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Deception Bay #3
The Reckoning
Not yet published
Expected 1 Sep 26When the system fails, justice must take another form.
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.
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.
- GenresCrime
321 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
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
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
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
3.5 stars)
The Reckoning takes up where The Stolen left off. The rapists plaguing the young women of Deception Bay have been released from gaol on a technicality, not because they're innocent. This technicality seems largely to be lost on the town, with many turning out to give them a hero's welcome. The victims and survivors live there too, supported only by a few, like the staunch feminists in the Country Women's Association. There is also trouble brewing from a few local cookers stirred up in the wake of COVID-19.
It's a lot going on in a small coastal town recently beset by rapes and a kidnapped baby, and as a result not particularly believable crime novel, but you'll probably like it if you're incensed by the lack of justice for sexual violence victims and survivors in the Australian criminal justice system. It feels nice to imagine revenge working without any consequences to the victims or those enacting it. If only men were as affected by sexual violence enacted against women as those in this book we might be able to make an actual difference to those statistics.
I found it easy to sink back into the life of Detective Antigone Pollard, her cake-obsessed partner, Wozza and Waffles, her failed police dog. I didn't feel compelled to keep reading it quickly though, so it's probably a shade too unbelievable for me.
With thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for sending me a copy to read.
The Reckoning takes up where The Stolen left off. The rapists plaguing the young women of Deception Bay have been released from gaol on a technicality, not because they're innocent. This technicality seems largely to be lost on the town, with many turning out to give them a hero's welcome. The victims and survivors live there too, supported only by a few, like the staunch feminists in the Country Women's Association. There is also trouble brewing from a few local cookers stirred up in the wake of COVID-19.
It's a lot going on in a small coastal town recently beset by rapes and a kidnapped baby, and as a result not particularly believable crime novel, but you'll probably like it if you're incensed by the lack of justice for sexual violence victims and survivors in the Australian criminal justice system. It feels nice to imagine revenge working without any consequences to the victims or those enacting it. If only men were as affected by sexual violence enacted against women as those in this book we might be able to make an actual difference to those statistics.
I found it easy to sink back into the life of Detective Antigone Pollard, her cake-obsessed partner, Wozza and Waffles, her failed police dog. I didn't feel compelled to keep reading it quickly though, so it's probably a shade too unbelievable for me.
With thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for sending me a copy to read.
July 30, 2026
The Reckoning was a solid read. Having read the previous books I was really excited to read this instalment. Antigone sees two of the towns residents get off the charges for sexual assault. On top of that, there is a mass poisoning at the cricket club that we’re giving these two a heroes welcome. It was interesting to see current events happening in Victoria being referenced in this book with the mushrooms and sovereign citizens, including a shameless plug for Casefile!
The story takes you through the investigation of both the mass poisoning and the kidnapping of Antigone’s mum and nan and has a good pace about it. I really liked the attraction between Antigone and the SOG leader and hope to see that play out in another book sometime.
With one person dying followed by two more it’s a guess to see who is behind it all. While I did guess from the start who the culprit was, there were other angles thrown in that made you question who the murderer was.
This was a book I could not put down and really enjoy Vikki Petraitis’s books and writing, so down to earth. I give this one five stars. If you liked the previous books you will like this one too.
The story takes you through the investigation of both the mass poisoning and the kidnapping of Antigone’s mum and nan and has a good pace about it. I really liked the attraction between Antigone and the SOG leader and hope to see that play out in another book sometime.
With one person dying followed by two more it’s a guess to see who is behind it all. While I did guess from the start who the culprit was, there were other angles thrown in that made you question who the murderer was.
This was a book I could not put down and really enjoy Vikki Petraitis’s books and writing, so down to earth. I give this one five stars. If you liked the previous books you will like this one too.
July 20, 2026
Thoroughly enjoyable police procedural set in Australia in which there is a mass poisoning event at an Australia Day celebration coinciding with the release of two local men for rape when their conviction was overturned. How the police manage this situation when they know these men are guilty is interesting when it’s a small community. There is also a siege to contend with by a sovereign citizen. Being a police officer in these small communities is truly a balancing act. The narrative draws upon real life events we have recently experienced here in Australia as well as exploring the deeper theme of violence against women. The characters are engaging with some good Aussie humour thrown in as part of this riveting story. It works on all levels so congratulations to the author.
July 24, 2026
5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibe check: Fierce Female Lead, Police Procedural, Mushroom Murder
full review ⬇️
This series just doesn't miss. It’s been 5 stars all the way so far and The Reckoning might just be my favourite of them all.
Antigone is back and she’s a busy gal. The Reckoning picks up only a week after the events of book two and as is said in the book ‘you’ve had a big year.. and it’s still January’
As she does so well, Vikki captured real and relevant issues other authors can tend to avoid tackling themes straight out of today's headlines, including sovereign citizens, coercive and violent partners and the ripple effects of misinformation. And let's just say... it takes mushroom murders to a whole new level.
I love Vikki’s writing and the mixed media format of this book. The inclusion of the media releases, journal entries, radio announcements and other inserts made the investigation feel incredibly immersive like I was following a real case unfold in real time.
There are multiple investigations and storylines unfolding at once but they’re juggled effortlessly. Nothing feels overcrowded and everything clicks into place.
If you enjoy Australian crime fiction that has a strong focus on police procedurals and heavy hitting themes, this series is an absolute must read (but each book can be read as a stand alone!)
A big thank you to Simon and Schuster for the sneak peek.
Vibe check: Fierce Female Lead, Police Procedural, Mushroom Murder
full review ⬇️
This series just doesn't miss. It’s been 5 stars all the way so far and The Reckoning might just be my favourite of them all.
Antigone is back and she’s a busy gal. The Reckoning picks up only a week after the events of book two and as is said in the book ‘you’ve had a big year.. and it’s still January’
As she does so well, Vikki captured real and relevant issues other authors can tend to avoid tackling themes straight out of today's headlines, including sovereign citizens, coercive and violent partners and the ripple effects of misinformation. And let's just say... it takes mushroom murders to a whole new level.
I love Vikki’s writing and the mixed media format of this book. The inclusion of the media releases, journal entries, radio announcements and other inserts made the investigation feel incredibly immersive like I was following a real case unfold in real time.
There are multiple investigations and storylines unfolding at once but they’re juggled effortlessly. Nothing feels overcrowded and everything clicks into place.
If you enjoy Australian crime fiction that has a strong focus on police procedurals and heavy hitting themes, this series is an absolute must read (but each book can be read as a stand alone!)
A big thank you to Simon and Schuster for the sneak peek.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wowza! Third book and I am still feeling the vibe with all the action and mysteries happening in Deception Bay. I enjoyed following Antigone Pollard’s story and I must say I loved all the three instalments.
Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher Simon & Schuster (Australia) for the opportunity to read the ARC.
Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher Simon & Schuster (Australia) for the opportunity to read the ARC.
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July 28, 2026Review, podcast and interview to follow.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews