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Prize Catch
A quest for the truth becomes a race for survival in this pacy new crime novel from award-winning author Alan Carter.
When Roz Chen's wife, Niamh, is killed in a hit-and-run on a lonely Tasmanian road, the grieving widow begins to wonder if Niamh's death was an accident after all. Meanwhile, SAS veteran Sam Willard is hoping for a fresh start with a job at a salmon farm. But as allegations of old war crimes surface and Sam is 'promoted' as a special operative against anti-salmon farm activists, he and Roz form an unlikely alliance.
Forced to retreat into the unforgiving Tasmanian wilderness, Roz and Sam find themselves scrambling for the truth with murderous thugs on their trail.
When Roz Chen's wife, Niamh, is killed in a hit-and-run on a lonely Tasmanian road, the grieving widow begins to wonder if Niamh's death was an accident after all. Meanwhile, SAS veteran Sam Willard is hoping for a fresh start with a job at a salmon farm. But as allegations of old war crimes surface and Sam is 'promoted' as a special operative against anti-salmon farm activists, he and Roz form an unlikely alliance.
Forced to retreat into the unforgiving Tasmanian wilderness, Roz and Sam find themselves scrambling for the truth with murderous thugs on their trail.
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Published September 1, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
September 26, 2024
A delighted reader was I, flying along with this informed and quality work. It’s times like this a reader chides themselves with the age-old adage ‘why have I not read this author before now?!’ Devouring this believable, compelling, and propulsive thriller to the extent I had not experienced for a long while. An engrossing twisty thread chock full of meaty subjects, whilst heavy, carrying the reader through extreme emotions without faltering. Fully immersed in the female camaraderie, the desperation of escape, and the true caring of reliable protagonists who I felt close to and protected by; I felt I knew them. Absorbing the feeling of evil in which they were fleeing, while attempting to bring to justice made for a terrific read. I loved the right characters; I hated the others with vehemence. Alan Carter has hit the nail on the head with smart writing and faultlessly crafted characters which made it hard to put down. Wanting my lunch break to be longer (what is wrong with stealing some work time to read?!) Here we have an established author clearly shining and I loved it. My copy has a full dance card right now – a sure sign of success.
With thanks to @fremantlepress and @goodreadingmag for my copy to read and review as part of the Early Bird Read.
With thanks to @fremantlepress and @goodreadingmag for my copy to read and review as part of the Early Bird Read.
September 15, 2024
Prize Catch is a stand-alone novel by award-winning Australian author, Alan Carter. With a wife and son to support, SAS veteran Sam Willard is just glad to find employment, even if it is as a mere attendant on a Tasmanian salmon farm. But before long he is singled out to work in a different capacity: have events in Uruzgan made him appear suited to risk management and minimisation? The extra money will come in handy, but is it all above board?
Already mentally fragile after a legal dispute with her former employer, Ros Chen isn’t sure she can hold it together when her wife, Niamh Cassidy is killed in a hit and run during her morning bike ride. DS Ian Cavanagh questions if it was an accident, but without witnesses or CCTV, there’s little to go on.
Cav seems exceptionally attentive to Ros, while soon-to-retire Detective Senior Constable Jill Wilkie does the grunt work, but Ros wonders how hard he’s actually trying. When she discovers something about Niamh that could represent a motive for murder, Cav is sceptical: he rates the probability of it being an inattentive driver, or a misogynistic ex-husband as much more likely than Big Salmon trying to protect their reputation.
As Jill follows up on potential leads, there’s the theft of damning evidence, and the intimidation of an environmental activist, specifically an anti-salmon farming campaigner, in a terrifying home invasion. Jill begins to wonder about possible connections even as her boss dismisses the idea. Then someone dies, and Sam suddenly finds himself on the run as the main suspect for a murder he didn’t commit.
Carter’s setting is perfectly depicted. His main protagonists, amongst a cast of believably flawed characters: Sam is far from squeaky-clean, although he does seem to have a conscience; Ros finds a resilience, courage, and determination she wasn’t aware she had; and when her inner radar signals a cover-up, Jill is surprised to find herself taking the initiative.
Prize Catch is a twisty, action-filled story featuring underhand and illegal acts by a Tasmanian salmon industry baron, accusations of war crimes by Australian armed forces in the Middle East, and whistle-blowers on both. Carter’s cleverly crafted, intricate plot includes coerced killings, blackmail, the upcoming sale of the salmon farm, a pushy journalist questioning the reputation of a lauded Afghanistan veteran turned political candidate, a corrupt cop, and a posse of SAS veterans who demand loyalty over ethical behaviour. Superb Australian crime fiction
This unbiased review is from a copy provided by Good Reading Magazine and Fremantle Press.
Already mentally fragile after a legal dispute with her former employer, Ros Chen isn’t sure she can hold it together when her wife, Niamh Cassidy is killed in a hit and run during her morning bike ride. DS Ian Cavanagh questions if it was an accident, but without witnesses or CCTV, there’s little to go on.
Cav seems exceptionally attentive to Ros, while soon-to-retire Detective Senior Constable Jill Wilkie does the grunt work, but Ros wonders how hard he’s actually trying. When she discovers something about Niamh that could represent a motive for murder, Cav is sceptical: he rates the probability of it being an inattentive driver, or a misogynistic ex-husband as much more likely than Big Salmon trying to protect their reputation.
As Jill follows up on potential leads, there’s the theft of damning evidence, and the intimidation of an environmental activist, specifically an anti-salmon farming campaigner, in a terrifying home invasion. Jill begins to wonder about possible connections even as her boss dismisses the idea. Then someone dies, and Sam suddenly finds himself on the run as the main suspect for a murder he didn’t commit.
Carter’s setting is perfectly depicted. His main protagonists, amongst a cast of believably flawed characters: Sam is far from squeaky-clean, although he does seem to have a conscience; Ros finds a resilience, courage, and determination she wasn’t aware she had; and when her inner radar signals a cover-up, Jill is surprised to find herself taking the initiative.
Prize Catch is a twisty, action-filled story featuring underhand and illegal acts by a Tasmanian salmon industry baron, accusations of war crimes by Australian armed forces in the Middle East, and whistle-blowers on both. Carter’s cleverly crafted, intricate plot includes coerced killings, blackmail, the upcoming sale of the salmon farm, a pushy journalist questioning the reputation of a lauded Afghanistan veteran turned political candidate, a corrupt cop, and a posse of SAS veterans who demand loyalty over ethical behaviour. Superb Australian crime fiction
This unbiased review is from a copy provided by Good Reading Magazine and Fremantle Press.
December 3, 2024
Prize Catch could be seen as a cautionary tale about what could potentially happen when corporate greed tangles with committed environmental activists. It’s a spiralling cause and effect thriller wrapped into an against the odds battle.
The story opens with the death of Niamh Cassidy while she’s out on a morning bike ride, hit by a car on a perilous mountain climb. It’s suggested that this was no accident. Her wife, Roz Chen, is devastated by the loss and descends into a deep melancholy. It only lasts as long as it takes to survive her own brush with a violent end, something that sparks her resolve to avenge her loss.
Sam Willard is a former SAS veteran who’s still trying to forget the events of Afghanistan. He’s just landed a promising job at the mega salmon fishery, D’Entrecasteaux Salmon and he’s hopeful he can make it stick for his and his family’s sake. But almost immediately he’s recruited from within to perform some “special duties” making use of the skills he picked up in the military.
Detective Senior Constable Jill Wilkie is reaching the point of retiring from the police force, but she continues to prove that she’s one of the more capable detectives on the force. She’s also at the point where she’s prepared to risk everything if she believes her superiors aren’t up to the job. This is a trait that will prove very important in the course of her investigation into Niamh’s death, not to mention a few crimes that have cropped up that could very well point to that huge nearby salmon fisheries company. Her immediate superior is definitely not helping in any of the leads she’s following in the investigation.
Environmental activism, rich businessmen with dodgy pasts, a security firm headed by ex-military personnel, a scapegoat set up for murder and a few small-fry civilians standing in the way ensures that the scene is set for an epic battle.
Sam is a fascinating study. He’s the quintessential anti-hero, a decent guy, a family man and war hero who’s been roped into doing a shady job for the money. It’s when it’s too late that he realises he’s being run by people who are far more dangerous than he ever imagined and it’s at this point that the drama really takes off.
Set in Tasmania, a state renowned for its staunch eco-warriors, Prize Catch is a solid thriller that quickly unfolds to reveal an intricate multi-layered plot. Corruption rears its ugly head on a couple of fronts while closely guarded secrets from the past provide motivation for a deadly showdown.
My only disappointment was with the ending which seemed to slowly grind to a stop with barely a flicker of excitement. After being drawn in by a cast of very well-drawn characters, I was invested in each of them, the good, the bad and the truly evil. But I was disappointed with most aspects of the way it concluded, providing little in the way of a satisfactory outcome and answering very few of the questions that cropped up in the lead up to the finale. In real life, that’s to be expected, in a work of fiction, not so much.
That being said, there are a couple of characters introduced here whose further exploits I’d be more than happy to follow.
The story opens with the death of Niamh Cassidy while she’s out on a morning bike ride, hit by a car on a perilous mountain climb. It’s suggested that this was no accident. Her wife, Roz Chen, is devastated by the loss and descends into a deep melancholy. It only lasts as long as it takes to survive her own brush with a violent end, something that sparks her resolve to avenge her loss.
Sam Willard is a former SAS veteran who’s still trying to forget the events of Afghanistan. He’s just landed a promising job at the mega salmon fishery, D’Entrecasteaux Salmon and he’s hopeful he can make it stick for his and his family’s sake. But almost immediately he’s recruited from within to perform some “special duties” making use of the skills he picked up in the military.
Detective Senior Constable Jill Wilkie is reaching the point of retiring from the police force, but she continues to prove that she’s one of the more capable detectives on the force. She’s also at the point where she’s prepared to risk everything if she believes her superiors aren’t up to the job. This is a trait that will prove very important in the course of her investigation into Niamh’s death, not to mention a few crimes that have cropped up that could very well point to that huge nearby salmon fisheries company. Her immediate superior is definitely not helping in any of the leads she’s following in the investigation.
Environmental activism, rich businessmen with dodgy pasts, a security firm headed by ex-military personnel, a scapegoat set up for murder and a few small-fry civilians standing in the way ensures that the scene is set for an epic battle.
Sam is a fascinating study. He’s the quintessential anti-hero, a decent guy, a family man and war hero who’s been roped into doing a shady job for the money. It’s when it’s too late that he realises he’s being run by people who are far more dangerous than he ever imagined and it’s at this point that the drama really takes off.
Set in Tasmania, a state renowned for its staunch eco-warriors, Prize Catch is a solid thriller that quickly unfolds to reveal an intricate multi-layered plot. Corruption rears its ugly head on a couple of fronts while closely guarded secrets from the past provide motivation for a deadly showdown.
My only disappointment was with the ending which seemed to slowly grind to a stop with barely a flicker of excitement. After being drawn in by a cast of very well-drawn characters, I was invested in each of them, the good, the bad and the truly evil. But I was disappointed with most aspects of the way it concluded, providing little in the way of a satisfactory outcome and answering very few of the questions that cropped up in the lead up to the finale. In real life, that’s to be expected, in a work of fiction, not so much.
That being said, there are a couple of characters introduced here whose further exploits I’d be more than happy to follow.
October 21, 2024
I've always enjoyed Alan Carter's writing and Prize Catch is no exception. Not only are his characters engaging the settings are always evocative and beautifully described.
With Prize Catch Alan Carter has mixed a cleverly crafted plot with superb character development.
Sam Willard is a complex mixture of hero and villain. I haven't come across such a likeable anti-hero as Sam since Jack Dunne in Outrider.
Prize Catch is rich in suspense and although I found the beginning slow the pace soon picked up and I became totally immersed in the story.
I liked that it was set during the early days of Covid lockdowns which made an isolated Tasmania the perfect setting for a manhunt.
With dual plot lines of activists against a big salmon farm and war crimes in Afghanistan, I was eager to see how these two vastly different areas would come together.
Prize Catch is a riveting crime novel but I think it was the fabulous characters that really stood out to me.
With Prize Catch Alan Carter has mixed a cleverly crafted plot with superb character development.
Sam Willard is a complex mixture of hero and villain. I haven't come across such a likeable anti-hero as Sam since Jack Dunne in Outrider.
Prize Catch is rich in suspense and although I found the beginning slow the pace soon picked up and I became totally immersed in the story.
I liked that it was set during the early days of Covid lockdowns which made an isolated Tasmania the perfect setting for a manhunt.
With dual plot lines of activists against a big salmon farm and war crimes in Afghanistan, I was eager to see how these two vastly different areas would come together.
Prize Catch is a riveting crime novel but I think it was the fabulous characters that really stood out to me.
July 22, 2024
For most crime novels I feel setting is the most important element to get right, and in this novel the setting of Tasmania nailed it. It mixed the murky waters of salmon farming with current controversies of war crimes. Carter also succeeds in characterisation, the reader is barracking for the underdog against corporate/political greed and corruption, even though the protagonists are flawed, but that's what makes them relatable. I enjoyed this. ARC copy supplied.
September 24, 2024
Alan Carter’s Prize Catch was a pleasant surprise. I must admit I’d never heard of this author before, but found Prize Catch very hard to put down once I started reading it! The story is set in Tasmania and revolves around the local salmon industry. It also has links to historical war crimes committed in Afghanistan during the early 2000s and delves into police and political corruption. There is a host of characters, some likable and some not so likable, including strong female characters, on the right and wrong sides of the law. Just a warning, there is a fair bit of animal cruelty throughout the story. Thanks to Better Reading for my preview copy of this book.
December 8, 2024
4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this novel set in Tasmania, and dealing with war crimes, salmon fishing and the pandemic. I think there was a bit too much packed in in terms of plot but it was well written and pacy. Second book on salmon fishing I have read recently (latest Peter May novel being the other) and I am really not tempted to eat salmon anymore.
December 9, 2024
Prize Catch is a compelling crime thriller, featuring plotlines around Tasmania's controversial salmon farming industry and the investigation of war crimes by Australian defence personnel during the occupation of Afghanistan.
Retired lawyer Ros Chen's world is shattered when her wife Niamh is killed in an apparent hit-and-run while on her morning bicycle ride south of Hobart, Tasmania. However, Ros's retreat into her grief and self-imposed solitude is interrupted by several strange occurrences. The police inspector leading the investigation into Niamh's death seems excessive in his attentions towards her, and she discovers via Niamh's social media that she'd become deeply involved with activists opposing the expansion of fish farms in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel between the Tasmanian mainland and Bruny Island. After coming into possession of a cache of incriminating documents and videos that Niamh had put aside for her "in the event of my death", Ros is drawn into the murky (both literal and metaphorical) waters of the salmon trade and those who oppose it.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan veteran Sam Willard takes up a position as a labourer at D'Entrecasteaux Salmon, hoping that this might be the job he finally manages to hold onto, having had a patchy work history since leaving the military and having a wife and young son to support. But he's barely finished his induction processes when he's headhunted by Kristin Baker, Sustainable Business Manager at D'Entrecasteaux and offered a better paid gig working with David Trembath, who heads a company providing security and "risk management" services to the salmon farms.
The two storylines begin to intertwine as Ros's home is broken into late one night, and another of the salmon farm activists is murdered. An unlikely alliance is formed as the action shifts to the wintery setting of Tasmania's wild centre.
I had the pleasure of meeting author Alan Carter at last year's Terror Australis Readers & Writers Festival, and was keen to read Prize Catch, his first Tasmanian-set novel, as soon as it was publicised pre-release. It's a tautly-paced thriller with plenty of intrigue, local flavour and some very strong female characters.
I've found this year's "stocking stuffer" for friends and relatives!
Retired lawyer Ros Chen's world is shattered when her wife Niamh is killed in an apparent hit-and-run while on her morning bicycle ride south of Hobart, Tasmania. However, Ros's retreat into her grief and self-imposed solitude is interrupted by several strange occurrences. The police inspector leading the investigation into Niamh's death seems excessive in his attentions towards her, and she discovers via Niamh's social media that she'd become deeply involved with activists opposing the expansion of fish farms in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel between the Tasmanian mainland and Bruny Island. After coming into possession of a cache of incriminating documents and videos that Niamh had put aside for her "in the event of my death", Ros is drawn into the murky (both literal and metaphorical) waters of the salmon trade and those who oppose it.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan veteran Sam Willard takes up a position as a labourer at D'Entrecasteaux Salmon, hoping that this might be the job he finally manages to hold onto, having had a patchy work history since leaving the military and having a wife and young son to support. But he's barely finished his induction processes when he's headhunted by Kristin Baker, Sustainable Business Manager at D'Entrecasteaux and offered a better paid gig working with David Trembath, who heads a company providing security and "risk management" services to the salmon farms.
The two storylines begin to intertwine as Ros's home is broken into late one night, and another of the salmon farm activists is murdered. An unlikely alliance is formed as the action shifts to the wintery setting of Tasmania's wild centre.
I had the pleasure of meeting author Alan Carter at last year's Terror Australis Readers & Writers Festival, and was keen to read Prize Catch, his first Tasmanian-set novel, as soon as it was publicised pre-release. It's a tautly-paced thriller with plenty of intrigue, local flavour and some very strong female characters.
I've found this year's "stocking stuffer" for friends and relatives!
November 27, 2024
This was a fast paced thriller which kept me occupied from Kootingal to Yandina and allowed my husband a full day of peace so he could drive.
Finished in one day
Finished in one day
December 7, 2024
Alan Carter has moved his setting from NZ to Tasmania, I’m delighted with both choices. Two characters , civilian and police, investigate a death. Both are really well written, with convincing connections growing as the plot develops.
December 18, 2024
absolute edge of your seat thriller, stay up late to see what happens. Love the Tasmanian setting eco-issues, all the vividly drawn people. Brilliant.
October 3, 2024
I loved Alan Carter's Cato Kwong series and so was really looking forward to Prize Catch. I was not disappointed.
The story starts with a bang - literally- when Roz Chen's wife, Niamh, is killed while out for her regular morning ride. When Roz is threatened herself, she emerges from her brain fog and teams up with Sam, an Afghanistan veteran recently employed in the Tasmanian salmon industry.
The action takes place in Hobart, on Bruny Island and in the Tassie wilderness with the tension never letting up, drawing the reader further and further in.
Thanks very much to Better Reading and Fremantle Press for the opportunity to read and review this excellent book which I recommend highly for action and authenticity.
****1/2
The story starts with a bang - literally- when Roz Chen's wife, Niamh, is killed while out for her regular morning ride. When Roz is threatened herself, she emerges from her brain fog and teams up with Sam, an Afghanistan veteran recently employed in the Tasmanian salmon industry.
The action takes place in Hobart, on Bruny Island and in the Tassie wilderness with the tension never letting up, drawing the reader further and further in.
Thanks very much to Better Reading and Fremantle Press for the opportunity to read and review this excellent book which I recommend highly for action and authenticity.
****1/2
December 19, 2024
Prize Catch is a stand-alone novel by award-winning Australian author, Alan Carter. The audio version is narrated by Jessica Douglas-Henry. With a wife and son to support, SAS veteran Sam Willard is just glad to find employment, even if it is as a mere attendant on a Tasmanian salmon farm. But before long he is singled out to work in a different capacity: have events in Uruzgan made him appear suited to risk management and minimisation? The extra money will come in handy, but is it all above board?
Already mentally fragile after a legal dispute with her former employer, Ros Chen isn’t sure she can hold it together when her wife, Niamh Cassidy is killed in a hit and run during her morning bike ride. DS Ian Cavanagh questions if it was an accident, but without witnesses or CCTV, there’s little to go on.
Cav seems exceptionally attentive to Ros, while soon-to-retire Detective Senior Constable Jill Wilkie does the grunt work, but Ros wonders how hard he’s actually trying. When she discovers something about Niamh that could represent a motive for murder, Cav is sceptical: he rates the probability of it being an inattentive driver, or a misogynistic ex-husband as much more likely than Big Salmon trying to protect their reputation.
As Jill follows up on potential leads, there’s the theft of damning evidence, and the intimidation of an environmental activist, specifically an anti-salmon farming campaigner, in a terrifying home invasion. Jill begins to wonder about possible connections even as her boss dismisses the idea. Then someone dies, and Sam suddenly finds himself on the run as the main suspect for a murder he didn’t commit.
Carter’s setting is perfectly depicted. His main protagonists, amongst a cast of believably flawed characters: Sam is far from squeaky-clean, although he does seem to have a conscience; Ros finds a resilience, courage, and determination she wasn’t aware she had; and when her inner radar signals a cover-up, Jill is surprised to find herself taking the initiative.
Prize Catch is a twisty, action-filled story featuring underhand and illegal acts by a Tasmanian salmon industry baron, accusations of war crimes by Australian armed forces in the Middle East, and whistle-blowers on both. Carter’s cleverly crafted, intricate plot includes coerced killings, blackmail, the upcoming sale of the salmon farm, a pushy journalist questioning the reputation of a lauded Afghanistan veteran turned political candidate, a corrupt cop, and a posse of SAS veterans who demand loyalty over ethical behaviour. Superb Australian crime fiction
Already mentally fragile after a legal dispute with her former employer, Ros Chen isn’t sure she can hold it together when her wife, Niamh Cassidy is killed in a hit and run during her morning bike ride. DS Ian Cavanagh questions if it was an accident, but without witnesses or CCTV, there’s little to go on.
Cav seems exceptionally attentive to Ros, while soon-to-retire Detective Senior Constable Jill Wilkie does the grunt work, but Ros wonders how hard he’s actually trying. When she discovers something about Niamh that could represent a motive for murder, Cav is sceptical: he rates the probability of it being an inattentive driver, or a misogynistic ex-husband as much more likely than Big Salmon trying to protect their reputation.
As Jill follows up on potential leads, there’s the theft of damning evidence, and the intimidation of an environmental activist, specifically an anti-salmon farming campaigner, in a terrifying home invasion. Jill begins to wonder about possible connections even as her boss dismisses the idea. Then someone dies, and Sam suddenly finds himself on the run as the main suspect for a murder he didn’t commit.
Carter’s setting is perfectly depicted. His main protagonists, amongst a cast of believably flawed characters: Sam is far from squeaky-clean, although he does seem to have a conscience; Ros finds a resilience, courage, and determination she wasn’t aware she had; and when her inner radar signals a cover-up, Jill is surprised to find herself taking the initiative.
Prize Catch is a twisty, action-filled story featuring underhand and illegal acts by a Tasmanian salmon industry baron, accusations of war crimes by Australian armed forces in the Middle East, and whistle-blowers on both. Carter’s cleverly crafted, intricate plot includes coerced killings, blackmail, the upcoming sale of the salmon farm, a pushy journalist questioning the reputation of a lauded Afghanistan veteran turned political candidate, a corrupt cop, and a posse of SAS veterans who demand loyalty over ethical behaviour. Superb Australian crime fiction
June 30, 2025
Some genuinely well written characters in this very entertaining crime novel especially the women. Also a sympathetic description of someone battling crippling mental illness after systematic workplace bullying. Ros ( it says Roz on the blurb at the back cover!) has moved to Tasmania with her partner, Niamh,but a hit and run accident kills Niamh leaving Ros even more distraught and vulnerable than before. Allied with this tragedy is Sam, an Australian veteran who has served in Afghanistan and is still suffering PTSD and associated effects. He gets a job with the local salmon fishery but is soon recruited to undertake far more nefarious deeds. How Alan Carter manages to combine the complexities of polluting salmon farms and the war crimes cover ups is amazing but he definitely kept my attention. This was a stand alone story but I would like to read more about Jill Wilkie, the policewoman investigator. I have previously enjoyed the Cato Kwong and Nick Chester books and she could prove an intriguing female lead. I might add that I doubt I will eat farmed salmon again!
November 2, 2024
Another absolute cracker from Alan Carter, this time tackling the issues of dodgy salmon farming practices in Tasmania, political corruption, and the fallout from our participation in the Afghanistan conflict - all rolled together into one incredibly good read.
April 11, 2025
This thoughtful novel is close to the thriller end of the crime spectrum. It’s an absorbing novel that should appeal to a wide audience, and which provides more food for thought than the average crime novel.
The novel is set in Tasmania, and the Tasmanian landscape is a vivid part of the story. Carter describes it in ways that will bring it to life, whether you’re familiar with it or not.
Multiple important issues are canvassed in this novel, some of them extremely disparate, yet Carter weaves them into a coherent whole. There’s no shortage of action, but the underlying issues are far more prominent than you’ll necessarily find in a who dunnit. This is probably why my over riding impression of the novel was of its’ thoughtfulness: Carter doesn’t trivialise these issues, and explores the moral complications in some depth.
It's not a hard read, though. The action moves fast, the narrative is absorbing, and you’ll soon care about the characters. Despite the substantive underpinning to the story, it never got bogged down.
There are also plenty of the trappings you’d expect from a classic detective novel: an abundance of suspects, many of whom are behaving suspiciously; many possible leads; multiple motives; and a determined detective.
This is a really enjoyable novel which leaves you with quite a bit to mull over. I appreciated both the pacy surface crime plot and the exploration of underlying issues, which I’m still mulling over. I’d recommend it; the layers mean that a wide range of readers will find things to enjoy here.
If you enjoyed this review, please visit www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog to read more.
An edited version of this review first appeared on www.beautyandlace.net as part of their bookclub.
The novel is set in Tasmania, and the Tasmanian landscape is a vivid part of the story. Carter describes it in ways that will bring it to life, whether you’re familiar with it or not.
Multiple important issues are canvassed in this novel, some of them extremely disparate, yet Carter weaves them into a coherent whole. There’s no shortage of action, but the underlying issues are far more prominent than you’ll necessarily find in a who dunnit. This is probably why my over riding impression of the novel was of its’ thoughtfulness: Carter doesn’t trivialise these issues, and explores the moral complications in some depth.
It's not a hard read, though. The action moves fast, the narrative is absorbing, and you’ll soon care about the characters. Despite the substantive underpinning to the story, it never got bogged down.
There are also plenty of the trappings you’d expect from a classic detective novel: an abundance of suspects, many of whom are behaving suspiciously; many possible leads; multiple motives; and a determined detective.
This is a really enjoyable novel which leaves you with quite a bit to mull over. I appreciated both the pacy surface crime plot and the exploration of underlying issues, which I’m still mulling over. I’d recommend it; the layers mean that a wide range of readers will find things to enjoy here.
If you enjoyed this review, please visit www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog to read more.
An edited version of this review first appeared on www.beautyandlace.net as part of their bookclub.
February 3, 2025
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bookishlyclaire
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Prize Catch by Alan Carter is the first of his books I've read and it was great!
Roz Chen has been struggling with life, then her wife Niamh is killed in a hit and run accident she sinks into further despair.
After awhile she starts to see through the fog and wonder if Niamh death was indeed an accident or something more sinister.
Sam Willard a SAS veteran is hoping his new job at the salmon farm is the fresh start he needs, but it's not to be, he's soon sucked into a dark underworld and his past life and new job with the salmon farm collide.
As the stakes are raised Sam and Roz are forced to make an unlikely alliance in order to both survive.
Fast paced with twists and turns that kept you guessing and unsure who was a good guy and who wasn't, some people seemed to flit between both!
I thoroughly enjoyed Prize Catch, thank you Fremantle Press and Beauty and Lace for the copy to read and review
March 3, 2025
A standalone crime novel, Prize Catch (2024) by Alan Carter is set in Tasmania against the backdrop of the salmon farming industry. One early morning, Niam is out riding her bicycle when she is killed in a hit and run. The police investigate, thinking it’s an accident, but soon to retire Detective Jill Wilkie, is not so certain. Meantime, former Australian Army officer, Sam Williard finally secures a labouring job cleaning the salmon ponds. When a journalist approaches Sam, he declines to contribute to her story on the possibility of war crimes occurring in Afghanistan by the Australian special forces unit. Narrated by a diverse range of characters, this enthralling, erudite thriller has a tension building crescendo and action finale. Overall, this sophisticated and intriguing thriller is accurately summed up in its title, making it a do not miss five star read rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.
December 30, 2024
4 stars; maybe 4.5 at a pinch from Alan Carter in this standalone from one of Australia’s top crime fiction authors. Two contemporary issues form the context - the impact of salmon farming and allegations of Australian war crimes - interest and compromise aplenty. Three protagonists all cope with challenges arising from facing multiple crimes, meaning jumps between three perspectives although it’s not hard to follow. The involvement of former military presages thriller material alongside police work, yet such action is present but relatively limited, with plenty of talking as well as things resolve (more or less). I enjoyed it, but not quite Carter’s top shelf for me.
July 23, 2025
This author is under-rated. Now Australian, he's written about ten books all of them solid. His other series are Kato Kwong and Nick Chester (#3 to publish next) and they are as good as most, better than some. This standalone has alot going on in it's 300 pages, but equally as good as the aforementioned. Strong characters, exciting plot and always a thriller conclusion.
Interesting reading the acknowledgements at the end of the book. Clearly Carter isn't an author making millions, just somebody with artistic flair. Reassuring. For Carter fans, you'll enjoy this standalone, for potential new comers a good novel with 2 good series to chase thereafter.
Interesting reading the acknowledgements at the end of the book. Clearly Carter isn't an author making millions, just somebody with artistic flair. Reassuring. For Carter fans, you'll enjoy this standalone, for potential new comers a good novel with 2 good series to chase thereafter.
November 21, 2025
Another good thriller from Alan Carter, albeit with the body count higher than usual. This one is set in Tasmania, where a salmon fishery is embroiled in nasty tactics to preserve itself, in the wake of environmental concerns. Thugs are brought in from ex-military to clean up the messes, with predictable violence and mayhem. My one concern is the lack of believability all round. Too many dead bodies, too much corruption. The characters are well drawn and once again the author shows himself a master of local knowledge. So, a very good story that could have been better, with the conclusion slightly vague.
April 5, 2025
3.5 stars. An engaging crime thriller set in Tasmania, weaving together the dark underbelly of salmon farming with the shadow of Afghanistan war crimes. The story kicks off with great promise—relatable, empathetic characters and vivid, atmospheric settings that pull you in. The pace is sharp and compelling early on, but as the plot unfolds, it veers into increasingly implausible and convoluted territory, which detracts from the strong start.
November 18, 2025
An excellent read. I've been a bit slow with reading this year, but managed this book in 3 afternoons. I've enjoyed everything Carter has written so far, and looking forward to the next one which hit my library's shelves last week - #3 in the Nick Chester series. I enjoyed the descriptions of Tasmania in the book, a place I've never been to but heard a lot about and seen on various tv programs over the years, and the main characters are very relatable.
September 18, 2024
The subjects of Afghanistan war crimes and environmental activism surrounding private business salmon farming in Tasmania aren't subjects you'd normally find meshed together, but Alan Carter blends them well in this page turning read.
Themes involving sense of entitlement, lack of accountability and believed untouchability bind the narrative.
Themes involving sense of entitlement, lack of accountability and believed untouchability bind the narrative.
November 18, 2025
The tasmanian farmed salmon industry should be totally overhauled if not closed: and to think a foreign company with questionable ethics is the owner makes it even more offensive.
...back to the book : good characters: I like Sam...well written .
Surprised could download on kobo as soon as I searched.
...back to the book : good characters: I like Sam...well written .
Surprised could download on kobo as soon as I searched.
November 28, 2024
captivating!
What a twisty, finely woven plot! What memorable characters, easy to believe they’re real people. I knew nothing about Tasmania, the topography, now I’m googling the locations & fishing operations to see what they look like.
What a twisty, finely woven plot! What memorable characters, easy to believe they’re real people. I knew nothing about Tasmania, the topography, now I’m googling the locations & fishing operations to see what they look like.
December 27, 2024
3.5⭐️ The premise was great, and the writing is good, but there is too much swapping between the stories of each of the main characters, which creates a sense of jaggedness to the pace. Not an ideal thing for a crime novel.
May 13, 2025
3.5* A multi-layered thriller highlighting topical issues such as salmon farming in Tasmania and Afghanistan war crimes. Deeply unsettling given proximity of the book's setting to where I live. Would make a great TV show.
November 1, 2024
Fantastic read - great characters, story and the landscape
December 15, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up.
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