What do you think?
Rate this book
Detective Giles #2
Burning Mountain
Five went up. Only four came down . . .
In April 2006, fifteen-year-old Oliver went hiking to the lookout on Burning Mountain - and vanished without trace.
His schoolfriends – Bob, Bell, Phil and Paul – were the last ones to see him on the trek, yet the teenagers were never able to explain his disappearance.
Almost twenty years later, Detective Rebecca Giles is called to bushland on nearby Mount Wingen. There a skull has been dug up, reviving the mystery that has haunted the Upper Hunter area for years.
Giles is convinced that they have finally found the missing boy, and that his four friends – all now in their mid-thirties – have always known much more than they revealed. In particular, about the argument that caused Oliver to head down the mountain on his own.
But when she discusses the case with her father, retired Superintendent Benjamin Giles, another suspect is thrown into the mix. One that for Giles is uncomfortably close to home . . .
'Dark, wild and cracking with tension, Burning Mountain leaves other outback noir titles in the red dust.' Jack Heath, bestselling author of Kill Your Husbands
In April 2006, fifteen-year-old Oliver went hiking to the lookout on Burning Mountain - and vanished without trace.
His schoolfriends – Bob, Bell, Phil and Paul – were the last ones to see him on the trek, yet the teenagers were never able to explain his disappearance.
Almost twenty years later, Detective Rebecca Giles is called to bushland on nearby Mount Wingen. There a skull has been dug up, reviving the mystery that has haunted the Upper Hunter area for years.
Giles is convinced that they have finally found the missing boy, and that his four friends – all now in their mid-thirties – have always known much more than they revealed. In particular, about the argument that caused Oliver to head down the mountain on his own.
But when she discusses the case with her father, retired Superintendent Benjamin Giles, another suspect is thrown into the mix. One that for Giles is uncomfortably close to home . . .
'Dark, wild and cracking with tension, Burning Mountain leaves other outback noir titles in the red dust.' Jack Heath, bestselling author of Kill Your Husbands
360 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 29, 2025
14 people are currently reading
280 people want to read
About the author
Darcy Tindale
3 books46 followersDarcy is an author, drama teacher, actor, theatresports player, and director. Her versatile talents have seen her appear in television commercials, films, and on stage.
In 2022, Darcy was one of six finalists in the Penguin Books Literary Prize for her adult crime novel, The Fall Between. This accolade led to a literary contract with Penguin Books for her Detective Giles series. Her first novel, The Fall Between, was released in May 2023, and her second novel, Burning Mountain, followed in April 2025.
In 2024, The Fall Between was nominated for The Davitt and The Ned Kelly Awards for Best Debut Crime Novel, further cementing Darcy's talent in the literary world.
Her work extends to writing comedy for radio, stage, media personalities, comedians, and theatre restaurants. Her plays, poems, articles, and short stories have been published in magazines, journals and anthologies.
In 2022, Darcy was one of six finalists in the Penguin Books Literary Prize for her adult crime novel, The Fall Between. This accolade led to a literary contract with Penguin Books for her Detective Giles series. Her first novel, The Fall Between, was released in May 2023, and her second novel, Burning Mountain, followed in April 2025.
In 2024, The Fall Between was nominated for The Davitt and The Ned Kelly Awards for Best Debut Crime Novel, further cementing Darcy's talent in the literary world.
Her work extends to writing comedy for radio, stage, media personalities, comedians, and theatre restaurants. Her plays, poems, articles, and short stories have been published in magazines, journals and anthologies.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
September 8, 2025
I never read series out of order! This one was out of my control, courtesy of #BRPreview — so thank you!
There are lots of twists and turns in this story, with characters you’ll love and others who are calculating liars. I always enjoy character-driven novels, especially when it’s an Aussie crime thriller led by a gutsy female detective. Detective Rebecca Giles works well alongside her more experienced supervisor, as well as her father, Benjamin Giles. Ben is a former DI who worked hard to raise his daughter, sending her to boarding school. Now in declining health due to Parkinson’s disease, Ben becomes deeply involved when the case connects closely to Rebecca’s own childhood, intensifying her urgency to solve it.
Everyday people are drawn into the mystery surrounding the discovery of a human skull. The townsfolk are on high alert, haunted by past tragedies and the disappearance of a child. Could this be him?
As Rebecca races to solve the case, and her father’s emotional investment grows, themes of grooming and pedophilia begin to surface. The tension builds as personal involvement threatens to unravel everything.
This was my first book by this author, and I’ll definitely go back to read book one. I very rarely break my OCD habit of reading series in order. Well written, with readable Aussie slang from times gone by — always fitting and used at just the right moments.
Thank you, Better Reading, for my review copy.
There are lots of twists and turns in this story, with characters you’ll love and others who are calculating liars. I always enjoy character-driven novels, especially when it’s an Aussie crime thriller led by a gutsy female detective. Detective Rebecca Giles works well alongside her more experienced supervisor, as well as her father, Benjamin Giles. Ben is a former DI who worked hard to raise his daughter, sending her to boarding school. Now in declining health due to Parkinson’s disease, Ben becomes deeply involved when the case connects closely to Rebecca’s own childhood, intensifying her urgency to solve it.
Everyday people are drawn into the mystery surrounding the discovery of a human skull. The townsfolk are on high alert, haunted by past tragedies and the disappearance of a child. Could this be him?
As Rebecca races to solve the case, and her father’s emotional investment grows, themes of grooming and pedophilia begin to surface. The tension builds as personal involvement threatens to unravel everything.
This was my first book by this author, and I’ll definitely go back to read book one. I very rarely break my OCD habit of reading series in order. Well written, with readable Aussie slang from times gone by — always fitting and used at just the right moments.
Thank you, Better Reading, for my review copy.
May 11, 2025
Darcy Tindale, you smashed it once again with Burning Mountain! What a fantastic book. I love crime fiction set in places that I know, and the Hunter Valley area is one of my favourites. This is the second book with Detective Rebecca Giles and can easily be read as a standalone, but seriously you need to read The Fall Between as well just because it is so good.
When a dog digs up a human skull, police are certain it is the remains of a 15 year old boy who disappeared 18 years earlier. He was out in a hike with his school friends, but only 4 of them returned. Rebecca’s father worked on the case back then and she is determined to find out what happened.
I love how the author introduces us to characters early on with no apparent connection to each other, and then slowly we start to see how they fit into the story. There is always something happening that might have something to do with the case. This is a small town where everyone knows each other and their business so watch out for the clues.
Australian crime books are just so good right now and this one was high in my list of most anticipated reads for this year. I can’t wait to see what happens next with these characters and town. And how gorgeous is this cover!
Thank you so much to Penguin Books Australia for sending me this copy to read.
When a dog digs up a human skull, police are certain it is the remains of a 15 year old boy who disappeared 18 years earlier. He was out in a hike with his school friends, but only 4 of them returned. Rebecca’s father worked on the case back then and she is determined to find out what happened.
I love how the author introduces us to characters early on with no apparent connection to each other, and then slowly we start to see how they fit into the story. There is always something happening that might have something to do with the case. This is a small town where everyone knows each other and their business so watch out for the clues.
Australian crime books are just so good right now and this one was high in my list of most anticipated reads for this year. I can’t wait to see what happens next with these characters and town. And how gorgeous is this cover!
Thank you so much to Penguin Books Australia for sending me this copy to read.
May 28, 2025
A thrilling read from Aussie author Darcy Tindale. I loved the shorter chapters which really scaffolded the tension, which then built to a climax that I really didn’t see coming. This book is the second of a series but can be read as a stand alone - now it’s time for me to order the first book, and to wait patiently for the third one to be released.
May 4, 2025
One of the things I really liked about her debut novel,
The Fall Between
was that it reminded me that most crimes are committed by those who are desperate or stupid rather than psychotic or plain evil. Burning Mountain by Darcy Tindale, the second in her series featuring Detective Rebecca Giles, is very much the same. It's centred around an eighteen year old mystery—the disappearance of a teenage boy—but features those involved in the past and present and reminds us that mistakes or idiotic actions can have unexpected, and dire, repercussions.
I very much liked the way Tindale slowly picks apart the stories of the kids (now adults) and their families involved in the hike to Burning Mountain almost two decades earlier, slowly revealing lies and half-truths. And in the present continued ill-thought-out ideas end (almost comically) tragically.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
I very much liked the way Tindale slowly picks apart the stories of the kids (now adults) and their families involved in the hike to Burning Mountain almost two decades earlier, slowly revealing lies and half-truths. And in the present continued ill-thought-out ideas end (almost comically) tragically.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
September 16, 2025
Burning Mountain by Aussie author Darcy Tindale is the second book in the Detective Giles series. As the tension built throughout this story, I became more intrigued and invested and was eager to find out how it would end.
With believable characters and an easy-to-follow storyline, this novel was well worth the read. Recommended.
With believable characters and an easy-to-follow storyline, this novel was well worth the read. Recommended.
June 30, 2025
Having read Fall Between in 2023 and also giving it 5 stars, I waited in anticipation for this release. Here it is and Darcy has blown it out of the ballpark again. This one is my favorite of the 2. I'm trying not to say too much as I think you are better going in blind with this one. The reasons I loved it so much are:
1) The ending - unexpected
2) Guessing game of who was responsible
3) Plot - loved one that has old schoolfriends and cold cases
4) Sub- plots to keep you interested and engaged
5) Realistic and believable characters
I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. You don't need to read Fall between first. This book can be read as a standalone. I suggest you read it though as it's another fantastic book. Crossing my fingers for book 3.
1) The ending - unexpected
2) Guessing game of who was responsible
3) Plot - loved one that has old schoolfriends and cold cases
4) Sub- plots to keep you interested and engaged
5) Realistic and believable characters
I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. You don't need to read Fall between first. This book can be read as a standalone. I suggest you read it though as it's another fantastic book. Crossing my fingers for book 3.
July 19, 2025
Now that's how I like them written. An unsolved mystery, varied characters and solid policing to get to the bottom of it all.
After absolutely loving Darcy's first novel, The Fall Between, I was excited to see this follow up come out. There is no second book hangover here.
When a skull is discovered by an errant dog on Mt Wingen, the police soon turn their investigation towards a missing persons case almost twenty years old. Could this skull belong to Oliver Lavine?
DI Rebecca Giles along with her team are tasked with re-interviewing the four youths that were with Oliver that day at Burning Mountain and seeing if they can glean anything further out of them. I visualised these interactions like a scene from the TV show Cold Case. As the past is dragged to the present we see all their old insecurities, bravado, regrets and dreams resurface.
I loved the interspersing of other investigations into the story and wondering what link they may have and whether they will help or hinder the investigation into the skull and who it may belong to. The array of characters from cocky wannabes like Paul Cooper, dreamers like Bell Marrone, Bob Bradbury who tries so hard but just can't quite make things work, to no hoper thugs like Trent Thicket and creepy predators like Bernard Nestor gave this story amazing depth.
While this book can certainly be read without reading The Fall Between first, I loved seeing the continuing story of Rebecca and her relationship with her father, retired Detective Benjamin Giles. The girl needs a holiday though.
Fabulous follow up book, when's the next one?
After absolutely loving Darcy's first novel, The Fall Between, I was excited to see this follow up come out. There is no second book hangover here.
When a skull is discovered by an errant dog on Mt Wingen, the police soon turn their investigation towards a missing persons case almost twenty years old. Could this skull belong to Oliver Lavine?
DI Rebecca Giles along with her team are tasked with re-interviewing the four youths that were with Oliver that day at Burning Mountain and seeing if they can glean anything further out of them. I visualised these interactions like a scene from the TV show Cold Case. As the past is dragged to the present we see all their old insecurities, bravado, regrets and dreams resurface.
I loved the interspersing of other investigations into the story and wondering what link they may have and whether they will help or hinder the investigation into the skull and who it may belong to. The array of characters from cocky wannabes like Paul Cooper, dreamers like Bell Marrone, Bob Bradbury who tries so hard but just can't quite make things work, to no hoper thugs like Trent Thicket and creepy predators like Bernard Nestor gave this story amazing depth.
While this book can certainly be read without reading The Fall Between first, I loved seeing the continuing story of Rebecca and her relationship with her father, retired Detective Benjamin Giles. The girl needs a holiday though.
Fabulous follow up book, when's the next one?
June 22, 2025
I read Darcy Tindale’s first book, ‘The Fall Between’ just under two years ago. I thought it was in the upper level as far as Aussie bush crime fiction. Rebecca Giles is again a detective based in Muswellbrook and her retired cop father is in a local aged care facility. Rebecca grew up in the area as an only child with her father, as her mother died when she was quite young. This was all explained in the previous book and is briefly repeated in this publication.
A skull, and then a skeleton is found and that leads to Giles becoming involved in the investigation as to which human supplied the flesh and blood that surrounded this pile of bones. Indications are that they are the remains of a teenager, Oliver who was a member of a party of five local teenagers who
some eighteen years earlier had gone up Burning Mountain. Four returned, one didn’t.
The themes of domestic violence, paedophilia, small time crime small towns and their inhabitants
In the opening pages the reader is shown a multitude of characters and threads, you know that somehow they all will be untangled and a clear narrative will come together. It is like a person brushing their mattered hair until it sits straight on their shoulders. I am guessing that Tindale does extensive planning before putting fingers to keyboard.
The ensemble of locals consist of many believable and well drawn characters. A nasty perpetrator of domestic violence. A builder’s labourer who loves his wife and plans to commit a robbery. A paedophile childhood neighbour of Giles. Then there is Giles’ own childhood story with her widowed father and Among these characters are the four surviving mountain climbers.
Cold case murders in the Australian bush is a common theme in this crime genre. The Creeper, The Ledge, Force of Nature, Exiles come to mind.
The issue of paedophilia plays a disturbing role in this story and there is an element of revenge. Child sexual assault is a heinous crime. The sexual urgers or desire must be as strong as serious drug addiction
The story unfolds over a period of days while Giles and her police mates follow several leads. The narrative leaves Giles and the four teenagers, who are now adults, have stories to tell.
The ending opens up the roles of the four hikers in the death of Oliver all those years ago. It is certainly an exploding ending. The perpetrator of the original crime is exposed and all the strands of the story come together and the death of Oliver is resolved.
Tindale is a gutsy author. Her descriptions and dialogue of the locals are accurate. I know some Hunter Valley locals who live the lives of some of the characters.
Some examples of the Australianess of her writing. “Dunking a Monte Carlo into his hot tea.” “As nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.”
This second book continues to establish Tindale as a quality writer of Australian crime.
Burning Mountain is an actual place in the Upper Hunter. It is 20km north of Scone.
A skull, and then a skeleton is found and that leads to Giles becoming involved in the investigation as to which human supplied the flesh and blood that surrounded this pile of bones. Indications are that they are the remains of a teenager, Oliver who was a member of a party of five local teenagers who
some eighteen years earlier had gone up Burning Mountain. Four returned, one didn’t.
The themes of domestic violence, paedophilia, small time crime small towns and their inhabitants
In the opening pages the reader is shown a multitude of characters and threads, you know that somehow they all will be untangled and a clear narrative will come together. It is like a person brushing their mattered hair until it sits straight on their shoulders. I am guessing that Tindale does extensive planning before putting fingers to keyboard.
The ensemble of locals consist of many believable and well drawn characters. A nasty perpetrator of domestic violence. A builder’s labourer who loves his wife and plans to commit a robbery. A paedophile childhood neighbour of Giles. Then there is Giles’ own childhood story with her widowed father and Among these characters are the four surviving mountain climbers.
Cold case murders in the Australian bush is a common theme in this crime genre. The Creeper, The Ledge, Force of Nature, Exiles come to mind.
The issue of paedophilia plays a disturbing role in this story and there is an element of revenge. Child sexual assault is a heinous crime. The sexual urgers or desire must be as strong as serious drug addiction
The story unfolds over a period of days while Giles and her police mates follow several leads. The narrative leaves Giles and the four teenagers, who are now adults, have stories to tell.
The ending opens up the roles of the four hikers in the death of Oliver all those years ago. It is certainly an exploding ending. The perpetrator of the original crime is exposed and all the strands of the story come together and the death of Oliver is resolved.
Tindale is a gutsy author. Her descriptions and dialogue of the locals are accurate. I know some Hunter Valley locals who live the lives of some of the characters.
Some examples of the Australianess of her writing. “Dunking a Monte Carlo into his hot tea.” “As nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.”
This second book continues to establish Tindale as a quality writer of Australian crime.
Burning Mountain is an actual place in the Upper Hunter. It is 20km north of Scone.
September 8, 2025
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibes: Hot Cold Case, Aussie Grit, Small Town Secrets
- - -
Out of the 24 crime dramas I’ve devoured this year (thanks, StoryGraph stats), Burning Mountain by Darcy Tindale stands as one of the absolute best.
I first met the character Detective Giles in ‘The Fall Between’ back in 2023 and while the nitty gritty details of the story have blurred in my memory sieve, I remember enjoying it. But there’s something even better than a great debut and that’s when the sequel blows it out of the water. Burning Mountain does exactly that!!
Darcy’s writing is sharp, atmospheric and full of Aussie lingo like ‘a bum steer to a dead end’ 🤣 The plot expertly ties an old cold case to present day events, weaving timelines and characters together with seamless precision.
This is Aussie crime fiction at its finest. It’s gritty, clever and impossible to put down. You can jump straight in without reading book one, but trust me, you’ll want the full Detective Giles experience. Fingers crossed we get a third instalment soon because I am hooked.
Vibes: Hot Cold Case, Aussie Grit, Small Town Secrets
- - -
Out of the 24 crime dramas I’ve devoured this year (thanks, StoryGraph stats), Burning Mountain by Darcy Tindale stands as one of the absolute best.
I first met the character Detective Giles in ‘The Fall Between’ back in 2023 and while the nitty gritty details of the story have blurred in my memory sieve, I remember enjoying it. But there’s something even better than a great debut and that’s when the sequel blows it out of the water. Burning Mountain does exactly that!!
Darcy’s writing is sharp, atmospheric and full of Aussie lingo like ‘a bum steer to a dead end’ 🤣 The plot expertly ties an old cold case to present day events, weaving timelines and characters together with seamless precision.
This is Aussie crime fiction at its finest. It’s gritty, clever and impossible to put down. You can jump straight in without reading book one, but trust me, you’ll want the full Detective Giles experience. Fingers crossed we get a third instalment soon because I am hooked.
April 18, 2025
In this second instalment of Darcy Tindale’s Detective Giles series two cold cases feature - one a missing person’s case, the other that of an alleged paedophile. The book follows the key players of these cases, all who seem to be living disappointed, thwarted lives. There’s a sense that Detective Rebecca Giles, living once again in her home town of Musselbrook to be close to her ailing father, is treading water in her life too. The discovery of a skull reactivates these investigations and sets a chain of events in motion that lead to a tragedy and the solving of the cases. Darcy Tindale is interested in the relationships between parents and children, in love, self interest and sacrifice and the resolution of the threads of the story lines causes her readers to reflect on this. I liked Detective Giles as a character - she is flawed, self contained, a thinker.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy.
May 15, 2025
A lot can happen in 10 days…..just ask Detective Rebecca Giles.
Burning Mountain sees the return of Giles, as well as her colleagues and team, and once again they are trying to piece together another crime, the difference this time is that this crime took place eighteen years ago.
This story takes place in the Upper Hunter area and is beautifully described, including the unique and rare phenomenon of Mount Wigen, aka Burning Mountain. I was so intrigued with the reason for its alias and learned a few facts along the way. I might even venture up there and take a look for myself.
…..but back to the book.
We get to know Giles and the team a little better, and it was refreshing having a detective protagonist that basically toed the line and does things by the book, that doesn’t have to go rogue to get a result, well mostly.
Once again Giles’ past weaves its way through this book as well, giving a little more insight to her reactions, but also those of her father, as he was the original investigator all those years ago. Their relationship seems to change and deepen a little bit more.
Throughout the story, you start to think that maybe you have it all worked out, but then a bit more information surfaces and you end up right back where you were. Scratching your head, wondering where it’s all going to lead to. It’s safe to say that in the case of this story, the past definitely influences the present.
While the investigation progresses, as in real life, there are always other crimes occurring, and the way Darcy threads these through, resulting in highlighting the main story and not overshadowing it, is truly a skill to be admired.
I enjoyed my time with Giles and co, trekking over Burning Mountain and investigating both the past and present, and highly recommend picking up a copy, discovering a great book and being entertained along the way.
#burningmountain
#darcytindale
#secretsofthepast
#penguinbooksaustralia
Burning Mountain sees the return of Giles, as well as her colleagues and team, and once again they are trying to piece together another crime, the difference this time is that this crime took place eighteen years ago.
This story takes place in the Upper Hunter area and is beautifully described, including the unique and rare phenomenon of Mount Wigen, aka Burning Mountain. I was so intrigued with the reason for its alias and learned a few facts along the way. I might even venture up there and take a look for myself.
…..but back to the book.
We get to know Giles and the team a little better, and it was refreshing having a detective protagonist that basically toed the line and does things by the book, that doesn’t have to go rogue to get a result, well mostly.
Once again Giles’ past weaves its way through this book as well, giving a little more insight to her reactions, but also those of her father, as he was the original investigator all those years ago. Their relationship seems to change and deepen a little bit more.
Throughout the story, you start to think that maybe you have it all worked out, but then a bit more information surfaces and you end up right back where you were. Scratching your head, wondering where it’s all going to lead to. It’s safe to say that in the case of this story, the past definitely influences the present.
While the investigation progresses, as in real life, there are always other crimes occurring, and the way Darcy threads these through, resulting in highlighting the main story and not overshadowing it, is truly a skill to be admired.
I enjoyed my time with Giles and co, trekking over Burning Mountain and investigating both the past and present, and highly recommend picking up a copy, discovering a great book and being entertained along the way.
#burningmountain
#darcytindale
#secretsofthepast
#penguinbooksaustralia
June 25, 2025
Burning Mountain by Darcy Tindale is a gripping and atmospheric novel that seamlessly blends history, mystery and emotion. Set against the striking backdrop of the Hunter Valley bushfires, the story is both intense and beautifully written and draws readers into a world where the past and present collide. Tindale’s writing is vivid and evocative, bringing the Australian landscape to life and capturing the raw power of nature as well as the complexities of human relationships. Just as good as The Fall Between!
Detective Rebecca Giles, is a wellcrafted and relatable character whose determination and vulnerability make her instantly engaging. The mystery at the heart of the novel is cleverly layered, with twists that keep the reader guessing while also exploring deeper themes of grief, legacy and resilience. Tindale masterfully balances fast paced investigative elements with moments of reflection, creating a story that is both thrilling and thoughtful.
One of the standout aspects of the novel is its sense of place. The setting is almost a character in itself, with the looming presence of the fires adding tension and urgency to every chapter. Burning Mountain is a compelling read that showcases Darcy Tindale’s talent for combining rich storytelling with sharp crime writing. Highly recommended for fans of Australian crime fiction.
Detective Rebecca Giles, is a wellcrafted and relatable character whose determination and vulnerability make her instantly engaging. The mystery at the heart of the novel is cleverly layered, with twists that keep the reader guessing while also exploring deeper themes of grief, legacy and resilience. Tindale masterfully balances fast paced investigative elements with moments of reflection, creating a story that is both thrilling and thoughtful.
One of the standout aspects of the novel is its sense of place. The setting is almost a character in itself, with the looming presence of the fires adding tension and urgency to every chapter. Burning Mountain is a compelling read that showcases Darcy Tindale’s talent for combining rich storytelling with sharp crime writing. Highly recommended for fans of Australian crime fiction.
August 24, 2025
Loved it. A really great read. It really had me guessing, though the eventual culprit was one of the people who flitted across my mind. I wish there had been a few more clues so I possibly could have figured it out, but this didn't rob me of any enjoyment. I can't wait to read more books by this author!
September 30, 2025
A master class in writing! What a page turner - simply couldn’t put it down XD
November 21, 2025
was really good read with an interesting ending after 18 years, witness statements change as do memories.
April 19, 2025
Darcy Tindale was shortlisted for her debut novel The Fall Between, a book which introduced readers to detective Rebecca Giles. In that first book, Giles had relocated from Sydney to Muswellbrook, in the upper Hunter Valley, to look after her ageing father, also a former policeman but also uncover some family secrets. The sequel, Burning Mountain, finds Giles involved in a cold case which reaches back into her childhood.
Giles is on leave when a skull is found on Mount Wingen, before long it is suspected that the skull (and nearby remains) belong to Oliver Lavine, a teenager who went missing eighteen years before while on a hike in the area with four friends. The Lavine case was one of her father’s cases and he had always suspected their neighbour, a horse-riding teacher who was also suspected of being a paedophile but could not find the evidence. Oliver’s four companions from that day are still in town and at least two of them are planning a little more criminal activity of their own. While in another story thread, local Amy Thicket and her ten-year-old son Joe are trying to manage with Amy’s violent, abusive husband. All of these stories will collide as the investigation proceeds.
Rebecca Giles once again is a fairly messy but believable and effective investigator. Her relationship with her father is well observed and again the investigation allows her to see her own past in a new light. But as with The Fall Between, Tindale is interested in a broader range of characters, and Burning Mountain has a number of interesting, if extremely flawed, side characters.
Australian cold case crime stories about missing teenage bushwalkers have become a little common place recently. This premise allows for an exploration of the toxic nature of teenage friendships and the impact of long held secrets coming to light. Just this year we have had Christian White’s The Ledge and Bronwyn Rivers’ The Reunion which both use a similar premise. While these books share some DNA with Burning Mountain, all three take different approaches to dealing with their subject matter. Tindale’s is a more down-the line procedural but she also layers on a couple of additional present day subplots, one of Tarantino-esque half-baked criminals (who also happen to be suspects in the original crime) and the other of domestic violence.
Burning Mountain is a great follow up to Tindale’s debut. She uses the landscape well (Burning Mountain is a real place in the Hunter Valley where an underground cola seam has been burning for thousands of years) and ranges over a diverse cast of local characters. What also stands out here is the number of threads that Tindale sets up and then brings together for a tense finale which, once dealt with, allows for one final twist.
Giles is on leave when a skull is found on Mount Wingen, before long it is suspected that the skull (and nearby remains) belong to Oliver Lavine, a teenager who went missing eighteen years before while on a hike in the area with four friends. The Lavine case was one of her father’s cases and he had always suspected their neighbour, a horse-riding teacher who was also suspected of being a paedophile but could not find the evidence. Oliver’s four companions from that day are still in town and at least two of them are planning a little more criminal activity of their own. While in another story thread, local Amy Thicket and her ten-year-old son Joe are trying to manage with Amy’s violent, abusive husband. All of these stories will collide as the investigation proceeds.
Rebecca Giles once again is a fairly messy but believable and effective investigator. Her relationship with her father is well observed and again the investigation allows her to see her own past in a new light. But as with The Fall Between, Tindale is interested in a broader range of characters, and Burning Mountain has a number of interesting, if extremely flawed, side characters.
Australian cold case crime stories about missing teenage bushwalkers have become a little common place recently. This premise allows for an exploration of the toxic nature of teenage friendships and the impact of long held secrets coming to light. Just this year we have had Christian White’s The Ledge and Bronwyn Rivers’ The Reunion which both use a similar premise. While these books share some DNA with Burning Mountain, all three take different approaches to dealing with their subject matter. Tindale’s is a more down-the line procedural but she also layers on a couple of additional present day subplots, one of Tarantino-esque half-baked criminals (who also happen to be suspects in the original crime) and the other of domestic violence.
Burning Mountain is a great follow up to Tindale’s debut. She uses the landscape well (Burning Mountain is a real place in the Hunter Valley where an underground cola seam has been burning for thousands of years) and ranges over a diverse cast of local characters. What also stands out here is the number of threads that Tindale sets up and then brings together for a tense finale which, once dealt with, allows for one final twist.
April 22, 2025
Read as a read & review by Better Reading Preview, this was a great book! Here's my submitted review:
A modern crime thriller that starts with a bushwalker enjoying the Hunter Valley’s Burning Mountain track accidentally unearthing the beginnings of a cold-case linked to the local communities.
‘Burning Mountain’ is the second in the Detective Rebecca Giles series, but I read it as a stand-alone book and happily didn’t feel like there was any missing back story. I will certainly be reading Darcy Tindale’s first of the series ‘The Fall Between’ as I enjoyed this author’s writing so much!
This story reflects the interconnectedness of larger rural communities, where there are still many links between people and events, where local history and behaviour is remembered, and where past choices may come back to either haunt you or support you.
Storylines in this crime thriller are not linear. They take many twists and turns and keep you guessing which is the right path and how it will all align. The very satisfying conclusion allows the reader to reflect on overarching themes of families, parenting, sacrifices and the results of our choices over time.
With diverse characters, a great lead, realistic settings and engaging storylines this is definitely a book worth reading!!
A modern crime thriller that starts with a bushwalker enjoying the Hunter Valley’s Burning Mountain track accidentally unearthing the beginnings of a cold-case linked to the local communities.
‘Burning Mountain’ is the second in the Detective Rebecca Giles series, but I read it as a stand-alone book and happily didn’t feel like there was any missing back story. I will certainly be reading Darcy Tindale’s first of the series ‘The Fall Between’ as I enjoyed this author’s writing so much!
This story reflects the interconnectedness of larger rural communities, where there are still many links between people and events, where local history and behaviour is remembered, and where past choices may come back to either haunt you or support you.
Storylines in this crime thriller are not linear. They take many twists and turns and keep you guessing which is the right path and how it will all align. The very satisfying conclusion allows the reader to reflect on overarching themes of families, parenting, sacrifices and the results of our choices over time.
With diverse characters, a great lead, realistic settings and engaging storylines this is definitely a book worth reading!!
June 1, 2025
Ok plot etc but this genre is getting a bit same old same old.
Detectives come back to a town of their/family’s past.
Old crime from years ago resurfaces, detective somehow linked.
All go running in their downtime .
Detectives come back to a town of their/family’s past.
Old crime from years ago resurfaces, detective somehow linked.
All go running in their downtime .
June 6, 2025
A lot of Aussie cliches had me rolling my eyes
May 18, 2025
Thank you Penguin Australia for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Set against the smouldering backdrop of a real-life geological oddity in the Hunter Valley, Burning Mountain is a slow-burning rural crime novel that hooks you from the very first page. When a skull is unearthed near Mount Wingen, a nearly 20-year-old mystery is pulled back into the light—and with it, the long-buried secrets of those involved.
This was my first Darcy Tindale novel, and I was immediately impressed by the way she introduces us to a seemingly unrelated cast of characters, only to slowly weave them into a tightly plotted web of past and present. The pacing is smart, the atmosphere thick with unease, and the emotional undercurrent surprisingly powerful.
Detective Rebecca Giles returns in this instalment, and I particularly enjoyed how her own backstory—woven subtly through the narrative—adds depth to her character and context to her reactions. Her relationship with her father, retired Superintendent Benjamin Giles, was a standout for me. Their dynamic brought a heartfelt, human touch to a story thick with mystery and moral complexity.
Tindale’s use of the real-life Burning Mountain—where an underground coal seam has been smouldering for thousands of years—is powerful. The eerie, slow-burning setting mirrors the tension and secrets that lie beneath the surface of the case. The structure of the novel, broken into sections like Day 1, Day 2 etc. (marking the days since the skull’s discovery), kept the pacing tight and compelling. The chapters were perfectly sized—just enough to tempt me to read one more (which turned into several, late into the night).
I also appreciated how the story keeps you guessing. Just when you think you’ve figured it all out, Tindale drops another clue or twist, pulling the rug out from under you again. The final reveal is clever and satisfying, drawing together the many threads into a conclusion that lingers, raising thoughtful questions about parenting, sacrifice, and the lasting consequences of our choices.
Very Australian in tone and full of gritty, well-drawn characters, Burning Mountain is a standout in the outback noir genre. I’ll definitely be checking out more of Tindale’s work after this.
Set against the smouldering backdrop of a real-life geological oddity in the Hunter Valley, Burning Mountain is a slow-burning rural crime novel that hooks you from the very first page. When a skull is unearthed near Mount Wingen, a nearly 20-year-old mystery is pulled back into the light—and with it, the long-buried secrets of those involved.
This was my first Darcy Tindale novel, and I was immediately impressed by the way she introduces us to a seemingly unrelated cast of characters, only to slowly weave them into a tightly plotted web of past and present. The pacing is smart, the atmosphere thick with unease, and the emotional undercurrent surprisingly powerful.
Detective Rebecca Giles returns in this instalment, and I particularly enjoyed how her own backstory—woven subtly through the narrative—adds depth to her character and context to her reactions. Her relationship with her father, retired Superintendent Benjamin Giles, was a standout for me. Their dynamic brought a heartfelt, human touch to a story thick with mystery and moral complexity.
Tindale’s use of the real-life Burning Mountain—where an underground coal seam has been smouldering for thousands of years—is powerful. The eerie, slow-burning setting mirrors the tension and secrets that lie beneath the surface of the case. The structure of the novel, broken into sections like Day 1, Day 2 etc. (marking the days since the skull’s discovery), kept the pacing tight and compelling. The chapters were perfectly sized—just enough to tempt me to read one more (which turned into several, late into the night).
I also appreciated how the story keeps you guessing. Just when you think you’ve figured it all out, Tindale drops another clue or twist, pulling the rug out from under you again. The final reveal is clever and satisfying, drawing together the many threads into a conclusion that lingers, raising thoughtful questions about parenting, sacrifice, and the lasting consequences of our choices.
Very Australian in tone and full of gritty, well-drawn characters, Burning Mountain is a standout in the outback noir genre. I’ll definitely be checking out more of Tindale’s work after this.
August 29, 2025
(3.5 stars)
Overall Burning Mountain is a satisfying police procedural set in Muswellbrook and surrounds. Character development is strong. Descriptive writing needs work in places: "His suit jacket had fallen open and as he leaned back into a stance it pulled his business shirt tight across his chest, showing off his solid torso and the span of his shoulders. Bray was an absolute unit." I found some of the use of colloquialisms cheesy and lazy: "His mind was razor sharp. There was no putting Benjamin back in the knife drawer."
However action moves along and the author, Darcy Tindale, keeps the reader engaged with adequate pacing. There are some niggles, like unresolved plot lines, including why the kids on Burning Mountain didn't eat their snacks. This was laboured then left hanging. There's also some weirdness with Giles' sexual attractions, with her paying attention to Edison, yet the Mills & Boon style description of her colleague Bray up above seemed unresolved. I can only assume something sexual will happen in the next book of this series. And finally Joe Thicket, a kid who had recently experienced both domestic and family violence, and child sexual abuse, opens the window to an agitated neighbour who he has pegged as a domestic violence perpetrator? I don't buy it. He'd be paralysed and fearful. But despite these niggles, I'd give another book by this author a read.
Overall Burning Mountain is a satisfying police procedural set in Muswellbrook and surrounds. Character development is strong. Descriptive writing needs work in places: "His suit jacket had fallen open and as he leaned back into a stance it pulled his business shirt tight across his chest, showing off his solid torso and the span of his shoulders. Bray was an absolute unit." I found some of the use of colloquialisms cheesy and lazy: "His mind was razor sharp. There was no putting Benjamin back in the knife drawer."
However action moves along and the author, Darcy Tindale, keeps the reader engaged with adequate pacing. There are some niggles, like unresolved plot lines, including why the kids on Burning Mountain didn't eat their snacks. This was laboured then left hanging. There's also some weirdness with Giles' sexual attractions, with her paying attention to Edison, yet the Mills & Boon style description of her colleague Bray up above seemed unresolved. I can only assume something sexual will happen in the next book of this series. And finally Joe Thicket, a kid who had recently experienced both domestic and family violence, and child sexual abuse, opens the window to an agitated neighbour who he has pegged as a domestic violence perpetrator? I don't buy it. He'd be paralysed and fearful. But despite these niggles, I'd give another book by this author a read.
October 17, 2025
This is a crime novel with a conclusion that genuinely shocked me. I did not see the solution to the primary mystery coming, and found it dark and challenging.
There are multiple layers to this story. It’s primarily a mystery, of course, but Tindale winds several subplots around it, including other mysteries and crimes, and tales of family dysfunction. It is layered and fascinating.
Characters are strong and vivid. Not all are particularly likeable – in fact, quite a lot of them aren’t people I’d want to spend time with – but they’re realistic. The tensions between them are well drawn and credible. Their reactions, and the resulting events, are all pretty believable.
It’s also believable that people are shaped by their childhood, and never quite leave it behind. Their actions are influenced by things that happened when they were younger.
I enjoyed this novel a great deal. It was absorbing, believable, and entirely startling towards the end. One or two story beats were predictable, but I think that was a deliberate choice from Tindale, to fit in with one of the characters and their behaviour and history.
Strongly recommended for those who like crime novels which rest on strong plots and characterisation. A really enjoyable read.
If you enjoyed this review, please visit www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog to read more.
There are multiple layers to this story. It’s primarily a mystery, of course, but Tindale winds several subplots around it, including other mysteries and crimes, and tales of family dysfunction. It is layered and fascinating.
Characters are strong and vivid. Not all are particularly likeable – in fact, quite a lot of them aren’t people I’d want to spend time with – but they’re realistic. The tensions between them are well drawn and credible. Their reactions, and the resulting events, are all pretty believable.
It’s also believable that people are shaped by their childhood, and never quite leave it behind. Their actions are influenced by things that happened when they were younger.
I enjoyed this novel a great deal. It was absorbing, believable, and entirely startling towards the end. One or two story beats were predictable, but I think that was a deliberate choice from Tindale, to fit in with one of the characters and their behaviour and history.
Strongly recommended for those who like crime novels which rest on strong plots and characterisation. A really enjoyable read.
If you enjoyed this review, please visit www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog to read more.
May 2, 2025
I was excited to see Detective Giles back in Darcy Tindale’s follow up novel, ‘Burning Mountain’. After reading ‘The Fall Between’ I’ve been eagerly waiting for the next, and not disappointed in the least – book 2 is brilliant.
Set against the raw and hauntingly beautiful backdrop of the hike and lookout on Burning Mountain in the Upper Hunter Valley, ‘Burning Mountain’ masterfully weaves suspense, tension, mystery, emotion, and relentless action, (Yep, this book’s got it all).
As Detective Giles delves into a cold case, she unearths chilling secrets, pulling readers into unforeseen twists and shocking revelations.
This novel has a few story threads that cleverly and skilfully come together at the end. The story of Amy, Trent and Joe is moving and charged with tension. Bob, Phil and Bell’s story left me stunned – and as for Nestor, I was gritting my teeth.
As Giles confronts not only the complexities of the investigation but also the emotional toll of unearthing buried truths, readers are left satisfied, but also reflective. Tindale goes there, with beautiful prose and hard truths.
‘Burning Mountain’ is a gripping thriller that will keep you hooked until the very last page.
Set against the raw and hauntingly beautiful backdrop of the hike and lookout on Burning Mountain in the Upper Hunter Valley, ‘Burning Mountain’ masterfully weaves suspense, tension, mystery, emotion, and relentless action, (Yep, this book’s got it all).
As Detective Giles delves into a cold case, she unearths chilling secrets, pulling readers into unforeseen twists and shocking revelations.
This novel has a few story threads that cleverly and skilfully come together at the end. The story of Amy, Trent and Joe is moving and charged with tension. Bob, Phil and Bell’s story left me stunned – and as for Nestor, I was gritting my teeth.
As Giles confronts not only the complexities of the investigation but also the emotional toll of unearthing buried truths, readers are left satisfied, but also reflective. Tindale goes there, with beautiful prose and hard truths.
‘Burning Mountain’ is a gripping thriller that will keep you hooked until the very last page.
May 2, 2025
‘Burning Mountain’ is a fantastic follow up to ‘The Fall Between’ which was deservedly nominated for a Davitt and Ned Kelly Debut Award in 2023.
It follows the story of Paul, Bob, Phil and Bell, now in their early thirties, and at the top of Detective’s Giles’ suspect list to a twenty-year old cold case. While hiking, Oliver Lavine vanishes and Giles feel’s there’s much more to the story. Believe me, the tangled story keeps you guessing. However, when she talks to her retired Superintendent father about the case, another suspect emerges.
I love the father/daughter relationship between these two, and the old wounds that Giles has a habit of picking. There is so much to love about this book, characters like Carol who owns the pub, Amy and her son, Bob (who you want to throttle and hug), the crimes team, Giles’ witty father, and Nestor …
It follows police procedure but also looks deeper at the human connections and town’s dynamics. You can almost breathe in this book and feel like you are there.
This book has plenty of twists, shocks, and a whopper of an ending. Worth the read - stick it on your TBR pile.
It follows the story of Paul, Bob, Phil and Bell, now in their early thirties, and at the top of Detective’s Giles’ suspect list to a twenty-year old cold case. While hiking, Oliver Lavine vanishes and Giles feel’s there’s much more to the story. Believe me, the tangled story keeps you guessing. However, when she talks to her retired Superintendent father about the case, another suspect emerges.
I love the father/daughter relationship between these two, and the old wounds that Giles has a habit of picking. There is so much to love about this book, characters like Carol who owns the pub, Amy and her son, Bob (who you want to throttle and hug), the crimes team, Giles’ witty father, and Nestor …
It follows police procedure but also looks deeper at the human connections and town’s dynamics. You can almost breathe in this book and feel like you are there.
This book has plenty of twists, shocks, and a whopper of an ending. Worth the read - stick it on your TBR pile.
September 24, 2025
🎧 audiobook
The story has merit and potential. But 4 hours into laboured narration and 7 hours to go I can't take any more. It's painful.
4 hours in and so far only the body has been found. No investigation. No subject interviews. No evidence. Lots of side stories. Oft repeated theories as to what might have happened. Way too much redundant detail (even down to how mine workers take showers and like to boobby trap the shampoo), what people have for breakfast, teeth cleaning and completetly irrelevant childhood reminiscences from the protagonist.
So much "local colour" it almost feels like a tour guide of the worst of rough Aussie country culture, verbal cliches and shady characters written in a way to ensure it captures the interest of an international market. We're such larrikins! Only trope missing is detailed comparisons of beer brands to compliment the detailed brand naming and descriptions of the retro vehicle every character drives. It's crying out for a good editing.
With a more fluid and less choppy narration, less forced one-word-at a time reading and better character voicing I might have listened to the end and given 2 stars.
As it it, DNF
The story has merit and potential. But 4 hours into laboured narration and 7 hours to go I can't take any more. It's painful.
4 hours in and so far only the body has been found. No investigation. No subject interviews. No evidence. Lots of side stories. Oft repeated theories as to what might have happened. Way too much redundant detail (even down to how mine workers take showers and like to boobby trap the shampoo), what people have for breakfast, teeth cleaning and completetly irrelevant childhood reminiscences from the protagonist.
So much "local colour" it almost feels like a tour guide of the worst of rough Aussie country culture, verbal cliches and shady characters written in a way to ensure it captures the interest of an international market. We're such larrikins! Only trope missing is detailed comparisons of beer brands to compliment the detailed brand naming and descriptions of the retro vehicle every character drives. It's crying out for a good editing.
With a more fluid and less choppy narration, less forced one-word-at a time reading and better character voicing I might have listened to the end and given 2 stars.
As it it, DNF
April 14, 2025
This was the first book I’ve read by Darcy, but it certainly won’t be the last. I will be looking for future books and checking out her back catalogue.
I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller, with twists and turns that kept me guessing right until the end.
Nothing about this mystery was straight forward. 5 kids trek up a mountain and only 4 return.
How can a disappearance like this go unsolved for 18 years? Unfortunately, it happens all too often, so this story was totally believable.
The characters, descriptions of the site, case files etc were all very well developed. I felt like I was part of the investigation team, unearthing clues one by one, trying to piece everything together like a jigsaw puzzle.
I really liked how the book was broken into sections such as Day 1, Day 2 etc, the days since the discovery of the skull. The chapters were also a good length, encouraging me to keep reading on into the small hours.
Thank you to #BRPreview and Penguin Books Australia for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller, with twists and turns that kept me guessing right until the end.
Nothing about this mystery was straight forward. 5 kids trek up a mountain and only 4 return.
How can a disappearance like this go unsolved for 18 years? Unfortunately, it happens all too often, so this story was totally believable.
The characters, descriptions of the site, case files etc were all very well developed. I felt like I was part of the investigation team, unearthing clues one by one, trying to piece everything together like a jigsaw puzzle.
I really liked how the book was broken into sections such as Day 1, Day 2 etc, the days since the discovery of the skull. The chapters were also a good length, encouraging me to keep reading on into the small hours.
Thank you to #BRPreview and Penguin Books Australia for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
April 11, 2025
This was a twisty turny one, for sure. Like all good whodunnits, there are a variety of suspects with a variety of believable motives and a lot going on. This felt like it could be turned into an entire season of a TV show as the characters all had stuff going on and there was a lot of history and backstory to work through. There were a couple of odd passages where characters made broad leaps that I had to read and re-read to try and catch references and a few very odd passages which seemed to contradict each other. A character who didn't know the word osteology on one page was able to identify an exposed coronial where the sutures connected. "The only thing that had improved the value or appearance of the car was a wash" followed immediately by "he'd added a tow and a new set of tyres" - without improving the value or appearance?
All in all, definitely worth the thrill ride, kept me guessing and suspecting everyone and the adrenaline really kicked in towards the end.
All in all, definitely worth the thrill ride, kept me guessing and suspecting everyone and the adrenaline really kicked in towards the end.
April 16, 2025
Five went up, only four came down
In 2006, fifteen year old Oliver went hiking with friends and vanished without a trace. Almost twenty years later, Detective Rebecca Giles is called to bushland as a skull has been found. Detective Giles needs to find the friends that were there that day, as she is convinced they know more than they told police back then. But when she discusses the case with her Superintendent, another suspect is thrown into the mix, one much closer to home.
I really enjoyed this rural setting, not too far from where I lived at one time in my life and the characters, all with secrets. There was a lot going on in this one, particularly once I reached the midpoint and it was so clever the way the author unfolded the various threads in this one. Another thoroughly enjoyable novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books Australia for the gifted review e-copy. I also went out and purchased the physical copy to keep.
In 2006, fifteen year old Oliver went hiking with friends and vanished without a trace. Almost twenty years later, Detective Rebecca Giles is called to bushland as a skull has been found. Detective Giles needs to find the friends that were there that day, as she is convinced they know more than they told police back then. But when she discusses the case with her Superintendent, another suspect is thrown into the mix, one much closer to home.
I really enjoyed this rural setting, not too far from where I lived at one time in my life and the characters, all with secrets. There was a lot going on in this one, particularly once I reached the midpoint and it was so clever the way the author unfolded the various threads in this one. Another thoroughly enjoyable novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books Australia for the gifted review e-copy. I also went out and purchased the physical copy to keep.
June 1, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I absolutely loved Darcy Tindale's first novel The Fall Between and Burning Mountain definitely did not disappoint!!! Darcy's second book again focuses on Detective Rebecca Giles and good solid police work to solve the case. I recently met Darcy at an author event and she reminded us that most crimes are committed by those who are stupid or desperate rather than psychotic so it was quite comical to watch a peripheral character unravel and spiral and make one bad choice after the other to get out of the situation he put himself in.
My favourite part of the book? The twist at the end....
Burning Mountain has it all ... suspense, the feeling of continually questioning each characters motives and life choices, tension, mystery, an incredible environment that becomes another main character and good solid characters who solve the case and leave you feeling satisfied with the outcome.
I cannot wait to see if there is a 3rd Detective Giles book in this series!
I absolutely loved Darcy Tindale's first novel The Fall Between and Burning Mountain definitely did not disappoint!!! Darcy's second book again focuses on Detective Rebecca Giles and good solid police work to solve the case. I recently met Darcy at an author event and she reminded us that most crimes are committed by those who are stupid or desperate rather than psychotic so it was quite comical to watch a peripheral character unravel and spiral and make one bad choice after the other to get out of the situation he put himself in.
My favourite part of the book? The twist at the end....
Burning Mountain has it all ... suspense, the feeling of continually questioning each characters motives and life choices, tension, mystery, an incredible environment that becomes another main character and good solid characters who solve the case and leave you feeling satisfied with the outcome.
I cannot wait to see if there is a 3rd Detective Giles book in this series!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews