REDHANDED

by Nene Davies

Where there’s smoke there are liars

When Melbourne firefighter Jack Adams discovers his stunning wife’s secret double life, he doesn’t have a chance to confront her - she’s already dead; murdered in bed while their apartment burns.

A broken man, Jack retreats to the country and books into the shabby Daffodil Motel. With just Buddy the dog for company, he turns away from his painful past and tries to heal. It’s here in the quiet village of Hill Cross that Jack rediscovers his love of music and gradually allows the close-knit community to enter his life and it’s here he meets the down-to-earth Lucinda.
Back in the city, Jack’s firefighter blood-brothers Stu and Robbie set out to discover what really happened the day Steph was killed. They begin to piece the details of her life together, not realising how close to the truth they are.

When the lads turn up in Hill Cross, a bombshell meeting with a stranger sends Jack spinning into a whirlwind of shock. Shattered by perceived disloyalty, he bolts the scene but this time Lucinda follows. Chased by fears and demons, Jack drives like a madman - and doesn’t see the wallabies on the dark road ahead until it’s too late...

Unknown Binding

About the author

Born in England to Welsh parents, Nene was raised in beautiful Pembrokeshire, West Wales. In 2002 Nene, her husband and three children emigrated to Australia and now live at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland. Nene's debut novel, Distance, was published in 2013 and she has gone on to complete the trilogy with Further and Surfacing.
Redhanded was published in November, 2016 and Whitethorne in 2018. The Narrows was published in 2020. Nene has a coffee shop,Chapter, and a bookstore, Hannah Jones. She is the founding director of the Capricorn Coast Writers Festival.
http://www.nenedavies.com
@nene_davies
@nenedavieswrites

Reviews

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Adams is a good guy - a firefighter in Melbourne and a true and loyal friend. The only time he's shown a lack of judgement was in the choice of a wife. Beautiful, flighty Stephanie is everything Jack is not and now her shady double life has come back to haunt her in the worst possible way - she has been murdered in her bed. And just to make sure she is dead the killer has set fire to Jack and Stephanie's apartment.

For Jack, Stephanie's death is devastating from every angle. Not only is the woman he loved gone in the most horrible way, but he has to live with the reality that she was living a very colourful double life of which he had no idea. Unable to cope despite offers of support from all who care about him, Jack takes off with just his dog for company and keeps driving until he arrives in the tiny Victorian town of Hill Cross. While Jack drops out of life for a while, his mates and firefighting colleagues want answers and start following their own leads. And that's when things start getting complex.

Redhanded is a fast paced story that grabs you right from the get go. The characters are well drawn and the dialogue authentic and engaging. The mystery is compelling and the plot twist clever and unexpected. Its a quick ride but an enjoyable one that will stay with you after you finish. As others have mentioned the potential is there for a sequel or a series - either would work well with the groundwork Nene has laid in this first installment.

Redhanded is a new direction for Nene Davies but she carries it off with aplomb. It's different to the Distance series but just as readable and shows Nene's depth as an author.

[Sara Delaval · Rating 4 out of 5]

With "Redhanded", Nene has ventured into new territory since her previous wonderful family saga comprising "Distance", "Further" and "Surfacing", but this novella works on so many levels. I found it impossible to put down. The story is modern, edgy and tight. The characters are young people of "today" with all their tough attitudes, rough language, loyalties and vulnerabilities. Nene's dialogue is effortlessly superb, and the reader is carried on a journey of misunderstandings and coincidences, love and friendship, with mystery thrown in. We come to care for the characters, share their feelings, and long for a happy outcome. This is life in today's world, sometimes ugly, but with enough good to balance it. A great read. Sara Delaval

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Redhanded, a novella, is full of twists. Told in a spare and quick-fire style the reader is immediately plunged into the drug crime scene, murder and arson in Melbourne, Australia. And Jack, an unsuspecting firefighter is dragged into the mire through his faithless wife’s hidden life. Jack’s journey towards recovery from the escalating personal trauma is aided by the support and sleuthing efforts of his closest work colleagues. The tainted police investigation leaves lines of inquiry still hanging. This story is the launch of an engaging series for sure.

[Kerrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! From the very first page Nene takes the reader on a roller coaster ride of every human emotion! Totally believable characters that bring Jack's story to life and a surprise twist in the tale that will keep you enthralled till the last page.