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Melaleuca
A country town, a brutal murder, a shameful past, a reckoning to come... The injustices of the past and dangers of the present envelop Aboriginal policewoman Renee Taylor, when her unwilling return to the small outback town of her childhood plunges her into the investigation of a brutal murder.
Renee Taylor is planning to stay the minimum amount of time in her remote hometown - only as long as her mum needs her, then she is fleeing back to her real life in Brisbane.
Seconded to the town's sleepy police station, Renee is pretty sure work will hold nothing more exciting than delivering speeding tickets. Then a murdered woman is found down by the creek on the outskirts of town.
Leading the investigation, Renee uncovers a perplexing connection to the disappearance of two young women thirty years earlier. As she delves deeper and the mystery unfurls, intergenerational cruelties, endemic racism, and deep corruption show themselves, even as dark and bitter truths about the town and its inhabitants' past rise up and threaten to overwhelm the present...
Authentic, gripping crime drama from a bright new voice in fiction.
'A page-turner with purpose. Refreshing, surprising, and propulsive. Angie Faye Martin is a name to watch.' Tracey Lien, author of All That's Left Unsaid
'Melaleuca is rich with authenticity and heart. Angie Faye Martin skillfully paints a picture of outback Queensland so that the scents, sounds and heat become a physical experience for the reader.' Laura McCluskey, author of The Wolf Tree
'Atmospheric and blistering. Melaleuca will leave you wanting more. What a remarkable debut.' Fleur McDonald, author of The Prospect
'A fresh, authentic perspective to the much-loved genre of the Australian outback thriller. Compelling, thought-provoking and twisty, Melaleuca is both a gripping, tightly plotted mystery and an unflinching exploration of the dark underbelly of institutionalised racism and corruption in Australia.' Kate Horan, author of The Inheritance
'This intense, heart-wrenching and beautifully written novel introduces a bold, and important voice in Australian crime fiction. Set in a small, outback Queensland town, it features the resilient, courageous, and marvelously flawed Aboriginal detective, Renee Taylor. An atmospheric, compulsive read that I defy you to put down.' Karen Brooks, author of The Good Wife of Bath
'Powerful First Nations crime noir that interrogates law enforcement and how it intersects with Indigenous victims. Melaleuca is a compelling exploration of a police officer caught between two worlds, small-town complicity and justice long overdue.' Dinuka McKenzie, author of The Torrent
'Angie Faye Martin brings an important new voice to Australia's rich rural crime tradition. With a gutsy First Nations heroine, an atmospheric setting and a shocking crime that exposes a small town's prejudices, this is a book that deserves a large and enthusiastic audience.' Cassie Hamer, author of The Stranger at the Table
Renee Taylor is planning to stay the minimum amount of time in her remote hometown - only as long as her mum needs her, then she is fleeing back to her real life in Brisbane.
Seconded to the town's sleepy police station, Renee is pretty sure work will hold nothing more exciting than delivering speeding tickets. Then a murdered woman is found down by the creek on the outskirts of town.
Leading the investigation, Renee uncovers a perplexing connection to the disappearance of two young women thirty years earlier. As she delves deeper and the mystery unfurls, intergenerational cruelties, endemic racism, and deep corruption show themselves, even as dark and bitter truths about the town and its inhabitants' past rise up and threaten to overwhelm the present...
Authentic, gripping crime drama from a bright new voice in fiction.
'A page-turner with purpose. Refreshing, surprising, and propulsive. Angie Faye Martin is a name to watch.' Tracey Lien, author of All That's Left Unsaid
'Melaleuca is rich with authenticity and heart. Angie Faye Martin skillfully paints a picture of outback Queensland so that the scents, sounds and heat become a physical experience for the reader.' Laura McCluskey, author of The Wolf Tree
'Atmospheric and blistering. Melaleuca will leave you wanting more. What a remarkable debut.' Fleur McDonald, author of The Prospect
'A fresh, authentic perspective to the much-loved genre of the Australian outback thriller. Compelling, thought-provoking and twisty, Melaleuca is both a gripping, tightly plotted mystery and an unflinching exploration of the dark underbelly of institutionalised racism and corruption in Australia.' Kate Horan, author of The Inheritance
'This intense, heart-wrenching and beautifully written novel introduces a bold, and important voice in Australian crime fiction. Set in a small, outback Queensland town, it features the resilient, courageous, and marvelously flawed Aboriginal detective, Renee Taylor. An atmospheric, compulsive read that I defy you to put down.' Karen Brooks, author of The Good Wife of Bath
'Powerful First Nations crime noir that interrogates law enforcement and how it intersects with Indigenous victims. Melaleuca is a compelling exploration of a police officer caught between two worlds, small-town complicity and justice long overdue.' Dinuka McKenzie, author of The Torrent
'Angie Faye Martin brings an important new voice to Australia's rich rural crime tradition. With a gutsy First Nations heroine, an atmospheric setting and a shocking crime that exposes a small town's prejudices, this is a book that deserves a large and enthusiastic audience.' Cassie Hamer, author of The Stranger at the Table
419 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2025
179 people are currently reading
1355 people want to read
About the author
Angie Faye Martin
3 books50 followersAngie Faye Martin is a writer and editor of Kooma, Kamilaroi and European heritage. With a Bachelor of Public Health from the Queensland University of Technology and a Masters of Anthropology from the Australian National University, Angie spent many years working in policy roles in state and federal government before launching Versed Writings in 2019. Her work has been published in Meanjin, Garland, The Saltbush Review and The Rocks Remain. She is a member of the First Nations Australia Writers Network and accredited with the Institute of Professional Editors. Melaleuca is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
June 14, 2025
EXCERPT: Light was breaking on the horizon as she ran along the dirt driveway, trying not to trip or stumble in the potholes. She reached the wire gate panting and paused to look in both directions. She could see an endless straight bitumen road with fields of wheat on either side, canopied by a vast universe of different stars. It wouldn't take him long to notice she had escaped, to find her again in this dry, flat landscape.
Hurry up. Choose.
ABOUT 'MELALEUCA': A country town, a brutal murder, a shameful past, a reckoning to come... The injustices of the past and dangers of the present envelop Aboriginal policewoman Renee Taylor, when her unwilling return to the small outback town of her childhood plunges her into the investigation of a brutal murder.
Renee Taylor is planning to stay the minimum amount of time in her remote hometown - only as long as her mum needs her, then she is fleeing back to her real life in Brisbane.
Seconded to the town's sleepy police station, Renee is pretty sure work will hold nothing more exciting than delivering speeding tickets. Then a murdered woman is found down by the creek on the outskirts of town.
Leading the investigation, Renee uncovers a perplexing connection to the disappearance of two young women thirty years earlier. As she delves deeper and the mystery unfurls, intergenerational cruelties, endemic racism, and deep corruption show themselves, even as dark and bitter truths about the town and its inhabitants' past rise up and threaten to overwhelm the present...
MY THOUGHTS: Angie Faye Martin has written an impassioned and thought-provoking Aussie outback crime novel that is long overdue. Set over two timelines, the mid-1960s and in 2000, Martin's novel highlights that in many ways the more things change, the more they stay the same.
The 1960s storyline focuses on Caroline, a young Aboriginal woman who lives in the yumba (an Aboriginal camp on the outskirts of town) and who, along with her friend Bessie, goes missing.
The 2000 storyline is that of Renee, an Aboriginal detective on secondment to her home town from Brisbane to enable her to look after her ailing mother. The discovery of a young woman's unidentified body on the outskirts of town leads Renee to uncover the case of the two missing Aboriginal girls from years earlier and the lack of investigation into their whereabouts.
Martin explores many acts of blatant bigotry and prejudice in her novel, but balances these with acts of kindness and generosity on the part of some non-Indigenous Australians. This is all seamlessly blended into the determined investigation into the identity of the dead woman, the search for a killer and the determination of the fate of the two young missing women from decades ago. This is a story of generations of secrets that had me frantically turning the pages, totally immersed in the mystery and suspense.
My suspicions shifted from one character to another, to another and onwards, never settling anywhere for long. The ending took me by complete surprise and was immensely satisfying.
I hope this isn't the last we see of Detective Renee Taylor or author Angie Faye Martin. Both have a bright future ahead of them.
Please ensure you read the author's notes at the end of the book. Questions for discussion are also included.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#Melaleuca #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: Angie Faye Martin is a writer and editor of Kooma, Kamilaroi and European heritage. With a Bachelor of Public Health from the Queensland University of Technology and a Masters of Anthropology from the Australian National University, Angie spent many years working in policy roles in state and federal government before launching Versed Writings in 2019. Her work has been published in Meanjin, Garland, The Saltbush Review and The Rocks Remain. She is a member of the First Nations Australia Writers Network and accredited with the Institute of Professional Editors. Melaleuca is her debut novel.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA, via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of Melaleuca by Angie Faye Martin for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Hurry up. Choose.
ABOUT 'MELALEUCA': A country town, a brutal murder, a shameful past, a reckoning to come... The injustices of the past and dangers of the present envelop Aboriginal policewoman Renee Taylor, when her unwilling return to the small outback town of her childhood plunges her into the investigation of a brutal murder.
Renee Taylor is planning to stay the minimum amount of time in her remote hometown - only as long as her mum needs her, then she is fleeing back to her real life in Brisbane.
Seconded to the town's sleepy police station, Renee is pretty sure work will hold nothing more exciting than delivering speeding tickets. Then a murdered woman is found down by the creek on the outskirts of town.
Leading the investigation, Renee uncovers a perplexing connection to the disappearance of two young women thirty years earlier. As she delves deeper and the mystery unfurls, intergenerational cruelties, endemic racism, and deep corruption show themselves, even as dark and bitter truths about the town and its inhabitants' past rise up and threaten to overwhelm the present...
MY THOUGHTS: Angie Faye Martin has written an impassioned and thought-provoking Aussie outback crime novel that is long overdue. Set over two timelines, the mid-1960s and in 2000, Martin's novel highlights that in many ways the more things change, the more they stay the same.
The 1960s storyline focuses on Caroline, a young Aboriginal woman who lives in the yumba (an Aboriginal camp on the outskirts of town) and who, along with her friend Bessie, goes missing.
The 2000 storyline is that of Renee, an Aboriginal detective on secondment to her home town from Brisbane to enable her to look after her ailing mother. The discovery of a young woman's unidentified body on the outskirts of town leads Renee to uncover the case of the two missing Aboriginal girls from years earlier and the lack of investigation into their whereabouts.
Martin explores many acts of blatant bigotry and prejudice in her novel, but balances these with acts of kindness and generosity on the part of some non-Indigenous Australians. This is all seamlessly blended into the determined investigation into the identity of the dead woman, the search for a killer and the determination of the fate of the two young missing women from decades ago. This is a story of generations of secrets that had me frantically turning the pages, totally immersed in the mystery and suspense.
My suspicions shifted from one character to another, to another and onwards, never settling anywhere for long. The ending took me by complete surprise and was immensely satisfying.
I hope this isn't the last we see of Detective Renee Taylor or author Angie Faye Martin. Both have a bright future ahead of them.
Please ensure you read the author's notes at the end of the book. Questions for discussion are also included.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#Melaleuca #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: Angie Faye Martin is a writer and editor of Kooma, Kamilaroi and European heritage. With a Bachelor of Public Health from the Queensland University of Technology and a Masters of Anthropology from the Australian National University, Angie spent many years working in policy roles in state and federal government before launching Versed Writings in 2019. Her work has been published in Meanjin, Garland, The Saltbush Review and The Rocks Remain. She is a member of the First Nations Australia Writers Network and accredited with the Institute of Professional Editors. Melaleuca is her debut novel.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA, via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of Melaleuca by Angie Faye Martin for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
May 5, 2025
Renee Taylor returns home to Goorungah in country Queensland to help her mum Val who's suffering from arthritis and work at the local police station until she can return to her job as a detective in Brisbane. Renee is second in charge, she assumes it will be a low pressure and mainly issuing speeding tickets and then one morning a young woman is found dead down by the creek on the outskirts of town.
Renee's in charge of the investigation, despite growing up in Goorungah she had no idea two young Aboriginal women went missing thirty years ago and she discovers the odd occurrence wasn’t taken seriously and the police thought they moved to the city, and in that case why haven’t their families heard from them since?
The dual timeline story looks at what it was like to be a young Indigenous women in the 1960’s and 2000’s and told from the main characters points of view, Caroline, Bessie and Renee.
I received a copy of Melaleuca by Angie Faye Martin from NetGalley and Harlequin Australian in exchange for an honest review. I can’t believe this is the author’s debut novel, it's so much more than a murder mystery and gives a voice to the voiceless.
The narrative explores intergenerational racism and preconceived attitudes towards our First Nations people in Australia, violence against indigenous women, and the rates of domestic abuse and homicide are much higher, and covers the loss of their land, language, culture and children. A story full of suspense and secrets, cover ups and corruption, danger and injustice and one detective’s determination to solve both cases and I didn’t see the ending coming at all in this unputdownable book and five stars from me and I highly recommend.
Renee's in charge of the investigation, despite growing up in Goorungah she had no idea two young Aboriginal women went missing thirty years ago and she discovers the odd occurrence wasn’t taken seriously and the police thought they moved to the city, and in that case why haven’t their families heard from them since?
The dual timeline story looks at what it was like to be a young Indigenous women in the 1960’s and 2000’s and told from the main characters points of view, Caroline, Bessie and Renee.
I received a copy of Melaleuca by Angie Faye Martin from NetGalley and Harlequin Australian in exchange for an honest review. I can’t believe this is the author’s debut novel, it's so much more than a murder mystery and gives a voice to the voiceless.
The narrative explores intergenerational racism and preconceived attitudes towards our First Nations people in Australia, violence against indigenous women, and the rates of domestic abuse and homicide are much higher, and covers the loss of their land, language, culture and children. A story full of suspense and secrets, cover ups and corruption, danger and injustice and one detective’s determination to solve both cases and I didn’t see the ending coming at all in this unputdownable book and five stars from me and I highly recommend.
June 5, 2025
What a truly remarkable debut novel from Angie Faye Martin. A crime mystery that is so hauntingly unique from anything that I have read before. The author captures the stunning scenery that is the setting of such dark and horrific acts so well. A story spanning 30 years that shows that some things and attitudes never change.
Renee Taylor has returned to her home town to look after her ailing mother. She has managed to get a secondment working at the local police station and is not expecting anything more than traffic tickets and shoplifting., until the body of a woman is found by the creek and nobody knows who she is. Renee, a proud aboriginal woman, is determined to get justice for her, and finds links to the disappearance of best friends Bessie and Caroline 30 years earlier.
From her the story is told from Renee’s perspective today and Caroline’s 30 years ago. Caroline’s life was hard, in a time when not everyone was treated equally just because of the colour of their skin. She was a fighter though, a woman beyond a years, and I loved her character so much.
This is a highly emotional read, I felt so much anger and pain for Caroline for the way that she was treated. Renee suffered similar injustices in today’s world. Renee is a woman I would want on my side! never giving up, no matter what the consequences may be.
A must read. Thanks so much to HQ for having me as a #thrillerfluencer and sending me this book as the June selection. It is out now and needs a place on your TBR.
Renee Taylor has returned to her home town to look after her ailing mother. She has managed to get a secondment working at the local police station and is not expecting anything more than traffic tickets and shoplifting., until the body of a woman is found by the creek and nobody knows who she is. Renee, a proud aboriginal woman, is determined to get justice for her, and finds links to the disappearance of best friends Bessie and Caroline 30 years earlier.
From her the story is told from Renee’s perspective today and Caroline’s 30 years ago. Caroline’s life was hard, in a time when not everyone was treated equally just because of the colour of their skin. She was a fighter though, a woman beyond a years, and I loved her character so much.
This is a highly emotional read, I felt so much anger and pain for Caroline for the way that she was treated. Renee suffered similar injustices in today’s world. Renee is a woman I would want on my side! never giving up, no matter what the consequences may be.
A must read. Thanks so much to HQ for having me as a #thrillerfluencer and sending me this book as the June selection. It is out now and needs a place on your TBR.
July 11, 2025
**Thank you to HQ Books for sending me a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review; published 30 May 2025**
This is an absolute wonderful debut for the author; a fantastic read. The dual timelines, set in the mid-1960s and 2000, both have strong Aboriginal female leads. The modern storyline features Detective Renee who has moved home to a small rural town to care for her mother and quickly finds herself investigating the murder of an unknown young girl. The older storyline focuses on Caroline, a young woman who we know from the modern timeline has disappeared along with a friend. The two storylines tie together beautifully with the mystery of what happened to Caroline in the 60s slowly unravelling while Renee investigates in the 2000 timeline. The crime aspects of the story is very clever and makes it a page-turner. However, what I think is a real highlight of this well-written novel is the light it shines on the experience of being an Aboriginal woman in both timelines; the injustice, the racism, the trauma.
I hope the author is thinking of doing more novels with lead character Renee because I'd love to see this turn into a series.
Overall: highly recommend!
This is an absolute wonderful debut for the author; a fantastic read. The dual timelines, set in the mid-1960s and 2000, both have strong Aboriginal female leads. The modern storyline features Detective Renee who has moved home to a small rural town to care for her mother and quickly finds herself investigating the murder of an unknown young girl. The older storyline focuses on Caroline, a young woman who we know from the modern timeline has disappeared along with a friend. The two storylines tie together beautifully with the mystery of what happened to Caroline in the 60s slowly unravelling while Renee investigates in the 2000 timeline. The crime aspects of the story is very clever and makes it a page-turner. However, what I think is a real highlight of this well-written novel is the light it shines on the experience of being an Aboriginal woman in both timelines; the injustice, the racism, the trauma.
I hope the author is thinking of doing more novels with lead character Renee because I'd love to see this turn into a series.
Overall: highly recommend!
November 1, 2025
A beautifully authentic and propulsive page-turner.
I loved reading about Aboriginal policewoman Renee Taylor, as she investigates the murder of an unnamed woman in her small outback hometown in Queensland. I enjoyed how this investigation also tied into the mysterious disappearance of two Aboriginal women more than thirty years earlier.
This story was well-plotted, with interesting police procedural elements, an authentically written setting and realistically flawed characters, as well as an unflinching exploration of prejudice, inequality, stereotyping, intergenerational cruelties and cowardice in Australia. This story offers a window into the lived experiences of many First Nations people.
I am so impressed with this debut novel, written by Aboriginal author Angie Faye Martin. I am already excited to read what she writes next.
I thoroughly enjoyed this as a buddy read with the lovely Mary @the.travellingbibliophile
If you love Aussie noir or fabulous stories written by Australian authors, then I definitely recommend this book.
4.5 stars (rounded up)
I loved reading about Aboriginal policewoman Renee Taylor, as she investigates the murder of an unnamed woman in her small outback hometown in Queensland. I enjoyed how this investigation also tied into the mysterious disappearance of two Aboriginal women more than thirty years earlier.
This story was well-plotted, with interesting police procedural elements, an authentically written setting and realistically flawed characters, as well as an unflinching exploration of prejudice, inequality, stereotyping, intergenerational cruelties and cowardice in Australia. This story offers a window into the lived experiences of many First Nations people.
I am so impressed with this debut novel, written by Aboriginal author Angie Faye Martin. I am already excited to read what she writes next.
I thoroughly enjoyed this as a buddy read with the lovely Mary @the.travellingbibliophile
If you love Aussie noir or fabulous stories written by Australian authors, then I definitely recommend this book.
4.5 stars (rounded up)
June 13, 2025
Big thanks to Harlequin for sending us a copy to read and review.
The past and present are on a collision course in a remote town where Aboriginal people suffered racism, policy and parochialism.
It is the hometown of Constable Renee Taylor who has returned briefly to help her mother.
Being a proud Aboriginal woman she is no stranger to mistreatment and prejudice. Working at the local station exposes unsolved mysteries that still overshadow the community.
A young Aboriginal woman is found murdered.
Renee is assigned the lead but investigation is hindered by her Sergeant as he tries to insert his dominance.
Nobody knows who the young lady is.
A necklace might be the link.
The disappearance of two young Aboriginal women thirty years ago is a cold case that seems to be shelved and neglected.
Bigotry ruling they absconded small town life.
Renee diligently weaves the threads and overcomes obstacles that appear and thwart the shadows from the past being connected.
Danger, corruption, denial and hope intertwined as the truth climatically reveals itself.
The endorsements and high praise from talented cohorts were the first signs that this was going to be a fantastic read.
Not only did a small town crime unravels itself, a magnifying glass illuminated the treatment and effects of inter generational racism.
Cleverly it illustrated that not everyone in the wider community was governed by intolerance.
A stunning debut.
The past and present are on a collision course in a remote town where Aboriginal people suffered racism, policy and parochialism.
It is the hometown of Constable Renee Taylor who has returned briefly to help her mother.
Being a proud Aboriginal woman she is no stranger to mistreatment and prejudice. Working at the local station exposes unsolved mysteries that still overshadow the community.
A young Aboriginal woman is found murdered.
Renee is assigned the lead but investigation is hindered by her Sergeant as he tries to insert his dominance.
Nobody knows who the young lady is.
A necklace might be the link.
The disappearance of two young Aboriginal women thirty years ago is a cold case that seems to be shelved and neglected.
Bigotry ruling they absconded small town life.
Renee diligently weaves the threads and overcomes obstacles that appear and thwart the shadows from the past being connected.
Danger, corruption, denial and hope intertwined as the truth climatically reveals itself.
The endorsements and high praise from talented cohorts were the first signs that this was going to be a fantastic read.
Not only did a small town crime unravels itself, a magnifying glass illuminated the treatment and effects of inter generational racism.
Cleverly it illustrated that not everyone in the wider community was governed by intolerance.
A stunning debut.
July 21, 2025
Where do I start with this book. One of those books that still stay with me forever.
This has everything I love in a book. Small town setting, a cold case and indigenous representation. Its timeline is told by Renee in 2000 and Caroline in 1965.
There are themes of racism, prejudice and discrimination. This book made me feel so many emotions. I felt sadness, anger and frustration at the way the indigenous community was treated.
This book is all about connections. Everyone is connected in some shape or form. I particularly connected with Renee and Caroline. Renee, as she never gave up in her quest to solve the cases, especially after she discovered the link. Caroline in how she stood up for herself and ignored the prejudice.
Highly recommend this book !
This has everything I love in a book. Small town setting, a cold case and indigenous representation. Its timeline is told by Renee in 2000 and Caroline in 1965.
There are themes of racism, prejudice and discrimination. This book made me feel so many emotions. I felt sadness, anger and frustration at the way the indigenous community was treated.
This book is all about connections. Everyone is connected in some shape or form. I particularly connected with Renee and Caroline. Renee, as she never gave up in her quest to solve the cases, especially after she discovered the link. Caroline in how she stood up for herself and ignored the prejudice.
Highly recommend this book !
October 24, 2025
This is the debut novel by Kooma and Kamilaroi author Angie Faye Martin featuring Aboriginal policewoman Renee Taylor: a gritty, gripping story that had me searching for the next installment.
Detective Renee Taylor leaves the position in the city she has fought for years to attain, to return home to Goorungah to look after her ailing mother. Goorungah is a fictional town in outback Queensland, where Renee takes up a role as a country policewoman: very much a demotion from her busy job in Brisbane. The tension soon ratchets up when a young woman is found brutally murdered by the creek outside town. Renee is soon leading the investigation, but has to deal with the controlling suspicion of her male colleagues, and small town politics.
Renee soon comes to hear of two young Indigenous women who went missing thirty years earlier, but whose disappearance was never really investigated, with the local police apparently casually concluding they had simply moved to the city. Renee believes the cases to be linked, but must work hard to see how they connect.
The novel moves between the stories of Caroline and her friend Bessie in the 1960s and Renee’s investigation in the 2000s. In the 1960s story the two young women live in the yumba, or Aboriginal camp outside town. They work as domestics in the homes of wealthy and often cruel and supercilious white women. They face the daily threats of violence, prejudice and poverty, in a system that questions their very being, forbids interracial relationships and imprisons them in a daily grind that is difficult to escape. On the other hand they are sustained by a loving community, a strong culture and the comforts of tradition and bush medicine.
Renee is a gutsy heroine who follows her instincts, is diligent and refuses to be ground down by the small-mindedness of those around her. She is often treated with contempt and mistrust by both the Indigenous and non-Indigenous townsfolk alike, but her toughness and smarts get her results.
This was a great story with a strong female lead, a gripping storyline that ended with a twist, and a powerful insight into life for Indigenous women in outback Australia, both back in the 1960s and in contemporary times. I loved this yarn and will definitely be reading whatever Angie Faye Martin writes next.
Detective Renee Taylor leaves the position in the city she has fought for years to attain, to return home to Goorungah to look after her ailing mother. Goorungah is a fictional town in outback Queensland, where Renee takes up a role as a country policewoman: very much a demotion from her busy job in Brisbane. The tension soon ratchets up when a young woman is found brutally murdered by the creek outside town. Renee is soon leading the investigation, but has to deal with the controlling suspicion of her male colleagues, and small town politics.
Renee soon comes to hear of two young Indigenous women who went missing thirty years earlier, but whose disappearance was never really investigated, with the local police apparently casually concluding they had simply moved to the city. Renee believes the cases to be linked, but must work hard to see how they connect.
The novel moves between the stories of Caroline and her friend Bessie in the 1960s and Renee’s investigation in the 2000s. In the 1960s story the two young women live in the yumba, or Aboriginal camp outside town. They work as domestics in the homes of wealthy and often cruel and supercilious white women. They face the daily threats of violence, prejudice and poverty, in a system that questions their very being, forbids interracial relationships and imprisons them in a daily grind that is difficult to escape. On the other hand they are sustained by a loving community, a strong culture and the comforts of tradition and bush medicine.
Renee is a gutsy heroine who follows her instincts, is diligent and refuses to be ground down by the small-mindedness of those around her. She is often treated with contempt and mistrust by both the Indigenous and non-Indigenous townsfolk alike, but her toughness and smarts get her results.
This was a great story with a strong female lead, a gripping storyline that ended with a twist, and a powerful insight into life for Indigenous women in outback Australia, both back in the 1960s and in contemporary times. I loved this yarn and will definitely be reading whatever Angie Faye Martin writes next.
November 5, 2025
*https://www.instagram.com/mrsb_book_r...
🌱Writer and editor Angie Faye Martin presents Melaleuca, her debut work of fiction. A story of ongoing police cases, long-buried secrets, past injustices, the dark history that follows an Australian town, racism, community secrets and corruption. Melaleuca for me personally was deeply emotional, reflective, vital, confronting, and unforgettable, particularly for the truths it revealed about the treatment of Indigenous people and the social injustices surrounding interracial relationships and women’s experiences.
🌱I have the feeling that Melaleuca is going to be one of those unforgettable debut novels in my reading history this year. It struck a balance between offering the reader a vital history and a critical look into both a present crime and past unsolved cold case, while also leaving me with a haunting feeling. Melaleuca is definitely a story that sits with you long after the final page has been turned. Melaleuca is a fiction based Australian crime and historical fiction novel but I will stress that it delivers quite a powerful set of truths around Australia’s history and the experiences of Indigenous people in our recent past. There is a strong focus on interracial relationships and the societal based mistreatment of women. Angie Faye Martin’s writing hits hard and places the spotlight on injustices that need to be aired.
🌱The forbidden romance between key characters Chester and Caroline provided the emotional core of the novel. Their impossible love, especially in the face of the era’s social expectations proved to be heartbreaking. What a shame these two souls were products of their era and the consequences of their love that was denied seemed to ripple across generations, which was devastating to witness. Angie Faye Martin was able to clearly illustrate the true cost of prejudice inflicted on so many due to this relationship.
Melaleuca is essentially a tale of homecoming and the impact of ripping the band aid off events of the past. It weaves in themes of injustice, systemic racism and the mistreatment of Indigenous women, it considers the impact of intergenerational trauma, the cost of holding secrets and how cruel acts of the past continue to have a deep impression on generations now and in the future. There is a focus on corruption, abuse of power, the morality of authority figures, denial of heritage, the cost of duty and the lost sense of belonging through racism. In our lead, Renee Taylor we are made aware of the sense of instinct, courage and confrontation that is required to confront hidden truths and gain justice for those lost.
The crime aspects of Melaleuca shocked me to the core. I will admit that I didn’t see the revelations coming or the truth surrounding the circumstances of both cases, along with the identity of the woman murdered. These cases were both marked by issues of control, denial of personal freedom, cruelty, coercion and the cost of disallowing dignity and autonomy. There were some truly vile subjects in this book that their cruelty was hard to swallow. I found sadness, anger and regret as how men like that could act without punishment, offering us a chilling reminder of the power structures of the time.
My only niggle with this novel was that I wished that some aspects of Bessie’s life, one the missing girls in the past storyline, was explored further. I had a few questions around this and the murdered girl in the present.
I’m so grateful I read Melaleuca as a buddy read, as always my biggest thanks to my number one buddy reader @nadyslovebooks. Having someone there by my side to stew over heavy themes and emotional moments made the experience less isolating. This book was difficult, essential, and unforgettable — a story that deserves to be read and discussed.
While Melaleuca feels complete as a standalone, I feel there may be room for another book and one that may see Renee’s story continue. Either way, Angie Faye Martin has composed a poignant debut that captures the heartbreak and resilience of those silenced by history.
4.5 stars
Thanks to @hqfictionau
🌱Writer and editor Angie Faye Martin presents Melaleuca, her debut work of fiction. A story of ongoing police cases, long-buried secrets, past injustices, the dark history that follows an Australian town, racism, community secrets and corruption. Melaleuca for me personally was deeply emotional, reflective, vital, confronting, and unforgettable, particularly for the truths it revealed about the treatment of Indigenous people and the social injustices surrounding interracial relationships and women’s experiences.
🌱I have the feeling that Melaleuca is going to be one of those unforgettable debut novels in my reading history this year. It struck a balance between offering the reader a vital history and a critical look into both a present crime and past unsolved cold case, while also leaving me with a haunting feeling. Melaleuca is definitely a story that sits with you long after the final page has been turned. Melaleuca is a fiction based Australian crime and historical fiction novel but I will stress that it delivers quite a powerful set of truths around Australia’s history and the experiences of Indigenous people in our recent past. There is a strong focus on interracial relationships and the societal based mistreatment of women. Angie Faye Martin’s writing hits hard and places the spotlight on injustices that need to be aired.
🌱The forbidden romance between key characters Chester and Caroline provided the emotional core of the novel. Their impossible love, especially in the face of the era’s social expectations proved to be heartbreaking. What a shame these two souls were products of their era and the consequences of their love that was denied seemed to ripple across generations, which was devastating to witness. Angie Faye Martin was able to clearly illustrate the true cost of prejudice inflicted on so many due to this relationship.
Melaleuca is essentially a tale of homecoming and the impact of ripping the band aid off events of the past. It weaves in themes of injustice, systemic racism and the mistreatment of Indigenous women, it considers the impact of intergenerational trauma, the cost of holding secrets and how cruel acts of the past continue to have a deep impression on generations now and in the future. There is a focus on corruption, abuse of power, the morality of authority figures, denial of heritage, the cost of duty and the lost sense of belonging through racism. In our lead, Renee Taylor we are made aware of the sense of instinct, courage and confrontation that is required to confront hidden truths and gain justice for those lost.
The crime aspects of Melaleuca shocked me to the core. I will admit that I didn’t see the revelations coming or the truth surrounding the circumstances of both cases, along with the identity of the woman murdered. These cases were both marked by issues of control, denial of personal freedom, cruelty, coercion and the cost of disallowing dignity and autonomy. There were some truly vile subjects in this book that their cruelty was hard to swallow. I found sadness, anger and regret as how men like that could act without punishment, offering us a chilling reminder of the power structures of the time.
My only niggle with this novel was that I wished that some aspects of Bessie’s life, one the missing girls in the past storyline, was explored further. I had a few questions around this and the murdered girl in the present.
I’m so grateful I read Melaleuca as a buddy read, as always my biggest thanks to my number one buddy reader @nadyslovebooks. Having someone there by my side to stew over heavy themes and emotional moments made the experience less isolating. This book was difficult, essential, and unforgettable — a story that deserves to be read and discussed.
While Melaleuca feels complete as a standalone, I feel there may be room for another book and one that may see Renee’s story continue. Either way, Angie Faye Martin has composed a poignant debut that captures the heartbreak and resilience of those silenced by history.
4.5 stars
Thanks to @hqfictionau
June 3, 2025
Okay this lowkey slapped - the first half was decent but the last 100 pages were crazyyyy, I had picked one small part of the ending but the rest was such a massive twist and so well executed. I really liked the way the history of Australia’s poor treatment of indigenous Australians was weaved throughout the story. It really helped ground the story in the realities of our shitty justice system.
August 26, 2025
4 ⭐️s
Hmmm, not bad, not bad at all for a debut novel
An Aboriginal policewoman based in Brisbane moves back home and becomes entangled in a murder investigation while caring for her ailing mother.
Set in the small outback (fictional) town of Goorungah, South East Queensland.
Missing persons
Dual timelines, 1966 and 2000
Multiple POVs
This was an extremely interesting and gripping Aussie murder mystery. It certainly had me engrossed from beginning to end.
That ending was such edge of your seat stuff.
Any future books written by Angie Faye Martin I will devour.
Audiobook via BorrowBox
Published by: Bolinda/HarperCollins audio
Read by Phoebe Grainer
Duration: 12 hrs, 19 min. 1.25x Speed
Hmmm, not bad, not bad at all for a debut novel
An Aboriginal policewoman based in Brisbane moves back home and becomes entangled in a murder investigation while caring for her ailing mother.
Set in the small outback (fictional) town of Goorungah, South East Queensland.
Missing persons
Dual timelines, 1966 and 2000
Multiple POVs
This was an extremely interesting and gripping Aussie murder mystery. It certainly had me engrossed from beginning to end.
That ending was such edge of your seat stuff.
Any future books written by Angie Faye Martin I will devour.
Audiobook via BorrowBox
Published by: Bolinda/HarperCollins audio
Read by Phoebe Grainer
Duration: 12 hrs, 19 min. 1.25x Speed
June 25, 2025
Strong debut novel.
The dual time lines work well in this novel, as do the multiple POVs. I connected to most of the characters especially protagonist Renee Taylor. The closing chapter or two bring so many ideas together I really had to concentrate on the whole/what/where. The only aspect I would love to have seen differently is a more current setting but that’s a personal preference.
I listened to the audio version and overall it was a strong delivery except for some weird pausing at the end of sentences and the occasional background sound (like pages turning).
The dual time lines work well in this novel, as do the multiple POVs. I connected to most of the characters especially protagonist Renee Taylor. The closing chapter or two bring so many ideas together I really had to concentrate on the whole/what/where. The only aspect I would love to have seen differently is a more current setting but that’s a personal preference.
I listened to the audio version and overall it was a strong delivery except for some weird pausing at the end of sentences and the occasional background sound (like pages turning).
June 2, 2025
a small town crime fiction drama. the prologue literally throws us straight into the action and the pacing of the book is never slow. the tension keeps building with every character interaction and i honestly flew through the last couple of chapters. also loved the way the author fleshed out each character - there were a lot of names but i was able to differentiate between all of them with ease. stellar debut 5 stars thanks x
November 6, 2025
Melaleuca is an impressive debut crime novel from Australian author Angie Faye Martin.
Renee Taylor has somewhat grudgingly returned to her hometown of Goorungah to arrange care her arthritis stricken mother. A police detective in Brisbane, she’s had to accept a temporary demotion to uniform in order to take up a post at the local station. She’s resigned to writing speeding tickets, breaking up bar fights, and picking up shoplifters for the next few months, until the brutality beaten body of a young Aboriginal woman is discovered on the outskirts of town.
Set in regional Queensland, Melaleuca unfolds over two timelines as Renee makes a connection between her unidentified victim and two Aboriginal teenage girls, Caroline and Bessie, who disappeared from Goorungah in 1965. Skilfully crafted, Martin reveals clues to the twin mysteries as the perspective of the narrative shifts between that of Renee and Caroline. The plot offers several red herrings before ending with a truly shocking revelation that few would suspect.
Themes of racism, intergenerational trauma, misogyny, injustice and corruption are explored with an unflinching lens in Melaleuca. Love, heartbreak, friendship, courage and cowardice are also important elements of the story as both Renee and Caroline strive to protect themselves, and others.
Martin’s characters are fully realised. Renee is a tough and smart woman with strong investigative instincts and a belief in justice. Her own heritage is both an advantage and disadvantage as it relates to the case, and the town. Caroline is a sympathetic character, a sensible young woman with a loving family and modest dreams cruelly sabotaged by prejudice and injustice.
Engrossing, affective, and powerful, Melaleuca is an excellent read and a must read for fans of Australian crime fiction.
Renee Taylor has somewhat grudgingly returned to her hometown of Goorungah to arrange care her arthritis stricken mother. A police detective in Brisbane, she’s had to accept a temporary demotion to uniform in order to take up a post at the local station. She’s resigned to writing speeding tickets, breaking up bar fights, and picking up shoplifters for the next few months, until the brutality beaten body of a young Aboriginal woman is discovered on the outskirts of town.
Set in regional Queensland, Melaleuca unfolds over two timelines as Renee makes a connection between her unidentified victim and two Aboriginal teenage girls, Caroline and Bessie, who disappeared from Goorungah in 1965. Skilfully crafted, Martin reveals clues to the twin mysteries as the perspective of the narrative shifts between that of Renee and Caroline. The plot offers several red herrings before ending with a truly shocking revelation that few would suspect.
Themes of racism, intergenerational trauma, misogyny, injustice and corruption are explored with an unflinching lens in Melaleuca. Love, heartbreak, friendship, courage and cowardice are also important elements of the story as both Renee and Caroline strive to protect themselves, and others.
Martin’s characters are fully realised. Renee is a tough and smart woman with strong investigative instincts and a belief in justice. Her own heritage is both an advantage and disadvantage as it relates to the case, and the town. Caroline is a sympathetic character, a sensible young woman with a loving family and modest dreams cruelly sabotaged by prejudice and injustice.
Engrossing, affective, and powerful, Melaleuca is an excellent read and a must read for fans of Australian crime fiction.
October 15, 2025
excellent Australian noir, strong aboriginal themes, dual timelines original crime linked to modern one. Didnt guess the perp- which is great! great twist towards the end.
Look forward to more from this author.
Look forward to more from this author.
July 16, 2025
Whenever a First Nation's novel is released, it automatically goes on my To Be Read List. These novels are even more special when they're debuts. Let me introduce you to Melaleuca, written by Kooma/Kamilaroi woman, Angie Faye Martin.
Renee Taylor has returned to her hometown of Goorungah, in Queensland's outback. Seconded to the local police station whilst she cares for her ailing mother, Renee expects to be there for a short few weeks. The sooner that she returns to her Brisbane life, the better.
Renee supposes nothing majorly huge will occur during her secondment, maybe just a few speeding offences. That's until the body of a murdered young Aboriginal woman is discovered by the creek on the outskirts of town.
When a thirty-year-old cold case is uncovered, Renee has reason to believe that the two are connected. Two young Aboriginal women disappeared in the 1960s, never to be heard from again.
With the rural town hitting national news and the protests calling for Aboriginal justice rights, is Renee capable enough to lead the investigation and find answers for the families?
It's hard to believe that Melaleuca is a debut, as it's a compelling, intense and interesting read. As a First Nations woman myself, I was immediately drawn to the characters of Renee, Bessie and Caroline, along with their kin. Things were very different in those days- injustice, discrimination and rights being stripped, resulting in poverty and poor health amongst other hardships. As we learn, First Nations people are still fighting for their rights today.
I do hope that we get more of Renee in the future- this was the perfect setup for a potential series. Goorunga is a typical remote town, where everyone knows each other and their business. However, it's clear that racial divides are in place and acts of crime are more common.
A stellar read!
5 🌟
Renee Taylor has returned to her hometown of Goorungah, in Queensland's outback. Seconded to the local police station whilst she cares for her ailing mother, Renee expects to be there for a short few weeks. The sooner that she returns to her Brisbane life, the better.
Renee supposes nothing majorly huge will occur during her secondment, maybe just a few speeding offences. That's until the body of a murdered young Aboriginal woman is discovered by the creek on the outskirts of town.
When a thirty-year-old cold case is uncovered, Renee has reason to believe that the two are connected. Two young Aboriginal women disappeared in the 1960s, never to be heard from again.
With the rural town hitting national news and the protests calling for Aboriginal justice rights, is Renee capable enough to lead the investigation and find answers for the families?
It's hard to believe that Melaleuca is a debut, as it's a compelling, intense and interesting read. As a First Nations woman myself, I was immediately drawn to the characters of Renee, Bessie and Caroline, along with their kin. Things were very different in those days- injustice, discrimination and rights being stripped, resulting in poverty and poor health amongst other hardships. As we learn, First Nations people are still fighting for their rights today.
I do hope that we get more of Renee in the future- this was the perfect setup for a potential series. Goorunga is a typical remote town, where everyone knows each other and their business. However, it's clear that racial divides are in place and acts of crime are more common.
A stellar read!
5 🌟
May 19, 2025
What an absolutely sensational debut novel. This is a story that was written with so much heart and emotion.
Set in the fictitious town of Goorungah, a young indigenous woman is found dead on the banks of the river, and Detective Renee Taylor is set the task of finding her killer.
Renee is back in her home town looking after her elderly mother and wonders how she will cope with small town policing having been based in Brisbane since joining the force.
When she discovers a possible link between this current case and two missing indigenous girls from 1966, Renee feels she is being held back from investigating too much. She wonders what happened back then and if it is related.
With parts of her own past rushing up to meet her, Renee is pulled in all directions, but with an extremely strong moral compass and the desire to solve both of these cases, she struggles on.
The insights into life for Aboriginal people in the late 60's was at times shocking, but also showed hope that society would change and treat everyone the same. There was a definite schism in Australian society at the time as many people continued with deep seated racism and outdated beliefs, yet there were many that saw Aboriginal people as just that, people, and showed kindness and tried to change things.
There was a sinister undercurrent that I was feeling in this story and I didn't quite grasp where it was leading, so the revelation towards the end was jaw dropping. I was not expecting that at all and realising what had occurred was frightening.
I really enjoyed the way this story was told and I think we have another author to watch out for.
Melaleuca publishes on 30 May 2025.
Many thanks to #netgally and HQ Fiction for an eARC before publication for an honest review.
Set in the fictitious town of Goorungah, a young indigenous woman is found dead on the banks of the river, and Detective Renee Taylor is set the task of finding her killer.
Renee is back in her home town looking after her elderly mother and wonders how she will cope with small town policing having been based in Brisbane since joining the force.
When she discovers a possible link between this current case and two missing indigenous girls from 1966, Renee feels she is being held back from investigating too much. She wonders what happened back then and if it is related.
With parts of her own past rushing up to meet her, Renee is pulled in all directions, but with an extremely strong moral compass and the desire to solve both of these cases, she struggles on.
The insights into life for Aboriginal people in the late 60's was at times shocking, but also showed hope that society would change and treat everyone the same. There was a definite schism in Australian society at the time as many people continued with deep seated racism and outdated beliefs, yet there were many that saw Aboriginal people as just that, people, and showed kindness and tried to change things.
There was a sinister undercurrent that I was feeling in this story and I didn't quite grasp where it was leading, so the revelation towards the end was jaw dropping. I was not expecting that at all and realising what had occurred was frightening.
I really enjoyed the way this story was told and I think we have another author to watch out for.
Melaleuca publishes on 30 May 2025.
Many thanks to #netgally and HQ Fiction for an eARC before publication for an honest review.
July 4, 2025
Three quarters in, I was ready to give this book a solid 3 stars. I thought it was a good effort for a first novel and hoped the author would get the confidence in future to show more than tell. But then the plot took a bizarre turn and I could hardly finish it. The absurdity of the ending, the clunky and sledgehammering ‘tell, tell, tell’ and the need to tie up all the threads really p’d me off.
“Finally the residents of Goorungah could rest knowing that justice had been served and the culprits had been caught.”
Blah.
“Finally the residents of Goorungah could rest knowing that justice had been served and the culprits had been caught.”
Blah.
December 12, 2025
A brilliant depiction of small town Australia, and the undercurrent of racism that still exists. At first I was reminded of the tv series Mystery Road. It also brought memories of a town where I lived, where the murders of two young Aboriginal girls were never investigated properly. I’m looking forward to more from Angie Faye Martin.
November 17, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ great read. Debut novel, Aussie author, shit men. We love
November 1, 2025
I brought this back at the end of August at provincial Park event at roma st parklands, i originally wasn't going to buy it but every time I walked away it kept calling me back.
Set in Qld, in upper North, written by a Angie Faye Martin who used a real town as her inspiration; noting that the two are 100% different to each other. As i continue my trend of reading Australian authors, its nice to add an indigenous voice to my trend.
Tw: aboriginal deaths, implied rape, drug use, aboriginal injustice and 1960s v 2020s laws/language.
I'll be honest, i started reading this with just over 6hrs sleep and about to start a 10 hour day..so excuse my incoherent thoughts.
The first 36 pages are okay. Its enough to keep me awake and focused but my mind wasn't latching on like it was supposed to. Not in a bad way..probably just focus and exhaustion don't go hand in hand.
I could've done without the train suicide description, and I say that as someone whose train station is "suicide hotspot." Like..no one needs to see, let alone read those descriptions.
This story kinda reminds me of Jane Harper's books, where a hot shot detective returns home; for whatever personal reason, gets permission to join the local police team, and a current crime somehow connects to a pass crime.
Set in the year 2000, with a connecting cold case from the 1960s, both involving indigenous girls being murdered and no suspects in a small town, yet everyone has a big mouth.
Majority of this is over descriptive to the point that I forgot what the context of the scene was, including forgetting who was who.
I'll give credit on the twist, it was a nice. Didn't see it coming.
Overall this book is a good little quick read but it's pretty easy to forget about.
Set in Qld, in upper North, written by a Angie Faye Martin who used a real town as her inspiration; noting that the two are 100% different to each other. As i continue my trend of reading Australian authors, its nice to add an indigenous voice to my trend.
Tw: aboriginal deaths, implied rape, drug use, aboriginal injustice and 1960s v 2020s laws/language.
I'll be honest, i started reading this with just over 6hrs sleep and about to start a 10 hour day..so excuse my incoherent thoughts.
The first 36 pages are okay. Its enough to keep me awake and focused but my mind wasn't latching on like it was supposed to. Not in a bad way..probably just focus and exhaustion don't go hand in hand.
I could've done without the train suicide description, and I say that as someone whose train station is "suicide hotspot." Like..no one needs to see, let alone read those descriptions.
This story kinda reminds me of Jane Harper's books, where a hot shot detective returns home; for whatever personal reason, gets permission to join the local police team, and a current crime somehow connects to a pass crime.
Set in the year 2000, with a connecting cold case from the 1960s, both involving indigenous girls being murdered and no suspects in a small town, yet everyone has a big mouth.
Majority of this is over descriptive to the point that I forgot what the context of the scene was, including forgetting who was who.
I'll give credit on the twist, it was a nice. Didn't see it coming.
Overall this book is a good little quick read but it's pretty easy to forget about.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2025
This book had really great writing and character development. I also think it set up the series amazingly, with a well developed setting, characters and her now ongoing position in the town, all having me excited for the next book!
Additionally, the social commentary was weaved well into the book and the relationships between police and First Nations peoples was explored in such a real way. I also really liked how the dynamic between Taylor and her mum was used as a vessel to explore both the themes, and the overall investigation. Similarly, the dual POV’s were also done quite well and I felt like it really added to the story and the overall depth of the book.
Turning to the drawbacks, the actual crime plot was quite slow placed. Although there was a lot of “world building”, character development and town lore being explained, it took almost 10-15 chapters for the actual investigation to really start to culminate. The first part of the book honestly read a bit like a general fiction novel and not a crime novel, I still enjoyed it but it did feel like there were definitely missed opportunities. Though there are certainly other crime books that have this similiar structure, in this novel it wasn’t executed well enough for me to let it slide completely.
Overall, especially for a debut author, this was a good first book!
Additionally, the social commentary was weaved well into the book and the relationships between police and First Nations peoples was explored in such a real way. I also really liked how the dynamic between Taylor and her mum was used as a vessel to explore both the themes, and the overall investigation. Similarly, the dual POV’s were also done quite well and I felt like it really added to the story and the overall depth of the book.
Turning to the drawbacks, the actual crime plot was quite slow placed. Although there was a lot of “world building”, character development and town lore being explained, it took almost 10-15 chapters for the actual investigation to really start to culminate. The first part of the book honestly read a bit like a general fiction novel and not a crime novel, I still enjoyed it but it did feel like there were definitely missed opportunities. Though there are certainly other crime books that have this similiar structure, in this novel it wasn’t executed well enough for me to let it slide completely.
Overall, especially for a debut author, this was a good first book!
July 18, 2025
Such a powerful read! Set in the year 2000, a body of a young aboriginal woman is found by a creek in a small outback Queensland town. Renee Taylor, a city detective and also indigenous returns to her hometown to look after her mother. She takes on the investigation and discovers a link to the disappearance of two young aboriginal women in 1966. Racism in the police, particularly in the investigation of indigenous women’s disappearances, and other forms of racism in Australia’s history are some of the major themes explored. The story builds to quite a shocking situation and I found it hard to put down.
May 28, 2025
Loved this Aussie outback crime story - a murder mystery wrapped in racism and against the backdrop of ordinary country town life.
Delicately weaved throughout is the underlying identity struggles that the main character Renee grapples with. She seems to yearn to have a closer connection with her indigenous ancestry, as well as being torn between her big city life and the pull of her humble country hometown.
What’s especially unique about Melaleuca is getting insight into something that most people know little about which is life on a yumba (an Aboriginal camp on the outside of town). Thank you Angie Faye Martin for shedding light on this and the unjust realities that indigenous people would have faced in that time.
Delicately weaved throughout is the underlying identity struggles that the main character Renee grapples with. She seems to yearn to have a closer connection with her indigenous ancestry, as well as being torn between her big city life and the pull of her humble country hometown.
What’s especially unique about Melaleuca is getting insight into something that most people know little about which is life on a yumba (an Aboriginal camp on the outside of town). Thank you Angie Faye Martin for shedding light on this and the unjust realities that indigenous people would have faced in that time.
April 16, 2025
This was a fantastic police procedural that has a plot twist you will not see coming. If you love Australian literature you don’t want to miss this!
At the surface Melaleuca is a gripping murder mystery that threatens to engulf a small town that’s inadequately prepared to deal with a homicide case.
At its core it’s a story that encapsulates Australian culture, racial injustices and the history of the Indigenous peoples. I would be surprised if Australian Literature courses in the future do not include Angie Faye Martin in their syllabus.
I was throughly engrossed in this story, most of which came with a familiarity of having grown up in a rural Australian town where I was one of the kids who painted the local rest and revive station. The nostalgia of small town living and quality of writing made this unputdownable. I am usually great at picking where a story is going but this blew me away.
I appreciated the throw back chapters that really helped set the scene and assert an emotional attachment to the missing girls which helped Renee break apart the case. Never underestimate the tenacity of a female in male dominated fields. Renee was a great character and her mindset really showed her determination after years of being dismissed as a mixed woman in the force. I enjoyed her full circle moment in the epilogue and if more books are written from her character view I definitely be picking them up.
Thank you to HQ Australia and NetGalley for giving me access to an eARC of this book. This is my honest review.
At the surface Melaleuca is a gripping murder mystery that threatens to engulf a small town that’s inadequately prepared to deal with a homicide case.
At its core it’s a story that encapsulates Australian culture, racial injustices and the history of the Indigenous peoples. I would be surprised if Australian Literature courses in the future do not include Angie Faye Martin in their syllabus.
I was throughly engrossed in this story, most of which came with a familiarity of having grown up in a rural Australian town where I was one of the kids who painted the local rest and revive station. The nostalgia of small town living and quality of writing made this unputdownable. I am usually great at picking where a story is going but this blew me away.
I appreciated the throw back chapters that really helped set the scene and assert an emotional attachment to the missing girls which helped Renee break apart the case. Never underestimate the tenacity of a female in male dominated fields. Renee was a great character and her mindset really showed her determination after years of being dismissed as a mixed woman in the force. I enjoyed her full circle moment in the epilogue and if more books are written from her character view I definitely be picking them up.
Thank you to HQ Australia and NetGalley for giving me access to an eARC of this book. This is my honest review.
Read
February 15, 2025In Melaleuca, Angie Faye Martin brings an important new voice to Australia's rich rural crime tradition. With a gutsy first-nations heroine, an atmospheric setting and a shocking crime that exposes a small town's prejudices, this is a book that deserves a large and enthusiastic audience. I'm already looking forward to Angie Faye Martin's next one.
June 27, 2025
A absolutely fabulous debut novel from the author.
Suspense filled. Fabulous story telling of the reality of life for so many in Australia.
Do not miss reading the Author note. It rounds off all you have read.
Suspense filled. Fabulous story telling of the reality of life for so many in Australia.
Do not miss reading the Author note. It rounds off all you have read.
December 15, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
This was a gripping and gritty debut that had me absolutely hooked. Angie Faye Martin delivers a powerful outback crime novel that’s both deeply atmospheric and socially resonant, led by a fierce and uncompromising protagonist in Aboriginal policewoman Renee Taylor.
Set across two timelines—Renee’s investigation in 2000 and the story of Caroline and Bessie in the 1960s - Melaleuca explores intergenerational trauma, systemic racism, and the resilience of community and culture. The way Martin connects these two narratives is seamless and quietly devastating.
Renee is a standout character: smart, tough, and constantly underestimated. Her return to the fictional town of Goorungah to care for her mother quickly turns into a murder investigation that unearths long-buried secrets and forgotten injustices.
The dual timeline added real emotional depth, and I was completely immersed. My suspicions kept shifting and the ending surprised me in the best way. There’s heartache here, but also strength, healing, and hope.
A beautifully written and important story - I’ll be lining up for whatever Angie Faye Martin writes next. Please don’t skip the author’s notes; they add so much.
This was a gripping and gritty debut that had me absolutely hooked. Angie Faye Martin delivers a powerful outback crime novel that’s both deeply atmospheric and socially resonant, led by a fierce and uncompromising protagonist in Aboriginal policewoman Renee Taylor.
Set across two timelines—Renee’s investigation in 2000 and the story of Caroline and Bessie in the 1960s - Melaleuca explores intergenerational trauma, systemic racism, and the resilience of community and culture. The way Martin connects these two narratives is seamless and quietly devastating.
Renee is a standout character: smart, tough, and constantly underestimated. Her return to the fictional town of Goorungah to care for her mother quickly turns into a murder investigation that unearths long-buried secrets and forgotten injustices.
The dual timeline added real emotional depth, and I was completely immersed. My suspicions kept shifting and the ending surprised me in the best way. There’s heartache here, but also strength, healing, and hope.
A beautifully written and important story - I’ll be lining up for whatever Angie Faye Martin writes next. Please don’t skip the author’s notes; they add so much.
June 12, 2025
4.5/5 ☆
Police officer Renee Taylor is seconded to her small rural hometown to work while she cares for her ill mother . While there the body of young Aboriginal woman is found. Renee heads up the case and while investigating finds links to two Aboriginal women who went missing over 30 years ago.
Melaleuca follows Renee as she investigates in the present day and also follows Bessie 30 years earlier in the lead up to her disappearance. I loved the dual timeline especially the flashbacks to Caroline and her perspective as a young Aboriginal woman working for white people and living in a camp outside of town. I also loved the relationship between Renee and her Mum, a few of their interactions gave me a good laugh.
This was a fantastic Aussie crime debut that I highly recommend. The story easily kept me turning the pages
Police officer Renee Taylor is seconded to her small rural hometown to work while she cares for her ill mother . While there the body of young Aboriginal woman is found. Renee heads up the case and while investigating finds links to two Aboriginal women who went missing over 30 years ago.
Melaleuca follows Renee as she investigates in the present day and also follows Bessie 30 years earlier in the lead up to her disappearance. I loved the dual timeline especially the flashbacks to Caroline and her perspective as a young Aboriginal woman working for white people and living in a camp outside of town. I also loved the relationship between Renee and her Mum, a few of their interactions gave me a good laugh.
This was a fantastic Aussie crime debut that I highly recommend. The story easily kept me turning the pages
October 5, 2025
"First Nations crime noir"
Good plot - I didn't pick whodunit.
Great characters . Non First Nations aussies should read books like this to get a deeper understanding of the First Nations people POV.
My problem was the audio book narrator. She didn't use different voices for characters - I don't imagine a wealthy male farm owner would have the same sort of voice as a young girl working in his house. And not using different voices is ok, but she said "renee AKSED a question". Happy for that to be how some characters mispronounce words but it was for most characters or as general text not dialogue. That almost calls for a re record? Anyway, good book overall
Good plot - I didn't pick whodunit.
Great characters . Non First Nations aussies should read books like this to get a deeper understanding of the First Nations people POV.
My problem was the audio book narrator. She didn't use different voices for characters - I don't imagine a wealthy male farm owner would have the same sort of voice as a young girl working in his house. And not using different voices is ok, but she said "renee AKSED a question". Happy for that to be how some characters mispronounce words but it was for most characters or as general text not dialogue. That almost calls for a re record? Anyway, good book overall
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