If you ever earn an enemy, best not make it a psychopath.
Jonothan Byrne is back working as a paramedic on the streets of Brisbane, living on his yacht in Newport Marina. Everything in his world is looking up, but then his friend, DS Frank Giallo, provides him with an update from Interpol, and Jono’s PTSD nightmares return with a vengeance. Soon after, his life enters free fall, and he wonders if the cause is just an unfortunate sequence of events, or has his nemesis returned to seek revenge?
Written by an award-winning author, who is also a critical care paramedic, this often horrific thriller is the culmination and completion of the ‘Tetralogy of Jono’. So much has happened to him, with each calamity begetting the next, but will it all end in resolution or catastrophe? There’s only one way to find out…
Harry Colfer is the pseudonym of a critical care paramedic who lives and works in Brisbane, Australia. Although his stories are totally fictional, his writing style is very realistic and he maintains a healthy level of paranoia with respect to his anonymity.
Other than the Ambo Tales From The Frontline series, he has written two full length novels featuring the same characters, a murder mystery, Dead Regular, and the thriller sequel, Beneath Contempt. He is currently writing the third novel in the Jono series, High Acuity, with the fourth and final book existing only as ideas, notes, and a title, Show Cause.
The publication of Brisbane writer Harry Colfer’s Show Cause completes ‘The Tetralogy of Jono'. That’s a four-book series, if you’re wondering.
Harry Colfer’s ‘The Tetralogy of Jono’ novels feature the same main protagonist, fictional Brisbane-based paramedic Jonothan ‘Jono’ Byrne, as well as his collection of quirky colleagues and familiar characters who continue within his orbit throughout the series of books as they roar around the streets of Brisbane.
The fourth and final novel, a mystery thriller called Show Cause, published in December 2024, sees ‘Jono’ Byrne back working as a paramedic on the streets of Brisbane, living on his yacht in Newport Marina. Everything in his world is looking up, but then his friend, DS Frank Giallo, provides him with an update from Interpol, and ‘Jono’s’ PTSD nightmares return with a vengeance. Soon after, his life enters free fall, and he wonders if the cause is just an unfortunate sequence of events, or has his nemesis returned to seek revenge?
Harry Colfer’s excellent descriptive prose and his fantastic use of Australian metaphors makes it easy for any reader to enter the fictitious yet very believable world of ‘Jono’ and his professional life working for the Brisbane City Ambulance Service.
This is craft fully written, at times beautiful in its descriptions, at times downright Tarantinoesque in its sense of humour for viscera, and yet at the same time a real page turner, with plots that rocket along as fast as the Code 1 drives that the Ambo’s do. It’s an insider’s view of the emergency world that only a few people ever really get to see.
The quirky references to Brisbane streets and locations were delightful treats to those who can relate and beautifully anchors the series in the streets of Brisbane. The style is easy to read and brilliantly captures the quick-witted banter and sledging that is a common culture of such close, mission-critical teams.
Colfer has a remarkable way of bringing characters into full-blown three-dimensional light. Certainly, no flat characters here. Fully developed, ‘Jono’ and his crew mates take you on a full-tilt journey throughout the novel series not only into the world of Brisbane Ambos but also by engaging murder, action, terrorist, and mystery plots, even with a little romance. Full of unexpected twists that kept me guessing right to the very end of each book, these stories made me laugh throughout and even cry on a couple of occasions.
Harry Colfer is definitely an author with a winning, distinct style. His ‘The Tetralogy of Jono’ is a truly Australian series. He may be laying down his pen and no longer writing about ‘Jono and his crew’ roaring round and round, up and down, through the streets of your town, but there is no doubt he is an author worth watching to where he goes next.
Colfer's emphasis on the streets of Brisbane in all his novels results in the city itself becoming a main character. Even though Jono's world is set in 2012 for me I keep hearing Brisbane of the 1980s floating across the streets of your town. https://youtu.be/8M_P_xX9Cmw
An awesome ending the tetralogy of Jono. A true roller coaster ride in the tumultuous world of Jono and his mates dealing with an omnipresent oppressive antagonist. Can’t wait to see if/what he gets up to next!! Highly recommended reading.
A great ending to the Jonno series. Another great read that kept me wanting to keep reading. Good pace and I was reluctant to put it down - I just had to find out how it ended. Sad to see the end of the Jonno series….