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Deception Bay #3
The Reckoning: the newest page-turner from bestselling Australian crime writer Vikki Petraitis
A dark, morally uncompromising crime novel about overturned justice, institutional failure, and the price paid when the system looks away, perfect for fans of Chris Hammer’s
Scrublands
and Jane Harper’s
The Dry.
Justice is overturned.
The consequences are just beginning.
When the convictions of two men accused of rape are suddenly quashed, their return to Deception Bay is celebrated at a packed Australia Day cricket match. Before the day is done, dozens of people collapse with symptoms of poisoning – including the newly freed men themselves.
Detective Antigone Pollard and her partner Wozza are thrown into a mass casualty crisis as emergency services are pushed to breaking point. With medical resources exhausted, Antigone’s mother, Dr Jilly Pollard, agrees to assess a sick child on a nearby farm. When she fails to return, Antigone retraces her journey – and walks straight into a siege.
Negotiators take control. Protocol is enforced. Time is allowed to run out.
With lives on the line and no good options left, Antigone makes a choice that will change everything.
She goes in.
Justice is overturned.
The consequences are just beginning.
When the convictions of two men accused of rape are suddenly quashed, their return to Deception Bay is celebrated at a packed Australia Day cricket match. Before the day is done, dozens of people collapse with symptoms of poisoning – including the newly freed men themselves.
Detective Antigone Pollard and her partner Wozza are thrown into a mass casualty crisis as emergency services are pushed to breaking point. With medical resources exhausted, Antigone’s mother, Dr Jilly Pollard, agrees to assess a sick child on a nearby farm. When she fails to return, Antigone retraces her journey – and walks straight into a siege.
Negotiators take control. Protocol is enforced. Time is allowed to run out.
With lives on the line and no good options left, Antigone makes a choice that will change everything.
She goes in.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 22, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A mass poisoning at an Australia Day barbecue brings Detective Antigone Pollard and her partner Wozza (Detective Warren Harvey) of Deception Bay a new case to investigate. Two convicted rapists released on bail and invited to a hero’s welcome at the barbecue are amongst those who became seriously ill. Were they just caught up in an accidental poisoning or was this a case of revenge by someone who thinks the legal system has failed them?
There was plenty of action and tension in this third novel of the series. Several contemporary issues add interest and relevance to the plot, including sex crimes and the way the justice system deals with them, the influence the media has on shaping public opinion as well as domestic violence and the rights of ‘sovereign citizens’. Quite a mixture but it somehow all worked together providing plenty of suspenseful moments and certainly kept the police busy. This could be read as a stand-alone, but would be best read after the first two novels for an appreciation of Antigone’s background and relationship with her small home town.
With thanks to Simon & Schuster Au via Netgalley for a copy to read
There was plenty of action and tension in this third novel of the series. Several contemporary issues add interest and relevance to the plot, including sex crimes and the way the justice system deals with them, the influence the media has on shaping public opinion as well as domestic violence and the rights of ‘sovereign citizens’. Quite a mixture but it somehow all worked together providing plenty of suspenseful moments and certainly kept the police busy. This could be read as a stand-alone, but would be best read after the first two novels for an appreciation of Antigone’s background and relationship with her small home town.
With thanks to Simon & Schuster Au via Netgalley for a copy to read
October 2, 2026
We are back in Deception Bay with Detectives Antigone Pollard and Warren (Wozza) Harvey and neither are happy two of the rapists they worked so hard to put behind bars have won their appeal are free and they arrive home just in time for Australia Day which has some bad memories for a few people in town, their release has split the town down the middle and when the it is decided to give them a hero’s welcome at the annual Australia Day cricket match the CWA pull their help with the food and a call is put out on Facebook for donations for the Barbeque but soon there are people dreadfully unwell and a mass incident has been called which finds Antigone and Wozza searching for answers as too what poisoned half the town but it appears that this is going to cause some deaths and now to find out if it was a deliberate act or an accident and if it is deliberate, who did it?
To make matters worse Antigone’ mother and Nan go missing after a call out for medical assistance at a local farm and then they realise that senior sergeant Bill Wheeler is also missing and that throws a real spanner in the day when they find out that a local farmer is holding them hostage on his farm all the big guns are called in and that means Inspector Daniel Hunter is there as well and the tactical response team, but Antigone is furious that no one is listening to her and with the help of Captain of the SOG she takes matters into her own hands, will she save them all?
This is another fabulous fast paced story that was hard to put down, the author takes issues that are happening today and too many of them into account in her stories and does it so well, I do highly recommend this book and the series but they should be read from book one to get the full story and get to know Antigone and Wozza, a fabulous story.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster AU and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.
To make matters worse Antigone’ mother and Nan go missing after a call out for medical assistance at a local farm and then they realise that senior sergeant Bill Wheeler is also missing and that throws a real spanner in the day when they find out that a local farmer is holding them hostage on his farm all the big guns are called in and that means Inspector Daniel Hunter is there as well and the tactical response team, but Antigone is furious that no one is listening to her and with the help of Captain of the SOG she takes matters into her own hands, will she save them all?
This is another fabulous fast paced story that was hard to put down, the author takes issues that are happening today and too many of them into account in her stories and does it so well, I do highly recommend this book and the series but they should be read from book one to get the full story and get to know Antigone and Wozza, a fabulous story.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster AU and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.
October 8, 2026
The Reckoning is the third book in true crime - turned - crime fiction author Vikki Petraitis's series featuring Detective Antigone Pollard. The first book in the series is imminently (tomorrow night on ABC!) to be released as a television series under the title Dustfall.
This book consists of two distinct, yet linked, plot threads. Firstly, a mass-poisoning incident at an Australia Day Community Barbeque and Cricket Match in the town of Deception Bay and secondly an evolving siege-hostage situation at the nearby property of a so-called "Sovereign citizen".
As the book opens, Deception Bay locals Lachlan "Lachie" Murtog and James "Jimbo" Tuffin are released from prison, after their convictions for rape and drink spiking (see The Unbelieved) are overturned on appeal. This development causes a mixed reaction amongst the community of the regional town - many are quick to celebrate the men's return with a heroes' welcome, while others are angry and disappointed in the failure of the justice system to effectively prosecute crimes against women.
After the local CWA (Country Women's Association) boycotts in protest, locals are called upon to donate food and beverages to a community barbeque that has been leveraged as a "Welcome Home" for Lachie and Jimbo. Amongst the donations is a box of Agaricus xanthodermus ("yellow-staining") mushrooms. While this species of mushroom is toxic to humans, it isn't ordinarily deadly. However, three barbeque attendees are particularly badly-hit: an older man with pre-existing health issues, and Lachie and Jimbo. Has someone in Deception Bay taken justice into their own hands?
With the local GP preoccupied in dealing with the dozens of mushroom-affected locals at the barbeque, Antigone's mother, Dr. Jilly Pollard agrees to attend a housecall involving a sick child. She takes her mother, Annie, with her, but the two soon find themselves in the middle of a hostage drama, as "Sovereign citizen" Hamish Clemence takes them prisoner in his farmhouse.
Senior Detective Pollard and her colleague Senior Detective "Wozza" Harvey must manage the investigation into the poisoning incident, while Antigone also tries to remain abreast with developments at the siege, as senior police, a SOG team, a civilian negotiator and a very pompous psychiatrist descend from Melbourne.
As with the preceding books in the series, author Vikki Petraitis explores issues around misogyny, toxic masculinity, domestic violence, coercive control and violence against women as the plot evolves. The characters are believable, the action is well-paced between the two plotlines, and the tension is maintained throughout. I'm deducting half a star due to a couple of distracting plot issues () and the fact that police negotiator Elisha Wilkins' explanation of Sovereign citizens to Antigone sounded like the recitation of a Wikipedia page.
I enjoyed reading The Reckoning and look forward to future additions to the series. I'd recommend this book and the entire Antigone Pollard series to any reader who enjoys crime fiction based around pressing contemporary issues, feisty female crime-fighters and satisfying consequences catching up with nasty perpetrators.
My thanks to the author, Vikki Petraitis, publisher Simon & Schuster Australia, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this much-awaited title.
This book consists of two distinct, yet linked, plot threads. Firstly, a mass-poisoning incident at an Australia Day Community Barbeque and Cricket Match in the town of Deception Bay and secondly an evolving siege-hostage situation at the nearby property of a so-called "Sovereign citizen".
As the book opens, Deception Bay locals Lachlan "Lachie" Murtog and James "Jimbo" Tuffin are released from prison, after their convictions for rape and drink spiking (see The Unbelieved) are overturned on appeal. This development causes a mixed reaction amongst the community of the regional town - many are quick to celebrate the men's return with a heroes' welcome, while others are angry and disappointed in the failure of the justice system to effectively prosecute crimes against women.
After the local CWA (Country Women's Association) boycotts in protest, locals are called upon to donate food and beverages to a community barbeque that has been leveraged as a "Welcome Home" for Lachie and Jimbo. Amongst the donations is a box of Agaricus xanthodermus ("yellow-staining") mushrooms. While this species of mushroom is toxic to humans, it isn't ordinarily deadly. However, three barbeque attendees are particularly badly-hit: an older man with pre-existing health issues, and Lachie and Jimbo. Has someone in Deception Bay taken justice into their own hands?
With the local GP preoccupied in dealing with the dozens of mushroom-affected locals at the barbeque, Antigone's mother, Dr. Jilly Pollard agrees to attend a housecall involving a sick child. She takes her mother, Annie, with her, but the two soon find themselves in the middle of a hostage drama, as "Sovereign citizen" Hamish Clemence takes them prisoner in his farmhouse.
Senior Detective Pollard and her colleague Senior Detective "Wozza" Harvey must manage the investigation into the poisoning incident, while Antigone also tries to remain abreast with developments at the siege, as senior police, a SOG team, a civilian negotiator and a very pompous psychiatrist descend from Melbourne.
As with the preceding books in the series, author Vikki Petraitis explores issues around misogyny, toxic masculinity, domestic violence, coercive control and violence against women as the plot evolves. The characters are believable, the action is well-paced between the two plotlines, and the tension is maintained throughout. I'm deducting half a star due to a couple of distracting plot issues () and the fact that police negotiator Elisha Wilkins' explanation of Sovereign citizens to Antigone sounded like the recitation of a Wikipedia page.
I enjoyed reading The Reckoning and look forward to future additions to the series. I'd recommend this book and the entire Antigone Pollard series to any reader who enjoys crime fiction based around pressing contemporary issues, feisty female crime-fighters and satisfying consequences catching up with nasty perpetrators.
My thanks to the author, Vikki Petraitis, publisher Simon & Schuster Australia, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this much-awaited title.
September 14, 2026
The Reckoning is the third gritty crime novel set in the small town of Deception Bay featuring Detective Antigone Pollard from Australian author Vikki Petraitis.
Linked to events in The Unbelieved, the story opens with two young men whose convictions for rape and murder have been overturned on appeal returning to Deception Bay to a hero’s welcome at an Australia Day cricket match. The CWA refuses to cater the event in protest, leaving the organisers scrambling for an alternative, and when dozens of people at the barbecue suddenly become seriously ill, Antigone and her partner Wozza are called in to determine whether the mass poisoning was an accident or something more deliberate.
Then, in the middle of the ensuing chaos, Antigone realises her mother and grandmother have failed to return from a house call. She’s horrified to discover they’ve been taken hostage by an armed and angry sovereign citizen.
Petraitis sustains a strong sense of urgency as tensions rise. There’s a lot going on here, with themes of justice, revenge, institutional failure, misogyny and media manipulation alongside issues such as domestic violence, extremism and police harassment, and the pace of the story reflects that.
I particularly liked how strongly Petraitis leaned into the ambiguity surrounding the poisoning. Antigone and Wozza suspect it may have been intentional, given the circumstances and the victims who seem to be most affected, but it could just as easily have been the result of an innocent mistake. If it was deliberate, there’s no shortage of people with motive, including Antigone’s niece.
The investigation is important to Antigone, but she’s also struggling with guilt and frustration as she’s sidelined from decisions regarding the siege by Inspector Daniel Hunter, with whom she has a complicated personal history, and an unctuous consulting psychiatrist. Antigone is reluctant to trust either man with the safety of her mother and grandmother, and I was cheering her on as she eventually takes matters into her own capable hands.
I liked seeing more of the relationships around Antigone in The Reckoning, particularly her partnership with Wozza and her developing relationship with her brother and niece. There’s also a hint of potential romance with a SOG operator that I’m interested to see develop. And Waffles, Antigone’s failed police dog, remains her faithful companion and is, as always, adorable.
Petraitis’ crime fiction is recognisably Australian. The setting, characters, vernacular and even the food all feel familiar, while several elements draw from current news headlines to highlight some very real social issues.
With its gripping and thought-provoking plot, The Reckoning is an excellent addition to the Antigone Pollard series. I’d recommend starting from the beginning, particularly for the context around the events of The Unbelieved, but I think this could also work as a standalone for readers who enjoy contemporary Australian crime.
Linked to events in The Unbelieved, the story opens with two young men whose convictions for rape and murder have been overturned on appeal returning to Deception Bay to a hero’s welcome at an Australia Day cricket match. The CWA refuses to cater the event in protest, leaving the organisers scrambling for an alternative, and when dozens of people at the barbecue suddenly become seriously ill, Antigone and her partner Wozza are called in to determine whether the mass poisoning was an accident or something more deliberate.
Then, in the middle of the ensuing chaos, Antigone realises her mother and grandmother have failed to return from a house call. She’s horrified to discover they’ve been taken hostage by an armed and angry sovereign citizen.
Petraitis sustains a strong sense of urgency as tensions rise. There’s a lot going on here, with themes of justice, revenge, institutional failure, misogyny and media manipulation alongside issues such as domestic violence, extremism and police harassment, and the pace of the story reflects that.
I particularly liked how strongly Petraitis leaned into the ambiguity surrounding the poisoning. Antigone and Wozza suspect it may have been intentional, given the circumstances and the victims who seem to be most affected, but it could just as easily have been the result of an innocent mistake. If it was deliberate, there’s no shortage of people with motive, including Antigone’s niece.
The investigation is important to Antigone, but she’s also struggling with guilt and frustration as she’s sidelined from decisions regarding the siege by Inspector Daniel Hunter, with whom she has a complicated personal history, and an unctuous consulting psychiatrist. Antigone is reluctant to trust either man with the safety of her mother and grandmother, and I was cheering her on as she eventually takes matters into her own capable hands.
I liked seeing more of the relationships around Antigone in The Reckoning, particularly her partnership with Wozza and her developing relationship with her brother and niece. There’s also a hint of potential romance with a SOG operator that I’m interested to see develop. And Waffles, Antigone’s failed police dog, remains her faithful companion and is, as always, adorable.
Petraitis’ crime fiction is recognisably Australian. The setting, characters, vernacular and even the food all feel familiar, while several elements draw from current news headlines to highlight some very real social issues.
With its gripping and thought-provoking plot, The Reckoning is an excellent addition to the Antigone Pollard series. I’d recommend starting from the beginning, particularly for the context around the events of The Unbelieved, but I think this could also work as a standalone for readers who enjoy contemporary Australian crime.
September 18, 2026
The Reckoning is book three in Vikki Petraitis's series, following Detective Antigone Pollard. I'd fallen behind on the series so missed some of the juicy stuff unfolding in book two but leapt back in anyway and was soon reminded how much I liked Antigone. Here two men convicted of drink-spiking, rape and murder get released on appeal and return to Deception Bay to a hero's welcome at an Australia Day cricket match... which ends in a mass poisoning. Antigone and partner Wozza are on the case and investigating if it was an accident or deliberate. And, of course, if deliberate... why? In the midst of all of that, Antigone's mother and grandmother go missing.
What I loved most is the cast. Antigone obviously, but also her mum, grandmother, her newly-discovered brother and niece, and Wozza (still a great name). Petraitis doesn't shy away from packing a lot in with domestic violence, misogyny, extremism all rearing their ugly heads along with a dodgy journalist and radio shock jock. There's a lot happening but it comes together, exploring that uncomfortable territory of whether the ends justify the means.
I should mention there's also a touch of romance simmering for Antigone too along with some new opportunities, so I'm looking forward to book four.
You can read the full reviews here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
What I loved most is the cast. Antigone obviously, but also her mum, grandmother, her newly-discovered brother and niece, and Wozza (still a great name). Petraitis doesn't shy away from packing a lot in with domestic violence, misogyny, extremism all rearing their ugly heads along with a dodgy journalist and radio shock jock. There's a lot happening but it comes together, exploring that uncomfortable territory of whether the ends justify the means.
I should mention there's also a touch of romance simmering for Antigone too along with some new opportunities, so I'm looking forward to book four.
You can read the full reviews here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
August 30, 2026
⭐️5 Stars⭐️
The Reckoning by Vikki Petraitis is an atmospheric and very Aussie themed crime thriller that skilfully delivered, it’s addictive!
I love badass detective Antigone’s character and her sidekick Waffles 🐾 I also enjoyed the the character that was Antigone’s nan.
When two of the towns men are released free from jail on an appeal after being convicted on rape charges it causes ripples in the small town of Deception Bay.
During the Australia Day celebration the men are given a hero’s welcome back and shortly after dozens of people fall violently ill during the event. Amongst the chaos Antigone’s mother and Nan go missing.
There’s plenty of action throughout and themes of domestic violence, sexual violence, sovereign citizen ideology, police harassment and tendentious media coverage.
The story looks at the justice system where it fails victims and the outcomes, I found that really intriguing. There are despicable characters that will disgust you and I enjoyed the plot for their revenge.
Set in Victoria, the plot was highly intriguing and I loved how it all wrapped up at the end. Love this series and look forward to more.
This would make a fantastic movie! An Aussie crime read that’s definitely worth a trip to the bookshop! 📚
Publication Day 01 September 2026
Publisher Simon & Schuster Australia
Thank you so much Simon & Schuster Australia for a copy of the book to read.
The Reckoning by Vikki Petraitis is an atmospheric and very Aussie themed crime thriller that skilfully delivered, it’s addictive!
I love badass detective Antigone’s character and her sidekick Waffles 🐾 I also enjoyed the the character that was Antigone’s nan.
When two of the towns men are released free from jail on an appeal after being convicted on rape charges it causes ripples in the small town of Deception Bay.
During the Australia Day celebration the men are given a hero’s welcome back and shortly after dozens of people fall violently ill during the event. Amongst the chaos Antigone’s mother and Nan go missing.
There’s plenty of action throughout and themes of domestic violence, sexual violence, sovereign citizen ideology, police harassment and tendentious media coverage.
The story looks at the justice system where it fails victims and the outcomes, I found that really intriguing. There are despicable characters that will disgust you and I enjoyed the plot for their revenge.
Set in Victoria, the plot was highly intriguing and I loved how it all wrapped up at the end. Love this series and look forward to more.
This would make a fantastic movie! An Aussie crime read that’s definitely worth a trip to the bookshop! 📚
Publication Day 01 September 2026
Publisher Simon & Schuster Australia
Thank you so much Simon & Schuster Australia for a copy of the book to read.
September 6, 2026
𝙰𝚞𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚎 𝚌𝚛𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 ’𝚗𝚘𝚒𝚛’ 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚏𝚊𝚟 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚍𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜!
𝚅𝚒𝚔𝚔𝚒 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚔 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚡𝚎𝚌𝚞𝚝𝚎𝚜 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎 𝚞𝚙 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎.
𝙸 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚠𝚘 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝙰𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚐𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚆𝚘𝚣𝚣𝚊 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚍𝚞𝚘.
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚞𝚗𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚌𝚛𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢’𝚜 𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚜𝚘𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚝𝚢; 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚎𝚡𝚎𝚌𝚞𝚝𝚎𝚍.
𝙳𝚎𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚑 𝚊 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍!
𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄: 𝐈 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 ’𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞’ & 𝐦𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭.
𝚅𝚒𝚔𝚔𝚒 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚔 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚡𝚎𝚌𝚞𝚝𝚎𝚜 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎 𝚞𝚙 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎.
𝙸 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚠𝚘 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝙰𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚐𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚆𝚘𝚣𝚣𝚊 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚍𝚞𝚘.
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚞𝚗𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚌𝚛𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢’𝚜 𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚜𝚘𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚝𝚢; 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚎𝚡𝚎𝚌𝚞𝚝𝚎𝚍.
𝙳𝚎𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚑 𝚊 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍!
𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄: 𝐈 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 ’𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞’ & 𝐦𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭.
August 16, 2026
I’m an outlier on this one. I know the Deception Bay series has plenty of fans, but unfortunately The Reckoning didn’t quite work for me.
And the frustrating thing? The premise is GREAT. The dedication? Scorching. I went in with very high hopes.
First, my bad: I didn’t realise this was the third book in a series. That’s on me, and it’s one of the reasons I rounded my 2.5 stars up to 3. You absolutely can read this as a standalone, but as the action picks up directly after book two, I think you’ll get much more from it if you already know Antigone Pollard and the events that brought her here.
The central mystery really grabbed me. Two convicted rapists have been released on a technicality and are being given a hero’s welcome at an Australia Day cricket match when suddenly people start becoming violently ill. Is this a terrible accident - or has someone deliberately targeted the men the justice system failed to hold accountable?
There’s so much to unpack there: thwarted justice, institutional failure, gendered violence, community division and vigilantism. I was intrigued.
Unfortunately, there were three big stumbling blocks for me.
The first was Antigone herself. She’s a senior detective with years of experience investigating serious crime, but I didn’t always feel that experience on the page. At times she came across as surprisingly inexperienced, meek or unprofessional, which made it difficult for me to fully invest in her as the lead investigator.
Secondly, many of the supporting characters felt more like caricatures than fully realised people - deliberately antagonistic or unprofessional in ways that sometimes pulled me out of the story.
Finally, I’m an immersive reader and I want a novel to make me feel its themes rather than explain them to me. I am firmly and unequivocally of the belief that we need to believe sexual assault victims and that Australia has an appalling domestic violence problem. But even sharing those convictions, I sometimes found the messaging here too overt. I wanted more showing and less telling.
The pivot into a siege involving a sovereign citizen also didn’t quite land for me. I understand how it connected to the broader themes of violence and the realities of policing multiple incidents, but within this particular story it felt distracting rather than additive.
Ultimately, my biggest problem was that by the end I simply wasn’t emotionally invested in what happened to the characters.
That said, plenty of readers have loved this series, and I can absolutely see The Reckoning working better for established Deception Bay fans. This was simply one of those books where the execution didn’t match the promise of the premise for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for the eARC. The Reckoning is out 1 September 2026.
And the frustrating thing? The premise is GREAT. The dedication? Scorching. I went in with very high hopes.
First, my bad: I didn’t realise this was the third book in a series. That’s on me, and it’s one of the reasons I rounded my 2.5 stars up to 3. You absolutely can read this as a standalone, but as the action picks up directly after book two, I think you’ll get much more from it if you already know Antigone Pollard and the events that brought her here.
The central mystery really grabbed me. Two convicted rapists have been released on a technicality and are being given a hero’s welcome at an Australia Day cricket match when suddenly people start becoming violently ill. Is this a terrible accident - or has someone deliberately targeted the men the justice system failed to hold accountable?
There’s so much to unpack there: thwarted justice, institutional failure, gendered violence, community division and vigilantism. I was intrigued.
Unfortunately, there were three big stumbling blocks for me.
The first was Antigone herself. She’s a senior detective with years of experience investigating serious crime, but I didn’t always feel that experience on the page. At times she came across as surprisingly inexperienced, meek or unprofessional, which made it difficult for me to fully invest in her as the lead investigator.
Secondly, many of the supporting characters felt more like caricatures than fully realised people - deliberately antagonistic or unprofessional in ways that sometimes pulled me out of the story.
Finally, I’m an immersive reader and I want a novel to make me feel its themes rather than explain them to me. I am firmly and unequivocally of the belief that we need to believe sexual assault victims and that Australia has an appalling domestic violence problem. But even sharing those convictions, I sometimes found the messaging here too overt. I wanted more showing and less telling.
The pivot into a siege involving a sovereign citizen also didn’t quite land for me. I understand how it connected to the broader themes of violence and the realities of policing multiple incidents, but within this particular story it felt distracting rather than additive.
Ultimately, my biggest problem was that by the end I simply wasn’t emotionally invested in what happened to the characters.
That said, plenty of readers have loved this series, and I can absolutely see The Reckoning working better for established Deception Bay fans. This was simply one of those books where the execution didn’t match the promise of the premise for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for the eARC. The Reckoning is out 1 September 2026.
August 26, 2026
My crime: this being my first Vikki Petraitis AND my introduction to the Deception Bay series being book three. Will I be going back to the start? Absobloodylutely I will be.
The Reckoning is contemporary Australian crime through & through, and I absolutely bloody loved it. There is SO much woven into this book that feels distinctly Australian - from gun reform following the Port Arthur massacre under the Howard government, to the Australia Day debate, Mr ‘Get On The Beers’ Dan Andrews’ time as Victorian Premier, the Lindt Cafe siege and, because no contemporary Australian crime novel would be complete without her, a drizzle of ol’ Erin Patto for good measure.
But what impressed me most was how far beyond those references Petraitis goes. At its core, this digs into sexual violence, the justice system, victim credibility, revenge, media bias and what happens when public opinion decides guilt or innocence for itself. Even within the police response, there are competing calls being made under enormous pressure, and I LOVED how much of the tension came from people genuinely believing they were making the right decision - even when those decisions were completely at odds.
And for a police procedural dealing with some incredibly heavy subject matter, this was also just ridiculously readable. There is A LOT happening, yet it never felt overloaded. The poisoning, the investigation, the siege and the broader questions around justice all kept tightening around each other until I was completely hooked.
The unsung heroes for me, though? Nana Annie Pollard & Waffles. Annie is a BOSS of an old bittie, and her sharp thinking & wit reminded me so much of my late Nanna. Just, mine was handy with scissors in a salon, not with a handgun.
And finally, one note I made specifically for one character while reading: Wayne from Chelsea, get a damn life and stop calling into talkback radio with your bullshit views.
This book comes out next week, and if my review was TLDR, just read this: BUY THIS BOOK. Even if, like me, you haven’t yet done yourself a solid by reading its predecessors in the Deception Bay series. If you love a good police procedural crime thriller laced with contemporary Australianisms, trust me - you’re going to LOVE it.
An undeniable 5⭐️ read!
The Reckoning is contemporary Australian crime through & through, and I absolutely bloody loved it. There is SO much woven into this book that feels distinctly Australian - from gun reform following the Port Arthur massacre under the Howard government, to the Australia Day debate, Mr ‘Get On The Beers’ Dan Andrews’ time as Victorian Premier, the Lindt Cafe siege and, because no contemporary Australian crime novel would be complete without her, a drizzle of ol’ Erin Patto for good measure.
But what impressed me most was how far beyond those references Petraitis goes. At its core, this digs into sexual violence, the justice system, victim credibility, revenge, media bias and what happens when public opinion decides guilt or innocence for itself. Even within the police response, there are competing calls being made under enormous pressure, and I LOVED how much of the tension came from people genuinely believing they were making the right decision - even when those decisions were completely at odds.
And for a police procedural dealing with some incredibly heavy subject matter, this was also just ridiculously readable. There is A LOT happening, yet it never felt overloaded. The poisoning, the investigation, the siege and the broader questions around justice all kept tightening around each other until I was completely hooked.
The unsung heroes for me, though? Nana Annie Pollard & Waffles. Annie is a BOSS of an old bittie, and her sharp thinking & wit reminded me so much of my late Nanna. Just, mine was handy with scissors in a salon, not with a handgun.
And finally, one note I made specifically for one character while reading: Wayne from Chelsea, get a damn life and stop calling into talkback radio with your bullshit views.
This book comes out next week, and if my review was TLDR, just read this: BUY THIS BOOK. Even if, like me, you haven’t yet done yourself a solid by reading its predecessors in the Deception Bay series. If you love a good police procedural crime thriller laced with contemporary Australianisms, trust me - you’re going to LOVE it.
An undeniable 5⭐️ read!
November 2, 2026
I enjoyed the first two books in this series... watching our MC - Antigone Pollard journey as she navigates the trials and tribulations on the job, in the workplace as she's working her way up to a senior detective. She was full of moxie, whipper smart and fearless in the face of challenging situations. This book, I felt her character was a completely different person, she was meek withdrawn, taking BS from other people, police enforcement it was very strange and felt very disconnected to the Antigone I read about in the previous two books.
I think as a Victorian, there were several story lines plucked from "Victoria" based true crime in very recent years which I think to someone living interstate would enjoy but as a Victorian... I did feel a little flat to me, I get taking inspiration from the stories and turning it into something different would make a bit more sense and give a fresh take on the overall picture. I liked the flow of the story and enjoyed the pacing, I think this fell a bit flat could be because I loved the first two books more.
Thanks so much to the wonderful team and Simon & Schuster Australia for my ARC of this book. I cant wait to see what Vikki brings out next, I will be there waiting to get my hands on her next release
I think as a Victorian, there were several story lines plucked from "Victoria" based true crime in very recent years which I think to someone living interstate would enjoy but as a Victorian... I did feel a little flat to me, I get taking inspiration from the stories and turning it into something different would make a bit more sense and give a fresh take on the overall picture. I liked the flow of the story and enjoyed the pacing, I think this fell a bit flat could be because I loved the first two books more.
Thanks so much to the wonderful team and Simon & Schuster Australia for my ARC of this book. I cant wait to see what Vikki brings out next, I will be there waiting to get my hands on her next release
October 14, 2026
Spoilers ahead ‼️‼️‼️
I didn’t hate it but I was annoyed about the fact that two main plot lines were based on the popular Victorian crime news stories from the past 18 months (death cap mushroom murders and Dezi Freeman). At first with the mushroom poisoning I thought “okay, that’s silly but maybe this will still be alright” but then when the sovereign citizen part came I was like “seriously?!”. With how good the first two books were, would it be too hard to find an original plot line to conclude the series with? Instead it felt somewhat lazy. Maybe I’m just tired of hearing about the two stories being from Victoria myself, and it would be more engaging to an interstate or international reader. It was still interesting, hence the rating, but definitely not my favourite.
I didn’t hate it but I was annoyed about the fact that two main plot lines were based on the popular Victorian crime news stories from the past 18 months (death cap mushroom murders and Dezi Freeman). At first with the mushroom poisoning I thought “okay, that’s silly but maybe this will still be alright” but then when the sovereign citizen part came I was like “seriously?!”. With how good the first two books were, would it be too hard to find an original plot line to conclude the series with? Instead it felt somewhat lazy. Maybe I’m just tired of hearing about the two stories being from Victoria myself, and it would be more engaging to an interstate or international reader. It was still interesting, hence the rating, but definitely not my favourite.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2026
Was a privilege to dive into Deception Bay with The Reckoning (although I wish I knew of the other books sooner), the characters are all so much fun and a colourful reflection of the powerful women who I have in my life.
Petraitis’ mission with this series and her life’s work is admirable, in fighting against the victimisation of women, which has permeated through culture for generations.
This release is coming at the right time and for that, everyone should give this series a read.
Petraitis’ mission with this series and her life’s work is admirable, in fighting against the victimisation of women, which has permeated through culture for generations.
This release is coming at the right time and for that, everyone should give this series a read.
September 1, 2026
The drama in Deception Bay continues in the third instalment of Vikki Petraitis’ Detective Antigone Pollard series, and once again Antigone finds herself thrown into a dangerous investigation where nothing is quite as it seems.
This was a difficult review for me to write because it’s no secret that I absolutely love Vikki Petraitis’ work. I own every book she has written or co-authored and will continue to pick up anything she writes. ❤️ So, going into The Reckoning, I had very high hopes.
And while I liked this one, unfortunately, I didn’t love it quite as much as the first two books in the series.
One thing I will always love is Detective Antigone Pollard. She is fierce, independent, determined and takes absolutely no nonsense from anyone. In The Reckoning, though, I felt her character was pushed a little further into Lara Croft territory than the believable kick-arse woman I’d come to love in the earlier books.
The storyline was probably where I struggled most. Vikki has woven elements inspired by some of Australia’s true crime stories into the narrative, and I really appreciated the difficult topics and bigger issues being explored. She certainly isn’t afraid to tackle confronting subject matter, and that’s something I admire about her writing.
However, as someone who reads a lot, I’m always searching for something that feels fresh and unexpected. For me, the blending of these real-world stories meant the plot didn’t quite have the originality I personally look for in fiction, and I found my attention wandering at times.
I think my expectations may simply have been set very high after the first two books, which I absolutely adored. Sometimes a book can be well written, tackle important topics and still just not hit the same way for you and I think that’s where I landed with this one.
A 3⭐️ read for me, but absolutely not enough to stop me from eagerly picking up whatever Vikki writes next! ❤️📚
This was a difficult review for me to write because it’s no secret that I absolutely love Vikki Petraitis’ work. I own every book she has written or co-authored and will continue to pick up anything she writes. ❤️ So, going into The Reckoning, I had very high hopes.
And while I liked this one, unfortunately, I didn’t love it quite as much as the first two books in the series.
One thing I will always love is Detective Antigone Pollard. She is fierce, independent, determined and takes absolutely no nonsense from anyone. In The Reckoning, though, I felt her character was pushed a little further into Lara Croft territory than the believable kick-arse woman I’d come to love in the earlier books.
The storyline was probably where I struggled most. Vikki has woven elements inspired by some of Australia’s true crime stories into the narrative, and I really appreciated the difficult topics and bigger issues being explored. She certainly isn’t afraid to tackle confronting subject matter, and that’s something I admire about her writing.
However, as someone who reads a lot, I’m always searching for something that feels fresh and unexpected. For me, the blending of these real-world stories meant the plot didn’t quite have the originality I personally look for in fiction, and I found my attention wandering at times.
I think my expectations may simply have been set very high after the first two books, which I absolutely adored. Sometimes a book can be well written, tackle important topics and still just not hit the same way for you and I think that’s where I landed with this one.
A 3⭐️ read for me, but absolutely not enough to stop me from eagerly picking up whatever Vikki writes next! ❤️📚
October 22, 2026
The Reckoning is another excellent installment in the Tig Pollard series. I love how Vikki Petraitis balances an engaging crime investigation with believable characters, wonderful relationships, and sharp observations about misogyny and the way women are so often dismissed or underestimated. Tig and Wozza’s partnership remains a highlight, and Waffles is, as always, the best good boy ever!
What I love most about this series is how invested I’ve become in Tig and the people around her. The characters feel real, their relationships develop naturally, and the story keeps me coming back for more. And can we talk about Tig and Cal? 👀 I’m definitely picking up on some chemistry, and I’ll be watching these two very closely!
SPANISH:
The Reckoning es otra gran entrega de la saga de Tig Pollard. Me encanta cómo Vikki Petraitis construye personajes y relaciones que se sienten reales. La dupla de Tig y Wozza es de mis cosas favoritas: son compañeros que se cubren las espaldas, laburan codo a codo y, sin darse cuenta, se convierten en amigos. Y Waffles… ¡por favor! El mejor buen chico del mundo, siempre sumando puntos. También me encantó cómo aborda la misoginia y esa costumbre de algunos tipos de subestimar a las mujeres. ¡Me daban ganas de meterme en el libro y gritarles un par de cosas!
Lo mejor de esta saga es que cada vez me engancho más con Tig y con la gente que la rodea. Los vínculos se sienten naturales, los personajes tienen sus luces y sombras, y siempre termino con ganas de seguir leyendo. Y ahora, perdón, pero ¿podemos hablar de Tig y Cal? 👀 Porque yo estoy viendo cosas, esa tensión no me la inventé y necesito saber qué va a pasar con estos dos...
What I love most about this series is how invested I’ve become in Tig and the people around her. The characters feel real, their relationships develop naturally, and the story keeps me coming back for more. And can we talk about Tig and Cal? 👀 I’m definitely picking up on some chemistry, and I’ll be watching these two very closely!
SPANISH:
The Reckoning es otra gran entrega de la saga de Tig Pollard. Me encanta cómo Vikki Petraitis construye personajes y relaciones que se sienten reales. La dupla de Tig y Wozza es de mis cosas favoritas: son compañeros que se cubren las espaldas, laburan codo a codo y, sin darse cuenta, se convierten en amigos. Y Waffles… ¡por favor! El mejor buen chico del mundo, siempre sumando puntos. También me encantó cómo aborda la misoginia y esa costumbre de algunos tipos de subestimar a las mujeres. ¡Me daban ganas de meterme en el libro y gritarles un par de cosas!
Lo mejor de esta saga es que cada vez me engancho más con Tig y con la gente que la rodea. Los vínculos se sienten naturales, los personajes tienen sus luces y sombras, y siempre termino con ganas de seguir leyendo. Y ahora, perdón, pero ¿podemos hablar de Tig y Cal? 👀 Porque yo estoy viendo cosas, esa tensión no me la inventé y necesito saber qué va a pasar con estos dos...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Reckoning is a superb Aussie crime thriller set in a small town welcoming back, with varying degrees of enthusiasm, a couple of local sportsmen who have been imprisoned and then acquitted of rape.
There’s a separate subplot dealing with a Sovereign Citizen who moves from the margins of society towards a complete breakdown. The author uses both plots to examine moral ambiguity and human reactions to institutional failure, and does so beautifully.
At times, the prose she uses to highlight spoken misogyny seems almost cartoonish and unreal. But then you recall having heard people actually speak like that — including in the media — and that realisation is jarring.
Beyond all that, the food-based revenge plot is very clever and wends its way through the novel beautifully, interleaving with the Sovereign Citizen story almost seamlessly.
A cracking read
There’s a separate subplot dealing with a Sovereign Citizen who moves from the margins of society towards a complete breakdown. The author uses both plots to examine moral ambiguity and human reactions to institutional failure, and does so beautifully.
At times, the prose she uses to highlight spoken misogyny seems almost cartoonish and unreal. But then you recall having heard people actually speak like that — including in the media — and that realisation is jarring.
Beyond all that, the food-based revenge plot is very clever and wends its way through the novel beautifully, interleaving with the Sovereign Citizen story almost seamlessly.
A cracking read
September 16, 2026
My favourite book in the series so far! This one kicks off where book #2 (The Stolen) finishes, meaning the action starts right away.
I found the mass casualty storyline really interesting and enjoyed the investigation surrounding it and of course Antigone’s Mum going missing and the events that followed definitely kept the pages turning.
Antigone’s Grandmother was definitely the MVP in this one and I loved the introduction of new character Cal Knight. I will admit that every time I read Cal’s name I did keep picturing a different Kel Knight IYKYK 😂
I found the mass casualty storyline really interesting and enjoyed the investigation surrounding it and of course Antigone’s Mum going missing and the events that followed definitely kept the pages turning.
Antigone’s Grandmother was definitely the MVP in this one and I loved the introduction of new character Cal Knight. I will admit that every time I read Cal’s name I did keep picturing a different Kel Knight IYKYK 😂
September 21, 2026
I really enjoy the Antigone Pollard / Deception Bay series and this another very readable instalment, though it can easily be read as a standalone.
Twin storylines running in parallel. We have a mass poisoning event at an Australia Day function, where two convicted rapists, now free after winning their appeal, return home. Are the poisonings a terrible accident, or is there more at play?
And then Antigone finds her mother and Nan missing and she must race to find them.
Twin storylines running in parallel. We have a mass poisoning event at an Australia Day function, where two convicted rapists, now free after winning their appeal, return home. Are the poisonings a terrible accident, or is there more at play?
And then Antigone finds her mother and Nan missing and she must race to find them.
September 20, 2026
Did not want to put this down!! Australia Day, a mass mushroom poisoning, a sovereign citizen and so much tea and cake!!!! It was cozier than I was expecting, I adored Wozza and Waffles. This was my first Deception Bay and I had no problems jumping into the third in the series. Can’t wait to get to know Antigone better!!!! Definitely not my last Vikki Petraitis!!!!
August 18, 2026
Loved this one by the ever-clever Vikki Petraitis. It was glorious being back in the world of Deception Bay, and as with the previous two novels in the series I raced through this gripping story. I love the contrast between the powerful feminist detective and the great feminine role models of her mother and grandmother, and the right-wing media and misogynist members of the wider community.
Will definitely be recommending this to the many mystery-loving women in my life!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the eARC.
Will definitely be recommending this to the many mystery-loving women in my life!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the eARC.
October 19, 2026
Reasonable plot line exploring current issues like a mushroom poisoning, and the difficulty of conviction in sexual assault cases and how that can divide communities. But nothing too unexpected and once again I am disappointed with Australian rural noir dialogue and characterisation that is a bit predictable and clunky at points.
September 18, 2026
This wasn’t my favourite VP book. Bordered on cosy crime.
Maybe I’m just bored of small town detective novels. And why did we need to know everything Wozza puts in his mouth.
Also.. Why do Australian authors find it necessary nowadays to always bring up the unvaccinated and Politics. The need to mention President Trumps attempted assassination was unnecessary … wonder if these authors would have stood up and raised their hand to say they’re ok after an attempted assassination where you had your ear almost shot off.
An unnecessary line in the book.. “I never imagined we would get our own Bambi at the Deception Bay police station, but that is exactly what happened. Like the American President who raised his fist in triumph after his ear was braised by a bullet”
A message for all authors .. leave your Politics out of your stories, we are here to buy, support and read your books to get away from everyday life.
Maybe I’m just bored of small town detective novels. And why did we need to know everything Wozza puts in his mouth.
Also.. Why do Australian authors find it necessary nowadays to always bring up the unvaccinated and Politics. The need to mention President Trumps attempted assassination was unnecessary … wonder if these authors would have stood up and raised their hand to say they’re ok after an attempted assassination where you had your ear almost shot off.
An unnecessary line in the book.. “I never imagined we would get our own Bambi at the Deception Bay police station, but that is exactly what happened. Like the American President who raised his fist in triumph after his ear was braised by a bullet”
A message for all authors .. leave your Politics out of your stories, we are here to buy, support and read your books to get away from everyday life.
September 4, 2026
Vicki if you read this, I enjoy your books but I’m sick of hearing about Wazza’s love of cakes. We get it. The cop likes cakes and pastries.
September 13, 2026
The Reckoning is the third book in Vikki Petriatis’ rural Australian procedural series which began with The Unbelieved. The series is set in a coastal community called Deception Bay, not too far from Melbourne, and centres around policewoman called Antigone Pollard. In The Unbelieved, Antogone retreated to Deception Bay and found herself confronted with drink spiking and sexually abused women. In the follow up, The Stolen, the main plot involved a missing baby. There was still a focus on misogyny and in particular consideration of societal and media victim-blaming tropes. So it is no surprise that The Reckoning carries on with these themes.
In The Reckoning’s cold open, two of the criminals from The Unbelieved are being released from prison and are soon once again bragging about their drink-spiking exploits. The action then moves to Australia Day and an event where some in town are welcoming the two back as returning heroes (many are boycotting the event for that reason). The event descends into chaos when there is a mass-poisoning (in a way that will be familiar now to many Australians). Antigone and her partner Wazza start to investigate but before too long they are side-tracked by a more urgent case – Antigone’s mother and grandmother being held hostage.
As with the other two books in this series, there is plenty more going on both crime-wise and in Antigone Pollard’s life. This includes a domestic violence victim whose husband has died of a heart attack, Antigone’s police officer ex-partner coming in to manage the siege and her adjustment to dealing with the family revelations of the previous book. But much of it is of a piece – Petraitis still focusses very much on issues of domestic violence and coercive control and misogyny in the community and in the media. Once again she manages to work some disturbing domestic violence and sexual abuse statistics into the narrative Petraitis plays up the misogyny of the media with excerpts from a right-wing radio show which spends its time extolling the virtues of some very questionable characters, running down and belittling Antigone in particular and shutting down reasonable debate
The other major thread in The Reckoning is the rise of sovereign citizens in Australia. Petraitis is not the first Australian crime author to explore this growing phenomenon and its link to Australia’s Covid response. Garry Disher has had sovereign citizens popping up in his Hirschhausen series and Catherine Jinks built a thriller around the idea in her most recent novel Panic.
Once again, the whole enterprise is ably anchored around Antigone Pollard. Still carrying a bit of baggage from her time in Melbourne but more firmly in place now in Deception Bay. She is a straight shooter who seems to have no fear, particularly when those she cares about are in danger. And she is once again ably supported by her ex-police dog companion Waffles.
The Reckoning feels like a conclusion to at least this part of the series. A number of ongoing plot strands are at least settled by the conclusion, including some aspects Anitgone’s personal life. While she clearly enjoys writing Antigone, even Petraitis might have to admit that there is only so much that can happen in a small town like Deception Bay. There is a hint as to how this series might evolve if Petraitis decides to stick with Antigone Pollard, but either way it is exciting to consider where Petraitis might go next.
In The Reckoning’s cold open, two of the criminals from The Unbelieved are being released from prison and are soon once again bragging about their drink-spiking exploits. The action then moves to Australia Day and an event where some in town are welcoming the two back as returning heroes (many are boycotting the event for that reason). The event descends into chaos when there is a mass-poisoning (in a way that will be familiar now to many Australians). Antigone and her partner Wazza start to investigate but before too long they are side-tracked by a more urgent case – Antigone’s mother and grandmother being held hostage.
As with the other two books in this series, there is plenty more going on both crime-wise and in Antigone Pollard’s life. This includes a domestic violence victim whose husband has died of a heart attack, Antigone’s police officer ex-partner coming in to manage the siege and her adjustment to dealing with the family revelations of the previous book. But much of it is of a piece – Petraitis still focusses very much on issues of domestic violence and coercive control and misogyny in the community and in the media. Once again she manages to work some disturbing domestic violence and sexual abuse statistics into the narrative Petraitis plays up the misogyny of the media with excerpts from a right-wing radio show which spends its time extolling the virtues of some very questionable characters, running down and belittling Antigone in particular and shutting down reasonable debate
The other major thread in The Reckoning is the rise of sovereign citizens in Australia. Petraitis is not the first Australian crime author to explore this growing phenomenon and its link to Australia’s Covid response. Garry Disher has had sovereign citizens popping up in his Hirschhausen series and Catherine Jinks built a thriller around the idea in her most recent novel Panic.
Once again, the whole enterprise is ably anchored around Antigone Pollard. Still carrying a bit of baggage from her time in Melbourne but more firmly in place now in Deception Bay. She is a straight shooter who seems to have no fear, particularly when those she cares about are in danger. And she is once again ably supported by her ex-police dog companion Waffles.
The Reckoning feels like a conclusion to at least this part of the series. A number of ongoing plot strands are at least settled by the conclusion, including some aspects Anitgone’s personal life. While she clearly enjoys writing Antigone, even Petraitis might have to admit that there is only so much that can happen in a small town like Deception Bay. There is a hint as to how this series might evolve if Petraitis decides to stick with Antigone Pollard, but either way it is exciting to consider where Petraitis might go next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is developing into a really solid series, and one of my Aussie crime favourites. I can't wait to see it on the small screen in the not-too-distant future. The Reckoning is book #3 in the series, and while there is enough detail to read it as a standalone (I think), there are several threads in the story that have continued from the previous two books so I personally would recommend starting at #1.
The action picks up straight after the end of book 2. Detective Antigone Pollard is getting used to having her Mum and Nan both living with her back at the farmhouse, and all 3 women are enjoying getting to know the newest family members. While her personal life is going well, the same can't be said for her professional life. Senior Sergeant Bill Wheeler is back in charge at the Deception Bay police station, two local rapists have been let out of prison on a technicality, and the shock jock on radio station 3PPP still has it in for Antigone, or Anti-gone, as he infuriatingly refers to her.
There's a scramble to get the catering for the footy/cricket club's annual Australia Day BBQ sorted out, due to the late decision by the CWA to withdraw their support. The reason? The event is being promoted as a hero's welcome for the two young men released from prison, and that has divided the community. Amidst the chaos something has gone wrong, and lots of people are falling ill, very quickly - it's a Mass Casualty Incident. En route to the cricket ground, Antigone calls home to let them know what's happening, and being a hippocratically-aligned doctor, her Mum offers to come and help.
It's utter mayhem, with many victims needing hospitalisation. There are not enough first responders to deal with this kind of thing, so at the end of a very long day, Antigone takes up her partner's offer to spend the night on his family's couch rather than drive all the way back to the farm. And that's why it's not until the following day that Antigone realises her Mum and Nan are both missing...
It's not an exaggeration to say I was on the edge of my seat with this one. Once again, Petraitis draws on topical elements of the Australian judicial landscape to weave together an incredibly tense plot that kept me guessing till the very end.
Highly recommended, and I'm already looking forward to #4!
With thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for an advance digital copy to read and review.
The action picks up straight after the end of book 2. Detective Antigone Pollard is getting used to having her Mum and Nan both living with her back at the farmhouse, and all 3 women are enjoying getting to know the newest family members. While her personal life is going well, the same can't be said for her professional life. Senior Sergeant Bill Wheeler is back in charge at the Deception Bay police station, two local rapists have been let out of prison on a technicality, and the shock jock on radio station 3PPP still has it in for Antigone, or Anti-gone, as he infuriatingly refers to her.
There's a scramble to get the catering for the footy/cricket club's annual Australia Day BBQ sorted out, due to the late decision by the CWA to withdraw their support. The reason? The event is being promoted as a hero's welcome for the two young men released from prison, and that has divided the community. Amidst the chaos something has gone wrong, and lots of people are falling ill, very quickly - it's a Mass Casualty Incident. En route to the cricket ground, Antigone calls home to let them know what's happening, and being a hippocratically-aligned doctor, her Mum offers to come and help.
It's utter mayhem, with many victims needing hospitalisation. There are not enough first responders to deal with this kind of thing, so at the end of a very long day, Antigone takes up her partner's offer to spend the night on his family's couch rather than drive all the way back to the farm. And that's why it's not until the following day that Antigone realises her Mum and Nan are both missing...
It's not an exaggeration to say I was on the edge of my seat with this one. Once again, Petraitis draws on topical elements of the Australian judicial landscape to weave together an incredibly tense plot that kept me guessing till the very end.
Highly recommended, and I'm already looking forward to #4!
With thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for an advance digital copy to read and review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The reckoning
🍄🟫🔥 A gripping Australian crime story 🍄🟫🔥
I really liked the themes of justice, revenge and what happens when the system fails people.
👩💻 Plot in a nutshell: Two men who were convicted of rape are released from prison after their convictions are overturned. But when they return to their small town, things take a dark turn.
At an Australia Day cricket match, dozens of people suddenly become seriously ill, including the two men. Detective Antigone Pollard is called in to investigate, but when her own mother goes missing during the chaos, the case becomes much more.
💬 My thoughts: I mostly liked this one. It definitely kept me reading and I was invested in finding out what had actually happened.
I thought the main idea was really interesting. The book asks some pretty uncomfortable questions about justice and revenge, particularly when people feel like the justice system has failed them.
I also liked the Australian backdrop. I’m always a sucker for an Australian crime book and I enjoyed the small-town setting and the very recognisably Australian backdrop.
Antigone was a great character. I liked her as a detective and thought she was an interesting character to follow, particularly as the case became more personal for her.
Main drawbacks for me were pacing and some of the secondary characters didn’t seem very developed. I also think some of the twists and reveals could have landed a bit harder for me.
That said, I did enjoy it overall. It’s a pretty dark story but I liked that it gave me something to think about rather than just being a crime mystery that I could forget as soon as I finished it.
📬 Is this for you?
If you like Australian crime, small-town mysteries, complicated questions about justice and revenge, and a story that keeps you guessing about what is really going on.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC copy.
🍄🟫🔥 A gripping Australian crime story 🍄🟫🔥
I really liked the themes of justice, revenge and what happens when the system fails people.
👩💻 Plot in a nutshell: Two men who were convicted of rape are released from prison after their convictions are overturned. But when they return to their small town, things take a dark turn.
At an Australia Day cricket match, dozens of people suddenly become seriously ill, including the two men. Detective Antigone Pollard is called in to investigate, but when her own mother goes missing during the chaos, the case becomes much more.
💬 My thoughts: I mostly liked this one. It definitely kept me reading and I was invested in finding out what had actually happened.
I thought the main idea was really interesting. The book asks some pretty uncomfortable questions about justice and revenge, particularly when people feel like the justice system has failed them.
I also liked the Australian backdrop. I’m always a sucker for an Australian crime book and I enjoyed the small-town setting and the very recognisably Australian backdrop.
Antigone was a great character. I liked her as a detective and thought she was an interesting character to follow, particularly as the case became more personal for her.
Main drawbacks for me were pacing and some of the secondary characters didn’t seem very developed. I also think some of the twists and reveals could have landed a bit harder for me.
That said, I did enjoy it overall. It’s a pretty dark story but I liked that it gave me something to think about rather than just being a crime mystery that I could forget as soon as I finished it.
📬 Is this for you?
If you like Australian crime, small-town mysteries, complicated questions about justice and revenge, and a story that keeps you guessing about what is really going on.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Two rapists return to Deception Bay after their conviction is overturned on appeal. And, at an Australia Day function in the town, inhabitants are split between those who think justice has been denied and those who believe the two are heroes. Feelings are so strong that the local CWA withdraws from catering for the Australia Day cricket match. A call goes out for supplies for catering and before lunch is over, dozens of people fall ill.
An ambulance cannot be sent to a home when Detective Antigone Pollard and her partner are called after a death. Emergency services are stretched to the limit. Then Antigone’s mother, Dr Jilly Pollard, is called to an emergency outside town. And where is one of the police officers who appears to have missed a shift or two?
With all the drama unfolding around her, Antigone doesn’t realise until the following day that her mother (and her Nan) are missing.
Was the poisoning at the barbecue accidental or deliberate? Where are Antigone’s mother and grandmother? Help arrives from Melbourne when it becomes clear that a hostage situation has developed.
There is plenty of action in Ms Petraitis’s latest Deception Bay instalment. When you add domestic violence, mass poisoning, sovereign citizenry and self-righteous media coverage to the mix along with romantic tension and over-confident specialist advice, disaster is only one step away.
Or is it?
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. While I have read the first novel in the series, I somehow missed the second. An oversight I intend to correct very soon.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
An ambulance cannot be sent to a home when Detective Antigone Pollard and her partner are called after a death. Emergency services are stretched to the limit. Then Antigone’s mother, Dr Jilly Pollard, is called to an emergency outside town. And where is one of the police officers who appears to have missed a shift or two?
With all the drama unfolding around her, Antigone doesn’t realise until the following day that her mother (and her Nan) are missing.
Was the poisoning at the barbecue accidental or deliberate? Where are Antigone’s mother and grandmother? Help arrives from Melbourne when it becomes clear that a hostage situation has developed.
There is plenty of action in Ms Petraitis’s latest Deception Bay instalment. When you add domestic violence, mass poisoning, sovereign citizenry and self-righteous media coverage to the mix along with romantic tension and over-confident specialist advice, disaster is only one step away.
Or is it?
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. While I have read the first novel in the series, I somehow missed the second. An oversight I intend to correct very soon.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
October 1, 2026
The Recokoning by Vikki Petraitis @vikkipetraitis
Deception Bay book 3
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was unputdownable. It was fast pace with multiple intriguing sub-plots. I love Detective Antigone Pollard- a fabulous strong female protagonist.
I also absolutely love Nan. Oh my heart was singing reading Nan's antics. The character development in this book is next level. I could see and hear the characters in this action packed book.
I absolutely loved the ending. It was perfect. Will we be seeing more of Detective Antigone Pollard?! There was just enough hint from Senior Sergeant Cal Knight to suggest so. I have loved this series and hopefully will be reading more. Highly recommend 👌
"When two convicted rapists walk free on appeal, the town of Deception Bay splits down the middle. The men swagger onto a packed cricket ground on Australia Day to a hero’s welcome. Before lunch is over, dozens of people fall ill. Among them, the newly released men.
As panic rips through the town and emergency services buckle, Detective Antigone Pollard and her partner, Wozza, scramble to figure out what has happened. Is it an accident? Or was this deliberate?
When Antigone’s mother, a doctor, vanishes while responding to a call for help, Antigone enters a desperate race to find her. But time is running out.
Antigone faces a choice and, this time, she doesn’t wait for permission. With no good options left, she does what she always does – relies on herself.
The Reckoning is an unflinching, morally uncompromising crime novel about thwarted justice, institutional failure, exacted revenge and the price paid when the system looks away."
#aussieauthorappreciation #aussiecrimefictionlover #aussiebookreviewer #aussiebookreviews #aussiebookstagram
Deception Bay book 3
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was unputdownable. It was fast pace with multiple intriguing sub-plots. I love Detective Antigone Pollard- a fabulous strong female protagonist.
I also absolutely love Nan. Oh my heart was singing reading Nan's antics. The character development in this book is next level. I could see and hear the characters in this action packed book.
I absolutely loved the ending. It was perfect. Will we be seeing more of Detective Antigone Pollard?! There was just enough hint from Senior Sergeant Cal Knight to suggest so. I have loved this series and hopefully will be reading more. Highly recommend 👌
"When two convicted rapists walk free on appeal, the town of Deception Bay splits down the middle. The men swagger onto a packed cricket ground on Australia Day to a hero’s welcome. Before lunch is over, dozens of people fall ill. Among them, the newly released men.
As panic rips through the town and emergency services buckle, Detective Antigone Pollard and her partner, Wozza, scramble to figure out what has happened. Is it an accident? Or was this deliberate?
When Antigone’s mother, a doctor, vanishes while responding to a call for help, Antigone enters a desperate race to find her. But time is running out.
Antigone faces a choice and, this time, she doesn’t wait for permission. With no good options left, she does what she always does – relies on herself.
The Reckoning is an unflinching, morally uncompromising crime novel about thwarted justice, institutional failure, exacted revenge and the price paid when the system looks away."
#aussieauthorappreciation #aussiecrimefictionlover #aussiebookreviewer #aussiebookreviews #aussiebookstagram
October 11, 2026
When two convicted rapists walk free on appeal, the town of Deception Bay splits down the middle. The men swagger onto a hero’s welcome, but before lunch is over, dozens of people fall ill - including the newly released men. As panic rips through the town and emergency services buckle, Detective Antigone Pollard and her partner, Wozza, scramble to figure out whether it was an accident or a deliberate act. When Antigone’s doctor mother vanishes while responding to a call for help, Antigone enters a desperate race to find her. Facing time running out and no good options left, Antigone refuses to wait for permission - doing what she always does and relying on herself.
Oh, this was another fantastic adventure with Antigone Pollard! I was wondering what she would face in this new instalment, but I never doubted Vikki’s ability to draw inspiration from the real cases she analyses for her true crime documentaries.
I loved Antigone and Wozza’s return. The case is clear and captivating, and the social commentary is on point - that sometimes certain parties are clearly in the wrong, everyone knows it, and yet nothing can be done to bring them to justice. I’m glad the podcast sections made a comeback, as they are infuriating yet entertaining!
Without giving away plot developments, Granny Pollard is the absolute winner of my heart in this one. I’m totally fan-girling, and I hope to see her again in future instalments.
One thing I’m thrilled about is the upcoming screen adaptation of this series! I can't wait to watch it in the near future.
(Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
Oh, this was another fantastic adventure with Antigone Pollard! I was wondering what she would face in this new instalment, but I never doubted Vikki’s ability to draw inspiration from the real cases she analyses for her true crime documentaries.
I loved Antigone and Wozza’s return. The case is clear and captivating, and the social commentary is on point - that sometimes certain parties are clearly in the wrong, everyone knows it, and yet nothing can be done to bring them to justice. I’m glad the podcast sections made a comeback, as they are infuriating yet entertaining!
Without giving away plot developments, Granny Pollard is the absolute winner of my heart in this one. I’m totally fan-girling, and I hope to see her again in future instalments.
One thing I’m thrilled about is the upcoming screen adaptation of this series! I can't wait to watch it in the near future.
(Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Vikki Petraitis series featuring Detective Antigone Pollard is set in Deception Bay, a fictionalised coastal town in country Victoria. Antigone has transferred from a promising career as a detective in Melbourne in part to care for her beloved Nan and in part to heal from a prior case that has ended tragically.
The Reckoning is book three in the series and begins with the rapists - so ably arrested in book one - being released on a legal technicality and becoming minor celebrities within the local manosphere. Their freedom does not bring them any happiness as the next day they are poisoned at an Australia Day barbecue at which they had been - very fleetingly - guests of honour. Antigone’s mother Jilly has also failed to return from a house call and both she and Antigone’s Nan Annie are missing.
Antigone and her partner Wozza investigate. The severity of the crime - many people have been poisoned - necessitates police from Melbourne including Antigone’s ex Daniel. Antigone is ambivalent about Daniel: part of her feels nostalgic for their shared past while part of her continues to be irritated by his sexism and patronising ways. Also part of the team is the enigmatic and attractive Cal Knight who becomes an ally.
The cultural cringe sexism in Australian country towns can be very in your face. Vikki Petraitis captures this very well in her novel. There’s also a warm community where people look out for each other and everyone recognises and appreciates Norma’s cakes.
Beneath it’s entertaining plot and characters, The Reckoning is asking important questions about sexism, our legal system and the media.
The Reckoning is book three in the series and begins with the rapists - so ably arrested in book one - being released on a legal technicality and becoming minor celebrities within the local manosphere. Their freedom does not bring them any happiness as the next day they are poisoned at an Australia Day barbecue at which they had been - very fleetingly - guests of honour. Antigone’s mother Jilly has also failed to return from a house call and both she and Antigone’s Nan Annie are missing.
Antigone and her partner Wozza investigate. The severity of the crime - many people have been poisoned - necessitates police from Melbourne including Antigone’s ex Daniel. Antigone is ambivalent about Daniel: part of her feels nostalgic for their shared past while part of her continues to be irritated by his sexism and patronising ways. Also part of the team is the enigmatic and attractive Cal Knight who becomes an ally.
The cultural cringe sexism in Australian country towns can be very in your face. Vikki Petraitis captures this very well in her novel. There’s also a warm community where people look out for each other and everyone recognises and appreciates Norma’s cakes.
Beneath it’s entertaining plot and characters, The Reckoning is asking important questions about sexism, our legal system and the media.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the third novel in the Deception Bay series and picks up immediately after the events of The Stolen. I loved being reunited with Detective Antigone Pollard and her loyal sidekick, Wozza. While this book works well as a standalone, I strongly recommend reading the first two novels to fully appreciate the characters' relationships, growth, and backstories.
The story begins with two local men whose sexual assault convictions from the previous book have been overturned. When they return to town, some residents celebrate their homecoming, creating divisions within the community. At the same time, the local cricket club is hosting its Australia Day barbecue. In protest over the men's return, the CWA withdraws its catering support, prompting a desperate appeal for food donations. What follows is complete chaos when a mass food poisoning outbreak leaves scores of people falling ill.
As the crisis unfolds, Antigone calls home and her mother, a doctor, and her grandmother travel to assist with the emergency. After a gruelling day, Antigone accepts Wozza's offer to sleep on his couch rather than drive home. It's only the next day that she discovers her mother and grandmother have disappeared. While helping the overwhelmed local GP, her mother had responded to a house call, leading both women into a dangerous siege situation.
Fast-paced, tense, and packed with suspense, this is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that had me hooked from the very first page. With its compelling characters and relentless action, this latest instalment is another great addition to the series.
Big thank you to the publishers & Netgalley.
The story begins with two local men whose sexual assault convictions from the previous book have been overturned. When they return to town, some residents celebrate their homecoming, creating divisions within the community. At the same time, the local cricket club is hosting its Australia Day barbecue. In protest over the men's return, the CWA withdraws its catering support, prompting a desperate appeal for food donations. What follows is complete chaos when a mass food poisoning outbreak leaves scores of people falling ill.
As the crisis unfolds, Antigone calls home and her mother, a doctor, and her grandmother travel to assist with the emergency. After a gruelling day, Antigone accepts Wozza's offer to sleep on his couch rather than drive home. It's only the next day that she discovers her mother and grandmother have disappeared. While helping the overwhelmed local GP, her mother had responded to a house call, leading both women into a dangerous siege situation.
Fast-paced, tense, and packed with suspense, this is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that had me hooked from the very first page. With its compelling characters and relentless action, this latest instalment is another great addition to the series.
Big thank you to the publishers & Netgalley.
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