Aww, why does this have to be the last Detective Dave Burrowes book? I've said it before and I'll say it again. Detective Dave is an Aussie literary legend, all thanks to Fleur's amazing writing.
In his last hurrah, we meet Hallie Donaldson, a fashion reporter who's made the big move from Adelaide to outback South Australia after marrying her husband, Alex. Five years on, they are now parents to toddler, Ruby, and Hallie is still struggling with being a farmer's wife.
One day, Hallie and Ruby are watching the live feed of Alex checking the bores when the unthinkable happens. Because they are so isolated, it takes Detective Dave and his constable Mia Worth two and a half hours to arrive at the scene. However tragic, there's no reason but to rule Alex's death as accidental.
Still, Mia's gut instinct tells her otherwise. Yet, she's still a bit green in regards to policing and seeks out her superiors' advice. Dave is adamant with his reasoning, yet at the same time, he's got a lot on his plate. Daughter Bec is getting married, and Dave hasn't had much contact with her and sister Alice for years. He's also contemplating his future with the force, acknowledging that it's nearly time to retire and spend his twilight years with his wife, Kim.
Meanwhile, Hallie is rocked to the core by her husbands death, and her in-laws aren't helping at all, becoming hostile and demanding. There's also the issue of the odd WhatsApp messages still pinging away at Alex's phone, which are concerning at least.
When his mates start arriving in town for the funeral, that's when things start to become a wider issue for Dave and Mia. Within days, Alex's mate, Dan, falls victim to what's ruled as another unfortunate accident. Yet, Mia's spidey senses are going into overdrive, and this time, she's determined to get answers. There's trouble afoot in Barker, with one of the former blood brothers convicted of a seven year old rape and it's especially likely he's out for revenge....
Out in Nowhere is another excellent portrayal of rural life from Fleur. There's no doubt that she retains her crown as Australia's Voice of the Outback. Her characters have become so familiar with us that we keep reading her words, eager to catch up with them once more. Detective Dave is going to be sadly missed in this particular medium (thank goodness that he's appearing in Fleur's subscriber inbox!)
Mia proved that she's got what it takes to be a great cop in this book. The past years' guidance under Dave has done wonders for her skill set. This particular investigation sees her take the lead and ultimately bring about a conviction. I do hope Fleur continues writing Mia as she furthers her career. Please, please, PLEASE put her in charge of the Barker station alongside Chris.
As one legendary police officer departs, we welcome back another. Jack Higgins and his partner Zara Ellison return in The Prospect, out now!
4.75 🌟