What do you think?
Rate this book
Death on Dangar Island
Professor Israel Wren doesn't think Roxanne Duncan died of snakebite on Dangar Island — no matter what anybody says. And he's right... Hardboiled DI Scott McKinnon takes an instant dislike to the fastidious Israel and his conspiracy theories and looks ready to sign the case off as an accident.Driven by his sense of justice and the demon that visits him in his sleep, Israel launches his own investigation into Roxanne's death, dragging along his Aussie mate Gary, who was hoping this island holiday might have been more fishing and cricket than secrets and intrigue.Can the professor prove Roxanne’s death was no accident? Will he and Gary be able to corner the killer before more people die? Join them on an island full of suspicious locals, teenage goths and deadly serpents — an island named Dangar.Packed with quirky characters, Death on Dangar Island delivers an up-tempo murder mystery in a contemporary Australian setting.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 24, 2014
20 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
GP Field
5 books7 followersG.P. Field owned and ran a bookstore for many years. After selling his store, he took a part time job as a lifeguard, started writing, and went back to university to become a high school teacher.
One night G.P. woke up with a person in his head. Despite many attempts to exorcise this fabrication, Israel Wren has refused to budge. Indeed, the person of Israel Wren has grown to become a very real part of G.P.’s life and inhabit his books and stories with a remorseless persistence.
G.P. lives on the rugged coastline of regional Australia with his wife and daughter. He loves huge, light blue skies, vast, open saltwater vistas and grassland to the horizon. When he has a quiet moment, he likes to sit in the sun and dream up stories.
Death on Dangar Island
Israel Wren doesn't think Roxanne Duncan died of snakebite on Dangar Island — no matter what anybody says. And he's right — she was murdered.
D.I. Scott Mckinnon, the hardened detective assigned to the case takes an instant dislike to Israel and his conspiracy theories and looks ready to close the case.
Driven by his sense of justice and the demon that visits him in his sleep, Israel launches his own investigation into Roxanne's death, dragging his Aussie mate Gary along for the ride. Israel and Gary uncover a hotbed of secrets and intrigue in the tiny island community. Will they be able to corner the killer before another innocent dies?
Packed with quirky characters, ‘Death on Dangar Island’ delivers an up tempo murder mystery in a contemporary Australian setting.
Professor Israel Wren is an unusual man. A half-caste refugee and a famous criminologist turned English Professor. A lover of birds but not a bird watcher. A man with his own personal demon and a track record of solving crimes across the globe. (He puts the bad ones away to keep the Tokoloshe at bay.)
Join Israel and Gary on an island full of suspicious locals, teenage goths and deadly serpents — an island named Dangar.
One night G.P. woke up with a person in his head. Despite many attempts to exorcise this fabrication, Israel Wren has refused to budge. Indeed, the person of Israel Wren has grown to become a very real part of G.P.’s life and inhabit his books and stories with a remorseless persistence.
G.P. lives on the rugged coastline of regional Australia with his wife and daughter. He loves huge, light blue skies, vast, open saltwater vistas and grassland to the horizon. When he has a quiet moment, he likes to sit in the sun and dream up stories.
Death on Dangar Island
Israel Wren doesn't think Roxanne Duncan died of snakebite on Dangar Island — no matter what anybody says. And he's right — she was murdered.
D.I. Scott Mckinnon, the hardened detective assigned to the case takes an instant dislike to Israel and his conspiracy theories and looks ready to close the case.
Driven by his sense of justice and the demon that visits him in his sleep, Israel launches his own investigation into Roxanne's death, dragging his Aussie mate Gary along for the ride. Israel and Gary uncover a hotbed of secrets and intrigue in the tiny island community. Will they be able to corner the killer before another innocent dies?
Packed with quirky characters, ‘Death on Dangar Island’ delivers an up tempo murder mystery in a contemporary Australian setting.
Professor Israel Wren is an unusual man. A half-caste refugee and a famous criminologist turned English Professor. A lover of birds but not a bird watcher. A man with his own personal demon and a track record of solving crimes across the globe. (He puts the bad ones away to keep the Tokoloshe at bay.)
Join Israel and Gary on an island full of suspicious locals, teenage goths and deadly serpents — an island named Dangar.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 19, 2014
Professor Israel Wren was holidaying on Dangar Island with friend Gary Warburton as Gary had recently lost his beloved wife to cancer; Israel was a bird watcher, or observer as he liked to call himself – the combination of the peace on Dangar Island plus the abundance of the wild birds would make them both happy and content.
But that was not to be – with the death overnight of a young girl and Gary the one to find her body, they were up to their necks in the investigation immediately. The obvious cause of death was snake bite – after all there were the fang marks on her leg. But Israel was suspicious…
Detective Inspector Scott McKinnon from Sydney was in charge of the case, and to him it looked like an unfortunate accident. And when the Professor began to point otherwise, McKinnon was quick to brush him off. But Israel calmly and methodically went about the investigation with the help of Gary, and between them they came across some very strange and decidedly odd secrets.
With a mixture of varying characters living and visiting Dangar Island, including their gossipy next door neighbour Dorothy, would Israel be able to identify the young woman’s killer before someone else lost their life? Would he be able to finally take in the peace and tranquility of the natural bird life on the Island before their holiday was over?
I thoroughly enjoyed this light murder mystery by Aussie author Greg Field. I loved the professor with his quirky nature and determination to find the facts, and his offsider was a very Aussie character with a dry sense of humour. With Death on Dangar Island set in and around Sydney, it was easy to visualise where we were during the course of the novel. This is the author’s debut, and I’ll be keeping my eye out for his next. I have no hesitation in recommending this book to all who love a good mystery.
With thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.
But that was not to be – with the death overnight of a young girl and Gary the one to find her body, they were up to their necks in the investigation immediately. The obvious cause of death was snake bite – after all there were the fang marks on her leg. But Israel was suspicious…
Detective Inspector Scott McKinnon from Sydney was in charge of the case, and to him it looked like an unfortunate accident. And when the Professor began to point otherwise, McKinnon was quick to brush him off. But Israel calmly and methodically went about the investigation with the help of Gary, and between them they came across some very strange and decidedly odd secrets.
With a mixture of varying characters living and visiting Dangar Island, including their gossipy next door neighbour Dorothy, would Israel be able to identify the young woman’s killer before someone else lost their life? Would he be able to finally take in the peace and tranquility of the natural bird life on the Island before their holiday was over?
I thoroughly enjoyed this light murder mystery by Aussie author Greg Field. I loved the professor with his quirky nature and determination to find the facts, and his offsider was a very Aussie character with a dry sense of humour. With Death on Dangar Island set in and around Sydney, it was easy to visualise where we were during the course of the novel. This is the author’s debut, and I’ll be keeping my eye out for his next. I have no hesitation in recommending this book to all who love a good mystery.
With thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.
October 14, 2014
Unlikely friends Professor Israel Wren, retired criminologist and self proclaimed defender of the innocent, and Gary Warburton, ex life guard and ambulance officer, are on a relaxing holiday on Dangar Island. Israel feels his friend needs some time away after the death of wife from cancer. Israel plans to pursue his favourite pastime of bird watching or “bird observing” as he likes to call it. Gary is intending to spend his holiday fishing. Their idyllic break is soon interrupted when Gary discovers the body of Roxanne Duncan. As there is a distinct bite on her leg it is presumed that she has died from snake bite. Israel however suspects foul play but plays along with the theory as he chats to the other inhabitants of the Island, collecting snippets of information that seem quite inconsequential at the time.
An amusing array of characters inhabit the small idyllic Dangar Island and as the story progresses most have one reason or another to do away with Roxanne.
Israel and Gary are the original odd couple, Israel with his proper speech and impeccable manners in contrast to Gary’s laid back attitude and Aussie wit.
I thoroughly enjoyed this easy to read crime mystery. Israel Wren is an intriguing and likeable protagonist with his sidekick, Gary, adding a laid back Australian flavour.
I am looking forward to reading more from G P Field in the future. Maybe another novel featuring Israel and Gary?
March 11, 2024
absolutely splendid. i was on the edge of my seat the entire time. very well written and i could not put the book down, i stayed up all night reading. the characters were very well developed over the course of the story and i completely recommend this book to any reader. has to be one of the best books ive ever read, ive ordered the hard copy to sit on my shelf and possibly hand down to future generations, it is that good.
March 14, 2022
Good story line and characters
The author threads a good story with quite a variety of characters. If the editing was a bit better I would have enjoyed it even more.
The author threads a good story with quite a variety of characters. If the editing was a bit better I would have enjoyed it even more.
March 11, 2024
It was slow at the start, but it was full of suspense. Not my usual kind of book, but it definitely got me interested. Id read his other works for sure!
May 28, 2015
This is a 'cosy' murder mystery set on an island in the Hawkesbury River to the north of Sydney. The murder of a young girl on the island was committed by one of the people present on the island that night. Professor Israel Wren sets out to assist the police, as he has done in previous investigations, much to the chagrin of the police. As is customary in the cosy style of murder investigation, Wren methodically collects information (working well ahead of the police) and assembles all of the characters together for a final 'reveal'.
Wren is styled as a cheerful and friendly observer of facts (and true to type, birds) and his offsider is a slightly naive paramedic and ex surf lifesaver. An odd pairing that is not very convincing and the Professor's manner of speech is somewhat stilted, in an attempt to make him sound professorial, perhaps.
The story as its twists and turns and keeps moving forward, but the characters portrayed are not very engaging.
Wren is styled as a cheerful and friendly observer of facts (and true to type, birds) and his offsider is a slightly naive paramedic and ex surf lifesaver. An odd pairing that is not very convincing and the Professor's manner of speech is somewhat stilted, in an attempt to make him sound professorial, perhaps.
The story as its twists and turns and keeps moving forward, but the characters portrayed are not very engaging.
January 19, 2015
Neat mystery, engaging lead character
Enjoyed the descriptions, characterization, and the bliss bits our lead gets from his bird observations. Engaging debut. beautiful descriptions of Australia.
Enjoyed the descriptions, characterization, and the bliss bits our lead gets from his bird observations. Engaging debut. beautiful descriptions of Australia.
November 2, 2015
Pretty good
A great flavor of Australia and a good murder mystery with an unusual master sleuth. A page turning mystery worth reading.
A great flavor of Australia and a good murder mystery with an unusual master sleuth. A page turning mystery worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews