful secrets that could result in their ruin if revealed/exposed.
Life was tough for everyone in this remote part of the country, men would cope with things in the only ways they knew how, and for women, well it was dreary, with limited opportunities, it seemed extraordinarily dull.
As for the poor horses....
The book is well written, and the first-person narrative does take you in, the pages can be turned quickly. I'll give it a pass, maybe three and a third stars.
The main protagonist of the book is Gus Hawkins, a local trooper who is assigned to investigate the killings and bring the perpetrators to justice. He knows the siblings who were killed and is in love with their older sister who is still alive but not mentally well after the shocking news of her siblings' grisly demise.
The book is very much a character study of Gus, who has scars, both mental and physical, from his time in the Boer War. He has taken a post in this remote part of the state of New South Wales, and clearly suffers from PTSD. We also look at the other people, some primitive, who live and work in this tough and harsh environment.
To me, the book was more successful as a portrait of a time and place than it was as a mystery story. It was perhaps a little longer than it needed to be and would meander, wandering away from its original plot/story at times. I sometimes had trouble keeping track of the various characters, remembering who was who, maybe that was just me. Or maybe some characters remained underdeveloped.
We do eventually get to know what happened that night, when the siblings made that fatal night journey. We also learn that some characters aren't all they seem to be, that they harbor some dreadful secrets that could result in their ruin if revealed/exposed.
Life was tough for everyone in this remote part of the country, men would cope with things in the only ways they knew how, and for women, well it was dreary, with limited opportunities, it seemed extraordinarily dull.
As for the poor horses....
The book is well written, and the first-person narrative does take you in, the pages can be turned quickly. I'll give it a pass, maybe three and a third stars.
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June 29, 2024From the Thomas More inscription from "Utopia" to Gus Hawkins' final journey of redemption, Pip Fioretti's novel didn't deviate from its purpose. Western NSW fills the pores of the story like the dust and heat that scour that land. Fioretti tackles big issues, seminal ideas, and dark lives with unwavering accuracy and with both feet planted.
We are invited, no, dragged, to lay our eyes on what war is and does, where the responsibility for it lies, that there are no heroes, only human beings like us, pitted one against the other at the will of others.
And then there are the women who bear the brunt of male brutality, carelessness, and entitlement. Fioretti spares us nothing.
The writing is sparse but no less engaging for that. We are drawn towards each crack in the human edifice, each new consequence, with a sure hand and a respect for the deeper understanding we have of ourselves. Fioretti treats us with as much respect as that with which she treats her subject matter.
I absolutely enjoyed this read, despite the heart-rending and sometimes brutal story. This is early twentieth-century rural Australia made real. Trooper Augustus Hawkins brings us to anger, pity, uncertainty, and a desire to follow his roiling turmoil to wherever it is going.
I was forced to admit, yet again, that I live in a society built on plunder, rape, greed, violence, and secrets just as surely as it is on inventiveness, generosity, love, and hard work.
We are invited, no, dragged, to lay our eyes on what war is and does, where the responsibility for it lies, that there are no heroes, only human beings like us, pitted one against the other at the will of others.
And then there are the women who bear the brunt of male brutality, carelessness, and entitlement. Fioretti spares us nothing.
The writing is sparse but no less engaging for that. We are drawn towards each crack in the human edifice, each new consequence, with a sure hand and a respect for the deeper understanding we have of ourselves. Fioretti treats us with as much respect as that with which she treats her subject matter.
I absolutely enjoyed this read, despite the heart-rending and sometimes brutal story. This is early twentieth-century rural Australia made real. Trooper Augustus Hawkins brings us to anger, pity, uncertainty, and a desire to follow his roiling turmoil to wherever it is going.
I was forced to admit, yet again, that I live in a society built on plunder, rape, greed, violence, and secrets just as surely as it is on inventiveness, generosity, love, and hard work.
May 14, 2025
Another novel in the popular genre of "Outback Noir" but this one is not contemporary and is set in 1911 that may well put it into the historical fiction category as well.
New South Wales mounted trooper Gus Hawkins is a veteran of the Boer War, scarred, emotionally damaged, alcoholic, and all round angry over other issues. When he discovers three siblings from a prominent local family murdered, he has added guilt due to his absence while on duty. The race is on to discover the culprits.
There is much to admire in the writing style here that mirrors the landscape of the far west of NSW, sparse, dry and harsh. The dialogue is admirably tight and littered with Australian idioms but the story is also confrontational with considerable drunkenness and plenty of violence against women in particular which is just unpleasant and it will depend on the mood of readers as to how much this will affect them. There is also interminable riding back and forth and rather too many characters to the point where I lost track of locations and who was who after a while. I believe there is now a sequel but whether I am up to spending time in the company of similar horrendously awful people again is debatable.
Two and a half stars.
New South Wales mounted trooper Gus Hawkins is a veteran of the Boer War, scarred, emotionally damaged, alcoholic, and all round angry over other issues. When he discovers three siblings from a prominent local family murdered, he has added guilt due to his absence while on duty. The race is on to discover the culprits.
There is much to admire in the writing style here that mirrors the landscape of the far west of NSW, sparse, dry and harsh. The dialogue is admirably tight and littered with Australian idioms but the story is also confrontational with considerable drunkenness and plenty of violence against women in particular which is just unpleasant and it will depend on the mood of readers as to how much this will affect them. There is also interminable riding back and forth and rather too many characters to the point where I lost track of locations and who was who after a while. I believe there is now a sequel but whether I am up to spending time in the company of similar horrendously awful people again is debatable.
Two and a half stars.
August 16, 2024
I don’t normally read period pieces, but this outback noir novel is the exception. And for good reason!
Fioretti so cleverly captures the harsh realities of living on the land in the early 20th century. The land is tough, the people brutal, and despite your best efforts your opportunities in life may always be limited by your class.
With this as the backdrop, we’re introduced to Gus, a mounted trooper who is haunted by his time serving in the Boer war. His face bears the physical scars of a war he only just survived, while his mind is plagued by the memories years later. In a world where mental illness is an abomination for men, it’s a battle he must fight alone.
And then, three children from one of the wealthiest families on his district are murdered while he was supposed to be on duty but was instead bedding the school teacher.
Fioretti nails the pacing of this novel. I was never bored or feeling like the plot was treading water for the sake of word count. There were continuous twists and elements I certainly didn’t see coming!
I hope to see a lot more crime books in Fioretti’s future!
Fioretti so cleverly captures the harsh realities of living on the land in the early 20th century. The land is tough, the people brutal, and despite your best efforts your opportunities in life may always be limited by your class.
With this as the backdrop, we’re introduced to Gus, a mounted trooper who is haunted by his time serving in the Boer war. His face bears the physical scars of a war he only just survived, while his mind is plagued by the memories years later. In a world where mental illness is an abomination for men, it’s a battle he must fight alone.
And then, three children from one of the wealthiest families on his district are murdered while he was supposed to be on duty but was instead bedding the school teacher.
Fioretti nails the pacing of this novel. I was never bored or feeling like the plot was treading water for the sake of word count. There were continuous twists and elements I certainly didn’t see coming!
I hope to see a lot more crime books in Fioretti’s future!
June 3, 2024
A historical fiction tale, Bone Lands (2024) by Pip Fioretti is set in 1911 outback New South Wales. Augustus (Gus) Hawkins is a mounted policeman patrolling the vast Bourke region and a returned veteran of the Boer War. Three siblings who attend a local ball are murdered on their way home and Gus feels responsible as he was not on duty to save them. He is unhappy with the detectives investigating and ignores orders to continue his search for the killers. The meandering narrative captures the harshness of the period, with some brutal moments and the harrowing consequences of human cruelty. This debut crime mystery is sometimes difficult to read but has a realistic descriptive feel that is a four-star rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without inducement.
June 18, 2024
I've seen parents react to the death of their child... They land on the reality of their child's death like a plum falling on granite. The mess could never be stuffed back inside the skin and made to look whole.
God didn't go around punishing people or helping them. His indifference was supreme, like a neglectful parent. He was off at the front bar, drinking himself senseless to blot out the folly of what He'd made, a squalling, destructive infant He could not raise to adulthood.
'Sydney CIB runs on three things, mate: getting to the top, knifing the bloke who's already there, and then fending off challengers.'
Bourke, sitting on the banks of the Darling like a raddled old slattern dangling her feet in the muddy water, glass of gin in one hand, fag in the other, and always up for a kiss and a party.
God didn't go around punishing people or helping them. His indifference was supreme, like a neglectful parent. He was off at the front bar, drinking himself senseless to blot out the folly of what He'd made, a squalling, destructive infant He could not raise to adulthood.
'Sydney CIB runs on three things, mate: getting to the top, knifing the bloke who's already there, and then fending off challengers.'
Bourke, sitting on the banks of the Darling like a raddled old slattern dangling her feet in the muddy water, glass of gin in one hand, fag in the other, and always up for a kiss and a party.
July 27, 2024
I really enjoyed the historical setting - north western NSW within a decade of Federation. Fioretti evokes a strong sense of the hardship, isolation, resilience,assumptions, power struggles, hopes, expectations and limitations of the community. There is no stereotype in sight.
The story develops slowly and thoroughly, driven by the need to draw the reader into this world, unfamiliar except in the genre of yarns and bush poetry. It draws the reader in convincingly. Having said that, it’s very success in this area rather works against it as crime fiction which needs, perhaps, a little faster development and fewer major social issues to complicate the plot.
I suspect this tension may be alleviated in future books, for this has all the signs of being the first of a series. About 3.7 stars for me.
The story develops slowly and thoroughly, driven by the need to draw the reader into this world, unfamiliar except in the genre of yarns and bush poetry. It draws the reader in convincingly. Having said that, it’s very success in this area rather works against it as crime fiction which needs, perhaps, a little faster development and fewer major social issues to complicate the plot.
I suspect this tension may be alleviated in future books, for this has all the signs of being the first of a series. About 3.7 stars for me.
August 10, 2024
On the night that Australian towns celebrated the coronation of King George V with local balls and dances, 3 young people are murdered on a back road in New South Wales.The motive for the murders is obscure and the murderers are hard to trace. If Constable Hawkins had been doing his job, he might have prevented the murder, or at least that is what their father believes.
Detectives from Sydney are despatched to conduct the investigation but there is little to base an investigation on. Black trackers are sent out to follow some tracks from the murder site. Eventually the truth is revealed but it is a long investigation with truth the casualty in many ways.
Set over 100 years ago, the author does a good job of setting the scene, and helping us to understand how things worked in that time.
An interesting read.
Detectives from Sydney are despatched to conduct the investigation but there is little to base an investigation on. Black trackers are sent out to follow some tracks from the murder site. Eventually the truth is revealed but it is a long investigation with truth the casualty in many ways.
Set over 100 years ago, the author does a good job of setting the scene, and helping us to understand how things worked in that time.
An interesting read.
May 21, 2025
I obviously wasn't around in 1911, but I do know the area of NSW and I think that Fioretti got it pretty much right. The squatters did well and the poor lived miserable lives. And lots of the poor were rough and lacking even basis education, but not all, of course. In Australia, distances between towns in the country are vast and they are maybe shrunk a little in this book.
The crime is simply awful, but we don't get graphic details, which is probably a good thing. A mystery right to the end, and I didn't guess it.
The technology and language seems about right for the times mostly. (No one would have said "pear shaped" in 1911 and the beer bottles would have been 26 ounces and need an opener to uncap, but I'm quibbling saying this.)
I liked Gus and I'm pleased that he's back in a new novel.
All in all a really good read. A nice relief from DNA, GPS and GSR.
The crime is simply awful, but we don't get graphic details, which is probably a good thing. A mystery right to the end, and I didn't guess it.
The technology and language seems about right for the times mostly. (No one would have said "pear shaped" in 1911 and the beer bottles would have been 26 ounces and need an opener to uncap, but I'm quibbling saying this.)
I liked Gus and I'm pleased that he's back in a new novel.
All in all a really good read. A nice relief from DNA, GPS and GSR.
October 8, 2025
Bone Lands by Pip Fioretti is book 1 in the Gus Hawkins series. Set in Outback New South Wales in the early 1900s, it is full of wonderful down-to-earth characters and scenes from that time. Gus was in the Boer War and came back injured in body and mind. He joins the police as a Mounted Trooper and ends up at a station in Western New South Wales. There were celebrations for the new King in a town beside the Darling River and after the dance, 3 local children/young adults from a local property, are murdered. Someone is trying to bury the investigation, and Gus gets himself into very hot water. He wants to solve the murders but is stopped. He continues to investigate and uncovers some horrors. This is a great mystery story, and the author brings the characters to life. Looking forward to the next book, Skull River.
March 9, 2024
3.5 Stars
Promising debut
Rural noir crime novels are a common genre in Australia in recent times and this one, being set in 1911, offers a point of difference.
Ex soldier, now mounted trooper discovers the murdered bodies of three siblings, part of one of the richest families in the district, in the very early hours of a cold winter's morning. Our protaganist is traumatised by his war past, and not a popular character amongst his colleagues and superiors.
A slow burn, with the investigation taking a long time to bear fruit. However in the times of no cars, no phones etc, it feels an accurate reflection of the time.
Promising debut
Rural noir crime novels are a common genre in Australia in recent times and this one, being set in 1911, offers a point of difference.
Ex soldier, now mounted trooper discovers the murdered bodies of three siblings, part of one of the richest families in the district, in the very early hours of a cold winter's morning. Our protaganist is traumatised by his war past, and not a popular character amongst his colleagues and superiors.
A slow burn, with the investigation taking a long time to bear fruit. However in the times of no cars, no phones etc, it feels an accurate reflection of the time.
June 30, 2024
My notes:
- love a good thriller /crime book
- i enjoy this story
Summary:
1911, on a winters night in Arid New South Wales wool country, mounted trooper Augusfas Hawkins discovers the bodies of three young people . They are scions of the richest family in the district, savagely murdered on a Road that Hawkins should have been patrolling , had he not been busy bedding the local school teacher. Detectives arrive from Sydney , and the disgrace Hawkins, a traumatized veteran of the Boer war, comes under fierce scrutiny with his honour and sanity at stake, the becomes hell- bent on finding the murderer
- love a good thriller /crime book
- i enjoy this story
Summary:
1911, on a winters night in Arid New South Wales wool country, mounted trooper Augusfas Hawkins discovers the bodies of three young people . They are scions of the richest family in the district, savagely murdered on a Road that Hawkins should have been patrolling , had he not been busy bedding the local school teacher. Detectives arrive from Sydney , and the disgrace Hawkins, a traumatized veteran of the Boer war, comes under fierce scrutiny with his honour and sanity at stake, the becomes hell- bent on finding the murderer
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