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Dying Rose
An investigation into the deaths of six Aboriginal women and the police responses that left families reeling
'If you think it's hard being a white woman in Australia, try being a black woman.' These were the words that set a team of journalists at the Adelaide Advertiser on an investigation into the tragic deaths of six young Indigenous women.
It was Courtney Hunter-Hebberman who uttered those words, up on stage at an International Women's Day event. A shocking number of Indigenous women die every year by murder or suicide, and Courtney's daughter, Rose, was one of them. Rose's apparent death by suicide at nineteen, in a backyard shed, had left her mother craving answers - answers the police seemed unable to give her.
Inspired by Courtney's courage and grief, the Advertiser team hoped to shed light on Rose's death and put Courtney's mind at rest. But what they found, as their investigation of one death rolled into another five, was disturbing. Lack of urgency, sloppy searches, poor communication, and assumptions by police were just some of the problems .
As the team probed further, even bigger questions about whether Indigenous Australians, especially women, are heard when they speak.
Based on the podcast Dying Rose, this is a compelling look at young Indigenous women's vulnerability to danger, and how, when their lives are cut short, their families are left to cope with a grief seemingly compounded by indifference.
'If you think it's hard being a white woman in Australia, try being a black woman.' These were the words that set a team of journalists at the Adelaide Advertiser on an investigation into the tragic deaths of six young Indigenous women.
It was Courtney Hunter-Hebberman who uttered those words, up on stage at an International Women's Day event. A shocking number of Indigenous women die every year by murder or suicide, and Courtney's daughter, Rose, was one of them. Rose's apparent death by suicide at nineteen, in a backyard shed, had left her mother craving answers - answers the police seemed unable to give her.
Inspired by Courtney's courage and grief, the Advertiser team hoped to shed light on Rose's death and put Courtney's mind at rest. But what they found, as their investigation of one death rolled into another five, was disturbing. Lack of urgency, sloppy searches, poor communication, and assumptions by police were just some of the problems .
As the team probed further, even bigger questions about whether Indigenous Australians, especially women, are heard when they speak.
Based on the podcast Dying Rose, this is a compelling look at young Indigenous women's vulnerability to danger, and how, when their lives are cut short, their families are left to cope with a grief seemingly compounded by indifference.
- GenresNonfictionAudiobook
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 19, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 11, 2025
Dying Rose is not an easy read, nor should it be. This book lays bare the heartbreaking reality of how Indigenous young women are perceived and treated within the Australian legal system. What struck me most was the constant thread of institutional assumptions, how quickly authorities move to label a tragedy as a choice, rather than a failure of protection. The unconscious bias embedded within policing, coronial processes, and broader government structures creates a system that is not just flawed but actively inhospitable to the very families seeking answers.
Reading this, I found myself frustrated, not just by the injustices described, but by how hard families had to fight simply to be heard. The emotional toll of grief should never have to coexist with bureaucratic resistance. And yet, in story after story, that’s exactly what happens.
While I didn’t always connect with the writing style, the importance of the story far outweighs any stylistic critique. This is not a book you read for comfort and entertainment, it’s a book you read because silence is complicity. Stories like this must be told, and more importantly, they must be heard.
Reading this, I found myself frustrated, not just by the injustices described, but by how hard families had to fight simply to be heard. The emotional toll of grief should never have to coexist with bureaucratic resistance. And yet, in story after story, that’s exactly what happens.
While I didn’t always connect with the writing style, the importance of the story far outweighs any stylistic critique. This is not a book you read for comfort and entertainment, it’s a book you read because silence is complicity. Stories like this must be told, and more importantly, they must be heard.
March 24, 2025
Important book, but not a writing style I like reading.
May 22, 2025
'If you think it's hard being a white woman in Australia,’ Courtney Hunter-Hebberman said, ‘try being a black woman.’
This book is based on the podcast of the same name which won a Walkley award. The book is an investigation into the deaths of six young Indigenous women.
'If you think it's hard being a white woman in Australia, try being a black woman.' These were the words that set a team of journalists at the Adelaide Advertiser on an investigation into the tragic deaths of six young Indigenous women. Courtney Hunter-Hebberman was on stage at an International Women’s Day event when she uttered these words. Courtney’s daughter Rose, aged 19, apparently died by suicide in a run-down backyard shed. Understandably, Courtney had many questions. Unfortunately, the police were unable to provide the answers she was after.
The Adelaide Advertiser team hoped that their investigation would shed light on Rose’s death and would put Courtney’s mind at rest. Sadly, their investigation into the deaths of the six young Indigenous women raised more questions than it answered. Reading each case raised questions for me as well. The assumptions about suicide in cases where the information/evidence available seemed to make suicide unlikely (if not impossible), ineffective communication and assumptions about individuals did not reflect impartial, effective investigation.
For any family, death by suicide is always distressing and often inexplicable. But in each of the six cases covered in this book, suicide seemed unlikely and unproven. The vulnerability of women, especially of Indigenous women, is an unfortunate fact within Australia. And it is compounded when sudden deaths are not properly investigated. What can we do to improve this? How committed are the authorities to making the changes required? How many more young lives will be lost in similar circumstances? Will we still be asking these same questions in ten years time?
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
This book is based on the podcast of the same name which won a Walkley award. The book is an investigation into the deaths of six young Indigenous women.
'If you think it's hard being a white woman in Australia, try being a black woman.' These were the words that set a team of journalists at the Adelaide Advertiser on an investigation into the tragic deaths of six young Indigenous women. Courtney Hunter-Hebberman was on stage at an International Women’s Day event when she uttered these words. Courtney’s daughter Rose, aged 19, apparently died by suicide in a run-down backyard shed. Understandably, Courtney had many questions. Unfortunately, the police were unable to provide the answers she was after.
The Adelaide Advertiser team hoped that their investigation would shed light on Rose’s death and would put Courtney’s mind at rest. Sadly, their investigation into the deaths of the six young Indigenous women raised more questions than it answered. Reading each case raised questions for me as well. The assumptions about suicide in cases where the information/evidence available seemed to make suicide unlikely (if not impossible), ineffective communication and assumptions about individuals did not reflect impartial, effective investigation.
For any family, death by suicide is always distressing and often inexplicable. But in each of the six cases covered in this book, suicide seemed unlikely and unproven. The vulnerability of women, especially of Indigenous women, is an unfortunate fact within Australia. And it is compounded when sudden deaths are not properly investigated. What can we do to improve this? How committed are the authorities to making the changes required? How many more young lives will be lost in similar circumstances? Will we still be asking these same questions in ten years time?
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
July 22, 2025
"If you think it's hard being a white woman in Australia, try being a black woman"
- Courtney Hunter Hebberman
Every year, an inconceivable amount of indigenous women die by either suicide or murder. Many of the investigations are lacklustre at best and it seems as if suicide is the easiest answer for police to give to close the case. Dying Rose is about 5 Indigenous women and their "suicides" although to me, in most cases their deaths were not self inflicted.
In a country where the goal is to "close the gap", it is disappointing to see that the authorities are so complacent when it comes to the death of Indigenous women. This book hurts your heart and makes you angry but nothing will change unless we all start to face the truth of what is happening in our own backyard.
- Courtney Hunter Hebberman
Every year, an inconceivable amount of indigenous women die by either suicide or murder. Many of the investigations are lacklustre at best and it seems as if suicide is the easiest answer for police to give to close the case. Dying Rose is about 5 Indigenous women and their "suicides" although to me, in most cases their deaths were not self inflicted.
In a country where the goal is to "close the gap", it is disappointing to see that the authorities are so complacent when it comes to the death of Indigenous women. This book hurts your heart and makes you angry but nothing will change unless we all start to face the truth of what is happening in our own backyard.
October 11, 2025
This is a devastating read. Those poor women and their unhappy families. The justice system in Australia is deeply flawed and systemically racist. The police are deeply racist and when it comes to First Nations people, incompetent and indifferent. The media is also indifferent and not only that, biased. They were there at the Alice Springs youth riots (sensation!), but did they bother to look into the antecedents? How can Australia, one of the richest countries in the world, have camps for indigenous people that are little better than rudimentary sheds with no running water or electricity?
August 16, 2025
very thorough investigation of the circumstances around the death of six Aboriginal women. It is disgusting that there is this racism towards Aboriginal people and families - nothing has changed despite the pressure put on the Government and police. It's true that these women's deaths would be treated much differently by police and the media if they were white.
July 20, 2025
A sad but important read - I listened to the audio which didn’t really flow well and given this had been a podcast maybe if you are used to listening to them you could follow it better but it was important information that needs to come out
July 23, 2025
What a tragic collection of heartbreaking stories. The attitude shown by some officials is so careless as to be bordering on contempt for the victims' families. I really really hope this improves, as it is totally unacceptable.
August 13, 2025
Incredible read but also so devastating and heart breaking. I had no idea this was going on in my own backyard and I am aboriginal. And also does make sense from stories I have heard from the Pilbara reading police.
Pray it gets better, racism lowers and government will listen without bias.
Pray it gets better, racism lowers and government will listen without bias.
July 18, 2025
So very sad
November 21, 2025
These stories MUST be told.
November 30, 2025
this will tug at the heart strings and make you mad as hell.. so tired of effort for some but not for all!!
June 15, 2025
Great content but doesn’t read like a book typically does. Definitely feels like it could have stopped as a podcast
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May 1, 2025I unfortunately couldn’t continue with this book as I borrowed the audiobook but I didn’t enjoy the narration at all it was difficult to listen to I didn’t enjoy the writing style. I do feel it’s an important story but maybe the podcast would have been better. DNF at 40%
May 13, 2025
bit of an eye opener, loved the book great style of writing
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews