Unsolved Australia

by Justine Ford

Australia's most baffling homicides and mysterious missing persons' cases are uniquely explored in this stunning true-crime book in which you the reader are invited to play armchair detective.Featuring 18 infamous cases, Unsolved Australia unearths a host of jaw-dropping new evidence via in-depth interviews with police, families and criminals. Along the way you'll meet the 'Unsolved Squad' - the humble heroes and dedicated experts involved in collecting and connecting clues.Unsolved Australia is a chilling, thrilling and inspiring book full of drama, emotion... and hope.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Crime, Australia, Mystery

336 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2015

About the author

Justine Ford is a TV producer and journalist with a background in news and current affairs. She was a presenter on the top-rating crime series, Australia’s Most Wanted, and her producing credits include the hit shows Missing Persons Unit, Border Security¸ RPA and Random Acts of Kindness. She has also worked as a radio producer / presenter and as a magazine features’ writer.

Reviews

[Sue Gerhardt Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I’m a huge fan of True Crime books and Justine Ford never lets you down. Compelling storytelling, well researched, and although Justine Ford sheds new light on 18 infamous cases, sadly though most cases remain unsolved.

An interesting and informative read for true crime buffs but beware these stories will make your blood run cold.


Listened to the audiobook via BorrowBox
Published by Bolinda/Macmillan Australia
Read by Casey Withoos
Duration: 8 hrs, 23 min. 1.25x Speed

[Kirsti · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely brilliant and essential book on Australian crime! Firstly, it always seems odd to praise books on crime, because the stories within are horrifying and yet I go back and read them time and time again. I guess I never let go of the the victims, the families left behind, and I want them to know that people still think of them long after the tragedy has occurred. This is where this book is particularly useful; these are unsolved crimes, and the author hopes that by keeping them in the public profile they won't remain unsolved. They also aren't stories I'd heard before, at least not in full. Australia unfortunately has some really sad missing persons cases, but these are all stories that for some reason or another have faded from people's memories. Everyone has read about the Beaumont children and Daniel Morcombe, as an example, but there are still so many missing people even from upwards of thirty years ago that remain as unsolved cases.

The writing was fantastic, and the whole book was well researched. There were a few odd stories where the crime seemed to be wrapped up in the end, or at least going through court, but the majority need to be brought back to the forefront of people's minds and the media, so they hopefully get solved one day. A random pickup at the bookstore because I was feeling like true stories and none of the autobiographies caught my eye. Five stars.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book about unsolved murders and disappearances in Australia.

The author has included a few solved cold cases to demonstrate that the police never give up.

A powerful, almost compelling, read.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book I highly recommend to anyone. It contained a lot of cases I had never even heard of. Thankyou Justine Ford for talking and writing about them as the victims families have a chance of the crimes being solved.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting read. I feel terribly for the families who haven't received justice for their murdered loved one or whose loved one is missing and they've never found out what happened.

One critique would be the writer relying on 'information' from the family over that of the police. A case in point would be the Dan O'Keefe missing persons case. We now know the supposed sighting of him in the Doctor's office in Qld was a false lead, the cops proved it wasn't him yet that was barely mentioned in favour of the ridiculous theory the family came up with to convince us and themselves most of all that it was their son (walking accross 2 states, losing 30kg, his actual height changing... come on.) This is not to suggest that the family have ulterior motives, just one case (of many) in point that you cannot rely on what a family member thinks a loved one would or wouldn't do because they are inherently biased. They love their relative so much that it is not possible for them to be objective. Sometimes relatives only want to talk about their loved one in the best light, not giving any information that may actually bring about a resolution to the case. The writer should know that solving crime involves a more clinical, objective approach. It probably also should have been mentioned that eyewitness identification is considered extremely weak evidence and has resulted in many false convictions, yet it is written about in this book as the holy grail of evidence.

If the writer is as keen for these cases to be solved as she says she is, she should have taken a more clinical approach. She's struck out on 1 case in this book already by getting caught up in a family's opinion over police facts. I can't help but wonder what other wrong paths we've been led down.

Having said that, I do think that the writer has good intentions and I sincerely hope that these families get the answers they're looking for.

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very interesting, and heartbreaking to read. It is currently Missing Persons Week in Australia, and this book highlights many unsolved murders and missing person cases. One has to admire the tenacity and determination of investigators involved in these baffling crimes, and you cannot help but empathise with the loved ones left behind needing answers.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a massive fan of True Crime books and Justine Ford didn't disappoint. I found this book really interesting but I also felt for the families that are seeking answers I hope that by people reading this book, some of the missing people can be found and returned to their families.Highly recommend :)

[Tatterededges · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book needs an update and a good edit. There were so many glaring errors including basic things like getting peoples names wrong. In one case they claim a woman’s mental health diagnosis was upgraded from bipolar to split personality. WTF? You don’t “upgrade” a diagnosis and split personality ISN’T an actual diagnosis (or even a thing 🙄).

[Carla Galati · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great snippet into several unsolved cases (and 2 which have been solved). Obviously I googled each person after reading their story and although a few are ongoing cases, a few are now closed/in the court process. A great way to get a small dose of true crime.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew about very few, if any, of these cases, and since the book was published only one has been solved. Unsolved cases always freak me out, and these were no exception.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good selection of Australian unsolved crimes it was interesting and informative I hope some day these families find peace

[Amy Perera · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an interesting read on 18 unsolved homicides and mysterious missing persons cases. Each case is explored one by one and all the information out in the open. I am truly fascinated with true-crimes books. Some of the crimes were horrific and yet none of them solved. There will be people out there that know information and I hope over time the crimes do get solved so the families of the victims finally get the answers they deserve.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The problem I find with books written by journalists is that they are too often too journalistic in style, and Unsolved Australia is not an exception.

If you choose to read this one, expect short sentences, irrelevant quotes, interview format, and little detail. I would have given it just the one star, but bumped it up to two because I had to concede that many of the cases in this book I hadn't heard of before. The downside was that not a single one provided sufficient details about the cases at all, and that just left me wanting. As soon as a new story began, it was over. Ford's style is definitely more suited to news and magazine articles, and that is how each story reads.

It's somewhat ironic that this book seeks information when it provides very little.

I think this will be the last of Ford's books I'll bother to read.

[Chelsea R.H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with the author's other book, which I read last week, I really enjoyed this nonfiction deep dive into some of Australia's most puzzling unsolved crimes. The narrator on the audiobook was good, the prose was well written, and the stories are bizarre, unsettling and saddening. One in particular made me very upset. I also loved the inclusion of expert profiles, which were short essays written by various people, from a counsellor for the families of missing people, to forensic anthropologists, and cop corruption whistle blowers. It was fascinating and I enjoyed the peak into the lives of professionals who we rarely get to see as members of the public, and yet make all the difference in solving cases, both old and new.

[Tash F · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is nonfiction and therefore is all about unsolved murders that have taken place in Australia. It sheds light on 18 unsolved cases throughout Australia. This book gives praise, without meaning too, to the detectives and police who have not stopped trying to solve these and give an answer to the families that are still waiting to find out what has happened to their loved ones. Some of these family members are still waiting for the front door to open and their loved one to walk in like they haven't just disappeared while others are waiting for the murder to finally be caught and justice served.
Can you catch a killer?

[Nicki Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating read about 18 unsolved Australian Cases, some of which I had never heard of. Written with empathy and compassion for the loved ones and families left behind. Hopefully some readers of this book may have the answers to some of these cases, come forward and bring some answers and closure to the loved ones/families. A great read for anyone who enjoys true crime. #unsolvedaustralia #justineford #tea_sipping_bookworm #bookstagram #bookqueen #greatreads #amazon#kindle #litsy #goodreads #truecrime

[Erinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was a terrific book about terrible crimes against innocent people that had me continuously questioning and reading in hope of an answer but unfortunately most of the crimes still to this day haven’t been solved and that’s the sad thing. However, it was a very well written book and I recommend reading it, who knows, you may know someone or something about one of the stories to help start the investigation once again. Here’s hoping that the families will one day get the closure they are so desperately hoping for.

[Deb Bodinnar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoying listening to audio books at the moment and this was very interesting. The Daniel O'Keefe story had a special spot for me as I met Lauren in the first couple of days of Dan's disappearance, when she came to my store to put up a flyer. My heart broke for her and her family at that time and then again when Dan was discovered under the family home. How hard it must have been for them all to realise that Dan had been right there with them the whole time.

[Xanthi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this on audiobook format.
I do like it when I come across true crime cases that I am not already familiar with. There was only one case in this book that I heard of before - the beheading one.
Apart from unsolved Australian cases, this book presents a few solved ones- cold cases that are solved decades later due to the tenacity of determined individuals. There are also profiles on professionals involved in cold cases- from law enforcement to forensics, and beyond.

[~Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this so much. I'm not into true crimes book, prefer just to watch documentaries but this book surprised me. I loved the writing (I need more Justine ford books!!) and the emotion in each story. Glad that some cases have been solved since this was released!

very freaky when 2 of the 18 cases were in my suburb... like 5 minutes away from me.

[Codie O’Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️’s

While these crimes were horrific I’m so glad Justine Ford wrote this book! It was published quite a few years ago and I was able to google after each chapter to see if the crime had yet been solved, some have and some families/friends still have no answers. Such an important read. My heart goes out to those that have a loved one missing.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this purely because I loved 'The Good Cop'.
Justine writing is easy to read and I enjoyed the multifaceted story telling; one in particular was regarding trichology and how it is used in forensic analysis. Very interesting!

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and very sad. Some very intriguing stories of unsolved crime.

[Julie scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

😀💜📕

[Bernadette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of cold cases some decade's old. A tragedy of missing people with very few if any leads. A interesting read for the lovers of true crime stories.

[Delcene Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but the book read like a series of short, snappy magazine articles which in itself isn’t bad but hindered the flow that should be in a book.

[Venessa Johnstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting.. I Love books like these and read via audio is like watching a doco.. Well researched!!

[Aussie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Australia's most baffling homicides and mysterious missing persond cases that are uniquely explored in this book .

[Gareth Coxhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interest book, explains about some people who went missing, were murdered. Nice read, easy book to read.

[Cortnei · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was a good and scary read. it you are a fan of true crime, then I recommend it. it was scary for me as I live in Australia.