Gus and the Burning Stones

Gus Green #2

by Troy Hunter

It’s been over six months since amateur sleuth Gus Green solved his first real-life case, and started investigating his past. When he receives an anonymous message telling him that his missing birth mother Jane can be found at the mysterious ‘Circle’, an off-grid community based around an ancient stone circle, he knows he has to find out more.

At The Circle, Gus and his friends Shell and Kane’s investigation seems over before it starts: none of the strange people living there know Jane – or so they say. But when a brutal storm traps the friends at the community, and a dead body is discovered, they quickly realise that there’s a new case to solve. A murderer walks among them, and everyone has a motive.

The trio find themselves in a race against time to unmask the killer before they become targets themselves. But why were they lured here? What is the power of the stone circle? And how on earth does all of this connect to Jane?

225 pages, Paperback

Published August 15, 2025

Reviews

[Craig and Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big thanks to Wakefield Press and Troy for gifting us a copy to read and review.
Youngsters are the future and when they show case talents and aptitude in certain fields it leads to hope that skillsets will be carried into their careers. Amateur sleuth Gus Green returns and is ready to help solve another mystery.
A storm, a murder and a cultish like community become integral factors in his pursuit of the truth.
Gus is on the trail to find his birth mother and stumbles across a group of people that live off grid around a culturally significant circle of rocks in country Victoria.
His friends Shell and Kane join him on the search.
A vicious storm erupts and a deluge of rain trap them and staying at the commune the only viable option.
A fire and a subsequent body heighten the stay as Gus and his cohorts piece together the events and discover the truth.
Clues found that only youngsters would find them.
Suspicions and tensions rise as the spotlight roams.
I am a big fan of this genre and really enjoyed the pace, plot and characters of this YA story.
Insights and reflections of a younger generation enlighten and entertain.
A twisty plot and hunky character never go astray in my opinion.
I wonder what Gus will solve next.

[Matthew Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gus and the Burning Stones is a thrilling and heartfelt follow-up to Troy Hunter's first crime novel for young readers, Gus and the Missing Boy. In the first book, Gus sets out with two mates, Shell and Kane, to unravel the mystery of his past after finding an aged-up photo of himself on a missing persons website. He learns a lot about his birth mother, but in book 2, he is back on the hunt for her, prompted by an anonymous message saying she is living in an off-grid community called The Circle. Gus, Kane and Shell make the trip there, but the community members deny any knowledge of her. Gus thinks they're lying.
An incoming storm traps the whole community at The Circle, including Gus and his friends. Then a dead body shows up.

Gus and the Burning Stones is a gripping sequel to the first Gus book, full of mystery, humour, friendship and heart. All the community members are legitimate suspects, and none of the crime elements feel forced. It's a joy hanging out with this crime-solving trio, who are all fully formed characters in their own right, with their own stories and struggles. The pacing is spot on, and the ending is perfect.

[Emmie Dark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great adventure from Gus and the gang! Love how their characters and relationships evolved along with the uncovering of a murder. Also liked that Gus got to find out a few things about himself and his past — and maybe his future too. I also learned that Australia has stone circles — never knew that before!

[Joanne VanR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced, action packed and teenager angst, which Troy writes with respect and empathy. What a great read, fantastic characters who deserve their right to be in the page.

[Kylie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sequel book to Gus and the Missing Boy and was an equally good read. A lot of expectation rides on a second book and it must be hard for an author to meet this expectation.
To explain my four star review - I would not consider myself the target audience for this book, it is young adult with a LGBT theme, as well as a cracking mystery! Great kudos to Troy Hunter for engaging me as a middle aged, straight female and writing a book that I really enjoyed without feeling like I was on the outside of an 'in joke'. I am positive for the target audience this will be a 5 star read!
Trigger warning - the book does touch on self-harm, but it is handled in a very considerate way that is neither distressing nor confronting.
This book centres on Gus still wanting to connect with his birth mother, which leads him to a rural setting. A small community that refers to themselves as 'the Circle' due to a natural rock formation on the land that they occupy. Gus and his friends, Kane and Shell turn up just as a major storm hits and find themselves unable to leave. Gus suspects that the group are not being completely honest with him and his friends, and when a dead body is discovered, Gus has to fight his personal anxieties to work with Kane and Shell to figure out a solution to their predicament.
I really hope that there is a third book in the pipeline, whether it be another Gus Green story or something different.

[Helen Farch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to read more adventures from Gus, Shell and Kane after their first outing in 'Gus And The Missing Boy', and I was not disappointed.

This is the definition of a 'devour in one sitting' YA mystery.

Troy Hunter has the ability to make us fall in love with his trio of diverse friends, not despite of, but because of their flaws.

Delving into real life issues for teens, such as anxiety, gender identity, and body image.... while still giving a page-turning mystery... and laugh-out-loud moments... this is a book that I know teen readers will love.

How do I know? Because I know from the students in my school library how much they enjoyed Gus and the Missing Boy, and how they have been eagerly anticipating this new books.

Lots of action... short, sharp chapters... characters you love...

Highly Recommended!!!!

Thanks to Wakefield Press for the review copy of this book.

[Cel Jel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not find this the page turner tha author who put a comment on the front found it. The one correct point made was that I would not work out who 'done it' till the end.
I found for me too much seeming repetition in the investigating and sharing of ideas between the three carrying out the sleuthing.
It was a closed room mystery in the bush - flooding left a small number of people as possible murderers.
The editing missed more errors than I expect in a book: extra words in sentences, missing words, jumbled expression (not natural ones) may have affected my reading.

[Adam Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun trip with Gus and friends as they run headlong into yet another rural crime drama that is running at cross-purposes to their personal growth. The campsite setting, ominous weather and creepy stone circle provide an eerie backdrop to the investigative teens, who are all discovering new things about themselves and each other. I still want more from these characters, and yearn to find out how they grow up into adults, so I hope there are further crimes to be solved in their future.

[Troy Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

More mystery, more murder, more Agatha Christie-twisty fun. If you liked Gus and the Missing Boy, I think you will love Gus and the Burning Stones - if I do say so myself...