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Dark Deeds Down Under Anthologies #2
Dark Deeds Down Under Volume 2
Dark Deeds Down Under 2, the next volume of our ground-breaking, bestselling anthology series, edited by Craig Sisterson, features 21 short stories by the best storytelling talents from Australia and New Zealand: including international bestsellers, many award winners and a host of fresh voices.
Brand new stories, some with beloved series characters, share the pages of our Down Under world with edgy standalone tales, and the first in new series.
The settings in this vibrant showcase of antipodean crime, range from the seething underbellies of our cosmopolitan cities to New Zealand’s South Island glaciers or Australia’s dusty Outback; from ocean-carved coasts and craggy mountains, via country towns and sleepy villages, to isolated wilderness and sultry rainforests.
The new dark deeds herein are perpetrated by:
Emma Viskic ~ Malla Nunn ~ Jack Heath ~ Charity Norman ~ Ben Hobson
Peter Papathanasiou ~ Jennifer Lane ~ Helen Fitzgerald
Chad Taylor ~ Ashley Kalagian Blunt ~ Robert Gott ~ Andi C Buchanan
Shelley Burne-Field ~ Anna Downes ~ Stephen Johnson
Dani Vee ~ Michael Botur
Dark Deeds Down Under 2 also features reprints
from three Aussie legends of the genre:
Jean Bedford ~ Dorothy Porter ~ Peter Corris
Brand new stories, some with beloved series characters, share the pages of our Down Under world with edgy standalone tales, and the first in new series.
The settings in this vibrant showcase of antipodean crime, range from the seething underbellies of our cosmopolitan cities to New Zealand’s South Island glaciers or Australia’s dusty Outback; from ocean-carved coasts and craggy mountains, via country towns and sleepy villages, to isolated wilderness and sultry rainforests.
The new dark deeds herein are perpetrated by:
Emma Viskic ~ Malla Nunn ~ Jack Heath ~ Charity Norman ~ Ben Hobson
Peter Papathanasiou ~ Jennifer Lane ~ Helen Fitzgerald
Chad Taylor ~ Ashley Kalagian Blunt ~ Robert Gott ~ Andi C Buchanan
Shelley Burne-Field ~ Anna Downes ~ Stephen Johnson
Dani Vee ~ Michael Botur
Dark Deeds Down Under 2 also features reprints
from three Aussie legends of the genre:
Jean Bedford ~ Dorothy Porter ~ Peter Corris
300 pages, Paperback
Published June 28, 2024
3 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Craig Sisterson
4 books91 followersCraig Sisterson is a lapsed lawyer who grew up among Middle Earth scenery in New Zealand, solving mysteries alongside the Hardy Boys, Hercule Poirot, and Agaton Sax. He now lives in London and writes for magazines and newspapers in several countries, intercut with being an event chair, festival founder, and book awards judge.
In recent years he’s interviewed hundreds of crime writers and talked about the genre on national radio, top podcasts, and onstage at festivals on three continents. He’s been a judge of the McIlvanney Prize and Ned Kelly Awards, and is founder of the Ngaio Marsh Awards and co-founder of Rotorua Noir.
His first book, SOUTHERN CROSS CRIME, a reader’s guide to Australian & New Zealand crime fiction (Oldcastle Books, 2020) was a nominee for the Macavity Awards in the USA and shortlisted for the HRF Keating Award in the UK.
In recent years he’s interviewed hundreds of crime writers and talked about the genre on national radio, top podcasts, and onstage at festivals on three continents. He’s been a judge of the McIlvanney Prize and Ned Kelly Awards, and is founder of the Ngaio Marsh Awards and co-founder of Rotorua Noir.
His first book, SOUTHERN CROSS CRIME, a reader’s guide to Australian & New Zealand crime fiction (Oldcastle Books, 2020) was a nominee for the Macavity Awards in the USA and shortlisted for the HRF Keating Award in the UK.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 30, 2024
4.5★s
Dark Deeds Down Under Volume 2 is a collection of twenty-two short stories by Australian and New Zealand crime writers. Some feature characters from series; some stand alone. All demonstrate the art of a small dose of crime fiction in the hands of such talented artists: not a damp squib amongst them!
The Snare by Charity Norman: conducting a service at Napier Cathedral, Peter is distracted by some odd behaviour during Communion. Things get dramatic in the post-service meet and greet when the steward on a visiting cruise ship goes into anaphylaxis. That something doesn’t sit quite right about the whole thing is confirmed a confession from a regular parishioner. This one has a doozy of a final twist.
Something to do in the Dark by Anna Downes: the recent loss of her husband, moving to a high-rise, and reading true crime at bedtime: no wonder Thea Walton has insomnia. Herbs, tea, affirmations and a diary come from an online therapist. Thea’s still not sleeping, but now she’s noting down what her neighbours get up to, in particular the nearest one. Might he be the Sydney rapist? Is Thea the ultimate unreliable narrator?
Bad Listener by Jack Heath: relegated to light duties since a blast took her hearing, Detective Carol Roper happens to be on the spot when the triple o call comes about a sniper. The flat’s tenant has fled, and it takes Carol a bit too long before she figures out the sniper’s game, by which time, she’s trapped. But Carol has lost her hearing, not her smarts – innovate and improvise – a hair dryer, a bottle of olive oil and a souvenir statue come into play to produce a very clever conclusion.
The Barbecue by Jennifer Lane: Beatie only goes to the Stanford Times annual Christmas Barbecue for one reason. And to find out what she needs to know, she disregards her husband Jason’s instructions and cosies up to his boss. What she does with what she learns- well, Jason wasn’t expecting that!
Spike by Robert Gott: seasoned actor, William Power recalls the tragic fate of a quirky character named Peter Spike, one of the boys with whom he was sent out to camp on Wilsons Promontory, to forestall the peril of becoming soft. They were under the supervision of an ex-Army major with a fondness for drink. What happened to Spike, and how it was handled, disturbs him to this day.
The Barber by Shelley Burne-Field: a look into the mind of a proponent of the far-right ideology.
The Uniform by Natalie Conyer: Probationary Constable Jackie Rose has every intention of doing her new uniform, and the reputation of her famous, hero-cop father, proud. Then, a call out to a government minister’s Rose Bay mansion turns into a rude awakening of how things work in the real world. Does she complain to her superiors?
Shock Waves by Ashley Kalagian Blunt: an Armenian father relates to his young son the details of a forgotten genocide and the actions taken by descendants of the victims, their convictions and punishments, even as he prepares to act himself.
I know where you go to, my lovely by Jean Bedford: PI Anna Southwood is on vacation near Nowra when her cop boyfriend, Ian McNeath, sends a missing person case her way. A gardener has gone missing and his distressed girlfriend is convinced he didn’t leave her voluntarily. The police think he just backed out of the relationship, and there’s little to go on. But Anna will be thorough…
Vacancy by Chad Taylor: junior SOCO Georgia takes her role a bit further than strictly permitted when she and Pat process the gruesome scene at the Seaview Motel, where two bodies lie dead. In finding out what happened, she uses a range of skills that any good detective would be proud to have.
Poems from El Dorado by Dorothy Porter: in free verse, a cop’s thoughts and feelings on serial child killer cases are explored. What might he find when they are tracked down?
The Balance by Malla Nunn: Probationary Constable Ayah Ryan takes more pleasure in some of her duties than her parents would like – a bit of patriarchal power to balance her childhood. But sound advice and a solid example from her mentor also find their mark. The shooting, though, has her wondering if this job is really for her…
The Cadaver Crew by Stephen Johnson: the Channel Five crew of three are at the Queenscliff country house to film a murder mystery weekend, where one of the corpses turns out to really be dead. But is it murder? And who is the victim. The reporter and the cameraman manage to have the story in the can before the cops have a handle on any of it.
One Click by Peter Papathanasiou: Why has Anna, senior cardiologist at St Vincent’s, been stalking Harry, husband, father, grandfather, for weeks? And what will she do when she finally gets him alone on Moore Park golf course?
Fractures Through Time by Andi C Buchanan: Decades after his death, Jack Allard’s grandson is approached by the daughter of the man convicted his murder, protesting his innocence. What they discover when they investigate seems to exonerate him, but is everyone quite who they seem?
God Bless Those Who Nobly Toil by Ben Hobson: The old man has no gold, no money, no food. The only thing of value is the pendant his son carved, how could he sell that? He is pitied by the other diggers on the goldfield, but not excused for his offences.
Web Design by Emma Viskic: Billy is gone and Lisa is sick of moving her two kids from town to town trying to protect them from those bad actors on his tail. Then, an ultimatum from a man with reptilian eyes – Lisa has to do something. This one has a dark final twist.
Not My Daughter by Dani Vee: When Pastor Neil takes her daughter at gunpoint, Emma is determined to get her back. but first she has to find her. This one has a sting in the tail.
The Flemish Bon by Michael Botur: Tony Timaru is on his way to a fight but his flight has run late. He hopes the big Tongan Uber driver can cut through Auckland’s Friday rush hour to get him there on time. When they get chatting they discover multiple commonalities from their youth, some of them quite dark.
The Lokkas by Helen Fitzgerald: The girl has just turned fourteen but has lived the last nine years in a room below ground where Mumma keeps her safe from the Lokkas. A dark tale that feels like the first chapter of something longer.
The Big Lie by Peter Corris: Robert Adamo wants PI Cliff Hardy to find his fiancée who left her job, her home and dropped ot of sight. When Cliff locates her, though, her distress has him in two minds about passing it on to his client. He needs to know more…
The Case of Koro’s Stone by Renee: Hana Porohiwi wants to become a PI but is only part-way through Alice Cain’s How To Become A Private Eye blog when her first case presents. She uses her observational skills, her diplomacy and persuasion, her authority and her persistence to be able to mark her first case “solved”.
There’s lots of variety in these stories: many are dark, some amusing, most are clever or topical, a few are quite chilling, a few are thought-provoking and most will entertain in one way or another. Outstanding are stories by Jack Heath, Emma Viskic, Jean Bedford, Peter Corris, Chad Taylor, Stephen Johnson, and Renée. Brilliant down under crime fiction.
Dark Deeds Down Under Volume 2 is a collection of twenty-two short stories by Australian and New Zealand crime writers. Some feature characters from series; some stand alone. All demonstrate the art of a small dose of crime fiction in the hands of such talented artists: not a damp squib amongst them!
The Snare by Charity Norman: conducting a service at Napier Cathedral, Peter is distracted by some odd behaviour during Communion. Things get dramatic in the post-service meet and greet when the steward on a visiting cruise ship goes into anaphylaxis. That something doesn’t sit quite right about the whole thing is confirmed a confession from a regular parishioner. This one has a doozy of a final twist.
Something to do in the Dark by Anna Downes: the recent loss of her husband, moving to a high-rise, and reading true crime at bedtime: no wonder Thea Walton has insomnia. Herbs, tea, affirmations and a diary come from an online therapist. Thea’s still not sleeping, but now she’s noting down what her neighbours get up to, in particular the nearest one. Might he be the Sydney rapist? Is Thea the ultimate unreliable narrator?
Bad Listener by Jack Heath: relegated to light duties since a blast took her hearing, Detective Carol Roper happens to be on the spot when the triple o call comes about a sniper. The flat’s tenant has fled, and it takes Carol a bit too long before she figures out the sniper’s game, by which time, she’s trapped. But Carol has lost her hearing, not her smarts – innovate and improvise – a hair dryer, a bottle of olive oil and a souvenir statue come into play to produce a very clever conclusion.
The Barbecue by Jennifer Lane: Beatie only goes to the Stanford Times annual Christmas Barbecue for one reason. And to find out what she needs to know, she disregards her husband Jason’s instructions and cosies up to his boss. What she does with what she learns- well, Jason wasn’t expecting that!
Spike by Robert Gott: seasoned actor, William Power recalls the tragic fate of a quirky character named Peter Spike, one of the boys with whom he was sent out to camp on Wilsons Promontory, to forestall the peril of becoming soft. They were under the supervision of an ex-Army major with a fondness for drink. What happened to Spike, and how it was handled, disturbs him to this day.
The Barber by Shelley Burne-Field: a look into the mind of a proponent of the far-right ideology.
The Uniform by Natalie Conyer: Probationary Constable Jackie Rose has every intention of doing her new uniform, and the reputation of her famous, hero-cop father, proud. Then, a call out to a government minister’s Rose Bay mansion turns into a rude awakening of how things work in the real world. Does she complain to her superiors?
Shock Waves by Ashley Kalagian Blunt: an Armenian father relates to his young son the details of a forgotten genocide and the actions taken by descendants of the victims, their convictions and punishments, even as he prepares to act himself.
I know where you go to, my lovely by Jean Bedford: PI Anna Southwood is on vacation near Nowra when her cop boyfriend, Ian McNeath, sends a missing person case her way. A gardener has gone missing and his distressed girlfriend is convinced he didn’t leave her voluntarily. The police think he just backed out of the relationship, and there’s little to go on. But Anna will be thorough…
Vacancy by Chad Taylor: junior SOCO Georgia takes her role a bit further than strictly permitted when she and Pat process the gruesome scene at the Seaview Motel, where two bodies lie dead. In finding out what happened, she uses a range of skills that any good detective would be proud to have.
Poems from El Dorado by Dorothy Porter: in free verse, a cop’s thoughts and feelings on serial child killer cases are explored. What might he find when they are tracked down?
The Balance by Malla Nunn: Probationary Constable Ayah Ryan takes more pleasure in some of her duties than her parents would like – a bit of patriarchal power to balance her childhood. But sound advice and a solid example from her mentor also find their mark. The shooting, though, has her wondering if this job is really for her…
The Cadaver Crew by Stephen Johnson: the Channel Five crew of three are at the Queenscliff country house to film a murder mystery weekend, where one of the corpses turns out to really be dead. But is it murder? And who is the victim. The reporter and the cameraman manage to have the story in the can before the cops have a handle on any of it.
One Click by Peter Papathanasiou: Why has Anna, senior cardiologist at St Vincent’s, been stalking Harry, husband, father, grandfather, for weeks? And what will she do when she finally gets him alone on Moore Park golf course?
Fractures Through Time by Andi C Buchanan: Decades after his death, Jack Allard’s grandson is approached by the daughter of the man convicted his murder, protesting his innocence. What they discover when they investigate seems to exonerate him, but is everyone quite who they seem?
God Bless Those Who Nobly Toil by Ben Hobson: The old man has no gold, no money, no food. The only thing of value is the pendant his son carved, how could he sell that? He is pitied by the other diggers on the goldfield, but not excused for his offences.
Web Design by Emma Viskic: Billy is gone and Lisa is sick of moving her two kids from town to town trying to protect them from those bad actors on his tail. Then, an ultimatum from a man with reptilian eyes – Lisa has to do something. This one has a dark final twist.
Not My Daughter by Dani Vee: When Pastor Neil takes her daughter at gunpoint, Emma is determined to get her back. but first she has to find her. This one has a sting in the tail.
The Flemish Bon by Michael Botur: Tony Timaru is on his way to a fight but his flight has run late. He hopes the big Tongan Uber driver can cut through Auckland’s Friday rush hour to get him there on time. When they get chatting they discover multiple commonalities from their youth, some of them quite dark.
The Lokkas by Helen Fitzgerald: The girl has just turned fourteen but has lived the last nine years in a room below ground where Mumma keeps her safe from the Lokkas. A dark tale that feels like the first chapter of something longer.
The Big Lie by Peter Corris: Robert Adamo wants PI Cliff Hardy to find his fiancée who left her job, her home and dropped ot of sight. When Cliff locates her, though, her distress has him in two minds about passing it on to his client. He needs to know more…
The Case of Koro’s Stone by Renee: Hana Porohiwi wants to become a PI but is only part-way through Alice Cain’s How To Become A Private Eye blog when her first case presents. She uses her observational skills, her diplomacy and persuasion, her authority and her persistence to be able to mark her first case “solved”.
There’s lots of variety in these stories: many are dark, some amusing, most are clever or topical, a few are quite chilling, a few are thought-provoking and most will entertain in one way or another. Outstanding are stories by Jack Heath, Emma Viskic, Jean Bedford, Peter Corris, Chad Taylor, Stephen Johnson, and Renée. Brilliant down under crime fiction.
August 26, 2024
This follows - as the title would lead you to believe - the first edition of Dark Deeds Down Under. Another brilliant collection. Some authors I was already familiar with, others new to me and I'll be checking to see what else of theirs is held in the libraries of the local district, which I can easily borrow. Well done Craig and everyone!
July 9, 2024
In rugby, Australia and New Zealand are sworn enemies. Off the pitch, they have more in common than they care to admit, whether it’s their shared landscapes, culture, troubled histories or love of the great outdoors. When it comes to crime fiction tastes are similar and Craig Sisterson’s second Dark Deeds Down Under anthology underlines this.
Full review here: https://westwordsreviews.wordpress.co...
Full review here: https://westwordsreviews.wordpress.co...
June 23, 2024
It is criminally good reading …
… and I was never going to refuse an offer of a review copy of this anthology. I thoroughly enjoyed the first volume and was very keen to find out what was on offer in this volume. And what did I find: twenty-one short stories and an excerpt from Dorothy Porter’s verse novel ‘El Dorado’.
Something here for every taste. So, who are the contributors? Charity Norman; Anna Downes; Jack Heath; Jennifer Lane; Robert Gott; Shelley Burne-Field; Natalie Conyer; Ashley Kalagian Blunt; Jean Bedford; Chad Taylor; Dorothy Porter; Malla Nunn; Stephen Johnson; Peter Papathanasiou; Andi C Buchanan; Ben Hobson; Emma Viskic; Dani Vee; Michael Botur; Helen Fitzgerald: Peter Corris and Renée.
If you are a keen reader of crime fiction, then you will recognise at least some of these names, and (possibly) some of the characters. But there are standalone tales as well, and one of my favourites is ‘Bad Listener’ by Jack Heath. I was pleased to read the Cliff Hardy story by the Godfather of modern Australian Crime, the late Peter Corris, and to read Renée’s short story. Renée, Craig Sisterson tells us, wrote her first crime novel aged 89. She passed away in December. I’ve added Dorothy Porter’s prose novel to my reading list, and there are some other authors whose work I need to read as well.
Now all I need to do is live for another fifty years or so!
I agree with Craig Sisterton: we do have a diverse array of fantastic Australian and New Zealand storytellers. If you enjoy criminally good short stories, then add these anthologies to your reading list.
A terrific anthology!
I really enjoyed this and offer my thanks to Clan Destine Press for offering me a review copy.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
… and I was never going to refuse an offer of a review copy of this anthology. I thoroughly enjoyed the first volume and was very keen to find out what was on offer in this volume. And what did I find: twenty-one short stories and an excerpt from Dorothy Porter’s verse novel ‘El Dorado’.
Something here for every taste. So, who are the contributors? Charity Norman; Anna Downes; Jack Heath; Jennifer Lane; Robert Gott; Shelley Burne-Field; Natalie Conyer; Ashley Kalagian Blunt; Jean Bedford; Chad Taylor; Dorothy Porter; Malla Nunn; Stephen Johnson; Peter Papathanasiou; Andi C Buchanan; Ben Hobson; Emma Viskic; Dani Vee; Michael Botur; Helen Fitzgerald: Peter Corris and Renée.
If you are a keen reader of crime fiction, then you will recognise at least some of these names, and (possibly) some of the characters. But there are standalone tales as well, and one of my favourites is ‘Bad Listener’ by Jack Heath. I was pleased to read the Cliff Hardy story by the Godfather of modern Australian Crime, the late Peter Corris, and to read Renée’s short story. Renée, Craig Sisterson tells us, wrote her first crime novel aged 89. She passed away in December. I’ve added Dorothy Porter’s prose novel to my reading list, and there are some other authors whose work I need to read as well.
Now all I need to do is live for another fifty years or so!
I agree with Craig Sisterton: we do have a diverse array of fantastic Australian and New Zealand storytellers. If you enjoy criminally good short stories, then add these anthologies to your reading list.
A terrific anthology!
I really enjoyed this and offer my thanks to Clan Destine Press for offering me a review copy.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews