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The Man in the Dam
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 15, 2026
1 person is currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Barton
4 books13 followersAndrea Barton, award-winning author and fiction editor, writes the Jade Riley Mystery Series. She runs Brightside Story Studio and is Vice President of Mansfield Readers & Writers.
Her other writing credits include The Winding Narrative blog, short stories, two picture books and nine stage productions about contemporary social issues. She has co-authored and edited two anthologies about expatriate life.
An electrical engineer turned career consultant, Andrea spent 12 years enjoying the exhilaration and dislocation of life as an expat in Nigeria, USA, and Qatar with her husband and two children. She has now repatriated to Australia, where she commutes between Melbourne and Mansfield. Along the way, she developed a passion for ballroom and Latin dance, helped to build a school, got bogged in both the Qatari and Australian deserts, and had an accidental hallucinogenic experience in Peru.
Fun fact: she holds her A.Mus.A. in violin, which has inspired a life-long love of music.
Her other writing credits include The Winding Narrative blog, short stories, two picture books and nine stage productions about contemporary social issues. She has co-authored and edited two anthologies about expatriate life.
An electrical engineer turned career consultant, Andrea spent 12 years enjoying the exhilaration and dislocation of life as an expat in Nigeria, USA, and Qatar with her husband and two children. She has now repatriated to Australia, where she commutes between Melbourne and Mansfield. Along the way, she developed a passion for ballroom and Latin dance, helped to build a school, got bogged in both the Qatari and Australian deserts, and had an accidental hallucinogenic experience in Peru.
Fun fact: she holds her A.Mus.A. in violin, which has inspired a life-long love of music.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 31, 2026
Love Jade and this series! The Man in the Dam is a murder mystery with Jade finding a body in a dam close to where she is staying
Realising he was a dinner guest of hers the night before, suspicion turns to the other dinner guests who are all members the local theatre group
Utilising her journalist skills, Jade and her boyfriend Brett set out to find the person responsible.
Very twisty with plenty of shady characters, there is plenty of suspense throughout
Set in the glorious high country in Mansfield, Victoria created the perfect small town setting
Realising he was a dinner guest of hers the night before, suspicion turns to the other dinner guests who are all members the local theatre group
Utilising her journalist skills, Jade and her boyfriend Brett set out to find the person responsible.
Very twisty with plenty of shady characters, there is plenty of suspense throughout
Set in the glorious high country in Mansfield, Victoria created the perfect small town setting
February 8, 2026
A brilliantly crafted mystery that pulls you in from the very first page, this book is an absolute standout. Its richly developed characters and pacing place you right alongside Jade, the determined protagonist, as every clue heightens the suspense.
Set against the charm and tension of a regional Australian town, the story makes clever use of local landmarks and the close-knit, small-community feel where history lingers and old tensions simmer. It’s the kind of setting that grounds the drama in a place where everyone knows everyone.
The inclusion of an amateur theatre group is a masterstroke: a cast of natural performers where every suspect knows how to play a role. Their motives twist and shift as the story unfolds, reminding the reader to look past assumptions and question what’s real.
Threaded through the mystery is Jade’s own emotional journey, tender and relatable. Her struggle to balance personal and professional choices adds depth and heart, offering a side story that enhances, rather than interrupts, the tension and is beautifully handled.
A must read.
Set against the charm and tension of a regional Australian town, the story makes clever use of local landmarks and the close-knit, small-community feel where history lingers and old tensions simmer. It’s the kind of setting that grounds the drama in a place where everyone knows everyone.
The inclusion of an amateur theatre group is a masterstroke: a cast of natural performers where every suspect knows how to play a role. Their motives twist and shift as the story unfolds, reminding the reader to look past assumptions and question what’s real.
Threaded through the mystery is Jade’s own emotional journey, tender and relatable. Her struggle to balance personal and professional choices adds depth and heart, offering a side story that enhances, rather than interrupts, the tension and is beautifully handled.
A must read.
January 25, 2026
Book three in the Jade Riley mystery series and what a cracker this one was!
When Jade discovers a dead body in the dam by the house she is staying at, she is shocked to discover he was a dinner guest of hers from the night before. How did he end up in the dam? Putting her journalist skills to work, Jade and her partner Brett, take it upon themself to try to piece together what happened, especially after learning the police investigation might be stalled whilst they await results. Can the two figure out what happened?
What a thrilling book this was! I had my suspicions from early on and loved watching how it all played out. This fast paced, action packed story was cleverly written with twists I didn't see coming and prose that kept me intrigued right from the first page. Though there were several characters mentioned, their distinct personalities made them all easy to keep track of. I really hope we get to see more of Jade and Brett! Maybe another installment, Andrea Barton?
When Jade discovers a dead body in the dam by the house she is staying at, she is shocked to discover he was a dinner guest of hers from the night before. How did he end up in the dam? Putting her journalist skills to work, Jade and her partner Brett, take it upon themself to try to piece together what happened, especially after learning the police investigation might be stalled whilst they await results. Can the two figure out what happened?
What a thrilling book this was! I had my suspicions from early on and loved watching how it all played out. This fast paced, action packed story was cleverly written with twists I didn't see coming and prose that kept me intrigued right from the first page. Though there were several characters mentioned, their distinct personalities made them all easy to keep track of. I really hope we get to see more of Jade and Brett! Maybe another installment, Andrea Barton?
January 30, 2026
The Man in the Dam in the third book in the
Jade Reilly Mystery series that features journalist Jade as an amateur investigator and links in with different artistic pursuits- this one featuring drama. It can definitely be read as a stand alone. I really enjoyed the high country setting, the short, chapter, the different titles for chapter headings (Andrea matched the songs so well with what was going on in the novel) complete a Spotify list to accompany it and the Sri Lankan food descriptions.
The novel is fast paced and I enjoyed the whodunnit elements. The murder victim was a retired criminal lawyer and there were a number of family dramas going on which lead to a big list of suspects. Whilst there were a couple of twists I picked, I was completely blindsided by others! Mixed into the mystery was Jade’s personal life and her relationship with Brett and an ongoing dilemma around career, marriage and where they would live. I loved how this was explored and maturely handled. Another great installment to the series.
Jade Reilly Mystery series that features journalist Jade as an amateur investigator and links in with different artistic pursuits- this one featuring drama. It can definitely be read as a stand alone. I really enjoyed the high country setting, the short, chapter, the different titles for chapter headings (Andrea matched the songs so well with what was going on in the novel) complete a Spotify list to accompany it and the Sri Lankan food descriptions.
The novel is fast paced and I enjoyed the whodunnit elements. The murder victim was a retired criminal lawyer and there were a number of family dramas going on which lead to a big list of suspects. Whilst there were a couple of twists I picked, I was completely blindsided by others! Mixed into the mystery was Jade’s personal life and her relationship with Brett and an ongoing dilemma around career, marriage and where they would live. I loved how this was explored and maturely handled. Another great installment to the series.
January 18, 2026
Best-selling Australian author, Andrea Barton’s new novel, The Man in the Dam, is the third in her Jade Riley mystery series. In this enthralling whodunit set in Mansfield, Victoria, journalist Jade Riley finds a guest dead in her dam the morning after hosting a somewhat contentious dinner party for members of the local amateur theatre society. Among the guests, are a photographer, lawyer, fire investigator, teacher, bookshop owner and farmer. With one of them now deceased, all surviving guests become suspects, and feisty Jade is determined to find the truth.
This is fast-paced and skilfully written crime fiction at its best, with an excellent plot featuring murder, community theatre, small town secrets, a wedding proposal, and hidden treasure.
Full of engrossing twists and red herrings, The Man in The Dam is certain to keep readers rapidly turning the pages to discover the killer (or killers).
Suspenseful, with a thoroughly satisfying ending, The Man in The Dam is Barton’s best novel yet. Please tell me there’ll be a fourth.
This is fast-paced and skilfully written crime fiction at its best, with an excellent plot featuring murder, community theatre, small town secrets, a wedding proposal, and hidden treasure.
Full of engrossing twists and red herrings, The Man in The Dam is certain to keep readers rapidly turning the pages to discover the killer (or killers).
Suspenseful, with a thoroughly satisfying ending, The Man in The Dam is Barton’s best novel yet. Please tell me there’ll be a fourth.
January 18, 2026
The Man in the Dam is the third book of the Jade Riley Mysteries and is another fantastic addition to the series. I was gripped by Jade’s new adventure which begins when she finds a dead body setting off a twisty, fast-paced search for the culprit amongst a group of diverse and engaging dinner party guests. Assistance and romance come from her boyfriend but draw personal conflict, too. Set in rural Victoria, the history, landscape and wildlife play an important role alongside characters who all have secrets and motives to kill. Jade’s every move brings risk to her and the man she loves, making this a taut, edge-of-the seat experience. I loved it! Bravo, Andrea Barton.
January 31, 2026
The Man in the Dam feels like an author having a great deal of fun—and that energy is infectious. Barton sweeps us through the beautiful town of Mansfield and the Victorian High Country so vividly I could practically hear the kookaburras laughing.
Every distinctive character has a reason to want the man in the dam dead—a criminal lawyer with a very murky past—and the story is packed with twists that kept me reading late into the night.
I especially related to Jade’s love-versus-career dilemma and didn’t envy the impossible choice she faced.
I loved this just as much as the first two Jade Riley Mysteries and can’t wait to see what she gets up to next.
Every distinctive character has a reason to want the man in the dam dead—a criminal lawyer with a very murky past—and the story is packed with twists that kept me reading late into the night.
I especially related to Jade’s love-versus-career dilemma and didn’t envy the impossible choice she faced.
I loved this just as much as the first two Jade Riley Mysteries and can’t wait to see what she gets up to next.
January 23, 2026
A pacy mystery that's a love letter to Mansfield.
Andrea Barton delivers a deliciously twisty read. When journalist Jade Riley hosts a weekend gathering for her local theatre group, she never expects to find one of her guests face-down in the dam by morning.
The small-town setting crackles with tension. Everyone has secrets, and no one's talking.
Perfect for fans of atmospheric Australian mysteries and complex female protagonists who refuse to choose between career and love. Highly recommended.
Andrea Barton delivers a deliciously twisty read. When journalist Jade Riley hosts a weekend gathering for her local theatre group, she never expects to find one of her guests face-down in the dam by morning.
The small-town setting crackles with tension. Everyone has secrets, and no one's talking.
Perfect for fans of atmospheric Australian mysteries and complex female protagonists who refuse to choose between career and love. Highly recommended.
February 9, 2026
Who doesn’t love a treasure hunt? Let alone a treasure hunt with a murder mystery attached … and better still, with a flourish of theatrical activity and a touch of romance. This is an intriguing read, set in rural Australia, with loads of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged and turning the page. Andrea Barton brings her protagonist home to Australia in the next in her Jade Riley series. Highly recommended for lovers of knife-edge adventures!
January 18, 2026
The third book in the Jade Riley series, and they just get better and better. This is a great read. The characters are so well drawn and the setting in and around Mansfield, Victoria, is another character. A very fine book with a great plot, a lovely twist and a satisfying ending.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews