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Dan Clement #3
Clear to the Horizon
In 1999, a number of young women go missing in the Perth suburb of Claremont. One body is discovered. Others are never seen again. Snowy Lane ( City of Light ) is hired as a private investigator but neither he nor the cops can find the serial killer. Sixteen years later, another case brings Snowy to Broome, where he teams up with Dan Clement ( Before It Breaks ) and an incidental crime puts them back on the Claremont case. Clear to the Horizon is a nail-biting Aussie-style thriller, based on one of the great unsolved crimes in Western Australia’s recent history.
378 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2017
38 people are currently reading
293 people want to read
About the author
Dave Warner
42 books90 followersDave Warner is the author of fourteen crime novels, including the winner of the 1996 WA Premier’s Award for Fiction (City of Light) and the 2016 Ned Kelly winner of Best Australian Crime Fiction (Before it Breaks). He has also written a children's book series and seven non-fiction titles, and screenwritten for film and TV.
Dave Warner originally gained national recognition as a musician-songwriter in the late 1970s with Bob Dylan referring to Dave and Richard Clapton as his “favourite Australian artists”.
As early as 1973 Dave had formed Australia’s first punk band, Pus, playing early versions of tracks such as Suburban Boy and Hot Crotch which he was later to record with Dave Warner’s from the Suburbs. In 1975, Dave went to London and wrote many new songs which expressed a clearly-defined vision of Australia, including tracks such as Convict Streak and Oklahoma. Suburban Boy became the cornerstone of this new style of music, which Dave labelled suburban rock. Warner’s music is probably best described as Lou Reed meets Tomas Pynchon.
Dave's feature films include the cult-horror CUT (starring Kylie Minogue and Molly Ringwald) and GARAGE DAYS (co-written with director Alex Proyas). His many TV credits include scripts for MCLEOD’S DAUGHTERS and PACKED TO THE RAFTERS.
Dave was educated at Aquinas College and the University of Western Australia, graduating with a B.A. (Hons.), majoring in Psychology. Growing up an ardent supporter of the East Fremantle Football Club, his passion of Australian football remains.
Dave Warner originally gained national recognition as a musician-songwriter in the late 1970s with Bob Dylan referring to Dave and Richard Clapton as his “favourite Australian artists”.
As early as 1973 Dave had formed Australia’s first punk band, Pus, playing early versions of tracks such as Suburban Boy and Hot Crotch which he was later to record with Dave Warner’s from the Suburbs. In 1975, Dave went to London and wrote many new songs which expressed a clearly-defined vision of Australia, including tracks such as Convict Streak and Oklahoma. Suburban Boy became the cornerstone of this new style of music, which Dave labelled suburban rock. Warner’s music is probably best described as Lou Reed meets Tomas Pynchon.
Dave's feature films include the cult-horror CUT (starring Kylie Minogue and Molly Ringwald) and GARAGE DAYS (co-written with director Alex Proyas). His many TV credits include scripts for MCLEOD’S DAUGHTERS and PACKED TO THE RAFTERS.
Dave was educated at Aquinas College and the University of Western Australia, graduating with a B.A. (Hons.), majoring in Psychology. Growing up an ardent supporter of the East Fremantle Football Club, his passion of Australian football remains.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
February 7, 2018
When you're touched by evil, it leaves deep within you a trace like some dormant virus waiting to be reactivated into full-blown dead.
In 1999 and 2000, three young women go missing on separate occasions, last seen leaving a nightclub in the Perth suburb of Claremont. With the police not making any headway in the investigations, one of the families contacts renowned private investigator Snowy Lane for help.
Clear to the Horizon is distinctly Australian, loaded with local colloquialisms and locales. The outback features prominently bringing the dusty and dangerous isolation that comes with it into the urban landscape in which the elusive kidnapper terrorizes young women.
This book reads as a tale of two stories; the earlier one centered around the missing women and Snowy Lane's case, with the second featuring a mining mogul's missing daughter in which Snowy is also brought in to investigate, this one is set some 17 years later. Both cases collide in great fashion as the lengthy cat and mouse hunt comes full circle.
I really enjoyed Clear to the Horizon; the Aussie feel is great, the colorful language, similes and sense of mateship between PI and police force are a joy to read.
My rating: 5/5 stars. Whilst Clear to the Horizon features characters from previously books written by Dave Warner, this one reads perfectly well as a standalone, though I am keen to check out City of Light, the preceding book featuring Snowy Lane.
In 1999 and 2000, three young women go missing on separate occasions, last seen leaving a nightclub in the Perth suburb of Claremont. With the police not making any headway in the investigations, one of the families contacts renowned private investigator Snowy Lane for help.
Clear to the Horizon is distinctly Australian, loaded with local colloquialisms and locales. The outback features prominently bringing the dusty and dangerous isolation that comes with it into the urban landscape in which the elusive kidnapper terrorizes young women.
This book reads as a tale of two stories; the earlier one centered around the missing women and Snowy Lane's case, with the second featuring a mining mogul's missing daughter in which Snowy is also brought in to investigate, this one is set some 17 years later. Both cases collide in great fashion as the lengthy cat and mouse hunt comes full circle.
I really enjoyed Clear to the Horizon; the Aussie feel is great, the colorful language, similes and sense of mateship between PI and police force are a joy to read.
My rating: 5/5 stars. Whilst Clear to the Horizon features characters from previously books written by Dave Warner, this one reads perfectly well as a standalone, though I am keen to check out City of Light, the preceding book featuring Snowy Lane.
November 4, 2020
Too much time to think: that was the trouble with living up here, a vastness that seemed prehistoric. You could look clear to the horizon both sides of the car and see nothing but low scrub…
“Clear to the Horizon” opens with Perth-based PI Richard (Snowy) Lane reflecting on October 1999. Famed for cracking the Gruesome Murders case, he is approached by a fellow swimmer off North Cottesloe beach, to look into the disappearance of a friend’s daughter – one of three teenage girls abducted from the Autostrada nightclub – as the police taskforce is being wound down. His appearance on the scene raises the hostility of some members the task force, but the outgoing head of homicide, George Tacich, knows him well and quietly provides background on the three girls, any friends in common, witnesses and possible suspects.
Lane’s task is to cast a fresh pair of eyes over it all and is given assistance by a young female DC as he checks on unsolved sexual assaults in the same area going back a few years, in case the same offender has escalated. As Australia gears up for the Sydney 2000 Olympics, his investigation swings in a new direction, towards the military, with a new suspect emerging. But when an earlier suspect takes his own life, the new head of homicide Tregilgas, declares a successful outcome. Lane is left bitter and unconvinced, as his own suspect slips through the net.
Seventeen years on, in Broome, North-west Western Australia, DI Dan Clement and his team is trying to catch an elusive break-and-enter perpetrator, suspected of dealing in drugs, and is contacted by Lane, now hired by mining magnate, Nelson Feister, to find his daughter, Ingrid, allegedly travelling with her boyfriend up the coast. No one has heard of the couple since they stayed at Port Hedland, 10 days earlier.
When a police raid nets the proceeds of the break-and-enter suspect, an item of jewellery turns up, belonging to one of the Autostrada nightclub victims, and Clement and Lane engage in a covert police operation, hoping it leads to the killer, and closure for the families in Perth.
What a thriller this turned out to be: two-thirds through, I could not put it down, flicking back through the pages as other leads emerge. So many suspects, so many people harbouring secrets, unwittingly allowing a cold serial killer to remain at large. Set in the unforgiving landscape of the north-west, where people not only drive off-grid – there is no grid – this is character-driven drama at its best: exposing a divide between seasoned detectives – each with a teenage daughter – and tech-savvy but analytically inept younger members of the police, and the politically astute higher echelon in Perth.
I had keenly felt the isolation and the slim thread of humanity in this crucible where, like a recumbent giant, prehistoric dead-earth and rock dwarfed me…
For this reader, it brought back memories of travels across NW WA, its vastness, the heat, the settings (Port Hedland, Broome, Derby, Kununurra, Wyndham), and works well as a standalone. I will definitely be seeking out Dave Warner’s earlier novels.
“Clear to the Horizon” opens with Perth-based PI Richard (Snowy) Lane reflecting on October 1999. Famed for cracking the Gruesome Murders case, he is approached by a fellow swimmer off North Cottesloe beach, to look into the disappearance of a friend’s daughter – one of three teenage girls abducted from the Autostrada nightclub – as the police taskforce is being wound down. His appearance on the scene raises the hostility of some members the task force, but the outgoing head of homicide, George Tacich, knows him well and quietly provides background on the three girls, any friends in common, witnesses and possible suspects.
Lane’s task is to cast a fresh pair of eyes over it all and is given assistance by a young female DC as he checks on unsolved sexual assaults in the same area going back a few years, in case the same offender has escalated. As Australia gears up for the Sydney 2000 Olympics, his investigation swings in a new direction, towards the military, with a new suspect emerging. But when an earlier suspect takes his own life, the new head of homicide Tregilgas, declares a successful outcome. Lane is left bitter and unconvinced, as his own suspect slips through the net.
Seventeen years on, in Broome, North-west Western Australia, DI Dan Clement and his team is trying to catch an elusive break-and-enter perpetrator, suspected of dealing in drugs, and is contacted by Lane, now hired by mining magnate, Nelson Feister, to find his daughter, Ingrid, allegedly travelling with her boyfriend up the coast. No one has heard of the couple since they stayed at Port Hedland, 10 days earlier.
When a police raid nets the proceeds of the break-and-enter suspect, an item of jewellery turns up, belonging to one of the Autostrada nightclub victims, and Clement and Lane engage in a covert police operation, hoping it leads to the killer, and closure for the families in Perth.
What a thriller this turned out to be: two-thirds through, I could not put it down, flicking back through the pages as other leads emerge. So many suspects, so many people harbouring secrets, unwittingly allowing a cold serial killer to remain at large. Set in the unforgiving landscape of the north-west, where people not only drive off-grid – there is no grid – this is character-driven drama at its best: exposing a divide between seasoned detectives – each with a teenage daughter – and tech-savvy but analytically inept younger members of the police, and the politically astute higher echelon in Perth.
I had keenly felt the isolation and the slim thread of humanity in this crucible where, like a recumbent giant, prehistoric dead-earth and rock dwarfed me…
For this reader, it brought back memories of travels across NW WA, its vastness, the heat, the settings (Port Hedland, Broome, Derby, Kununurra, Wyndham), and works well as a standalone. I will definitely be seeking out Dave Warner’s earlier novels.
December 14, 2017
Back in the late 1970's Dave Warner released music that became part of the soundtrack of my life. When I discovered CITY OF LIGHT, MURDER IN THE FRAME, EXXXPRESSO and other books by him in the late 1990's / early 2000's I was more than a bit chuffed to think a musical hero was also a lover of crime fiction. And I bloody loved all of those books.
CITY OF LIGHT was Dave Warner's first book (from memory), it won the 1996 West Australian Premier's Award for best fiction, and it introduced a young police constable, and aspiring footballer Snowy Lane. In this book Lane is investigating the murder of a number of young women by the serial killer dubbed 'Mr Gruesome'. If, however, you've not read any of Dave Warner's work then CLEAR TO THE HORIZON is a great place to start, as would be BEFORE IT BREAKS which was a very worthy Ned Kelly winner indeed.
CLEAR TO THE HORIZON is told in two later periods of time, basing itself around the true story of a number of young women who were killed by an undiscovered serial killer in Claremont, Perth. When the novel starts out in 1999, a number of young women have gone missing, with one body discovered, and the others never seen again. Snowy Lane is hired by the parents of one of the missing girls, but he, and the police, are never able to find the girls or the killer. Moving forward 16 years, Lane finds himself on an unconnected case in Broome (this time teaming up with Dan Clement from BEFORE IT BREAKS), and an incidental event takes him straight back to the Claremont investigation.
All of which probably sounds a little complicated, but if you've not read either of the earlier books it won't matter a bit. Nor will it matter if you're not across the details of the true cases on which a lot of the narrative is based. If there's one thing that Dave Warner excels at it's weaving yarns, and CLEAR TO THE HORIZON is a great yarn, with fully fleshed out characters, and plenty of action and pace.
Snowy Lane is an easy bloke to like. Dedicated to his job, he's also a loving family man with a very normal sort of a life. The Claremont case haunts him, but it hasn't twisted him. He's not one to forget, but he's also not one for dwelling. Having said that, give this man a hint of a possible solution and he's not easily distracted. He's very real, and there's more than enough back story dotted throughout this novel to give you an idea for where he's coming from.
There's also a terrific sense of place in Warner's novels. In this case the heat and light of beach-side Fremantle and Broome are clear and bright, contrasting well with the night-time pubs, clubs, alleyways, taxi ranks and parking lots where the young women disappeared. It's worth remembering that apart from the general details of the true crime around which the novel is based, everything here is fictional - much of it is so real, and so feasible in terms of possible suspects, and the final resolution.
I confess to having been a mad fan of Dave Warner's music. It makes me very happy that the stories he tells in his books are longer in form, but still so clearly about life as it happens in Australia. It's particularly fortunate that there's no need to a lot of dancing when a new book comes out - my knees aren't what they used to be back in my punk days. But happy dancing of a slightly more sedate version still goes on.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
CITY OF LIGHT was Dave Warner's first book (from memory), it won the 1996 West Australian Premier's Award for best fiction, and it introduced a young police constable, and aspiring footballer Snowy Lane. In this book Lane is investigating the murder of a number of young women by the serial killer dubbed 'Mr Gruesome'. If, however, you've not read any of Dave Warner's work then CLEAR TO THE HORIZON is a great place to start, as would be BEFORE IT BREAKS which was a very worthy Ned Kelly winner indeed.
CLEAR TO THE HORIZON is told in two later periods of time, basing itself around the true story of a number of young women who were killed by an undiscovered serial killer in Claremont, Perth. When the novel starts out in 1999, a number of young women have gone missing, with one body discovered, and the others never seen again. Snowy Lane is hired by the parents of one of the missing girls, but he, and the police, are never able to find the girls or the killer. Moving forward 16 years, Lane finds himself on an unconnected case in Broome (this time teaming up with Dan Clement from BEFORE IT BREAKS), and an incidental event takes him straight back to the Claremont investigation.
All of which probably sounds a little complicated, but if you've not read either of the earlier books it won't matter a bit. Nor will it matter if you're not across the details of the true cases on which a lot of the narrative is based. If there's one thing that Dave Warner excels at it's weaving yarns, and CLEAR TO THE HORIZON is a great yarn, with fully fleshed out characters, and plenty of action and pace.
Snowy Lane is an easy bloke to like. Dedicated to his job, he's also a loving family man with a very normal sort of a life. The Claremont case haunts him, but it hasn't twisted him. He's not one to forget, but he's also not one for dwelling. Having said that, give this man a hint of a possible solution and he's not easily distracted. He's very real, and there's more than enough back story dotted throughout this novel to give you an idea for where he's coming from.
There's also a terrific sense of place in Warner's novels. In this case the heat and light of beach-side Fremantle and Broome are clear and bright, contrasting well with the night-time pubs, clubs, alleyways, taxi ranks and parking lots where the young women disappeared. It's worth remembering that apart from the general details of the true crime around which the novel is based, everything here is fictional - much of it is so real, and so feasible in terms of possible suspects, and the final resolution.
I confess to having been a mad fan of Dave Warner's music. It makes me very happy that the stories he tells in his books are longer in form, but still so clearly about life as it happens in Australia. It's particularly fortunate that there's no need to a lot of dancing when a new book comes out - my knees aren't what they used to be back in my punk days. But happy dancing of a slightly more sedate version still goes on.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
January 27, 2018
Ive been slowly reading this over the last month. A very good literary crime novel set in my home town. It was interesting reading a novel about a place I've lived majority of my life. Snowy seemed a like a decent character but I just couldn't embrace him like other PIs. Obviously influenced by a real crime in the 90s. Very well written and researched but I just found it a little too intricate which is a weird criticism haha. I think locals and australians will understand the aussie language, and characters but some will find it hard to really gauge whats going on, as having that aussie background will really help. I'll keep an eye out for the next novel.
January 29, 2019
The story starts slowly with an open investigation into the disappearances of three young women from a nightclub in Perth. Snowy Lane is a PI hired by one of the parents and he runs around on countless dead ends. He has his suspicions but nothing definite. 17 years late Lane is on another case of a missing woman this time in Broome.
There's a lot of the outback, Australian slang, music and sporting references, a shark attack, a rogue crocodile, false leads, links to the SAS and skimpys (a unique part of Western Australian culture). At times the writing reminded me of some of the classic gritty US writers. The two main characters are nice likeable guys and the whodunit is not revealed to the last pages.
Dave Warner has produced a gem of a book.
There's a lot of the outback, Australian slang, music and sporting references, a shark attack, a rogue crocodile, false leads, links to the SAS and skimpys (a unique part of Western Australian culture). At times the writing reminded me of some of the classic gritty US writers. The two main characters are nice likeable guys and the whodunit is not revealed to the last pages.
Dave Warner has produced a gem of a book.
November 6, 2017
3.5/4* This was an interesting book to read, because it was set largely in Perth, so I recognised a lot of the landscapes. I also knew about the Claremont killings as a real case as they happened during my lifetime, so I was keen to o read this book to find out how Warner approached that case in his novel. I liked the character of Snowy, and would be interested to read Warner's first book featuring a younger Snowy. There were a lot of similes, which annoyed me a bit at first coz it was overkill as there were so many! Most were quite funny though and I was interested in the plot progression so I wasn't too bothered by that in the end. I really liked the crossover to Broome midway through and the connection of the two protagonists and how their stories crossed over. I'm not a big crime reader but enjoyed this one and will now go back and read Warners previous novels to get a bit more back story on the characters.
October 21, 2018
The last Dave Warner novel I read, which was the second in the Snowy Lane and Dan Clement series, was such a good read that I gave it a rare five stars. This one came close. I wish it were possible to give 4.5 stars. I think having lived in Western Australia helped my comprehension and enjoyment, but even if you've never had that great privilege, you would enjoy it all the same.
With shades of the actual Claremont serial killings, where several young women disappeared from nightclubs in the up-market suburb of Perth, Snowy finds himself in an investigation that sweeps from those wealthy suburbs right through to Broome, where one can see "clear to the horizon.
A well paced thriller, with great characters, locations and many twists and turns, it had me guessing until the reveal. Warner is a great writer and I hope continues this series.
With shades of the actual Claremont serial killings, where several young women disappeared from nightclubs in the up-market suburb of Perth, Snowy finds himself in an investigation that sweeps from those wealthy suburbs right through to Broome, where one can see "clear to the horizon.
A well paced thriller, with great characters, locations and many twists and turns, it had me guessing until the reveal. Warner is a great writer and I hope continues this series.
November 2, 2018
Thanks Dave!
August 5, 2017
You'll feel the heat, the dust and the breeze. The islolation will quieten the noise around you and you'll fall head first into a story filled with people rather than characters. Real, terrifyingly real. The repercussions of crime doesn't just affect the families... And, it's a bloody good story.
March 19, 2018
If only the Claremont Serial Killings could have such a conclusion! Enjoyable read.
November 21, 2019
Very confused style. I know it's a mystery but way too much back and forth over past and present and intermediate cases. Really took from my enjoyment of the book
February 2, 2019
deducted 1/2 point because of the irritations. Might still try another.
August 29, 2018
Clear to the Horizon is loosely based around real murders. Need I say more? Probably not but I will anyway. Clear to the Horizon is also an aussie thriller, and if you didn’t know that the author was an Australia, reading this book would give it away. Not only by the locations of this book but also by the colourful language that the characters use. Nothing gets more Australian then swearing like a chimney sweeper.
Between 1999 and 2000, three young women go missing. All on separate occasions and all under different circumstances but all last seen leaving a nightclub in Perth. With the local police drawing blanks, one of the victim’s family reach out to investigator Snowy Lane for help. After all, Lane used to be a member of the police force.
Though this is technically a sequel, you could read this as a standalone. Mind you I only found out it was a sequel when I did some digging on the author and the killings after I finished the book. Wooops. Anyway if this does sound like your cup of tea than I recommending getting it and you probably won’t need to read the first in the series to get to know the characters, the author does an excellent job of introducing them. I was also surprised about how close to fact this book was to the killings that actually took place. Nothing is better than an author that does his research beforehand.
Our main character Snowy Lane was the only character I liked in this book. It wasn’t that the side characters weren’t well written and introduced, because they were. I just found Lane more convincing as a character and I invested more time in him. Lane was dedicated to his job and his family but finds himself haunted by the Claremont After all he was a fair dinkum aussie!
Clear to the Horizon was an action packed book set in Perth Australia and an extremely intriguing crime novel. If you’re a fan of aussie crime books this is one that needs to be added to your shelves.
Between 1999 and 2000, three young women go missing. All on separate occasions and all under different circumstances but all last seen leaving a nightclub in Perth. With the local police drawing blanks, one of the victim’s family reach out to investigator Snowy Lane for help. After all, Lane used to be a member of the police force.
Though this is technically a sequel, you could read this as a standalone. Mind you I only found out it was a sequel when I did some digging on the author and the killings after I finished the book. Wooops. Anyway if this does sound like your cup of tea than I recommending getting it and you probably won’t need to read the first in the series to get to know the characters, the author does an excellent job of introducing them. I was also surprised about how close to fact this book was to the killings that actually took place. Nothing is better than an author that does his research beforehand.
Our main character Snowy Lane was the only character I liked in this book. It wasn’t that the side characters weren’t well written and introduced, because they were. I just found Lane more convincing as a character and I invested more time in him. Lane was dedicated to his job and his family but finds himself haunted by the Claremont After all he was a fair dinkum aussie!
Clear to the Horizon was an action packed book set in Perth Australia and an extremely intriguing crime novel. If you’re a fan of aussie crime books this is one that needs to be added to your shelves.
October 25, 2017
Inspired by the Claremont serial killings this book starts with quite a procedural look at the investigation. A little dry but still quite interesting to get a more realistic idea of how an investigation is done.
The rests of the book is the more familiar crime writing style with the detecting shared between two major characters. The author expertly moves your attention to potential suspects throughout the book - I felt a little like a goat with a carrot being dangled in front of it :)
Was a terrific read with the ending being quite satisfactory: not too obvious, not too oblique, not too rushed, just right.
The rests of the book is the more familiar crime writing style with the detecting shared between two major characters. The author expertly moves your attention to potential suspects throughout the book - I felt a little like a goat with a carrot being dangled in front of it :)
Was a terrific read with the ending being quite satisfactory: not too obvious, not too oblique, not too rushed, just right.
January 19, 2020
Dave's books all flow so well that I find it hard not to think "oh okay, just one more chapter..." and I end up reading 5 more. This is a really enjoyable book with likeable and/or relatable characters. With his stories there are always twists and turns, and this is no exception. I also like his descriptions of the local areas, and I must say I'm tempted to hit the road over in the West just on that basis.
His similes are pretty funny, and anyone that references the music of "Weddings Parties Anything" is a winner (he got an extra star for that). Looking forward to reading "River of Salt" next...
His similes are pretty funny, and anyone that references the music of "Weddings Parties Anything" is a winner (he got an extra star for that). Looking forward to reading "River of Salt" next...
December 24, 2017
The doggedness shown by Snowy in never giving up in his drive to find his man oozes from the pages. The drama and complexity of the storyline keeps you guessing and the characters were Aussies through and through. Dave Warner has created an absolute masterpiece that is meticulous in detail
August 6, 2023
This is a good, twisty, murder plot based on the Claremont serial killings in the late 1990s. I'd rate this book more highly, but I find Warner's over-indulgence in lame, torturous similes grating; he can't seem to go more than a page without tossing one in.
November 18, 2017
My new #crimefic #Ozlit crush. The best I've read for a while.
November 25, 2017
A well written book addressing Perth serial killings. Whilst a little dry at times, it builds to a great conclusion.
July 15, 2018
Enjoyed reading a story where I knew the place. Very good plot and I liked the characters
August 31, 2018
Excellent Australian crime story. Looking forward to the next book by Dave Warner.
October 19, 2023
I really enjoyed Warner’s River of Salt, so I decided to read this for my ‘Z’ book in a challenge, crossing my fingers that it wouldn’t matter too much that I hadn’t read the other books in the series. (Thankfully, that last bit was true and most of the characters’ history was pretty easy to follow.)
During the 2000 Olympics, Snowy Lane is a private detective who is investigating the disappearance of three young women in Perth. Only one body is found but, when one of the police’s prime suspects commits suicide, the crimes cease and, despite Snowy’s misgivings, it is supposed the deceased was the killer. Flash forward to 2015 and Snowy finds himself in Broome, teaming up with a local police officer, Dan Clement, on a new case when he stumbles over evidence that perhaps the killer from 2000 is still very much alive and kidnapping women again.
I liked both the lead characters. They are different enough that you never get confused as to who is who but I liked the fact they worked together instead of that usual, ‘this is my jurisdiction, go away’ crap often included in police procedurals.
I loved the settings. Using both the city streets and beaches of Perth and the more isolated northern croc-infested areas of Western Australia was a great idea. The transition was seamless between both settings and time periods, and both were just as interesting as the other.
Again, I loved Warner’s style. His similes are often quite funny. He also included a lot of his musical background again which was fun.
I will definitely be catching up with the other books of this series. 4 ½ out of 5
During the 2000 Olympics, Snowy Lane is a private detective who is investigating the disappearance of three young women in Perth. Only one body is found but, when one of the police’s prime suspects commits suicide, the crimes cease and, despite Snowy’s misgivings, it is supposed the deceased was the killer. Flash forward to 2015 and Snowy finds himself in Broome, teaming up with a local police officer, Dan Clement, on a new case when he stumbles over evidence that perhaps the killer from 2000 is still very much alive and kidnapping women again.
I liked both the lead characters. They are different enough that you never get confused as to who is who but I liked the fact they worked together instead of that usual, ‘this is my jurisdiction, go away’ crap often included in police procedurals.
I loved the settings. Using both the city streets and beaches of Perth and the more isolated northern croc-infested areas of Western Australia was a great idea. The transition was seamless between both settings and time periods, and both were just as interesting as the other.
Again, I loved Warner’s style. His similes are often quite funny. He also included a lot of his musical background again which was fun.
I will definitely be catching up with the other books of this series. 4 ½ out of 5
January 2, 2022
If you didn't live in Perth at the time you will perhaps not know the Claremont serial killings, or that in 2021, four years after this book was published, the culprit was arrested, tried, and found guilty. So at the time I am reading this (late 2021) I found it difficult to separate the real story from this fiction. This is perhaps testament to Dave Warner's skill as a writer. It is so terribly real, from the details and the location and the mood of the city at the time, to the empathy for the parents of those girls. There is even a shark attack thrown in for good measure. We also had that. OK, we've had several but again if you are a local you will know exactly the shark attack just as you will now exactly the Claremont lanes and the nightclubs.
The second half of the book jumps in both time and place, 17 years and to the far north of the state, and although still with a great sense of place and character, this half is fictional. It is a more traditional crime fiction, with red herrings and sub plots, and on it's own is pretty good. The problem is that this is in effect two stories in one. As the serial killings were unsolved at the time it could be no other way, but I think the whole would have been better if the first half had been less real and Dave Warner could let himself go and write something even better.
Even so, I recommend this book. If you are not a Perth local and you like crime fiction it is a safe bet. Safer than Perth City in 1999 anyway.
The second half of the book jumps in both time and place, 17 years and to the far north of the state, and although still with a great sense of place and character, this half is fictional. It is a more traditional crime fiction, with red herrings and sub plots, and on it's own is pretty good. The problem is that this is in effect two stories in one. As the serial killings were unsolved at the time it could be no other way, but I think the whole would have been better if the first half had been less real and Dave Warner could let himself go and write something even better.
Even so, I recommend this book. If you are not a Perth local and you like crime fiction it is a safe bet. Safer than Perth City in 1999 anyway.
November 25, 2024
In my opinion Dave Warner is the most underrated crime author in Australia.
That was an incredible book.
Clear to the Horizon is set over a twenty year period and is loosely based on the infamous Claremont murders in WA in the late 1990's.
When three young women go missing from the nightclub strip in Claremont the family of one of the missing girls hires private detective Snowy Lane.
Despite providing the police with a few solid leads Snowy is seen as a hindrance to the investigation and his leads are not taken seriously. The case is seemingly solved and fades into history though Snowy feels it is far from closed.
Twenty years later and in the far northwest of WA Snowy is tasked with searching for the daughter of a mining magnate when he sees evidence from a robbery case and spies a necklace that he recognises as belonging to one of the missing girls. Might he solve this case after all?
The way this story was brought to it's conclusion was so well done and was satisfying as a reader.
I loved the references to music and sport throughout - both of which are close to the authors heart.
Unfortunately I have not read these books in order, which is how I like to do things, and I only have City of Light to read which is the first in the series.
That was an incredible book.
Clear to the Horizon is set over a twenty year period and is loosely based on the infamous Claremont murders in WA in the late 1990's.
When three young women go missing from the nightclub strip in Claremont the family of one of the missing girls hires private detective Snowy Lane.
Despite providing the police with a few solid leads Snowy is seen as a hindrance to the investigation and his leads are not taken seriously. The case is seemingly solved and fades into history though Snowy feels it is far from closed.
Twenty years later and in the far northwest of WA Snowy is tasked with searching for the daughter of a mining magnate when he sees evidence from a robbery case and spies a necklace that he recognises as belonging to one of the missing girls. Might he solve this case after all?
The way this story was brought to it's conclusion was so well done and was satisfying as a reader.
I loved the references to music and sport throughout - both of which are close to the authors heart.
Unfortunately I have not read these books in order, which is how I like to do things, and I only have City of Light to read which is the first in the series.
July 2, 2020
This is a great read. It’s loosely based on the true story of the Claremont Serial Killings. The actual murder trial is just finished after several months and we await a decision.
The story is told over two time periods. The book starts out in 1999. A number of young women have gone missing, with only one body discovered. Snowy Lane is hired by the parents of one of the missing girls, but he is never able to find the girls or the murderer. Fast forward 16 years. Lane is involved in an unconnected case in Broome. He gets together with a guy called Dan to investigate and sees a link with the Claremont serial killer investigation.
Warner’s characters are great. This is a fast paced book. In fact, it was a quick read. Snowy Lane really loves his job. The Claremont case never leaves him. Snowy’s back story is well painted.
I love the way Fremantle ( where I live) and Broome ( a favourite holiday place of mine) are so well described, as is Claremont where the actual killimgs occurred. There are a lot of twists and turns before we reach resolution of the crimes. The story is interestingly weaved. It never lost traction for me.
The story is told over two time periods. The book starts out in 1999. A number of young women have gone missing, with only one body discovered. Snowy Lane is hired by the parents of one of the missing girls, but he is never able to find the girls or the murderer. Fast forward 16 years. Lane is involved in an unconnected case in Broome. He gets together with a guy called Dan to investigate and sees a link with the Claremont serial killer investigation.
Warner’s characters are great. This is a fast paced book. In fact, it was a quick read. Snowy Lane really loves his job. The Claremont case never leaves him. Snowy’s back story is well painted.
I love the way Fremantle ( where I live) and Broome ( a favourite holiday place of mine) are so well described, as is Claremont where the actual killimgs occurred. There are a lot of twists and turns before we reach resolution of the crimes. The story is interestingly weaved. It never lost traction for me.
May 15, 2018
One of the previous reviews used the word "dry" in relation to this book and although it's odd to use the word to explain my response to this book which is very descriptive at points, that's how I feel about it. There were almost too many words and action but not enough description. If our heroes had gone on one more 5 hour drive with nothing to much to say about the world they were in, I would have screamed. I grew up in some of the environment that Warner writes about - Cottesloe and Claremont - and even those spaces didn't have any colour to them. Yes, urban streets were described shop by shop but there wasn't any richness in it. Even the relationship between the PI and his wife and daughter, although described with warmth, felt dry.
Odd. I can't put my finger on it. But it didn't stop me from reading all the way to the end.
Odd. I can't put my finger on it. But it didn't stop me from reading all the way to the end.
November 27, 2019
I read this after buying it at an author talk shortly after publication. In my youth Dave Warner was best known as the leader of a Perth-based band and I saw them perform many times. He has developed into a fine author with convincing plots, authentic characters, some unexpected twists and brisk dialogue. Given that the Claremont serial killer trial is currently happening in Perth, Western Australia I wanted to re-read this novel as the premise is so similar to real-life events that happened from 1996.
The story is compelling and I love that I've been to many of the places described in the book including Broome and Derby in the northwest of Western Australia. I'm sure there will be revived interest in this book in light of the current trial. Highly recommended, especially given the setting.
The story is compelling and I love that I've been to many of the places described in the book including Broome and Derby in the northwest of Western Australia. I'm sure there will be revived interest in this book in light of the current trial. Highly recommended, especially given the setting.
May 10, 2020
“It’s funny, when you’re in the outback you instantly feel part of the community. I guess it’s the magnitude of space and the paucity of humans.” DW does rural WA noir so well. I enjoyed this more than Before it Breaks. Based on the infamous Claremont killings but with a more successful outcome. Enamoured with DW's writing ability is good reason to read others by him which I will be doing.
May 20, 2019
Really good story but some things annoyed me. Like the first novel there were too many silly similes that just got in the way and distracted me. And for God's sake, Fremantle Press, get a better editor. There were several errors and typos. In one part, a character called Carmel was written as Carmen. Not acceptable.
September 23, 2022
As this book began it seemed to be just repeating the Claremont serial killings in Western Australia. It then moved on to many years later and Broome in the north west. The mysteries become more involved and murders continue to occur. This is a book with lots of false leads and is extremely interesting.
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