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Broke Road: Rose Riley, Book 2
A captivating Australian thriller from the bestselling author of Black River.
A late-night phone call is never good news for Homicide Detective Sergeant Rose Riley. This time she's being sent up to the Hunter Valley, where a woman has been found dead in her home.
Rose grew up further along the valley. She knows that for every vineyard and golf course resort visited by tourists to the 'wine country', there are as many dilapidated fibro houses and drug dens, in the shadow of one of the state's largest prisons.
A media hound points the finger at the husband, angering Rose, but capturing the attention of journalist turned true crime author Adam Bowman. His book on the 'Blue Moon Killer' made him famous but the case nearly cost Rose her life, and she's not sure how she feels about seeing him again.
Suspects abound, from the grieving husband to sinister business interests and suspicious locals. But when new evidence connects the crime to an old case, Rose realises they have no time to lose. The murderer is ready to strike again.
A late-night phone call is never good news for Homicide Detective Sergeant Rose Riley. This time she's being sent up to the Hunter Valley, where a woman has been found dead in her home.
Rose grew up further along the valley. She knows that for every vineyard and golf course resort visited by tourists to the 'wine country', there are as many dilapidated fibro houses and drug dens, in the shadow of one of the state's largest prisons.
A media hound points the finger at the husband, angering Rose, but capturing the attention of journalist turned true crime author Adam Bowman. His book on the 'Blue Moon Killer' made him famous but the case nearly cost Rose her life, and she's not sure how she feels about seeing him again.
Suspects abound, from the grieving husband to sinister business interests and suspicious locals. But when new evidence connects the crime to an old case, Rose realises they have no time to lose. The murderer is ready to strike again.
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Published August 21, 2025
5 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Spencer
20 books80 followersMatthew Spencer was a journalist at The Australian for twenty years, with long stints running the Foreign News desk and as Opinion Editor. He has written for newspapers and magazines in Uganda and Kenya and been published in The Australian Financial Review and The Sydney Morning Herald.
Matthew has an Honours degree in English Literature from the University of Sydney. Black River is his first novel.
He was born in Parramatta. The son of teachers, he lived with his sister Kate on the 320-acre campus of a boys’ boarding school. Long summers on the largely deserted property while exploring the remnant bush with its tributary of the Parramatta River inspired the book.
Matthew lives in Sydney with his wife, Ritu Gupta, and their three children.
Matthew has an Honours degree in English Literature from the University of Sydney. Black River is his first novel.
He was born in Parramatta. The son of teachers, he lived with his sister Kate on the 320-acre campus of a boys’ boarding school. Long summers on the largely deserted property while exploring the remnant bush with its tributary of the Parramatta River inspired the book.
Matthew lives in Sydney with his wife, Ritu Gupta, and their three children.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 10, 2025
A beautifully written and masterfully executed crime thriller.
what I loved most was how flawlessly it was executed - every twist felt organic, every character richly drawn, and the sense of place so tangible that I could almost feel myself walking the same roads, not so hard to believe seeing I am from Cessnock!
Broke Road by Matthew Spencer is an absolute triumph. A compelling, intelligent, and beautifully crafted read — one I’ll be recommending to everyone who loves sophisticated Australian crime fiction.
what I loved most was how flawlessly it was executed - every twist felt organic, every character richly drawn, and the sense of place so tangible that I could almost feel myself walking the same roads, not so hard to believe seeing I am from Cessnock!
Broke Road by Matthew Spencer is an absolute triumph. A compelling, intelligent, and beautifully crafted read — one I’ll be recommending to everyone who loves sophisticated Australian crime fiction.
September 5, 2025
What a fantastic read. I loved the first book in this series and this one was just as good. Matthew Spencer is a wonderful author. I just wish there was another 10 books to read. 5/5 Star Rating.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews