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Dana Gibson #2
Killarney
Child protection worker Dana Gibson arrives in the sleepy rural town of Killarney with one goal in locate the whereabouts of foster child Jayden Maloney and return him to care. What she isn' t anticipating is an unexpected attraction to her colleague' s younger brother, Sean, or to become embroiled in their simmering family feud. When criminal allegations surface against a member of the local parish and a police task force discovers an increase in drug trafficking across the border, Dana is forced to consider that Jayden' s disappearance is not simply a case of a teen on the run. To complicate matters further, torrential rain causes the Condamine River to break its banks, and the town gets cut off.
As Dana continues to ask questions, tensions peak with the rising flood waters and she soon realises that the tight-knit community is not all that it seems. Long-held secrets start to unravel and loyalties are questioned, forcing Dana to make a decision about who she can trust and how much she is willing to fight for what she believes in.
As Dana continues to ask questions, tensions peak with the rising flood waters and she soon realises that the tight-knit community is not all that it seems. Long-held secrets start to unravel and loyalties are questioned, forcing Dana to make a decision about who she can trust and how much she is willing to fight for what she believes in.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
June 24, 2024
Killarney is the second book featuring Child Protection Officer Dana Gibson following on from her exploits in Crows Nest. Set in the late 1990s, this is a small town mystery that deals heavily with social services issues.
Johnny Buckley is run down and killed by a motorbike on the main street of Killarney by a hit and run driver. No-one can identify the motorbike rider who was wearing a helmet when he ran off and disappeared.
A few days later a local teenager, Jayden, disappears from his foster home. Nobody knows whether he left of his own accord or someone abducted him. Due to the rough circumstances the family had been in, Jayden was under child protection supervision with the Department of Families. Investigating his sudden disappearance is Dana Gibson and her colleague Lachlan.
The police are already stretched to the limit thanks to the ongoing drugs task force that was investigating the trafficking problem that had started going through Killarney and surrounding towns.
So, under the pretense of searching for the missing Jayden, Dana and Lachlan start asking questions around town, questions that start with the accident before moving on to Jayden’s whereabouts. Somewhere along the line they encounter a brother who has been doing a lot of work with the local youth. This line of enquiry gets them sidetracked as Dana learns of allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards boys in the past.
In fact, there’s a great deal to take in as the search for Jayden unfolds. A burgeoning drug problem in town, a local family with widespread connections across the state, the suspected sexual assault, the hit and run accident, a flood and numerous domestic violence cases. Add to that the fact that Dana has time to become romantically involved with not one, but two of the men from the small town she’s landed in.
If only Dana wasn’t such an absolute pain in the ass. Every personal interaction she has seems to be confrontational. She has little to no rights to be asking the questions she does - she’s a Child Protection officer with a government agency, for heaven's sake - yet she expects everyone to talk to her and answer her probing questions. It just doesn’t strike me as being particularly realistic.
I also wasn’t impressed by the way she tends to judge people based on the word of a single unreliable witness. She’s not the type of advocate you’d want to be reliant on and the results are tragically unsurprising.
One area of the story I had a real problem with was a sudden flood that served to cut off the town. There had been no mention of extended periods of rain leading up to it and even the rain that was mentioned was hardly enough to be responsible for the flooding that took place in and around Killarney. It appears to have been used as an excuse to strand Dana and Lachlan in the town so that further investigation could take place. Even weirder was the extensive movement that was possible a day after the flood as Dana raced around the countryside in a mad panic with nary a mention of flooded roads or dangerous conditions. A flash flood is one thing but flash receding floodwaters? Uh uh.
For the second time in as many books, Child Protection Officer Dana Gibson ignores her regular caseload and obsesses over a single case, this time a missing person. Rather than allow the police to do their job she tends to cross numerous boundaries to involve herself in the case.
I couldn’t help but think this would have worked so much better if it were a regular police procedural crime novel. The Department of Families angle just felt superfluous to the story, added nothing of interest and didn’t provide a believable (or likable) protagonist.
2.5 stars rounded down to 2
Johnny Buckley is run down and killed by a motorbike on the main street of Killarney by a hit and run driver. No-one can identify the motorbike rider who was wearing a helmet when he ran off and disappeared.
A few days later a local teenager, Jayden, disappears from his foster home. Nobody knows whether he left of his own accord or someone abducted him. Due to the rough circumstances the family had been in, Jayden was under child protection supervision with the Department of Families. Investigating his sudden disappearance is Dana Gibson and her colleague Lachlan.
The police are already stretched to the limit thanks to the ongoing drugs task force that was investigating the trafficking problem that had started going through Killarney and surrounding towns.
So, under the pretense of searching for the missing Jayden, Dana and Lachlan start asking questions around town, questions that start with the accident before moving on to Jayden’s whereabouts. Somewhere along the line they encounter a brother who has been doing a lot of work with the local youth. This line of enquiry gets them sidetracked as Dana learns of allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards boys in the past.
In fact, there’s a great deal to take in as the search for Jayden unfolds. A burgeoning drug problem in town, a local family with widespread connections across the state, the suspected sexual assault, the hit and run accident, a flood and numerous domestic violence cases. Add to that the fact that Dana has time to become romantically involved with not one, but two of the men from the small town she’s landed in.
If only Dana wasn’t such an absolute pain in the ass. Every personal interaction she has seems to be confrontational. She has little to no rights to be asking the questions she does - she’s a Child Protection officer with a government agency, for heaven's sake - yet she expects everyone to talk to her and answer her probing questions. It just doesn’t strike me as being particularly realistic.
I also wasn’t impressed by the way she tends to judge people based on the word of a single unreliable witness. She’s not the type of advocate you’d want to be reliant on and the results are tragically unsurprising.
One area of the story I had a real problem with was a sudden flood that served to cut off the town. There had been no mention of extended periods of rain leading up to it and even the rain that was mentioned was hardly enough to be responsible for the flooding that took place in and around Killarney. It appears to have been used as an excuse to strand Dana and Lachlan in the town so that further investigation could take place. Even weirder was the extensive movement that was possible a day after the flood as Dana raced around the countryside in a mad panic with nary a mention of flooded roads or dangerous conditions. A flash flood is one thing but flash receding floodwaters? Uh uh.
For the second time in as many books, Child Protection Officer Dana Gibson ignores her regular caseload and obsesses over a single case, this time a missing person. Rather than allow the police to do their job she tends to cross numerous boundaries to involve herself in the case.
I couldn’t help but think this would have worked so much better if it were a regular police procedural crime novel. The Department of Families angle just felt superfluous to the story, added nothing of interest and didn’t provide a believable (or likable) protagonist.
2.5 stars rounded down to 2
June 2, 2024
I have read these two books because I live in the areas mentioned and was living here in 1997 when these books were set. They are fine police procedurals, but they lack something for me. I find Dana to be prickly and somewhat unlikable. I also lose track if how old she is meant to be because sometimes she acts like a reckless twenty-something but then also like a stern old matron. I also am not a fan of the whole I'm going to adopt my neighbour's grandson thing - that whole "he's like my own kid" thing was weird. This book like Crows Nest gave me an uneasy feeling - not because it's scary or anything but just because it's a bit odd. There were some paragraphs that were written like a first draft rather than a polished copy. There were too many storylines - a missing kid, a hit-and-run, domestic violence, a disgraced priest, a dying friend, an estranged daughter, a doomed romance, a flood, a drug ring, a friendship fracture - nothing developed in depth - it is a short book too. I don't know if I will read any others in this series if there are any. I can't say I enjoy them. I also felt there was too many references to mobile phones for a book set in the late 90s. I don't even think Dana is a very good Child Protection officer - when does she do her work with families when she is off solving crimes or running after Angus and Susan in work time?!
October 28, 2024
‘Dana sank into the leather Chesterfield that had become like a well-word pair of shoes and nibbled on leftover Christmas cake.’
Set in the 1990s, Dana Gibson, a child protection worker currently based in Toowoomba, travels to the small town of Killarney with her colleague Lachlan. They are looking for their client, a teenaged foster child named Jayden Maloney, currently missing from care. A few days earlier, a young man was killed in a hit and run motorcycle accident in Killarney, and the police have been unable to find either the rider or the motorcycle. During their visit, torrential rain results in the Condamine River breaking its banks. There’s plenty of tension: the rising river levels result in the town being isolated, and Dana finds that this is a town with plenty of secrets.
Add into the mix Dana’s attraction to her colleague’s brother Sean, an investigation into drug trafficking and criminal allegations against a member of a local church and you might just wonder whether Killarney is a criminal hub or if you are amid an entire school of red herrings.
I’ll pause here to observe that Dana is one of the most irritating fictional characters I have encountered this year. Her heart may be in the right place, her instincts might be (reasonably) good but her judgment is seriously flawed. And yet, I am unable to stop reading.
Lachlan’s family has a finger in almost every pie in the town so Jayden’s case rests with Dana. It is complicated: while Jayden has run away before there seems to be no reason for him to do so this time. Dana is also worried about her landlady Susan who is dying, and Susan’s grandson Angus. In terms of characters, the good, the bad and the ugly, all have a part to play.
So, where is Jayden? And who was the motorcycle rider? While I wanted answers to both questions, I kept being sidetracked by Dana’s (at times questionable) actions.
After I finished this novel, I read the first in the series because I wanted to know more of Dana’s backstory.
As mentioned above, Dana irritates me, but the story held my attention. And yes, I will be looking to
read the third book in the series once it is released.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Set in the 1990s, Dana Gibson, a child protection worker currently based in Toowoomba, travels to the small town of Killarney with her colleague Lachlan. They are looking for their client, a teenaged foster child named Jayden Maloney, currently missing from care. A few days earlier, a young man was killed in a hit and run motorcycle accident in Killarney, and the police have been unable to find either the rider or the motorcycle. During their visit, torrential rain results in the Condamine River breaking its banks. There’s plenty of tension: the rising river levels result in the town being isolated, and Dana finds that this is a town with plenty of secrets.
Add into the mix Dana’s attraction to her colleague’s brother Sean, an investigation into drug trafficking and criminal allegations against a member of a local church and you might just wonder whether Killarney is a criminal hub or if you are amid an entire school of red herrings.
I’ll pause here to observe that Dana is one of the most irritating fictional characters I have encountered this year. Her heart may be in the right place, her instincts might be (reasonably) good but her judgment is seriously flawed. And yet, I am unable to stop reading.
Lachlan’s family has a finger in almost every pie in the town so Jayden’s case rests with Dana. It is complicated: while Jayden has run away before there seems to be no reason for him to do so this time. Dana is also worried about her landlady Susan who is dying, and Susan’s grandson Angus. In terms of characters, the good, the bad and the ugly, all have a part to play.
So, where is Jayden? And who was the motorcycle rider? While I wanted answers to both questions, I kept being sidetracked by Dana’s (at times questionable) actions.
After I finished this novel, I read the first in the series because I wanted to know more of Dana’s backstory.
As mentioned above, Dana irritates me, but the story held my attention. And yes, I will be looking to
read the third book in the series once it is released.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
June 30, 2024
I don’t like Dana. Would have been a decent read if she wasn’t in the picture.
Listened to the audiobook via BorrowBox
Published by Bolinda audio
Read by Caroline Lee
Duration: 8 hrs, 32 min. 1.25x Speed
Listened to the audiobook via BorrowBox
Published by Bolinda audio
Read by Caroline Lee
Duration: 8 hrs, 32 min. 1.25x Speed
April 13, 2024
2.5⭐️
Listened on audiobook
Listened on audiobook
September 8, 2025
2 ⭐️
Dana Gibson is a child protection worker who travels to Killarney in hopes of retracing the steps of and finding, Jayden Maloney. This book contains severe flooding, claims of child abuse, drug trafficking and many questionable and sus characters.
I really enjoyed the natural disaster element to this. My mum actually grew up in Killarney so i had fun reading about this town and the surrounding areas which i know oh so well. That’s kind of where my enjoyment stopped.
The resolution was super disappointing, i felt like the revelation of whodunnit was super underwhelming. I don’t know what i expected to happen or who i expected to have committed the hit and run but it wasn’t who it was, it made little sense for it to be who it was. There was also no solid reasoning to why any of it happened. It was a gruelling journey for the detectives and child protection workers, but the case just got lost on me. I expected wayyy more from this book. Which may be my own fault 😂
Dana Gibson is a child protection worker who travels to Killarney in hopes of retracing the steps of and finding, Jayden Maloney. This book contains severe flooding, claims of child abuse, drug trafficking and many questionable and sus characters.
I really enjoyed the natural disaster element to this. My mum actually grew up in Killarney so i had fun reading about this town and the surrounding areas which i know oh so well. That’s kind of where my enjoyment stopped.
The resolution was super disappointing, i felt like the revelation of whodunnit was super underwhelming. I don’t know what i expected to happen or who i expected to have committed the hit and run but it wasn’t who it was, it made little sense for it to be who it was. There was also no solid reasoning to why any of it happened. It was a gruelling journey for the detectives and child protection workers, but the case just got lost on me. I expected wayyy more from this book. Which may be my own fault 😂
July 25, 2025
I think I rated this book 4 stars due to my love of the town Killarney. It was wonderful reading about a place that is close to your heart. The story itself was good, but possibly crime fiction doesn’t grab me like it does for others. I’m keen to read others reviews.
October 6, 2024
Great twists and turns. Not what I was expecting. Well worth a weekend read!
April 25, 2024
Killarney by Nikki Mottram
I can safely say I am really enjoying this book series and had a nice surprise when upqbooks sent me a gifted copy.
Dana Gibson is back. This time she is trying to find a missing foster child - Jayden Maloney and return him to care. Things are definitely not as they seem especially when you factor in a motorcycle accident that ends in a hit and run, a suicide and of course the flood that keeps most of the residents staying and sleeping at the pub. Can Dana put all the pieces together?
I flew through the pages of this book. It was like being back with an old friend in Dana. I loved that we got the same great characters from book one and new terrible charters in book two. I did find myself having a few tears in my eyes at the end. If you have read it you will know what I mean.
Thank you uqpbooks for sending me a gifted copy of this book for my honest book review.
I can safely say I am really enjoying this book series and had a nice surprise when upqbooks sent me a gifted copy.
Dana Gibson is back. This time she is trying to find a missing foster child - Jayden Maloney and return him to care. Things are definitely not as they seem especially when you factor in a motorcycle accident that ends in a hit and run, a suicide and of course the flood that keeps most of the residents staying and sleeping at the pub. Can Dana put all the pieces together?
I flew through the pages of this book. It was like being back with an old friend in Dana. I loved that we got the same great characters from book one and new terrible charters in book two. I did find myself having a few tears in my eyes at the end. If you have read it you will know what I mean.
Thank you uqpbooks for sending me a gifted copy of this book for my honest book review.
May 29, 2024
Enjoyed this
August 20, 2024
Mystery but with the perspective of a social worker trying to both solve crimes and human conflicts
May 26, 2024
Really enjoyed this follow up book (and actually managed to remember what happened in the first one although you could read this on it’s own) The fact that it comes from the social workers point of view makes a nice break from the traditional crime novels. Hope there will be more in this series
October 25, 2024
This is an example of a book that was published waaaay before it was ready to be. The structure of the sentences were first draft quality in some parts with too much telling and very little showing, the characters didn’t feel very distinct from one another, and Dana’s involvement in the case made no sense to me. She goes through confidential documents without permission, gains access to a police investigation way beyond what I would think would be proper for someone outside of the department, and she interviews people with 0 police presence or procedure.
Also, the plot was just overflowing with subplots to the point that nothing felt fully developed. Susan’s cancer, Tina’s addiction, Oscar’s death, Jayden’s disappearance, Johnny Buckley’s death, falling for Sean, the cross border drug trade, Blaire’s allegations (which go back and forth from being true to not true to half true so many times I lost track), the O’Malley Clan, the flood, the random man that drowned, the rescue efforts, Sean cheating, falling for Ryan, and so many more I’ve probably forgotten about.
Nikki Motram has good ideas and 1000% could write a really intriguing and complex story, but I think the plot needs to take a turn away from trying to be a police drama and focusing on what Dana’s actual job is: being a caseworker with multiple cases. An editor also needs to be working more closely as the work is being written because the way this book reads was super clunky and unpolished in spots.
Also, the plot was just overflowing with subplots to the point that nothing felt fully developed. Susan’s cancer, Tina’s addiction, Oscar’s death, Jayden’s disappearance, Johnny Buckley’s death, falling for Sean, the cross border drug trade, Blaire’s allegations (which go back and forth from being true to not true to half true so many times I lost track), the O’Malley Clan, the flood, the random man that drowned, the rescue efforts, Sean cheating, falling for Ryan, and so many more I’ve probably forgotten about.
Nikki Motram has good ideas and 1000% could write a really intriguing and complex story, but I think the plot needs to take a turn away from trying to be a police drama and focusing on what Dana’s actual job is: being a caseworker with multiple cases. An editor also needs to be working more closely as the work is being written because the way this book reads was super clunky and unpolished in spots.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2024
Another great read by Nikki Mottram. I live in Toowoomba and was in Godsall Street on the weekend, and I’ve chosen which house I think Dana lives in.
I love all the references to Toowoomba, Killarney, Warwick, and the Queen Mary Falls.
I love all the references to Toowoomba, Killarney, Warwick, and the Queen Mary Falls.
April 16, 2024
I was so interested in the crime story novel book where i couldn't put the book down . .
In the book it also states that someone else has been S/A . That same person could've kiddnapled Jayden Malory or done even worse to him
Also in the book as i got more and more into the story. There is so much crime / murderers that has happen in Killarney or around Killarney.
Dana gibson who is a child protection worker . She arrives in Killarney. She only have one goal in her mind is to find Jayden Malory who is a foster child who went missing in Killarney and return him to.care.
Later on she is forces to consider that Jayden Malory's disappearance wasn't a simply case of teen runaway.
As she continue to ask questions around town aswell the tension oeaks of rising floods water in Killarney. .
Dana soon realize that Killarney is a well tight-knit community and the town long-held secrets was able to be unravel and some loyailties are being trusted which ends Dana to make decisions about who she can trust and his much she is willing to fight for what she believes in .
There was another incident involving Johnny Buckley whinwas killed by a hit-run by a motorbike .
Towards the end of the novel , Someone have reported finding a body in Spring Creek near Queens Mary fall was later identified as Jayden Malory's body after being missing almost 3 weeks .
Therebwas a limited postmortem that did show injuries to Jayden's head , chest limbs which was consistent to a fall from a great height..
Also revealed that Jayden Malory have been experiencing feeling of guilt about a recent hit-run accident that has happen in the small community on the day that Jayden was seen alive.
Also believe that Jayden has helped to repaire a bike that was involved in the accident.
There was no witnesses to Jayden's fall . The ABC news have been informed that Jaydens death will be likely ruled as suicide.
Dana was trying to recall Jayden if he has given any indication that he was experiencing any suicidal ideation. But she could only remember the endless evidence that was pointing to a young man who was driving and grabbing life at both hands.
Later on Dana realized that most people in Killarney who likely believe the theory that Jayden was responsible for Johnny Buckley's hit-run than Jayden killed himself Because of guilt .
Earlier in the book Dana's childhood friend Blair who killed himself but than it got change to someone has murdered him.
Towards the end of the book Dana finds out that Blair's death was made to look like a murder as Ryan found fingerprints from a chair in Blair's room have came back with some further investigation that they identify that someone has tampered with the scene .
Later found it was a local kid name Tyler Hendrick was the one who tampered the crime scene.
Tyler was conceren that if anyone found out that Blair killed himself that he wouldn't get a church funeral according to his statement as suscide was consider a sin.
Towards the end of the book all the the truth comes out . Dana finally found the answeres when she discovers that Tina was the one who killed Johnny Buckley and Jayden Malory.
The reason why she killed Jayden was that hevwas going to the police and tell them what She did to Johnny Buckley.
In the book it also states that someone else has been S/A . That same person could've kiddnapled Jayden Malory or done even worse to him
Also in the book as i got more and more into the story. There is so much crime / murderers that has happen in Killarney or around Killarney.
Dana gibson who is a child protection worker . She arrives in Killarney. She only have one goal in her mind is to find Jayden Malory who is a foster child who went missing in Killarney and return him to.care.
Later on she is forces to consider that Jayden Malory's disappearance wasn't a simply case of teen runaway.
As she continue to ask questions around town aswell the tension oeaks of rising floods water in Killarney. .
Dana soon realize that Killarney is a well tight-knit community and the town long-held secrets was able to be unravel and some loyailties are being trusted which ends Dana to make decisions about who she can trust and his much she is willing to fight for what she believes in .
There was another incident involving Johnny Buckley whinwas killed by a hit-run by a motorbike .
Towards the end of the novel , Someone have reported finding a body in Spring Creek near Queens Mary fall was later identified as Jayden Malory's body after being missing almost 3 weeks .
Therebwas a limited postmortem that did show injuries to Jayden's head , chest limbs which was consistent to a fall from a great height..
Also revealed that Jayden Malory have been experiencing feeling of guilt about a recent hit-run accident that has happen in the small community on the day that Jayden was seen alive.
Also believe that Jayden has helped to repaire a bike that was involved in the accident.
There was no witnesses to Jayden's fall . The ABC news have been informed that Jaydens death will be likely ruled as suicide.
Dana was trying to recall Jayden if he has given any indication that he was experiencing any suicidal ideation. But she could only remember the endless evidence that was pointing to a young man who was driving and grabbing life at both hands.
Later on Dana realized that most people in Killarney who likely believe the theory that Jayden was responsible for Johnny Buckley's hit-run than Jayden killed himself Because of guilt .
Earlier in the book Dana's childhood friend Blair who killed himself but than it got change to someone has murdered him.
Towards the end of the book Dana finds out that Blair's death was made to look like a murder as Ryan found fingerprints from a chair in Blair's room have came back with some further investigation that they identify that someone has tampered with the scene .
Later found it was a local kid name Tyler Hendrick was the one who tampered the crime scene.
Tyler was conceren that if anyone found out that Blair killed himself that he wouldn't get a church funeral according to his statement as suscide was consider a sin.
Towards the end of the book all the the truth comes out . Dana finally found the answeres when she discovers that Tina was the one who killed Johnny Buckley and Jayden Malory.
The reason why she killed Jayden was that hevwas going to the police and tell them what She did to Johnny Buckley.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2024
Dana Gibson, a child protection worker based in Toowoomba, accompanies her colleague Lachlan to Killarney to locate missing teenager and client, Jayden Maloney. While in the small town, the two are stuck at the local pub as torrential rains cause major flooding in the district.
With Lachlan’s extended family involved in almost everything in town, he hands Jayden’s case over to Dana. Our protagonist finds herself embroiled in local business and parochial politics. Killarney is a busy town. Not only is Jayden missing, but a local worker has been killed in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident, the floods are creating mayhem, the local priest is suspected of engaging in unsavoury practices with young boys, and there appears to be a drug ring trafficking into New South Wales. Dana must unravel all the strings to locate the missing child without interfering with police business.
Dana is a complex and flawed character. While she is trying to locate the client in question, she is dogged by her relationship issues, past disappointments, and the need to find time to assist her dying neighbour and friend.
The support characters are believable, some likeable and many relatable. Each offers something different to Dana’s life and adds colour to the story.
Mottram’s descriptions of Killarney, Warwick, Toowoomba, and the surrounding districts, offer the reader insight into the sights, smells, and sounds of that part of south-west Queenslander. It is easy to place yourself in the scene as you observe the actions of the characters.
The story covers incidents like death, murder, suicide, child abuse, and natural disasters in an even-handed way, avoiding gruesome, voyeuristic descriptions, and replacing them with thoughtful and caring sentiments. The only unrealistic element of the book is that in the real world Child Protection Workers, with their caseloads around the 150 mark, would never have the opportunity to dedicate this much time and resources to an individual case. Let’s hope this fiction becomes a reality in the future.
The plot builds smoothly, with many twists and turns and engaging subplots. The main plot, the fate of Jayden, ends as expected, with surprises with the wrap-up of some of the subplots. The story is involving, and you find yourself eager to learn the fate of the various characters. The book is hard to put down.
Nikki Mottram is an emerging writer based in Queensland. “Killarney” is her second novel, preceded by “Crows Nest”, the first in the series.
I received a free copy of this book through Sisters in Crime - Australia, in exchange for a fair and honest review.
With Lachlan’s extended family involved in almost everything in town, he hands Jayden’s case over to Dana. Our protagonist finds herself embroiled in local business and parochial politics. Killarney is a busy town. Not only is Jayden missing, but a local worker has been killed in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident, the floods are creating mayhem, the local priest is suspected of engaging in unsavoury practices with young boys, and there appears to be a drug ring trafficking into New South Wales. Dana must unravel all the strings to locate the missing child without interfering with police business.
Dana is a complex and flawed character. While she is trying to locate the client in question, she is dogged by her relationship issues, past disappointments, and the need to find time to assist her dying neighbour and friend.
The support characters are believable, some likeable and many relatable. Each offers something different to Dana’s life and adds colour to the story.
Mottram’s descriptions of Killarney, Warwick, Toowoomba, and the surrounding districts, offer the reader insight into the sights, smells, and sounds of that part of south-west Queenslander. It is easy to place yourself in the scene as you observe the actions of the characters.
The story covers incidents like death, murder, suicide, child abuse, and natural disasters in an even-handed way, avoiding gruesome, voyeuristic descriptions, and replacing them with thoughtful and caring sentiments. The only unrealistic element of the book is that in the real world Child Protection Workers, with their caseloads around the 150 mark, would never have the opportunity to dedicate this much time and resources to an individual case. Let’s hope this fiction becomes a reality in the future.
The plot builds smoothly, with many twists and turns and engaging subplots. The main plot, the fate of Jayden, ends as expected, with surprises with the wrap-up of some of the subplots. The story is involving, and you find yourself eager to learn the fate of the various characters. The book is hard to put down.
Nikki Mottram is an emerging writer based in Queensland. “Killarney” is her second novel, preceded by “Crows Nest”, the first in the series.
I received a free copy of this book through Sisters in Crime - Australia, in exchange for a fair and honest review.
November 23, 2024
Nikki Mottram’s Killarney, set in the 1990s, promises a tense police procedural with a uniquely rural Australian backdrop. Following child protection worker Dana Gibson’s efforts to locate a missing foster child, Jayden Maloney, the novel interweaves themes of small-town loyalties, simmering family conflicts, and criminal undercurrents. Despite its intriguing premise and localised setting, the novel struggles to fully deliver on its potential.
Dana Gibson, the series’ protagonist, is a prickly character, and while her confrontational nature may have been intended to make her complex and uncompromising, it often feels misplaced. In a role that demands emotional intelligence and strategic finesse, her behaviour swings inconsistently between reckless immaturity and an outdated rigidity, leaving readers uncertain of her motivations and age. This inconsistency made it difficult to warm to her, and her actions sometimes felt out of step with the high-stakes situations she faced.
The novel ambitiously juggles multiple storylines: a missing child, criminal allegations, drug trafficking, a family feud, and the rising floodwaters of the Condamine River. However, none of these threads are explored in enough depth to leave a lasting impact. While the plot offers moments of tension, the fragmented development of the subplots makes it hard to stay fully engaged. Key moments lack the emotional weight they might have carried if the storylines had been given more focus and complexity.
Ultimately, Killarney is an adequate read but lacks the spark that could elevate it to something memorable. For readers drawn to the series because of its regional connection, it provides a glimpse into familiar landscapes and dynamics. However, the underdeveloped storylines and the inconsistent characterisation of Dana detract from what could have been a compelling procedural. A solid 2.5-3 star read for those curious about rural crime fiction but not one I’d rush to recommend.
Dana Gibson, the series’ protagonist, is a prickly character, and while her confrontational nature may have been intended to make her complex and uncompromising, it often feels misplaced. In a role that demands emotional intelligence and strategic finesse, her behaviour swings inconsistently between reckless immaturity and an outdated rigidity, leaving readers uncertain of her motivations and age. This inconsistency made it difficult to warm to her, and her actions sometimes felt out of step with the high-stakes situations she faced.
The novel ambitiously juggles multiple storylines: a missing child, criminal allegations, drug trafficking, a family feud, and the rising floodwaters of the Condamine River. However, none of these threads are explored in enough depth to leave a lasting impact. While the plot offers moments of tension, the fragmented development of the subplots makes it hard to stay fully engaged. Key moments lack the emotional weight they might have carried if the storylines had been given more focus and complexity.
Ultimately, Killarney is an adequate read but lacks the spark that could elevate it to something memorable. For readers drawn to the series because of its regional connection, it provides a glimpse into familiar landscapes and dynamics. However, the underdeveloped storylines and the inconsistent characterisation of Dana detract from what could have been a compelling procedural. A solid 2.5-3 star read for those curious about rural crime fiction but not one I’d rush to recommend.
October 9, 2024
Killarney by Nikki Mottram
A sequel to the authors first book, Crows Nest, I enjoyed following up with the main character, a Family Services employed Social Worker, Dana. The compassion and support Dana gives to her clients and their families as well as her neighbors Susan and Angus, (who are like family to her), is explored in the novel Killarney.
Much like the first book, this was a page turner; I finished it quickly and once again liked the authors writing style. Dana has accepted another secondment to Toowoomba, and is referred a client in Killarney, so much of the setting is there. The client, a young teenager called Jayden, has disappeared, around the same time a local man has died in a hit and run murder. So again, Dana has a close working relationship with the local police as well as her colleague Lachlan who has been assigned the same case. The relationship with all the Killarney township becomes closer and tense, when the village is flooded in. Dana, colleagues and community members are forced to stay at the local hotel, since they cannot return to Toowoomba.
Again, Dana makes at times questionable decisions in both her work and private life, I felt this shows the pressure she is under and demonstrates the lack of emotional support provided in her stressful work role. Dana is such a likeable person and always has others best interest at heart, as the story unfolds, she slowly learns about some self-care too. I must add I love Dana’s fave whisky brand too!
Once more, the book is a great advertisement for the lovely Darling Downs – although readers will always think of the Queen Mary Falls in a different way after reading Killarney. No spoilers here! I wonder when lovely author Nikki will complete book three so we can get some more Dana entertainment!
A sequel to the authors first book, Crows Nest, I enjoyed following up with the main character, a Family Services employed Social Worker, Dana. The compassion and support Dana gives to her clients and their families as well as her neighbors Susan and Angus, (who are like family to her), is explored in the novel Killarney.
Much like the first book, this was a page turner; I finished it quickly and once again liked the authors writing style. Dana has accepted another secondment to Toowoomba, and is referred a client in Killarney, so much of the setting is there. The client, a young teenager called Jayden, has disappeared, around the same time a local man has died in a hit and run murder. So again, Dana has a close working relationship with the local police as well as her colleague Lachlan who has been assigned the same case. The relationship with all the Killarney township becomes closer and tense, when the village is flooded in. Dana, colleagues and community members are forced to stay at the local hotel, since they cannot return to Toowoomba.
Again, Dana makes at times questionable decisions in both her work and private life, I felt this shows the pressure she is under and demonstrates the lack of emotional support provided in her stressful work role. Dana is such a likeable person and always has others best interest at heart, as the story unfolds, she slowly learns about some self-care too. I must add I love Dana’s fave whisky brand too!
Once more, the book is a great advertisement for the lovely Darling Downs – although readers will always think of the Queen Mary Falls in a different way after reading Killarney. No spoilers here! I wonder when lovely author Nikki will complete book three so we can get some more Dana entertainment!
April 11, 2024
𝙺𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚢 ~ 𝙽𝚒𝚔𝚔𝚒 𝙼𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚖
This exciting follow up to Crows Nest had me gripped from the start and kept me turning the pages well after my normal bedtime ⏰
Child protection worker Dana Gibson is now living in Toowoomba QLD and close by to Susan and Angus. Angus is still in the care of Susan while his mother Tina gets her life under control.
In the small town of Killarney an unidentified motorbike rider kills a local in a residential street as the man drunkenly walks home. At the same time Jayden, a young person under child protection, supervised by Dana’s colleague Lachlan is missing. Are the two events connected?
There’s a drug problem across the NSW and QLD border and it’s believed by local police officer Ryan to be moving through local interstate trucking companies.
Then we have a Catholic priest accused by locals of inappropriate actions with young people in his care, a suave local who has is eyes set on Dana and to top it all off a flood event that sees Dana stuck in a local pub in Killarney just when things take a serious turn for the worst.
There is so much going on, but the writing is so good and well paced.
I did not know where to point the finger!
It all culminates at the end and left me totally satisfied 👏🏼
This exciting follow up to Crows Nest had me gripped from the start and kept me turning the pages well after my normal bedtime ⏰
Child protection worker Dana Gibson is now living in Toowoomba QLD and close by to Susan and Angus. Angus is still in the care of Susan while his mother Tina gets her life under control.
In the small town of Killarney an unidentified motorbike rider kills a local in a residential street as the man drunkenly walks home. At the same time Jayden, a young person under child protection, supervised by Dana’s colleague Lachlan is missing. Are the two events connected?
There’s a drug problem across the NSW and QLD border and it’s believed by local police officer Ryan to be moving through local interstate trucking companies.
Then we have a Catholic priest accused by locals of inappropriate actions with young people in his care, a suave local who has is eyes set on Dana and to top it all off a flood event that sees Dana stuck in a local pub in Killarney just when things take a serious turn for the worst.
There is so much going on, but the writing is so good and well paced.
I did not know where to point the finger!
It all culminates at the end and left me totally satisfied 👏🏼
July 19, 2024
I have read both of the Dana Gibson novels, though didn’t like this as much as Crows Nest. This one concerns a missing boy, another of the Child Protection cases. Set in the fictional south Queensland area, around Toowoomba and the fictional town of Killarney about 2003, although we are never told a year, but have to deduce it from previous events and people’s ages.
There are many twists and turns as you would expect, but it involves drug smuggling, family violence and a stretched local police force. Oh, and did I mention a flood that strands Killarney for a few days? Yes, everything is a little unbelievable, including the obsessive Dana, from Hilda’s Protection, based in Toowoomba. I must confess getting tired of novels where our woman protagonist feels weak at the knees from a glance by a handsome man (Or, her heart takes a leap, or….)
So, I wish that Dana weren’t such a pain and she didn’t try and bully others to get her way, even if it advances the truth a little. The ending is acceptable, despite a highish death count. Whew, small town Queensland has its dirty little secrets, eh?
There are many twists and turns as you would expect, but it involves drug smuggling, family violence and a stretched local police force. Oh, and did I mention a flood that strands Killarney for a few days? Yes, everything is a little unbelievable, including the obsessive Dana, from Hilda’s Protection, based in Toowoomba. I must confess getting tired of novels where our woman protagonist feels weak at the knees from a glance by a handsome man (Or, her heart takes a leap, or….)
So, I wish that Dana weren’t such a pain and she didn’t try and bully others to get her way, even if it advances the truth a little. The ending is acceptable, despite a highish death count. Whew, small town Queensland has its dirty little secrets, eh?
October 4, 2024
Highly recommend Killarney by Nikki Mottram - the second in her series that features Dana Gibson a Child Protection worker. Set in Toowoomba, Warwick and Killarney it is a real page turner. They are stand alone stories but I do suggest reading them in order with Crows Nest also being a fabulous read. Rural crime/thriller is the genre and having lived in Toowoomba myself I do like knowing the areas Nikki writes about. I was lucky to hear her speak at Ipswich Libraries which I found interesting as Nikki has worked in Child Protection herself. I found both this book and her first story Crows Nest to be real page turners with realistic characters and places. Nikki is a fresh voice to the Rural Fiction genre and I look forward to hearing more from her. Living in Ipswich I am also now keen to explore these areas more after reading about them especially Queen Mary Falls which I have never visited.
April 22, 2024
📚REVIEW📖
Everyone’s fav Child Support Worker Dana Gibson is back for another rural thriller.
This time the story focuses on the town of Killarney, 100kms south of Toowoomba. Whilst normally a sleepy, picturesque village it’s become quite the place of action.
A hit and run. A missing foster child. A questionable priest. A police task force investigating drug trafficking.
Oh, and a flood!
A lot of action indeed.
And Dana is deeply embroiled within the drama; some social working, some investigating, even time for some romance.
This is a pretty seamless sequel, it felt like it picked right up where we left off.
I do think you’d get more out of it if you read ‘Crow’s Nest’ first, just to get a bit of a handle on the Characters’ baggage.
A quick read for lovers of Aussie crime.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to @uqpbooks and @nikkimottram for the #gifted copy. AD-PR
Everyone’s fav Child Support Worker Dana Gibson is back for another rural thriller.
This time the story focuses on the town of Killarney, 100kms south of Toowoomba. Whilst normally a sleepy, picturesque village it’s become quite the place of action.
A hit and run. A missing foster child. A questionable priest. A police task force investigating drug trafficking.
Oh, and a flood!
A lot of action indeed.
And Dana is deeply embroiled within the drama; some social working, some investigating, even time for some romance.
This is a pretty seamless sequel, it felt like it picked right up where we left off.
I do think you’d get more out of it if you read ‘Crow’s Nest’ first, just to get a bit of a handle on the Characters’ baggage.
A quick read for lovers of Aussie crime.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to @uqpbooks and @nikkimottram for the #gifted copy. AD-PR
September 17, 2024
The second in the Aussie noir mystery Dana Gibson series, Killarney (2024) features Dana Gibson, a child protection social worker in tropical Queensland. Together with her colleague Lachlan, Dana travels to Killarney to find out what happened to her client, a missing 16-year-old lad. He disappeared the same night a man was killed in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident. The investigation is complicated as Dana gets involved with Lachlan’s brother Sean and a historic family feud. This is another enjoyable adventure in the Dana Gibson crime tales, with its realistic characters' lives, crime investigation and the tropical storm that isolates the town. It makes for a fine standalone mystery thriller, if a somewhat more mundane feel, but it has a four stars read rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.
February 9, 2025
A somewhat disappointing novel.
I found it hard to warm to the main character, Dana. She was annoying - curt and rude at times, dismissive of others and prone to making unwise decisions, which we all do but for a child protection worker she seemed pretty unprofessional.
Among her annoying attributes - too hasty to judge harshly a suspected wrongdoer but happy to jump into bed with a random bloke who showed her a bit of interest; and her lack of understanding of Angus' mother's situation was more about her self-interest than what was best for the boy.
The plot itself was ok without being particularly exciting and some of the characters could have been fleshed out more fully, perhaps especially Aunt Edith.
I found it hard to warm to the main character, Dana. She was annoying - curt and rude at times, dismissive of others and prone to making unwise decisions, which we all do but for a child protection worker she seemed pretty unprofessional.
Among her annoying attributes - too hasty to judge harshly a suspected wrongdoer but happy to jump into bed with a random bloke who showed her a bit of interest; and her lack of understanding of Angus' mother's situation was more about her self-interest than what was best for the boy.
The plot itself was ok without being particularly exciting and some of the characters could have been fleshed out more fully, perhaps especially Aunt Edith.
October 26, 2024
From the first sentence of the first chapter I had my doubts about whether I’d be able to finish this book. The writing is sloppy and a good edit on simple things like pronoun clarity would have improved it. I’m afraid I didn’t get into the book far enough to comment on characters or plot. On p 11 I had to try to figure out why Susan was both sedated on a bed and slumped in a chair. That kind of disruption doesn’t bode well for the rest of the book and life is too short. So I moved onto a different book, which is a pity because I am from the same town as the author and love to read a good mystery based in rural Queensland, but not this one.
April 17, 2025
What a great, locally set story! I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the characters and the town.
The mental health, self harm and other heavy themes gave the story some levity and it was socially interesting hearing people talk about them so openly and hearing how they’d ask people how they’re coping after such and such event etc.
I found it unrealistic how Dana would ask people so many probing questions, one after the other after another and the person would just answer her honestly, not 1 person told her to leave them alone. I loved how much she cared and just wanted to help people, but she’d be called a nosey mole around here 😂
I’m looking forward to reading more of Dana’s story
The mental health, self harm and other heavy themes gave the story some levity and it was socially interesting hearing people talk about them so openly and hearing how they’d ask people how they’re coping after such and such event etc.
I found it unrealistic how Dana would ask people so many probing questions, one after the other after another and the person would just answer her honestly, not 1 person told her to leave them alone. I loved how much she cared and just wanted to help people, but she’d be called a nosey mole around here 😂
I’m looking forward to reading more of Dana’s story
April 8, 2024
I have loved once again delving into the world of child protective services worker Dana Gibson, and I really enjoyed reading a crime/thriller written from this perspective.
This is a page-turner of a rural crime drama with all the plot twists you could hope for and a whole lot of heart.
If you haven't read the first book featuring Dana Gibson, Crowsnest, then I highly recommend it too, but don't let that stop you diving straight in with Killarney.
A highly recommended rural thriller, with a difference.
Thanks to the Publisher for a review copy of this book.
July 27, 2025
I didnt realise this was a second book to series when I found it in an op shop. It wasn't too bad of a read, but as someone with the same job as Dana however in a different state than what the book Ilis set, some things just were NQR, however in saying that, having too much procedural detail could get in the way of being able to tell the story. I'll likely go back and read the first in the series, however at times was a little bit bored but that could be because the context was too close to home perhaps
August 27, 2024
This is the second book in the Dana Gibson Mysteries series by Nikki Mottram. If you enjoyed the first book Crows Nest then you should enjoy the follow up Killarney.
There are a lot of difficult themes discussed in this murder mystery.. death, suicide, murder, crime and abusive relationships which may cause concern.
The plot moved at a steady pace, with great character development. It came as a total surprise when the killer was revealed.
There are a lot of difficult themes discussed in this murder mystery.. death, suicide, murder, crime and abusive relationships which may cause concern.
The plot moved at a steady pace, with great character development. It came as a total surprise when the killer was revealed.
September 29, 2025
This was a quick, easy read, with the story set in rural Queensland. A missing boy, a hit & run & flash flooding. Accusations are quick to circle the town with devastating impacts on the local priest. Initial investigations for the missing child are started by Dana & Lachlan with child protection when local police are too focused on the hit & run.
Read it as a standalone novel, as I didn’t realise it was part of a series.
Read it as a standalone novel, as I didn’t realise it was part of a series.
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