What do you think?
Rate this book
Hot Ground
In the middle of the night in a remote part of Western Australia's goldfields, the thud of a mallet on a marker peg sets off a chain reaction that unearths secrets long buried.
Detective Jessy Parkin – sent to policing purgatory in the aftermath of a tainted investigation – is tasked with finding Max Cochrane, a veteran prospector who has vanished into thin air.
What begins with a concerned daughter's plea for help soon burgeons into a mystery as shapeshifting as a desert mirage. Fortunes are being built on the back of Kalgoorlie's coveted gold, but the truth might be the rarest find of all.
Detective Jessy Parkin – sent to policing purgatory in the aftermath of a tainted investigation – is tasked with finding Max Cochrane, a veteran prospector who has vanished into thin air.
What begins with a concerned daughter's plea for help soon burgeons into a mystery as shapeshifting as a desert mirage. Fortunes are being built on the back of Kalgoorlie's coveted gold, but the truth might be the rarest find of all.
- GenresCrime
400 pages, Paperback
Published September 2, 2025
9 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 11, 2025
EXCERPT: The Prospector
The old Landcruiser gave its customary rattle as he stopped the engine and let his feet off the clutch and brake. He rolled back the light switch and sat for a moment as his eyes adjusted to the half-moonlight.
The engine had run for three hours. He listened as it settled and cooled, gentle ticking and hissing he'd never notice except here, in the bush. Then those sounds stopped too.
The two-way was on scan but caught no voices. It was about eight o'clock and he was, it seemed, alone. He'd expected to see a few campers out here by now, since they'd have wanted to set up in the light. His hopes rose but he quashed them straight away. If anyone was around, they wouldn't light a campfire and signal their presence. Even if they weren't here yet, they would be before midnight. Nothing was surer.
He slid out of the cabin, unclipped the elastic loops along one side of the canopy and rolled up the dusty canvas. He failed to deflect a sloppy kiss from Truce as he leaned across the tray. He wiped his mouth with his shoulder and clipped her collar to the chain before she tried again. She didn't even attempt another assault. She knew she'd been lucky the first time. He scratched her ear.
It didn't take long to unload the ute. There was nothing much to it since he wouldn't be camping. Just the peg, gympie mallet, a fold-up chair, a gas bottle and burner and the billy from the back. Then the camera, paperwork and pen from the passenger seat. When he finished there were still no lights. No chatter. Maybe he really was the only one out here tonight? After all, he'd spoken not a word to anyone about his plans for this dirt. Maybe no one else had been watching like he had?
ABOUT 'HOT GROUND': In the middle of the night in a remote part of Western Australia's goldfields, the thud of a mallet on a marker peg sets off a chain reaction that unearths secrets long buried.
Detective Jessy Parkin – sent to policing purgatory in the aftermath of a tainted investigation – is tasked with finding Max Cochrane, a veteran prospector who has vanished into thin air.
What begins with a concerned daughter's plea for help soon burgeons into a mystery as shapeshifting as a desert mirage. Fortunes are being built on the back of Kalgoorlie's coveted gold, but the truth might be the rarest find of all.
MY THOUGHTS: An Australian outback police procedural where gold fever takes a deadly turn.
I may have enjoyed this more had I read Lisa Ellery's previous book, Private Prosecution first as there are events in that which impact on Hot Ground.
Hot Ground is when a mining tenement is due to expire and there's a buzz around it, interest in it. Major interest. Kind of like a 'Hot Property'. Only it seems there's a lot more cutthroat methods employed to gain a mining lease; but then, the stakes are bigger.
I wanted to like this a whole lot more than I did. I started off really enjoying it. The tension ramps up early with the discovery of two bodies, but once the investigation turns to mining leases and consortiums there was far too much 'technical' information that required long explanations and that became tedious and interrupted the flow of the storyline. Lisa Ellery has obviously carried out a great deal of research, but I'm not convinced that the reader needs to know all the finer details; less is more as they say.
I really liked the main character, Jessy Parkin. It seems she's in a bit of trouble over something that happened in her previous case (hence the need to read Private Prosection first) and has been sidelined to a position in Kalgoorlie while it gets sorted out. Jessy is spunky, up front about things, owns her mistakes, and gives her all to her job. I also liked the character of her boss, Toni, who backs Jessy to the hilt.
There are a lot of connections between characters that aren't immediately obvious, so Hot Ground is a read where you need to keep your wits about you.
Hot Ground is, putting aside the overabundance of technical information, a well-written, absorbing and tense outback noir set in the goldfields of south-western Western Australia.
⭐⭐⭐.3
#HotGround @fremantlepress
MEET THE AUTHOR: LISA ELLERY studies law and arts at the University of Western Australia before returning to regional WA in 1998 to commence her career as a lawyer in the goldmining city of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
She continues to live in Kalgoorlie and divides her time between the law, running and writing.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Fremantle Press for providing a copy of Hot Ground by Lisa Ellery for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
The old Landcruiser gave its customary rattle as he stopped the engine and let his feet off the clutch and brake. He rolled back the light switch and sat for a moment as his eyes adjusted to the half-moonlight.
The engine had run for three hours. He listened as it settled and cooled, gentle ticking and hissing he'd never notice except here, in the bush. Then those sounds stopped too.
The two-way was on scan but caught no voices. It was about eight o'clock and he was, it seemed, alone. He'd expected to see a few campers out here by now, since they'd have wanted to set up in the light. His hopes rose but he quashed them straight away. If anyone was around, they wouldn't light a campfire and signal their presence. Even if they weren't here yet, they would be before midnight. Nothing was surer.
He slid out of the cabin, unclipped the elastic loops along one side of the canopy and rolled up the dusty canvas. He failed to deflect a sloppy kiss from Truce as he leaned across the tray. He wiped his mouth with his shoulder and clipped her collar to the chain before she tried again. She didn't even attempt another assault. She knew she'd been lucky the first time. He scratched her ear.
It didn't take long to unload the ute. There was nothing much to it since he wouldn't be camping. Just the peg, gympie mallet, a fold-up chair, a gas bottle and burner and the billy from the back. Then the camera, paperwork and pen from the passenger seat. When he finished there were still no lights. No chatter. Maybe he really was the only one out here tonight? After all, he'd spoken not a word to anyone about his plans for this dirt. Maybe no one else had been watching like he had?
ABOUT 'HOT GROUND': In the middle of the night in a remote part of Western Australia's goldfields, the thud of a mallet on a marker peg sets off a chain reaction that unearths secrets long buried.
Detective Jessy Parkin – sent to policing purgatory in the aftermath of a tainted investigation – is tasked with finding Max Cochrane, a veteran prospector who has vanished into thin air.
What begins with a concerned daughter's plea for help soon burgeons into a mystery as shapeshifting as a desert mirage. Fortunes are being built on the back of Kalgoorlie's coveted gold, but the truth might be the rarest find of all.
MY THOUGHTS: An Australian outback police procedural where gold fever takes a deadly turn.
I may have enjoyed this more had I read Lisa Ellery's previous book, Private Prosecution first as there are events in that which impact on Hot Ground.
Hot Ground is when a mining tenement is due to expire and there's a buzz around it, interest in it. Major interest. Kind of like a 'Hot Property'. Only it seems there's a lot more cutthroat methods employed to gain a mining lease; but then, the stakes are bigger.
I wanted to like this a whole lot more than I did. I started off really enjoying it. The tension ramps up early with the discovery of two bodies, but once the investigation turns to mining leases and consortiums there was far too much 'technical' information that required long explanations and that became tedious and interrupted the flow of the storyline. Lisa Ellery has obviously carried out a great deal of research, but I'm not convinced that the reader needs to know all the finer details; less is more as they say.
I really liked the main character, Jessy Parkin. It seems she's in a bit of trouble over something that happened in her previous case (hence the need to read Private Prosection first) and has been sidelined to a position in Kalgoorlie while it gets sorted out. Jessy is spunky, up front about things, owns her mistakes, and gives her all to her job. I also liked the character of her boss, Toni, who backs Jessy to the hilt.
There are a lot of connections between characters that aren't immediately obvious, so Hot Ground is a read where you need to keep your wits about you.
Hot Ground is, putting aside the overabundance of technical information, a well-written, absorbing and tense outback noir set in the goldfields of south-western Western Australia.
⭐⭐⭐.3
#HotGround @fremantlepress
MEET THE AUTHOR: LISA ELLERY studies law and arts at the University of Western Australia before returning to regional WA in 1998 to commence her career as a lawyer in the goldmining city of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
She continues to live in Kalgoorlie and divides her time between the law, running and writing.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Fremantle Press for providing a copy of Hot Ground by Lisa Ellery for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
November 22, 2025
A gripping read, Hot Ground is the second crime novel from Western Australian solicitor and author Lisa Ellery, and though a sequel of sorts to Private Prosecution, it works perfectly well as a stand alone.
The title of the novel refers to a situation when the mining rights to a plot of land, particularly one that is suspected to have untapped value, is about to expire and so can be claimed by any interested party. Gold prospector Max Cochrane is waiting for his moment to strike when he vanishes and is reported missing by his daughter. Detective Senior Constable Jessica Parkin is tasked with the case which quickly develops into a complex investigation involving murder, greed, and corruption.
I really liked Jessie as the lead character in Hot Ground. Having recently found herself at the center of a contentious murder case, the Perth-based detective has been transferred to her hometown of Kalgoorlie to wait out the appeal. She’s a determined, intuitive, and tough investigator, but acknowledges her flaws, particularly in relation to her personal life.
I was quickly invested in the mystery at the heart of Hot Ground, and I was absorbed by the procedural nature of the story as Jessie and her colleagues searched for clues to explain the fate of the missing man. The tension grows steadily, with additional pieces of the puzzle provided by the perspectives of two anonymous characters. It’s quite a complex mystery as a whole, and Ellery draws on her experience in commercial and mining law to give authenticity to the details.
As a local Ellery deftly evokes the community and landscape of Kalgoorlie, a place I’m also a little familiar with having grown up in Western Australia. The site of a gold rush beginning in 1893, it is home to one of Australia’s largest gold mines, and still attracts prospectors hoping to strike it rich.
With its intriguing plot, well crafted characters, and authentic setting, Hot Ground is compelling crime fiction, and I hope to read more from Lisa Ellery soon.
The title of the novel refers to a situation when the mining rights to a plot of land, particularly one that is suspected to have untapped value, is about to expire and so can be claimed by any interested party. Gold prospector Max Cochrane is waiting for his moment to strike when he vanishes and is reported missing by his daughter. Detective Senior Constable Jessica Parkin is tasked with the case which quickly develops into a complex investigation involving murder, greed, and corruption.
I really liked Jessie as the lead character in Hot Ground. Having recently found herself at the center of a contentious murder case, the Perth-based detective has been transferred to her hometown of Kalgoorlie to wait out the appeal. She’s a determined, intuitive, and tough investigator, but acknowledges her flaws, particularly in relation to her personal life.
I was quickly invested in the mystery at the heart of Hot Ground, and I was absorbed by the procedural nature of the story as Jessie and her colleagues searched for clues to explain the fate of the missing man. The tension grows steadily, with additional pieces of the puzzle provided by the perspectives of two anonymous characters. It’s quite a complex mystery as a whole, and Ellery draws on her experience in commercial and mining law to give authenticity to the details.
As a local Ellery deftly evokes the community and landscape of Kalgoorlie, a place I’m also a little familiar with having grown up in Western Australia. The site of a gold rush beginning in 1893, it is home to one of Australia’s largest gold mines, and still attracts prospectors hoping to strike it rich.
With its intriguing plot, well crafted characters, and authentic setting, Hot Ground is compelling crime fiction, and I hope to read more from Lisa Ellery soon.
July 12, 2025
Can I first preface this review by saying that this book would make an amazing mini series. That being said, as a book, it was a bit lengthy and wordy for me. The storyline was cleverly crafted which draws you in, but there were too many characters to try and remember which I found frustrating. Again, I think it would translate well to the small screen. There were great descriptions of the landscapes of the goldfields and Jess as the main character was totally believable and relatable.
I just found it as a whole quite disappointing and tedious.
Thank you to Better Reading for my advance copy.
I just found it as a whole quite disappointing and tedious.
Thank you to Better Reading for my advance copy.
September 7, 2025
Hot Ground by Lisa Ellery captivated my attention from the first page.
The story follows Detective Jessy Parkin who has been sent home to Kalgoorlie to work whilst she is under investigation about a past case.
Given the job of finding a missing prospector, it soon becomes apparent there is foul play involved.
Fast paced and interesting there is no
obvious suspect for quite awhile.
Little snippets of the past and key suspects are added making the story all the more intriguing trying to work out how it's all connected and what lead to the murder.
There has clearly been a lot of research done into all he nitty gritty of mining rights and prospecting which adds weight to the storyline.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down!
Thank you Beauty and Lace and Freemantle Press for the copy to read and review.
The story follows Detective Jessy Parkin who has been sent home to Kalgoorlie to work whilst she is under investigation about a past case.
Given the job of finding a missing prospector, it soon becomes apparent there is foul play involved.
Fast paced and interesting there is no
obvious suspect for quite awhile.
Little snippets of the past and key suspects are added making the story all the more intriguing trying to work out how it's all connected and what lead to the murder.
There has clearly been a lot of research done into all he nitty gritty of mining rights and prospecting which adds weight to the storyline.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down!
Thank you Beauty and Lace and Freemantle Press for the copy to read and review.
November 2, 2025
For a local read, I was always going to finish this book. It's about crime in Kalgoorlie, mentions Esperance and a fair bit is based on Perth. What I didn't realise was that it would keep me enthralled, to the point that I was picking it up between jobs, and reading it on my lunch break. A great crime read that has been thoroughly researched, but still flows with a great narrative. I'm so impressed by this novel, I can't wait to see what Lisa puts out next.
August 8, 2025
Hot Ground is Western Australian crime writer Lisa Ellery’s follow up to her legal thriller debut Private Prosecution. Hot Ground follows one of the characters from that first book - detective Jessy Parkin – out to Kalgoorlie where she is serving a form of penance for her involvement in the previous book. The consequences of Private Prosecution will continue to hound Jessy behind the scenes, as will her former boyfriend Andrew, the lawyer protagonist of the previous book. But Hot Ground is a much more straight forward procedural than Ellery’s debut, getting deep into police procedure and, more interestingly, the complex field of gold prospecting.
Hot Ground opens with a death and a disappearance. The cold open describes the death of a seventy year old woman just called “the landlady” and will only become relevant much later in the story. The main story revolves around the disappearance of gold prospector Max Cochrane. Max’s daughter Mia is convinced that something has happened as he spent a lot of his time in remote areas, was always well prepared and stayed in contact. Detective Jessy Parkin is asked to help out and very soon finds out the situation is much more complicated than a missing prospector. A couple of ambiguous alternate point of view chapters (titled “The cowboy” and “The director”) clue readers into these complications but, again, take a long time to come into focus.
Much like Andrew Deacon, Ellery’s main character from Private Prosecution, Jessy is a rounded character who makes mistakes but owns them and is well aware of her flaws. She is also a dogged and intuitive investigator, loyal to the colleagues who have her back (and disdainful of those who don’t) and unflappable in the face of some fairly stressful situations. While she is keen to get back to Perth, Jessy is a Kalgoorlie local (much like her creator), and so is a great guide to what is a fascinating and fairly remote part of the country and its colourful history.
Hot Ground does not shy away from the legal and corporate technicalities of the gold prospecting game. This includes the set-up which sees Max heading out to film himself knocking a stake in the ground at the stroke of midnight to literally “stake a claim” on a potential mining site before anyone else. Ellery also goes into the corporate machinations involved in this potentially lucrative business. Much in the way Barry Maitland often does in his Brock and Kolla mysteries, Ellery uses the form to demystify a fairly technical area in a way that makes enough sense to the reader and elevate this above the ordinary rural procedural.
Ellery cleverly builds on the events of Private Prosecution without being at all repetitive. She builds out not only her main character but some of the returning minor characters from that book also. And she uses an engaging procedural to paint a picture of a place and community and draw readers into their complex world.
Hot Ground opens with a death and a disappearance. The cold open describes the death of a seventy year old woman just called “the landlady” and will only become relevant much later in the story. The main story revolves around the disappearance of gold prospector Max Cochrane. Max’s daughter Mia is convinced that something has happened as he spent a lot of his time in remote areas, was always well prepared and stayed in contact. Detective Jessy Parkin is asked to help out and very soon finds out the situation is much more complicated than a missing prospector. A couple of ambiguous alternate point of view chapters (titled “The cowboy” and “The director”) clue readers into these complications but, again, take a long time to come into focus.
Much like Andrew Deacon, Ellery’s main character from Private Prosecution, Jessy is a rounded character who makes mistakes but owns them and is well aware of her flaws. She is also a dogged and intuitive investigator, loyal to the colleagues who have her back (and disdainful of those who don’t) and unflappable in the face of some fairly stressful situations. While she is keen to get back to Perth, Jessy is a Kalgoorlie local (much like her creator), and so is a great guide to what is a fascinating and fairly remote part of the country and its colourful history.
Hot Ground does not shy away from the legal and corporate technicalities of the gold prospecting game. This includes the set-up which sees Max heading out to film himself knocking a stake in the ground at the stroke of midnight to literally “stake a claim” on a potential mining site before anyone else. Ellery also goes into the corporate machinations involved in this potentially lucrative business. Much in the way Barry Maitland often does in his Brock and Kolla mysteries, Ellery uses the form to demystify a fairly technical area in a way that makes enough sense to the reader and elevate this above the ordinary rural procedural.
Ellery cleverly builds on the events of Private Prosecution without being at all repetitive. She builds out not only her main character but some of the returning minor characters from that book also. And she uses an engaging procedural to paint a picture of a place and community and draw readers into their complex world.
July 17, 2025
3.5⭐️ review to come
August 30, 2025
★★★★☆
Lisa Ellery’s Hot Ground is an outback thriller that crackles with tension and grit. From the opening pages, I was hooked by the heat, dust, and unease of the Western Australian goldfields; a setting Ellery brings to life so vividly it feels like another character in the story.
What really impressed me were the people on the page: flawed, layered, and completely believable. Ellery doesn’t hand you neat heroes and villains; instead, she gives you complex lives where history, secrets, and survival collide in ways that feel raw and authentic. The relationships, whether built on loyalty, fear, or greed…….ring true and drive the story forward.
Yes, there are stretches where the mining and procedural detail felt a little heavy - but just when I started to drift, a twist, a sharp line of dialogue, or a flash of danger pulled me right back in. The pacing ramps up beautifully, and by the final act, I was racing through pages, desperate to see how it would land.
If you’re a fan of Jane Harper or Australian noir, Hot Ground delivers atmosphere, suspense, and small-town secrets in spades. It’s moody, compelling, and leaves a scorch mark long after the final page.
Lisa Ellery’s Hot Ground is an outback thriller that crackles with tension and grit. From the opening pages, I was hooked by the heat, dust, and unease of the Western Australian goldfields; a setting Ellery brings to life so vividly it feels like another character in the story.
What really impressed me were the people on the page: flawed, layered, and completely believable. Ellery doesn’t hand you neat heroes and villains; instead, she gives you complex lives where history, secrets, and survival collide in ways that feel raw and authentic. The relationships, whether built on loyalty, fear, or greed…….ring true and drive the story forward.
Yes, there are stretches where the mining and procedural detail felt a little heavy - but just when I started to drift, a twist, a sharp line of dialogue, or a flash of danger pulled me right back in. The pacing ramps up beautifully, and by the final act, I was racing through pages, desperate to see how it would land.
If you’re a fan of Jane Harper or Australian noir, Hot Ground delivers atmosphere, suspense, and small-town secrets in spades. It’s moody, compelling, and leaves a scorch mark long after the final page.
July 17, 2025
A big thank you to Better Reading and Fremantle Press for the opportunity to read and review Hot Ground.
This is set in Western Australia amongst the Goldfields in Kalgoorlie. The detailed and descriptive writing throughout transports you into this vast and desolate bushland. The immense detail portrayed really had me feeling as though I was right there too and investigating alongside Detective Jessy Parkin which I enjoyed.
We also get to learn a thing or two about prospecting which is not something I had ever learnt about before.
No spoilers here but if you enjoy a good a crime fiction novel and especially one set in Australia; you may like to pick this up.
This is set in Western Australia amongst the Goldfields in Kalgoorlie. The detailed and descriptive writing throughout transports you into this vast and desolate bushland. The immense detail portrayed really had me feeling as though I was right there too and investigating alongside Detective Jessy Parkin which I enjoyed.
We also get to learn a thing or two about prospecting which is not something I had ever learnt about before.
No spoilers here but if you enjoy a good a crime fiction novel and especially one set in Australia; you may like to pick this up.
October 25, 2025
The term ‘hot ground’ in the context of gold prospecting refers to areas where prospectors consider there’s a high chance of finding pay dirt.
Lisa Ellery’s 'Hot Ground' is a crime novel in which Detective Senior Constable Jessica ‘Jessy’ Parkin, investigates the killing of Max Cochrane, a veteran prospector. His body is found on the Eastern Goldfields, approximately 600 kilometres east of Perth, Western Australia.
The author, in a prologue, takes us back to the 1930s. There’s mention of an unnamed female victim, a male called Charlie, and Aileen, a daughter. We have to wait until the closing chapters of 'Hot Ground' before the significance of this introduction becomes apparent.
Jessy discovers that Cochrane was in the process of pegging a claim when he was murdered. She researches the law relating to mining and prospecting. I skimmed over these details as I was more interested in the prospectors who were eager to claim that piece of hot ground for themselves. All could be suspects.
The investigation advances slowly. Many of the 395 pages are devoted to Jessy’s life-style, friends, family, acquaintances and enemies.
While enjoying these interesting, intriguing and entertaining distractions, Jessy also takes time to consider the evidence and unveils the killer.
'Hot Ground' is an intricate whodunit. It’s also a novel about a community.
I was pleased Jessy’s investigations had come to a satisfactory conclusion. Far, far more important, however, was the fact that she had sorted out her private life.
September 4, 2025
A missing prospector. A nearly century-old body at the bottom of a mine shaft. A drive by attack on the missing prospector’s son-in-law. Are these crimes connected? And how? While the team from Perth are quick to declare an open-and-shut case, Detective Jessy Parkin isn’t so sure, and she won’t stop investigating until she has all the answers.
Hot Ground is a brilliantly written, tense crime drama. It has everything that kept me glued to the pages right to the end - An engaging writing style with sneaky alternate viewpoints snuck in between the main plot; a strong female main character who is unafraid to stand up for herself and who fights for what she believes in, despite pressure from more senior officers; and a twisted web of events and characters that kept me guessing right to the last.
This is the second book featuring Det. Jessy Parker, which I didn’t realise until much later. While past events are mentioned, enough background to the events and characters are provided so it reads easily as a standalone.
While this might be the first book I've read by Lisa Ellery, it certainly won't be the last.
Hot Ground is a brilliantly written, tense crime drama. It has everything that kept me glued to the pages right to the end - An engaging writing style with sneaky alternate viewpoints snuck in between the main plot; a strong female main character who is unafraid to stand up for herself and who fights for what she believes in, despite pressure from more senior officers; and a twisted web of events and characters that kept me guessing right to the last.
This is the second book featuring Det. Jessy Parker, which I didn’t realise until much later. While past events are mentioned, enough background to the events and characters are provided so it reads easily as a standalone.
While this might be the first book I've read by Lisa Ellery, it certainly won't be the last.
July 14, 2025
This was my first Lisa Ellery book, but it won’t be the last. I have already placed a hold on her first book with the library and will be looking out for future works.
This book has some of the same characters from Lisa’s first book, but I didn’t feel that I was missing anything by not having read that book. Relationships and circumstances were well described so I knew where everything was going.
I was certainly kept guessing until the end. The story unfolds at a good pace, and I stayed up long into the night turning pages as I just couldn't tear myself away from the action.
I’ve never been to WA, but I could visualise the settings clearly from Lisa’s detailed descriptions. Her characters are so well developed and real. I could relate to them all and cared about them.
Thank you to Better Reading Preview and Fremantle Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This book has some of the same characters from Lisa’s first book, but I didn’t feel that I was missing anything by not having read that book. Relationships and circumstances were well described so I knew where everything was going.
I was certainly kept guessing until the end. The story unfolds at a good pace, and I stayed up long into the night turning pages as I just couldn't tear myself away from the action.
I’ve never been to WA, but I could visualise the settings clearly from Lisa’s detailed descriptions. Her characters are so well developed and real. I could relate to them all and cared about them.
Thank you to Better Reading Preview and Fremantle Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
September 22, 2025
3.5 ⭐️⭐️ An intricate, convoluted and painstakingly detailed police procedural with a large cast of characters set in Kalgoorlie and surrounds, with events also taking place in Perth. Detective Senior Constable Jess (Jessica) Parkin, under investigation and banished to Kalgoorlie from Perth, becomes part of the investigation into the disappearance of a veteran prospector with more mysteries gradually unfolding. DNA plays a huge role in the policing as does the behaviour of mining investors, upper hierarchy of police with questionable ethics, the judicial system, family dynamics, a large amount of technical mining detail (which I found a bit overwhelming) and the huge amount of travel required to investigate. Intriguing and detailed and well-researched mystery with a very clever ending and hope, particularly for Jess. This novel apparently contains references to people and events from the author’s previous book “Private Prosecution”.
October 8, 2025
A novel storyline surrounding a murder over a mining tenement in Western Australia. The book grabbed my attention from the first page. A visceral opening that really puts you in the bush at night. I managed to polish it off over four days.
Detailed, factually correct descriptions giving it an authentic feel. The knowledge and passion of the author of the Kalgoorlie area comes through. I would like to hear more stories of the lead character in Kalgoorlie.
I will admit I was more concerned about the outcome for Truce than any other characters.
Detailed, factually correct descriptions giving it an authentic feel. The knowledge and passion of the author of the Kalgoorlie area comes through. I would like to hear more stories of the lead character in Kalgoorlie.
I will admit I was more concerned about the outcome for Truce than any other characters.
February 11, 2026
An amazing read- a detective moves from Perth to her hometown in Kalgoorlie and becomes involved in a murder investigation. I found the story well paced, that taught me things as part of the story. It was not in a way that detracted, but a way that helped understand the ins and outs. I loved this book.
October 8, 2025
An engaging and entertaining great holiday read. The intricate thread of the crime was easy to follow, and the inclusion of technical detail allowed those of us with limited mining backgrounds access to the complex world of mining laws and regulations. Would highly recommend!
October 31, 2025
Started well then became bogged down. Four hours into the listen, I gave up. Narration may have something to do with my lack of engagement. I really enjoyed the first book in the series, however, this will be my last.
November 3, 2025
Really enjoyed this one. The storyline was great with lots of twists and turns and the narration was easy to listen to. The outback setting reminded me of a few other Aussie books I read - bringing it to life with her vivid descriptions. About to start listening to her first book
October 17, 2025
What a gem of a book! Not only do I look forward to book 3 (hoping it might involve the mystery of Mark's wife) but I'll have to read book 1.
Read
October 24, 2025A great character in Jessy, but the minutae surrounding mining and claims just wore me down. DNF
November 20, 2025
Loved it!!! A rip you along thriller that had me guessing all along. Great read.
February 11, 2026
Engaging. Complex web almost needed a diagram of who is who and related to whom to keep track.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews