What do you think?
Rate this book
Gabe Ahern #3
Blood and Gold
The exciting new rural thriller from the bestselling author of WILD DOGS and NO TRACE.
Someone is stalking gold hunters. Now a bushman is stalking them . . .
Terry Drage is not the first amateur gold prospector to rock up to the Murchison Hotel, brag about an exciting discovery – and then vanish into thin air. But Gabe Ahern is determined he will be the last.
No one knows the land around the remote Western Australian town of Cue better than Gabe – a wild dog trapper who's in his element in the bush. Feeling responsible for his friend’s fate, he races there to join the search.
But it won’t be an easy ride. For a start the local cops seem sure Terry going missing is nothing more than a tragic accident. It’s down to Gabe to spot the sinister pattern of disappearances and deaths in recent years.
Plus, the last time Gabe was in his old home town it was under the very worst of circumstances. And now, to stop a killer, he’ll need to confront the ghosts from his past . . .
Someone is stalking gold hunters. Now a bushman is stalking them . . .
Terry Drage is not the first amateur gold prospector to rock up to the Murchison Hotel, brag about an exciting discovery – and then vanish into thin air. But Gabe Ahern is determined he will be the last.
No one knows the land around the remote Western Australian town of Cue better than Gabe – a wild dog trapper who's in his element in the bush. Feeling responsible for his friend’s fate, he races there to join the search.
But it won’t be an easy ride. For a start the local cops seem sure Terry going missing is nothing more than a tragic accident. It’s down to Gabe to spot the sinister pattern of disappearances and deaths in recent years.
Plus, the last time Gabe was in his old home town it was under the very worst of circumstances. And now, to stop a killer, he’ll need to confront the ghosts from his past . . .
323 pages, Paperback
Published January 21, 2025
13 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
About the author
Michael Trant
4 books97 followersMichael Trant is a WA country boy just beginning his new life as an author, following a wide range of careers from marine draftsman to farmer, and pastoralist to FIFO pot-washer. Michael is now based in Perth, having grown up on the family farm at Eneabba, before moving to Geraldton then out to Yalgoo. His debut novel Ridgeview Station was inspired by his time on Gabyon Station, and he highly recommends a visit for those curious about life on a sheep station.
Michael writes with an authentic rural voice, drawing on his experiences to open readers to places and lifestyles foreign to many. He has a passion for farming, writing, and gaming, the order of which vary throughout the year. He still works on farms as a tractor driver, mainly to annoy those teachers who claimed no one would pay him to stare out a window all day.
He is the author of Ridgeview Station, Wild Dogs, and No Trace.
Michael writes with an authentic rural voice, drawing on his experiences to open readers to places and lifestyles foreign to many. He has a passion for farming, writing, and gaming, the order of which vary throughout the year. He still works on farms as a tractor driver, mainly to annoy those teachers who claimed no one would pay him to stare out a window all day.
He is the author of Ridgeview Station, Wild Dogs, and No Trace.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
January 19, 2025
A dedicated country man, Gabe Ahern had been in Perth for awhile, but when he and Heidi received a call from an old mate's daughter, Courtney, saying her dad was missing, Gabe was all ears. He had given his mate, Terry Drage, advice on where to go prospecting up near Gabe's old home town of Cue, and it appeared Terry had found some nuggets, told everyone at the Murchison Hotel about his find, then disappeared. Gabe was immediately on his way, doing the normally 6 hour drive in less. With the local police and the SES involved in the search for Terry, Gabe joined in, as he knew the area well. But what he was hearing about other missing prospectors - both going missing, and being found dead - had Gabe's antennae vibrating. Something dodgy was going on in Cue, and Gabe was determined to discover what it was. He and his good friend Amin had a plan...
Blood and Gold is the 3rd in the Gabe Ahern series by Aussie author Michael Trant and I loved it! Authentic characters, small town country mentality, mixed with the red dirt and vast, desolate isolation of the West Australian outback, made for another brilliant crime/thriller by an author who has mastered the genre. I'm already looking forward to Gabe's next outing; he's a perfectly crafted character, and I loved Antonio as well! Highly recommended.
With thanks to Penguin Random House AU for my ARC to read and review.
Blood and Gold is the 3rd in the Gabe Ahern series by Aussie author Michael Trant and I loved it! Authentic characters, small town country mentality, mixed with the red dirt and vast, desolate isolation of the West Australian outback, made for another brilliant crime/thriller by an author who has mastered the genre. I'm already looking forward to Gabe's next outing; he's a perfectly crafted character, and I loved Antonio as well! Highly recommended.
With thanks to Penguin Random House AU for my ARC to read and review.
April 27, 2025
4★
“The man talked too much.
. . .
The man laughed, dropping the small nugget into a black plastic film canister and pocketing it. ‘Plenty out there, if you have the patience to go look.’
. . .
…the two men still sitting silently in the corner. Their eyes were firmly fixed on the man with gold in his pocket. He was on his phone now…”
Outback Western Australia’s goldfields still attract prospectors and tourists. This fellow is so excited with his find, that he has attracted exactly the wrong kind of attention. When he doesn’t show up at his daughter’s as expected, she contacts police and then Gabe Ahern.
Why Gabe? He was an old dogger (dingo-trapper) whom she’d met when he was tracking people smugglers who’d set up a slave trade in the outback. Courtney is a RAN (Remote Area Nurse) and had helped him save the refugees. She’s aware that Gabe probably knows the Cue area better than the police because he grew up there.
Gabe collects his refugee friend, Amin Tahir (one of the people Courtney helped), and they drive north from Perth to Cue. At the police station, where the SES (rescue service) and other volunteers have gathered, they meet Gabe’s old friend, Antonio Vargis, a Macedonian immigrant (from 30 years ago) who still speaks with such a thick “Mediterranean accent” that the Cue locals refer to it as “Antonese”.
I enjoy Trant’s characters and his descriptions. I can ‘see’ these people. Here are two.
“Antonio Vargis was a short, white-haired man with a deeply tanned and jovial face, though most of it was hidden behind a thick moustache and close-cropped beard. It was no surprise the grocery store owner was called upon to play Santa at the community Christmas tree each year – and each year the kids went home with an expanded vocabulary to complement their new toys.”
. . .
‘Long way between here and Jake’s,’ drawled the jackaroo-looking man. He was sprawled in his chair, long legs stretched out in front of him. Gabe got the impression he was one of those fellas so laid-back you had to line them up with a post to make sure they were moving.”
It turns out the jackaroo-looking man is the young pilot who’s been doing searches for other missing people and is now available to help hunt for Terry Drage, Courtney’s dad. All they have to go on is that Terry told his daughter he’d prospect some more around Cue and then let her know when he was leaving for the Jakob’s River community (“Jake’s”), where she works, in time for her birthday.
Since then, no word. Gabe, Amin, and Antonio make a great team. They split up in different ways, depending on where they’re needed, and talk to the locals. It seems there are other prospectors who’ve gone missing and never found, and a few who’ve been found dead, supposedly accidentally (falling down a mine shaft) or heart attack. All were known to have found and sold gold.
This is not the Outback familiar to readers. It is wet, muddy, unbelievably slippery, and it makes driving next to impossible on any dirt roads. So Gabe has hidden his ute in a safe spot and walked through the bush to spy on a campsite of people he suspects.
“Gabe glanced down at his boots, heavy with mud. Sh*t. There was no way to cover his tracks. He could see the flash of a torch rounding the van. His only option was to keep moving, doing his best not to slip. He struggled through the undergrowth, wincing at every rustling branch and each twinge of his hip. Branches snagged at his jacket like long bony fingers, scraping against the leather. They tore at his beanie and raked against his face, and the clumps of lush wanderrie grass threatened to trip him up every step of the way. He pushed onwards, the long green strands soaking his jeans with moisture.
‘Got footprints! Someone’s been here!”
There are plenty of heart-in-the-mouth moments, and with Trant, we can’t be sure our favourite people will survive. Those who haven’t survived from Gabe’s previous exploits are remembered fondly in occasional intervening chapters titled “Before”. Not only do they explain some of the background, they also remind fans of what haunts and/or drives him.
I can’t not mention Ric Herbert’s narration. I think the author covers it perfectly in his acknowledgments, where he gives thanks to, among others,
“Ric Herbert, the voice of Gabe, and who I now hear in my head when writing these stories: thank you for bringing him to life, and for swearing so beautifully. “
I hear Ric’s voice too, not only for Gabe, but for the many other distinctive voices and accents of Trant’s people – Antonio (thick, gruff Macedonian), Amir (Afghan - Pashtun Afghan, please!), snivelling cowards, tough barmaids, Heidi (his girlfriend), and the various cops and miners. He is not just a narrator, he is a voice actor, and by golly he’s good! You can listen to a preview in libraries or on Amazon, etc.
I sometimes listen while I’m reading or alternate between book and audio. I will add that you don’t need to have read the first two books to enjoy this one. Trant fills in any necessary blanks., but of course I recommend the first two.
My review of Wild Dogs
My review of No Trace
“The man talked too much.
. . .
The man laughed, dropping the small nugget into a black plastic film canister and pocketing it. ‘Plenty out there, if you have the patience to go look.’
. . .
…the two men still sitting silently in the corner. Their eyes were firmly fixed on the man with gold in his pocket. He was on his phone now…”
Outback Western Australia’s goldfields still attract prospectors and tourists. This fellow is so excited with his find, that he has attracted exactly the wrong kind of attention. When he doesn’t show up at his daughter’s as expected, she contacts police and then Gabe Ahern.
Why Gabe? He was an old dogger (dingo-trapper) whom she’d met when he was tracking people smugglers who’d set up a slave trade in the outback. Courtney is a RAN (Remote Area Nurse) and had helped him save the refugees. She’s aware that Gabe probably knows the Cue area better than the police because he grew up there.
Gabe collects his refugee friend, Amin Tahir (one of the people Courtney helped), and they drive north from Perth to Cue. At the police station, where the SES (rescue service) and other volunteers have gathered, they meet Gabe’s old friend, Antonio Vargis, a Macedonian immigrant (from 30 years ago) who still speaks with such a thick “Mediterranean accent” that the Cue locals refer to it as “Antonese”.
I enjoy Trant’s characters and his descriptions. I can ‘see’ these people. Here are two.
“Antonio Vargis was a short, white-haired man with a deeply tanned and jovial face, though most of it was hidden behind a thick moustache and close-cropped beard. It was no surprise the grocery store owner was called upon to play Santa at the community Christmas tree each year – and each year the kids went home with an expanded vocabulary to complement their new toys.”
. . .
‘Long way between here and Jake’s,’ drawled the jackaroo-looking man. He was sprawled in his chair, long legs stretched out in front of him. Gabe got the impression he was one of those fellas so laid-back you had to line them up with a post to make sure they were moving.”
It turns out the jackaroo-looking man is the young pilot who’s been doing searches for other missing people and is now available to help hunt for Terry Drage, Courtney’s dad. All they have to go on is that Terry told his daughter he’d prospect some more around Cue and then let her know when he was leaving for the Jakob’s River community (“Jake’s”), where she works, in time for her birthday.
Since then, no word. Gabe, Amin, and Antonio make a great team. They split up in different ways, depending on where they’re needed, and talk to the locals. It seems there are other prospectors who’ve gone missing and never found, and a few who’ve been found dead, supposedly accidentally (falling down a mine shaft) or heart attack. All were known to have found and sold gold.
This is not the Outback familiar to readers. It is wet, muddy, unbelievably slippery, and it makes driving next to impossible on any dirt roads. So Gabe has hidden his ute in a safe spot and walked through the bush to spy on a campsite of people he suspects.
“Gabe glanced down at his boots, heavy with mud. Sh*t. There was no way to cover his tracks. He could see the flash of a torch rounding the van. His only option was to keep moving, doing his best not to slip. He struggled through the undergrowth, wincing at every rustling branch and each twinge of his hip. Branches snagged at his jacket like long bony fingers, scraping against the leather. They tore at his beanie and raked against his face, and the clumps of lush wanderrie grass threatened to trip him up every step of the way. He pushed onwards, the long green strands soaking his jeans with moisture.
‘Got footprints! Someone’s been here!”
There are plenty of heart-in-the-mouth moments, and with Trant, we can’t be sure our favourite people will survive. Those who haven’t survived from Gabe’s previous exploits are remembered fondly in occasional intervening chapters titled “Before”. Not only do they explain some of the background, they also remind fans of what haunts and/or drives him.
I can’t not mention Ric Herbert’s narration. I think the author covers it perfectly in his acknowledgments, where he gives thanks to, among others,
“Ric Herbert, the voice of Gabe, and who I now hear in my head when writing these stories: thank you for bringing him to life, and for swearing so beautifully. “
I hear Ric’s voice too, not only for Gabe, but for the many other distinctive voices and accents of Trant’s people – Antonio (thick, gruff Macedonian), Amir (Afghan - Pashtun Afghan, please!), snivelling cowards, tough barmaids, Heidi (his girlfriend), and the various cops and miners. He is not just a narrator, he is a voice actor, and by golly he’s good! You can listen to a preview in libraries or on Amazon, etc.
I sometimes listen while I’m reading or alternate between book and audio. I will add that you don’t need to have read the first two books to enjoy this one. Trant fills in any necessary blanks., but of course I recommend the first two.
My review of Wild Dogs
My review of No Trace
January 9, 2025
Absolutely loved this wild adventure in remote WA, our third with Gabe. He returns to Cue after getting a call from his mate Terrys daughter to say that she is worried about him. He has been out looking for gold and she hasn’t heard from him in days. Knowing Terry and the rough terrain that he is in, Gabe enlists his friend Amin and they head to the outback to find him.
Once again, the landscape, dry and desolate, plays a massive role in this story. We head from the city in Perth and travel across Western Australia on dirt roads, seeing few cars or people for hours. Terry was last seen bragging about his gold find, and Gabe and Amin soon discover that he is not the first gold prospector to go missing after a find.
It is an action packed story from start to finish. I did also love finding out more about Gabes past and his relationship with Val. We meet some unsavoury characters along this journey. Makes it hard to know who to trust, but makes for one belter of a story.
Thanks so much to Penguin Books Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on January 21st.
Once again, the landscape, dry and desolate, plays a massive role in this story. We head from the city in Perth and travel across Western Australia on dirt roads, seeing few cars or people for hours. Terry was last seen bragging about his gold find, and Gabe and Amin soon discover that he is not the first gold prospector to go missing after a find.
It is an action packed story from start to finish. I did also love finding out more about Gabes past and his relationship with Val. We meet some unsavoury characters along this journey. Makes it hard to know who to trust, but makes for one belter of a story.
Thanks so much to Penguin Books Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on January 21st.
June 1, 2025
Another great rural Australian thriller, vividly depicting the outback landscape. This is the third story featuring Gabe Ahern, my favourite gruff, yet wily bushman and dog trapper. The first book is Wild Dogs, and second book is No Trace, both action-packed, outback crime thriller stories.
Blood and Gold, is set in the drought-ridden, Western Australian town of Cue, where another amateur gold prospector disappears after an exciting discovery. Gabe returns to his old hometown when an old friend disappears, and he soon notices a sinister pattern of death and disappearances…
Michael Trant has written another brilliant Australian crime fiction story, with an authentic depiction of an outback community, a memorable cast of characters and an interesting mystery involving missing or dead gold prospectors.
This story has cemented Michael Trant as an auto-read author for me.
Format: Audiobook, thanks to Borrowbox
Blood and Gold, is set in the drought-ridden, Western Australian town of Cue, where another amateur gold prospector disappears after an exciting discovery. Gabe returns to his old hometown when an old friend disappears, and he soon notices a sinister pattern of death and disappearances…
Michael Trant has written another brilliant Australian crime fiction story, with an authentic depiction of an outback community, a memorable cast of characters and an interesting mystery involving missing or dead gold prospectors.
This story has cemented Michael Trant as an auto-read author for me.
Format: Audiobook, thanks to Borrowbox
March 10, 2025
This was an author I hadnt read before. So glad I did , because I loved it. I did jump in the series at number 3 and Ill definately be reading the first 2. I really connected with Gabe. I loved his determination in wanting to solve the mystery, and of course his sense of humour. I thorughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more.
This book has/is :
* gold prospecting
* missing person
* unpredictable ( did not guess the "who)
* Setting of WA, Australia ( felt like i was there)
* brilliant ending
* great characters
* all about the "who " and the " where"
Highly recommend.
This book has/is :
* gold prospecting
* missing person
* unpredictable ( did not guess the "who)
* Setting of WA, Australia ( felt like i was there)
* brilliant ending
* great characters
* all about the "who " and the " where"
Highly recommend.
September 30, 2025
Outback Australia is the perfect setting for a thriller and Trant has used this setting to perfection. His descriptions of the countryside, the cold of an outback night and the local townsfolk bring out the essence of the Australian outback and the rugged people who spend their life chasing gold.
Whilst I found the start of the book a bit slow the pace soon ramped up and I flew through the last 100 pages eager to see if Gabe would solve the mystery without getting himself killed.
Trant leaves a few well placed red-herrings and lots of suspicious characters and goings on to keep the mystery compelling which kept me guessing right up to the nail-biting ending.
Blood and Gold was a roller coaster ride of a read. Trant captures the feel of the outback, its remoteness and vastness, in this compelling outback thriller.
Whilst I found the start of the book a bit slow the pace soon ramped up and I flew through the last 100 pages eager to see if Gabe would solve the mystery without getting himself killed.
Trant leaves a few well placed red-herrings and lots of suspicious characters and goings on to keep the mystery compelling which kept me guessing right up to the nail-biting ending.
Blood and Gold was a roller coaster ride of a read. Trant captures the feel of the outback, its remoteness and vastness, in this compelling outback thriller.
January 9, 2025
Big thanks to Penguin for sending us a copy to read and review.
A gold prospector has disappeared from a remote WA town.
Flaunting gold finds not a good idea in town where it is easy to disappear and greed is abundant.
Gabe returns to an area he is familiar with to track down the missing Terry Drage.
Enlisting the help of his mate Amin they head up.
Rough and gruff he has a soft spot and a respect for Amin, the Afghan refugee who escaped treachery and risked his life in a journey to a safer shore.
Suspicions are aroused when they find Terry’s body.
Foul play the cause.
Amin risks his life in replicating the scenario they believe entrapped the unsuspecting victim.
Together they a form a formidable duo in a tense and exciting race to solve the mystery.
A local lesson on how cold this region gets was an eye opener and how deceiving an outback desert can be.
Landscape comes alive and the well developed mannerisms and traits of the lead characters enhances the gritty plot.
The sensitive appreciation of friendship between two unlikely men is a winning combination for me.
A gold prospector has disappeared from a remote WA town.
Flaunting gold finds not a good idea in town where it is easy to disappear and greed is abundant.
Gabe returns to an area he is familiar with to track down the missing Terry Drage.
Enlisting the help of his mate Amin they head up.
Rough and gruff he has a soft spot and a respect for Amin, the Afghan refugee who escaped treachery and risked his life in a journey to a safer shore.
Suspicions are aroused when they find Terry’s body.
Foul play the cause.
Amin risks his life in replicating the scenario they believe entrapped the unsuspecting victim.
Together they a form a formidable duo in a tense and exciting race to solve the mystery.
A local lesson on how cold this region gets was an eye opener and how deceiving an outback desert can be.
Landscape comes alive and the well developed mannerisms and traits of the lead characters enhances the gritty plot.
The sensitive appreciation of friendship between two unlikely men is a winning combination for me.
February 14, 2025
Another cracker featuring our favourite ex-dogger Gabe, purveyor of roll your own cigs and a cold beer. This time he's in red dirt country, out the back of Cue, chasing down who's killing amateur prospectors for their gold nuggets. Go for gold and grab yourself a copy!
April 25, 2025
This was a wonderful read. However, I did love the first two books more. I did love how all the characters from the first two books were included. I hope there is a fourth book.
August 29, 2025
Review to follow.
February 2, 2025
Fabulous!! (Audiobook)
Just like with Wild Dogs and No Trace this book was a nonstop action-packed ride that I couldn't put down. This was supposed to last me the drive to work and back for the week, instead it lasted 2 days because when I got home from work on day two I could not press stop and kept listening for another 3.5 hours until it was time for bed.
Once again Michael Trant along with Gabe, took me on a wild ride through the WA outback with some great (and not so great) Aussie characters and danger around every corner.
Ric Herbert (Narrator) once again does a fabulous job of bring Gabe and the cast of characters to life, he embodies Gabe's character so well that I think if I were to meet him I would want to call him Gabe.
In Blood and Gold we are reunited with Amin (the Afghan Refugee that Gabe helped out in Wild Dogs) while they travel out to Cue because their friend Courtney, (the nurse who became part of their dangerous adventure in Wild Dogs) calls because her father Terry, who was prospecting hasn't shown up. We also get to see how Gabe and Heidi (his love interest from No Trace) are going, she also gives him some help while he is tracking down the bad guys in Cue.
As well as uncovering the truth behind Terry's disappearance, Gabe is forced to confront some ghosts from the past and lay them to rest.
There are twists and turns around every bend in this action/thriller and I was there for all of them. I really hope we see more of Gabe in the future.
While this can be read as a standalone you will be missing out on some great reading/listening if you don't read the other two novels.
Just like with Wild Dogs and No Trace this book was a nonstop action-packed ride that I couldn't put down. This was supposed to last me the drive to work and back for the week, instead it lasted 2 days because when I got home from work on day two I could not press stop and kept listening for another 3.5 hours until it was time for bed.
Once again Michael Trant along with Gabe, took me on a wild ride through the WA outback with some great (and not so great) Aussie characters and danger around every corner.
Ric Herbert (Narrator) once again does a fabulous job of bring Gabe and the cast of characters to life, he embodies Gabe's character so well that I think if I were to meet him I would want to call him Gabe.
In Blood and Gold we are reunited with Amin (the Afghan Refugee that Gabe helped out in Wild Dogs) while they travel out to Cue because their friend Courtney, (the nurse who became part of their dangerous adventure in Wild Dogs) calls because her father Terry, who was prospecting hasn't shown up. We also get to see how Gabe and Heidi (his love interest from No Trace) are going, she also gives him some help while he is tracking down the bad guys in Cue.
As well as uncovering the truth behind Terry's disappearance, Gabe is forced to confront some ghosts from the past and lay them to rest.
There are twists and turns around every bend in this action/thriller and I was there for all of them. I really hope we see more of Gabe in the future.
While this can be read as a standalone you will be missing out on some great reading/listening if you don't read the other two novels.
February 12, 2025
WOW Just WOW!!
This one had me reading till way past my bed time!
Once I hit a certain part, there was no chance of putting it down!
Gabe certainly gets himself into mischief in this one!!
Absolutely Fantastic!!
This one had me reading till way past my bed time!
Once I hit a certain part, there was no chance of putting it down!
Gabe certainly gets himself into mischief in this one!!
Absolutely Fantastic!!
September 2, 2025
Blood and Dust by Michael Trant
My third book read by this author and the third in a series featuring the delightful character of the bushy Gabe Ahern. Once again the book starts at a great pace, gained my interest and was a page turner thereafter. A lovely character from book one (Wild Dogs), Amin, features in this book too, he is an extra special man and his honesty, humour and common sense are welcome amongst the heavier topics of violence and murders. The Australian environment (set in Northern Western Australia) is as real as words can make it, yes you can almost smell the dust from the road, the eucalyptus trees let alone the sweat and fear of men doing wrong things. In amongst the action is a background story of grief, guilt and forgiveness, explored in a subtle and gentle way. Each reader will learn something new about them selves too as they read, and understand why Gabe presents as he does. An excellent book that I recommend to readers of all genres.
On a side note this was my online book club August read. The author attended the second half of our online discussion, what a lovely fellow and how good to be able to ask him questions directly about his research and writing ideas!
My third book read by this author and the third in a series featuring the delightful character of the bushy Gabe Ahern. Once again the book starts at a great pace, gained my interest and was a page turner thereafter. A lovely character from book one (Wild Dogs), Amin, features in this book too, he is an extra special man and his honesty, humour and common sense are welcome amongst the heavier topics of violence and murders. The Australian environment (set in Northern Western Australia) is as real as words can make it, yes you can almost smell the dust from the road, the eucalyptus trees let alone the sweat and fear of men doing wrong things. In amongst the action is a background story of grief, guilt and forgiveness, explored in a subtle and gentle way. Each reader will learn something new about them selves too as they read, and understand why Gabe presents as he does. An excellent book that I recommend to readers of all genres.
On a side note this was my online book club August read. The author attended the second half of our online discussion, what a lovely fellow and how good to be able to ask him questions directly about his research and writing ideas!
June 29, 2025
Another Gabe Ahern mystery set in Cue, WA, with gold prospectors, shady characters and the heroic, loyal refugee Amin. Also some of the best realistic Aussie dialogue I’ve read. Made for television!
March 31, 2025
Another excellent offering in the Gabe Ahern saga.
Australian rural noir as it’s meant to be; gritty, dramatic, raw, honest. Trant delivers the Australian bush and outback as vividly as is possible, littered with loveable larrikins and sinister souls. You can almost smell the trees and feel the dirt.
There is nothing new in his fictional style; but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it? The old school, hardworking bushman, a bit rough around the edges, suspicious events that hide more than meets the eye, the ensuing journey through rugged WA and a dogged determination to get to the bottom of things, and I didn’t pick the ending!
I enjoy the way each of the author’s books are linked and we follow the characters from adventure to adventure but also appreciate that they may be read as a stand alone without missing any plot relevant content or back story.
Will definitely read the next one and hope for many more!
Australian rural noir as it’s meant to be; gritty, dramatic, raw, honest. Trant delivers the Australian bush and outback as vividly as is possible, littered with loveable larrikins and sinister souls. You can almost smell the trees and feel the dirt.
There is nothing new in his fictional style; but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it? The old school, hardworking bushman, a bit rough around the edges, suspicious events that hide more than meets the eye, the ensuing journey through rugged WA and a dogged determination to get to the bottom of things, and I didn’t pick the ending!
I enjoy the way each of the author’s books are linked and we follow the characters from adventure to adventure but also appreciate that they may be read as a stand alone without missing any plot relevant content or back story.
Will definitely read the next one and hope for many more!
January 31, 2025
This is the third book showcasing the return of Gabe Ahern, and my first time I’ve read of his adventures. Gabe returns to Cue after the daughter of one of his friends makes contact because they have not heard from their father, Terry after he headed inland to do some gold prospecting. Cue is full of tourists with caravans, and others with a nose for gold. The other problem is that it is the place he escaped from after the death of his partner, Valerie, several years ago.
This story benefits from Michael Trant’s life experience in Western Australia, and he captured the red and gold colours of the outback and the terrain so vividly. The coating of mud on their clothing and their boots and the roaring sound was under storms is captured with such detail. The terrain covered in this book seems so vast and so desolate and away from everything yet the small towns that other starting and stopping points for this story I full of life and colour and energy.
There are some fabulous characters in this book like Gabe and his afghani refugee friend, Amin, who is also seen the battlefields in more than one way. I especially loved Antonio Vargas, an old SES volunteer who speaks his own language - Antonese - that no one can understand, and makes a mean grappa. Seargeant Davies and Constable Rogers a stretched to the limit but they're also welcome support for Gabe. Knowing Terry and the rough terrain that he is in, Gabe enlists his friend Amin and they head to the outback to find him.
I have not read a story before that delves so deeply into modern day gold prospecting in Australia. It was quite interesting to read about it and how there is still a drive to look for gold in all the usual and unusual places. The fact that there are so many skillfully written wrong turns and perceptions about particular people really keep this story moving so you never quite clear about who is behind Terry's disappearance. Even the flashbacks to the past where gay boys with Valerie provided great insight about game as well as clever misdirections about characters in their past and Gabe’s present.
Thank to #penguinaus for the #gifted copy
This story benefits from Michael Trant’s life experience in Western Australia, and he captured the red and gold colours of the outback and the terrain so vividly. The coating of mud on their clothing and their boots and the roaring sound was under storms is captured with such detail. The terrain covered in this book seems so vast and so desolate and away from everything yet the small towns that other starting and stopping points for this story I full of life and colour and energy.
There are some fabulous characters in this book like Gabe and his afghani refugee friend, Amin, who is also seen the battlefields in more than one way. I especially loved Antonio Vargas, an old SES volunteer who speaks his own language - Antonese - that no one can understand, and makes a mean grappa. Seargeant Davies and Constable Rogers a stretched to the limit but they're also welcome support for Gabe. Knowing Terry and the rough terrain that he is in, Gabe enlists his friend Amin and they head to the outback to find him.
I have not read a story before that delves so deeply into modern day gold prospecting in Australia. It was quite interesting to read about it and how there is still a drive to look for gold in all the usual and unusual places. The fact that there are so many skillfully written wrong turns and perceptions about particular people really keep this story moving so you never quite clear about who is behind Terry's disappearance. Even the flashbacks to the past where gay boys with Valerie provided great insight about game as well as clever misdirections about characters in their past and Gabe’s present.
Thank to #penguinaus for the #gifted copy
August 14, 2025
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: fiction - crime, suspense, thriller, outback noir
Does the blurb reflect the plot: yes, it’s a great overview of what’s to come
Sum it up: Protagonist Gabe Arhen is back, and for a man who likes the simple life; he is once again embroiled in a situation where there is so much more going on that meets the eye. I love Trant’s writing. He captures the Aussie outback so well, making it easy to visualise the characters as they go about their business in a plot the builds through a twisty turvy manner, throwing you off the beaten track with red herrings; before ultimately coming to a spectacular ending. Centring the plot around gold prospecting added an interesting dimension to the book and I appreciated Trant’s restraint in that he’s obviously researched this pursuit, but has refrained from including every single bit of research so that it takes away from this suspenseful thriller. In this third book featuring Gabe, I applaud Trant for being one of those great authors that write in a way that means you can read Blood and Gold as a standalone book; but that’s there is plenty of new character development for Gabe, Amin and Courtney. Another brilliant read from one of my favourite Aussie authors, I highly recommend that you read Blood and Gold, as you should also read it’s two predecessors; and I hope that this isn’t the last we will hear from Gabe.
Who should read it: anyone who loves crime books, especially the sub-genres of suspense and thriller; and outback noir will devour Blood and Gold, but it’s a book that you’d be hard pressed not to enjoy no matter what sort of fiction books you like to read.
To play along with my book bingo and to see what else I’m reading, go to #ktbookbingo or @peggyanne_readsandruns on Instagram.
Genre: fiction - crime, suspense, thriller, outback noir
Does the blurb reflect the plot: yes, it’s a great overview of what’s to come
Sum it up: Protagonist Gabe Arhen is back, and for a man who likes the simple life; he is once again embroiled in a situation where there is so much more going on that meets the eye. I love Trant’s writing. He captures the Aussie outback so well, making it easy to visualise the characters as they go about their business in a plot the builds through a twisty turvy manner, throwing you off the beaten track with red herrings; before ultimately coming to a spectacular ending. Centring the plot around gold prospecting added an interesting dimension to the book and I appreciated Trant’s restraint in that he’s obviously researched this pursuit, but has refrained from including every single bit of research so that it takes away from this suspenseful thriller. In this third book featuring Gabe, I applaud Trant for being one of those great authors that write in a way that means you can read Blood and Gold as a standalone book; but that’s there is plenty of new character development for Gabe, Amin and Courtney. Another brilliant read from one of my favourite Aussie authors, I highly recommend that you read Blood and Gold, as you should also read it’s two predecessors; and I hope that this isn’t the last we will hear from Gabe.
Who should read it: anyone who loves crime books, especially the sub-genres of suspense and thriller; and outback noir will devour Blood and Gold, but it’s a book that you’d be hard pressed not to enjoy no matter what sort of fiction books you like to read.
To play along with my book bingo and to see what else I’m reading, go to #ktbookbingo or @peggyanne_readsandruns on Instagram.
January 20, 2025
Happy Publication Day to the third book in Michael Trant’s Gabe Ahern series, Blood and Gold. I have been absolutely loving these books and was thrilled to dive back in.
Opening in the local pub in the outback town of Cue, a man is bragging about the gold he has found. Days later he fails to arrive at his destination and it turns out that he is not the first prospector to go missing in this area. Did his boasting attract the attention of the wrong people, or has he gotten lost in the bush? Former wild dog trapper, Gabe Ahern, is determined to find out, especially as the guy was a friend and he was the one that sent him out there. When the local police refuse to listen, Gabe takes matters into his own hands. However, the last time he was in Cue he left under incredibly tragic circumstances. Can he overcome the ghosts of the past and find the culprits before it’s too late?
The prickly character of Gabe Ahern is the type of person who burrows their way under your skin. Although a man of few social graces and one to tell it like it is, his bush knowledge and survival skills are second to none. I also love his unwavering loyalty and courage when it comes to his small circle of friends. Putting himself in harm’s way is a normal day for Gabe if it means helping a friend.
I also enjoyed seeing many of the characters from the two previous books make an appearance and being shown Gabe’s past in the town of Cue.
Blood and Gold is a fast paced and addictive rural thriller that should not be missed. It can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading Wild Dogs and No Trace first to get to know Gabe better.
Opening in the local pub in the outback town of Cue, a man is bragging about the gold he has found. Days later he fails to arrive at his destination and it turns out that he is not the first prospector to go missing in this area. Did his boasting attract the attention of the wrong people, or has he gotten lost in the bush? Former wild dog trapper, Gabe Ahern, is determined to find out, especially as the guy was a friend and he was the one that sent him out there. When the local police refuse to listen, Gabe takes matters into his own hands. However, the last time he was in Cue he left under incredibly tragic circumstances. Can he overcome the ghosts of the past and find the culprits before it’s too late?
The prickly character of Gabe Ahern is the type of person who burrows their way under your skin. Although a man of few social graces and one to tell it like it is, his bush knowledge and survival skills are second to none. I also love his unwavering loyalty and courage when it comes to his small circle of friends. Putting himself in harm’s way is a normal day for Gabe if it means helping a friend.
I also enjoyed seeing many of the characters from the two previous books make an appearance and being shown Gabe’s past in the town of Cue.
Blood and Gold is a fast paced and addictive rural thriller that should not be missed. It can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading Wild Dogs and No Trace first to get to know Gabe better.
January 27, 2025
4.5⭐/5
Blood and Gold, the third book in this series featuring everyone's favourite outback dogger, Gabe Ahern, is another heart pounding thrill fest in the wilds of outback WA.
This adventure sees Gabe head back to the town of Cue when a mate goes missing while prospecting for gold.
Accompanied by Amin, who we know from Wild Dogs, Gabe is determined to find his missing mate. What he doesn't know is that he is going to find much more than he bargained for.
With a cast of characters that really make this story a rollicking read, I was hooked from the beginning and happily strapped in for the ride. I love getting a real sense of place when I read, and Michael certainly does that well.
We find out much more about what makes Gabe tick in this story with a number of chapters set in Gabe's past, and it was so good to learn more about him.
I have grown very fond of Gabe over the course of three books. He is a salt of the earth, honest, hard working, true blue type of guy. He is not afraid to say he was wrong and is happy to take people at face value and not judge.
Blood and Gold, the third book in this series featuring everyone's favourite outback dogger, Gabe Ahern, is another heart pounding thrill fest in the wilds of outback WA.
This adventure sees Gabe head back to the town of Cue when a mate goes missing while prospecting for gold.
Accompanied by Amin, who we know from Wild Dogs, Gabe is determined to find his missing mate. What he doesn't know is that he is going to find much more than he bargained for.
With a cast of characters that really make this story a rollicking read, I was hooked from the beginning and happily strapped in for the ride. I love getting a real sense of place when I read, and Michael certainly does that well.
We find out much more about what makes Gabe tick in this story with a number of chapters set in Gabe's past, and it was so good to learn more about him.
I have grown very fond of Gabe over the course of three books. He is a salt of the earth, honest, hard working, true blue type of guy. He is not afraid to say he was wrong and is happy to take people at face value and not judge.
July 22, 2025
Thank you to Penguin Australia for sending me a copy of this book to review!
When Gabe recommends that his friend Terry go gold prospecting in the remote West Australian town of Cue, he does not expect him to vanish without a trace. While the police think it is an isolated incident, Gabe is not so sure.
When he arrives in town to join the search, Gabe begins to see more and more evidence of this being a pattern in recent years rather than simply an accident and he intends to find out who is responsible.
This was a great action-packed story that I don’t think you need to have read the first two books to appreciate. (For reference, I have only read the first book, not the second). There are some repeat characters, but I think it is fine as a standalone story.
The characters are authentic (particularly Gabe who is a slightly grumpy, but likeable hero) and the dialogue is representative of how many Australians talk. The storyline moves along at a good pace and keeps the reader engaged, with plenty of twists! Enjoyed it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
When Gabe recommends that his friend Terry go gold prospecting in the remote West Australian town of Cue, he does not expect him to vanish without a trace. While the police think it is an isolated incident, Gabe is not so sure.
When he arrives in town to join the search, Gabe begins to see more and more evidence of this being a pattern in recent years rather than simply an accident and he intends to find out who is responsible.
This was a great action-packed story that I don’t think you need to have read the first two books to appreciate. (For reference, I have only read the first book, not the second). There are some repeat characters, but I think it is fine as a standalone story.
The characters are authentic (particularly Gabe who is a slightly grumpy, but likeable hero) and the dialogue is representative of how many Australians talk. The storyline moves along at a good pace and keeps the reader engaged, with plenty of twists! Enjoyed it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
March 28, 2025
4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibes: Gold Prospecting, Outback Crime, High Stakes Danger
- - -
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, nobody does crime fiction like Australian authors.
Crime in the Aussie outback just hits different and Michael Trant perfectly proves why. Dust, dirt and a whole lot of danger - this book has it all.
This is the third book in the Gabe Ahern series, and the second I have read (it’s the perfect series to read in order or jump in anywhere like I did). Gabe is your classic tough as nails country bloke who has a knack for stumbling into danger, this time in the remote goldfields of Western Australia.
With gripping mystery, heart racing suspense, vividly depicted landscapes and a cast of characters that feel so authentically Aussie, this one’s an absolute ride.
If you’re a fan of other brilliant Aussie authors like Patricia Wolf, Margaret Hickey and James Dunbar, you’re going to be a big fan of this one.
Vibes: Gold Prospecting, Outback Crime, High Stakes Danger
- - -
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, nobody does crime fiction like Australian authors.
Crime in the Aussie outback just hits different and Michael Trant perfectly proves why. Dust, dirt and a whole lot of danger - this book has it all.
This is the third book in the Gabe Ahern series, and the second I have read (it’s the perfect series to read in order or jump in anywhere like I did). Gabe is your classic tough as nails country bloke who has a knack for stumbling into danger, this time in the remote goldfields of Western Australia.
With gripping mystery, heart racing suspense, vividly depicted landscapes and a cast of characters that feel so authentically Aussie, this one’s an absolute ride.
If you’re a fan of other brilliant Aussie authors like Patricia Wolf, Margaret Hickey and James Dunbar, you’re going to be a big fan of this one.
March 27, 2025
A standalone rural noir, Blood and Gold (2025) by Michael Trant, once again features wild dog trapper Gabe Ahern. Set in remote Western Australia, gold prospector Terry Drage goes missing, after bragging of his find one night at the Murchison Hotel. Gabe joins in the local search for his missing friend and discovers he is the fifth gold fossicker to go missing or found dead in the local area. Becoming suspicious of a local gold buyer and former adversary, Gabe sets up a sting operation that places his life and sidekick, Amin in grave danger. Overall, a truly enjoyable rural thriller with an ever-increasing tension and action finale, that is a four and a half star read rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.
February 12, 2025
5 star! 5 star! 5 star!! I thought that Wild Dogs was a great read, this one totally outshines it. Loved it!
I would recommend that you read Wild Dogs first as it sets the scene for all the characters in this book. Gabe is a great character, and he is the most persistent, dogged person on the planet. This book delves into his past and you meet the partner from his past and the incident which has haunted him through the last two books. I found it heart breaking. Poor Gabe.
I couldn't put this one down and the pace increased as the book went on. And, I never guessed 'who dunnit' which I also love. Okay Michael, you're going to have to speed up your writing, we can't wait another year!
I would recommend that you read Wild Dogs first as it sets the scene for all the characters in this book. Gabe is a great character, and he is the most persistent, dogged person on the planet. This book delves into his past and you meet the partner from his past and the incident which has haunted him through the last two books. I found it heart breaking. Poor Gabe.
I couldn't put this one down and the pace increased as the book went on. And, I never guessed 'who dunnit' which I also love. Okay Michael, you're going to have to speed up your writing, we can't wait another year!
January 12, 2025
We’re again in remote WA with our dog-trapper Gabe Ahern.
Gabe sends his friend to his old home town to do some amateur gold prospecting. When his friend goes missing, Gabe goes looking for Terry, only to find he’s not the first missing prospector.
In returning to his old home town, Gabe must confront some old demons in addition to trying to find some answers.
An exciting rural thriller.
Gabe sends his friend to his old home town to do some amateur gold prospecting. When his friend goes missing, Gabe goes looking for Terry, only to find he’s not the first missing prospector.
In returning to his old home town, Gabe must confront some old demons in addition to trying to find some answers.
An exciting rural thriller.
April 11, 2025
Number 2 in the series was not available so I skipped ahead to book 3 while I wait.
Another explosive, fast paced novel with a bit too much violence...but I'm invested as I find it captivating and really well written.
The main characters are interesting, well developed and believable, although it is hard to comprehend how, with all the deaths, that they didn't end up in prison.
Hoping there will be a #4 in the series.
Another explosive, fast paced novel with a bit too much violence...but I'm invested as I find it captivating and really well written.
The main characters are interesting, well developed and believable, although it is hard to comprehend how, with all the deaths, that they didn't end up in prison.
Hoping there will be a #4 in the series.
October 22, 2025
A well-deserved five stars! This is the first of Michael's books for me and I can't wait to read more. Fast paced, gritty and so believable. I loved the twist at the end—no spoilers but I didn't see that coming! The characters were strong and although I know how hot it can get in remote Western Australia, it was great to read a book set during winter. I shivered with Gabe, the wild dog trapper and loved the story from the first paragraph.
April 6, 2025
This novel was terrific and kept me on the edge of my seat (or rather turning the pages!). The character of Gabe was the perfect bushy, and how Michael captured the change of the land had me missing my time in outback WA.
May 9, 2025
I enjoyed this rural noir crime by this competant author.
I have given this an extra 1/2 because MT kept his book to 300pp unlike so many authors who have a basic story and seem to require 400pp to tell it !
I have given this an extra 1/2 because MT kept his book to 300pp unlike so many authors who have a basic story and seem to require 400pp to tell it !
August 10, 2025
I really like the character Gabe. Great read with endearing characters, Australian bush blokes doing their thing. I live in the Pilbara, Michael does such a great job of creating a visual image of Cue and the sounding country, the Gascoyne.
January 19, 2025
Michael Trant paints the West Australian landscape with dark shades of mystery and malice, Gabe and Amin, heroes glowing bright true lead us to the truth.
Fabulous read.
Fabulous read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews