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Devil Mountain
Not yet published
Expected 11 Jun 26A wickedly dark police procedural with a hint of the supernatural, this crime novel is Dinuka McKenzie meets The Bluffs.
When Detective Sergeant Anastasia Brown is sent to investigate a grizzly murder in a small NSW town, she welcomes the chance to run from heartbreak and humiliation. But she quickly discovers that this is no ordinary murder. A popular doctor's body has been found on the mountain, chained and burned, with arcane symbols carved into the soles of his feet - and the boy who found him swears he saw a ghost lingering in the trees.
Is this a clever killer with a flair for the macabre? Or the work of an elusive Wiccan coven that worships on the mountain? Or, even stranger, are the local murmurs of the mountain being haunted more than just folklore??
As the investigation grows ever murkier, Ana realises that everyone in town has a secret… and some are deadly.
‘A cracking procedural with a visceral sense of place and creeping touch of the supernatural. Jackson has created a relentless heroine in Detective Sergeant Anastasia Brown.’ DINUKA MCKENZIE
‘Devil Mountain is a twisty and enthralling murder mystery in a creepy, potent setting. Inessa Jackson gives us an intriguing investigation through the eyes of a detective we can’t help but love. Atmospheric and thrilling – what a spectacular debut!’ MARK MUPOTSA-RUSSELL
‘A whip-crack of a mystery that will keep you up at night.’ VERONICA LANDO
‘Symbols, witches, and a ghostly woman stalking the hills — Jackson’s spooky thriller hits all the notes of a classic police procedural, but rises to a higher level with a goosebump-inducing supernatural subplot. Breathless pacing keeps the reader hanging on by their fingertips as we follow the dogged Det. Ana Brown down the rabbit hole to the hazy in-between of reality and folklore. Fans of Tana French or True Detective will love!’ LAURA MCCLUSKEY
When Detective Sergeant Anastasia Brown is sent to investigate a grizzly murder in a small NSW town, she welcomes the chance to run from heartbreak and humiliation. But she quickly discovers that this is no ordinary murder. A popular doctor's body has been found on the mountain, chained and burned, with arcane symbols carved into the soles of his feet - and the boy who found him swears he saw a ghost lingering in the trees.
Is this a clever killer with a flair for the macabre? Or the work of an elusive Wiccan coven that worships on the mountain? Or, even stranger, are the local murmurs of the mountain being haunted more than just folklore??
As the investigation grows ever murkier, Ana realises that everyone in town has a secret… and some are deadly.
‘A cracking procedural with a visceral sense of place and creeping touch of the supernatural. Jackson has created a relentless heroine in Detective Sergeant Anastasia Brown.’ DINUKA MCKENZIE
‘Devil Mountain is a twisty and enthralling murder mystery in a creepy, potent setting. Inessa Jackson gives us an intriguing investigation through the eyes of a detective we can’t help but love. Atmospheric and thrilling – what a spectacular debut!’ MARK MUPOTSA-RUSSELL
‘A whip-crack of a mystery that will keep you up at night.’ VERONICA LANDO
‘Symbols, witches, and a ghostly woman stalking the hills — Jackson’s spooky thriller hits all the notes of a classic police procedural, but rises to a higher level with a goosebump-inducing supernatural subplot. Breathless pacing keeps the reader hanging on by their fingertips as we follow the dogged Det. Ana Brown down the rabbit hole to the hazy in-between of reality and folklore. Fans of Tana French or True Detective will love!’ LAURA MCCLUSKEY
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First published May 26, 2026
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May 30, 2026
Thanks to Affirm Press for my advanced reading copy.
Ana and her new cohort Harry make a great team investigating a grisly murder on Devil Mountain.
Who is good? Who is evil? Can people be both? Good people in bad situations and bad people taking advantage of ‘good’ situations.
This is one of the best debut crime thrillers I have read in a long while.
Ana and her new cohort Harry make a great team investigating a grisly murder on Devil Mountain.
Who is good? Who is evil? Can people be both? Good people in bad situations and bad people taking advantage of ‘good’ situations.
This is one of the best debut crime thrillers I have read in a long while.
Displaying 1 of 1 review