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Kalgoorlie #4
The Buried
The fourth thrilling novel in the bestselling Kalgoorlie series from beloved Australian crime writer Fleur McDonald.
A fiery car crash into a shop is only the beginning ...
When a car slams into a Kalgoorlie corner store, Detective Angie Sullivan is convinced it's a chance mishap. But as she starts an investigation, she is drawn into something far darker than it first appears. Angie and her team must grapple with secrets, betrayals and murder to unravel a mystery that stretches back across decades.
A fiery car crash into a shop is only the beginning ...
When a car slams into a Kalgoorlie corner store, Detective Angie Sullivan is convinced it's a chance mishap. But as she starts an investigation, she is drawn into something far darker than it first appears. Angie and her team must grapple with secrets, betrayals and murder to unravel a mystery that stretches back across decades.
358 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2026
About the author
Fleur McDonald
50 books627 followersWith 28 fiction novels and more than 1,000,000 book sales to her name, bestselling crime author Fleur McDonald has always had a strong affinity with the land and the vast Australian outback.
Fleur McDonald is best known as one of Australia's most successful rural fiction authors, but her greatest story is not found in the pages of her 28 novels—it is the remarkable life she has lived.
A farmer, mother, advocate and survivor, Fleur has overcome extraordinary challenges with resilience and determination. She worked full-time on the land, starting in an era when women were not legally recognised as farmers and could not secure a farm loan without a male guarantor. While raising two children with disabilities, caring for her terminally ill mother-in-law and living in an isolated Atco hut without power or a toilet for seven years, she found the determination to pursue her dream of writing.
Behind her success was the reality of surviving domestic violence, an experience that would ultimately shape the next chapter of her life. After rebuilding from what she describes as "rock bottom," Fleur channelled her experiences into creating lasting change for women living in regional Australia.
She invested $70,000 of her own money to establish DVassist before successfully lobbying the Federal Government for a $3 million pilot program that has grown to support communities across 96% of Western Australia.
Today, Fleur's story is one of courage, resilience and purpose. She inspires audiences to see adversity not as the end of the story, but as the foundation on which extraordinary lives—and lasting legacies—can be built.
Fleur chats about her daily writing life on her blog http://fleurmcdonald.com,
Facebook - Fleur McDonald Author
Instagram @fleurmcdonald
Tiktok @fleurmcdonaldauthor
Fleur McDonald is best known as one of Australia's most successful rural fiction authors, but her greatest story is not found in the pages of her 28 novels—it is the remarkable life she has lived.
A farmer, mother, advocate and survivor, Fleur has overcome extraordinary challenges with resilience and determination. She worked full-time on the land, starting in an era when women were not legally recognised as farmers and could not secure a farm loan without a male guarantor. While raising two children with disabilities, caring for her terminally ill mother-in-law and living in an isolated Atco hut without power or a toilet for seven years, she found the determination to pursue her dream of writing.
Behind her success was the reality of surviving domestic violence, an experience that would ultimately shape the next chapter of her life. After rebuilding from what she describes as "rock bottom," Fleur channelled her experiences into creating lasting change for women living in regional Australia.
She invested $70,000 of her own money to establish DVassist before successfully lobbying the Federal Government for a $3 million pilot program that has grown to support communities across 96% of Western Australia.
Today, Fleur's story is one of courage, resilience and purpose. She inspires audiences to see adversity not as the end of the story, but as the foundation on which extraordinary lives—and lasting legacies—can be built.
Fleur chats about her daily writing life on her blog http://fleurmcdonald.com,
Facebook - Fleur McDonald Author
Instagram @fleurmcdonald
Tiktok @fleurmcdonaldauthor
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 5, 2026
EXCERPT: . . . he heard his real name being called out, and his head jerked up involuntarily.
The rush of blood was instantaneous.
Midas initially thought a triple road train was passing them by, the wind creating a vacuum of noise roaring in his head, buffeting him.
It wasn't.
Instead, there was just this person in the car. One he knew from many years ago. He recognized them instantly. He remembered another lifetime when he hadn't been dirty, or in need of a shower. One when he'd dressed clean clothes and worn shoes that fit. When his hair had been cut short and not the twisted mass of dreadlocks it was now.
'Haven't seen you for a while,' the driver said. 'How are you, old mate?' There was a pause and then the words that sent thrills of shock through him. 'There's someone looking for you. Did you know?'
Midas ignored the words and shuffled towards the edge of the highway, checking the road in both directions. The one time he needed traffic and the road was empty.
He needn't have worried. Then. Because the car pulled back onto the road with spinning wheels, sending up a rooster tail of powdery red earth in its wake.
His anxiety high, he'd turned back to Kalgoorlie, knowing he had to take care of something right away, then make the rest of the trip home, away from the road, until he made it to the safety of his den.
Tonight, the worry returned. The silence was too silent, the night too dark. There were cockroaches and snakes in the grass and people who knew how to hunt like dingos.
And he was being hunted.
ABOUT 'THE BURIED': A place to hide. A secret to bury.
A fiery car crash into a shop is only the beginning ...
When a car slams into a Kalgoorlie corner store, Detective Angie Sullivan hopes that it is a chance mishap. But as she starts an investigation, unsettled by the arrival of a new detective from Perth, she is drawn into something darker than it first appears.
The death of a local homeless man at the same time seems at first to be a tragic accident. But inconsistencies at the scene - the abandoned mineshaft where he lived - suggest a more sinister truth.
Angie and her team must grapple with secrets, betrayals and murder to unravel a mystery that stretches back across decades.
MY THOUGHTS: Although this is #4 in a series, it will stand on its own.
Kalgoorlie is the type of town that takes a long time to figure out. It's not like anywhere else. You might learn enough to fit in, but you'd never know everything. There was always something new, another local character, another unfamiliar situation.
In the previous book, The Witness, it was Angie who was the newbie, trying to find her feet in an unfamiliar territory. Now it's Damien, fresh out of Perth in his shiny suit and even shinier shoes. Perth detectives aren't welcome in Kalgoorlie. They're treated with derision and distrust.
The Buried is a great addition to the series depicting the hold 'gold fever' has over people in both the historical and current times. It explores greed and the lengths people will go to for their piece of 'gold'. And of course, it's not just gold that is in great demand today and people are prepared to kill for.
A thrilling read with multiple threads.
⭐⭐⭐.75
#TheBuried #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: FLEUR McDONALD After growing up on a farm near Orroroo in South Australia, Fleur McDonald’s first job was jillarooing in the outback. She has been involved in agriculture all her life, including helping manage an 8000-acre station for twenty years. Today Fleur and her energetic kelpie, Jack, live in Esperance, Western Australia.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to HarperCollins Publishers Australia via NetGalley for providing a DRC of The Buried by Fleur McDonald for review. This review reflects my reading experience and all opinions expressed are my personal opinions.
The rush of blood was instantaneous.
Midas initially thought a triple road train was passing them by, the wind creating a vacuum of noise roaring in his head, buffeting him.
It wasn't.
Instead, there was just this person in the car. One he knew from many years ago. He recognized them instantly. He remembered another lifetime when he hadn't been dirty, or in need of a shower. One when he'd dressed clean clothes and worn shoes that fit. When his hair had been cut short and not the twisted mass of dreadlocks it was now.
'Haven't seen you for a while,' the driver said. 'How are you, old mate?' There was a pause and then the words that sent thrills of shock through him. 'There's someone looking for you. Did you know?'
Midas ignored the words and shuffled towards the edge of the highway, checking the road in both directions. The one time he needed traffic and the road was empty.
He needn't have worried. Then. Because the car pulled back onto the road with spinning wheels, sending up a rooster tail of powdery red earth in its wake.
His anxiety high, he'd turned back to Kalgoorlie, knowing he had to take care of something right away, then make the rest of the trip home, away from the road, until he made it to the safety of his den.
Tonight, the worry returned. The silence was too silent, the night too dark. There were cockroaches and snakes in the grass and people who knew how to hunt like dingos.
And he was being hunted.
ABOUT 'THE BURIED': A place to hide. A secret to bury.
A fiery car crash into a shop is only the beginning ...
When a car slams into a Kalgoorlie corner store, Detective Angie Sullivan hopes that it is a chance mishap. But as she starts an investigation, unsettled by the arrival of a new detective from Perth, she is drawn into something darker than it first appears.
The death of a local homeless man at the same time seems at first to be a tragic accident. But inconsistencies at the scene - the abandoned mineshaft where he lived - suggest a more sinister truth.
Angie and her team must grapple with secrets, betrayals and murder to unravel a mystery that stretches back across decades.
MY THOUGHTS: Although this is #4 in a series, it will stand on its own.
Kalgoorlie is the type of town that takes a long time to figure out. It's not like anywhere else. You might learn enough to fit in, but you'd never know everything. There was always something new, another local character, another unfamiliar situation.
In the previous book, The Witness, it was Angie who was the newbie, trying to find her feet in an unfamiliar territory. Now it's Damien, fresh out of Perth in his shiny suit and even shinier shoes. Perth detectives aren't welcome in Kalgoorlie. They're treated with derision and distrust.
The Buried is a great addition to the series depicting the hold 'gold fever' has over people in both the historical and current times. It explores greed and the lengths people will go to for their piece of 'gold'. And of course, it's not just gold that is in great demand today and people are prepared to kill for.
A thrilling read with multiple threads.
⭐⭐⭐.75
#TheBuried #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: FLEUR McDONALD After growing up on a farm near Orroroo in South Australia, Fleur McDonald’s first job was jillarooing in the outback. She has been involved in agriculture all her life, including helping manage an 8000-acre station for twenty years. Today Fleur and her energetic kelpie, Jack, live in Esperance, Western Australia.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to HarperCollins Publishers Australia via NetGalley for providing a DRC of The Buried by Fleur McDonald for review. This review reflects my reading experience and all opinions expressed are my personal opinions.
October 30, 2026
Fleur McDonald delivers another great Aussie noir novel with her new release The Buried. It’s the fourth book in the interconnected standalone Kalgoorlie set series.
McDonald definitely keeps readers on their toes with this one through the dual timelines and crimes, while also introducing a new Perth detective….do we/should we like him or not? We are kept on the fence for a while with that question!
There is also a corner store owner, Cassie, who loves true crime, cameos from familiar characters and of course Angie’s personal life as a single-mum that adds an emotional layer to the narrative.
I thoroughly enjoyed the ‘underground’ theme in this book. It weaves together mining and gang-related crimes across two timelines, with several scenes set inside a cave which gave an eerie undercurrent to the narrative. McDonald heightens the tension chapter by chapter which made the book hard to put down.
The Buried is an atmospheric and gripping crime read that I devoured. I have been thoroughly enjoying this series and can’t wait to see what comes next for Angie and the team.
Thank you HarperCollins Aus for a copy to review.
McDonald definitely keeps readers on their toes with this one through the dual timelines and crimes, while also introducing a new Perth detective….do we/should we like him or not? We are kept on the fence for a while with that question!
There is also a corner store owner, Cassie, who loves true crime, cameos from familiar characters and of course Angie’s personal life as a single-mum that adds an emotional layer to the narrative.
I thoroughly enjoyed the ‘underground’ theme in this book. It weaves together mining and gang-related crimes across two timelines, with several scenes set inside a cave which gave an eerie undercurrent to the narrative. McDonald heightens the tension chapter by chapter which made the book hard to put down.
The Buried is an atmospheric and gripping crime read that I devoured. I have been thoroughly enjoying this series and can’t wait to see what comes next for Angie and the team.
Thank you HarperCollins Aus for a copy to review.
November 8, 2026
The Voice of the Outback continues her new series set in Kalgoorlie.
The Buried is a country rural crime novel with a selection of very familiar faces and a plot full of suspense and mystery.
Detective Angie Sullivan is on the case when a car goes through a shop storefront.
With the arrival of a new law enforcement and the mysterious death of a local homeless man down an abandoned mineshaft, Angie has her hands full.
But as she digs deeper into the investigation, there are secrets, betrayal, inconsistencies and murder to deal with.
As the team determines the truth, something leads them to past history and something much darker……..
As usual it’s great to check in with previous characters and see how life is treating them.
Fleur’s writing and storytelling is strong and this adds to the enjoyment of your reading experience.
The centre of the books is the complex cast that the author has the flair for bringing realism, vulnerability and authenticity to.
One being Angie who is a very likeable character that shines in yet another story.
The backdrop of Kal delivers the harsh landscape and hot desert like climate with a historic townsite.
There’s also Fleur’s body of knowledge for the country that makes it more unique.
A readable book that is enjoyable.
The Buried is a country rural crime novel with a selection of very familiar faces and a plot full of suspense and mystery.
Detective Angie Sullivan is on the case when a car goes through a shop storefront.
With the arrival of a new law enforcement and the mysterious death of a local homeless man down an abandoned mineshaft, Angie has her hands full.
But as she digs deeper into the investigation, there are secrets, betrayal, inconsistencies and murder to deal with.
As the team determines the truth, something leads them to past history and something much darker……..
As usual it’s great to check in with previous characters and see how life is treating them.
Fleur’s writing and storytelling is strong and this adds to the enjoyment of your reading experience.
The centre of the books is the complex cast that the author has the flair for bringing realism, vulnerability and authenticity to.
One being Angie who is a very likeable character that shines in yet another story.
The backdrop of Kal delivers the harsh landscape and hot desert like climate with a historic townsite.
There’s also Fleur’s body of knowledge for the country that makes it more unique.
A readable book that is enjoyable.
November 6, 2026
In the gold town of Kalgoorlie, two incidents occur close together. A vehicle slams into a corner store and the body of a homeless man is discovered in a mine shaft. Accident or something else? Inconsistencies at the scene are puzzling and the team are questioning if the two incidents connected or not.
Detective Angie Sullivan and her team are under pressure to solve both cases. Detective Damien Carmichael arrives from Perth in Kalgoorlie to assist, putting Angie's team under even more pressure.
Secrets and betrayals unravel a mystery that goes back across decades.
This is Book # 4 in the Kalgoorlie Series and yet another winner for me from Author Fleur McDonald. Fleur's dedication in presenting a story that gives the reader an insight into the place and the area she is writing about is once more evident in her writing of The Buried. Her research is incredible and though I don't know Kalgoorlie except for a short visit some years ago whilst travelling to Perth on the Indian Pacific, I can remember the town and the feeling and that comes back to me when I read the books in this series. I have loved all of Fleur's books and though I miss Dave Burrows, I am very much enjoying the Kalgoorlie team lead by Angie Sullivan. So very nice to see Jack Higgins again too.
Thank you Fleur, I look forward to the next in the Kalgoorlie Series, The Runner.
Detective Angie Sullivan and her team are under pressure to solve both cases. Detective Damien Carmichael arrives from Perth in Kalgoorlie to assist, putting Angie's team under even more pressure.
Secrets and betrayals unravel a mystery that goes back across decades.
This is Book # 4 in the Kalgoorlie Series and yet another winner for me from Author Fleur McDonald. Fleur's dedication in presenting a story that gives the reader an insight into the place and the area she is writing about is once more evident in her writing of The Buried. Her research is incredible and though I don't know Kalgoorlie except for a short visit some years ago whilst travelling to Perth on the Indian Pacific, I can remember the town and the feeling and that comes back to me when I read the books in this series. I have loved all of Fleur's books and though I miss Dave Burrows, I am very much enjoying the Kalgoorlie team lead by Angie Sullivan. So very nice to see Jack Higgins again too.
Thank you Fleur, I look forward to the next in the Kalgoorlie Series, The Runner.
November 1, 2026
The Buried by Fleur McDonald
The Buried is the fourth book in the Kalgoorlie Crime Series. I requested it as soon as I saw it on NetGalley, after reading the first three in the series. I'd read The Prospect and The Missing as homework when I was approved for book three, The Witness. My reviews of the earlier books are in my 2026 book highlights.
When a car slams into a Kalgoorlie corner store, Detective Angie Sullivan is back on the case. At first, everyone thinks it's an accident, but the more she learns, the more she worries about what she's uncovering. Everyone is unsettled by the arrival of a new detective from Perth. At the same time, a local homeless man dies in the abandoned mineshaft where he lived. It looks like a tragic accident, but inconsistencies at the scene suggest something more sinister. Angie and her team must grapple with secrets, betrayals, and murder to unravel a mystery that stretches back decades.
The book includes cameos from characters from earlier in the series (both good and bad), and I enjoyed the contrast between old-fashioned, underground (cave) crime scenes and more modern underground (gang-related) crime scenes.
If you like Australian noir or rural crime, and you enjoy the books by Chris Hammer, Matthew Spencer or Vikki Petraitis, then I think you'll like this one. Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Australia for the eARC of The Buried by Fleur McDonald. It was released on 27 October, so it's out now! 🔍
📖 @fleurmcdonaldauthor
📚 @harpercollinsaustralia
🎯 @netgalley
#booksdeevaareads #2026bookshelf #theburied #netgalley #fleurmcdonald
The Buried is the fourth book in the Kalgoorlie Crime Series. I requested it as soon as I saw it on NetGalley, after reading the first three in the series. I'd read The Prospect and The Missing as homework when I was approved for book three, The Witness. My reviews of the earlier books are in my 2026 book highlights.
When a car slams into a Kalgoorlie corner store, Detective Angie Sullivan is back on the case. At first, everyone thinks it's an accident, but the more she learns, the more she worries about what she's uncovering. Everyone is unsettled by the arrival of a new detective from Perth. At the same time, a local homeless man dies in the abandoned mineshaft where he lived. It looks like a tragic accident, but inconsistencies at the scene suggest something more sinister. Angie and her team must grapple with secrets, betrayals, and murder to unravel a mystery that stretches back decades.
The book includes cameos from characters from earlier in the series (both good and bad), and I enjoyed the contrast between old-fashioned, underground (cave) crime scenes and more modern underground (gang-related) crime scenes.
If you like Australian noir or rural crime, and you enjoy the books by Chris Hammer, Matthew Spencer or Vikki Petraitis, then I think you'll like this one. Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Australia for the eARC of The Buried by Fleur McDonald. It was released on 27 October, so it's out now! 🔍
📖 @fleurmcdonaldauthor
📚 @harpercollinsaustralia
🎯 @netgalley
#booksdeevaareads #2026bookshelf #theburied #netgalley #fleurmcdonald
November 1, 2026
I read The Buried prior to an author interview at Murwillumbah Library and while I’ve read a few of Fleur’s previous books, this is the first for me in the Kalgoorlie series. The story had me gripped and I found the world of the book very easy to follow considering it’s the fourth in the series. I’ll be going back to book 1 now!
October 15, 2026
This is literally one with the lot, there are tensions in mining leases, tobacco wars, secret relationships, new detective in town and Kalgoorlie as the setting. Fleur McDonald creates a multiple number of plot lines and time frames but it all hangs together and works out in the end. Her creation of the the detective as single mum ( with a very helpful father) shines through in the story. The good hearted local coffee shop owner also gives us hope for humanity. There a lot buried in here but it is a page turner and a good contribution to recognition of the power of Australian rural mystery and crime. Thanks to @netgalley.com for a preview copy to review and to HarperCollinsAU for supporting and publishing Australian writers.
October 16, 2026
This is another great example of Australian rural crime writing from Fleur McDonald. Set in Kalgoorlie, and including a great cast of small town characters, there is plenty going on. It turns out tobacco wars are not confined to the big cities, and when a car is driven into a corner store, causing a fire, it is just the start of problems for the locals. There is a local detective, working with a Perth taskforce operative, with the two of them navigating their differences to resolve the case. The complexities are many, and it all makes for a very readable story.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley
October 17, 2026
ARC: NetGallery & HarperCollins AU
Pub Date: Oct 27th
The Buried is a mystery crime Australian series based in Kalgoorlie Western Australia.It begins with the an explosion with a Ute beside a cafe followed by the discovery of two murders at separate locations. Told through multiple P.O.V. Cassie the cafe owner, Constable Ava and a gold miner in 1974. It was a fun who done it, finding clues and finding why everyone was linked together.
Pub Date: Oct 27th
The Buried is a mystery crime Australian series based in Kalgoorlie Western Australia.It begins with the an explosion with a Ute beside a cafe followed by the discovery of two murders at separate locations. Told through multiple P.O.V. Cassie the cafe owner, Constable Ava and a gold miner in 1974. It was a fun who done it, finding clues and finding why everyone was linked together.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews