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Dark Wave
George hasn’t heard from his ex, Paloma, since she returned to her family home on Songbird Island in the Whitsundays. Now she’s asking for his help to uncover the mystery of who is stealing the family’s wealth, but what they discover is much worse than a case of fraud.
With luscious prose and a sumptuous setting, Lana Guineay’s debut novella is a brilliant reworking of the classic crime novel.
Joint winner of the 2020 Seizure Viva La Novella prize
With luscious prose and a sumptuous setting, Lana Guineay’s debut novella is a brilliant reworking of the classic crime novel.
Joint winner of the 2020 Seizure Viva La Novella prize
198 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2020
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287 people want to read
About the author
Lana Guineay
2 books2 followersLana Guineay is based by the sea in Adelaide, South Australia. Her award-winning fiction and nonfiction has been published by The Guardian, The Adelaide Review, Going Down Swinging, Anthology of Australasian Stories and the Swinburne Microfiction award.
Lana’s debut Dark Wave was published by Brio Books/ Seizure and won the 2020 Viva La Novella prize.
Lana’s debut Dark Wave was published by Brio Books/ Seizure and won the 2020 Viva La Novella prize.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 4, 2020
This is a gripping, noir-y thriller set mostly on a tropical island. The writing occasionally clunks, but it is mostly vivid and beautiful and the plot flies along, loaded with twists and turns (including a few that I didn't really buy). A great Sunday arvo distraction.
November 6, 2020
Joint winner of the 2020 Viva La Novella Prize, Lana Guineay's debut novella Dark Wave is ideal for both AusReading Month 2020 at Brona's Books. and Novellas in November hosted by Cathy at 746 Books and Rebecca at Bookish Beck.
This is the blurb from the back cover:
The crime in this case begins with embezzlement which, when fear of discovery looms, leads to murder. The principal character, George Green, is the archetypal sad sack private investigator but there is a love interest (the beautiful Paloma) whose only flaw is that she is obscenely wealthy, and the social chasm looms wide. Plus, George is obsessive about surfing, so he's always ready to drop everything if there's a prospect of a good wave. This, as you might expect, puts a strain on his relationship. Putting a good wave ahead of a good woman is probably not the path to True Love.
But George is still carrying a torch for Paloma so when she calls on him for help he abandons his downmarket accommodation and business premises in Bronte (a beachside suburb of Sydney), and sets off for the (mythical) Songbird Island in Queensland, owned by Paloma's father and lush with beautiful scenery and lavish tourist accommodation. (Think luxury-market Orpheus Island rather than family-friendly Hamilton Island).
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2020/11/06/d...
NB I've rated this three stars because I find crime novels a bit lightweight compared to my usual reading choices. But readers who like crime novels would probably rate it four stars.
This is the blurb from the back cover:
George hasn’t heard from his ex, Paloma, since she returned to her family home on Songbird Island in the Whitsundays. Now she’s asking for his help to uncover the mystery of who is stealing the family’s wealth, but what they discover is much worse than a case of fraud.
With luscious prose and a sumptuous setting, Lana Guineay’s debut novella is a brilliant reworking of the classic crime novel.
The crime in this case begins with embezzlement which, when fear of discovery looms, leads to murder. The principal character, George Green, is the archetypal sad sack private investigator but there is a love interest (the beautiful Paloma) whose only flaw is that she is obscenely wealthy, and the social chasm looms wide. Plus, George is obsessive about surfing, so he's always ready to drop everything if there's a prospect of a good wave. This, as you might expect, puts a strain on his relationship. Putting a good wave ahead of a good woman is probably not the path to True Love.
But George is still carrying a torch for Paloma so when she calls on him for help he abandons his downmarket accommodation and business premises in Bronte (a beachside suburb of Sydney), and sets off for the (mythical) Songbird Island in Queensland, owned by Paloma's father and lush with beautiful scenery and lavish tourist accommodation. (Think luxury-market Orpheus Island rather than family-friendly Hamilton Island).
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2020/11/06/d...
NB I've rated this three stars because I find crime novels a bit lightweight compared to my usual reading choices. But readers who like crime novels would probably rate it four stars.
February 5, 2023
I purchased this book as I needed a Booktopia listed book to get free postage and this was the cheapest book that looked interesting. It had also won a competition for Novellas in 2020. I had never heard of the author either.
The book was a quick, easy read that I read during lunch time at work. The storyline revolves around a retired ex pro-surfer turned PI and the woman he let get away and who now needs his professional help. The book starts in Sydney and ends in a fictional paradise island somewhere in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park of the coast of Queensland.
This ain't no Agatha Christie crime novel but it does have a couple of unseen twists before the criminal is exposed.
The book was a quick, easy read that I read during lunch time at work. The storyline revolves around a retired ex pro-surfer turned PI and the woman he let get away and who now needs his professional help. The book starts in Sydney and ends in a fictional paradise island somewhere in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park of the coast of Queensland.
This ain't no Agatha Christie crime novel but it does have a couple of unseen twists before the criminal is exposed.
June 22, 2023
I almost gave up on this book so many times but persevered because I was on a train and had nothing else to read. I'm just glad it was a short read. Blah story, blah characters, awkward writing style. But it was the editing that had me wanting to throw it out the train window. Bad writing I can forgive, but bad editing I can not. There were way too many obvious mistakes, for such a short book, that should have been picked up by an editor. It's just sloppy work and could ruin even a good book when they keep piling up. 1 begrudging star.
April 21, 2021
Short, quick crime story (award winning in that category)
The scene is set beautifully on a remote tropical island, mix in some unresolved relationship and a who done it and you’ve got a no brainer pick for the beach bag or airplane ride. Think Hallmark channel movie in a book - if that’s your thing you’ll love it, if not you might skip. Also while the paperback is thin with a gorgeous cover, this probably is a great digital pick if it’s available.
The scene is set beautifully on a remote tropical island, mix in some unresolved relationship and a who done it and you’ve got a no brainer pick for the beach bag or airplane ride. Think Hallmark channel movie in a book - if that’s your thing you’ll love it, if not you might skip. Also while the paperback is thin with a gorgeous cover, this probably is a great digital pick if it’s available.
March 9, 2023
Okay, was not really a fan of this one. The plot was good, the mystery intriguing, but the writing was overly pretentious and jumped around a bit.
I should have known from the first few pages that I wouldn't end up enjoying it, but I pressed on because I wanted to know how it ended. In hindsight, I'm not sure if it was worth it.
Oh well, if you like literary fiction, you'll probably love this a lot more than I did.
I should have known from the first few pages that I wouldn't end up enjoying it, but I pressed on because I wanted to know how it ended. In hindsight, I'm not sure if it was worth it.
Oh well, if you like literary fiction, you'll probably love this a lot more than I did.
December 7, 2021
3.5 stars
A great holiday read. The descriptions verged on florid at times, and I wasn't too surprised by any of the 'mystery' elements - but also, I didn't mind. The author paints a vivid picture of an Australian paradise, and I felt as relaxed reading this novella as if I was lounging on said tropical island myself.
A great holiday read. The descriptions verged on florid at times, and I wasn't too surprised by any of the 'mystery' elements - but also, I didn't mind. The author paints a vivid picture of an Australian paradise, and I felt as relaxed reading this novella as if I was lounging on said tropical island myself.
January 4, 2021
“At that moment dinner was served by kitchen staff wearing neat cream and navy, shimmering in with immense silver platters. House staff, thought George, embarrassed for himself and everyone on Earth.”
January 6, 2021
Reads very quickly. Delivers exactly what is promised.
December 23, 2022
Beautiful writing but quite dull plot-wise.
January 7, 2023
A good short read
July 21, 2021
Fun, sexy, and mysterious but kinda boring at times and just decent overall
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews