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Young Detective Dave Burrows
Fool's Gold
'To Dave, the posting to Barrabine was exactly what he'd wanted - it was a town on the edge, the wild west. There would be excitement, mystery and intrigue here. Everything a detective looked for.'Detective Dave Burrows' first posting to the far west goldfields town of Barrabine in 1997 holds everything he's looking for, but Melinda, his wife of two weeks, is devastated at leaving behind her family, friends and career. More comfortable in heels than RM Williams, Melinda walked away from her much-loved job in the city as a paediatric nurse to follow Dave into the bush. Dave settles in easily to the plain-speaking toughness of his new town, determined to do well, knowing that Barrabine could be his stepping stone into the elite stock squad. But will his marriage last the distance? As Dave investigates reports of mysterious late-night trespassing, a missing person, and guns being drawn on strangers, a local prospector phones in with horrific news that could hold the key to everything.Fleur McDonald's bestselling rural storytelling takes her popular detective, Dave Burrows, back to his compelling and exciting beginnings.
313 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 21, 2018
66 people are currently reading
287 people want to read
About the author
Fleur McDonald
44 books532 followersAfter growing up on a farm near Orroroo in South Australia, Fleur McDonald’s first job was jillarooing in the outback. She has been involved in agriculture all her life, including helping manage a 8000-acre station for twenty years. Today Fleur and her energetic kelpie, Jack, live in Esperance, Western Australia,
Fleur is the author of 23 bestselling novels and two children's books.
Fleur chats about her daily writing life on her blog http://fleurmcdonald.com,
Facebook - Fleur McDonald Author
Instagram @fleurmcdonald
Tiktok @fleurmcdonaldauthor
Fleur is the author of 23 bestselling novels and two children's books.
Fleur chats about her daily writing life on her blog http://fleurmcdonald.com,
Facebook - Fleur McDonald Author
Instagram @fleurmcdonald
Tiktok @fleurmcdonaldauthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
March 20, 2018
Only two weeks since their wedding and Detective Dave Burrows arrived with his wife Melinda in the small outback goldfields town of Barrabine in Western Australia. The dust and sparse landscape looked inviting to him, but Melinda was a city girl. She'd resigned her position as a paediatric nurse at a Perth hospital and Dave hoped she could get another at the local hospital. He hoped she would settle in and make friends before too long.
Dave enjoyed the camaraderie with his partner, Spencer and the other members of the force at the small station - he was to find the friendliness of the locals was normal; apart from those who wanted to avoid the cops. But the local prospectors were a crusty lot, and gradually Dave met them all. It was the day one of those miners called the station to report something suspicious that found Dave investigating a far more sinister occurrence than the normal small crimes of Barrabine.
Would Dave discover the answers to the strange events happening in the area? There were secrets, he knew that, but uncovering them might be more difficult than he realised.
Fool's Gold by Aussie author Fleur McDonald is another excellent romantic suspense novel which I loved. And with this being the 1st in the Detective Dave Burrows series, it is set in 1997 as it tells his story, taking the popular detective back to his beginnings. I first met him in Sapphire Falls and then again in Suddenly One Summer. I'm loving going back to when he started in the force as he gets involved in the intense and gritty crimes of a small community, and very much looking forward to the second in the series. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin AU for my ARC to read and review.
Dave enjoyed the camaraderie with his partner, Spencer and the other members of the force at the small station - he was to find the friendliness of the locals was normal; apart from those who wanted to avoid the cops. But the local prospectors were a crusty lot, and gradually Dave met them all. It was the day one of those miners called the station to report something suspicious that found Dave investigating a far more sinister occurrence than the normal small crimes of Barrabine.
Would Dave discover the answers to the strange events happening in the area? There were secrets, he knew that, but uncovering them might be more difficult than he realised.
Fool's Gold by Aussie author Fleur McDonald is another excellent romantic suspense novel which I loved. And with this being the 1st in the Detective Dave Burrows series, it is set in 1997 as it tells his story, taking the popular detective back to his beginnings. I first met him in Sapphire Falls and then again in Suddenly One Summer. I'm loving going back to when he started in the force as he gets involved in the intense and gritty crimes of a small community, and very much looking forward to the second in the series. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin AU for my ARC to read and review.
October 1, 2021
Detective Dave Burrows and Melinda have only been married for two weeks when Dave discovers he is being posted to an outback mining town of Barrabine in Western Australia. Melinda was not very happy to leave her family, friends and career behind, particularly as she was a city girl and unsure of how she would cope with living in the bush.
Dave has no problem settling into country life and finds the people of Barrabine to be quite friendly and easy to get along with. Dave is set on making a good impression and doing his job well as Barrabine could be his stepping stone into the elite stock squad, but will his marriage survive as Melinda struggles with country living.
Australian author Fluer McDonald has done a superb job in writing this novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommended.
Dave has no problem settling into country life and finds the people of Barrabine to be quite friendly and easy to get along with. Dave is set on making a good impression and doing his job well as Barrabine could be his stepping stone into the elite stock squad, but will his marriage survive as Melinda struggles with country living.
Australian author Fluer McDonald has done a superb job in writing this novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommended.
September 16, 2018
Fool's Gold is book one of the Detective Dave Burrows series by Fleur McDonald. Dave Burrows newly appointed detective and recently married to Melinda moved to a small mining town called Barrabine. On Detective Dave Burrows first day on the job, a report came in on a bad smell down a mine shaft. Dave and his partner Spencer went to investigate and found more then they bargain on a body. The readers of Fool's Gold will continue to follow the twists and turns in Spencer and Dave investigation in how the body got down the mine shaft.
I am so pleased that Fleur McDonald finally gave one of my favorite Fleur McDonald characters in his series. Fool's Gold is an enjoyable book to read, and the plot engaged me from the beginning. I like Fleur McDonald portrayal of her characters and the way they interact with each other. Fleur McDonald did a great job in entwining the two plots of Fool's Gold and the way they intersect at the end of the book. Fool's Gold is well written and researched by Fleur McDonald.
The readers of Fool's Gold will learn about some of the issues that large mining companies have with the small mining lease owners and the corruption this can cause. Fool's Gold highlights the problems that law enforcement officers wives have in small isolated communities away from there families and friends.
I recommend this book.
I am so pleased that Fleur McDonald finally gave one of my favorite Fleur McDonald characters in his series. Fool's Gold is an enjoyable book to read, and the plot engaged me from the beginning. I like Fleur McDonald portrayal of her characters and the way they interact with each other. Fleur McDonald did a great job in entwining the two plots of Fool's Gold and the way they intersect at the end of the book. Fool's Gold is well written and researched by Fleur McDonald.
The readers of Fool's Gold will learn about some of the issues that large mining companies have with the small mining lease owners and the corruption this can cause. Fool's Gold highlights the problems that law enforcement officers wives have in small isolated communities away from there families and friends.
I recommend this book.
April 26, 2018
Fool’s Gold heralds the beginning of a series revolving around an old favourite for fans of Fleur McDonald: Detective Dave Burrows. We meet Dave as he begins his first posting as a Detective, way back in 1997, in a far flung Western mining town called Barrabine. Married only for two weeks, Dave and his wife Melinda must navigate their new marriage in a new town with new jobs and new friends. Dave jumps right in, eager to be there and keen to earn his stripes, but Melinda struggles, ill at ease with her surroundings, mourning the loss of her job and no longer being close to her family. Within days of beginning his new job, Dave scores a murder case, pulling him further into his new life and leaving Melinda to her own devices. Fortunately, a wake up call is on the horizon for Melinda, and she soon has a focus of her own that in no small way solidifies the pair back onto the same united path.
Fool’s Gold has all the ingredients necessary for a cracking good book. I’ve always been keen on police procedural stories. In combining this focus with a rural setting, Fleur has established a firm grounding for a series that promises much and delivers even more. Detective Dave Burrows is an interesting character. Some past baggage, but not too angsty, I was pleased that he begins this journey married. The lone detective who just can’t commit because of the job is all too common and a tad overdone. Melinda, likewise, appealed to me greatly. I’ve been in a similar position to her when I moved out west so my husband could take a job. Leaving your own job, your friends, your regular outings and swapping it all for a dusty mining town in the middle of no where is a tough gig. Like Melinda, things didn’t fall into place for me until I had a job I enjoyed. My ability to relate to Melinda and the setting on such a personal level no doubt greatly enhanced my enjoyment of this novel.
Fool’s Gold also contains a short story at the end which tells of Dave’s expulsion from his family farm. This was a nice little addition and provided some valuable context on Dave’s farm to police force sea change. Fleur has tapped into some serious issues in Fool’s Gold as well as harnessed many themes common to living in remote communities, both good and bad. There’s a natural flow to the narrative that speaks of life experience, insider knowledge, and solid research. I think both Dave and Melinda offer much in terms of solidity as characters at the core of a new series. As much as I liked Dave’s police work, Melinda’s work as a community health nurse was equally as engaging.
I highly recommend Fool’s Gold to readers who are new to Fleur McDonald – established fans would no doubt have already read it or at least have it on their list! It’s the sort of novel that suits readers of all tastes, making it an ideal gift choice.
Thanks is extended to Allen and Unwin for providing me with a copy of Fool’s Gold for review.
Fool’s Gold has all the ingredients necessary for a cracking good book. I’ve always been keen on police procedural stories. In combining this focus with a rural setting, Fleur has established a firm grounding for a series that promises much and delivers even more. Detective Dave Burrows is an interesting character. Some past baggage, but not too angsty, I was pleased that he begins this journey married. The lone detective who just can’t commit because of the job is all too common and a tad overdone. Melinda, likewise, appealed to me greatly. I’ve been in a similar position to her when I moved out west so my husband could take a job. Leaving your own job, your friends, your regular outings and swapping it all for a dusty mining town in the middle of no where is a tough gig. Like Melinda, things didn’t fall into place for me until I had a job I enjoyed. My ability to relate to Melinda and the setting on such a personal level no doubt greatly enhanced my enjoyment of this novel.
Fool’s Gold also contains a short story at the end which tells of Dave’s expulsion from his family farm. This was a nice little addition and provided some valuable context on Dave’s farm to police force sea change. Fleur has tapped into some serious issues in Fool’s Gold as well as harnessed many themes common to living in remote communities, both good and bad. There’s a natural flow to the narrative that speaks of life experience, insider knowledge, and solid research. I think both Dave and Melinda offer much in terms of solidity as characters at the core of a new series. As much as I liked Dave’s police work, Melinda’s work as a community health nurse was equally as engaging.
I highly recommend Fool’s Gold to readers who are new to Fleur McDonald – established fans would no doubt have already read it or at least have it on their list! It’s the sort of novel that suits readers of all tastes, making it an ideal gift choice.
Thanks is extended to Allen and Unwin for providing me with a copy of Fool’s Gold for review.
June 6, 2018
Great read, got totally immersed in the book right off the bat. The opening just draws you in and it wouldn't have been hard to read it from start to finish.
Great characters and great plot, everything gets woven and pulled together very well.
Having lived and worked in Kalgoorlie, Fleur's descriptions instantly take you to those locations in and around Kal.
Thanks Fleur, I will be reading more of your work.
Great characters and great plot, everything gets woven and pulled together very well.
Having lived and worked in Kalgoorlie, Fleur's descriptions instantly take you to those locations in and around Kal.
Thanks Fleur, I will be reading more of your work.
November 4, 2023
This is the first of the Young Dave Series by this author. The story was fast paced and interesting as Dave & his police colleagues solve the latest murder. And thrown in for good measure - what's happening in Dave's domestic life. I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.
June 24, 2021
An interesting start to Dave's country career.
October 3, 2021
A pleasant read, steady plot and what felt like an introduction to the characters and the setting of the scene for future novels.
April 25, 2018
Fool’s Gold is the first in a new series for ‘Voice of the Outback’ author Fleur McDonald. The star of the series is Detective Dave Burrows’ who first made his appearance in Fleur’s debut novel, Red Dust, and continued to appear in others. In Fool’s Gold, Dave Burrows fans are taken back to the start of his career in 1997, in the outback town of the Barrabine, Western Australia. It’s also the opportunity for fans to meet his new bride, Melinda.
The newlyweds are like chalk and cheese. Melinda is a city girl from a rich family while farm boy Dave is salt of the earth. Having only read a couple of Fleur’s earlier novels and barely remembering them, I was not sure if Melinda and Dave would be able to make as a married couple in the middle of nowhere.
Melinda has great difficulty settling in, not wanting to be in Barrabine or to make the effort to socialise. I could really emphasise with her as I would react the same way at being taken away from my family and city life. She also gave up a wonderful career for Dave as a nurse and has to take a step down when she decides what she wants to do with her new life. While I understand that this is Dave’s story, I think Melinda adjusted a little too quickly and easily into her new life. I think it would have taken a lot longer than Fleur portrayed for a city slicker because in my eyes she gave up everything for love.
Dave, in contrast, relishes country life. Through his job, Dave is introduced to the local people, helping him make solid friendships. The locals are an interesting, eclectic bunch who have their own secrets that have shaped them. I appreciated that Fleur didn’t turn to stereotypical characters because it made Barrabine life all the more interesting. Being a detective also leads Dave to dealing with a variety of issues including late night trespassing, a missing person and a body turning up in a mine shaft that kept the storyline going at a cracking pace. Who said country life was boring?! Through Dave’s job, I came to appreciate and respect gold mining in the late 1990s. I didn’t realise what a difficult and dangerous occupation it could be or that it would be addictive.
This is a solid introduction to the life of Dave Burrows’ for fans of the detective or for new comers to Fleur McDonald’s writing.
Thank you to Beauty and Lace for a copy to review
http://bookgirl.beautyandlace.net/boo...
#AWWC number???#
The newlyweds are like chalk and cheese. Melinda is a city girl from a rich family while farm boy Dave is salt of the earth. Having only read a couple of Fleur’s earlier novels and barely remembering them, I was not sure if Melinda and Dave would be able to make as a married couple in the middle of nowhere.
Melinda has great difficulty settling in, not wanting to be in Barrabine or to make the effort to socialise. I could really emphasise with her as I would react the same way at being taken away from my family and city life. She also gave up a wonderful career for Dave as a nurse and has to take a step down when she decides what she wants to do with her new life. While I understand that this is Dave’s story, I think Melinda adjusted a little too quickly and easily into her new life. I think it would have taken a lot longer than Fleur portrayed for a city slicker because in my eyes she gave up everything for love.
Dave, in contrast, relishes country life. Through his job, Dave is introduced to the local people, helping him make solid friendships. The locals are an interesting, eclectic bunch who have their own secrets that have shaped them. I appreciated that Fleur didn’t turn to stereotypical characters because it made Barrabine life all the more interesting. Being a detective also leads Dave to dealing with a variety of issues including late night trespassing, a missing person and a body turning up in a mine shaft that kept the storyline going at a cracking pace. Who said country life was boring?! Through Dave’s job, I came to appreciate and respect gold mining in the late 1990s. I didn’t realise what a difficult and dangerous occupation it could be or that it would be addictive.
This is a solid introduction to the life of Dave Burrows’ for fans of the detective or for new comers to Fleur McDonald’s writing.
Thank you to Beauty and Lace for a copy to review
http://bookgirl.beautyandlace.net/boo...
#AWWC number???#
April 4, 2018
Fleur has done it again. Great book and great story. Plots that wove their way together throughout the novel. Exciting to read how Dave got started in his policing and can't wait now for more Dave Burrow instalments.
July 7, 2018
A very enjoyable and involving book. I love the character of Dave Burrows and the special goldmine setting. Mystery and romance in WA. Perfect combination!!
September 15, 2018
Great Read
I love the feel of the country. The characters are well presented. Makes me want to go back to Western Austrailia.
I love the feel of the country. The characters are well presented. Makes me want to go back to Western Austrailia.
October 22, 2018
Wow what a fantabulous story......I have loved Dave from the very beginning of this series. I can't wait to read the next book in his series.
February 4, 2019
Was hooked from the first page. Reminded me of my childhood moving to a remote country town. The heat, smells and all came flooding back. Really enjoyed it
October 1, 2021
I loved this book. Could not put it down and just was not enough time in my day to read it.
October 6, 2019
Loved the start of this series. But I am biased as Fleur McDonald is one of my favourite Australian Authors
October 24, 2019
Great story
April 28, 2020
3 1/2 stars. I loved the rural West Australian setting.
February 23, 2023
It's 1997 and Dave Burrows has just been newly appointed to a detective's position in the Gold Stealing Unit of the police service in the Western Australian [fictional, but based on Kalgoorlie] gold mining town of Barrabine. Soon after arriving in town, he is investigating the case of a body discovered in a mine shaft. Meanwhile, Dave's wife, Melinda, a pediatric nurse and city girl, is struggling with settling into the to the small town.
Just the fact that there really is a Gold Stealing Unit in the WA police is, for starters, interesting. So, yes, Fool's Gold has a great premise and the setting is authentically Australian. I had trouble connecting with McDonald's style though.
Overall the mystery plot wasn't great - it was very basic with no real tension or a twist, and the guilty party was very obvious. There's no real romance to pad the mystery - the main couple are already married but don't even share any sweet or fun scenes. In fact, Melinda is such a bore that I wouldn't be surprised if she was usurped by the police medical examiner (who, in her brief appearance, easily has more chemistry with Dave than Melinda) later in the series.
Maybe the book would have worked much better if there had been tighter editing. There were several inner thoughts repeated over and over (yes, I know Dave loves the country life and wants to be in the Stock Squad one day, how could I not when I've read this 20 times). The flashbacks related to the story were very clunky. And there were a couple of inconsistencies I picked up which, obviously, no one else did.
It's not all bad but it wasn't great. 2, maybe 2 1/2 out of 5.
Just the fact that there really is a Gold Stealing Unit in the WA police is, for starters, interesting. So, yes, Fool's Gold has a great premise and the setting is authentically Australian. I had trouble connecting with McDonald's style though.
Overall the mystery plot wasn't great - it was very basic with no real tension or a twist, and the guilty party was very obvious. There's no real romance to pad the mystery - the main couple are already married but don't even share any sweet or fun scenes. In fact, Melinda is such a bore that I wouldn't be surprised if she was usurped by the police medical examiner (who, in her brief appearance, easily has more chemistry with Dave than Melinda) later in the series.
Maybe the book would have worked much better if there had been tighter editing. There were several inner thoughts repeated over and over (yes, I know Dave loves the country life and wants to be in the Stock Squad one day, how could I not when I've read this 20 times). The flashbacks related to the story were very clunky. And there were a couple of inconsistencies I picked up which, obviously, no one else did.
It's not all bad but it wasn't great. 2, maybe 2 1/2 out of 5.
June 27, 2021
A suicide in 1945 and a murder in 1997 are the elements that make a charming mystery set in a rural mining community in Western Australia.
Detective Dave Burrows and his wife Melinda arrive in the mining town of Barrabine two weeks after their wedding. Within the first week of his posting, Dave and his partner Spencer are investigating a murder.
A body has been discovered in a mine shaft on the lease of long term local Tim Tucker. Tim is the essential true blue Aussie with a tragic past: his wife and children are all deceased. However, Tim holds his cards close to his chest- is he withholding essential information?
An unkown woman was found and buried with care within the area in 1945. Since then, it's became a local legend as no-one has ever came forward to claim her. Is this legend part of the bigger picture?
I really enjoyed 𝙵𝚘𝚘𝚕'𝚜 𝙶𝚘𝚕𝚍- I love rural fiction and this is a fresh take on the genre for me! Dave Burrows already has a soft spot in my heart, however I can't warm to his wife as much. The township of Barrabine is rich with history and the locals are friendly and approachable. I want to go on Dee's 'Contiki tour' and Nerida's brothel tour- heck I wish this was a real town to visit!
🌟🌟🌟🌟✨/5
P.S It seems that Goodreads has the series out of order. For the correct information head to Fleur's website.
Detective Dave Burrows and his wife Melinda arrive in the mining town of Barrabine two weeks after their wedding. Within the first week of his posting, Dave and his partner Spencer are investigating a murder.
A body has been discovered in a mine shaft on the lease of long term local Tim Tucker. Tim is the essential true blue Aussie with a tragic past: his wife and children are all deceased. However, Tim holds his cards close to his chest- is he withholding essential information?
An unkown woman was found and buried with care within the area in 1945. Since then, it's became a local legend as no-one has ever came forward to claim her. Is this legend part of the bigger picture?
I really enjoyed 𝙵𝚘𝚘𝚕'𝚜 𝙶𝚘𝚕𝚍- I love rural fiction and this is a fresh take on the genre for me! Dave Burrows already has a soft spot in my heart, however I can't warm to his wife as much. The township of Barrabine is rich with history and the locals are friendly and approachable. I want to go on Dee's 'Contiki tour' and Nerida's brothel tour- heck I wish this was a real town to visit!
🌟🌟🌟🌟✨/5
P.S It seems that Goodreads has the series out of order. For the correct information head to Fleur's website.
January 15, 2020
I loved this story for many reasons: this is a story set in the Goldfields of Western Australia where I was born and I could totally identify with it as I came from a mining family, from my ancestors right down to my brother, complete with tragedy - gold fever can do that; Fleur McDonald wrote one of her best books about Dave Burrows with this very credible story. This is the second time I have read this story but I had to read it again - and enjoyed it just as much.
In this story, we really get to know Detective Dave Burrows and what sort of a man and detective he is, plus we find out about his first wife and how she found it hard initially to cope with the harsh red-coated, fly-specked lifestyle of the Goldfields at its worst, as others before her have; for you have to be a unique sort of person to enjoy the best and worst of the Goldfields' lifestyle.
There is a mystery and a murder to solve and lots of other very Goldfields type anecdotes that make this story so compelling. Credit goes to Fleur for her attention to detail and the stories old timers tell as it was this that made the story real and so very special. I would recommend this wonderful story and gave it five stars.
In this story, we really get to know Detective Dave Burrows and what sort of a man and detective he is, plus we find out about his first wife and how she found it hard initially to cope with the harsh red-coated, fly-specked lifestyle of the Goldfields at its worst, as others before her have; for you have to be a unique sort of person to enjoy the best and worst of the Goldfields' lifestyle.
There is a mystery and a murder to solve and lots of other very Goldfields type anecdotes that make this story so compelling. Credit goes to Fleur for her attention to detail and the stories old timers tell as it was this that made the story real and so very special. I would recommend this wonderful story and gave it five stars.
April 24, 2018
This is the second book of Fleur McDonald's that I have read. I was introduced to both Fleur's work and the main character in this book, Dave Burrows, in Suddenly One Summer. I was eager to read Fool's Gold after thoroughly enjoying Suddenly One Summer and I have to say that this novel didn't disappoint.
After reading the previous book I was keen to read more about Dave Burrows and his story. This book had me hooked from the start and induced several late nights reading. There was one part that did confuse me however, at the end of a chapter a character heard people yelling and it seemed like it was important but then it wasn't mentioned again. I also would've liked to know more of Dave's wife Melinda's story. Fleur has interwoven several stories incorporating both the past and the present and several characters and brings them all together in this very entertaining read.
Thanks Allen & Unwin and Beauty & Lace Book Club a copy of Fool's Gold to read and review.
After reading the previous book I was keen to read more about Dave Burrows and his story. This book had me hooked from the start and induced several late nights reading. There was one part that did confuse me however, at the end of a chapter a character heard people yelling and it seemed like it was important but then it wasn't mentioned again. I also would've liked to know more of Dave's wife Melinda's story. Fleur has interwoven several stories incorporating both the past and the present and several characters and brings them all together in this very entertaining read.
Thanks Allen & Unwin and Beauty & Lace Book Club a copy of Fool's Gold to read and review.
March 11, 2022
This series combines 2 of my favourite things.. outback Australia and crime. I am re-reading this series. I have read them all over the years, but never in order. I barely reread books, so that's an indication of how good it is.
A story about a miner who misses his wife Marianne, who in 1945, disappeared. Their 3 children had tragically died in the months leading up to the wife disappearing. The husband, although finding enough gold to comfortably live anywhere, never left in case she came home.
Flip to the present day and a man is found dead at the bottom of a mine shaft. He was not local, noone knew why he was in town. Who is he? He rented a room in town, but never stayed there. He bought $2k of camping equipment and disappeared out "bush". Why did he come to town?
Detective Dave Burrows is the new copper in town, he and his partner Spencer are on the case. Can they make a connection?
This is a story about love, striking it rich and money hungry men. Who more could you want?
A story about a miner who misses his wife Marianne, who in 1945, disappeared. Their 3 children had tragically died in the months leading up to the wife disappearing. The husband, although finding enough gold to comfortably live anywhere, never left in case she came home.
Flip to the present day and a man is found dead at the bottom of a mine shaft. He was not local, noone knew why he was in town. Who is he? He rented a room in town, but never stayed there. He bought $2k of camping equipment and disappeared out "bush". Why did he come to town?
Detective Dave Burrows is the new copper in town, he and his partner Spencer are on the case. Can they make a connection?
This is a story about love, striking it rich and money hungry men. Who more could you want?
August 25, 2024
Always a treat in reading any of Fleur McDonald's books. I have read several of the stand-alone's and enjoyed them very much. It was a treat to see the Dave Burrows character novels and this one was a great way to enjoy his early life and how it affected him in the later books.
This novel was a delightful story with many twists and turns. I kind of figured out the whodunnit a bit later in the story, but it still came as a surprise! I enjoyed the honest approach to depression and the trials of starting a new life.
Light read for a lazy day or over a weekend.
This novel was a delightful story with many twists and turns. I kind of figured out the whodunnit a bit later in the story, but it still came as a surprise! I enjoyed the honest approach to depression and the trials of starting a new life.
Light read for a lazy day or over a weekend.
December 20, 2021
Interesting how it was deduced how the body got in the mine. Wife of two weeks who has been extremely spoilt to now be in the bush where her husband feels at home however this is not home for her it does become her home after time and getting a job that she enjoys and is good at helps her to settle in and break some ties with overbearing family really enjoyed this and would read another of her books
December 30, 2018
This is a good light holiday read, but didn't hook me as well as other books by Fleur McDonald. I can understand the adjustment difficulties experienced by city-girl Melinda, only two weeks married to Detective Dave. Fortunately, she comes to terms with disruption, loneliness and culture shock and learns to enjoy life in the outback.
February 17, 2021
Fleur MacDonald has the gift of making the people, the countryside and the story real, believable and highly engrossing.
The life of a gold miner in the outback of WA certainly has been well researched.
Every part of this murder mystery makes a gripping read.
I enjoy this Australian writer very much as her authenticity shines through the detail in her books.
The life of a gold miner in the outback of WA certainly has been well researched.
Every part of this murder mystery makes a gripping read.
I enjoy this Australian writer very much as her authenticity shines through the detail in her books.
June 12, 2018
I've read all Fleur McDonald's book and have loved them. When I heard this book was being released, I was a little worried as we were going back to where Dave Burrows began. I wasn't disappointed, in fact it was lovely to read about the young Dave on his first job. Also there was another story included about when he first finished agricultural college.
Anyway, young Dave just married and going to a small town in WA for his first job, where there is mining and mystery and a new wife.
Anyway, young Dave just married and going to a small town in WA for his first job, where there is mining and mystery and a new wife.
August 23, 2018
I really couldn’t get interested in this book. I picked it up for a light read but had to force myself to finish reading it. It may have been because I had some other interesting books I wanted to get my teeth into but this was a no go for me
September 29, 2018
Another great country love story with the added addition of a little crime thrown in for good measure!
I find that Fleur McDonald's writing style has a real flow that makes for easy enjoyable reading which you can't put down.
I find that Fleur McDonald's writing style has a real flow that makes for easy enjoyable reading which you can't put down.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews