What do you think?
Rate this book
Conviction
A town ruled by fear. A cop who won't be broken. A pulse-pounding debut thriller that pulls no punches.
A STUNNING NEW VOICE IN CRIME FICTION
Queensland in 1976 churns with corruption. When Detective Ray Windsor defies it, he is exiled deep into the state's west. It's easy out there to feel alien in your own country.
Royalton is a town on its knees, stricken by drought, riven by prejudice, and plagued by crimes left largely uninvestigated by the local police chief, Kennedy, and his elusive boss.
Mutual dislike between Kennedy and Ray gradually turns ugly as Ray and his new partner, Arshag, uncover a pattern of crimes that no one seems concerned about solving. But when two girls from local immigrant families are found dead and another disappears, Ray and Arshag are forced to take the law into their own hands. Not knowing who to trust, nor how deep the corruption runs, how long will it be before their lives are also threatened?
A spare and uncompromising crime thriller that pulls no punches.
A STUNNING NEW VOICE IN CRIME FICTION
Queensland in 1976 churns with corruption. When Detective Ray Windsor defies it, he is exiled deep into the state's west. It's easy out there to feel alien in your own country.
Royalton is a town on its knees, stricken by drought, riven by prejudice, and plagued by crimes left largely uninvestigated by the local police chief, Kennedy, and his elusive boss.
Mutual dislike between Kennedy and Ray gradually turns ugly as Ray and his new partner, Arshag, uncover a pattern of crimes that no one seems concerned about solving. But when two girls from local immigrant families are found dead and another disappears, Ray and Arshag are forced to take the law into their own hands. Not knowing who to trust, nor how deep the corruption runs, how long will it be before their lives are also threatened?
A spare and uncompromising crime thriller that pulls no punches.
352 pages, Paperback
First published July 2, 2022
12 people are currently reading
217 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
July 9, 2022
Detective Ray Windsor arrived in the dusty town of Royalton in 1976, fresh from Brisbane. His initial contact with the characters in the police station was one of derision and contempt - the boss, Chief Detective Kennedy, was the worst. His partnering with Arshag gendered more racial comments - but when Arshag told Ray about the rape and murders of two young girls, and also mentioned Kennedy had no intention of looking for the killer, Ray was incensed! And when he was told to follow up on the cattle duffing, and to leave the girls alone, Ray and Arshag did the job, catching the thieves - and went back to the murders.
It felt to Ray, in that dreadful heat, with the dust surrounding them, that all things about the town were wrong. He started a gym for the kids of the town, to keep them out of trouble, and it went well. Ray's own boxing ability impressed those same kids. But bad things were going on around the area and always Kennedy and Laming waved him away, saying they'd sort it. Ray was determined to discover the rapist/s and murderer/s of those two young girls, if it was the last thing he did.
Conviction is the debut novel by Aussie author Frank Chalmers and it took me a bit to get into. But it's dark and gritty, compelling and mean, filled with desperate characters. The goodness of both Ray and Arshag shone out, but they struggled uphill! The racism and corruption fueled their desire for justice, especially Ray's. An admirable character with a quick temper and a love of beer - what could possibly go wrong?!
With thanks to Allen & Unwin AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
It felt to Ray, in that dreadful heat, with the dust surrounding them, that all things about the town were wrong. He started a gym for the kids of the town, to keep them out of trouble, and it went well. Ray's own boxing ability impressed those same kids. But bad things were going on around the area and always Kennedy and Laming waved him away, saying they'd sort it. Ray was determined to discover the rapist/s and murderer/s of those two young girls, if it was the last thing he did.
Conviction is the debut novel by Aussie author Frank Chalmers and it took me a bit to get into. But it's dark and gritty, compelling and mean, filled with desperate characters. The goodness of both Ray and Arshag shone out, but they struggled uphill! The racism and corruption fueled their desire for justice, especially Ray's. An admirable character with a quick temper and a love of beer - what could possibly go wrong?!
With thanks to Allen & Unwin AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2022
Queensland 1976, the town of Royalton is far from royal. Struggling and almost dying, the town is full of despair, corruption, and greed. Detective Ray Wilson arrives fresh faced, and we straight away know he is a good guy, at least not corrupt. Willing to fight for the truth, and not afraid of using his fists, he tries to force the hand of the horrible men he works with. So bleak! These men are terribly corrupt, and obviously so. There are those of the community that believe this should be overlooked to keep the place afloat. What murky waters.
Families with failing farms, cattle being stolen, water, nothing is off limits. Who is the behind this cog that keeps turning, and why are these police so intrinsically bad?
Ray has had enough. With two cases involving the abuse and death of two girls, he’s not prepared to let this slide and he has the support of his partner, Arshag, an older man who is honest and hard working. They make a great partnership, after the same honest answers and knowing these corrupt men need to be held accountable, and those in the town that show blatant disrespect for their town and those they steal from.
I feel Ray missed an obvious weak link, but this still was an enjoyable read, a strong debut with the same themes reminiscent of Stone Town. Bleak, depressing, and utter struggle. Such death and loss, and women being treated dismally which is par for the course for these immoral men. Borth within the police force, and without.
I rated this between three to four stars, settling on three. With thanks to Allen & Unwin for my physical copy to read and review, always in support of new Australian talent. I listened in tandem, at times, to the audio version.
Families with failing farms, cattle being stolen, water, nothing is off limits. Who is the behind this cog that keeps turning, and why are these police so intrinsically bad?
Ray has had enough. With two cases involving the abuse and death of two girls, he’s not prepared to let this slide and he has the support of his partner, Arshag, an older man who is honest and hard working. They make a great partnership, after the same honest answers and knowing these corrupt men need to be held accountable, and those in the town that show blatant disrespect for their town and those they steal from.
I feel Ray missed an obvious weak link, but this still was an enjoyable read, a strong debut with the same themes reminiscent of Stone Town. Bleak, depressing, and utter struggle. Such death and loss, and women being treated dismally which is par for the course for these immoral men. Borth within the police force, and without.
I rated this between three to four stars, settling on three. With thanks to Allen & Unwin for my physical copy to read and review, always in support of new Australian talent. I listened in tandem, at times, to the audio version.
October 31, 2022
This is a great debut, it did take me a bit to get into and find my way around the characters, but once I did it was so hard to put down, Detective Ray Windsor from Brisbane is punished and sent out west to the town of Royalton, it is 1976 and corruption runs riot, will Ray last in this town, will he feel at home here?
Ray grew up in a country town that grew cane he didn’t have the easiest of lives as a child but he is a good honest police officer and his punishment for being so is to arrive in this drought stricken town, that holds links to his past but is run by police chief Kennedy and their first meeting sparks instant dislike.
Lucky for Ray he meets police officer Arshag and they instantly click, when Ray is given his first case to investigate, the rape and murder of two young immigrant girls he hits brick walls at every corner but he and Arshag don’t give up and soon uncover a horrid cover up and complacency by the police. They push buttons and do their best to uncover the corruption that runs deep in this town and that is not easy with his life being threatened.
This is a well written story with twists and turns, I had my suspicions but was not convinced till the very end, fabulous characters good and bad, some very bad, Ray is such a great character I though highly of him and Arshag. It is compelling and gripping reading, and one that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good crime story.
My thanks to Allen & Unwin for my copy to read and review.
Ray grew up in a country town that grew cane he didn’t have the easiest of lives as a child but he is a good honest police officer and his punishment for being so is to arrive in this drought stricken town, that holds links to his past but is run by police chief Kennedy and their first meeting sparks instant dislike.
Lucky for Ray he meets police officer Arshag and they instantly click, when Ray is given his first case to investigate, the rape and murder of two young immigrant girls he hits brick walls at every corner but he and Arshag don’t give up and soon uncover a horrid cover up and complacency by the police. They push buttons and do their best to uncover the corruption that runs deep in this town and that is not easy with his life being threatened.
This is a well written story with twists and turns, I had my suspicions but was not convinced till the very end, fabulous characters good and bad, some very bad, Ray is such a great character I though highly of him and Arshag. It is compelling and gripping reading, and one that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good crime story.
My thanks to Allen & Unwin for my copy to read and review.
February 13, 2023
Dark and gritty, Conviction was everything that I love in a crime novel. I am kicking myself that this was in my shelf for so long before I finally got read it… apologies to Allen and Unwin for taking so long.
If you love police procedurals and rural noir then you need to pick up this book. Set in Queensland in 1976, it has everything…. Dirty cops, corruption, a little romance, friendship and lots of crime. It is as rough as the town it is set in. Royalton is anything but Royal. The chief of police despises Ray Windsor on sight and the feeling is mutual. Ray has been transferred from Brisbane to this small, rural town in the west for going rogue Things aren’t going to be much better here. He is partnered us with young copper Arshag and sent to all the rotten jobs in town. When he discovers that 2 young immigrant girls have been found dead in recent months, and that nobody seems to care about them, he does everything he can to find justice for them.
It was a great read, violent and bloody. I really liked Ray and his attitude towards finding the truth.
Conviction came out in Australia last year and is well worth a read if you like this genre. Look forward to more from this author to come.
If you love police procedurals and rural noir then you need to pick up this book. Set in Queensland in 1976, it has everything…. Dirty cops, corruption, a little romance, friendship and lots of crime. It is as rough as the town it is set in. Royalton is anything but Royal. The chief of police despises Ray Windsor on sight and the feeling is mutual. Ray has been transferred from Brisbane to this small, rural town in the west for going rogue Things aren’t going to be much better here. He is partnered us with young copper Arshag and sent to all the rotten jobs in town. When he discovers that 2 young immigrant girls have been found dead in recent months, and that nobody seems to care about them, he does everything he can to find justice for them.
It was a great read, violent and bloody. I really liked Ray and his attitude towards finding the truth.
Conviction came out in Australia last year and is well worth a read if you like this genre. Look forward to more from this author to come.
July 6, 2022
Thank you to Allen and Unwin for sending me a copy of this book for review.
This was a hardcore police corruption book that didnt let up the whole way through. If you like Police books set in rural Australia, Im sure you will love this one. Another great debut by a new Australian author.
I really connected with the character of Ray. I felt his anger and frustration at dealing with inside politics and corruption. I admired him as he never gave up his fight for justice even though there was alot of racism at the time and noone really cared about the murders. The ending was explosive and really made the book for me.
This was a hardcore police corruption book that didnt let up the whole way through. If you like Police books set in rural Australia, Im sure you will love this one. Another great debut by a new Australian author.
I really connected with the character of Ray. I felt his anger and frustration at dealing with inside politics and corruption. I admired him as he never gave up his fight for justice even though there was alot of racism at the time and noone really cared about the murders. The ending was explosive and really made the book for me.
November 9, 2022
Royalton QLD 1976 Detective Ray Windsor arrives in a town where he quickly realised there is something wrong. He is quickly partnered with Detective Arshag when he learns of the rape and murder of two young girls that was never properly investigated.
Ray decides it is duty to solve these crimes and he finds out how far someone will go to keep him from doing his job. The racisms and corruption he faces is sometimes startling to read.
This is a terrific debut novel from Australian author Frank Chalmers . He manages to convey the heat and dust and loneliness of a small town in outback Australia. Ray is a wonderfully flawed character that I could not help but love. This book is well worth the read.
Ray decides it is duty to solve these crimes and he finds out how far someone will go to keep him from doing his job. The racisms and corruption he faces is sometimes startling to read.
This is a terrific debut novel from Australian author Frank Chalmers . He manages to convey the heat and dust and loneliness of a small town in outback Australia. Ray is a wonderfully flawed character that I could not help but love. This book is well worth the read.
August 1, 2022
There have been what seems like a very large number of Australian Outback Noir/Detective stories published in the last couple of years and "Conviction" is another to add to this list. For me there was nothing outstanding about this book. Although the writing wasn't bad I felt like I had read this before - same premise, same plot, different names.
Again we have a cop with a history sent to an outback town, despite the fact the inhabitants of Royaltown claim it is only on the edge of the outback. Again this cop has an historical/familial link to the town where, again the majority of the police are corrupt and/or criminal. There is, what seems to be the standard outback inhabitants, racist, misogynistic, and of course alcohol fueled. There is a "black" policeman, although this time of Afghan descent, rather than indigenous. The body count increases and the inevitable twist occurs in the last couple of chapters. Does this sound familiar? Unfortunately, it was all too familiar for me. The only potential difference is that this novel is set in the 1970s, although outside of a couple of mentions of typical muscle cars of the day, this was not particularly evident or particularly well done except to allow for the themes and attitudes of the male dominated characters, without question or repercussion. Secondly, the main protagonist is a boxer as well as a cop and this also added to the very masculine feel of the novel.
It is not the worst I have read, but for me it just did not stand out from the rest in what seems to be the go to genre in Australian crime fiction today.
Again we have a cop with a history sent to an outback town, despite the fact the inhabitants of Royaltown claim it is only on the edge of the outback. Again this cop has an historical/familial link to the town where, again the majority of the police are corrupt and/or criminal. There is, what seems to be the standard outback inhabitants, racist, misogynistic, and of course alcohol fueled. There is a "black" policeman, although this time of Afghan descent, rather than indigenous. The body count increases and the inevitable twist occurs in the last couple of chapters. Does this sound familiar? Unfortunately, it was all too familiar for me. The only potential difference is that this novel is set in the 1970s, although outside of a couple of mentions of typical muscle cars of the day, this was not particularly evident or particularly well done except to allow for the themes and attitudes of the male dominated characters, without question or repercussion. Secondly, the main protagonist is a boxer as well as a cop and this also added to the very masculine feel of the novel.
It is not the worst I have read, but for me it just did not stand out from the rest in what seems to be the go to genre in Australian crime fiction today.
July 3, 2022
I still have an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach, so real was the depiction of the corrupt, drought-stricken town Chalmers created and the despicable characters he placed in it.
Conviction follows the arrival of Brisbane cop Ray Windsor in an inhospitable town called Royalton in far west QLD in 1976. He’s been sent there by a superior who wanted him out of the way, but the moment he walks into the Royalton copshop, he’s met with open derision and contempt by the local detectives. When Ray learns the rape and deaths of two young Asian girls has been ignored, he realises he’s up against deep-seeded police corruption. And as he investigates, he uncovers more than he bargained for.
It’s hard to tell if it’s the vivid and palpable setting that makes this book so gripping, its dark and desperate characters of the compelling plot. Perhaps it’s the perfect combination of all three. Against it all, Chalmers layers a misogyny and racism that belongs in rural 1970s, the kind that makes you sneer as you read. But he lightens the load with a good sprinkling of heart-warming personalities.
This book proves why rural, outback or bush noir is so hot right now and why Chalmers is it’s new and powerful voice.
Conviction follows the arrival of Brisbane cop Ray Windsor in an inhospitable town called Royalton in far west QLD in 1976. He’s been sent there by a superior who wanted him out of the way, but the moment he walks into the Royalton copshop, he’s met with open derision and contempt by the local detectives. When Ray learns the rape and deaths of two young Asian girls has been ignored, he realises he’s up against deep-seeded police corruption. And as he investigates, he uncovers more than he bargained for.
It’s hard to tell if it’s the vivid and palpable setting that makes this book so gripping, its dark and desperate characters of the compelling plot. Perhaps it’s the perfect combination of all three. Against it all, Chalmers layers a misogyny and racism that belongs in rural 1970s, the kind that makes you sneer as you read. But he lightens the load with a good sprinkling of heart-warming personalities.
This book proves why rural, outback or bush noir is so hot right now and why Chalmers is it’s new and powerful voice.
August 30, 2022
A crime story full of unrest and discontent from both good guys and bad guys. Words such as grim and gritty also spring to mind. Detective Senior Constable Ray Windsor has anger management issues, thus he is posted to Royalton in west Queensland's hot dry back-of-beyond. Ray rides a motor bike and has what I interpret as an abrasive yet restrained manner. In Royalton, he encounters many problematic people, from belligerent senior cop Kennedy through to local townspeople and struggling farmers.
His designated partner Constable Arshag is a cool character and initially they investigate cattle duffing (thieving) and the rape and death of two young women, Alice and Diah, both from ethnic backgrounds. The town is multi-cultural but prejudice is strong on several levels. Even an English lord, William Wallace, is slyly named Lord Billy. Flashbacks to Ray’s earlier life add context to his repressed feelings particularly during the rapid (some might say token) romance between himself and local school teacher Stella.
Author Frank Chalmers certainly captures physical discomfort and includes outback highlights like a footy match and Royalton Annual Show with ubiquitous Greasy Pig, but the majority of the story is packed full of murderous intent and the bodycount grows. The plot involves police corruption, dubious moral judgement, aggression, guns, legal and illegal fighting, snakes, road carnage, domestic violence and plenty of crimes to solve. I liked the 1970s Aussie vibe but not the excess of clipped, blokey dialogue.
I felt Ray Windsor comes close to being an anti-hero and moments of endearing charm are few and far between. However, he instigates my favourite quote "Ray echoes 'Once upon a time.' Looks to Arshag. 'Do you say once upon a time in Armenian?' Arshag thinks about it, says, 'In Armenian we say, There was and there was not.'". For me Conviction was full-on and I was relieved to reach the final page. My thanks to publishers Allen and Unwin for the chance to read and review this book.
His designated partner Constable Arshag is a cool character and initially they investigate cattle duffing (thieving) and the rape and death of two young women, Alice and Diah, both from ethnic backgrounds. The town is multi-cultural but prejudice is strong on several levels. Even an English lord, William Wallace, is slyly named Lord Billy. Flashbacks to Ray’s earlier life add context to his repressed feelings particularly during the rapid (some might say token) romance between himself and local school teacher Stella.
Author Frank Chalmers certainly captures physical discomfort and includes outback highlights like a footy match and Royalton Annual Show with ubiquitous Greasy Pig, but the majority of the story is packed full of murderous intent and the bodycount grows. The plot involves police corruption, dubious moral judgement, aggression, guns, legal and illegal fighting, snakes, road carnage, domestic violence and plenty of crimes to solve. I liked the 1970s Aussie vibe but not the excess of clipped, blokey dialogue.
I felt Ray Windsor comes close to being an anti-hero and moments of endearing charm are few and far between. However, he instigates my favourite quote "Ray echoes 'Once upon a time.' Looks to Arshag. 'Do you say once upon a time in Armenian?' Arshag thinks about it, says, 'In Armenian we say, There was and there was not.'". For me Conviction was full-on and I was relieved to reach the final page. My thanks to publishers Allen and Unwin for the chance to read and review this book.
September 6, 2022
I received a copy of Conviction from Allen & Unwin Australia to review.
The Australian crime fiction debut hits keep on coming with the excellent and highly exciting first novel from Frank Chalmers, Conviction, with takes the reader on an amazing journey back into 1970s rural Australia.
Conviction is a compelling and fun crime fiction thriller that sets a bold protagonist against a brace of criminals and dirty cops in a remote and hopeless town. Essentially reading like a contemporary Australian western, with protagonist Detective Ray Windsor acting as the new sheriff in town, Chalmers crafts together a compelling read that is very easy to get through.
Conviction has a very interesting and complex story to it that sees the new cop arrive in the remote town of Royalton and get caught up in a series of crimes. Not only is he forced to deal with the corruption of his peers and a local crime ring that has been stealing stock and damaging the local farms, but he is also investigating two recent violent deaths of young immigrant women. This results in quite a fantastic series of investigation elements, as Detective Windsor attempts to solve these crimes while being constantly hampered by his colleagues. The novel also deals with Ray’s attempt to integrate into the Royalton community, and he soon finds some unexpected connections and friends which draw him in. Taking place over the course of several months, Conviction’s plot goes in some exciting and intense directions, and the reader is provided with intriguing plotlines that are loaded with action and excitement. The eventual reveals lead to some big moments, and while the identity of the book’s villains is well-foreshadowed and not especially surprising, watching the protagonist attempt to overcome them is fun. This ended up being a great and enjoyable piece of Australian fiction, and I had a good time getting through this awesome debut.
Like many impressive Australian crime fiction novels, one of the best things about Conviction is its excellent setting in a rural Australian town. Royalton is a compelling location, which even in the 1970s, is starting to fall apart and feel the strain as more and more people left the country to live in the big cities. Royalton has many of the best features that make up a small-town setting, from the sunburned countryside, the various surrounding farms, the neglected buildings within the town itself, as well as a colourful cast of people living in it. I felt that Royalton in Conviction was a pretty good example of this compelling Australian setting, and the intriguing historical context makes it stand out from other recent Australian crime fiction books. I particularly liked how Chalmers depicted the town as having a large migrant population, which is an accurate representation of most of Australia, and the stratification of classes that resulted based on nationality and culture gave the story another fascinating dimension that I felt added a lot to the story. The farms surrounding the town are also under siege by an organised group of criminals who are working to bankrupt them for their own nefarious reasons, and this adds to the tension in Royalton. All this proves to be rich ground for the intense and compelling crime fiction narrative that Chalmers crafted together, and I felt that this was an amazing setting for Conviction.
However, the best thing about Conviction was the eclectic and troubled group of characters who can be found within. The author comes up with some great and flawed figures throughout Conviction, and the reader soon gets some intriguing views of the sort of people who would live in such a remote and troubled town. Naturally most of the focus is on Detective Ray Windsor, who immediately finds himself in all manner of trouble once he arrives in Royalton. Now, I must admit that I had a hard time liking Windsor in this book, as he is a bit of an over-the-top hero who is prone to violence at a drop of hat. While this attribute does help him out in some of the situations, I was never too attached to him as a character, especially when he flew off the handle. Still, I liked the compelling background that Chalmers attributed to Windsor, especially his dark childhood, and the portrayal of an honest cop sent out to the country as a punishment was well explored. There are some great moments with Windsor in the book, and I did enjoy seeing his take on the case and the corruption going on around town. The author also did a good job setting up Windsor’s growing attachment to Royalton, especially once he gets to know the people within. This, as well as his commitment to getting the job done, eventually win the reader over, and you are rooting for him to succeed as the story continues. The rest of the cast are also really good, and I deeply enjoyed some of the other characters featured within Conviction. I felt that Chalmers did a particularly good job with the villains of this book, and it was satisfying to see Windsor standing up to them and finally bringing them to justice. An awesome group of characters that Chalmers did a good job bringing to life.
Overall, I felt that Conviction was a pretty awesome novel that the debuting Frank Chalmers should be proud of. This fantastic novel has a great crime fiction narrative that not only crosses into historical fiction territory but which works as an exceptional example of a rural Australian story. All these elements work extremely well together, and I had a blast getting through Conviction, which is really worth checking out.
This review also ran in the Canberra Weekly on 28 July 2022:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2022/09/06/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com
The Australian crime fiction debut hits keep on coming with the excellent and highly exciting first novel from Frank Chalmers, Conviction, with takes the reader on an amazing journey back into 1970s rural Australia.
Conviction is a compelling and fun crime fiction thriller that sets a bold protagonist against a brace of criminals and dirty cops in a remote and hopeless town. Essentially reading like a contemporary Australian western, with protagonist Detective Ray Windsor acting as the new sheriff in town, Chalmers crafts together a compelling read that is very easy to get through.
Conviction has a very interesting and complex story to it that sees the new cop arrive in the remote town of Royalton and get caught up in a series of crimes. Not only is he forced to deal with the corruption of his peers and a local crime ring that has been stealing stock and damaging the local farms, but he is also investigating two recent violent deaths of young immigrant women. This results in quite a fantastic series of investigation elements, as Detective Windsor attempts to solve these crimes while being constantly hampered by his colleagues. The novel also deals with Ray’s attempt to integrate into the Royalton community, and he soon finds some unexpected connections and friends which draw him in. Taking place over the course of several months, Conviction’s plot goes in some exciting and intense directions, and the reader is provided with intriguing plotlines that are loaded with action and excitement. The eventual reveals lead to some big moments, and while the identity of the book’s villains is well-foreshadowed and not especially surprising, watching the protagonist attempt to overcome them is fun. This ended up being a great and enjoyable piece of Australian fiction, and I had a good time getting through this awesome debut.
Like many impressive Australian crime fiction novels, one of the best things about Conviction is its excellent setting in a rural Australian town. Royalton is a compelling location, which even in the 1970s, is starting to fall apart and feel the strain as more and more people left the country to live in the big cities. Royalton has many of the best features that make up a small-town setting, from the sunburned countryside, the various surrounding farms, the neglected buildings within the town itself, as well as a colourful cast of people living in it. I felt that Royalton in Conviction was a pretty good example of this compelling Australian setting, and the intriguing historical context makes it stand out from other recent Australian crime fiction books. I particularly liked how Chalmers depicted the town as having a large migrant population, which is an accurate representation of most of Australia, and the stratification of classes that resulted based on nationality and culture gave the story another fascinating dimension that I felt added a lot to the story. The farms surrounding the town are also under siege by an organised group of criminals who are working to bankrupt them for their own nefarious reasons, and this adds to the tension in Royalton. All this proves to be rich ground for the intense and compelling crime fiction narrative that Chalmers crafted together, and I felt that this was an amazing setting for Conviction.
However, the best thing about Conviction was the eclectic and troubled group of characters who can be found within. The author comes up with some great and flawed figures throughout Conviction, and the reader soon gets some intriguing views of the sort of people who would live in such a remote and troubled town. Naturally most of the focus is on Detective Ray Windsor, who immediately finds himself in all manner of trouble once he arrives in Royalton. Now, I must admit that I had a hard time liking Windsor in this book, as he is a bit of an over-the-top hero who is prone to violence at a drop of hat. While this attribute does help him out in some of the situations, I was never too attached to him as a character, especially when he flew off the handle. Still, I liked the compelling background that Chalmers attributed to Windsor, especially his dark childhood, and the portrayal of an honest cop sent out to the country as a punishment was well explored. There are some great moments with Windsor in the book, and I did enjoy seeing his take on the case and the corruption going on around town. The author also did a good job setting up Windsor’s growing attachment to Royalton, especially once he gets to know the people within. This, as well as his commitment to getting the job done, eventually win the reader over, and you are rooting for him to succeed as the story continues. The rest of the cast are also really good, and I deeply enjoyed some of the other characters featured within Conviction. I felt that Chalmers did a particularly good job with the villains of this book, and it was satisfying to see Windsor standing up to them and finally bringing them to justice. An awesome group of characters that Chalmers did a good job bringing to life.
Overall, I felt that Conviction was a pretty awesome novel that the debuting Frank Chalmers should be proud of. This fantastic novel has a great crime fiction narrative that not only crosses into historical fiction territory but which works as an exceptional example of a rural Australian story. All these elements work extremely well together, and I had a blast getting through Conviction, which is really worth checking out.
This review also ran in the Canberra Weekly on 28 July 2022:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2022/09/06/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com
November 5, 2022
Queensland, 1976, the town of Royalton and exiled Detective Ray Windsor, sent to the dying town in the state's west, feels like an alien in his own country. Royalton is ruled by corruption, populated by despair and an overwhelming sense of hopelessness, something that Windsor instantly has an absolutely guttural reaction to - his police hierarchy is just awful, and the general lack of interest in the death of a couple of young girls shocking to a man who might be good with his fists, but he's a decent cop, in a difficult situation.
A lot of the elements that come into play in CONVICTION aren't new in crime fiction, and it feels like we've bounced over this particular cattle grid in the past. Small towns, surrounded by failing farms, a population of downtrodden lost people, ruled over by a corrupt and violent group of authorities, not afraid to stop at anything. It kind of makes sense that a bit of an outsider is the only one that's going to break a stranglehold like this, and Wilson is just the sort of incomer for the job. He's determined, and fundamentally decent, as tough as bloody nails and not interested in getting involved in the corruption. The local cop he's assigned to work with in this instance, is also a decent bloke, powerless or unwilling to take on the challenge alone, absolutely up for shaking the trees when he gets a bit of support.
Given all of this, it did come as a bit of a surprise to find CONVICTION a bit more of a slow-burner than you'd expect. There's a lot of byways and side-alleys to go down, perhaps in part because the higher-ups are determined to keep the focus away from the abuse and death of two young girls. It's hard, in the early stages, to tell if this is racism, guilt, disinterest, or a combination of the lot. It's also got more than a bit frustrating when obvious clues where missed, and alleys could have been used as pathways out. Once that final option dawns things get moving again, but readers might want to be prepared for a lot of setup, and a lot of concentration on the social factors around the crime's as opposed to the crimes themselves.
CONVICTION definitely delivered on a strong evocation of place though the timeframe was slightly less clear - although to be honest, some country towns kind of still have a 1970's feel to them (and this from somebody who lives out in those sorts of areas), so maybe the timeframe wasn't the point. The corruption, the racism, misogyny and the desperation all definitely had a sobering, depressing ring of truth to them, so readers might want to be prepared to come away from a novel like this, with current affairs and attitudes in the forefront of their mind, wondering why it is that these sorts of attitudes remain today. Some champions of awfulness might have upgraded to suit wearing, but silk, pig's ears, and emperor's cloaks all came to mind.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
A lot of the elements that come into play in CONVICTION aren't new in crime fiction, and it feels like we've bounced over this particular cattle grid in the past. Small towns, surrounded by failing farms, a population of downtrodden lost people, ruled over by a corrupt and violent group of authorities, not afraid to stop at anything. It kind of makes sense that a bit of an outsider is the only one that's going to break a stranglehold like this, and Wilson is just the sort of incomer for the job. He's determined, and fundamentally decent, as tough as bloody nails and not interested in getting involved in the corruption. The local cop he's assigned to work with in this instance, is also a decent bloke, powerless or unwilling to take on the challenge alone, absolutely up for shaking the trees when he gets a bit of support.
Given all of this, it did come as a bit of a surprise to find CONVICTION a bit more of a slow-burner than you'd expect. There's a lot of byways and side-alleys to go down, perhaps in part because the higher-ups are determined to keep the focus away from the abuse and death of two young girls. It's hard, in the early stages, to tell if this is racism, guilt, disinterest, or a combination of the lot. It's also got more than a bit frustrating when obvious clues where missed, and alleys could have been used as pathways out. Once that final option dawns things get moving again, but readers might want to be prepared for a lot of setup, and a lot of concentration on the social factors around the crime's as opposed to the crimes themselves.
CONVICTION definitely delivered on a strong evocation of place though the timeframe was slightly less clear - although to be honest, some country towns kind of still have a 1970's feel to them (and this from somebody who lives out in those sorts of areas), so maybe the timeframe wasn't the point. The corruption, the racism, misogyny and the desperation all definitely had a sobering, depressing ring of truth to them, so readers might want to be prepared to come away from a novel like this, with current affairs and attitudes in the forefront of their mind, wondering why it is that these sorts of attitudes remain today. Some champions of awfulness might have upgraded to suit wearing, but silk, pig's ears, and emperor's cloaks all came to mind.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
July 23, 2022
In 1976, Ray Windsor is exiled to a town in the west of Queensland, on the fringe of the outback. His crime? Not being a corrupt cop.
Ray’s first cases are the rapes and murders of two teenagers from immigrant families, and it’s quickly obvious that the big bosses at his station don’t want the crimes solved.
Ray teams up with likeable cop Arshag to try and solve these crimes and others that his bosses would rather stay unsolved.
I found this book a bit difficult to get into, especially with the dialogue. It was a slower pace than I’m used to, but things started picking up about halfway through. Ray wasn’t the usual hero - he has a dark history, and despite standing up against corruption, some of his actions were borderline unethical, so I found it hard to root for him.
That being said, there were some loveable characters which left me invested in the story. The ending was definitely satisfying!
Overall, a great read for people who love rural Aussie thrillers. Bonus points for the 1970’s setting - listening to Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours vinyl while I was reading this book gave me all the feels.
3.5 stars rounded up to four.
Thank you Allen and Unwin for my gifted copy.
Publication month: July 2022
R.R.P: $32.99
Ray’s first cases are the rapes and murders of two teenagers from immigrant families, and it’s quickly obvious that the big bosses at his station don’t want the crimes solved.
Ray teams up with likeable cop Arshag to try and solve these crimes and others that his bosses would rather stay unsolved.
I found this book a bit difficult to get into, especially with the dialogue. It was a slower pace than I’m used to, but things started picking up about halfway through. Ray wasn’t the usual hero - he has a dark history, and despite standing up against corruption, some of his actions were borderline unethical, so I found it hard to root for him.
That being said, there were some loveable characters which left me invested in the story. The ending was definitely satisfying!
Overall, a great read for people who love rural Aussie thrillers. Bonus points for the 1970’s setting - listening to Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours vinyl while I was reading this book gave me all the feels.
3.5 stars rounded up to four.
Thank you Allen and Unwin for my gifted copy.
Publication month: July 2022
R.R.P: $32.99
November 9, 2022
A brilliant debut. This sort of hard-boiled crime is not generally my thing but I really liked this dark, gritty cop story set in small town Queensland. The harshness of the story reflects that of the environment - dry, iron-hard, red earth, searing heat, withering hot winds, vast distances.
Detective Ray Windsor has been sent out bush to Royalton for not playing the game. His first cases are the rape & murder of one young girl & the disappearance of another, both from immigrant families. Corruption is rife & distrust of police is high in the town. Ray has little confidence in his superiors, too, & has trouble finding his way in this seedy town.
Written with real feeling for a small town reeling from years of drought & unable to often its young any future. The atmosphere is menacing, quietly despairing & seething with underlying, unspoken anger - almost palpable -, & I can almost feel the wind sucking the moisture out of me.
Detective Ray Windsor has been sent out bush to Royalton for not playing the game. His first cases are the rape & murder of one young girl & the disappearance of another, both from immigrant families. Corruption is rife & distrust of police is high in the town. Ray has little confidence in his superiors, too, & has trouble finding his way in this seedy town.
Written with real feeling for a small town reeling from years of drought & unable to often its young any future. The atmosphere is menacing, quietly despairing & seething with underlying, unspoken anger - almost palpable -, & I can almost feel the wind sucking the moisture out of me.
September 19, 2022
Set in Queensland in the 1970s in an outback town. Ray arrives to take up a posting, exiled from the big city by those of higher rank. Ray is a nuisance, a relatively honest man at a time when corruption is rife in the police force. Here he is out of the way and will hopefully quit. It is the place his late mother spent her childhood His boss loathes him on sight as does his 2nd in command. His only ally is Ashag, an Armenian immigrant. The rape and deaths of 2 teenage girls sends Ray digging into the lives of the locals and uncovering more then anyone bargained for including Ray himself.
There was quite a lot of backtracking as meeting relatives and others from his mother’s childhood triggers memories for f his own past. At times it does slow down the advancement of the ploy and I’m not sure it always works and I’m not sure the author is entirely successful in fixing the time in the 70s. However the book was enjoyable enough.
There was quite a lot of backtracking as meeting relatives and others from his mother’s childhood triggers memories for f his own past. At times it does slow down the advancement of the ploy and I’m not sure it always works and I’m not sure the author is entirely successful in fixing the time in the 70s. However the book was enjoyable enough.
May 19, 2024
The timeline in this was a bit hard to keep track of. Solid mystery even if frustrating at times.
May 20, 2024
Rep: Armenian side character, Chinese & Indonesian side characters
CWs: rape, murder, suicide, paedophilia, racism
CWs: rape, murder, suicide, paedophilia, racism
September 6, 2022
I quite liked this read. It is about a cop who is stationed in rural Queensland (during the 1980's corruption years). There are two dead girls and he starts investigating their murders. Someone, however, would like things to remain hidden.
June 24, 2022
I absolutely loved this one.
Excellent police story set in remote Queensland. The story moves slowly, which fits perfectly with both the geography and demography of this small town life. A fight for truth and justice, it’s utterly compelling.
Whilst two rapes and deaths of teenage girls drive the narrative, for a lot of the book the investigation bubbles along in the background, with other small town policing matters taking precedence over the unsolved cases.
New to town honest cop who won’t play along with the politics and “the way things are done around here”, this novel feels an accurate picture of small town life in the 1970’s.
5 stars from me !
Excellent police story set in remote Queensland. The story moves slowly, which fits perfectly with both the geography and demography of this small town life. A fight for truth and justice, it’s utterly compelling.
Whilst two rapes and deaths of teenage girls drive the narrative, for a lot of the book the investigation bubbles along in the background, with other small town policing matters taking precedence over the unsolved cases.
New to town honest cop who won’t play along with the politics and “the way things are done around here”, this novel feels an accurate picture of small town life in the 1970’s.
5 stars from me !
October 24, 2025
I think this wasn’t my kind of book so it’s probably unfair of me to give it just two stars. It was written well enough, but it was just too ‘bloke-y’ for me. Set in a town in remote rural Queensland in the 1970s when corruption was rife both in the state government and in the police allowed the author to display all sorts of macho behaviour that we wouldn’t countenance these days. (We have all sorts of other stuff to deal with!)
Perhaps it was too good a portrayal of the time. I was left with the feeling that it wasn’t getting anywhere and that almost everyone were scoundrels. And the perpetrators of the original murders that our hero was supposed to find were apparent from the start.
Anyway, it was well written and I hope other get more from it than I did.
Perhaps it was too good a portrayal of the time. I was left with the feeling that it wasn’t getting anywhere and that almost everyone were scoundrels. And the perpetrators of the original murders that our hero was supposed to find were apparent from the start.
Anyway, it was well written and I hope other get more from it than I did.
April 26, 2022
For me an author jumping on the Australian bush police drama, an interesting read but not one I would recommend
April 9, 2023
⭐⭐⭐.5/5
This was a gritty read. Set in the unforgiving outback of QLD, where the corrupt cops are a dangerous as the hostile surrounds and the king brown snakes.
Ray Windsor is a good cop. Transferred from Brisbane to the back of beyond for refusing to obey a dirty command, he finds himself in Royalton, literally at the end of the line. There he finds two of the dirtiest, most corrupt cops the force could have dug up, Detectives Kennedy and Laming.
He is given dead end cases, he is expected to fail. But he is smarter than them, and continues to show them up. All the while making himself more of a target for their ire and cruelty.
I found this to be a frustrating read, not because of the writing or the story, but because the crooked cops were managing to stay a step ahead, despite Ray's little victories over them. Little did he know that he was up against much more than just Kennedy and Laming.
The isolation and hopelessness of Royalton was a side character in the story. The despondence of the town, the injustices and rampant racism of 1970's outback QLD, were all there and were as much a part of the corruption that was everywhere.
I enjoyed this book, and I could feel the atmosphere - the heat, the red dust and dirt, the cows, the sweat, the tension.
This was a gritty read. Set in the unforgiving outback of QLD, where the corrupt cops are a dangerous as the hostile surrounds and the king brown snakes.
Ray Windsor is a good cop. Transferred from Brisbane to the back of beyond for refusing to obey a dirty command, he finds himself in Royalton, literally at the end of the line. There he finds two of the dirtiest, most corrupt cops the force could have dug up, Detectives Kennedy and Laming.
He is given dead end cases, he is expected to fail. But he is smarter than them, and continues to show them up. All the while making himself more of a target for their ire and cruelty.
I found this to be a frustrating read, not because of the writing or the story, but because the crooked cops were managing to stay a step ahead, despite Ray's little victories over them. Little did he know that he was up against much more than just Kennedy and Laming.
The isolation and hopelessness of Royalton was a side character in the story. The despondence of the town, the injustices and rampant racism of 1970's outback QLD, were all there and were as much a part of the corruption that was everywhere.
I enjoyed this book, and I could feel the atmosphere - the heat, the red dust and dirt, the cows, the sweat, the tension.
June 14, 2023
Thank you to Allen and Unwin for sending me a copy of this book to review!
When Detective Ray Windsor’s defiant nature gets him banished to Royalton, a dusty outback Queensland town in the mid 1970s, the local police chief Kennedy already has it in for him. Ray is assigned two cases that no one else seems interested in solving - two rapes, one of which is also a murder.
As Ray’s initial investigations result in diversions and cover ups, he begins to wonder who can actually trust and that it seems to be him and his partner Arshag against everyone else.
The author describes landscape well and I was able to picture the dusty hot town easily, although I can’t say I got 70s vibes from the writing. In addition, apparently Queensland has its own language and clearly I don’t speak it as I frequently had absolutely no idea what the characters were talking about.
Most of the book is written in short, choppy sentences that I didn’t particularly relish reading. The “twist” at the end I picked very early on in the story, so wasn’t a surprise to me. Overall the book comes over as being very blokey, so if fist fighting, gun toting, beer swilling bogans are your thing this may be right up your alley. Unfortunately it wasn’t really for me. ⭐️⭐️/5
When Detective Ray Windsor’s defiant nature gets him banished to Royalton, a dusty outback Queensland town in the mid 1970s, the local police chief Kennedy already has it in for him. Ray is assigned two cases that no one else seems interested in solving - two rapes, one of which is also a murder.
As Ray’s initial investigations result in diversions and cover ups, he begins to wonder who can actually trust and that it seems to be him and his partner Arshag against everyone else.
The author describes landscape well and I was able to picture the dusty hot town easily, although I can’t say I got 70s vibes from the writing. In addition, apparently Queensland has its own language and clearly I don’t speak it as I frequently had absolutely no idea what the characters were talking about.
Most of the book is written in short, choppy sentences that I didn’t particularly relish reading. The “twist” at the end I picked very early on in the story, so wasn’t a surprise to me. Overall the book comes over as being very blokey, so if fist fighting, gun toting, beer swilling bogans are your thing this may be right up your alley. Unfortunately it wasn’t really for me. ⭐️⭐️/5
August 3, 2022
This book starts with a most amazing first page of carefully selected vivid images (word pictures), and goes on from there.
It focuses on a Queensland policeman with a penchant for fighting. He never feels better than when engaged in an all-out brawl, and there are plenty of candidates coming his way.
He has a knack for rubbing people up the long way. Despite that, he gradually finds his way home to the truth of some particularly unpalatable matters in a Queensland country town (a rather small town), having been 'exiled' there for previous difficulties working as a policeman in the capital city of Queensland, Brisbane.
A bit of context for the non-local reader is that this book is set in the 1970s, a time in which Queensland police became notoriously corrupt, with crooked policemen actually running the police force.
So honest policemen not only found it difficult to do their jobs but were also at risk of being falsely imprisoned or killed if in doing so, they came up against their superiors.
It focuses on a Queensland policeman with a penchant for fighting. He never feels better than when engaged in an all-out brawl, and there are plenty of candidates coming his way.
He has a knack for rubbing people up the long way. Despite that, he gradually finds his way home to the truth of some particularly unpalatable matters in a Queensland country town (a rather small town), having been 'exiled' there for previous difficulties working as a policeman in the capital city of Queensland, Brisbane.
A bit of context for the non-local reader is that this book is set in the 1970s, a time in which Queensland police became notoriously corrupt, with crooked policemen actually running the police force.
So honest policemen not only found it difficult to do their jobs but were also at risk of being falsely imprisoned or killed if in doing so, they came up against their superiors.
Read
August 16, 2022It's 1976 and Ray Windsor is sent to work in the small rural town of Royalton. Two girls bodies have been found and no one in the town is talking. The town itself is full of secrets, racism, prejudice and corruption and Windsor struggles to work with the local Police Chief and other locals who are used to doing whatever they like.
Detective Ray Windsor is a likeable character - his background in boxing, hardworking attitude and determination to find the truth sets him apart from others in the small town.
Chalmers does an excellent job of setting the scene and readers really get a sense of just how isolating and remote the town of Royalton is. The desperation and frustration is evident as the families of the murdered girls struggle to find justice and face locals who refuse to prioritise their deaths.
Definitely some twists and turns with a very strong Detective lead.
Thank you Allen and Unwin for sending me this copy to read and review.
Detective Ray Windsor is a likeable character - his background in boxing, hardworking attitude and determination to find the truth sets him apart from others in the small town.
Chalmers does an excellent job of setting the scene and readers really get a sense of just how isolating and remote the town of Royalton is. The desperation and frustration is evident as the families of the murdered girls struggle to find justice and face locals who refuse to prioritise their deaths.
Definitely some twists and turns with a very strong Detective lead.
Thank you Allen and Unwin for sending me this copy to read and review.
December 16, 2022
A debut novel from Australian author Frank Chalmers set in outback Queensland in the 70s. The story centers around disgraced Detective Ray Windsor sent to help out in a rural police department, only to find rape and police corruption and to be shunned by the rest of the department. I found this book 'hard' in many ways - the situation is grim and it was hard to comprehend it being allowed to progress as it had, but maybe that is small town Australia for you. The writing style was also hard - often reverting to short choppy sentences, descriptions of the hard and harsh climate, which were however necessary to set the scene. It was slow going to begin with, as the Detective was blocked at every turn, but in the end the pace picked up and it came together well, and with a good twist I should really have seen coming. 3.5 stars. Thanks to Allen & Unwin for for my copy in return for my honest review.
September 23, 2022
An atmospheric storyline set in a struggling QLD outback town. Chalmers did a great job of creating interesting characters struggling to survive amid the corruption of the local police mixed with the typical outback struggles. Detective Ray Windsor was sent there for not complying with the corruption in Brisbane but it was interesting when he had to overlook some indiscretions of the townspeople, as they were literally trying to survive financially. Set in the 1970s although this wasn't that obvious a lot of the time. I was expecting more about the corruption lead at the time by the corrupt Police Commissioner Terry Lewis, but this wasn't related to that at all. Overall a great story with an interesting mix of characters and Ray's journey to see justice served.
Thank you to A&U for an ARC of this book.
Thank you to A&U for an ARC of this book.
November 6, 2022
Debut author Frank Chalmers’s Conviction is historic Aussie crime fiction. Set in 1976 Queensland, an era of corrupt police, Detective Ray Windsor is sent to Royalton to investigate the deaths of two female teenagers. His frosty welcome is exacerbated by the local police sergeant giving him trivial jobs and failing to show any interest when another girl disappears. Battling the local community’s distrust of police, Ray must rely on Arshag, the local police officer with links to the immigrant families grieving their daughters’ killings. A first-rate crime read that accurately captures the dubious policing of the era and its impact on rural small towns. With its captivating narrative and its surprising climatic ending makes this a gem of an Aussie noir, with a five star rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.
December 1, 2022
I’ve marked this one down for a number of reasons. 1) the way this was written. I didn’t like the tense that it was written in, I found it really jarring and irritating. 2) I didn’t like or feel any emotion for any of the characters. I didn’t feel any attachment to what happened to any of them, good or bad. 3) I picked the “big twist” well before the end of the book. Basically at the protagonist’s first interaction with this character…not the best. 4) I just wanted this book to finish. I kept checking how long this had left (I listened to the audio version) and then feeling frustrated that it wasn’t closer to the end. I was relieved when it was over without feeling any satisfaction for reading it in the first place. I wish I had given this one a miss.
January 3, 2023
I enjoyed this novel, but I did find the story patchy. It took on a variety of themes - stock stealing, police corruption, rapes and murders of local girls, and an evildoer in high places - and they were not quite as well combined as I would like. I also wanted more of the unique circumstances of Queensland in that era, and less about the central character's brooding over his childhood.
However, I felt very clever, because I spotted the villain early. I spotted him straight off, because of a reference to Robert Browning's poem, The Last Duchess, when the mayor is first talking about his missing wife ... oh, I thought ... so he murdered her.
However, I felt very clever, because I spotted the villain early. I spotted him straight off, because of a reference to Robert Browning's poem, The Last Duchess, when the mayor is first talking about his missing wife ... oh, I thought ... so he murdered her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2023
Thanks to Allen and Unwin for my copy to read and review.
Detective Ray Windsor gets punished by the police force in 1976 and gets sent from Brisbane to a town in the west called Royalton. Being a rural town you would think nothing happens there but Ray becomes busy dealing with corruption, rape and even murder.
This book is easy to read as there is always something happening to keep you interested. The characters are all very different and have their role to play in the story line and you don't know who are the bad and who are the good.
I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good crime thriller.
Detective Ray Windsor gets punished by the police force in 1976 and gets sent from Brisbane to a town in the west called Royalton. Being a rural town you would think nothing happens there but Ray becomes busy dealing with corruption, rape and even murder.
This book is easy to read as there is always something happening to keep you interested. The characters are all very different and have their role to play in the story line and you don't know who are the bad and who are the good.
I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good crime thriller.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews