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Jesse Redpath #1
Canticle Creek
Two bodies. One long hot summer. A town that will never be the same.
When Adam Lawson’s wrecked car is found a kilometre from Daisy Baker’s body, the whole town assumes it’s an open and shut case. But Jesse Redpath isn’t from Canticle Creek. Where she comes from, the truth often hides in plain sight, but only if you know where to look.
When Jesse starts to ask awkward questions, she uncovers a town full of contradictions and a cast of characters with dark pasts, secrets to hide and even more to lose.
As the temperature soars, and the ground bakes, the wilderness surrounding Canticle Creek becomes a powderkeg waiting to explode.
All it needs is one spark.
When Adam Lawson’s wrecked car is found a kilometre from Daisy Baker’s body, the whole town assumes it’s an open and shut case. But Jesse Redpath isn’t from Canticle Creek. Where she comes from, the truth often hides in plain sight, but only if you know where to look.
When Jesse starts to ask awkward questions, she uncovers a town full of contradictions and a cast of characters with dark pasts, secrets to hide and even more to lose.
As the temperature soars, and the ground bakes, the wilderness surrounding Canticle Creek becomes a powderkeg waiting to explode.
All it needs is one spark.
320 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2021
140 people are currently reading
1336 people want to read
About the author
Adrian Hyland
9 books105 followersAdrian Hyland spent many years in the Northern Territory, living and working among indigenous people. He now teaches at LaTrobe University and lives in the north-east of Melbourne. His first novel, Diamond Dove won the 2007 Ned Kelly Award for Best First Fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews
December 9, 2021
Jesse Redpath was a police officer in the small town of Kulara in the Northern Territory where she saw more than most and controlled more than most. Since Jesse took over, crime had greatly lessened in the area. When young Adam Lawson went up before the magistrate once again, Jesse persuaded him to allow Adam to live with her father Ben, and work at the local pub, to work his hours out. If he absconded, he would be arrested and thrown in jail. Adam managed quite some time with Ben Redpath – both of them artists and Ben directed Adam, gave him some pointers. But Adam had itchy feet, apologizing to his mentor and taking off down south.
When Jesse heard through her boss that Adam had been found not far from Melbourne in Victoria, she wasn’t prepared to hear he was dead. She also wasn’t prepared to hear he’d murdered a woman and had crashed a stolen car into a tree while fleeing the town. Jesse was certain the Adam she knew wouldn’t have a bar of killing, so she and her dad headed for Melbourne, then a small town about an hour north-east of there, called Canticle Creek, to unofficially look into the deaths.
Canticle Creek was a hot bed of secrets amid the soaring heat of the summer sun. As Jesse made herself known to the local cops, she made some friends – and enemies - while investigating. Possum, a sixteen-year-old young woman who had more smarts than some adults Jesse had met, was intelligent and helpful. But what would they find in the small town of Canticle Creek?
Canticle Creek is the first book in 10 years from Aussie author Adrian Hyland and it was well worth waiting for! A tension filled, suspenseful crime novel set in the ravaging heat of the Northern Territory and Victoria, where bushfires kept the locals on edge, and the heat baked everything in its path. I’ve read each of Mr Hyland’s books and loved them all; Canticle Creek, with its captivating cover, is one I recommend highly.
With thanks to Ultimo Press AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
When Jesse heard through her boss that Adam had been found not far from Melbourne in Victoria, she wasn’t prepared to hear he was dead. She also wasn’t prepared to hear he’d murdered a woman and had crashed a stolen car into a tree while fleeing the town. Jesse was certain the Adam she knew wouldn’t have a bar of killing, so she and her dad headed for Melbourne, then a small town about an hour north-east of there, called Canticle Creek, to unofficially look into the deaths.
Canticle Creek was a hot bed of secrets amid the soaring heat of the summer sun. As Jesse made herself known to the local cops, she made some friends – and enemies - while investigating. Possum, a sixteen-year-old young woman who had more smarts than some adults Jesse had met, was intelligent and helpful. But what would they find in the small town of Canticle Creek?
Canticle Creek is the first book in 10 years from Aussie author Adrian Hyland and it was well worth waiting for! A tension filled, suspenseful crime novel set in the ravaging heat of the Northern Territory and Victoria, where bushfires kept the locals on edge, and the heat baked everything in its path. I’ve read each of Mr Hyland’s books and loved them all; Canticle Creek, with its captivating cover, is one I recommend highly.
With thanks to Ultimo Press AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
January 30, 2022
Working in the small town of Kulara in the Northern Territory kept police officer Jesse Redpath on her toes. Her days were long and tiring, but she felt she was starting to get the crime rate down to a minimum.
Adam Lawson had been in trouble with the law many times and the last time landed him in front of the magistrate, Jesse could see the good in him and convinced the magistrate to let Adam live with her father where he would work at the local pub in the hope her father might persuade him to stay out of trouble and change his ways. A few months later Jesse was shocked to hear Adam had been found dead, but what she finds out next is unbelievable and she knows she needs to find out what happened because as far as she was concerned Adam Lawson was not capable of murder or was he.
Canticle Creek by Australian author Adrian Hyland is a phenomenal read which had me intrigued right from the start to the end. It’s been a long time between books for this author, but believe me, it was well worth the wait. Suspense, intrigue, unputdownable and an absolute page-turner this book is a must-read for all. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Adam Lawson had been in trouble with the law many times and the last time landed him in front of the magistrate, Jesse could see the good in him and convinced the magistrate to let Adam live with her father where he would work at the local pub in the hope her father might persuade him to stay out of trouble and change his ways. A few months later Jesse was shocked to hear Adam had been found dead, but what she finds out next is unbelievable and she knows she needs to find out what happened because as far as she was concerned Adam Lawson was not capable of murder or was he.
Canticle Creek by Australian author Adrian Hyland is a phenomenal read which had me intrigued right from the start to the end. It’s been a long time between books for this author, but believe me, it was well worth the wait. Suspense, intrigue, unputdownable and an absolute page-turner this book is a must-read for all. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
March 6, 2022
4.5★
“I caught a glint of reflected light. Reflected on what? Metal? Glass? I sensed its length, aim, intent. Its threat. Like Christie Looms' cat, I could feel somebody watching me. Worse — they were lining us up.
. . . As we hit the ground I heard a distant rifle crack, felt the air swivel and suck above us. How close was it? Too f*cking close.”
Constable Jesse Redpath is the officer in charge of the police station at Kulara, in Australia’s Northern Territory. She convinces the local magistrate to suspend the sentence of a young man who’s in trouble (again), but she knows he is basically a decent guy. Adam paints graffiti everywhere, and she reckons her artist dad might set him a good example.
Ben Redpath is a sought-after artist, and he’s willing to give Adam a go. Adam is fascinated by the paints, but he lasts only a week before he takes off south, possibly following some woman he’d been seen chatting to. Restless, seeking the good life.
Later, Jesse’s informed that Adam has murdered a woman, stolen her car, and then crashed it and died near Canticle Creek in Victoria. Jesse’s a Territory cop, so about all she can do is attack her punching bag. She keeps herself fighting fit, always.
She had earned herself a law degree, didn’t like that side of the law, so surprised everyone by training with the Territory police. She knows her people and she knew Adam. No way he did that.
When Jesse sees an invitation to a National Gallery exhibition in Melbourne, she notices that two of the featured landscapes are one of her father’s and one by the late Kenji Takada. The title of Takada’s is ‘Canticle Creek’, the place Adam’s body was found.
They decide to go, in spite of the fact both are uncomfortable in big crowds. No wonder. (I love all these hyphenated descriptions.)
“There were sulphur-crested women with orange skin and hazardous heels, feral businessmen with titanium teeth and statement ties. Around them surged chicken-skin widows with screw-tight eyes and come-along toy boys. Investors looking for a bargain, artists for a feed.
. . .
“The flamboyant fellow cruising in to greet us turned out to be Clive Carpenter, the senior curator. He was flaxen-haired, with a wheat-bag belly, a bright blue suit and a nose like a burst sausage.”
So much for the city folk. But while admiring Takada’s painting, they meet his daughter, Lucy, with her husband Sam and teen-aged daughter Possum. They invite Ben and Jesse to visit the Bluehouse, their home, if they’re ever in the Canticle Creek area.
The rest of the story is based at the Bluehouse, where Ben and Jesse are welcomed and make themselves comfortable while they investigate as much as they can, unofficially. They meet the son, Nick, and his girlfriend, Nadia, who is unnerved when she is told Jesse is a cop. She came from Bosnia and has good reason to be nervous.
“Nick gave me a hard stare.
‘You’re working for homicide?’
‘"In the general vicinity of" might be a better description.’
‘"Getting up the nose of," from what I saw of the detective’s reaction.’ said Possum. ‘He sure as hell didn’t want you there.’
The comment was meant to be light relief, but the atmosphere in the room grew tense.”
Senior Constable Jesse Redpath is unwelcome and surplus to requirements, as far as Victorian lawmakers are concerned. She’s out of her territory, in both senses of the word, and has no jurisdiction here.
The action steps up, and at one point, just when I thought everything was wrapping up on a pretty good yarn, it heats up again and gets even better.
I enjoy Hyland’s writing and his people. It’s interesting that his main characters are tough youngish women. They still fancy a good bloke, but he leaves the bedroom scenes to our imagination. This isn’t what I call a “straw hat rural romance (the books with the girl in a straw hat on the cover). It’s a proper mystery, with action and some violence.
I feel I’d recognise his people if I ran into them in a dusty pub (or an art gallery). His descriptions of characters and landscape are memorable. I really enjoyed this and his two Emily Tempest books. I hope we don’t have to wait another ten years for a new one. He and Garry Disher are both worth waiting for, though.
My review of Moonlight Downs aka Diamond Dove - Emily Tempest #1 - which won the 2007 Ned Kelly award for best first fiction.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of Gunshot Road - Emily Tempest #2
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
“I caught a glint of reflected light. Reflected on what? Metal? Glass? I sensed its length, aim, intent. Its threat. Like Christie Looms' cat, I could feel somebody watching me. Worse — they were lining us up.
. . . As we hit the ground I heard a distant rifle crack, felt the air swivel and suck above us. How close was it? Too f*cking close.”
Constable Jesse Redpath is the officer in charge of the police station at Kulara, in Australia’s Northern Territory. She convinces the local magistrate to suspend the sentence of a young man who’s in trouble (again), but she knows he is basically a decent guy. Adam paints graffiti everywhere, and she reckons her artist dad might set him a good example.
Ben Redpath is a sought-after artist, and he’s willing to give Adam a go. Adam is fascinated by the paints, but he lasts only a week before he takes off south, possibly following some woman he’d been seen chatting to. Restless, seeking the good life.
Later, Jesse’s informed that Adam has murdered a woman, stolen her car, and then crashed it and died near Canticle Creek in Victoria. Jesse’s a Territory cop, so about all she can do is attack her punching bag. She keeps herself fighting fit, always.
She had earned herself a law degree, didn’t like that side of the law, so surprised everyone by training with the Territory police. She knows her people and she knew Adam. No way he did that.
When Jesse sees an invitation to a National Gallery exhibition in Melbourne, she notices that two of the featured landscapes are one of her father’s and one by the late Kenji Takada. The title of Takada’s is ‘Canticle Creek’, the place Adam’s body was found.
They decide to go, in spite of the fact both are uncomfortable in big crowds. No wonder. (I love all these hyphenated descriptions.)
“There were sulphur-crested women with orange skin and hazardous heels, feral businessmen with titanium teeth and statement ties. Around them surged chicken-skin widows with screw-tight eyes and come-along toy boys. Investors looking for a bargain, artists for a feed.
. . .
“The flamboyant fellow cruising in to greet us turned out to be Clive Carpenter, the senior curator. He was flaxen-haired, with a wheat-bag belly, a bright blue suit and a nose like a burst sausage.”
So much for the city folk. But while admiring Takada’s painting, they meet his daughter, Lucy, with her husband Sam and teen-aged daughter Possum. They invite Ben and Jesse to visit the Bluehouse, their home, if they’re ever in the Canticle Creek area.
The rest of the story is based at the Bluehouse, where Ben and Jesse are welcomed and make themselves comfortable while they investigate as much as they can, unofficially. They meet the son, Nick, and his girlfriend, Nadia, who is unnerved when she is told Jesse is a cop. She came from Bosnia and has good reason to be nervous.
“Nick gave me a hard stare.
‘You’re working for homicide?’
‘"In the general vicinity of" might be a better description.’
‘"Getting up the nose of," from what I saw of the detective’s reaction.’ said Possum. ‘He sure as hell didn’t want you there.’
The comment was meant to be light relief, but the atmosphere in the room grew tense.”
Senior Constable Jesse Redpath is unwelcome and surplus to requirements, as far as Victorian lawmakers are concerned. She’s out of her territory, in both senses of the word, and has no jurisdiction here.
The action steps up, and at one point, just when I thought everything was wrapping up on a pretty good yarn, it heats up again and gets even better.
I enjoy Hyland’s writing and his people. It’s interesting that his main characters are tough youngish women. They still fancy a good bloke, but he leaves the bedroom scenes to our imagination. This isn’t what I call a “straw hat rural romance (the books with the girl in a straw hat on the cover). It’s a proper mystery, with action and some violence.
I feel I’d recognise his people if I ran into them in a dusty pub (or an art gallery). His descriptions of characters and landscape are memorable. I really enjoyed this and his two Emily Tempest books. I hope we don’t have to wait another ten years for a new one. He and Garry Disher are both worth waiting for, though.
My review of Moonlight Downs aka Diamond Dove - Emily Tempest #1 - which won the 2007 Ned Kelly award for best first fiction.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of Gunshot Road - Emily Tempest #2
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
January 4, 2022
Trying to help likeable young tearaway Adam Lawson find a better future, Northern Territory police woman, Jesse Redpath convinced a judge to suspend his sentence provided he took a job at the local roadhouse and a room at her father’s house nearby. With her father being a well-known artist, she also hoped he would encourage Adam to take his obvious artistic talent more seriously. However, a week later Adam had run away, following a woman he met to Victoria and three months after that Jesse heard he had died in a car crash after murdering a woman called Daisy Baker and stealing her car. Knowing this didn’t sound like the Adam she knew, Jesse and her Dad headed to Canticle Creek, the small Victorian town where Adam had been living to find out more about what happened.
In Jesse Redpath, Adrian Hyland has created a character who is smart, determined and resilient and well able to take care of herself. I liked that the local Canticle Creek police were willing to show her their case notes, listened to her concerns about the crime scene and were also open to checking out other evidence. She’s convinced Adam would never have murdered Daisy, the woman he loved and after meeting a few of the locals, is convinced there is something very wrong in the town. The plot is well written with other memorable characters, moving along at a good pace with increasing tension as further deaths occur and Jesse herself becomes a target. Hyland’s description of the relentless heat of high summer and a parched landscape waiting to erupt into fire are very evocative and will be familiar to many Australians. With a beautiful, atmospheric cover, this all added up to an engaging murder mystery and what I hope is the start of a new series featuring Jesse Redpath.
In Jesse Redpath, Adrian Hyland has created a character who is smart, determined and resilient and well able to take care of herself. I liked that the local Canticle Creek police were willing to show her their case notes, listened to her concerns about the crime scene and were also open to checking out other evidence. She’s convinced Adam would never have murdered Daisy, the woman he loved and after meeting a few of the locals, is convinced there is something very wrong in the town. The plot is well written with other memorable characters, moving along at a good pace with increasing tension as further deaths occur and Jesse herself becomes a target. Hyland’s description of the relentless heat of high summer and a parched landscape waiting to erupt into fire are very evocative and will be familiar to many Australians. With a beautiful, atmospheric cover, this all added up to an engaging murder mystery and what I hope is the start of a new series featuring Jesse Redpath.
April 8, 2022
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Canticle Creek by Adrian Hyland. (2021).
When Adam's wrecked car is found a kilometre from Daisy's body, the whole town assumes it's an open-and-shut case. But Jesse isn't from Canticle Creek. Where she comes from, the truth often hides in plain sight. When Jesse starts to ask awkward questions, she uncovers a town full of contradictions and a cast of characters with dark pasts, secrets to hide and even more to lose. As the temperature soars, the wilderness nearby becomes a powderkeg waiting to explode with just a spark...
I quite enjoyed this Aussie crime novel. I found the lead character, Jesse, a likeable and intelligent character. When Jesse hears that Adam is dead and allegedly killed a woman, she and her dad head to Canticle Creek to find out more because they knew Adam and can't believe that he would commit murder. There they meet some intriguing characters including artists, welcoming families, aggressive loggers and ex drug addicts. With some very tense scenes, Jesse is determined to find out what really happened in relation to Adam's death, and someone else out there is equally determined that she doesn't...
Overall: I would happily recommend this well-written novel for anyone that enjoys Australian crime fiction.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
Canticle Creek by Adrian Hyland. (2021).
When Adam's wrecked car is found a kilometre from Daisy's body, the whole town assumes it's an open-and-shut case. But Jesse isn't from Canticle Creek. Where she comes from, the truth often hides in plain sight. When Jesse starts to ask awkward questions, she uncovers a town full of contradictions and a cast of characters with dark pasts, secrets to hide and even more to lose. As the temperature soars, the wilderness nearby becomes a powderkeg waiting to explode with just a spark...
I quite enjoyed this Aussie crime novel. I found the lead character, Jesse, a likeable and intelligent character. When Jesse hears that Adam is dead and allegedly killed a woman, she and her dad head to Canticle Creek to find out more because they knew Adam and can't believe that he would commit murder. There they meet some intriguing characters including artists, welcoming families, aggressive loggers and ex drug addicts. With some very tense scenes, Jesse is determined to find out what really happened in relation to Adam's death, and someone else out there is equally determined that she doesn't...
Overall: I would happily recommend this well-written novel for anyone that enjoys Australian crime fiction.
February 10, 2022
This author has been on my radar for his Emily Tempest series, but this recent release (a standalone) is the first of his novels I've read. I'll be moving Diamond Dove up my TBR to read soon. Blazey Best was a great choice of narrator for this audiobook.
Jesse Redpath works for NT Police, posted as Leading Senior Constable in the remote, 2-person station at Kulara. Her offsider, the Aboriginal Community Police Officer, has been teaching her a thing or two about tracking since she arrived the year before. It's not about the presence but the absence of things. Jesse loves her job and has had a positive influence on the local community, even on those such as likeable but wild Adam Lawson who are often in trouble with the law. So when Adam absconds from a last-chance-before-jail situation that Jesse lined up for him, and winds up dead in Canticle Creek, Victoria - accused of murder no less - Jesse takes it to heart. Organising some time off, Jesse travels to Victoria with her dad to satisfy herself that justice has been done for Adam. It's not long before she begins to notice some absences in the narrative.
I thought the mystery was quite original, and I loved most of the characters, especially Jesse and Possum. The only thing that was hard to swallow was that a police officer from another jurisdiction would be so well tolerated in the middle of a murder investigation. But as long as you can accept that, it's a fast-paced, satisfying ride. Another thing I really enjoyed was the incorporation of visual art and conservation in the storyline, giving Hyland's writing the opportunity to shine as he describes the paintings and the environment.
Highly recommended for readers of contemporary crime and Dingo Noir.
Jesse Redpath works for NT Police, posted as Leading Senior Constable in the remote, 2-person station at Kulara. Her offsider, the Aboriginal Community Police Officer, has been teaching her a thing or two about tracking since she arrived the year before. It's not about the presence but the absence of things. Jesse loves her job and has had a positive influence on the local community, even on those such as likeable but wild Adam Lawson who are often in trouble with the law. So when Adam absconds from a last-chance-before-jail situation that Jesse lined up for him, and winds up dead in Canticle Creek, Victoria - accused of murder no less - Jesse takes it to heart. Organising some time off, Jesse travels to Victoria with her dad to satisfy herself that justice has been done for Adam. It's not long before she begins to notice some absences in the narrative.
I thought the mystery was quite original, and I loved most of the characters, especially Jesse and Possum. The only thing that was hard to swallow was that a police officer from another jurisdiction would be so well tolerated in the middle of a murder investigation. But as long as you can accept that, it's a fast-paced, satisfying ride. Another thing I really enjoyed was the incorporation of visual art and conservation in the storyline, giving Hyland's writing the opportunity to shine as he describes the paintings and the environment.
Highly recommended for readers of contemporary crime and Dingo Noir.
January 27, 2022
I had read some good reviews of this novel and the author is a previous award winner so I thought I would try it. There were parts of the book that I enjoyed, but then there were others I found quite a struggle and overall I was disappointed. This is a wordy, slow burn.
Jesse, the police officer protagonist was an interesting, if somewhat contradictory character. At one moment she comes across as very much the NT copper and then in the next a walking thesaurus. Obviously, one does not exclude the other, but it just felt a little inconsistent. I also struggled to suspend belief at times, especially when a police officer, not just from a different town but a different state/territory, rocks up and is largely welcomed into an ongoing investigation and cheesily thanked for her amazing work - we could never have done it without you rhetoric. Jesse certainly was not without her faults and she, perhaps too regularly, got it wrong, but then was just a little too brilliant in some of her antics. To me there was contradiction, rather than complexity, in her character and she just didn't sit right with me. Finally, I am still questioning the ending, or in fact almost two endings and the inclusion of the bushfire and its outcomes. The author's previous work on black Saturday and Kinglake obviously supplied the research, and even thought the tinder dry descriptions that preceded it somewhat built up towards it I found myself asking as I read - was it necessary to this particular plot?
Even for me with my love of description and atmosphere, this was all a little too much and although I kept reading I too often found myself struggling to engage, putting the book down in frustration, to pick up something else in between. Others have loved it, I liked parts of it.
Jesse, the police officer protagonist was an interesting, if somewhat contradictory character. At one moment she comes across as very much the NT copper and then in the next a walking thesaurus. Obviously, one does not exclude the other, but it just felt a little inconsistent. I also struggled to suspend belief at times, especially when a police officer, not just from a different town but a different state/territory, rocks up and is largely welcomed into an ongoing investigation and cheesily thanked for her amazing work - we could never have done it without you rhetoric. Jesse certainly was not without her faults and she, perhaps too regularly, got it wrong, but then was just a little too brilliant in some of her antics. To me there was contradiction, rather than complexity, in her character and she just didn't sit right with me. Finally, I am still questioning the ending, or in fact almost two endings and the inclusion of the bushfire and its outcomes. The author's previous work on black Saturday and Kinglake obviously supplied the research, and even thought the tinder dry descriptions that preceded it somewhat built up towards it I found myself asking as I read - was it necessary to this particular plot?
Even for me with my love of description and atmosphere, this was all a little too much and although I kept reading I too often found myself struggling to engage, putting the book down in frustration, to pick up something else in between. Others have loved it, I liked parts of it.
August 22, 2021
Loved, loved, loved this book. I was told it was a cross between Jane Harper and Garry Disher, and yet another of the Australian outback noir novels that have been so popular of late. It was all of that, but better!
More direct than Disher, but really well written and plotted, with more twists and turns than many a country road!
Do hunt this book down as the author deserves the popularity of Harper - he’s that good!!
More direct than Disher, but really well written and plotted, with more twists and turns than many a country road!
Do hunt this book down as the author deserves the popularity of Harper - he’s that good!!
March 4, 2022
Jesse Redpath is a good cop working in the remote Northern Territory town of Kulara, at the top of Australia.
She’s trying to make a difference with the way she approaches her job and feels she’s on the right track.
Taking lessons from her offsider who is an expert Aboriginal tracker, Jesse has done well in keeping the crime rates down in her jurisdiction by incorporating her new tracking skills.
When young repeat offender Adam Lawson is brought before the magistrate yet again, Jesse steps up to convince the judge to release him into the care of her father, whose influence Jesse hopes can guide the lad.
Things were going well it seemed, with Adam and Jesse’s father, they shared a common interest in art.
*Spoiler alert*
Sadly, it wasn’t long before Adam had run away, and Jesse lost track of him until months later when she heard the devastating news that he had been killed in a car crash thousands of kilometres away, in a place called Canticle Creek in country Victoria.
Adam had hitched a ride to Victoria with a girl he’d recently met and was now being accused of her murder, then after stealing her car, he lost control of it on a nearby country road and crashed killing himself outright.
Jesse was told that the evidence against Adam was clear and that the case was fairly conclusive, but after reading all the police reports, she just wasn’t convinced; She knew this boy, and didn’t believe that he was capable of these crimes…nor was her father convinced.
Jesse applied for a leave of absence to travel to Victoria “on vacation” with her father.
When she arrived she introduced herself to the local police as an acquaintance of Adam Lawson with a casual interest in the case. She wasn’t surprised to find that her boss had called ahead to let them know, and she was allowed some access to information.
Though the case was pretty much closed, Jesse started doing some digging of her own and soon started to ruffle a few feathers with her snooping.
A spate of new, seemingly random crimes, have Jesse and friends jumping for cover as the danger to their own lives becomes apparent…and the dots don’t seem to be connecting as they should.
Certainly fast paced and full of suspense, this book will keep you guessing right to the end!
I did enjoy this story very much, though I think at times the author got a bit carried away with technical jargon and “big word dropping” which I had no trouble understanding, but felt it was a bit unnecessary and over the top at times.
Also, not necessarily a criticism but I kept hearing parts of this story as dialogue in my head like a voice over in one of those private detective tv spoofs....like Columbo or such…made for interesting reading.
*Love the cover!
4⭐️s
She’s trying to make a difference with the way she approaches her job and feels she’s on the right track.
Taking lessons from her offsider who is an expert Aboriginal tracker, Jesse has done well in keeping the crime rates down in her jurisdiction by incorporating her new tracking skills.
When young repeat offender Adam Lawson is brought before the magistrate yet again, Jesse steps up to convince the judge to release him into the care of her father, whose influence Jesse hopes can guide the lad.
Things were going well it seemed, with Adam and Jesse’s father, they shared a common interest in art.
*Spoiler alert*
Sadly, it wasn’t long before Adam had run away, and Jesse lost track of him until months later when she heard the devastating news that he had been killed in a car crash thousands of kilometres away, in a place called Canticle Creek in country Victoria.
Adam had hitched a ride to Victoria with a girl he’d recently met and was now being accused of her murder, then after stealing her car, he lost control of it on a nearby country road and crashed killing himself outright.
Jesse was told that the evidence against Adam was clear and that the case was fairly conclusive, but after reading all the police reports, she just wasn’t convinced; She knew this boy, and didn’t believe that he was capable of these crimes…nor was her father convinced.
Jesse applied for a leave of absence to travel to Victoria “on vacation” with her father.
When she arrived she introduced herself to the local police as an acquaintance of Adam Lawson with a casual interest in the case. She wasn’t surprised to find that her boss had called ahead to let them know, and she was allowed some access to information.
Though the case was pretty much closed, Jesse started doing some digging of her own and soon started to ruffle a few feathers with her snooping.
A spate of new, seemingly random crimes, have Jesse and friends jumping for cover as the danger to their own lives becomes apparent…and the dots don’t seem to be connecting as they should.
Certainly fast paced and full of suspense, this book will keep you guessing right to the end!
I did enjoy this story very much, though I think at times the author got a bit carried away with technical jargon and “big word dropping” which I had no trouble understanding, but felt it was a bit unnecessary and over the top at times.
Also, not necessarily a criticism but I kept hearing parts of this story as dialogue in my head like a voice over in one of those private detective tv spoofs....like Columbo or such…made for interesting reading.
*Love the cover!
4⭐️s
December 15, 2021
It’s been a decade since I have read Adrian Hyland’s Gunshot Road and Diamond Dove yet both Australian crime novels remain favourites, so I jumped at the opportunity to read Canticle Creek.
When Kulara police officer Jesse Redpath learns about the death of Adam Lawson, a young man from her Northern Territory community, the circumstances don’t make sense to her. Serendipitously, an invitation for her artist father to an exhibition in Melbourne, gives Jesse the opportunity to visit Canticle Creek and do a little investigating of her own.
Canticle Creek is a gripping murder mystery, just a brief examination of the crime scene is enough to convince Jesse that the police, who believe Adam killed his girlfriend, Daisy, and died when his car left the road as he attempted to flee, are wrong. Looking for an alternative narrative, Jesse puts several of the locals, and a Melbourne mobster, offside as she noses around the small community.
Hyland’s deft plotting has several suspects in the frame for the murder, and it took me a while to eliminate all but one. There’s plenty of well paced action as Jesse gets closer to the truth and becomes a target of a killer determined to stop her asking questions. A bushfire that rips through the drought stricken town also adds enormous tension in a thrilling climax.
Jesse’s an appealing protagonist, a thoughtful and capable and police officer, with investigative skills learnt from Danny Jakamarra, the Aboriginal Community Police Officer, whom she works with in Kulara. I liked the character of Possum, the teenage friend of the murdered woman, and the surprise of Nadia’s character. There’s an authenticity to Hyland’s characters generally, both in the way they talk and act, that gives them substance.
The writing is polished and engaging, and the dialogue has a familiar rhythm. The setting is recognisably Australian, Hyland’s prose effortlessly evokes the baking hot weather, and varied landscape of rural Victoria.
A well-crafted, absorbing mystery with strong characterisation, Canticle Creek is gripping crime fiction, and I hope Hyland has plans for more.
When Kulara police officer Jesse Redpath learns about the death of Adam Lawson, a young man from her Northern Territory community, the circumstances don’t make sense to her. Serendipitously, an invitation for her artist father to an exhibition in Melbourne, gives Jesse the opportunity to visit Canticle Creek and do a little investigating of her own.
Canticle Creek is a gripping murder mystery, just a brief examination of the crime scene is enough to convince Jesse that the police, who believe Adam killed his girlfriend, Daisy, and died when his car left the road as he attempted to flee, are wrong. Looking for an alternative narrative, Jesse puts several of the locals, and a Melbourne mobster, offside as she noses around the small community.
Hyland’s deft plotting has several suspects in the frame for the murder, and it took me a while to eliminate all but one. There’s plenty of well paced action as Jesse gets closer to the truth and becomes a target of a killer determined to stop her asking questions. A bushfire that rips through the drought stricken town also adds enormous tension in a thrilling climax.
Jesse’s an appealing protagonist, a thoughtful and capable and police officer, with investigative skills learnt from Danny Jakamarra, the Aboriginal Community Police Officer, whom she works with in Kulara. I liked the character of Possum, the teenage friend of the murdered woman, and the surprise of Nadia’s character. There’s an authenticity to Hyland’s characters generally, both in the way they talk and act, that gives them substance.
The writing is polished and engaging, and the dialogue has a familiar rhythm. The setting is recognisably Australian, Hyland’s prose effortlessly evokes the baking hot weather, and varied landscape of rural Victoria.
A well-crafted, absorbing mystery with strong characterisation, Canticle Creek is gripping crime fiction, and I hope Hyland has plans for more.
April 25, 2022
Canticle Creek is about a small community, its secrets, and the murder of young girl Daisy Baker. At first, the Canticle Creek community is labelling Adam Lawson as the murderer due to his wrecked car near Daisy Baker's body. Jesse Redpath arrived in Canticle Creek to investigate the murder of Daisy Baker However, Jesse Redpath disagreed and started asking awkward questions that upset the community. The readers of Canticle Creek will continue to follow Jesse Redpath's investigation to find out what happens.
Canticle Creek is a fantastic addition to Adrian Hyland's collection of books. Adrian Hyland understands how small communities think about issues that affect them. I engaged with the plot and the characters from the first page, and it continued until the end. I love Adrian Hyland's portrayal of his characters and how they interact throughout this book. Canticle Creek is well written and researched by Adrian Hyland. I like Adrian Hyland's description of Canticle Creek's settings that allow the reader to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of Canticle Creek will learn about how small communities can interact with each other. Also, the readers will understand that they can not save everyone if they do not want to help themselves.
I recommend this book.
.
Canticle Creek is a fantastic addition to Adrian Hyland's collection of books. Adrian Hyland understands how small communities think about issues that affect them. I engaged with the plot and the characters from the first page, and it continued until the end. I love Adrian Hyland's portrayal of his characters and how they interact throughout this book. Canticle Creek is well written and researched by Adrian Hyland. I like Adrian Hyland's description of Canticle Creek's settings that allow the reader to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of Canticle Creek will learn about how small communities can interact with each other. Also, the readers will understand that they can not save everyone if they do not want to help themselves.
I recommend this book.
.
December 23, 2021
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
*3.5 stars
Award winning Australian author Adrian Hyland makes a return to the publishing scene with Canticle Creek, an evocative and tense crime fiction novel.
Canticle Creek is headed by bush cop Jesse Redpath, who is compelled to delve into a case involving a murder in her community base. With questions surrounding truth, lies and blame, this is a conflicting case. With tensions reaching an all time high in this tiny rural Victorian community, Jesse is determined to expose the truth. But Jesse meets plenty of contention from the local community and it becomes clear that there are secrets that some people of this town want to stay buried in the past. When mother nature unleashes itself on the local community, there is further stress placed on this strained township. Can Jesse help prevent Canticle Creek from total eruption?
After a gap of ten years, author Adrian Hyland makes a welcome reappearance thanks to his latest crime fiction release, Canticle Creek. Defined by some vivid and moving prose, Hyland’s new novel is engaging and well plotted. It is the perfect read for those who gravitate towards dark tales and Australian noir.
Hyland has placed an enigmatic female lead at the helm of his new novel Canticle Creek. Jesse is passionate, observant, methodical, determined and skilled. Jesse is also a flawed lead which makes her very likeable. It didn’t take long for me to warm to Jesse and become fully invested in her journey. Jesse interacts with a good number of secondary cast members, who add conflict and interest to this spiralling tale. Hyland places emphasis on his characters and he works hard to zone in on their actions for a good deal of this novel. At times I did fall into the trap of confusing some of the protagonists, which did hamper my overall response to this one.
In terms of setting, Hyland draws on his experiences as a firefighter to provide the reader with a full-bodied overview of the harsh environment featured in Canticle Creek. Hyland’s prose is rich and he includes plenty of thick descriptions detailing the unforgiving environment in which this book is centrally placed. Hyland’s locale is fiercely Australian, inherently wild, unrelenting and dense. With plenty of healthy descriptions of the surrounding natural landscape, which is further compounded by the piecing heat, the sense of place is overwhelming in this tale.
Hyland frames his plot and murder mystery well, issuing his readers with plenty of plot stops, turns, detours, secrets, codes, suspects to consider and disputes to settle. My response rate went up and down with this one, but I think Canticle Creek would be ideal for seasoned readers of Australian crime noir.
*Thanks is extended to Ultimo Press for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
*3.5 stars
Award winning Australian author Adrian Hyland makes a return to the publishing scene with Canticle Creek, an evocative and tense crime fiction novel.
Canticle Creek is headed by bush cop Jesse Redpath, who is compelled to delve into a case involving a murder in her community base. With questions surrounding truth, lies and blame, this is a conflicting case. With tensions reaching an all time high in this tiny rural Victorian community, Jesse is determined to expose the truth. But Jesse meets plenty of contention from the local community and it becomes clear that there are secrets that some people of this town want to stay buried in the past. When mother nature unleashes itself on the local community, there is further stress placed on this strained township. Can Jesse help prevent Canticle Creek from total eruption?
After a gap of ten years, author Adrian Hyland makes a welcome reappearance thanks to his latest crime fiction release, Canticle Creek. Defined by some vivid and moving prose, Hyland’s new novel is engaging and well plotted. It is the perfect read for those who gravitate towards dark tales and Australian noir.
Hyland has placed an enigmatic female lead at the helm of his new novel Canticle Creek. Jesse is passionate, observant, methodical, determined and skilled. Jesse is also a flawed lead which makes her very likeable. It didn’t take long for me to warm to Jesse and become fully invested in her journey. Jesse interacts with a good number of secondary cast members, who add conflict and interest to this spiralling tale. Hyland places emphasis on his characters and he works hard to zone in on their actions for a good deal of this novel. At times I did fall into the trap of confusing some of the protagonists, which did hamper my overall response to this one.
In terms of setting, Hyland draws on his experiences as a firefighter to provide the reader with a full-bodied overview of the harsh environment featured in Canticle Creek. Hyland’s prose is rich and he includes plenty of thick descriptions detailing the unforgiving environment in which this book is centrally placed. Hyland’s locale is fiercely Australian, inherently wild, unrelenting and dense. With plenty of healthy descriptions of the surrounding natural landscape, which is further compounded by the piecing heat, the sense of place is overwhelming in this tale.
Hyland frames his plot and murder mystery well, issuing his readers with plenty of plot stops, turns, detours, secrets, codes, suspects to consider and disputes to settle. My response rate went up and down with this one, but I think Canticle Creek would be ideal for seasoned readers of Australian crime noir.
*Thanks is extended to Ultimo Press for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
February 26, 2022
Jesse Redpath is a police officer in the Northern Territory. She becomes involved in a murder investigation in country Victoria after a young man, Adam, she knows from NT is the main suspect. Adam was killed in an apparent car accident not far from the murder site. It takes a little while to set the story up but it’s done well as the characters are interesting and there’s no obvious hints at which way the story will go. The hot summer, the wildlife and the natural environment are all important elements. An enjoyable and well written murder mystery/crime novel.
July 8, 2023
Small town, a seemingly open and shut crime has occurred. A police officer with something to prove, alongside her eccentric father travel to the small town and is determined to get to the bottom of whatever is going on.
A common story seen within this genre, predictable plot lines, however still enjoyable. There wasn’t much character development, and there was a lot of predictability.
I’ve rated this 3 stars because I still had an enjoyable reading experience, despite the lack of depth I still wanted to see what happened and the writing style was incredibly easy to follow, I found myself binge reading a couple hundred pages in a sitting.
This story wasn’t for me but I’d definitely be inclined to look at Hyland’s other works.
A common story seen within this genre, predictable plot lines, however still enjoyable. There wasn’t much character development, and there was a lot of predictability.
I’ve rated this 3 stars because I still had an enjoyable reading experience, despite the lack of depth I still wanted to see what happened and the writing style was incredibly easy to follow, I found myself binge reading a couple hundred pages in a sitting.
This story wasn’t for me but I’d definitely be inclined to look at Hyland’s other works.
December 7, 2021
Adam has been at the wrong end of law several times but is he capable of murder?
Jesse Redpath is a cop from the Territory. She helps a young Adam when he does something illegal by offering him a second chance; helping her dad and working in the local roadhouse. A week later, Adam runs away and Jesse doesn’t think about him again except to send a warrant.
Three months later, Jesse hears about Adam’s death, from a car wreck after killing his own girlfriend Daisy in Canticle Creek, a small town near Melbourne. To the Victorian cops it is a clean case but to Jesse, who knew Adam well, it wasn’t as closed as it sounded and she had many questions, including whether Adam can become a killer.
With her father, Jesse visits Canticle Creek to understand, and unravels many other mysteries and knots of a typical small community. Whether Jesse survives the hardships she faced and solves the mystery makes the plot of the book.
I loved the writing style. Having a lone female protagonist, strong and good-hearted with no romantic subplot made this a marvellous read. There were so many social messages and I loved how the author focused the whole point on a single factor (which I can’t give out because of spoilers but you’ll know when you know!). Art, nature, bushfires and mountains made a beautiful package of entertainment.
The witty, funny and descriptive nature of the storyline was interesting and gave way to a good imagination. I loved the characters and how the author focused more on female protagonists. Although Daisy was already dead, author makes us fall in love with a character who doesn’t even make an appearance except in prologue and in memories.
The only reason why it couldn’t get a 5 star is the presence of too many characters. It was a bit hard to remember the names and their backgrounds. It is possible that the author wanted use the opportunity to bring some social messages and to indicate that the community is small and close-knitted. But to me, it was a bit hard to keep up. It might have been just me who was a bit distracted when I read the book too.
But this one is a definite must-read.
Jesse Redpath is a cop from the Territory. She helps a young Adam when he does something illegal by offering him a second chance; helping her dad and working in the local roadhouse. A week later, Adam runs away and Jesse doesn’t think about him again except to send a warrant.
Three months later, Jesse hears about Adam’s death, from a car wreck after killing his own girlfriend Daisy in Canticle Creek, a small town near Melbourne. To the Victorian cops it is a clean case but to Jesse, who knew Adam well, it wasn’t as closed as it sounded and she had many questions, including whether Adam can become a killer.
With her father, Jesse visits Canticle Creek to understand, and unravels many other mysteries and knots of a typical small community. Whether Jesse survives the hardships she faced and solves the mystery makes the plot of the book.
I loved the writing style. Having a lone female protagonist, strong and good-hearted with no romantic subplot made this a marvellous read. There were so many social messages and I loved how the author focused the whole point on a single factor (which I can’t give out because of spoilers but you’ll know when you know!). Art, nature, bushfires and mountains made a beautiful package of entertainment.
The witty, funny and descriptive nature of the storyline was interesting and gave way to a good imagination. I loved the characters and how the author focused more on female protagonists. Although Daisy was already dead, author makes us fall in love with a character who doesn’t even make an appearance except in prologue and in memories.
The only reason why it couldn’t get a 5 star is the presence of too many characters. It was a bit hard to remember the names and their backgrounds. It is possible that the author wanted use the opportunity to bring some social messages and to indicate that the community is small and close-knitted. But to me, it was a bit hard to keep up. It might have been just me who was a bit distracted when I read the book too.
But this one is a definite must-read.
December 26, 2021
Excellent Australian Outback thriller.
February 2, 2022
Australian crime fiction really is at the top of its game as a genre of quality, in my opinion. The bar has been set high and our authors are clearing it with room to spare. Canticle Creek by Adrian Hyland was such a compelling read. With its sophisticated plot and well fleshed out characters, I raced through this one, reluctant to put it down, thinking about it all the while when I wasn’t reading it. The main characters were all realistic and easy to like and the villains were all suitably convincing – particularly the main perpetrator who really had me fooled with his artful misdirection!
As well as a cracking murder mystery, Canticle Creek is also an environmental story, one that looks specifically at the ever-present threat of bushfires and the catastrophic events that can unfold within minutes in an environment that is dry enough and hot enough. The sections specific to bushfire were incredibly well realised, I could envisage it all unfolding, minute by minute, and it was entirely frightening to contemplate.
There is a lot to like about this novel. The cover (such a stunning cover, I’d have it as a print on my wall), the storyline, the characters – particularly Jesse and Possum, the art, the nature, the respect it shows to the First Nations people of Central Australia; this really is a terrific novel, one that I can highly recommend.
4 + 1/2 stars
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
As well as a cracking murder mystery, Canticle Creek is also an environmental story, one that looks specifically at the ever-present threat of bushfires and the catastrophic events that can unfold within minutes in an environment that is dry enough and hot enough. The sections specific to bushfire were incredibly well realised, I could envisage it all unfolding, minute by minute, and it was entirely frightening to contemplate.
There is a lot to like about this novel. The cover (such a stunning cover, I’d have it as a print on my wall), the storyline, the characters – particularly Jesse and Possum, the art, the nature, the respect it shows to the First Nations people of Central Australia; this really is a terrific novel, one that I can highly recommend.
4 + 1/2 stars
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
January 5, 2022
I love this cover, and I loved this book. The establishment & build-up of the crime were absorbing; the characters - particularly Jesse Redpath & her father - are appealing & believable; & the environments fascinating & evocative. I could feel the heat & dryness, & those last couple of chapters in the fire had my heart racing. Beautifully-written, I'm sorry it's over.
December 27, 2021
Jane Harper, you have a mate
From her first book, Jane Harper captured the essence of the Australian landscape in her books. In Canticle Creek, Adrian Hyland does this as well, and adds an essence of country. This is a great read - mystery, multiple threads and misdirection. Hope the next one is coming.
From her first book, Jane Harper captured the essence of the Australian landscape in her books. In Canticle Creek, Adrian Hyland does this as well, and adds an essence of country. This is a great read - mystery, multiple threads and misdirection. Hope the next one is coming.
December 16, 2021
Hmmm.
Comparing this to Garry Disher is a bit of an insult. With his books you never have to suspend disbelief like you do here. I kept reading because there were some elegant turns of phrase, but I never truly found it plausible.
Comparing this to Garry Disher is a bit of an insult. With his books you never have to suspend disbelief like you do here. I kept reading because there were some elegant turns of phrase, but I never truly found it plausible.
August 9, 2023
Jesse a Police officer in a small Australian town tries to help a young man to keep out of trouble.
When he is accused of murder and is later found dead, Jesse tries to discover what happened.
A slow moving story with lots of characters that I enjoyed in parts.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ultimo Press for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
When he is accused of murder and is later found dead, Jesse tries to discover what happened.
A slow moving story with lots of characters that I enjoyed in parts.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ultimo Press for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 21, 2021
This was a real page turner. I liked the main character, Jess, and her way of analysing things. Possum was a great character too. The themes of climate change, environmental issues, development, and race all came into it. The Nadia character was also interesting. There was a lot of action and misdirection, in a clever plot. My only reservation was with some of the amazing feats that Jess kept pulling off, it stretched my credulity a bit. I do hope we see another book featuring her and Danny and maybe Possum.
May 26, 2024
3.5 rounded up to 4
This one started out well and I really enjoyed the world building of rural Australia and the characters were well thought out. I particularly loved the feisty female characters that were given the chance to shine. However, the plot couldn’t decide what it wanted to be. Thriller? An epitaph to a dying culture/environment? It left me confused. Nevertheless the writing style was beautiful and I loved the characters.
This one started out well and I really enjoyed the world building of rural Australia and the characters were well thought out. I particularly loved the feisty female characters that were given the chance to shine. However, the plot couldn’t decide what it wanted to be. Thriller? An epitaph to a dying culture/environment? It left me confused. Nevertheless the writing style was beautiful and I loved the characters.
February 19, 2022
A cracker of a read, powerfully written suspense set in the Yarra ranges. Jesse Redpath, a Northern Territory policewoman is a great character even when out of her element. The fast paced plot cleverly delivers so many iconic elements of Australian life.
Very entertaining.
Very entertaining.
January 19, 2022
It's been way. too. long. since the last Emily Tempest novel from Adrian Hyland was published. Been way too long since anything from Adrian Hyland was published, so I will admit to some serious stack reshuffling when CANTICLE CREEK arrived. Not a shred of disappointment about the decision to sit down and read the first novel featuring NT Police Officer Jesse Redpath. (I say first novel with some determination - this is a series in the making if there ever was one).
Jesse Redpath is a cop in the small NT community around Kulara, and she was more than prepared to stick her neck out with the court system when local Adam Lawson got into a spot of legal trouble. Setting him up to live with her eccentric artist father, she's shocked and confused to find he vanished from there, only to die, supposedly fleeing the scene of a murder, in a small community in the hills outside Melbourne. Luckily an invitation for her father to exhibit some art in Melbourne gives Jesse and her Dad a reason to head down to Victoria, and do a bit of snooping around. Neither of them can believe that Adam would kill his girlfriend Daisy, and everything about the case, including his car leaving the road when he was supposedly attempting to flee with scene, makes any sense.
Jesse's a fabulous, strong, believable character who arrives in Victoria determined to find the truth no matter what. Supported in her determination by her father, they end up staying in the small artistic community that Daisy and Adam had lived in, digging into some dodgy logging practices, unearthing some suspect connections to Melbourne mobsters along the way. There's plenty of threat, personal and community based, and there's a good supporting cast, as well as fabulous sense of a place. Not specifically named, I'd be prepared to take a relatively informed guess is influenced by the area around the Kinglake Ranges.
A gripping murder mystery at it's heart, with a clever, deftly constructed and extremely believable plot, Hyland uses this opportunity to celebrate natural beauty in the experience of his characters, and through the eyes of the artists he's incorporated in his cast of well-constructed people. He has a particular skill when it comes to writing female viewpoints, from Jesse, through to Possum, the teenage friend of Daisy, and Possum's own family (with whom the Redpath's are staying). The observations and asides of these people build a picture of the location, and the characters within it in a very natural, Australian way, and he knows exactly how to convey dialogue, and cadence of speech amongst friends and strangers that just works. Then there's the depiction of fire in a drought ridden landscape that's terrifying and informative.
Hyland's always been one of my unsung heroes of Australian Crime Fiction. His characterisations are right up there with the best of them, his dry wit and dialogue as good as it gets, and his understanding and observation of the landscape perfect. Every single Indigenous character he brings to the page is beautifully executed, and his respect and love of the people and their interactions with country and each other has always been spot on. As it is again with Jesse Redpath, and her belief in a young man who deserved better than the dismissive assumptions of those that didn't know him, didn't try to understand him, and were more than happy to use him as a convenient scapegoat, and a young woman whose death deserved a lot more than the cursory investigation undertaken.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
Jesse Redpath is a cop in the small NT community around Kulara, and she was more than prepared to stick her neck out with the court system when local Adam Lawson got into a spot of legal trouble. Setting him up to live with her eccentric artist father, she's shocked and confused to find he vanished from there, only to die, supposedly fleeing the scene of a murder, in a small community in the hills outside Melbourne. Luckily an invitation for her father to exhibit some art in Melbourne gives Jesse and her Dad a reason to head down to Victoria, and do a bit of snooping around. Neither of them can believe that Adam would kill his girlfriend Daisy, and everything about the case, including his car leaving the road when he was supposedly attempting to flee with scene, makes any sense.
Jesse's a fabulous, strong, believable character who arrives in Victoria determined to find the truth no matter what. Supported in her determination by her father, they end up staying in the small artistic community that Daisy and Adam had lived in, digging into some dodgy logging practices, unearthing some suspect connections to Melbourne mobsters along the way. There's plenty of threat, personal and community based, and there's a good supporting cast, as well as fabulous sense of a place. Not specifically named, I'd be prepared to take a relatively informed guess is influenced by the area around the Kinglake Ranges.
A gripping murder mystery at it's heart, with a clever, deftly constructed and extremely believable plot, Hyland uses this opportunity to celebrate natural beauty in the experience of his characters, and through the eyes of the artists he's incorporated in his cast of well-constructed people. He has a particular skill when it comes to writing female viewpoints, from Jesse, through to Possum, the teenage friend of Daisy, and Possum's own family (with whom the Redpath's are staying). The observations and asides of these people build a picture of the location, and the characters within it in a very natural, Australian way, and he knows exactly how to convey dialogue, and cadence of speech amongst friends and strangers that just works. Then there's the depiction of fire in a drought ridden landscape that's terrifying and informative.
Hyland's always been one of my unsung heroes of Australian Crime Fiction. His characterisations are right up there with the best of them, his dry wit and dialogue as good as it gets, and his understanding and observation of the landscape perfect. Every single Indigenous character he brings to the page is beautifully executed, and his respect and love of the people and their interactions with country and each other has always been spot on. As it is again with Jesse Redpath, and her belief in a young man who deserved better than the dismissive assumptions of those that didn't know him, didn't try to understand him, and were more than happy to use him as a convenient scapegoat, and a young woman whose death deserved a lot more than the cursory investigation undertaken.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
January 20, 2022
Absolutely loved this outback cop novel with so many twists and turns! Loved the tenacity of the main character, Possum’s courage and curiosity, her father’s wisdom and the setting itself. Would love more books with this main character.
Read
February 6, 2023Ding, ding, ding! What a winner!
Putting this at the top of my favourite Aussie thrillers. Beautifully written, and a magnificent MC. It’s not easy to do all of that!
Jesse Redpath is fierce. Loved it.
Putting this at the top of my favourite Aussie thrillers. Beautifully written, and a magnificent MC. It’s not easy to do all of that!
Jesse Redpath is fierce. Loved it.
June 9, 2023
Opening this book, you will escape to the scenic Australian Outback. Where you will meet artists, drug dealers, an observant young girl, a feisty horse and a police officer on an unofficial investigation to prove a young man, who she saved from the system, innocent of murder. Be prepared to be kept on your toes while keeping track of the events in this one.
The author has a wonderful writing style that leaves the story feeling like a cultural experience. By the time I researched the end, I felt well acquainted with the characters and the Outback scenery. The descriptive nature of the story leaves you convinced you can feel the heat coming off the pages. This book will keep you warm on a cold wintery day.
When two dead bodies are discovered, the local police are convinced that Adam Lawson, a stranger to town is guilty. It appears to be an open and shut case. Adam murdered Daisy and while escaping the scene he killed himself by running a stolen car off the road. However, Jess Redpath – not a local to Canticle Creek – knows Adam and she does not believe him capable of murder. Enduring the unbearable local heat, Jess is determined to prove that Adam did not murder Daisy… however, as she digs, she uncovers a lot more than she thought she would.
I loved how this book introduces you to the local people, customs and scenery. By the time you reach the end, you feel as if you have visited Canticle Creek. The author did a brilliant job describing the scenery, climate and characters.
I enjoyed the characters and their dialect. While at times it took a moment to understand – I loved the speech patterns and local habits.
If you a looking for a mystery that will keep you intrigued only to deliver a brilliant twist at the end, then this is the book for you. As a bonus, you will feel as if you visited the Outback by the time you reach the last page.
https://featzreviews.com/canticle-cre...
The author has a wonderful writing style that leaves the story feeling like a cultural experience. By the time I researched the end, I felt well acquainted with the characters and the Outback scenery. The descriptive nature of the story leaves you convinced you can feel the heat coming off the pages. This book will keep you warm on a cold wintery day.
When two dead bodies are discovered, the local police are convinced that Adam Lawson, a stranger to town is guilty. It appears to be an open and shut case. Adam murdered Daisy and while escaping the scene he killed himself by running a stolen car off the road. However, Jess Redpath – not a local to Canticle Creek – knows Adam and she does not believe him capable of murder. Enduring the unbearable local heat, Jess is determined to prove that Adam did not murder Daisy… however, as she digs, she uncovers a lot more than she thought she would.
I loved how this book introduces you to the local people, customs and scenery. By the time you reach the end, you feel as if you have visited Canticle Creek. The author did a brilliant job describing the scenery, climate and characters.
I enjoyed the characters and their dialect. While at times it took a moment to understand – I loved the speech patterns and local habits.
If you a looking for a mystery that will keep you intrigued only to deliver a brilliant twist at the end, then this is the book for you. As a bonus, you will feel as if you visited the Outback by the time you reach the last page.
https://featzreviews.com/canticle-cre...
July 4, 2023
A nice little murder mystery set in rural Australia. I enjoyed the small town dynamics and the descriptions of the setting were strong enough to give me a real sense of place.
The mystery itself is well set up and we care for the characters. However, I did find some of the possible suspects rather two dimensional and would have liked much more depth. The same was true of the main character. She's a hard hitting woman sheriff in a male dominated environment and I loved the way she stood her own and went out on a limb investigating a crime outside her own jurisdiction (with a grumpy father in tow!). She was a character I wanted to know so much more about but I was left with only seeing the outside of her and her drastic and sometimes clever actions, rather than getting to know her from the inside out.
Still, the story was easy, entertaining and atmospheric. Recommended for a light read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. This is my honest review.
The mystery itself is well set up and we care for the characters. However, I did find some of the possible suspects rather two dimensional and would have liked much more depth. The same was true of the main character. She's a hard hitting woman sheriff in a male dominated environment and I loved the way she stood her own and went out on a limb investigating a crime outside her own jurisdiction (with a grumpy father in tow!). She was a character I wanted to know so much more about but I was left with only seeing the outside of her and her drastic and sometimes clever actions, rather than getting to know her from the inside out.
Still, the story was easy, entertaining and atmospheric. Recommended for a light read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. This is my honest review.
October 27, 2023
Jesse Redpath is a police officer in Northern Territory. When a likeable petty criminal, whom Jesse previously vouched for, is implicated in a murder in Victoria, Jesse goes there to carry out her own unofficial investigation. She’s not the only one with doubts about the boy’s guilt. Local horse-mad teenager, Possum, is keen to help Jesse with her enquiries, while former drug-addict, Nadia, doesn’t want to help at all.
The writing is breezy, with humour and action throughout. Jesse Redpath is up there with Jane Harper’s Aaron Falk and Chris Hammer’s Martin Scarsden as a sleuth who gets down and dirty with the harshest natural environments of Australia, and with some of the meanest human inhabitants. I look forward to future titles in this series.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
The writing is breezy, with humour and action throughout. Jesse Redpath is up there with Jane Harper’s Aaron Falk and Chris Hammer’s Martin Scarsden as a sleuth who gets down and dirty with the harshest natural environments of Australia, and with some of the meanest human inhabitants. I look forward to future titles in this series.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
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