What do you think?
Rate this book
Beneath Contempt
When the morality of a business venture knows no depths... After unearthing a serial killer in Brisbane, paramedic Jonothan Byrne escapes the limelight by taking a transfer to Far North Queensland. Although serving the remote community of Mornington Island helps to soothe his guilt, leaving the city fails to free him from the traumatic memories that haunt his subconscious. But just as he looks set to recover, his world is turned upside down when he’s drawn into an illegal operation. In fighting to save his life and the lives of others, can he achieve his own salvation? Written by a real-life Critical Care Paramedic, this story has it smugglers, ruthless killers, sharks and crocs, all served up with dark ambo humour sweltering under the tropical sun.
334 pages, Paperback
Published November 10, 2021
2 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Harry Colfer
40 books28 followersHarry Colfer is the pseudonym of a critical care paramedic who lives and works in Brisbane, Australia. Although his stories are totally fictional, his writing style is very realistic and he maintains a healthy level of paranoia with respect to his anonymity.
Other than the Ambo Tales From The Frontline series, he has written two full length novels featuring the same characters, a murder mystery, Dead Regular, and the thriller sequel, Beneath Contempt. He is currently writing the third novel in the Jono series, High Acuity, with the fourth and final book existing only as ideas, notes, and a title, Show Cause.
Other than the Ambo Tales From The Frontline series, he has written two full length novels featuring the same characters, a murder mystery, Dead Regular, and the thriller sequel, Beneath Contempt. He is currently writing the third novel in the Jono series, High Acuity, with the fourth and final book existing only as ideas, notes, and a title, Show Cause.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 19, 2022
Beneath Contempt by Harry Colfer
Synopsis /
When the morality of a business venture knows no depths.
After unearthing a serial killer in Brisbane, paramedic Jonothan Byrne escapes the limelight by taking a transfer to Far North Queensland. Although serving the remote community of Mornington Island helps to soothe his guilt, leaving the city fails to free him from the traumatic memories that haunt his subconscious.
But just as he looks set to recover, his world is turned upside down when he’s drawn into an illegal operation. In fighting to save his life and the lives of others, can he achieve his own salvation?
My Thoughts /
Beneath Contempt is the second book in the series featuring intensive care paramedic, Jonothan (Jono) Byrne and written by Brisbane based practising paramedic and author, Harry Colfer.
Written by a real-life Critical Care Paramedic, this story has it all: smugglers, ruthless killers, sharks, and crocs, all served up with dark ambo humour sweltering under a tropical Australian sun.
In an excerpt from an interview with Colfer, History editor Dr Glenn Davies writes: He [Colfer] sees factual television programs such as Ambulance Australia that follow New South Wales and Queensland Ambulance Services from the Triple Zero Control Centres to paramedics on the road as heavily sanitised and not reflecting the reality of the work of paramedics in Australia. Colfer has addressed this sanitisation by portraying reality through fiction.
Beneath Contempt is set on Mornington Island and takes place in 2013. Mornington Island, also known as Kunhanhaa, is an island in the Gulf of Carpentaria in the Shire of Mornington, Queensland, Australia. It is the northernmost and largest of 22 islands that form the Wellesley Islands group. Fringed by mangrove forests and sea oaks, the crystal clear seas surrounding the island teem with marine life and important bird breeding habitats. The island’s estuaries and wetlands also provide a habitat for many species of wildlife; including one of the largest semiaquatic reptiles that live throughout the tropics – the crocodile.
Jono has ended up in Gununa as a result of the events that occurred in book 1, Dead Regular, namely, the death of his fiancé, Amber, at the hand of his former Station Officer, Darren Boardman. Boardman, aka Boardie, is thought to have killed at least five other people, and is no doubt responsible for many more. I don’t want to delve too much into the plot for the sake of spoiling. But suffice to say, trouble seems to follow Jono at an astonishing rate!
Beneath Contempt is a fast and unpredictable read. The writing is remarkably descriptive and places you right on the beaches of Gununa (note: make sure you watch out for crocs). There are no half-written characters here. Colfer brings his characters to life with writing that is competently explained and supported with evidence and detail; all of which he mixes together to prove an idea. His descriptive prose, humour and use of Australian metaphors makes it easy for the reader to suspend belief and just enjoy the fictional world of Jono and his profession, that of intensive care paramedic.
Very few things will cause a paramedic to run. Exceptions include imminent personal injury, avoiding management, practical jokes, or the end of the breakfast menu at Maccas.
Central Queensland University’s Professor Brian Maguire said in 2017:
“The fatality rate for paramedics is six times higher than the national average. Their injury rate is twice as high as the rate for Australian police officers. Assaults account for a large part of the risk, while the number of serious injury cases secondary to assault among paramedics has tripled from ten per year to 30 per year, between 2001 and 2014.”
Violence against people doing their job is unacceptable. And the cost to individuals, the health sector and the public is too great.
If you enjoy crime thrillers and you’re not averse to dark humour and medical descriptions, then you simply must put this series on your reading list.
Synopsis /
When the morality of a business venture knows no depths.
After unearthing a serial killer in Brisbane, paramedic Jonothan Byrne escapes the limelight by taking a transfer to Far North Queensland. Although serving the remote community of Mornington Island helps to soothe his guilt, leaving the city fails to free him from the traumatic memories that haunt his subconscious.
But just as he looks set to recover, his world is turned upside down when he’s drawn into an illegal operation. In fighting to save his life and the lives of others, can he achieve his own salvation?
My Thoughts /
Beneath Contempt is the second book in the series featuring intensive care paramedic, Jonothan (Jono) Byrne and written by Brisbane based practising paramedic and author, Harry Colfer.
Written by a real-life Critical Care Paramedic, this story has it all: smugglers, ruthless killers, sharks, and crocs, all served up with dark ambo humour sweltering under a tropical Australian sun.
In an excerpt from an interview with Colfer, History editor Dr Glenn Davies writes: He [Colfer] sees factual television programs such as Ambulance Australia that follow New South Wales and Queensland Ambulance Services from the Triple Zero Control Centres to paramedics on the road as heavily sanitised and not reflecting the reality of the work of paramedics in Australia. Colfer has addressed this sanitisation by portraying reality through fiction.
Beneath Contempt is set on Mornington Island and takes place in 2013. Mornington Island, also known as Kunhanhaa, is an island in the Gulf of Carpentaria in the Shire of Mornington, Queensland, Australia. It is the northernmost and largest of 22 islands that form the Wellesley Islands group. Fringed by mangrove forests and sea oaks, the crystal clear seas surrounding the island teem with marine life and important bird breeding habitats. The island’s estuaries and wetlands also provide a habitat for many species of wildlife; including one of the largest semiaquatic reptiles that live throughout the tropics – the crocodile.
Jono has ended up in Gununa as a result of the events that occurred in book 1, Dead Regular, namely, the death of his fiancé, Amber, at the hand of his former Station Officer, Darren Boardman. Boardman, aka Boardie, is thought to have killed at least five other people, and is no doubt responsible for many more. I don’t want to delve too much into the plot for the sake of spoiling. But suffice to say, trouble seems to follow Jono at an astonishing rate!
Beneath Contempt is a fast and unpredictable read. The writing is remarkably descriptive and places you right on the beaches of Gununa (note: make sure you watch out for crocs). There are no half-written characters here. Colfer brings his characters to life with writing that is competently explained and supported with evidence and detail; all of which he mixes together to prove an idea. His descriptive prose, humour and use of Australian metaphors makes it easy for the reader to suspend belief and just enjoy the fictional world of Jono and his profession, that of intensive care paramedic.
Very few things will cause a paramedic to run. Exceptions include imminent personal injury, avoiding management, practical jokes, or the end of the breakfast menu at Maccas.
Central Queensland University’s Professor Brian Maguire said in 2017:
“The fatality rate for paramedics is six times higher than the national average. Their injury rate is twice as high as the rate for Australian police officers. Assaults account for a large part of the risk, while the number of serious injury cases secondary to assault among paramedics has tripled from ten per year to 30 per year, between 2001 and 2014.”
Violence against people doing their job is unacceptable. And the cost to individuals, the health sector and the public is too great.
If you enjoy crime thrillers and you’re not averse to dark humour and medical descriptions, then you simply must put this series on your reading list.
March 14, 2022
What a great read! There are lots of obvious reasons to love this book: the adventure, place descriptions, characters (especially Charlie), humour and medical insights. However, having spent some time working with Australian fishers, I particularly enjoyed how the author was able to interweave this sector into his storyline in such an innovative and realistic manner. Without giving away any spoilers, I was also moved by the connatations evoked around everyone wanting somewhere safe to live, and how this drives people's behaviour.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dead Regular, but found Beneath Contempt to be even more entertaining - it would certainly make a wonderful movie! Following on from the events that occurred in Brisbane, in this novel, Jono finds himself in a whole new world of s**t. Here, however, his persona is further developed to reveal some vulnerabilities and inner qualities, while still retaining his characteristic wit and attitude towards management.
Can't wait for the next story in the Jono series!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dead Regular, but found Beneath Contempt to be even more entertaining - it would certainly make a wonderful movie! Following on from the events that occurred in Brisbane, in this novel, Jono finds himself in a whole new world of s**t. Here, however, his persona is further developed to reveal some vulnerabilities and inner qualities, while still retaining his characteristic wit and attitude towards management.
Can't wait for the next story in the Jono series!
December 23, 2021
Any excellent read! I struggled to put the book down. Each chapter involved a new plot twist that kept me hooked to the very end. Harry Colfer paints a vivid picture without being verbose. We get to see inside Jono’s mind and his development and rationale over time. A few different stories get combined seamlessly to develop one big idea. This one ventures away from a heavy base in paramedic land and is done so successfully. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the book and eagerly await the next one. Highly recommended!!
January 19, 2022
Absolute cracker of a book. I read the first chapter at the end of Harry’s book Dead Regular and knew I would enjoy reading it, the only problem was I had to wait a whole year! It was worth the wait and I look forward to reading many more of his books.
February 9, 2022
A fantastic book, an absolute cracker. Beneath Contempt ventured away from the paramedic-esque of the previous book, Dead Regular, but did include some hits of clinical practice (I was very unimpressed when the gyno administered 4 pumps of GTN without an accurate BP, but it pretty much hit the nail on the head). I thoroughly enjoyed Beneath Contempt, all the curveballs it had to offer, and the further building on the relentless and stubborn Jono Byrne. I look forward to the next book!
November 26, 2021
Waited for the release of this second book in the Jono series....and it was well worth the wait! Great story line, very topical, amusing, thrilling and an easy read! Well done Harry keep up the good work, and writing, looking forward to the next episode!
December 9, 2021
Fabulous read. So exciting had to keep reading couldn’t stop. As great as the first book. Can’t wait for next one. Well done again Harry.
April 15, 2022
I found it hard to get into first but I loved it and was sad when it came to the end can’t wait for the next one ,I have read all Harry s books and loved them all ,entertaining,funny and interesting easy to read ,keep writing Harry
May 10, 2023
Another excellent book from Mr Colfer. It gripped me right from the start and I enjoyed the plot, characters, action and wit. Very entertaining.
I can't wait until the next book. Thank you for many hours of entertainment.
I can't wait until the next book. Thank you for many hours of entertainment.
May 15, 2022
It’s a great read. Harry gets you in. I didn’t know what was going to happen next. Funny, suspenseful, and lots going on. It was hard to put down. Good job Harry! Looking forward to the next book.
April 11, 2022
This book was incredible! Such a good read and really portrays the different relationships between emergency services. Really loved Charlie and could really picture the scenes in my mind.
Waiting with anticipation (just like waiting for an ambulance these days) for the next installment. Now to read the short stories.
Waiting with anticipation (just like waiting for an ambulance these days) for the next installment. Now to read the short stories.
January 17, 2025
A fantastic second installment of the Jono series. I loved the change in scenery from Brisbane life to Far North Queensland. The combination of dark ambo humour with a plot full of thrilling adventures was a real treat.
January 22, 2023
A very satisfying read sequel to Dead Regular with similar funny and exciting moments. Would recommend
March 18, 2024
This second gem in the Jono series delivers the same sharp wit and humour within a plot guaranteed to keep you turning pages long into the night. Sleep can wait!
April 24, 2025
The mayhem that always seems to surround Jono continues in the second book, albeit, initially, at a slower, "Island" pace. Jono has some stuff to work through, and has been stationed up north on a peaceful tropical island.
Well, it was peaceful, till Jono arrived.
This book continues on from Dead Regular, with more character development, as we get to know more about them.
It doesn't take too long before Jono is off on a crazy adventure this time caught up with people smugglers who have no qualms about killing a nosy paramedic who threatens their operation.
Another fast paced thriller from Harry Colfer who also seems to be sharpening his authoring skills with each instalment.
If you liked his first foray into murder mysteries, this is a must-read.
Well, it was peaceful, till Jono arrived.
This book continues on from Dead Regular, with more character development, as we get to know more about them.
It doesn't take too long before Jono is off on a crazy adventure this time caught up with people smugglers who have no qualms about killing a nosy paramedic who threatens their operation.
Another fast paced thriller from Harry Colfer who also seems to be sharpening his authoring skills with each instalment.
If you liked his first foray into murder mysteries, this is a must-read.
October 8, 2023
Can’t wait to read the next Jono book. By my reckoning, he’s got about 3 of his 9 lives left. Excellent read again!
January 5, 2024
The plot twists! The cliff hangers! I was on the edge of my seat and didn’t want to put it down! The medical accuracy is so satisfying, but I’d expect nothing less from Harry.
April 16, 2024
Not quite as good as the first book, but still enjoyed it. Loved the twists and turns.
February 2, 2025
A ripper continuation of Jono’s story. A very easy to read follow up to Dead Regular and as equally gripping.
December 12, 2025
A great read, exciting story and hard to put down.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews