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Clementine Jones #2
White Throat
Looking out over an ebb tide from the back verandah was like watching God paint stripes…
Disgraced former lawyer Clementine Jones is on the shores of paradise—Queensland’s Great Sandy Straits—trying to outrun her past.
Bored with her house-sitting gig, she becomes a reluctant recruit to the local environmental group, campaigning to save an endangered turtle as developers close in. Then a body is found at the base of a quarry, and Clem’s world is turned upside down.
The police say suicide. Clem’s convinced it was murder. She also knows she’s the only one interested in tracking down the killer.
Well, the only one apart from her friend Torrens, ex-con and reformed standover man. And he’s got his own fight on his hands.
Disgraced former lawyer Clementine Jones is on the shores of paradise—Queensland’s Great Sandy Straits—trying to outrun her past.
Bored with her house-sitting gig, she becomes a reluctant recruit to the local environmental group, campaigning to save an endangered turtle as developers close in. Then a body is found at the base of a quarry, and Clem’s world is turned upside down.
The police say suicide. Clem’s convinced it was murder. She also knows she’s the only one interested in tracking down the killer.
Well, the only one apart from her friend Torrens, ex-con and reformed standover man. And he’s got his own fight on his hands.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2020
13 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Thornton
2 books27 followersSarah cast off the lines to her law career not long after being awarded Australian Corporate Lawyer of the Year in 2016. She now lives with her husband aboard a 43-foot sailing catamaran, exploring this most magnificent blue planet and chasing an endless summer. She took up writing novels as a way to liberate her imagination after twenty years in the structured confines of legal and corporate life. Her debut novel, Lapse, is the first of a series featuring former corporate lawyer Clementine Jones.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
November 10, 2020
After running away from the shame of her past to hide in the small Queensland country town of Katinga, disgraced ex-corporate lawyer Clementine (Clem) Jones found herself in the spotlight again for successfully coaching the local Australian Rules football club to their first premiership win. Now, in this sequel, she's lying low again on the coast near Noosa, house-sitting for the summer while she considers her future and whether to accept a lucrative sports law job in Melbourne. An old family friend living in town, Helen Westley talks her into helping with a campaign to save the endangered white throat turtle whose habitat will disappear if plans for a new port development go ahead. When Helen's body is found at the bottom of a cliff, the police write it off as suicide but Clem suspects foul play and sets out to find who might have been involved.
Clem has plenty of suspects to check out amongst the mayor and town businessmen, who favour building a port that will bring in jobs as well as personal wealth, over the fate of a small group of turtles. Clem's life becomes further complicated by the arrival of one of her football stars, an ex-con who is also hiding for reasons of his own. Street smart, feisty and with a keen sense of justice, Clem will still manage to get herself into all sorts of trouble in this well plotted, entertaining thriller. But can she really save the turtle's habitat, expose Helen's killer, sort out some shady dealings and escape with her life to that cushy job in Melbourne? 4.5★
With thanks to Text Publishing and Netgalley for a digital copy to read
Clem has plenty of suspects to check out amongst the mayor and town businessmen, who favour building a port that will bring in jobs as well as personal wealth, over the fate of a small group of turtles. Clem's life becomes further complicated by the arrival of one of her football stars, an ex-con who is also hiding for reasons of his own. Street smart, feisty and with a keen sense of justice, Clem will still manage to get herself into all sorts of trouble in this well plotted, entertaining thriller. But can she really save the turtle's habitat, expose Helen's killer, sort out some shady dealings and escape with her life to that cushy job in Melbourne? 4.5★
With thanks to Text Publishing and Netgalley for a digital copy to read
November 25, 2020
Clementine Jones, former lawyer and lately the coach of the grand final winners in the small Victorian town of Katinga, was house sitting in Piama, up on Queensland’s Great Sandy Straits. The two dogs, Sarge and Pocket kept her company, but she was bored. Joining the group trying to save the white throat turtles in the area and keeping Turtle Shores safe was helping her good friend, but Clem wasn’t sure it was helping her own sanity. But when a body was found at the bottom of an old quarry, and the police deemed it suicide, Clem was incensed. There was no way it was suicide – and she would prove it…
As Clem and her good friend Torrens thought up a multitude of plans – some legal, some not – she knew she would have her work cut out. Money talks: it was up to her to pander to the egos of some of these people if she was going to save the turtles, save Turtle Shores and prove that the person was murdered. As the danger accelerated, Clem fleetingly wondered if she would leave Piama alive.
White Throat is the 2nd in the Clementine Jones series by Aussie author Sarah Thornton and I really enjoyed it. There was plenty of action, some brutal murders, a few sleezy characters along with plenty of heartwarming scenes from the Katinga Cats. Clem is a well thought out character, though she did do a couple of silly things this trip. (I knew she’d be found out, so she should have!) An excellent addition to the series, White Throat is one I have no hesitation in recommending.
With thanks to Text Publishing for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
As Clem and her good friend Torrens thought up a multitude of plans – some legal, some not – she knew she would have her work cut out. Money talks: it was up to her to pander to the egos of some of these people if she was going to save the turtles, save Turtle Shores and prove that the person was murdered. As the danger accelerated, Clem fleetingly wondered if she would leave Piama alive.
White Throat is the 2nd in the Clementine Jones series by Aussie author Sarah Thornton and I really enjoyed it. There was plenty of action, some brutal murders, a few sleezy characters along with plenty of heartwarming scenes from the Katinga Cats. Clem is a well thought out character, though she did do a couple of silly things this trip. (I knew she’d be found out, so she should have!) An excellent addition to the series, White Throat is one I have no hesitation in recommending.
With thanks to Text Publishing for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
November 24, 2020
Earlier this year I was introduced to Clementine Jones, a disgraced former lawyer who is hiding out in a small country town called Katinga. White Throat is the second book with Clementine, only this time she is in the Great Sandy Straits of Queensland. She is house sitting and involved in the local environmental cause to save the turtles. She isn’t living a quiet life until an old family friend is found dead at the bottom of a quarry. The police say that it was suicide but Clemens is not convinced.
This was a quick and enjoyable read by another great Aussie writer. I flew though it in 2 days. I loved learning more about Clem and watching her come to terms with with her life after prison. She’s has to make decisions about where her life is heading but her former football team in Katinga are not making it easy to walk away from them.
Thanks to Text Publishing and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.
This was a quick and enjoyable read by another great Aussie writer. I flew though it in 2 days. I loved learning more about Clem and watching her come to terms with with her life after prison. She’s has to make decisions about where her life is heading but her former football team in Katinga are not making it easy to walk away from them.
Thanks to Text Publishing and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.
December 16, 2020
⭐️4 Stars⭐️
Clementine Jones is a disgraced lawyer and is hiding from her past, she's currently house sitting in the small coastal backwater town of Piama in Queensland. She has Sarge a 55kg bull mastiff to dog sit and Pocket her blue heeler to keep her company. Boredom leads to her becoming involved in the local environment cause involving saving the white turtles.
The endangered freshwater white throated snapping turtles habitat is threatened by development of the new port. It’s a turtle that can breathe underwater through its bum, worth saving no less!
A woman is found dead at the base of Howard’s Quarry, a fifteen metre drop! She was the president of the Wildlife Association of the Great Sand Straits and also a close family friend of Clementine's.
Police Investigations find nothing suspicious and deem it suicide but Clementine is sure it has more to do with the port development and her friend Helen has been murdered.
More complications arise by the arrival of ex-con and good friend Torrens wanting to lie low at her place. As Clementine sets off on her own dangerous investigation into Helen’s death she gets down and dirty and takes a few too many risks endangering her own life.
A wonderfully written and exciting Australian crime mystery, the second in a series but also a standalone read.
I wish to thank Netgalley and Text Publishing for providing me with an advanced copy in return for an honest review.
Clementine Jones is a disgraced lawyer and is hiding from her past, she's currently house sitting in the small coastal backwater town of Piama in Queensland. She has Sarge a 55kg bull mastiff to dog sit and Pocket her blue heeler to keep her company. Boredom leads to her becoming involved in the local environment cause involving saving the white turtles.
The endangered freshwater white throated snapping turtles habitat is threatened by development of the new port. It’s a turtle that can breathe underwater through its bum, worth saving no less!
A woman is found dead at the base of Howard’s Quarry, a fifteen metre drop! She was the president of the Wildlife Association of the Great Sand Straits and also a close family friend of Clementine's.
Police Investigations find nothing suspicious and deem it suicide but Clementine is sure it has more to do with the port development and her friend Helen has been murdered.
More complications arise by the arrival of ex-con and good friend Torrens wanting to lie low at her place. As Clementine sets off on her own dangerous investigation into Helen’s death she gets down and dirty and takes a few too many risks endangering her own life.
A wonderfully written and exciting Australian crime mystery, the second in a series but also a standalone read.
I wish to thank Netgalley and Text Publishing for providing me with an advanced copy in return for an honest review.
December 7, 2020
Many Thanks to Net Galley, Text Publishing and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
White Throat is book #2 in the Clementine Jones series by Aussie author Sarah Thornton which can be read as a stand-alone. Clementine Jones is on a house-sitting gig in Piama when she becomes involved in helping out Helen who was a mother-figure to her when she was growing up. Helen is on a SAVE THE WHITE THROAT TURTLE mission running the Wildlife Association of The Great Sandy Straits along with a group of volunteers. But Helen’s death classified as a suicide by the Police, disturbs Clem as she hunts for the reason that caused the death of her Auntie Helen.
Clem is an accidental detective who has no formal training but who kind of blunders thru things some legal, but mostly illegal along with her friend Torrens. There are a number of suspects in Clem’s list as she uses her lawyerly skills to ferret out the truth. The Pandora’s box once opened reveals a resort development scheme, locals swindled of their hard-earned cash in one Ponzi scheme or another thus making Clem’s job tough to carry out.
Meanwhile Torrens has his own past that comes calling in the form of a gunman.
Frist few pages into the story didn’t excite me much but as Clem begins her enquiries and things become murkier, White Throat became a thrill-ride. I loved the character of Clem who refuses to lie low and accept everything as is, she’s quite determined and loyal to seek out the truth. The story also takes us to the myriad turmoil that disturbs Clementine as she finds it difficult to return to Katinga where she was given an opportunity by the townspeople after her fall from grace.
The author has beautifully woven a complex tale of corporate development against environmental concerns with a brilliant murder mystery keeping everyone on their toes. Love to follow Clementine Jones as she heads off to another adventure.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India and twitter.
White Throat is book #2 in the Clementine Jones series by Aussie author Sarah Thornton which can be read as a stand-alone. Clementine Jones is on a house-sitting gig in Piama when she becomes involved in helping out Helen who was a mother-figure to her when she was growing up. Helen is on a SAVE THE WHITE THROAT TURTLE mission running the Wildlife Association of The Great Sandy Straits along with a group of volunteers. But Helen’s death classified as a suicide by the Police, disturbs Clem as she hunts for the reason that caused the death of her Auntie Helen.
Clem is an accidental detective who has no formal training but who kind of blunders thru things some legal, but mostly illegal along with her friend Torrens. There are a number of suspects in Clem’s list as she uses her lawyerly skills to ferret out the truth. The Pandora’s box once opened reveals a resort development scheme, locals swindled of their hard-earned cash in one Ponzi scheme or another thus making Clem’s job tough to carry out.
Meanwhile Torrens has his own past that comes calling in the form of a gunman.
Frist few pages into the story didn’t excite me much but as Clem begins her enquiries and things become murkier, White Throat became a thrill-ride. I loved the character of Clem who refuses to lie low and accept everything as is, she’s quite determined and loyal to seek out the truth. The story also takes us to the myriad turmoil that disturbs Clementine as she finds it difficult to return to Katinga where she was given an opportunity by the townspeople after her fall from grace.
The author has beautifully woven a complex tale of corporate development against environmental concerns with a brilliant murder mystery keeping everyone on their toes. Love to follow Clementine Jones as she heads off to another adventure.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India and twitter.
February 24, 2021
My review is published in the March edition of goodreading magazine under my real name.
January 23, 2021
White Throat is the second book in the Clementine Jones series by Australian author and former lawyer, Sarah Thornton. Unable to face the town of Katinga once the uncomfortable facts of her past become known, lawyer/football coach Clementine Jones flees to the coastal Queensland village of Piama.
Her boredom with dog-sitting in an idyllic little fibro shanty on the beach leads to a bit of behind-the-scenes legal work and lobbying for the local conservation group, Wildlife Association of Great Sandy Straits, coincidentally run by a close family friend, Helen Westley. The object of their campaign is the multi-national mining company proposing a port development that will require dredging of the tidal flats, destroying the habitat of the endangered white-throated snapping turtle, a biological wonder— a cloacal ventilating turtle. Auntie Helen wants her to take a more prominent role, but Clem prefers to stay under the radar.
Then Helen’s body is found at the base of a fifteen-metre cliff in the local quarry; the police rule suicide, but Clem is certain that Helen has been murdered. The motive surely involves the port proposal, so Clem reasons that opponents of the WAGSS campaign are suspects, and the only way to assess their guilt will be to take on Helen’s role and interview them.
Clem finds herself soliciting for funds and planning next steps with volunteers in the campaign in between checking out the mine’s representatives, the mayor (who sees the jobs likely to be generated by the mine as votes), and the representative of a group of residents, stung by a financial scam and so desperate to sell their properties at the inflated prices the mining company will offer.
Distractions from her covert investigations are the arrival of one of the Katinga football team (an ex-con seeking a place to lie low), calls from a Katinga lover, a puzzling irregularity in Helen’s will and, despite her ruined reputation, a few job offers.
As Clem tries to pressure police to actually investigate Helen’s death, she also does a girly act for the unconsciously patriarchal, collects mud samples from tyres, is pressured to return to her footy coaching role, plants listening devices, and makes unlawful entries, all while unaware of a watcher (or two).
Before Clem has discovered what really happened to Helen, she has fished from a tinny, engaged in a spot of blackmail, impersonated a criminal lawyer, been pissed upon, indulged in phone sex, pretended to be corruptible, watched turtles hatch, and made promises she has no intention of keeping, There is gunplay, but Clem’s weapons are a green plastic water-pistol and a spear-gun.
Instalment two of Clementine Jones is certainly topical: Thornton easily evokes her setting and the mindset of the locals; if Clem’s tendency to underestimate the degree of difficulty of task she sets herself, or overestimate her abilities, that just adds entertainment value in the lead-up to a very exciting climax. Often darkly funny, this is excellent Australian crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Text Publishing.
Her boredom with dog-sitting in an idyllic little fibro shanty on the beach leads to a bit of behind-the-scenes legal work and lobbying for the local conservation group, Wildlife Association of Great Sandy Straits, coincidentally run by a close family friend, Helen Westley. The object of their campaign is the multi-national mining company proposing a port development that will require dredging of the tidal flats, destroying the habitat of the endangered white-throated snapping turtle, a biological wonder— a cloacal ventilating turtle. Auntie Helen wants her to take a more prominent role, but Clem prefers to stay under the radar.
Then Helen’s body is found at the base of a fifteen-metre cliff in the local quarry; the police rule suicide, but Clem is certain that Helen has been murdered. The motive surely involves the port proposal, so Clem reasons that opponents of the WAGSS campaign are suspects, and the only way to assess their guilt will be to take on Helen’s role and interview them.
Clem finds herself soliciting for funds and planning next steps with volunteers in the campaign in between checking out the mine’s representatives, the mayor (who sees the jobs likely to be generated by the mine as votes), and the representative of a group of residents, stung by a financial scam and so desperate to sell their properties at the inflated prices the mining company will offer.
Distractions from her covert investigations are the arrival of one of the Katinga football team (an ex-con seeking a place to lie low), calls from a Katinga lover, a puzzling irregularity in Helen’s will and, despite her ruined reputation, a few job offers.
As Clem tries to pressure police to actually investigate Helen’s death, she also does a girly act for the unconsciously patriarchal, collects mud samples from tyres, is pressured to return to her footy coaching role, plants listening devices, and makes unlawful entries, all while unaware of a watcher (or two).
Before Clem has discovered what really happened to Helen, she has fished from a tinny, engaged in a spot of blackmail, impersonated a criminal lawyer, been pissed upon, indulged in phone sex, pretended to be corruptible, watched turtles hatch, and made promises she has no intention of keeping, There is gunplay, but Clem’s weapons are a green plastic water-pistol and a spear-gun.
Instalment two of Clementine Jones is certainly topical: Thornton easily evokes her setting and the mindset of the locals; if Clem’s tendency to underestimate the degree of difficulty of task she sets herself, or overestimate her abilities, that just adds entertainment value in the lead-up to a very exciting climax. Often darkly funny, this is excellent Australian crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Text Publishing.
March 13, 2021
The hardest part of writing Australian crime is deciding how "Australian" to make it. Should it be the kind where a ute-driving sheila says "strewth" while chowing down on a kangaroo burger? Or the kind set in a fictitious town in an unnamed country, which avoids all slang and never mentions the date, for fear of revealing that the book is set in the southern hemisphere? Either way, you're likely to alienate readers both foreign and domestic, so it's easiest to just set your book in Texas (for example). But author Sarah Thornton apparently likes a challenge, and dances across the antipodean tightrope with ease.
Lawyer Clementine Jones moves to a small coastal town in Queensland, a nice long way away from her bad reputation. She's after the quiet life, and she gets it, for about a page and a half. Then a friend of hers is found impaled on a tree, having fallen off a cliff. The cops think the friend jumped, Clem reckons she was pushed. She takes it upon herself to find the truth, but her investigation is hampered by the arrival of an ex-con football player, who wants Clem to come home and coach his team. (Those who haven't read the previous book in the series, Lapse , may do a double-take at this point. Having scored a freebie of White Throat, I haven't read Lapse, but I'm now very tempted.)
When we categorise books into a genre, we often do them a disservice. The best novels are made from a blend of contrasting ingredients. In White Throat, Clem's sadness and anger at her friend's death is explored, but not wallowed in. It's balanced by moments of sharp humour, erotic romance and even horror. One moment I was feeling deeply sorry for Clem, the next I was admiring her cunning. The story has plenty of plot twists, but it was these emotional pivots that I enjoyed most.
Like many contemporary Australian thrillers, the story does squeeze in perhaps one too many reveals. Towards the end, Clem zip-zap-zooms from theory to theory and suspect to suspect, rather than moving steadily towards the truth. The point of this, I assume, is to force her into some dangerous situations, and fortunately, they don't disappoint. The action scenes, particularly those on water, are intense and real.
When the second word of the first page of White Throat was "ute," I was very suspicious. By the end, I'd forgotten that the book was Australian, but that was because I was having so much fun, rather than because it was hiding its Bight under a bushel. Highly recommended.
Jack Heath is the author of Hideout.
Lawyer Clementine Jones moves to a small coastal town in Queensland, a nice long way away from her bad reputation. She's after the quiet life, and she gets it, for about a page and a half. Then a friend of hers is found impaled on a tree, having fallen off a cliff. The cops think the friend jumped, Clem reckons she was pushed. She takes it upon herself to find the truth, but her investigation is hampered by the arrival of an ex-con football player, who wants Clem to come home and coach his team. (Those who haven't read the previous book in the series, Lapse , may do a double-take at this point. Having scored a freebie of White Throat, I haven't read Lapse, but I'm now very tempted.)
When we categorise books into a genre, we often do them a disservice. The best novels are made from a blend of contrasting ingredients. In White Throat, Clem's sadness and anger at her friend's death is explored, but not wallowed in. It's balanced by moments of sharp humour, erotic romance and even horror. One moment I was feeling deeply sorry for Clem, the next I was admiring her cunning. The story has plenty of plot twists, but it was these emotional pivots that I enjoyed most.
Like many contemporary Australian thrillers, the story does squeeze in perhaps one too many reveals. Towards the end, Clem zip-zap-zooms from theory to theory and suspect to suspect, rather than moving steadily towards the truth. The point of this, I assume, is to force her into some dangerous situations, and fortunately, they don't disappoint. The action scenes, particularly those on water, are intense and real.
When the second word of the first page of White Throat was "ute," I was very suspicious. By the end, I'd forgotten that the book was Australian, but that was because I was having so much fun, rather than because it was hiding its Bight under a bushel. Highly recommended.
Jack Heath is the author of Hideout.
April 9, 2021
The second of the Clementine Jones series by Sarah Thornton. Clem has moved to Queensland but cannot escape her notoriety. Her friend is dead, the police say it’s suicide, but Clem does not agree and takes over the ‘save our turtle’ campaign. With no one apart from her ex-con friend Torrens and reformed standover man to help. Can Clem solve the mystery and determine which future path to take? A captivating tale and engrossing crime series with a four-star must-read rating.
Read
May 11, 2021The following book reviews have been shared by Text Publishing – publisher of White Throat
'Clem Jones is back with a vengeance. New town, different villains, but same dogged pursuit and badass bravado.’
Candice Fox
‘White Throat is riveting mystery with a clever storyline and likable lead protagonist...Old and new fans will enjoy this newest addition to the Clementine Jones series.’
Book Reviews & More
‘[Thornton’s] scene-setting is vividly descriptive.’
Debbish
'Sarah Thornton’s second crime novel featuring Clementine Jones, is as compulsive as her first, Lapse...both are well crafted, exciting, and entertaining reads. I’m already looking forward to the next.’
Book’d Out
'Thornton delivers another pacey thriller filled with hot button issues.’
Pile by the Bed
‘[White Throat] makes a great summer afternoon escape.’
L.J.M Owen, Sisters in Crime
‘Clementine Jones is a great character—clever, resourceful, determined...[Sarah Thornton] has delivered another fast-paced crime thriller anchored around a flawed and engaging heroine.'
The Blurb
'Crisply composed, unspooling with finely judged pace and suspense. A good bet for anyone casting about for a new Australian crime series.'
Sydney Morning Herald
‘Thornton delivers an engaging, action-packed tale with a good touch for setting.’
NZ Listener
'White Throat is not only thrilling reading but also a timely reminder of the threat to Australia's endangered native species from greedy vested interests.’
Canberra Times
'There is humour in every encounter Clementine has, partly created by her own healthy disrespect for conventional boundaries. Doors and rules create only trifling obstacles. The canine cast are equally entertaining and thoroughly endearing.’
Otago Daily Times
'A great narrative, descriptively Australian, wonderful characters, and a series I intend to follow.’
Good Reading
‘Lapse…called out for a sequel. Now we have it in White Throat…[Thornton’s] presentation of different viewpoints is noteworthy. She does not allow her intelligent, curious protagonist to be one-eyed, and she does not dumb down the public interest issues that coexist with her story’s audacious action sequences and broad humour.’
Australian
'Clem Jones is back with a vengeance. New town, different villains, but same dogged pursuit and badass bravado.’
Candice Fox
‘White Throat is riveting mystery with a clever storyline and likable lead protagonist...Old and new fans will enjoy this newest addition to the Clementine Jones series.’
Book Reviews & More
‘[Thornton’s] scene-setting is vividly descriptive.’
Debbish
'Sarah Thornton’s second crime novel featuring Clementine Jones, is as compulsive as her first, Lapse...both are well crafted, exciting, and entertaining reads. I’m already looking forward to the next.’
Book’d Out
'Thornton delivers another pacey thriller filled with hot button issues.’
Pile by the Bed
‘[White Throat] makes a great summer afternoon escape.’
L.J.M Owen, Sisters in Crime
‘Clementine Jones is a great character—clever, resourceful, determined...[Sarah Thornton] has delivered another fast-paced crime thriller anchored around a flawed and engaging heroine.'
The Blurb
'Crisply composed, unspooling with finely judged pace and suspense. A good bet for anyone casting about for a new Australian crime series.'
Sydney Morning Herald
‘Thornton delivers an engaging, action-packed tale with a good touch for setting.’
NZ Listener
'White Throat is not only thrilling reading but also a timely reminder of the threat to Australia's endangered native species from greedy vested interests.’
Canberra Times
'There is humour in every encounter Clementine has, partly created by her own healthy disrespect for conventional boundaries. Doors and rules create only trifling obstacles. The canine cast are equally entertaining and thoroughly endearing.’
Otago Daily Times
'A great narrative, descriptively Australian, wonderful characters, and a series I intend to follow.’
Good Reading
‘Lapse…called out for a sequel. Now we have it in White Throat…[Thornton’s] presentation of different viewpoints is noteworthy. She does not allow her intelligent, curious protagonist to be one-eyed, and she does not dumb down the public interest issues that coexist with her story’s audacious action sequences and broad humour.’
Australian
May 20, 2023
White Throat is book #2 in the Clementine Jones series by Sarah Thornton. I enjoyed this fast-paced thriller set just down the road from me in the Great Sandy Straits, Queensland. This story takes place after Clem leaves Katinga and becomes involved in preserving the White Throat Snapping turtle, alongside her friend Helen. Helen and her team of misfits are passionate about saving the turtle however, other townspeople want developments in the area to proceed. Unexpectedly, Helen is found dead at a quarry but her death is ruled a suicide, not murder. Clem decides to take investigations into her own hands. Clem is much tougher and a bit unlikable in this second installment but in saying that I still really enjoyed the story. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for my digital copy.
March 8, 2021
White Throat is the second book in the Clementine Jones series by Australian author and former lawyer, Sarah Thornton. The audio version is read by Blazey Best. Unable to face the town of Katinga once the uncomfortable facts of her past become known, lawyer/football coach Clementine Jones flees to the coastal Queensland village of Piama.
Her boredom with dog-sitting in an idyllic little fibro shanty on the beach leads to a bit of behind-the-scenes legal work and lobbying for the local conservation group, Wildlife Association of Great Sandy Straits, coincidentally run by a close family friend, Helen Westley. The object of their campaign is the multi-national mining company proposing a port development that will require dredging of the tidal flats, destroying the habitat of the endangered white-throated snapping turtle, a biological wonder— a cloacal ventilating turtle. Auntie Helen wants her to take a more prominent role, but Clem prefers to stay under the radar.
Then Helen’s body is found at the base of a fifteen-metre cliff in the local quarry; the police rule suicide, but Clem is certain that Helen has been murdered. The motive surely involves the port proposal, so Clem reasons that opponents of the WAGSS campaign are suspects, and the only way to assess their guilt will be to take on Helen’s role and interview them.
Clem finds herself soliciting for funds and planning next steps with volunteers in the campaign in between checking out the mine’s representatives, the mayor (who sees the jobs likely to be generated by the mine as votes), and the representative of a group of residents, stung by a financial scam and so desperate to sell their properties at the inflated prices the mining company will offer.
Distractions from her covert investigations are the arrival of one of the Katinga football team (an ex-con seeking a place to lie low), calls from a Katinga lover, a puzzling irregularity in Helen’s will and, despite her ruined reputation, a few job offers.
As Clem tries to pressure police to actually investigate Helen’s death, she also does a girly act for the unconsciously patriarchal, collects mud samples from tyres, is pressured to return to her footy coaching role, plants listening devices, and makes unlawful entries, all while unaware of a watcher (or two).
Before Clem has discovered what really happened to Helen, she has fished from a tinny, engaged in a spot of blackmail, impersonated a criminal lawyer, been pissed upon, indulged in phone sex, pretended to be corruptible, watched turtles hatch, and made promises she has no intention of keeping, There is gunplay, but Clem’s weapons are a green plastic water-pistol and a spear-gun.
Instalment two of Clementine Jones is certainly topical: Thornton easily evokes her setting and the mindset of the locals; if Clem’s tendency to underestimate the degree of difficulty of task she sets herself, or overestimate her abilities, that just adds entertainment value in the lead-up to a very exciting climax. Often darkly funny, this is excellent Australian crime fiction.
Her boredom with dog-sitting in an idyllic little fibro shanty on the beach leads to a bit of behind-the-scenes legal work and lobbying for the local conservation group, Wildlife Association of Great Sandy Straits, coincidentally run by a close family friend, Helen Westley. The object of their campaign is the multi-national mining company proposing a port development that will require dredging of the tidal flats, destroying the habitat of the endangered white-throated snapping turtle, a biological wonder— a cloacal ventilating turtle. Auntie Helen wants her to take a more prominent role, but Clem prefers to stay under the radar.
Then Helen’s body is found at the base of a fifteen-metre cliff in the local quarry; the police rule suicide, but Clem is certain that Helen has been murdered. The motive surely involves the port proposal, so Clem reasons that opponents of the WAGSS campaign are suspects, and the only way to assess their guilt will be to take on Helen’s role and interview them.
Clem finds herself soliciting for funds and planning next steps with volunteers in the campaign in between checking out the mine’s representatives, the mayor (who sees the jobs likely to be generated by the mine as votes), and the representative of a group of residents, stung by a financial scam and so desperate to sell their properties at the inflated prices the mining company will offer.
Distractions from her covert investigations are the arrival of one of the Katinga football team (an ex-con seeking a place to lie low), calls from a Katinga lover, a puzzling irregularity in Helen’s will and, despite her ruined reputation, a few job offers.
As Clem tries to pressure police to actually investigate Helen’s death, she also does a girly act for the unconsciously patriarchal, collects mud samples from tyres, is pressured to return to her footy coaching role, plants listening devices, and makes unlawful entries, all while unaware of a watcher (or two).
Before Clem has discovered what really happened to Helen, she has fished from a tinny, engaged in a spot of blackmail, impersonated a criminal lawyer, been pissed upon, indulged in phone sex, pretended to be corruptible, watched turtles hatch, and made promises she has no intention of keeping, There is gunplay, but Clem’s weapons are a green plastic water-pistol and a spear-gun.
Instalment two of Clementine Jones is certainly topical: Thornton easily evokes her setting and the mindset of the locals; if Clem’s tendency to underestimate the degree of difficulty of task she sets herself, or overestimate her abilities, that just adds entertainment value in the lead-up to a very exciting climax. Often darkly funny, this is excellent Australian crime fiction.
December 12, 2020
Sarah Thornton’s second crime novel featuring Clementine Jones, is as compulsive reading as her first, Lapse.
Having fled Katinga in the wake of her past being discovered, Clem is house sitting in the small coastal town of Piama, Queensland, while she considers her next move. As restless as ever, she involves herself in a local conservation effort to save the endangered White Throated Snapping Turtle at the urging of the leader, and old family friend, Helen Westley. When Helen’s body is discovered at the base of a cliff, Clem refuses to accept the police’s conclusion that her death was the result of suicide, and sets out to prove Helen was murdered because of her activities opposing the local Port development project.
In searching for whomever is responsible for Helen’s murder, Clem uses her legal skills to ferret out the most likely subjects, and then uses less than legal means to dig deeper. There is plenty of suspense and action as Clem confronts her potential suspects, and Thornton provides intriguing twists and turns as Clem uncovers a mess of deception, corruption, and betrayal.
Clementine is a complex character, irrevocably scarred from causing the death of a woman in a drink driving accident, she is intent on punishing herself and has a tendency to behave recklessly. In White Throat she is determined to avenge Helen’s murder, no matter the risk to herself, and refuses to acknowledge the concern of those who care for her, namely Torrens, and Rowan.
While Rowan attempts to stay in touch with Clem via the telephone, Torrens, one of the young footballers Clem coached while in Katinga, makes a physical appearance in White Throat. He needs a place to lay low after receiving an unorthodox inheritance, but trouble follows him, adding another layer of threat to the story. I really like the friendship between Clem and Torrens, though that’s at risk here when Clem finally admits she doesn’t plan to return to Katinga.
While White Throat could be read as a stand alone, I recommend you don’t miss out on the experience of also reading Lapse, as both are well crafted, exciting, and entertaining reads. I’m already looking forward to the next.
Having fled Katinga in the wake of her past being discovered, Clem is house sitting in the small coastal town of Piama, Queensland, while she considers her next move. As restless as ever, she involves herself in a local conservation effort to save the endangered White Throated Snapping Turtle at the urging of the leader, and old family friend, Helen Westley. When Helen’s body is discovered at the base of a cliff, Clem refuses to accept the police’s conclusion that her death was the result of suicide, and sets out to prove Helen was murdered because of her activities opposing the local Port development project.
In searching for whomever is responsible for Helen’s murder, Clem uses her legal skills to ferret out the most likely subjects, and then uses less than legal means to dig deeper. There is plenty of suspense and action as Clem confronts her potential suspects, and Thornton provides intriguing twists and turns as Clem uncovers a mess of deception, corruption, and betrayal.
Clementine is a complex character, irrevocably scarred from causing the death of a woman in a drink driving accident, she is intent on punishing herself and has a tendency to behave recklessly. In White Throat she is determined to avenge Helen’s murder, no matter the risk to herself, and refuses to acknowledge the concern of those who care for her, namely Torrens, and Rowan.
While Rowan attempts to stay in touch with Clem via the telephone, Torrens, one of the young footballers Clem coached while in Katinga, makes a physical appearance in White Throat. He needs a place to lay low after receiving an unorthodox inheritance, but trouble follows him, adding another layer of threat to the story. I really like the friendship between Clem and Torrens, though that’s at risk here when Clem finally admits she doesn’t plan to return to Katinga.
While White Throat could be read as a stand alone, I recommend you don’t miss out on the experience of also reading Lapse, as both are well crafted, exciting, and entertaining reads. I’m already looking forward to the next.
November 18, 2020
‘Looking out over an ebb tide from the back verandah was like watching God paint stripes.’
The house-sitting gig in Piama on the Queensland coast does not pay much, but it gave Clementine (Clem) Jones a convenient excuse to leave Katinga once certain facts about her past became known. It is supposed to be a temporary move. The local Australian Rules Football club want her back after her success in coaching them to their first premiership win. But Clem does not think she will return to Katinga. And, while she considers her future (including a lucrative job in Melbourne), she is helping her friend Helen with a campaign to save the endangered white throat turtle. The turtle’s habitat will disappear if a planned new port development goes ahead.
After Helen is found dead at the foot of a cliff, the police consider her death suicide. Clem does not agree and sets out to find out what happened to Helen. And there are plenty of suspects: many of the people in Piama want the port to go ahead. The mayor and some businessmen see profits, while others would welcome the money they would receive for their properties.
Clem’s life and her investigation are both enhanced and complicated when one of her Katinga football stars (an ex-convict, himself in a spot of bother) joins her.
Clem takes quite a few risks (nothing new here) as she tries to find out what happened to Helen. Who would benefit from her death? And why did Helen include some puzzling conditions into her will?
I like Clem: she’s a flawed, focussed hero trying to work through some personal challenges while trying to ensure that Helen’s death is properly investigated. She’s feisty and brave and occasionally foolhardy. Can she uncover the truth? And will she accept what looks like a very attractive job back in corporate law? What about Katinga?
A terrific second instalment in Ms Thornton’s Clementine Jones mystery/thriller series. What will happen next?
Highly recommended.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Text Publishing for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
The house-sitting gig in Piama on the Queensland coast does not pay much, but it gave Clementine (Clem) Jones a convenient excuse to leave Katinga once certain facts about her past became known. It is supposed to be a temporary move. The local Australian Rules Football club want her back after her success in coaching them to their first premiership win. But Clem does not think she will return to Katinga. And, while she considers her future (including a lucrative job in Melbourne), she is helping her friend Helen with a campaign to save the endangered white throat turtle. The turtle’s habitat will disappear if a planned new port development goes ahead.
After Helen is found dead at the foot of a cliff, the police consider her death suicide. Clem does not agree and sets out to find out what happened to Helen. And there are plenty of suspects: many of the people in Piama want the port to go ahead. The mayor and some businessmen see profits, while others would welcome the money they would receive for their properties.
Clem’s life and her investigation are both enhanced and complicated when one of her Katinga football stars (an ex-convict, himself in a spot of bother) joins her.
Clem takes quite a few risks (nothing new here) as she tries to find out what happened to Helen. Who would benefit from her death? And why did Helen include some puzzling conditions into her will?
I like Clem: she’s a flawed, focussed hero trying to work through some personal challenges while trying to ensure that Helen’s death is properly investigated. She’s feisty and brave and occasionally foolhardy. Can she uncover the truth? And will she accept what looks like a very attractive job back in corporate law? What about Katinga?
A terrific second instalment in Ms Thornton’s Clementine Jones mystery/thriller series. What will happen next?
Highly recommended.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Text Publishing for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
May 12, 2024
White Throat is book two in Sarah Thornton's Cleminten Jones series. Running away from her past, disgraced former lawyer Clementine Jones went to stay on Queensland's Great Sandy Straits to help the campaign to save an endangered turtle against developers who want the land for housing. Everything was going well until her friend Helen's body was found at the base of the local quarry. The authorities said it was suicide. However, Clementine Jones did believe that and started to investigate. The readers of White Throat will continue to follow Clementine Jones to discover what happens.
It is a shame that Sarah Thornton has only written two books, and I have read both. I enjoy and engage with Sarah Thornton's books, and White Throat kept up the tradition. I engaged with the story and characters of this book from the first page, and it continued to the end. I love Sarah Thornton's portrayal of her characters and how they interact throughout this book. White Throat was well-written and researched. I like Sarah Thornton's description of the settings of White Throat, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of White Throat will understand the importance of protecting Australian Wildlife from people who only want money. Also, White Throat highlights the importance of not drinking and driving.
I recommend this book.
It is a shame that Sarah Thornton has only written two books, and I have read both. I enjoy and engage with Sarah Thornton's books, and White Throat kept up the tradition. I engaged with the story and characters of this book from the first page, and it continued to the end. I love Sarah Thornton's portrayal of her characters and how they interact throughout this book. White Throat was well-written and researched. I like Sarah Thornton's description of the settings of White Throat, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of White Throat will understand the importance of protecting Australian Wildlife from people who only want money. Also, White Throat highlights the importance of not drinking and driving.
I recommend this book.
November 11, 2020
4.5⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was a great second novel in the Clementine Jones series. Talk about full-on, especially the last quarter or so, I wasn't sure how Clementine was going to get out of the situation she'd gotten herself into this time. But it seems Clem has nine lives, and no matter how many people she upsets or what she gets herself into, she comes through, albeit a little battered and bruised.
I was pleased that Torrens was in the book again, the friendship between them is good, even though I'm not entirely sure their friendship has survived this time, I'm keeping my fingers crossed if there's a book #3, that they can work things out. They both have a lot to teach each other.
Clem once again goes all out, determined to uncover who murdered her friend, Helen, despite the police deciding it was a suicide. So much big corporate corruption, developer corruption, mining corruption, there were so many people who would have wanted Helen out of the way, but who actually did the deed.
I enjoyed learning about the white-throated snapping turtles, very interesting creatures, an animal that is listed as endangered, like so many these days, hopefully, the author can bring some attention to this turtle.
There was plenty of action and intrigue throughout while Clem does her thing and Torrens has her back once again. I enjoyed this even more than book one.
Thanks to NetGalley and Text Publishing for a digital copy of this novel in return for an honest review.
I was pleased that Torrens was in the book again, the friendship between them is good, even though I'm not entirely sure their friendship has survived this time, I'm keeping my fingers crossed if there's a book #3, that they can work things out. They both have a lot to teach each other.
Clem once again goes all out, determined to uncover who murdered her friend, Helen, despite the police deciding it was a suicide. So much big corporate corruption, developer corruption, mining corruption, there were so many people who would have wanted Helen out of the way, but who actually did the deed.
I enjoyed learning about the white-throated snapping turtles, very interesting creatures, an animal that is listed as endangered, like so many these days, hopefully, the author can bring some attention to this turtle.
There was plenty of action and intrigue throughout while Clem does her thing and Torrens has her back once again. I enjoyed this even more than book one.
Thanks to NetGalley and Text Publishing for a digital copy of this novel in return for an honest review.
November 24, 2020
This is the second in the series by Thornton featuring former lawyer Clementine Jones. We learned in the first outing Lapse, that Jones had been convicted of drink driving and a woman died as a result - although I did think there was perhaps more to that story. She spent a lot of time in the first novel keeping that secret, but it's not the case here and her history seems to be very accessible.
Lapse was set in Katinga, in rural Australia but this opens with mention of tidal flats and the ocean. Here Jones is housesitting and Thornton certainly delivers well on the imagery of Australia's coastline. The setting was of interest to me as it's actually in my back yard... near the Great Sandy Straits in the tiny fictional town of Piama. (I assume it's fictional as I've never heard of it.)
Here she stumbles across a former mother figure and becomes embroiled in a fight to save endangered turtles (white-throated snapping turtles) from a proposed mining development. Clem's reticent at first but a death (ruled as suicide though she believes it isn't) motivates her involvement.
Read the full review on my site: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
3.5 stars
Lapse was set in Katinga, in rural Australia but this opens with mention of tidal flats and the ocean. Here Jones is housesitting and Thornton certainly delivers well on the imagery of Australia's coastline. The setting was of interest to me as it's actually in my back yard... near the Great Sandy Straits in the tiny fictional town of Piama. (I assume it's fictional as I've never heard of it.)
Here she stumbles across a former mother figure and becomes embroiled in a fight to save endangered turtles (white-throated snapping turtles) from a proposed mining development. Clem's reticent at first but a death (ruled as suicide though she believes it isn't) motivates her involvement.
Read the full review on my site: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
3.5 stars
March 8, 2021
White Throat (Text 2020) is the second crime novel in the Clementine Jones series by author Sarah Thornton, continuing on from her debut Lapse. Although I enjoyed Lapse, this new book is clearly a step up, both in the writing and the plotting. Also, in the characterisation, Thornton gives us much more depth to her protagonist Clem and reveals more of the scaffolding around her life, her history and her motivations. This book also doesn’t feature football so much, so perhaps that appealed to me too! Clem has moved to the Great Sandy Straits where she becomes involved in a campaign by a local environmental group to save the endangered White Throat Turtle. Developers are looming over the creature’s habitat and the locals are divided, some wanting the area left undisturbed, and some hoping for ‘jobs and growth’.
When a body is found at the base of the quarry – and not just any body, but Clem’s friend, and a leader of the fight to save the turtle – the police rule it as a suicide. But Clem is not convinced and joins up with her old friend Torrens (ex-con, reformed standover man and footballer) from the previous book, to investigate and uncover the truth.
With timely subject matter linked to climate change, and a fast-paced plot that will keep you turning the pages, White Throat made me warm to Clem Jones even more than with the first book. It’s great to see a female heroine, and one not shy to take on the establishment and the bad guys. This is addictive rural crime.
What I love most about Thornton’s writing is her authentic dialogue and her grip on character. Not just Clementine but all of the characters are depicted with a certain raw and visceral honesty and vulnerability that is refreshing.
When a body is found at the base of the quarry – and not just any body, but Clem’s friend, and a leader of the fight to save the turtle – the police rule it as a suicide. But Clem is not convinced and joins up with her old friend Torrens (ex-con, reformed standover man and footballer) from the previous book, to investigate and uncover the truth.
With timely subject matter linked to climate change, and a fast-paced plot that will keep you turning the pages, White Throat made me warm to Clem Jones even more than with the first book. It’s great to see a female heroine, and one not shy to take on the establishment and the bad guys. This is addictive rural crime.
What I love most about Thornton’s writing is her authentic dialogue and her grip on character. Not just Clementine but all of the characters are depicted with a certain raw and visceral honesty and vulnerability that is refreshing.
April 9, 2021
First, I want to comment on publication confusion. I listened to this book on audio through Hoopla from the Indiana Consortium and our local library, Union County Public Library. It is also available on Kindle. But the paperback edition is scheduled to be published in the U.S. on September 14, 2021. This doesn't make any sense to me, but I mention it here just to clarify if U.S. readers are looking for available formats.
This is the second book in the series and it took me almost half the book to get interested in the story. Early in the book there are many phone conversations, and the voice on the phone is presented in a distorted, tinny way. This is the first time I've heard it done this way and I found it not just difficult to understand, but very annoying.
I like Clementine and her pals (not to mention the dogs) and I look forward to another story in this series. Maybe I just didn't like Clem to be away from Katinga!
This is the second book in the series and it took me almost half the book to get interested in the story. Early in the book there are many phone conversations, and the voice on the phone is presented in a distorted, tinny way. This is the first time I've heard it done this way and I found it not just difficult to understand, but very annoying.
I like Clementine and her pals (not to mention the dogs) and I look forward to another story in this series. Maybe I just didn't like Clem to be away from Katinga!
December 13, 2020
In the sequel to Sarah Thornton’s Ned Kelly Award-shortlisted debut LAPSE, disgraced city lawyer turned small-town Aussie rules coach Clementine 'Clem' Jones is back in action, though not back in tiny Katinga. Now housesitting in coastal Queensland, Clem’s quietly helps a local environmental group try to save a rare turtle. To the chagrin of local developers and politicians. When her pal Helen, the group’s leader, is found dead and the cops say suicide, Clem steps forward and strikes out on her own dangerous investigation. Meanwhile she’s being pulled in all directions by the entreaties of her Katinga players and townsfolk, and big city law firms.
Thornton delivers an engaging, action-packed tale with a good touch for setting, where reader’s enjoyment may fluctuate depending on their feelings towards Clem, who can veer from heroic to self-pitying, crafty to foolish.
Thornton delivers an engaging, action-packed tale with a good touch for setting, where reader’s enjoyment may fluctuate depending on their feelings towards Clem, who can veer from heroic to self-pitying, crafty to foolish.
December 1, 2020
I loved Sarah Thornton’s first novel, Lapse, where we meet Clementine Jones, a disgraced Sydney corporate lawyer, who ends up in a small Victorian town coaching AFL football. In the second of the series, White Throat, we find Clem on the sandy shores of a small coastal Queensland town where she is house sitting and once again trying to decide what to do with her life; does she return to continuing coaching or return to the world of being a lawyer?. In the meantime she becomes involved with a conservation group who want to protect the White Throat turtles from proposed developments and unfortunately the leader of the group dies - the police and coroner believe it to be suicide but Clem isn’t happy with that conclusion and sets out to find the truth.
Clem’s determination is not appreciated by some and this leads to a lot of twists and turns in the story.
Highly enjoyable and a recommended read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Text Publishing for a copy to read and review.
Clem’s determination is not appreciated by some and this leads to a lot of twists and turns in the story.
Highly enjoyable and a recommended read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Text Publishing for a copy to read and review.
November 26, 2020
The second in the series of disgraced lawyer Clementine Jones, which I think can be read as a stand alone but like most series, you get more out of them as you follow the characters.
Clem is running from her past and even after acceptance from the town of Katinga, she has found herself house sitting in a small coastal QLD town. Becoming involved with saving the White Throat Snapping Turtle with her good friend and mother figure Helen dispels some boredom.
When a body is found at the bottom of a quarry and written off by the police as suicide, Clem is 100% sure it wasn’t....But convincing them is another matter.
I enjoyed this next instalment, finding it quite fast paced and sometimes a little over the top but that was its appeal. I think I mentioned in my review of her first book that I could really see this being a TV series and I would love if it was picked up, I feel it would be a winner in that respect.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read.
Clem is running from her past and even after acceptance from the town of Katinga, she has found herself house sitting in a small coastal QLD town. Becoming involved with saving the White Throat Snapping Turtle with her good friend and mother figure Helen dispels some boredom.
When a body is found at the bottom of a quarry and written off by the police as suicide, Clem is 100% sure it wasn’t....But convincing them is another matter.
I enjoyed this next instalment, finding it quite fast paced and sometimes a little over the top but that was its appeal. I think I mentioned in my review of her first book that I could really see this being a TV series and I would love if it was picked up, I feel it would be a winner in that respect.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read.
November 8, 2020
Sarah Thornton's White Throat is fabulous Australian crime writing. Set in a tropical Queensland coastal town, there are plenty of retirees, circling developers and under resourced conservationists trying to save unique eco systems and an endangered turtle. Add in simmering tensions from a Ponzi scheme gone bad, an ex-con trying to lay low, a tragic suicide (but was it really?), two dogs and two hitmen and you have the makings of a riveting thriller.
Clementine Jones is a talented lawyer and football coach, at least in a previous life. In White Throat she joins the conservation volunteers, hones her detective skills and despite her recent disgrace ponders a return to high flying legal circles. Strong, smart, determined and loyal yet flawed, Clem is an inimitable lead character
A skilfully crafted thriller that will keep you guessing throughout. Excellent as a stand alone novel, but I will certainly now be looking for the first and any future instalments of the Clementine Jones series. Highly recommended reading!
Thanks to NetGalley and Text publishing for the opportunity to read and review Sarah Thornton's White Throat! #NetGalley
Clementine Jones is a talented lawyer and football coach, at least in a previous life. In White Throat she joins the conservation volunteers, hones her detective skills and despite her recent disgrace ponders a return to high flying legal circles. Strong, smart, determined and loyal yet flawed, Clem is an inimitable lead character
A skilfully crafted thriller that will keep you guessing throughout. Excellent as a stand alone novel, but I will certainly now be looking for the first and any future instalments of the Clementine Jones series. Highly recommended reading!
Thanks to NetGalley and Text publishing for the opportunity to read and review Sarah Thornton's White Throat! #NetGalley
February 17, 2021
The second book in the Clementine Jones series by Sarah Thornton, was a well written and enjoyable, though slightly far fetched, read.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2025
After reading the first book in the series I thought that I was going to enjoy this one but I found it difficult to get into and at times thought about not finishing it but at least I made it to the end
December 30, 2020
Couldn’t put White Throat down. Loved following Clementine Jones next adventure.
January 16, 2021
I loved White Throat even more than I loved Lapse. I enjoy following the heroine Clem and her loyalty, intelligence, her competing principles and her ability to be a clever lawyer and a friend of a wide variety of people. Sarah's writing is so convincingly Australian. Its refreshing that someone can write this authentically about australian characters and situations. Watch out Jane Harper!
Read
January 10, 2021A lawyer sleuth with a twist! Great read, interesting characters, engaging storyline (I found it hard to not binge read to find out what came next)!
November 22, 2020
Of all the subgenres in crime fiction the accidental detective is one of the toughest to pull off as a series. Particularly when that detective is stuck in a small country town. If only because of the suspension of disbelief becomes harder as the series goes on. Even for established detectives, too much complicated crime in a small radius can start to seem a little coincidental (Midsomer, anyone?).
So the question was – how to follow up to accidental detective solving crime in rural Australia debut Lapse? Sarah Thornton solved this problem by sending her protagonist, fallen lawyer turned successful football coach Clementine Jones away from country Victoria to go house sitting on the Queensland coast. She then gives her a personal reason to start digging. That reason is the death of her “aunt” (and one time surrogate mother) Helen who has moved to the small town of Pirama and has been spearheading attempts to save the endangered white throated turtle (hence the name of the book) before her untimely death which is quickly ruled a suicide by authorities.
Once readers can get past the string of unlikely coincidences that get Clementine into a situation in which she feels obligated to solve another crime, Thornton delivers another pacey thriller filled with hot button issues. There is plenty going on in the community which would be threatened by the green activism that Helen represented. Plans for the construction of a coal port, local retirees ripped off in a Ponzi scheme trying to maximise their property values, rapacious developers looking for locations for new resorts. And so there are plenty of suspects for Clem to investigate, although she is not a trained detective so her methods are, once again, more crashing than crashing through. She joins Helen’s environmental group and uses that position to get in the face of the people she suspects, a move which she knows will put her in the cross hairs. At the same time, she is dealing with one of the players from her team and occasional partner in crime from Lapse, Matthew Torrens, who has come to stay with her but is also looking to lie low. Their relationship falters when Clem reveals her intention not to return to Katinga and continue coaching the team but to take a new legal job in Melbourne.
While the circumstances that get her back into action are a little contrived, it is enjoyable to follow the further adventures of Clementine Jones. Clementine Jones is a great character – clever, resourceful, determined, prepared to bend the law when she feels she needs to and often out of her depth (at one point literally) as the action heats up. This book also plays on her conflicted loyalty to the town that took her in and the football team that she coached to a championship win and her desire to get back to a normal, anonymous life.
As with many writers who start with Australian rural crime, Thornton has transferred her action from the bush to the coast (Chris Hammer, Sarah Bailey and Jane Harper have done similar shifts). She has centred the action around real environmental issues and the plight of an actual and fascinating (if only for its method of breathing, no spoilers) Australian endangered species. And in White Throat she has also delivered another fast-paced crime thriller anchored around a flawed and engaging heroine.
So the question was – how to follow up to accidental detective solving crime in rural Australia debut Lapse? Sarah Thornton solved this problem by sending her protagonist, fallen lawyer turned successful football coach Clementine Jones away from country Victoria to go house sitting on the Queensland coast. She then gives her a personal reason to start digging. That reason is the death of her “aunt” (and one time surrogate mother) Helen who has moved to the small town of Pirama and has been spearheading attempts to save the endangered white throated turtle (hence the name of the book) before her untimely death which is quickly ruled a suicide by authorities.
Once readers can get past the string of unlikely coincidences that get Clementine into a situation in which she feels obligated to solve another crime, Thornton delivers another pacey thriller filled with hot button issues. There is plenty going on in the community which would be threatened by the green activism that Helen represented. Plans for the construction of a coal port, local retirees ripped off in a Ponzi scheme trying to maximise their property values, rapacious developers looking for locations for new resorts. And so there are plenty of suspects for Clem to investigate, although she is not a trained detective so her methods are, once again, more crashing than crashing through. She joins Helen’s environmental group and uses that position to get in the face of the people she suspects, a move which she knows will put her in the cross hairs. At the same time, she is dealing with one of the players from her team and occasional partner in crime from Lapse, Matthew Torrens, who has come to stay with her but is also looking to lie low. Their relationship falters when Clem reveals her intention not to return to Katinga and continue coaching the team but to take a new legal job in Melbourne.
While the circumstances that get her back into action are a little contrived, it is enjoyable to follow the further adventures of Clementine Jones. Clementine Jones is a great character – clever, resourceful, determined, prepared to bend the law when she feels she needs to and often out of her depth (at one point literally) as the action heats up. This book also plays on her conflicted loyalty to the town that took her in and the football team that she coached to a championship win and her desire to get back to a normal, anonymous life.
As with many writers who start with Australian rural crime, Thornton has transferred her action from the bush to the coast (Chris Hammer, Sarah Bailey and Jane Harper have done similar shifts). She has centred the action around real environmental issues and the plight of an actual and fascinating (if only for its method of breathing, no spoilers) Australian endangered species. And in White Throat she has also delivered another fast-paced crime thriller anchored around a flawed and engaging heroine.
May 14, 2022
Part 2 Clementine Jones story.
Part 1 (Lapse) was a drama, Part 2 is a murder mystery.
Clementine Jones is still coming to terms with life after prison. Instead of returning to Katinga to coach the Cats, she hides low in Noosa until her new contract as a lawyer starts in Melbourne.
Matthew Torrens, one of her former Katinga Cats, arrives on her doorstep, he is running from the law and needs a place to hide. How could she not let him in when he helped her so much in Katinga? So into the shed he moves.
Helen Westley, who was like her mother for a few months when she was a teen, happens to live in the town she takes refuge in. Helen took her in gladly and enjoys reacquainting with Clem again.
Helen is a bit of a hippy. She had bought a house on a creek where the rare White Throated Turtles inhabit. As Clem spends more time with Helen, she learns that she is head of an association to save the turtles from the local mayor and businessmen who want to build a port and mine upriver which will destroy the turtles habitat.
Clem tries to resist getting involved, no matter how many Anzac biscuits and cups are tea are offered to try to convince her so.
But then her beloved Helen is found at the bottom of the quarry, dead. The police rule it as suicide, but Clem has other ideas and sets about questioning those theories. As usual, she gets into a lot of trouble along the way. But she gets her answer... the question is, will she live to tell the tale and get justice for Helen?
Awesome twists and turns. A must read. I flrw through it in a couple of days. I slightly preferred LAPSE to this one, but sequels are usually never as good as the first.
Let's hope Sarah Thornton keeps these characters going and I look forward to a story back in Katinga.
Part 1 (Lapse) was a drama, Part 2 is a murder mystery.
Clementine Jones is still coming to terms with life after prison. Instead of returning to Katinga to coach the Cats, she hides low in Noosa until her new contract as a lawyer starts in Melbourne.
Matthew Torrens, one of her former Katinga Cats, arrives on her doorstep, he is running from the law and needs a place to hide. How could she not let him in when he helped her so much in Katinga? So into the shed he moves.
Helen Westley, who was like her mother for a few months when she was a teen, happens to live in the town she takes refuge in. Helen took her in gladly and enjoys reacquainting with Clem again.
Helen is a bit of a hippy. She had bought a house on a creek where the rare White Throated Turtles inhabit. As Clem spends more time with Helen, she learns that she is head of an association to save the turtles from the local mayor and businessmen who want to build a port and mine upriver which will destroy the turtles habitat.
Clem tries to resist getting involved, no matter how many Anzac biscuits and cups are tea are offered to try to convince her so.
But then her beloved Helen is found at the bottom of the quarry, dead. The police rule it as suicide, but Clem has other ideas and sets about questioning those theories. As usual, she gets into a lot of trouble along the way. But she gets her answer... the question is, will she live to tell the tale and get justice for Helen?
Awesome twists and turns. A must read. I flrw through it in a couple of days. I slightly preferred LAPSE to this one, but sequels are usually never as good as the first.
Let's hope Sarah Thornton keeps these characters going and I look forward to a story back in Katinga.
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