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A Bill Murdoch Mystery #1
Headland
What happens when a drug dealer is forced to turn detective? Meet Bill Murdoch, the world's most-reluctant private investigator...
Murdoch’s doing just fine, thanks for not asking. He’s dealing drugs for a crime syndicate in Sydney and saving for a house by the sea. But what does he think life is, a fairy tale?
As the syndicate puts pressure on him to fill the shoes of his murdered boss, Murdoch is cornered by an equally formidable foe: the Australian Tax Office demanding an explanation for his sizeable cash income.
Murdoch spins a beautiful lie, telling tax inspector, Hannah Simms, he’s a private detective. When Simms asks him to investigate the mystery of her niece's disappearance, Murdoch grabs what he thinks is a golden opportunity to outrun the syndicate. But his arrival in the missing girl's small coastal home town causes an unexpected stir and the reluctant PI soon realises his troubles are only just beginning.
HEADLAND is crime fiction at its best, a small town murder mystery to keep you guessing until the very end.
** THIS IS NOT THE AUSTRALIA YOU’VE SEEN ADVERTISED **
HEADLAND is the first book in the Bill Murdoch Mystery series. Set in Sydney, and small town Australia, this series will appeal to fans of Mick Herron, Peter Temple, Barry Maitland, Ragnar Jonasson, Erik Hamre, Jane Harper, Garry Disher, Mari Hannah, Dave Warner, Jock Serong, Pete Brassett, and Iain Rankin's Rebus novels.
Tense and taut. Smart and sharply-observed. This is a cracking new addition to the Aussie crime genre.
Bad-boy-turned-local-hero, Bill Murdoch, is back to solve more murder mysteries in the sequels CLASS ACT, and BASE NATURE. Out now!
Murdoch’s doing just fine, thanks for not asking. He’s dealing drugs for a crime syndicate in Sydney and saving for a house by the sea. But what does he think life is, a fairy tale?
As the syndicate puts pressure on him to fill the shoes of his murdered boss, Murdoch is cornered by an equally formidable foe: the Australian Tax Office demanding an explanation for his sizeable cash income.
Murdoch spins a beautiful lie, telling tax inspector, Hannah Simms, he’s a private detective. When Simms asks him to investigate the mystery of her niece's disappearance, Murdoch grabs what he thinks is a golden opportunity to outrun the syndicate. But his arrival in the missing girl's small coastal home town causes an unexpected stir and the reluctant PI soon realises his troubles are only just beginning.
HEADLAND is crime fiction at its best, a small town murder mystery to keep you guessing until the very end.
** THIS IS NOT THE AUSTRALIA YOU’VE SEEN ADVERTISED **
HEADLAND is the first book in the Bill Murdoch Mystery series. Set in Sydney, and small town Australia, this series will appeal to fans of Mick Herron, Peter Temple, Barry Maitland, Ragnar Jonasson, Erik Hamre, Jane Harper, Garry Disher, Mari Hannah, Dave Warner, Jock Serong, Pete Brassett, and Iain Rankin's Rebus novels.
Tense and taut. Smart and sharply-observed. This is a cracking new addition to the Aussie crime genre.
Bad-boy-turned-local-hero, Bill Murdoch, is back to solve more murder mysteries in the sequels CLASS ACT, and BASE NATURE. Out now!
362 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2017
448 people are currently reading
791 people want to read
About the author
Ged Gillmore
9 books37 followersGed Gillmore completed degrees in languages and literature at the University of London. Fancying a change to sunnier climes, Ged made the leap to Sydney in early 2004.
When he's not falling off his surfboard at Bondi or dabbling with a day job which pays the bills he sits at his laptop and bashes out fiction.
In October 2017, Ged launched his 'Bill Murdoch Mystery' series, beginning with HEADLAND, and followed by sequels, CLASS ACT (Jan 2018), and BASE NATURE (Mar 2018). The series is set in Sydney and a small town on the NSW Central Coast. in 2018 CLASS ACT was nominated for a Ned Kelly Award (Australia's oldest and most prestigious crime fiction prize).
In 2022 Ged releases his first standalone international thriller, THE LIGHTNING ROD.
For more details on Ged and his books visit www.gedgillmore.com
When he's not falling off his surfboard at Bondi or dabbling with a day job which pays the bills he sits at his laptop and bashes out fiction.
In October 2017, Ged launched his 'Bill Murdoch Mystery' series, beginning with HEADLAND, and followed by sequels, CLASS ACT (Jan 2018), and BASE NATURE (Mar 2018). The series is set in Sydney and a small town on the NSW Central Coast. in 2018 CLASS ACT was nominated for a Ned Kelly Award (Australia's oldest and most prestigious crime fiction prize).
In 2022 Ged releases his first standalone international thriller, THE LIGHTNING ROD.
For more details on Ged and his books visit www.gedgillmore.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
May 24, 2022
Bill Murdoch, ex the United Kingdom, now resided in Sydney while working as a dealer for a crime syndicate. But when the tables were turned, Bill spoke to a reporter at a local paper and high tailed it for the Central Coast, north of Sydney. While he was hiding out, a woman named Hannah asked him to look into the disappearance of her niece, Georgie, missing for the past two years. And that was how Bill became a reluctant private investigator.
The small town he was in, staying with Hannah’s ex-husband Davie, was filled with friendly locals, and when they learned why Bill was there – investigating Georgie’s disappearance – they were all willing to help. Meanwhile the crime syndicate was still after Bill. With Davie’s involvement, showing Bill the house on the headland, and the Club’s long reach, Bill knew he’d be in trouble if he didn’t stay one step ahead. But could he?
Headland is the 1st in A Bill Murdoch Mystery series by Aussie author Ged Gillmore and is set in Sydney and on the Central Coast of NSW. Bill is exceedingly rough around the edges – to be understood – but has a good heart under all the tough bluster. It took me a bit to get into, but things moved along well once we were settled in the Central Coast. Recommended.
The small town he was in, staying with Hannah’s ex-husband Davie, was filled with friendly locals, and when they learned why Bill was there – investigating Georgie’s disappearance – they were all willing to help. Meanwhile the crime syndicate was still after Bill. With Davie’s involvement, showing Bill the house on the headland, and the Club’s long reach, Bill knew he’d be in trouble if he didn’t stay one step ahead. But could he?
Headland is the 1st in A Bill Murdoch Mystery series by Aussie author Ged Gillmore and is set in Sydney and on the Central Coast of NSW. Bill is exceedingly rough around the edges – to be understood – but has a good heart under all the tough bluster. It took me a bit to get into, but things moved along well once we were settled in the Central Coast. Recommended.
October 24, 2017
What an excellent story, a criminal turned detective tries to do right, the best way he knows. It took me awhile to get really into the story, but then I was absolutely entranced by the character of Bill Murdoch as he leans from the criminal life he has known forever to his attempt to prove the people in a small town right when they are encouraged and happy that he is investigating the disappearance of a young teen. There are some great characters we meet, from all different walks of life, as mafia-type men hound Bill to join their 'Club'. Then we meet a lady, Hannah Simms, who works in the tax office, who knows Bill's background and asks him to look into a teen's murder for her when he tells her he is a private detective to explain money in the bank away.
The story has some intense scenes as Bill travels trying to do well for the right people. I really enjoyed Bill's encounters with Davy, who he lives with in Hannah's old home as he works. There are plenty of twists and turns, keeping me unable to stop reading, I just kept turning pages!
I did receive an ARC of this story from author Ged Gillmore from which I give you my totally unbiased review. Pick this story up, bet you enjoy it also....
The story has some intense scenes as Bill travels trying to do well for the right people. I really enjoyed Bill's encounters with Davy, who he lives with in Hannah's old home as he works. There are plenty of twists and turns, keeping me unable to stop reading, I just kept turning pages!
I did receive an ARC of this story from author Ged Gillmore from which I give you my totally unbiased review. Pick this story up, bet you enjoy it also....
March 6, 2018
The good news is I'm so far behind with this review, that the second book in the series is out now. Which means you've got a new series to follow on your hands!
As the blurb puts it "Bill Murdoch's doing just fine, thanks for not asking. He's dealing drugs for a professional crime syndicate in Sydney and saving for a house by the sea."
Despite a spot of pressure from the syndicate behind that to replace his recently murdered boss, he's got bigger problems on his hands as the Australian Tax Office looms on the horizon wanting to know where this cash income of his is coming from. And we all know, when other authorities can't get you, the Tax Department often will. But Murdoch could not possibly have expected the little "white lie" about him being a private detective was uttered in front of a bad choice of Tax Inspectors, as Hannah Simms has been looking for just such a thing. Her niece has gone missing and she wants answers. Whatever Murdoch's initial regret at this little blunder, a bit of gentle poking about in a small coastal town, with accommodation etc thrown in, sounds like an ideal "hide out" from syndicate pressures.
Except that Murdoch finds himself actually looking for a missing girl, dealing with an erratic housemate (and it turns out ex-husband of Ms Simms) and basically trying to keep a low profile in a very small town.
A lot of the success of HEADLAND is down to the character of Bill Murdoch. Dry as a chip, determined, understandably daft at times, he's a survivor first and foremost, but a decent bloke all the same. There's nuance and substance to everyone in this book - it's not just noir styled, dry lone wolf territory. His sidekick by dint of proximity, Davy, unexpected housemate, surfer, real-estate agent, once was rock star, is equally a great character - about as different from Murdoch as you can get. Character is a strong point in HEADLAND, but not to the detriment of other aspects.
The plot is well constructed, with the search for a missing girl starting out as a convenient excuse for hiding away, and rapidly becoming a real, serious search. There's plenty of twists and turns, a bit of age appropriate action, some great encounters in the big smoke and the small local town, and overall both aspects - character and plot - combine well. There's sufficient motivation for much of what Murdoch does, doesn't do, finds and flushes out to have everything ultimately make sense, even if you don't see some of it coming.
The commencement of a new series is always a tricky undertaking for an author, and sometimes for the reader, and HEADLAND has a few of those expected issues. It does take a while for things to get moving, and it might take you a little while to get your head around aspects of Bill Murdoch's background and character overall. But stick with it, as this is an extremely promising Australian thriller, PI noir debut and CLASS ACT is now out there now, ready for you to read next.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
As the blurb puts it "Bill Murdoch's doing just fine, thanks for not asking. He's dealing drugs for a professional crime syndicate in Sydney and saving for a house by the sea."
Despite a spot of pressure from the syndicate behind that to replace his recently murdered boss, he's got bigger problems on his hands as the Australian Tax Office looms on the horizon wanting to know where this cash income of his is coming from. And we all know, when other authorities can't get you, the Tax Department often will. But Murdoch could not possibly have expected the little "white lie" about him being a private detective was uttered in front of a bad choice of Tax Inspectors, as Hannah Simms has been looking for just such a thing. Her niece has gone missing and she wants answers. Whatever Murdoch's initial regret at this little blunder, a bit of gentle poking about in a small coastal town, with accommodation etc thrown in, sounds like an ideal "hide out" from syndicate pressures.
Except that Murdoch finds himself actually looking for a missing girl, dealing with an erratic housemate (and it turns out ex-husband of Ms Simms) and basically trying to keep a low profile in a very small town.
A lot of the success of HEADLAND is down to the character of Bill Murdoch. Dry as a chip, determined, understandably daft at times, he's a survivor first and foremost, but a decent bloke all the same. There's nuance and substance to everyone in this book - it's not just noir styled, dry lone wolf territory. His sidekick by dint of proximity, Davy, unexpected housemate, surfer, real-estate agent, once was rock star, is equally a great character - about as different from Murdoch as you can get. Character is a strong point in HEADLAND, but not to the detriment of other aspects.
The plot is well constructed, with the search for a missing girl starting out as a convenient excuse for hiding away, and rapidly becoming a real, serious search. There's plenty of twists and turns, a bit of age appropriate action, some great encounters in the big smoke and the small local town, and overall both aspects - character and plot - combine well. There's sufficient motivation for much of what Murdoch does, doesn't do, finds and flushes out to have everything ultimately make sense, even if you don't see some of it coming.
The commencement of a new series is always a tricky undertaking for an author, and sometimes for the reader, and HEADLAND has a few of those expected issues. It does take a while for things to get moving, and it might take you a little while to get your head around aspects of Bill Murdoch's background and character overall. But stick with it, as this is an extremely promising Australian thriller, PI noir debut and CLASS ACT is now out there now, ready for you to read next.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
October 13, 2023
Setting: Sydney & Central Coast, NSW, Australia; modern day.
Ex-con Bill Murdoch has left his UK criminal past behind - or so he thought. Reluctantly recruited into a Sydney-based drug dealing cartel known as The Club, he works for them for several years. But then, during a change of management structure, Bill picks the wrong side at the same time as he is summoned to an interview by the Australian tax office to explain his income. Pretending to his tax officer, Hannah, that he is a private detective, Bill finds himself tasked by her to travel to a small coastal town on the Central Coast to find out what happened to her teenage niece, Georgie, who has been missing without a trace for about two years. Pursued by The Club, Bill is almost forced to take on the job but initially finds the going tough, even with the help of Hannah's ex-husband, Davie. But soon clues start to come together, although Bill must always be aware of the long reach and awareness of his former employees to keep one step ahead. Following some violent altercations and some poor decision-making on Bill's part, will he be able to find Georgie and also save himself?....
Bill Murdoch is a classic anti-hero - violent, disrespectful, often unapproachable and with poor interpersonal skills and a distrust of the police - so you can't really see how he intends to proceed with his investigation, unless of course he doesn't really intend to. Despite all this, I still found myself slowly adopting a grudging respect for the character in this first book of a series and would like to see how this develops. There are some uncomfortably violent scenes in the book, one in particular which even made me cringe, so be warned. Overall, I enjoyed the setting and characters, despite an uncertain start, and will be looking for more Bill Murdoch novels - 8.5/10.
Ex-con Bill Murdoch has left his UK criminal past behind - or so he thought. Reluctantly recruited into a Sydney-based drug dealing cartel known as The Club, he works for them for several years. But then, during a change of management structure, Bill picks the wrong side at the same time as he is summoned to an interview by the Australian tax office to explain his income. Pretending to his tax officer, Hannah, that he is a private detective, Bill finds himself tasked by her to travel to a small coastal town on the Central Coast to find out what happened to her teenage niece, Georgie, who has been missing without a trace for about two years. Pursued by The Club, Bill is almost forced to take on the job but initially finds the going tough, even with the help of Hannah's ex-husband, Davie. But soon clues start to come together, although Bill must always be aware of the long reach and awareness of his former employees to keep one step ahead. Following some violent altercations and some poor decision-making on Bill's part, will he be able to find Georgie and also save himself?....
Bill Murdoch is a classic anti-hero - violent, disrespectful, often unapproachable and with poor interpersonal skills and a distrust of the police - so you can't really see how he intends to proceed with his investigation, unless of course he doesn't really intend to. Despite all this, I still found myself slowly adopting a grudging respect for the character in this first book of a series and would like to see how this develops. There are some uncomfortably violent scenes in the book, one in particular which even made me cringe, so be warned. Overall, I enjoyed the setting and characters, despite an uncertain start, and will be looking for more Bill Murdoch novels - 8.5/10.
April 26, 2018
4.5star rounded up.
Bill Murdoch is a drug dealer who is trying to evade his boss as well as the Australian Tax Office. All he wants to do is live a quiet life with his own house and car by the sea. After a lie to the tax office he finds himself looking into a cold case of a missing girl in a small coastal town.
This is a definite off the beaten track of the stereotypical that I have of the Australian lifestyle. The reader is taken into the other side of life, into the more off the beaten track and into a community setting. The first section of the book deals with Bill in Sydney and is good but then the author takes us to a wonderfully descriptive setting with the next section as he Bill deals with the missing person. This I really loved, a definite feeling of noir as the atmospheric and descriptive passages give some really good and vivid imagery.
This is a slow burner and as the story unfolds it slowly took a grip on me, intriguing to start and then curiosity taking over to see where it was going and then to be totally addicted to discover the outcome. The characters didn’t take long to get used to and soon became familiar. I really liked the dynamics between Bill and his “sidekick” as their relationship changed over the course of the book, or actually as Bill’s attitude changed. He is not your usual lead in a story, he is a rude, wiry, closed off and almost cocky character who I didn’t immediately take a liking to, but found myself warming to as the story went on.
I found myself quite surprised by the different routes that the author took, in a good way I might add, and how the author drew me into the story. A story that deals with a community and the way it works, there are no secrets and everybody knows your business.
This is a book that would appeal to readers who like a slower paced crime, mystery and thriller style read. An Australian Noir that I would definitely recommend and a series that I will be reading more of.
Bill Murdoch is a drug dealer who is trying to evade his boss as well as the Australian Tax Office. All he wants to do is live a quiet life with his own house and car by the sea. After a lie to the tax office he finds himself looking into a cold case of a missing girl in a small coastal town.
This is a definite off the beaten track of the stereotypical that I have of the Australian lifestyle. The reader is taken into the other side of life, into the more off the beaten track and into a community setting. The first section of the book deals with Bill in Sydney and is good but then the author takes us to a wonderfully descriptive setting with the next section as he Bill deals with the missing person. This I really loved, a definite feeling of noir as the atmospheric and descriptive passages give some really good and vivid imagery.
This is a slow burner and as the story unfolds it slowly took a grip on me, intriguing to start and then curiosity taking over to see where it was going and then to be totally addicted to discover the outcome. The characters didn’t take long to get used to and soon became familiar. I really liked the dynamics between Bill and his “sidekick” as their relationship changed over the course of the book, or actually as Bill’s attitude changed. He is not your usual lead in a story, he is a rude, wiry, closed off and almost cocky character who I didn’t immediately take a liking to, but found myself warming to as the story went on.
I found myself quite surprised by the different routes that the author took, in a good way I might add, and how the author drew me into the story. A story that deals with a community and the way it works, there are no secrets and everybody knows your business.
This is a book that would appeal to readers who like a slower paced crime, mystery and thriller style read. An Australian Noir that I would definitely recommend and a series that I will be reading more of.
April 10, 2018
Bill Murdoch moved to Australia a few years ago on a dual passport. He's been muscle in a drug operation in Sydney ever since - very successfully. He's saving for a house by the beach and can't wait to retire there. But naturally everything goes wrong. The 'Club' is taking over and kills his current boss. And, just to top it off, the Tax Office wants to know where is Bill's money coming from?
Bill spins Hannah, the Tax Officer, a yarn about his career as a private invesigator which is so successful that she hires him to find her missing niece. He heads off to the Central Coast and becomes enmeshed in the community there. There are great characters, fabulous action, thrills and suspense, plus the mystery is solved very satisfactorily.
I had low expectations but I loved it. Highly recommended.
Bill spins Hannah, the Tax Officer, a yarn about his career as a private invesigator which is so successful that she hires him to find her missing niece. He heads off to the Central Coast and becomes enmeshed in the community there. There are great characters, fabulous action, thrills and suspense, plus the mystery is solved very satisfactorily.
I had low expectations but I loved it. Highly recommended.
August 13, 2018
Waste of time
A real waste of time.
Read the whole thing hoping that it would get better but alas it didn't.
Now I'm passed that I didn't put it down right away.
A real waste of time.
Read the whole thing hoping that it would get better but alas it didn't.
Now I'm passed that I didn't put it down right away.
October 18, 2020
Well now ... this certainly was a ride to remember. The thrill I got from reading this was the same as I got when I read the first of Adrian McKinty's Sean Duffy novels. The premise of the novel - that a relatively small time gangster called Bill Murdoch ends up becoming a private investigator for the tax inspector who's looking into how much revenue he may owe to the Australian exchequer - is beyond original in itself. But Ged Gillmore's skill in drawing out a supporting cast of characters that alternate between the city lights of Sydney and smaller towns further away is so good. All through the book my view of Murdoch changed - at times I thought of him as a kind of Jack Reacher - and at other times I was frustrated by his less than admirable people skills - but he turned out to be a pretty decent human being overall with a strong sense of doing right by people who needed justice. Although if he was real he probably would want to dismiss that description of him out of hand. Mix all of that with the difference between the attitudes of people in small towns with those in the city and this is more than just a promising start in what I hope will be a long series. Excellent stuff.
March 26, 2019
I got this book for free what was advertised via bookbub. There is a lot of freebie crime fiction available, it seems, so I normally skip these, but this one was set on the NSW central coast, where headlands are part of the iconic landscape, so I decided to give it a go. The location captures some of my nostalgia, but only to give a vague feeling of familiarity. The perspective of the main character perhaps added or created this: a British ex-con finds himself on the run from a shady life in Sydney, finding himself in a beachside suburb he has no instinct for. I assumed as I read this reflected the background of the author, or perhaps a ploy to appeal to both Australian and British audiences, but it didn't catch the right feeling for me. As for the plot, it didn't build suspense or intrigue the way I think good 'crime' writing should, rather the revelation of the guilty party coming in an inspired rush at the end. So, not really for me, but not bad enough to be stuck in the to read list for years on end.
June 20, 2022
Hugely enjoyable. Deserves more that a 5-star rating.
A well written suspense thriller that's an absolute page turner, be prepare to stay up all night …... 'just another page'.
Headland is unlike any thriller I've read before. There's plenty of action, often violent, what's unusual is that the author de-glamorises his criminals, describing their sleazy lives existing in slum areas, they are cruel and merciless, all around them life is considered cheap.
Book one of reformed drug dealer Bill Murdoch, now acting as a private investigator and his side kick Davie, who's not as stupid as he appears.
I look forward to reading books 2 and 3 with more cases for Murdoch and Davie to solve.
A well written suspense thriller that's an absolute page turner, be prepare to stay up all night …... 'just another page'.
Headland is unlike any thriller I've read before. There's plenty of action, often violent, what's unusual is that the author de-glamorises his criminals, describing their sleazy lives existing in slum areas, they are cruel and merciless, all around them life is considered cheap.
Book one of reformed drug dealer Bill Murdoch, now acting as a private investigator and his side kick Davie, who's not as stupid as he appears.
I look forward to reading books 2 and 3 with more cases for Murdoch and Davie to solve.
October 17, 2017
Headland kept me engrossed on recent holidays, I could not put it down.
Bill Murdoch, the ‘rough around the edges’ protagonist, and his adventures literally kept me on the edge of my seat. The underworld theme is set in present day Sydney and to be able to follow locations and know them well provided a thrilling element. I can completely lose myself in a heist/murder mystery and I definitely did with Headland uncovering the truth behind the disappearance of a young girl. The twists and turns, the writing style and THE DRAMA all make for a compelling novel. An excellent read and highly HIGHLY recommended!
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it
Bill Murdoch, the ‘rough around the edges’ protagonist, and his adventures literally kept me on the edge of my seat. The underworld theme is set in present day Sydney and to be able to follow locations and know them well provided a thrilling element. I can completely lose myself in a heist/murder mystery and I definitely did with Headland uncovering the truth behind the disappearance of a young girl. The twists and turns, the writing style and THE DRAMA all make for a compelling novel. An excellent read and highly HIGHLY recommended!
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it
January 17, 2019
Great new character is Bill Murdoch
Written about a part of the world I’ve always longed to visit, this book came alive straight away with descriptions of the trees, birds, scents, and odd characters in the small ocean community in which Bill finds himself. While Bill Murdoch is a crusty ruffian, it’s his not so obvious soft heart that will have you cheering him on. We always hope he’s a step ahead of the bad guy, whomever that may be, until it’s almost too late. Very enjoyable reading! Recommend!
Written about a part of the world I’ve always longed to visit, this book came alive straight away with descriptions of the trees, birds, scents, and odd characters in the small ocean community in which Bill finds himself. While Bill Murdoch is a crusty ruffian, it’s his not so obvious soft heart that will have you cheering him on. We always hope he’s a step ahead of the bad guy, whomever that may be, until it’s almost too late. Very enjoyable reading! Recommend!
September 15, 2020
An excellent crime novel
A well laid out crime novel/mystery about an ex-con's investigation into a young girl's disappearance. Bill Murdoch is a protagonist you can't help but root for and the folks he meets in a small Aussie beachside town during his investigation are interesting and engaging. After reading this I decided to purchase the next two books in this series. That's how much I enjoyed this book.
A well laid out crime novel/mystery about an ex-con's investigation into a young girl's disappearance. Bill Murdoch is a protagonist you can't help but root for and the folks he meets in a small Aussie beachside town during his investigation are interesting and engaging. After reading this I decided to purchase the next two books in this series. That's how much I enjoyed this book.
June 29, 2022
As a fan of Australian Noir and crime I decided to give this a go. Drug dealer turns detective sounded a novel take on the usual whodunit and I was not disappointed.
Bill Murdoch was not painted as an attractive character by any means, but as the tale unfolds you find yourself rooting for this anti-hero, with his sullen manner and questionable background.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, and will certainly be onto the next in the series very soon.
Bill Murdoch was not painted as an attractive character by any means, but as the tale unfolds you find yourself rooting for this anti-hero, with his sullen manner and questionable background.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, and will certainly be onto the next in the series very soon.
July 11, 2022
Oh what a read!
After a long while, I found a book which is so powerful and b'fully written.
I am thankful that it came as a suggestion on my kindle. Lil blessings and whatnot.
Second series of books I have read played out in Australia and loved 'em both.
Few questions still remain though like whatever happened to Georgia's friend who was mixed with the wrong ppl. I hope they have some info on her in the next book.
After a long while, I found a book which is so powerful and b'fully written.
I am thankful that it came as a suggestion on my kindle. Lil blessings and whatnot.
Second series of books I have read played out in Australia and loved 'em both.
Few questions still remain though like whatever happened to Georgia's friend who was mixed with the wrong ppl. I hope they have some info on her in the next book.
October 10, 2017
Best book I've read all year. I love anything set in Australia, and this book is set in two of my favourite places ... Sydney AND the Central Coast. Loved the humor, loved the characters, am pretty sure Davie was my favourite. I flew through the end as I didn't want to put it down. Let me just say ... WHAT an ENDING! And the good news? ... there's already a sequel!
January 1, 2023
This is my 2nd Ged Gillmore book; first one was Stans By Me, a rollicking tour of the former Soviet Central Asian republics. This book, Headland, is the first of a thriller/mystery triology Gillmore has written. Well-written and crafted, with an engaging story & characters. I'm looking forward to reading the next 2 installments in good time.
July 18, 2025
It was hard to finish
40 percent into and nothing was even happening. Nothing about the club and nothing about the missing girl. It never did puck up for me. It was easy to guess what was going to happen and the ending. I did finish it but wish I would of stopped and started another book.
40 percent into and nothing was even happening. Nothing about the club and nothing about the missing girl. It never did puck up for me. It was easy to guess what was going to happen and the ending. I did finish it but wish I would of stopped and started another book.
June 4, 2020
Murdoch .... Private Detective
I enjoyed reading this book. The storyline was continual and absorbing. I would recommend reading this to all those interested in mysteries as a good read.
I enjoyed reading this book. The storyline was continual and absorbing. I would recommend reading this to all those interested in mysteries as a good read.
May 18, 2021
Looking forward to more
A fun read, enjoyable characters. I didn't understand all of the Australian slang but, that just made it more interesting. Think I will check out more by Ged Gillmore
A fun read, enjoyable characters. I didn't understand all of the Australian slang but, that just made it more interesting. Think I will check out more by Ged Gillmore
December 13, 2017
I won this book through Goodreads giveaway. This book is a thriller set in Australia with many twists and turns in the plot. I recommend this book.
October 26, 2018
Hardboiled and exciting.
November 5, 2018
Goof
I’m so sure happy 😊 I have just to be sure to get my y the app only just have
I’m so sure happy 😊 I have just to be sure to get my y the app only just have
August 26, 2019
Excellent book. Tightly plotted with entertaining dialogue and characters. A bit of black humour. Well worth it for crime fans.
September 10, 2021
One of the best books I’ve read in quite a while, and I read a lot. Got really frustrated with the hero as I got into it but couldn’t put the book down!
April 7, 2022
A great read. Very exciting with plenty of twists and turns.
July 17, 2022
pretty great
It was a satisfying read. I liked the characters and the Town. When you are feeling like good people have gone, you’ll be pleased you read this.
It was a satisfying read. I liked the characters and the Town. When you are feeling like good people have gone, you’ll be pleased you read this.
August 4, 2022
A decent mystery
It was one that. In my humble opinion could have been written with much less verbiage. the story line was.good. but seemed to drag on.
It was one that. In my humble opinion could have been written with much less verbiage. the story line was.good. but seemed to drag on.
January 27, 2023
Good Read
The story moved along at a good clip. Bill Murdoch is a believable character who seems to attract trouble wherever he goes. Can't wait to see what he's up to next.
The story moved along at a good clip. Bill Murdoch is a believable character who seems to attract trouble wherever he goes. Can't wait to see what he's up to next.
April 25, 2024
Nice read
Like this book.good story ,good character's twists and turns keep you wanting to carry on reading.recommend it a good read
Like this book.good story ,good character's twists and turns keep you wanting to carry on reading.recommend it a good read
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