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Blood River
Brisbane 1999. It's hot. Stormy. Dangerous. The waters of the Brisbane River are rising. The rains won't stop. People's nerves are on edge. And then...A body is found. And then another.And another.A string of seemingly ritualized but gruesome murders. All the victims are men. Affluent. Guys with nice houses, wives and kids at private schools. All have had their throats cut. Tabloid headlines shout, THE VAMPIRE KILLER STRIKES AGAIN!Detective Sergeant Lara Ocean knows the look. The 'my-life-will-never-be-the-same-again look'. She's seen it too many times on too many faces. Telling a wife her husband won't be coming home. Ever again. Telling her the brutal way he was murdered. That's a look you never get used to.Telling a mother you need her daughter to come to the station for questioning. That's another look she doesn't want to see again.And looking into the eyes of a killer, yet doubting you've got it right. That's the worst look of all - the one you see in the mirror. Get it right, you're a hero and the city is a safer place. Get it wrong and you destroy a life. And a killer remains free. Twenty years down the track, Lara Ocean will know the truth.
428 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 23, 2019
23 people are currently reading
270 people want to read
About the author
Tony Cavanaugh
7 books39 followersTony Cavanaugh is an Australian crime novelist, screenwriter and film and television producer. He has over thirty years' experience in the film industry, has lectured at several prestigious universities and has been a regular guest on radio commenting on the film and television industry. His Darian Richards novels which include PROMISE, DEAD GIRL SING and THE TRAIN RIDER, have been highly praised.
For more information about Tony Cavanaugh visit his Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/tonycavanaug...) or follow him on Twitter (@TonyCavanaugh1)
For more information about Tony Cavanaugh visit his Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/tonycavanaug...) or follow him on Twitter (@TonyCavanaugh1)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
April 24, 2019
An interesting enough crime thriller, set in Brisbane, that sees seventeen year old Jen going down for three gruesome murders that she hasn't committed. One of the detectives on the case, Lara Ocean, has her doubts about the verdict, but the Brisbane police force in the late 90s is still a bit of an old school boys club. We follow the original, flawed investigation, and the aftermath, where families are destroyed, yet has the truth really won out here?
I did enjoy this book, reading through it quickly, though I did find some of the content disturbing. The book is written in a style where it jumps around a bit, and sometimes it's hard to keep up with who's point of view you are reading. All in all though it's not a bad book, and living in the Brisbane/Gold Coast area I am very familiar with the setting, which was fun to read.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I did enjoy this book, reading through it quickly, though I did find some of the content disturbing. The book is written in a style where it jumps around a bit, and sometimes it's hard to keep up with who's point of view you are reading. All in all though it's not a bad book, and living in the Brisbane/Gold Coast area I am very familiar with the setting, which was fun to read.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2019
Detective Sergeant Lara Ocean of Homicide and her much older and more experienced partner, Detective Inspector William (Billy) Waterson found themselves investigating what was to be the first in a few distinctly gruesome and blood thirsty murders. It was toward the end of 1999 when the Y2K phenomenon was due to hit – going from 1999 to 2000 was sure to create havoc with everything electronic – and the weather in Brisbane was cloying, damp with constant rain and the threat of flood; all making the work of the Homicide team much harder.
With more bodies discovered, the theme seemed constant – hence the term serial killer. Lara had known from the start that was what they faced. But with the victims, all men, having well respected backgrounds, children in private schooling, all killed in the same way, the motive was puzzling. It was when a tip off led them to a seventeen-year-old girl, and subsequent questioning found the killer in jail for murder, that Brisbane city breathed a sigh of relief. But Lara wasn’t convinced. Was she right? And what would twenty years bring?
Blood River by Aussie author Tony Cavanaugh is a gritty crime thriller with many twists and turns, plus plenty of red herrings to keep the reader guessing. The content is gruesome and confronting with this reader doing some occasional skimming. But Blood River is a skilled crime novel which I recommend.
With thanks to Hachette AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
With more bodies discovered, the theme seemed constant – hence the term serial killer. Lara had known from the start that was what they faced. But with the victims, all men, having well respected backgrounds, children in private schooling, all killed in the same way, the motive was puzzling. It was when a tip off led them to a seventeen-year-old girl, and subsequent questioning found the killer in jail for murder, that Brisbane city breathed a sigh of relief. But Lara wasn’t convinced. Was she right? And what would twenty years bring?
Blood River by Aussie author Tony Cavanaugh is a gritty crime thriller with many twists and turns, plus plenty of red herrings to keep the reader guessing. The content is gruesome and confronting with this reader doing some occasional skimming. But Blood River is a skilled crime novel which I recommend.
With thanks to Hachette AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2019
Blood River is the first stand-alone novel by Australian crime novelist, screenwriter and film and television producer, Tony Cavanaugh. In November, 1999, a mere seven months into her career on the Homicide Squad, Detective Constable Lara Ocean finds herself sharing the lead in a serial killer case. Over a matter of days, three middle-aged, wealthy men have been found brutally murdered in or near Brisbane’s Botanic Gardens. They were, but for a strip of skin, decapitated in a ritualistic manner by someone the press soon dubs The Slayer.
Lara may be the youngest on the Squad, but she is teamed with William Waterson, the oldest and most experienced Detective Inspector on the force. A number of features common to each victim send Lara searching out certain figures from her wild teenage years. Other possible suspects are questioned, and Lara even checks the recent movements of a childhood acquaintance.
But when a tip has them questioning seventeen-year-old Jen White, Lara recalls her own rebellious adolescence: drugs, booze, tatts, sex and dangerous behaviour. Frustrated with the lack of progress, her superiors make an unexpected move, one Lara inwardly condemns, but it produces a result and all of Brisbane breathes easier with a cold-blooded killer serving a life sentence behind bars.
Twenty years on, and Lara is in a very different position when she learns that The Slayer has, against the Attorney General’s instructions, been released on parole. While some have proclaimed wrongful imprisonment for twenty years, the widows of the victims vociferously protest the release. Will the killing begin again?
Cavanaugh easily conveys the heat and humidity of the rainy Brisbane summer, as well as that unique Queensland attitude displayed by police and politicians. The Y2K hysteria, the threatening floods and later droughts, and Brisbane itself, all are expertly rendered. Cavanaugh’s plot takes some unexpected turns and keeps the reader guessing right up to the final chapters: even the most astute reader is likely to be surprised at the reveal. There are a few red herrings and some minor elements remain unresolved by the dramatic climax.
Lara is an interesting character: half-Chinese and under maternal pressure to marry, but determined to advance her career as a policewoman of integrity. In fact, most of the strong characters in this novel are female. The narrative does jump about quite a bit in both time and person, which may be a source of confusion, so the reader has to pay careful attention to context. One would hope that the poor formatting and missing punctuation throughout this uncorrected proof has been rectified in the final version, although it does not unduly affect the reading experience. Outstanding Aussie crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Hachette Australia.
Lara may be the youngest on the Squad, but she is teamed with William Waterson, the oldest and most experienced Detective Inspector on the force. A number of features common to each victim send Lara searching out certain figures from her wild teenage years. Other possible suspects are questioned, and Lara even checks the recent movements of a childhood acquaintance.
But when a tip has them questioning seventeen-year-old Jen White, Lara recalls her own rebellious adolescence: drugs, booze, tatts, sex and dangerous behaviour. Frustrated with the lack of progress, her superiors make an unexpected move, one Lara inwardly condemns, but it produces a result and all of Brisbane breathes easier with a cold-blooded killer serving a life sentence behind bars.
Twenty years on, and Lara is in a very different position when she learns that The Slayer has, against the Attorney General’s instructions, been released on parole. While some have proclaimed wrongful imprisonment for twenty years, the widows of the victims vociferously protest the release. Will the killing begin again?
Cavanaugh easily conveys the heat and humidity of the rainy Brisbane summer, as well as that unique Queensland attitude displayed by police and politicians. The Y2K hysteria, the threatening floods and later droughts, and Brisbane itself, all are expertly rendered. Cavanaugh’s plot takes some unexpected turns and keeps the reader guessing right up to the final chapters: even the most astute reader is likely to be surprised at the reveal. There are a few red herrings and some minor elements remain unresolved by the dramatic climax.
Lara is an interesting character: half-Chinese and under maternal pressure to marry, but determined to advance her career as a policewoman of integrity. In fact, most of the strong characters in this novel are female. The narrative does jump about quite a bit in both time and person, which may be a source of confusion, so the reader has to pay careful attention to context. One would hope that the poor formatting and missing punctuation throughout this uncorrected proof has been rectified in the final version, although it does not unduly affect the reading experience. Outstanding Aussie crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Hachette Australia.
April 21, 2019
Blood River is a discomforting yet compelling crime novel which unfolds over two decades from multiple perspectives.
It’s 1999 In Brisbane when “Lara, the youngest detective in the Squad, ever, a twentysomething Asian woman with dyed blonde hair and Billy, the oldest detective in the Squad, with the fiercest reputation in the state of Queensland, ever, an old school copper who would smash a suspect over the head, dangle him from a balcony or just forge a confession from him.” are called to the scene of a horrific murder.
Over a three week period, two more bodies are discovered with signature injuries, including the symbol of Taranus, the Celtic God of Thunder, carved into their flesh. Lara and Billy come up with three suspects, one of them Lara’s violent ex boyfriend, but under pressure from the media and officials, 17 year old Jennifer White is accused and eventually convicted of the three murders, despite the flimsiest of evidence.
Meanwhile, the real killer goes free.
“Fear is His word for man. Aoife is His word for woman. I am going to do it again. Another fear kill. I am going to do it again. Soon.”
Nineteen years later, Lara is the police commissioner, Billy has retired, and Jennifer, despite the objection of the state’s Attorney General, is finally paroled.
“There was also something else, something that had bothered me as I prepared to be paroled. I kept this to myself, my own private fear. That the real killer would take advantage of my release and kill again. I am no longer him. I am now his perfect alibi.”
Cavanaugh’s complex characters are fully realised portraits that add depth and interest to the story. Lara in particular is a fascinating personality with a rich backstory. What I also found of interest were the insights Cavanaugh offers into some of the characters who could be said to be only tangentially related to the main thrust of the plot, but nevertheless less impact it, or the main characters, in significant ways.
The shifts in narrative perspective are stimulating, moving between an omniscient viewpoint and individual characters. It can be difficult, on occasion, to immediately identify each ‘voice’, though I think that may have been in large part because of the poor formatting of my advance reader copy.
Blood River is quite different from Cavanaugh’s series featuring Darian Richards, which I loved, though they do share some similar themes, such as police corruption, women in policing, and the failings of the justice system.
With a final reveal I didn’t see coming at all (a rare event I must note), Blood River is a clever, gritty and engrossing story. This is another impressive crime novel from Australian author, Tony Cavanaugh.
It’s 1999 In Brisbane when “Lara, the youngest detective in the Squad, ever, a twentysomething Asian woman with dyed blonde hair and Billy, the oldest detective in the Squad, with the fiercest reputation in the state of Queensland, ever, an old school copper who would smash a suspect over the head, dangle him from a balcony or just forge a confession from him.” are called to the scene of a horrific murder.
Over a three week period, two more bodies are discovered with signature injuries, including the symbol of Taranus, the Celtic God of Thunder, carved into their flesh. Lara and Billy come up with three suspects, one of them Lara’s violent ex boyfriend, but under pressure from the media and officials, 17 year old Jennifer White is accused and eventually convicted of the three murders, despite the flimsiest of evidence.
Meanwhile, the real killer goes free.
“Fear is His word for man. Aoife is His word for woman. I am going to do it again. Another fear kill. I am going to do it again. Soon.”
Nineteen years later, Lara is the police commissioner, Billy has retired, and Jennifer, despite the objection of the state’s Attorney General, is finally paroled.
“There was also something else, something that had bothered me as I prepared to be paroled. I kept this to myself, my own private fear. That the real killer would take advantage of my release and kill again. I am no longer him. I am now his perfect alibi.”
Cavanaugh’s complex characters are fully realised portraits that add depth and interest to the story. Lara in particular is a fascinating personality with a rich backstory. What I also found of interest were the insights Cavanaugh offers into some of the characters who could be said to be only tangentially related to the main thrust of the plot, but nevertheless less impact it, or the main characters, in significant ways.
The shifts in narrative perspective are stimulating, moving between an omniscient viewpoint and individual characters. It can be difficult, on occasion, to immediately identify each ‘voice’, though I think that may have been in large part because of the poor formatting of my advance reader copy.
Blood River is quite different from Cavanaugh’s series featuring Darian Richards, which I loved, though they do share some similar themes, such as police corruption, women in policing, and the failings of the justice system.
With a final reveal I didn’t see coming at all (a rare event I must note), Blood River is a clever, gritty and engrossing story. This is another impressive crime novel from Australian author, Tony Cavanaugh.
October 23, 2019
Overlook that Commercial Fiction Crime Thriller cover, this is Literary Crime Thriller. Written in that literary way; unorthodox, experimental. It was NOT fully-blown unorthodox like some literary can be but it was in no way common fodder. Written so well that I actually overcame my aversion to head hopping and went on to love it.
Head hopping is so often the bane of good storytelling. Ruining a novel before it gets out the gate for many readers - including me. And this book doesn't just commit the sin of the head-hop, it also does it with multiple third person point-of-view and multiple first person point-of-view. I would usually run for the hills screaming from a book like that, but Cavanaugh's writing was so mesmerizing that I just didn't care about the to-ing and fro-ing. (although, in saying that, there were some times with the first person point-of-view where I thought "who the bloody Hell is talking?" But I got over it once I worked it out).
I just wish this book had been given a bookcover worthy of its literary style.
I'll read this guy again. I'm sold.
Head hopping is so often the bane of good storytelling. Ruining a novel before it gets out the gate for many readers - including me. And this book doesn't just commit the sin of the head-hop, it also does it with multiple third person point-of-view and multiple first person point-of-view. I would usually run for the hills screaming from a book like that, but Cavanaugh's writing was so mesmerizing that I just didn't care about the to-ing and fro-ing. (although, in saying that, there were some times with the first person point-of-view where I thought "who the bloody Hell is talking?" But I got over it once I worked it out).
I just wish this book had been given a bookcover worthy of its literary style.
I'll read this guy again. I'm sold.
August 14, 2019
1.5★
Tony Cavanaugh’s Darien Richards books are dark and gritty and gory with frequent bad language, violence and sex - not things I typically like in my books. But despite all that, I partly enjoy them for the local Sunshine Coast/Gold Coast settings. This book is set in Brisbane, and it is also dark, gritty, gory with frequent bad language, violence and sex, but I really didn’t like it as much as his Darien Richards books. Perhaps it’s darker than the others - the beginning part when the murders were happening certainly seemed so, but I think the main reason is that the narration was jumping around between different people and I found it difficult to keep track of who was speaking. I was listening to it as an audiobook, which may not have helped me in identifying who was telling each part. I did still like the setting around Brisbane - love the descriptions of the jacarandas, the swollen Brisbane River, the descriptions of Ascot and Bald Hills on Brisbane’s northside, and so on, but this element was rather overshadowed by by confusion regarding who was speaking each time.
Tony Cavanaugh’s Darien Richards books are dark and gritty and gory with frequent bad language, violence and sex - not things I typically like in my books. But despite all that, I partly enjoy them for the local Sunshine Coast/Gold Coast settings. This book is set in Brisbane, and it is also dark, gritty, gory with frequent bad language, violence and sex, but I really didn’t like it as much as his Darien Richards books. Perhaps it’s darker than the others - the beginning part when the murders were happening certainly seemed so, but I think the main reason is that the narration was jumping around between different people and I found it difficult to keep track of who was speaking. I was listening to it as an audiobook, which may not have helped me in identifying who was telling each part. I did still like the setting around Brisbane - love the descriptions of the jacarandas, the swollen Brisbane River, the descriptions of Ascot and Bald Hills on Brisbane’s northside, and so on, but this element was rather overshadowed by by confusion regarding who was speaking each time.
August 30, 2019
The story is quite interesting even though I suspected early on who the real killer was... The writing style is all right but the story jumps all over the place and the timeline is sometimes really strange. First we are in 1999, then a chapter is headed 2015 but after one paragraph we are back in 1999 without any year given, then we are back in the future, then back in the past etc. without any years stated and it's quite easy to get lost.
Also there are so many points of view, mostly in the first person, but then suddenly the very same POV is in the third person, then back to the 1st person.... even within one chapter and it's really annoying as sometimes you have no idea who is telling the story at a particular moment.
But it was worth reading anyway.
I wasn't sure what to make of this statement: "Jack the Ripper's first 6 victims were killed within 8 weeks. Our killer had exceeded that in the most terrifying of ways." How can 6 first murders be exceeded by 3 murders?
Also there are so many points of view, mostly in the first person, but then suddenly the very same POV is in the third person, then back to the 1st person.... even within one chapter and it's really annoying as sometimes you have no idea who is telling the story at a particular moment.
But it was worth reading anyway.
I wasn't sure what to make of this statement: "Jack the Ripper's first 6 victims were killed within 8 weeks. Our killer had exceeded that in the most terrifying of ways." How can 6 first murders be exceeded by 3 murders?
July 12, 2019
http://jessjustreads.com
Blood River by Tony Cavanaugh is a gripping and glorious crime novel set in Brisbane in 1999. This is one of the best crime reads I’ve come across in the last year, and I tore through those pages in one day. I was fascinated by the storyline, the characters, the murders, and the conclusion. What a compelling book read.
Three men are gruesomely murdered near the Brisbane River in 1999, and the police suspect high school student Jen. But is she really capable of the heinous crimes they’re accusing her of?
“How could I forgot. Girl after girl after girl, all saying the same: she’s weird, she carries a flick-knife around school, and what’s with the Celtic thing? And Bettany knows she’s into Satan, like worships him and stuff, rituals and stuff, and Olivia saw her in the Queen Street Mall one Sunday and she was, like, so stoned and….and….and…”
The book shifts in timeline and POV a fair bit. It’s written in first person, but switches between a teenage Jen soon after being accused of murdering three men in Brisbane, to Lara Ocean the police officer working on the case, to the unidentified killer who is trying to hide their identity.
A good crime novel is when your guesses — your theories — are wild and unrealistic, and you have no idea if you’re going to pick the twist or not. Tony Cavanaugh manages to capture this incredibly well — he has nailed the balance between revealing enough information to entice readers, but not too much where the reader feels like they’ve ‘solved it’.
“It was the case. Three victims in less than a week. It was the rain, the grey sky, the hammering relentlessness of blood and water, a river rising. It was Damon, it was mum, it was Nils and my stupid decision-making teen years that were coming back to me after I thought I had buried them and started anew.”
Police officer Lara Ocean has a complex past and her teenager years seemed pretty rebellious and disturbing — there are some similarities between her childhood, and Jen’s childhood. As a result, she’s able to look at the case from an unbiased perspective.
She’s calm and more considering of the evidence and she’s more sympathetic towards Jen, but she’s also fairly new to the job and she’s easily influenced by others. Her police partner Billy is dodgy — he doesn’t always obey rules, and he thinks he knows how to get results in a case. Additionally, Lara’s ex-boyfriend resurfaces and he is terrifying. Soon, Lara is conflicted about how to move forward with the case.
“We found her wandering through Missing Persons — how on earth did she get there? Don’t ask; police headquarters is supposed to be secure — but here was our dilemma. Jen’s mother had clearly taken some medication and was on another planet, and while, yes, she could respond and speak to us and give her approval for a record of the interview with her daughter, we had to ask ourselves; would this come back to haunt us if, if, we ever took Jen to court?”
I really enjoyed the atmosphere and setting of the book — Tony has captured the flood and the anxieties of Brisbane residents incredibly well. I could really picture the locations that were mentioned in the book, and I found it comforting to read so many references to so many Brisbane places.
If you love crime fiction, please buy this. You won’t regret it. It’s mesmerising and memorable, taunting and terrific.
Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Blood River by Tony Cavanaugh is a gripping and glorious crime novel set in Brisbane in 1999. This is one of the best crime reads I’ve come across in the last year, and I tore through those pages in one day. I was fascinated by the storyline, the characters, the murders, and the conclusion. What a compelling book read.
Three men are gruesomely murdered near the Brisbane River in 1999, and the police suspect high school student Jen. But is she really capable of the heinous crimes they’re accusing her of?
“How could I forgot. Girl after girl after girl, all saying the same: she’s weird, she carries a flick-knife around school, and what’s with the Celtic thing? And Bettany knows she’s into Satan, like worships him and stuff, rituals and stuff, and Olivia saw her in the Queen Street Mall one Sunday and she was, like, so stoned and….and….and…”
The book shifts in timeline and POV a fair bit. It’s written in first person, but switches between a teenage Jen soon after being accused of murdering three men in Brisbane, to Lara Ocean the police officer working on the case, to the unidentified killer who is trying to hide their identity.
A good crime novel is when your guesses — your theories — are wild and unrealistic, and you have no idea if you’re going to pick the twist or not. Tony Cavanaugh manages to capture this incredibly well — he has nailed the balance between revealing enough information to entice readers, but not too much where the reader feels like they’ve ‘solved it’.
“It was the case. Three victims in less than a week. It was the rain, the grey sky, the hammering relentlessness of blood and water, a river rising. It was Damon, it was mum, it was Nils and my stupid decision-making teen years that were coming back to me after I thought I had buried them and started anew.”
Police officer Lara Ocean has a complex past and her teenager years seemed pretty rebellious and disturbing — there are some similarities between her childhood, and Jen’s childhood. As a result, she’s able to look at the case from an unbiased perspective.
She’s calm and more considering of the evidence and she’s more sympathetic towards Jen, but she’s also fairly new to the job and she’s easily influenced by others. Her police partner Billy is dodgy — he doesn’t always obey rules, and he thinks he knows how to get results in a case. Additionally, Lara’s ex-boyfriend resurfaces and he is terrifying. Soon, Lara is conflicted about how to move forward with the case.
“We found her wandering through Missing Persons — how on earth did she get there? Don’t ask; police headquarters is supposed to be secure — but here was our dilemma. Jen’s mother had clearly taken some medication and was on another planet, and while, yes, she could respond and speak to us and give her approval for a record of the interview with her daughter, we had to ask ourselves; would this come back to haunt us if, if, we ever took Jen to court?”
I really enjoyed the atmosphere and setting of the book — Tony has captured the flood and the anxieties of Brisbane residents incredibly well. I could really picture the locations that were mentioned in the book, and I found it comforting to read so many references to so many Brisbane places.
If you love crime fiction, please buy this. You won’t regret it. It’s mesmerising and memorable, taunting and terrific.
Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 4, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and Hatchette Australia for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed Blood River by Tony Cavanaugh. This is a captivating crime fiction story told by multiple narrators across two decades. The characters are well developed and unique. The story will keep you guessing. Readers who are familiar with Brisbane will enjoy the descriptions of the river and suburbs. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys crime fiction and Australian literature. I intend to read further novels by Tony Cavanaugh.
I enjoyed Blood River by Tony Cavanaugh. This is a captivating crime fiction story told by multiple narrators across two decades. The characters are well developed and unique. The story will keep you guessing. Readers who are familiar with Brisbane will enjoy the descriptions of the river and suburbs. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys crime fiction and Australian literature. I intend to read further novels by Tony Cavanaugh.
May 15, 2019
3.5 Stars
This is my first Tony Cavanaugh read, and it was an enjoyable one. Our story starts in 1999, with a serial killer claiming the lives of three men. Can a teenage schoolgirl really be the culprit?
We then move to 2019. The convicted killer is about to be released. The cop relatively new to homicide who worked the case in 1999 is now Qld Commissioner of Police. Will the killings re-start upon the prisoner's release?
Although I picked the guilty party relatively early, this wasn't confirmed until late in the book, and the narrative held my interest right to the very end.
This is my first Tony Cavanaugh read, and it was an enjoyable one. Our story starts in 1999, with a serial killer claiming the lives of three men. Can a teenage schoolgirl really be the culprit?
We then move to 2019. The convicted killer is about to be released. The cop relatively new to homicide who worked the case in 1999 is now Qld Commissioner of Police. Will the killings re-start upon the prisoner's release?
Although I picked the guilty party relatively early, this wasn't confirmed until late in the book, and the narrative held my interest right to the very end.
September 13, 2019
There are plenty of books around that read a bit like a script in the making, and a lot of them don't work. And then there's BLOOD RIVER that reads like a script in the making, a most unusual crime fiction novel that works. Oh boy does it work. Tony Cavanaugh is the author of the stonkingly good Darian Richards novels so it shouldn't come as much surprise that BLOOD RIVER is good, but it came as considerable surprise just how damn good it is.
Set in different time zones, centred, in the main around the stories of two very different women, the novel starts out in 1999 when Lara Ocean is the youngest detective in Brisbane's murder squad, a twenty-something year old part Asian woman with dyed blonde hair to boot. She's had a chequered history until joining the police force, and past encounters come back to haunt her when a number of men are discovered around the city, horrendously and violently murdered. Jennifer White is the 17 year old schoolgirl found guilty of these murders, on the flimsiest evidence, with the possibility that Lara's old partner, Billy, coincidentally the oldest detective in the squad at the time providing a helping hand to the investigation.
Move forward nearly 20 years and Lara is now the Police Commissioner, Billy has retired from the force, and Jennifer is finally paroled and the case that has never sat well with Lara gets even more complicated. Jennifer struggles on the outside mostly because of the publicity around her conviction, and the grotesque and gruesome nature of the crimes she was found guilty of. Never mind that she has been denied parole multiple times because of her constant assertions of innocence, there's been plenty of pressure on the parole board by a right-wing power hungry, unscrupulous politician along the way.
The different time lines, and the backgrounds of Lara, Billy and Jennifer are all drawn out against the worst fear that Jennifer has - that once she's out, the real killer will strike again, using her freedom as the perfect cover. This is a big part of what is so compelling about BLOOD RIVER, it's nothing new to explore the past and present of characters, but in this example we have Jennifer with no opportunity for much of a past, who is such a big part of the other character's lives, and continues to be so. Both Lara and Billy have had difficult upbringings, difficult paths to the police force, and much different outcomes once there. Lara, as her current role of Commissioner shows, rose to that position through hard work and perseverance. Billy was more old-school, just as likely to thump a suspect to force a confession as play by the rule book, he nonetheless had a long career and taught Lara a lot about investigative technique and thinking.
Whilst these personal stories are playing out, it's never possible to forget there is a real killer out there, and the occasional glimpse into their mind is informative without being voyeuristic, working more as a reminder, than revelling.
Which leads us into the question of the cinematic nature of BLOOD RIVER. Possibly because it's such an unusual idea, but mostly because this is a novel dripping with visual clues and leads, there is much in BLOOD RIVER that screams script. The characters are brilliant, unusual and conflicting. The "murderer" is a source of considerable compassion and sympathy, whilst the police, normally the good guys, are questionable and flawed. The weather provides a closed in, dark and brooding menace as the constant lurking flooding threatens to wipe away everything, and the different time lines provide all sorts of opportunities to consider how acceptable standards change over time.
Having said that, BLOOD RIVER works as a novel first and foremost. It's compelling, creepy, compulsive reading. It's one of those ones where you're going to think you know what's going on so often, only to wonder what on earth you could have been thinking a few pages on. It's utterly brilliant, and the reveal, when it arrives, is more than enough to make you wonder about people all over again.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
Set in different time zones, centred, in the main around the stories of two very different women, the novel starts out in 1999 when Lara Ocean is the youngest detective in Brisbane's murder squad, a twenty-something year old part Asian woman with dyed blonde hair to boot. She's had a chequered history until joining the police force, and past encounters come back to haunt her when a number of men are discovered around the city, horrendously and violently murdered. Jennifer White is the 17 year old schoolgirl found guilty of these murders, on the flimsiest evidence, with the possibility that Lara's old partner, Billy, coincidentally the oldest detective in the squad at the time providing a helping hand to the investigation.
Move forward nearly 20 years and Lara is now the Police Commissioner, Billy has retired from the force, and Jennifer is finally paroled and the case that has never sat well with Lara gets even more complicated. Jennifer struggles on the outside mostly because of the publicity around her conviction, and the grotesque and gruesome nature of the crimes she was found guilty of. Never mind that she has been denied parole multiple times because of her constant assertions of innocence, there's been plenty of pressure on the parole board by a right-wing power hungry, unscrupulous politician along the way.
The different time lines, and the backgrounds of Lara, Billy and Jennifer are all drawn out against the worst fear that Jennifer has - that once she's out, the real killer will strike again, using her freedom as the perfect cover. This is a big part of what is so compelling about BLOOD RIVER, it's nothing new to explore the past and present of characters, but in this example we have Jennifer with no opportunity for much of a past, who is such a big part of the other character's lives, and continues to be so. Both Lara and Billy have had difficult upbringings, difficult paths to the police force, and much different outcomes once there. Lara, as her current role of Commissioner shows, rose to that position through hard work and perseverance. Billy was more old-school, just as likely to thump a suspect to force a confession as play by the rule book, he nonetheless had a long career and taught Lara a lot about investigative technique and thinking.
Whilst these personal stories are playing out, it's never possible to forget there is a real killer out there, and the occasional glimpse into their mind is informative without being voyeuristic, working more as a reminder, than revelling.
Which leads us into the question of the cinematic nature of BLOOD RIVER. Possibly because it's such an unusual idea, but mostly because this is a novel dripping with visual clues and leads, there is much in BLOOD RIVER that screams script. The characters are brilliant, unusual and conflicting. The "murderer" is a source of considerable compassion and sympathy, whilst the police, normally the good guys, are questionable and flawed. The weather provides a closed in, dark and brooding menace as the constant lurking flooding threatens to wipe away everything, and the different time lines provide all sorts of opportunities to consider how acceptable standards change over time.
Having said that, BLOOD RIVER works as a novel first and foremost. It's compelling, creepy, compulsive reading. It's one of those ones where you're going to think you know what's going on so often, only to wonder what on earth you could have been thinking a few pages on. It's utterly brilliant, and the reveal, when it arrives, is more than enough to make you wonder about people all over again.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
June 24, 2019
‘A body is found. And then another. And another.’
The novel opens in Brisbane in 1999. The Brisbane River is rising, the weather is hot and stormy, and the rain won’t stop. And then bodies are found near the Brisbane River. All men, all affluent, each with a family. Each has had his throat cut. The murders seem ritualised and they are gruesome. There’s a serial killer on the loose, and the tabloid headlines shout: THE VAMPIRE KILLER STRIKES AGAIN!
Detective Sergeant Lara Ocean and her partner, veteran Detective Billy Waterson work the case. Three suspects are identified, and Jennifer White, a seventeen-year-old girl, is arrested and convicted. But is she really the culprit? The evidence is flimsy, but the murders stop after Jennifer is arrested.
Twenty years later, Jennifer White is about to be released. Lara Ocean is now the Queensland Commissioner of Police; Billy Waterson has retired. Will the murders begin again? Can Lara find the truth?
There are a few twists in this story. I needed to concentrate at times to keep track of the characters as the story unfolds through a shifting first-person perspective.
I grew impatient with the middle part of this novel, between Jennifer’s conviction and release. But I very much enjoyed the characterisations of Lara Ocean and Billy Waterson.
And the killer? I suspect that some readers will be as surprised as I was, while others will work it out much earlier.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
The novel opens in Brisbane in 1999. The Brisbane River is rising, the weather is hot and stormy, and the rain won’t stop. And then bodies are found near the Brisbane River. All men, all affluent, each with a family. Each has had his throat cut. The murders seem ritualised and they are gruesome. There’s a serial killer on the loose, and the tabloid headlines shout: THE VAMPIRE KILLER STRIKES AGAIN!
Detective Sergeant Lara Ocean and her partner, veteran Detective Billy Waterson work the case. Three suspects are identified, and Jennifer White, a seventeen-year-old girl, is arrested and convicted. But is she really the culprit? The evidence is flimsy, but the murders stop after Jennifer is arrested.
Twenty years later, Jennifer White is about to be released. Lara Ocean is now the Queensland Commissioner of Police; Billy Waterson has retired. Will the murders begin again? Can Lara find the truth?
There are a few twists in this story. I needed to concentrate at times to keep track of the characters as the story unfolds through a shifting first-person perspective.
I grew impatient with the middle part of this novel, between Jennifer’s conviction and release. But I very much enjoyed the characterisations of Lara Ocean and Billy Waterson.
And the killer? I suspect that some readers will be as surprised as I was, while others will work it out much earlier.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
November 21, 2019
I enjoyed this book, but alas I did not guess the killer. It was well written.
May 17, 2019
Could not regret purchasing this book more. I wish I had retained my receipt. Cavanaugh has hit every cliche there is. An extremely unrealistic portrayal of a female detective and murder investigation. So poorly written I cannot believe it was published at all. Can’t bear to finish it. Do not bother!
May 13, 2019
This is a triumph. Loved the dark gritty world of corrupt cops in QLD and the the layers Tony brought to the story. Fans of Dervla McTiernan would love this one.
May 14, 2019
Copy received from Hachette Australia for an honest review
Who really is The Slayer (and no, it is not Buffy)
I was intrigued by the blurb of this story. Told by multiple narrators, you never know who you can believe.
The main characters, though at first a little caricacturish (particularly Lara) developed well through the story. Over the 20 years of the storyline we see their lives and careers,
You can't help but get frustrated with the "we gotta get someone in gaol, no matter who they are" attitude of the police. I wanted to throw my book at them at times. I am sure this is still happening in real life too, which leaves the read with a bit of discomfort - who knows, this could happen to any of us really.
I was left guessing about whom the real killer was, and I was completely surprised when it was revealed - this does not happen much, as I usually have a bit of an idea who the bad guy is.
This was my first Tony Cavanaugh read, and it won't be my last. I will be looking out for more in the future.
Who really is The Slayer (and no, it is not Buffy)
I was intrigued by the blurb of this story. Told by multiple narrators, you never know who you can believe.
The main characters, though at first a little caricacturish (particularly Lara) developed well through the story. Over the 20 years of the storyline we see their lives and careers,
You can't help but get frustrated with the "we gotta get someone in gaol, no matter who they are" attitude of the police. I wanted to throw my book at them at times. I am sure this is still happening in real life too, which leaves the read with a bit of discomfort - who knows, this could happen to any of us really.
I was left guessing about whom the real killer was, and I was completely surprised when it was revealed - this does not happen much, as I usually have a bit of an idea who the bad guy is.
This was my first Tony Cavanaugh read, and it won't be my last. I will be looking out for more in the future.
June 20, 2020
What a twist! Edge of your seat
June 10, 2019
Loved this book. Hope there's more from Tony.
January 2, 2022
The first person dialogue for most of the characters and the jumping between timelines was confusing. Fairly obvious outcome but a tense read.
March 2, 2020
An Australian mystery!
August 25, 2020
Wow!!! Simply WOW!!! Read it, you won't regret it. Tony Cavanaugh really is a master of crime. I could barely put the book down. Plus, I know, or know of, many of the places past and present that he refers to in this diabolical masterpiece.
January 13, 2021
A juicy, gruesome murder mystery set in Brisbane. Great depth to the characters and a good twist that kept me guessing for quite a while.
I liked the reflections back on the ‘old’ Queensland Police department. I’ll be looking for more books by this author.
I liked the reflections back on the ‘old’ Queensland Police department. I’ll be looking for more books by this author.
July 20, 2019
Blood River by Tony Cavanaugh is an incredible story that had me totally spell bound.
Initially set in Brisbane just before the change of the millennium with the hype of the Y2K and the uncertainty of what was going to happen with all the computers, there are three murders that are obviously the work of a serial killer. Two homicide detectives, Billy and Lara, make an unusual team with Billy being of the old-guard and Lara a young half-Asian woman with bleached blonde hair. Attention becomes focused on several men until Jennifer White, a 17 year old school girl becomes the main suspect. The publicity surrounding the case is intense and Jen is sent to trial, convicted and sent to prison. Jen maintains the whole time that she is innocent and only relinquishes this when going in front of the parole board for a fourth time - she needs to seek atonement for her crimes otherwise she will not be released.
It is now 2019 and what follows her release is her fear that the real killer with strike again now that she is out of prison. Lara at this time is Police Commissioner and she too has her doubts that Jen is the real killer. With the help of her old team mate, Billy, Lara seeks the truth. Once again public outcry about Jen’s release creates a lot of tension about what will happen.
The outcome was totally unexpected - it is complicated but had me totally captivated.
Tony Cavanaugh’s writing is lucid and vivid, with well developed and believable characters.
Highly recommended read.
Thank you to Netgalley and publisher Hachette Australia for copy to read and review.
Initially set in Brisbane just before the change of the millennium with the hype of the Y2K and the uncertainty of what was going to happen with all the computers, there are three murders that are obviously the work of a serial killer. Two homicide detectives, Billy and Lara, make an unusual team with Billy being of the old-guard and Lara a young half-Asian woman with bleached blonde hair. Attention becomes focused on several men until Jennifer White, a 17 year old school girl becomes the main suspect. The publicity surrounding the case is intense and Jen is sent to trial, convicted and sent to prison. Jen maintains the whole time that she is innocent and only relinquishes this when going in front of the parole board for a fourth time - she needs to seek atonement for her crimes otherwise she will not be released.
It is now 2019 and what follows her release is her fear that the real killer with strike again now that she is out of prison. Lara at this time is Police Commissioner and she too has her doubts that Jen is the real killer. With the help of her old team mate, Billy, Lara seeks the truth. Once again public outcry about Jen’s release creates a lot of tension about what will happen.
The outcome was totally unexpected - it is complicated but had me totally captivated.
Tony Cavanaugh’s writing is lucid and vivid, with well developed and believable characters.
Highly recommended read.
Thank you to Netgalley and publisher Hachette Australia for copy to read and review.
January 16, 2020
As a former resident of Brisbane I enjoyed the many references to familiar local landmarks like the Botanic Gardens, Kangaroo Point, and the iconic Brekkie Creek Hotel. The sense of Brisbane as somewhat removed and distinctly different from the southern capitals; the humidity; the storms; the swirling brown waters of the river that snakes it’s way across the city. It all felt authentic and familiar.
But when it came to the story itself - the investigation, arrest and conviction of a vicious serial killer nothing rang true.
Straight off the bat we’re told that in the Queensland of 1999 the very concept of a serial killer was completely unheard of.
“Brisbane in 1999 was not prepared for the shadowy creep of a serial killer. This was new...The whole notion of a serial killer was rare confusing unexplained”.
Umm. Ted Bundy 1974-78. Son of Sam 1976-77 John Wayne Gacy 1972-78 Jeffrey Dahmer 1978-91. Brisbane may have marched to its own beat and perhaps in some areas that was three steps behind with our shoelaces tied together - but we still got a Reuter’s feed. We knew what a serial killer was.
And one of few definitive characteristics of serial killers that criminal profilers have established beyond doubt is that they are driven to kill by overwhelming compulsion. They do not - can not - stop until they’re caught.
Leaving aside the fact that when the identity of the perpetrator is finally revealed they are physically, scientifically, statistically and logically the most unlikely serial killer in the annals of criminal history, the story of Blood River relies entirely on the impossible premise that this psychopathic monster with an uncontrollable urge to kill keeps that impulse in check for 20 years.
One can suspend disbelief. But let’s not suspend reality
But when it came to the story itself - the investigation, arrest and conviction of a vicious serial killer nothing rang true.
Straight off the bat we’re told that in the Queensland of 1999 the very concept of a serial killer was completely unheard of.
“Brisbane in 1999 was not prepared for the shadowy creep of a serial killer. This was new...The whole notion of a serial killer was rare confusing unexplained”.
Umm. Ted Bundy 1974-78. Son of Sam 1976-77 John Wayne Gacy 1972-78 Jeffrey Dahmer 1978-91. Brisbane may have marched to its own beat and perhaps in some areas that was three steps behind with our shoelaces tied together - but we still got a Reuter’s feed. We knew what a serial killer was.
And one of few definitive characteristics of serial killers that criminal profilers have established beyond doubt is that they are driven to kill by overwhelming compulsion. They do not - can not - stop until they’re caught.
Leaving aside the fact that when the identity of the perpetrator is finally revealed they are physically, scientifically, statistically and logically the most unlikely serial killer in the annals of criminal history, the story of Blood River relies entirely on the impossible premise that this psychopathic monster with an uncontrollable urge to kill keeps that impulse in check for 20 years.
One can suspend disbelief. But let’s not suspend reality
May 30, 2019
Uurk. I gave up on this book about a third of the way in. DNF. I don’t know if the writer is actually from Brisbane but I think not. He is so laboriously trying to show that he knows a lot about the city that it becomes painful. I really didn’t like all the stop starts. I didn’t like the 1 1/2 page chapters. I got confused about who was speaking and when they were speaking. It was just a mess. I think the writer’s day job as a tv writer and producer really showed. And not in a good way. The whole thing was just so dumbed down, I felt it was a bit of an insult to the reader. Not my favourite book and I certainly won’t read any more of his.
August 13, 2019
I didn’t like Cavanaugh’s writing style & as such just couldn’t get into the story. A shame, as I was keen for a thriller set in Brisbane.
May 10, 2019
It’s Brisbane, 1999. Three men have been savagely murdered during a flood. Lara Ocean, a fledgling homicide detective of seven months and her veteran partner, Billy Waterson, arrest seventeen-year-old student, Jen White. The media labels Jen ‘The Slayer’ and she is sentenced to life in prison.
Twenty years later and Queensland is in drought. Jen is released on parole and Lara is now the Police Commissioner. The Attorney-General threatens to terminate the president of the parole board and all its members unless they put Jen back in prison. Meanwhile, The Slayer plans to take advantage of Jen’s release – they will kill again, unless Jen can find a way to stop them.
Female detectives are becoming more prevalent in Australian crime fiction, with Sarah Bailey’s Gemma Woodstock novels (The Dark Lake, Into the Night), and James Patterson and Candice Fox’s Detective Harriet Blue series topping recent bestseller lists. Lara Ocean is another intriguing, flawed and carefully rendered protagonist, a tenacious detective with a complicated backstory spurred by rebellion – drug use and dangerous boyfriends. We meet her in 1999 through the eyes of another character – “the youngest detective in the Squad, ever, a twentysomething Asian with dyed blonde hair”. She’s busy trying to balance the pressure from her traditionalist mother to get married and have babies with her desire to work her way to the top of the police force.
Blood River bounces between many different viewpoints with the narrative separated into five parts, each beginning with lyrics from the African-American spiritual “Mary Don’t You Weep”. It’s the first person narration from Lara and from Jen that drive the story forward – both engaging characters with strong voices. There are also scenes with an omniscient viewpoint scattered throughout, including two graduate engineers who stand staring at the rising waters of the Wivenhoe Dam, trying to decide if they should open the sluice gates. The effect of these varying viewpoints is as though the reader is watching a movie, which is hardly surprising given Cavanaugh’s lucrative career writing and producing for screen. He also has an excellent and almost disturbing grasp of the voice of The Slayer to the point where, on several occasions, I nearly skipped to the next section because I couldn’t bear to be inside their twisted mind any longer.
With the majority of Australian crime fiction set in and around Sydney or Melbourne, I was interested to read a novel set in Brisbane, especially having enjoyed recent local crime drama, Harrow (ABC), which is filmed predominately in Brisbane. The Blood River murders occur at the iconic Kangaroo Point cliffs and the Brisbane Botanical Gardens, with several other notable locations also featured – the Breakfast Creek Hotel, Racecourse Road and the upmarket suburb of Ascot. The feel of Brisbane is expertly painted onto the page with descriptions of jacaranda trees lining the footpaths, tumble-down Queenslanders, and of course, the sub-tropical humidity and fierce heat of a Brisbane summer. The fictional murders are grounded in real-life local crimes, some of the gruesome details being quite similar to the 1989 Brisbane ‘Vampire Killer’.
There are many dualities and contrasts throughout Blood River – 1999 versus 2019, the odd coupling of Lara and Billy, flood versus drought; and within the lives of each main character – Lara’s chequered past is the opposite side of the coin to her professional and upstanding future as a Police Commissioner; Jen’s innocence versus the necessity for her to find the killer inside so she can have a future; and, the real killer, who is living a lie and waits like a dormant volcano ready to wake up for one last hurrah.
The mystery of The Slayer’s identity had me intrigued and as it turns out, I did correctly guess the killer earlier in the novel (an instinctive choice), but then became distracted by red herrings, only to discover I’d been right at the start. The author has planted enough crafty clues to enable the reader to guess correctly – but beware of sneaky misdirection (or if you prefer, you can enjoy being tricked).
A solid piece of entertaining, clever, and thoughtful crime fiction, Blood River was a story I read quickly, eager to find out what was going to happen, and which stayed with me long after I’d finished.
Twenty years later and Queensland is in drought. Jen is released on parole and Lara is now the Police Commissioner. The Attorney-General threatens to terminate the president of the parole board and all its members unless they put Jen back in prison. Meanwhile, The Slayer plans to take advantage of Jen’s release – they will kill again, unless Jen can find a way to stop them.
Female detectives are becoming more prevalent in Australian crime fiction, with Sarah Bailey’s Gemma Woodstock novels (The Dark Lake, Into the Night), and James Patterson and Candice Fox’s Detective Harriet Blue series topping recent bestseller lists. Lara Ocean is another intriguing, flawed and carefully rendered protagonist, a tenacious detective with a complicated backstory spurred by rebellion – drug use and dangerous boyfriends. We meet her in 1999 through the eyes of another character – “the youngest detective in the Squad, ever, a twentysomething Asian with dyed blonde hair”. She’s busy trying to balance the pressure from her traditionalist mother to get married and have babies with her desire to work her way to the top of the police force.
Blood River bounces between many different viewpoints with the narrative separated into five parts, each beginning with lyrics from the African-American spiritual “Mary Don’t You Weep”. It’s the first person narration from Lara and from Jen that drive the story forward – both engaging characters with strong voices. There are also scenes with an omniscient viewpoint scattered throughout, including two graduate engineers who stand staring at the rising waters of the Wivenhoe Dam, trying to decide if they should open the sluice gates. The effect of these varying viewpoints is as though the reader is watching a movie, which is hardly surprising given Cavanaugh’s lucrative career writing and producing for screen. He also has an excellent and almost disturbing grasp of the voice of The Slayer to the point where, on several occasions, I nearly skipped to the next section because I couldn’t bear to be inside their twisted mind any longer.
With the majority of Australian crime fiction set in and around Sydney or Melbourne, I was interested to read a novel set in Brisbane, especially having enjoyed recent local crime drama, Harrow (ABC), which is filmed predominately in Brisbane. The Blood River murders occur at the iconic Kangaroo Point cliffs and the Brisbane Botanical Gardens, with several other notable locations also featured – the Breakfast Creek Hotel, Racecourse Road and the upmarket suburb of Ascot. The feel of Brisbane is expertly painted onto the page with descriptions of jacaranda trees lining the footpaths, tumble-down Queenslanders, and of course, the sub-tropical humidity and fierce heat of a Brisbane summer. The fictional murders are grounded in real-life local crimes, some of the gruesome details being quite similar to the 1989 Brisbane ‘Vampire Killer’.
There are many dualities and contrasts throughout Blood River – 1999 versus 2019, the odd coupling of Lara and Billy, flood versus drought; and within the lives of each main character – Lara’s chequered past is the opposite side of the coin to her professional and upstanding future as a Police Commissioner; Jen’s innocence versus the necessity for her to find the killer inside so she can have a future; and, the real killer, who is living a lie and waits like a dormant volcano ready to wake up for one last hurrah.
The mystery of The Slayer’s identity had me intrigued and as it turns out, I did correctly guess the killer earlier in the novel (an instinctive choice), but then became distracted by red herrings, only to discover I’d been right at the start. The author has planted enough crafty clues to enable the reader to guess correctly – but beware of sneaky misdirection (or if you prefer, you can enjoy being tricked).
A solid piece of entertaining, clever, and thoughtful crime fiction, Blood River was a story I read quickly, eager to find out what was going to happen, and which stayed with me long after I’d finished.
May 27, 2019
'Brisbane 1999. It's hot. Stormy. Dangerous. The waters of the Brisbane River are rising. The rains won't stop. People's nerves are on edge. And then . . .
A body is found.
And then another.
And another.
A string of seemingly ritualized but gruesome murders. All the victims are men. Affluent. Guys with nice houses, wives and kids at private schools. All have had their throats cut. Tabloid headlines shout, THE VAMPIRE KILLER STRIKES AGAIN!
Detective Constable Lara Ocean knows the look. The 'my-life-will-never-be-the-same-again look'. She's seen it too many times on too many faces. Telling a wife her husband won't be coming home. Ever again. Telling her the brutal way he was murdered. That's a look you never get used to.
Telling a mother you need her daughter to come to the station for questioning. That's another look she doesn't want to see again.
And staring into the eyes of a murderer, yet doubting you've got it right. That's the worst look of all - the one you see in the mirror. Get it right, you're a hero and the city is a safer place. Get it wrong and you destroy a life. And a killer remains free. Twenty years down the track, Lara Ocean will know the truth.'
This book was amazing.
I was not expect to love this book as much as I did. I am usually not a fan of Crime stories, as I am usually able to predict what s going to happen, but this book kept me on edge and genuinely surprised me.
I loved the fact that this book took place over 20 years. This allowed us to see the characters grow and change over that time. The characters in this book were amazing. They we relatable and that made it easy to connect with them.
The crime aspect of this book was also really realistic. Seeing it all play out made for a really interesting reading experience.
Tony Cavanaugh did a fantastic job with this book. I was captivated from the first page and I found myself on the edge of my seat as the story unfolded. There wasn't a dull moment in this book.
If you are a crime fan or you are looking for a really compelling reading experience, this is the book for you.
Blood River by Tony Cavanaugh will take you on a journey filled with twists and turns.
Geramie Kate Barker
gemsbooknook.wordpress.com
A body is found.
And then another.
And another.
A string of seemingly ritualized but gruesome murders. All the victims are men. Affluent. Guys with nice houses, wives and kids at private schools. All have had their throats cut. Tabloid headlines shout, THE VAMPIRE KILLER STRIKES AGAIN!
Detective Constable Lara Ocean knows the look. The 'my-life-will-never-be-the-same-again look'. She's seen it too many times on too many faces. Telling a wife her husband won't be coming home. Ever again. Telling her the brutal way he was murdered. That's a look you never get used to.
Telling a mother you need her daughter to come to the station for questioning. That's another look she doesn't want to see again.
And staring into the eyes of a murderer, yet doubting you've got it right. That's the worst look of all - the one you see in the mirror. Get it right, you're a hero and the city is a safer place. Get it wrong and you destroy a life. And a killer remains free. Twenty years down the track, Lara Ocean will know the truth.'
This book was amazing.
I was not expect to love this book as much as I did. I am usually not a fan of Crime stories, as I am usually able to predict what s going to happen, but this book kept me on edge and genuinely surprised me.
I loved the fact that this book took place over 20 years. This allowed us to see the characters grow and change over that time. The characters in this book were amazing. They we relatable and that made it easy to connect with them.
The crime aspect of this book was also really realistic. Seeing it all play out made for a really interesting reading experience.
Tony Cavanaugh did a fantastic job with this book. I was captivated from the first page and I found myself on the edge of my seat as the story unfolded. There wasn't a dull moment in this book.
If you are a crime fan or you are looking for a really compelling reading experience, this is the book for you.
Blood River by Tony Cavanaugh will take you on a journey filled with twists and turns.
Geramie Kate Barker
gemsbooknook.wordpress.com
June 6, 2019
Book blurb…
Brisbane 1999. It's hot. Stormy. Dangerous. The waters of the Brisbane River are rising. The rains won't stop. People's nerves are on edge. And then . . .
A body is found.
And then another.
And another.
A string of seemingly ritualised but gruesome murders. All the victims are men. Affluent. Guys with nice houses, wives and kids at private schools. All have had their throats cut. Tabloid headlines shout, THE VAMPIRE KILLER STRIKES AGAIN!
Detective Constable Lara Ocean knows the look. The 'my-life-will-never-be-the-same-again look'. She's seen it too many times on too many faces. Telling a wife her husband won't be coming home. Ever again. Telling her the brutal way he was murdered. That's a look you never get used to.
Telling a mother you need her daughter to come to the station for questioning. That's another look she doesn't want to see again.
And staring into the eyes of a murderer, yet doubting you've got it right. That's the worst look of all - the one you see in the mirror. Get it right, you're a hero and the city is a safer place. Get it wrong and you destroy a life. And a killer remains free. Twenty years down the track, Lara Ocean will know the truth.
My thoughts…
This story is intriguing and captivated me until the very end. I do enjoy a first-person narrative and the pace is terrific.
I liked all the characters and their complexities, and the author’s attention to detail helped me visualise them on the pages. I did not work out the plot (which is rare for me—so very pleased about that!) and Lara’s conflict is solid and believable.
Did she put the right person behind bars?
A daunting responsibility and a great plot.
This review is also published on http://www.readroundoz.wordpress.com
Brisbane 1999. It's hot. Stormy. Dangerous. The waters of the Brisbane River are rising. The rains won't stop. People's nerves are on edge. And then . . .
A body is found.
And then another.
And another.
A string of seemingly ritualised but gruesome murders. All the victims are men. Affluent. Guys with nice houses, wives and kids at private schools. All have had their throats cut. Tabloid headlines shout, THE VAMPIRE KILLER STRIKES AGAIN!
Detective Constable Lara Ocean knows the look. The 'my-life-will-never-be-the-same-again look'. She's seen it too many times on too many faces. Telling a wife her husband won't be coming home. Ever again. Telling her the brutal way he was murdered. That's a look you never get used to.
Telling a mother you need her daughter to come to the station for questioning. That's another look she doesn't want to see again.
And staring into the eyes of a murderer, yet doubting you've got it right. That's the worst look of all - the one you see in the mirror. Get it right, you're a hero and the city is a safer place. Get it wrong and you destroy a life. And a killer remains free. Twenty years down the track, Lara Ocean will know the truth.
My thoughts…
This story is intriguing and captivated me until the very end. I do enjoy a first-person narrative and the pace is terrific.
I liked all the characters and their complexities, and the author’s attention to detail helped me visualise them on the pages. I did not work out the plot (which is rare for me—so very pleased about that!) and Lara’s conflict is solid and believable.
Did she put the right person behind bars?
A daunting responsibility and a great plot.
This review is also published on http://www.readroundoz.wordpress.com
June 29, 2019
I forget how much I do actually enjoy a good crime/ thriller book, particularly contemporary Australian ones. This begins in Brisbane in 1999 (and is the second book I’ve just read that has the 1999 Brisbane floods featuring heavily. Weird Zeitgeist!) amidst Y2K hysteria and a serial killer that decapitates the heads of its victims, carves the symbol of a Celtic god into their chest and steals a tooth. Noice.
A 17yo girl, Jen, is wrongly accused and spends a number of years in prison. Lara is a new cop in the homicide squad, eager to prove herself against her street wise and much older partner, Billy and the entrenched blokiness of QLD police at that time.
There’s a large cast of characters and the story does duck and weave a bit between voices and times and other reviewers have pointed out that it can be tricky to follow. I also picked the killer very early on and I never do that, so maybe it wasn’t as suspenseful as it could have been. But, really enjoyable and the narration was great.
A 17yo girl, Jen, is wrongly accused and spends a number of years in prison. Lara is a new cop in the homicide squad, eager to prove herself against her street wise and much older partner, Billy and the entrenched blokiness of QLD police at that time.
There’s a large cast of characters and the story does duck and weave a bit between voices and times and other reviewers have pointed out that it can be tricky to follow. I also picked the killer very early on and I never do that, so maybe it wasn’t as suspenseful as it could have been. But, really enjoyable and the narration was great.
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