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Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte #2
The Sands of Windee
Why had Luke Marks driven specially out to Windee? Had he been murdered or had he, as the local police believed, wandered away from his car and been overwhelmed in a dust-storm? When Bony noticed something odd in the background of a police photograph, he begins to piece together the secrets of the sands of Windee. Here is the original background to the infamous Snowy Rowles murder trial.
329 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1931
41 people are currently reading
440 people want to read
About the author
Arthur W. Upfield
70 books111 followersAka Arthur Upfield
Arthur William Upfield (1 September 1890 – 13 February 1964) was an Australian writer, best known for his works of detective fiction featuring Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte ('Bony') of the Queensland Police Force, a half-caste Aborigine.
Born in England, Upfield moved to Australia in 1910 and fought with the Australian military during the First World War. Following his war service, he travelled extensively throughout Australia, obtaining a knowledge of Australian Aboriginal culture that would later be used extensively in his written works. In addition to his detective fiction, Upfield was also a member of the Australian Geological Society and was involved in numerous scientific expeditions. Upfield's works remained popular after his death, and in the 1970s were the basis for an Australian television series entitled "Boney".
Arthur William Upfield (1 September 1890 – 13 February 1964) was an Australian writer, best known for his works of detective fiction featuring Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte ('Bony') of the Queensland Police Force, a half-caste Aborigine.
Born in England, Upfield moved to Australia in 1910 and fought with the Australian military during the First World War. Following his war service, he travelled extensively throughout Australia, obtaining a knowledge of Australian Aboriginal culture that would later be used extensively in his written works. In addition to his detective fiction, Upfield was also a member of the Australian Geological Society and was involved in numerous scientific expeditions. Upfield's works remained popular after his death, and in the 1970s were the basis for an Australian television series entitled "Boney".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
April 17, 2024
My second visit to the Australian outback with Bony and I enjoyed it just as much as the first one.
In this book the Inspector is working undercover at Windee Station in New South Wales. A man has gone missing and Bony has reason to believe he has been murdered. He has very little to work with but of course using his superior intellect and his charm he eventually solves the whole issue to everyone's satisfaction.
There are many, many characters in this story and I eventually lost control of the plot. Literally! Luckily I had Bony to explain it all to me at the end and meanwhile I sat back and enjoyed the wonderful Australian scenery, the scary wildfire, the corroboree and all the many historical details of life back then on a sheep station.
Really enjoyable reading and I look forward to the 27 books left in the series. Happy days:)
In this book the Inspector is working undercover at Windee Station in New South Wales. A man has gone missing and Bony has reason to believe he has been murdered. He has very little to work with but of course using his superior intellect and his charm he eventually solves the whole issue to everyone's satisfaction.
There are many, many characters in this story and I eventually lost control of the plot. Literally! Luckily I had Bony to explain it all to me at the end and meanwhile I sat back and enjoyed the wonderful Australian scenery, the scary wildfire, the corroboree and all the many historical details of life back then on a sheep station.
Really enjoyable reading and I look forward to the 27 books left in the series. Happy days:)
July 11, 2024
Bony is so delightfully, insufferably conceited that I have to smile when I read him enunciating his virtues, & even, occasionally his faults, of which there are few. This was a rather elaborate plot & Bony nearly killed himself trying to maintain his perfect record. I love the settingin the remote Australian bush, on a working sheep station in a corner of NSW; the tin-kettling of the newly married couple; the saving & re-using of every scarp possible.
May 19, 2014
Loved these books when I was a kid, and it's no different now... I have noticed how many people have reviewed the un-PC language negatively. Unfortunately it is a writing of its time and the world has changed. Period pieces need to be read without judgement of this type.
September 6, 2022
4.5*
The second in Arthur W. Upfield's series featuring Aboriginal Detective Inspector Napoleon "Bony" Bonaparte, The Sands Of Windee is somewhat notorious as the book whose plot inspired the real-life Murchison Murders in 1929-30.
While working on the Rabbit-proof fence in W.A. during the late-1920s, Upfield openly discussed the plotting of the novel he was working on at the time, in particular an ingenious way of completely disposing of a human body. One of his colleagues, a man named "Snowy" Rowles, later put Upfield's plot idea to practical use, using the body disposal method Bony uncovers in The Sands Of Windee in three real-life murders. While suspected, he was never tried for the murders of James Ryan and George Lloyd in December 1929, having allegedly completely disposed of both men's remains using the "Windee method". However, he slipped up in the murder of New Zealander Louis Carron in May 1930, omitting the step of disolving any surviving metal fragments in acid. Carron's murder was proven through the identification of a wedding ring and several other items by his widow. Rowles was hanged for the murder of Carron on 13 June 1932.
Anyway, back to the book... The Sands Of Windee opens with Aboriginal mixed-ancestry Detective Inspector Napoleon "Bony" Bonaparte - the self-titled "best detective in Australia" - being sent undercover to (fictional) Windee station, near Milparinka in far-northwestern NSW, to investigate a suspicious disappearance. Luke Marks was last seen in the vicinity of Windee station, but abandoned his vehicle and hasn't been sighted again since. The intuitive Bony, posing as a horse-breaker to gain employment on the station, immediately identifies signs that Marks has met with foul play - but who is responsible, and where are his remains?
The Sands Of Windee features a wide cast of memorable characters, in addition to the rather singular Bony, ranging from the unusually magnanimous station owner, to his beautiful and socially enlightened daughter, to the local Catholic padre, to the Aboriginal community who live on the station, to the unlikely duo of kangaroo shooters who occasionally grace the Windee community with their presence.
The setting is also well-developed and evocative, the camaraderie between occupants of remote grazing properties an important feature of the plot, and a pursuit sequence that takes place during a raging bushfire creating a dramatic conclusion to the story.
Modern readers will find some of the vocabulary used and attitudes expressed towards Aboriginal characters jarring, but I accept that they are representative of reality at the time that Upfield wrote and set his books. I found the proposition that persons of Aboriginal heritage, even so-called "half-castes" like Bony, are inevitably saddled with an irresistable urge to "go bush" - something that will prevent their success in mainstream society - quite bizarre. That said, many aspects of Upfield's depiction of Aboriginal characters and communities are respectful and nuanced, and were significantly ahead of their time in the annals of Australian fiction. Some of his general social commentary is also very insightful, but must have raised a few eyebrows at the time of publication. I particularly liked this sheep station analogy:
The second in Arthur W. Upfield's series featuring Aboriginal Detective Inspector Napoleon "Bony" Bonaparte, The Sands Of Windee is somewhat notorious as the book whose plot inspired the real-life Murchison Murders in 1929-30.
While working on the Rabbit-proof fence in W.A. during the late-1920s, Upfield openly discussed the plotting of the novel he was working on at the time, in particular an ingenious way of completely disposing of a human body. One of his colleagues, a man named "Snowy" Rowles, later put Upfield's plot idea to practical use, using the body disposal method Bony uncovers in The Sands Of Windee in three real-life murders. While suspected, he was never tried for the murders of James Ryan and George Lloyd in December 1929, having allegedly completely disposed of both men's remains using the "Windee method". However, he slipped up in the murder of New Zealander Louis Carron in May 1930, omitting the step of disolving any surviving metal fragments in acid. Carron's murder was proven through the identification of a wedding ring and several other items by his widow. Rowles was hanged for the murder of Carron on 13 June 1932.
Anyway, back to the book... The Sands Of Windee opens with Aboriginal mixed-ancestry Detective Inspector Napoleon "Bony" Bonaparte - the self-titled "best detective in Australia" - being sent undercover to (fictional) Windee station, near Milparinka in far-northwestern NSW, to investigate a suspicious disappearance. Luke Marks was last seen in the vicinity of Windee station, but abandoned his vehicle and hasn't been sighted again since. The intuitive Bony, posing as a horse-breaker to gain employment on the station, immediately identifies signs that Marks has met with foul play - but who is responsible, and where are his remains?
The Sands Of Windee features a wide cast of memorable characters, in addition to the rather singular Bony, ranging from the unusually magnanimous station owner, to his beautiful and socially enlightened daughter, to the local Catholic padre, to the Aboriginal community who live on the station, to the unlikely duo of kangaroo shooters who occasionally grace the Windee community with their presence.
The setting is also well-developed and evocative, the camaraderie between occupants of remote grazing properties an important feature of the plot, and a pursuit sequence that takes place during a raging bushfire creating a dramatic conclusion to the story.
Modern readers will find some of the vocabulary used and attitudes expressed towards Aboriginal characters jarring, but I accept that they are representative of reality at the time that Upfield wrote and set his books. I found the proposition that persons of Aboriginal heritage, even so-called "half-castes" like Bony, are inevitably saddled with an irresistable urge to "go bush" - something that will prevent their success in mainstream society - quite bizarre. That said, many aspects of Upfield's depiction of Aboriginal characters and communities are respectful and nuanced, and were significantly ahead of their time in the annals of Australian fiction. Some of his general social commentary is also very insightful, but must have raised a few eyebrows at the time of publication. I particularly liked this sheep station analogy:
“If as much thought were given when transferring the unemployed of Great Britain to the dominions as a successful squatter is obliged to give to his flocks, the British Empire would be far more prosperous than it is.”The Sands Of Windee is an entertaining and evocative read, recalling a simpler time in Australian history, and depicting a harsh but strangely beautiful landscape that plays an important role in Arthur W. Upfield's cleverly-conceived crime-mystery plots. I'd recommend the book (and series) to readers who appreciate an elegant style of prose, complex plotting and enjoy historical settings in crime fiction.
June 18, 2020
"3 Acts of Murder" - Australian movie, 2009 - from its IMDB (International Movie Data Base) page:
' In 1929 Arthur Upfield plotted the perfect murder for his novel The Sands of Windee. Meanwhile, one of his friends, stock-man Snowy Rowles, put the scheme into deadly effect, even before the book was published. This true story resulted in one of Australia's most sensational murder trials of the 1930s and catapulted Upfield's name onto the world stage. ' Two reviews on the page - both worth reading - one gives it ten out of ten stars, the other eight - my rating: nine stars (which I give to no more than a handful of the hundreds of movies I've seen over the past forty years). This wonderful, unassuming movie, with its superb acting and beautiful photograph, was why I wanted to acquaint myself with Arthur Upfield's writing in the first place - it gives you a realistic "feel" of the rough life in the Australian outback during the 1920s, where his series featuring Poirotesque Napoleon Bonaparte aka Bony ("I am Australia's best detective") are set - 'the landscape is vast and barren, and the hot, sweaty men make you feel this horrible environment ... you can just imagine the stink of the place' (from one of the above reviews). So I was overjoyed to discover that this entire series is featured as audiobooks on Youtube -read by Peter Hosking, who has a pleasant (mild, non-grating) Aussie accent.
For some additional background: "Murchison Murders" on Wikipedia. And some further reading: Murder on the Rabbit Proof Fence: The Strange Case of Arthur Upfield and Snowy Rowles, by Terry Walker - 4.3 rating.
Oh, and one caveat emptor: not for the PC-police school marms/church mice who get their hackles up at any, naturally "dated", writing that engages in the social debate of the time - in effect, Upfield's handling of the race theme, which recurs in all these novels - the hero "Bony" himself half white, half black (like some recent American president), a "half-caste" who is continually tormented by both the way society deals with him ('blacks hate me because I'm white and whites despise me because I'm black' - and wasn't this so, in the 1920s?) and the personal struggle between his "white" and "black" genes - comes over as very daring and progressive. Good stuff.
' In 1929 Arthur Upfield plotted the perfect murder for his novel The Sands of Windee. Meanwhile, one of his friends, stock-man Snowy Rowles, put the scheme into deadly effect, even before the book was published. This true story resulted in one of Australia's most sensational murder trials of the 1930s and catapulted Upfield's name onto the world stage. ' Two reviews on the page - both worth reading - one gives it ten out of ten stars, the other eight - my rating: nine stars (which I give to no more than a handful of the hundreds of movies I've seen over the past forty years). This wonderful, unassuming movie, with its superb acting and beautiful photograph, was why I wanted to acquaint myself with Arthur Upfield's writing in the first place - it gives you a realistic "feel" of the rough life in the Australian outback during the 1920s, where his series featuring Poirotesque Napoleon Bonaparte aka Bony ("I am Australia's best detective") are set - 'the landscape is vast and barren, and the hot, sweaty men make you feel this horrible environment ... you can just imagine the stink of the place' (from one of the above reviews). So I was overjoyed to discover that this entire series is featured as audiobooks on Youtube -read by Peter Hosking, who has a pleasant (mild, non-grating) Aussie accent.
For some additional background: "Murchison Murders" on Wikipedia. And some further reading: Murder on the Rabbit Proof Fence: The Strange Case of Arthur Upfield and Snowy Rowles, by Terry Walker - 4.3 rating.
Oh, and one caveat emptor: not for the PC-police school marms/church mice who get their hackles up at any, naturally "dated", writing that engages in the social debate of the time - in effect, Upfield's handling of the race theme, which recurs in all these novels - the hero "Bony" himself half white, half black (like some recent American president), a "half-caste" who is continually tormented by both the way society deals with him ('blacks hate me because I'm white and whites despise me because I'm black' - and wasn't this so, in the 1920s?) and the personal struggle between his "white" and "black" genes - comes over as very daring and progressive. Good stuff.
October 11, 2018
This is definitely a level above average. It does use words like nig, and the mixed race protagonist does exhibit disdain for the Native intelligence while admitting their virtues, but for the time it likely is far more enlightened than all but a few Australian writers.
In some ways this seemed very perceptive and modern.
In some ways this seemed very perceptive and modern.
July 19, 2015
I like Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte, the part-Aboriginal, part-Caucasian detective of the outback who does as he pleases and has a great respect for his detecting abilities. He is a little arrogant about his abilities and his success rate, but he is so nice at the same time, that I can forgive him his arrogance!
I listen to these as audiobooks, and the narrator, Peter Hosking, has a pleasant voice to listen to. I will look forward to “reading" the next in the series.
I listen to these as audiobooks, and the narrator, Peter Hosking, has a pleasant voice to listen to. I will look forward to “reading" the next in the series.
March 8, 2020
An interesting view of life in the Australian outback in the 1920's or 1930's.
August 11, 2016
"I believe," he said slowly, in a manner which implied that he believed nothing of the sort, "I believe that all great detectives in fiction, Mr. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Thorndyke among them, never divulged their progress in a case until it was finished, so far as they were concerned."
"But, damn it, we are not book detectives!"
"Your objection is perfectly legitimate, my dear Morris. On the other hand, although I am not a book detective, neither am I an ordinary policeman in plain clothes, despite my official rank and connections. I am a man who has never yet failed to finalize a case allotted to me. Why? The answer is simple. I have from the beginning refused to be bound by red tape. I have never cared a tinker's curse for chief commissioners, advancement in the service, instant dismissal from it, or any other of the many things that govern a policeman's career." Bony rose to his feet. "Nothing influences me in my profession but the elucidation of some mystery, which often is extremely simple." (124)
"But, damn it, we are not book detectives!"
"Your objection is perfectly legitimate, my dear Morris. On the other hand, although I am not a book detective, neither am I an ordinary policeman in plain clothes, despite my official rank and connections. I am a man who has never yet failed to finalize a case allotted to me. Why? The answer is simple. I have from the beginning refused to be bound by red tape. I have never cared a tinker's curse for chief commissioners, advancement in the service, instant dismissal from it, or any other of the many things that govern a policeman's career." Bony rose to his feet. "Nothing influences me in my profession but the elucidation of some mystery, which often is extremely simple." (124)
June 30, 2014
This is the 2nd Bonaparte novel & it is rather weak. It is also probably the most dated of all Upfield's books when dealing with Aboriginal people. My library copy was obviously read by an Aboriginal, & the comments are more enjoyable than the incidents. Sadly, Upfield is so condescending & terribly misinformed. The words nig & nigger are used profusely & not necessary by a character, and the cultural descriptions are embarrassing. But it is 1931 & times have definitely moved on.
So let's ignore this aspect & look at the story: there is at least one time when Bonaparte discovers an important clue that will be informative to the reader. I worked out most of the solution by noticing another cliched & hackneyed mystery writer device. The twists are plain silly.
Second books often suffer for the burgeoning writer and this one is no exception. That's Ok, because in general, much of the work is fun, entertaining & light.
Although, I shall continue to read Upfield, this one won't be recommended to anyone.
So let's ignore this aspect & look at the story: there is at least one time when Bonaparte discovers an important clue that will be informative to the reader. I worked out most of the solution by noticing another cliched & hackneyed mystery writer device. The twists are plain silly.
Second books often suffer for the burgeoning writer and this one is no exception. That's Ok, because in general, much of the work is fun, entertaining & light.
Although, I shall continue to read Upfield, this one won't be recommended to anyone.
December 18, 2019
While living and working on the rabbit proof fence, Upfield asked his mates how they would dispose of a body, to get ideas for the murder mystery he was writing. One of them devised a cunning plan. Another one went and STARTED MURDERING PEOPLE LIKE THAT IRL!!! Whaaaaat. I wanted to read about the trial so felt I had to read this first. A decent tale, but the derogatory terms and ideas were jarring.
May 4, 2021
When Inspector Napoleon "Bony" Bonaparte sees a photograph with the car abandoned by Luke Marks in the sands near Windee Station in New South Wales, he immediately knows that murder has been done. The local authorities believe that Marks wandered away from his vehicle, got caught in one of two recent sand storms, died, and then was covered over by sand in the second storm. But Bony defies his commanding officer (not the for the first time) and insists on going to work on a case he deems worthy of his investigative intelligence. This, he believes, is the near-perfect murder. The body is gone. Without a body, how can anyone prove murder? He shows the local investigating office, Sergeant Morris, the clue in the photograph--an aboriginal sign that indicates "Beware of Spirits! A white man was killed here."
He goes undercover as an itinerant worker, gaining employment breaking horses at Windee Station, owned by the fiery but fair Jeffrey Stanton, Sr. The job is such that he is free to ride the horses where he pleases when training them and he just happens to be pleased to ride in the area where Marks disappeared. At first it appears that other than the clue Bony noticed in the photograph, there are no other clues to be found. But the detective spends many afternoons patiently covering the area in an ever-widening circle until he is rewarded with faint signs of a struggle, a small metal disk, a single cut sapphire, and one nail from a boot. He also learns which of the local tribe members saw what happened on that fateful night, but the man is killed in an inter-tribal conflict before Bony can gain his confidence and question him. From the small pieces of evidence, he begins to build a satisfactory case save for one thing--motive. Once he has that, he'll have his case complete. But will he be happy to have solved the case?
Bony is very Poirot-like in his calm assurance in his intelligence and his status as "Australia's greatest detective." He has some justification for his assurance--to date he has never failed to solve a case. He is also much like "Papa Poirot" in his great compassion for certain types who come into his cases. It is his compassion for one of those involved in the Windee case which will create the greatest dilemma within his greatest case--having solved the near-perfect murder, will he feel able to reveal the solution?
I always enjoy these mysteries starring the unorthodox, half-caste detective. He is a charming, intelligent character whose personality overcomes his slightly outsize vanity. His ability to track in an apparently barren wasteland seems almost magical, but Upfield based this on real life--a man by the name of Tracker Leon who worked for the Queensland Police. It is interesting to watch him pick up the barest traces and weave those fragile threads into a whole cloth rendering of a mystery. I did not completely work out the solution before Bony revealed it, but I did make a good showing while on the trail of the "greatest detective in Australia."
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
He goes undercover as an itinerant worker, gaining employment breaking horses at Windee Station, owned by the fiery but fair Jeffrey Stanton, Sr. The job is such that he is free to ride the horses where he pleases when training them and he just happens to be pleased to ride in the area where Marks disappeared. At first it appears that other than the clue Bony noticed in the photograph, there are no other clues to be found. But the detective spends many afternoons patiently covering the area in an ever-widening circle until he is rewarded with faint signs of a struggle, a small metal disk, a single cut sapphire, and one nail from a boot. He also learns which of the local tribe members saw what happened on that fateful night, but the man is killed in an inter-tribal conflict before Bony can gain his confidence and question him. From the small pieces of evidence, he begins to build a satisfactory case save for one thing--motive. Once he has that, he'll have his case complete. But will he be happy to have solved the case?
Bony is very Poirot-like in his calm assurance in his intelligence and his status as "Australia's greatest detective." He has some justification for his assurance--to date he has never failed to solve a case. He is also much like "Papa Poirot" in his great compassion for certain types who come into his cases. It is his compassion for one of those involved in the Windee case which will create the greatest dilemma within his greatest case--having solved the near-perfect murder, will he feel able to reveal the solution?
I always enjoy these mysteries starring the unorthodox, half-caste detective. He is a charming, intelligent character whose personality overcomes his slightly outsize vanity. His ability to track in an apparently barren wasteland seems almost magical, but Upfield based this on real life--a man by the name of Tracker Leon who worked for the Queensland Police. It is interesting to watch him pick up the barest traces and weave those fragile threads into a whole cloth rendering of a mystery. I did not completely work out the solution before Bony revealed it, but I did make a good showing while on the trail of the "greatest detective in Australia."
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
September 10, 2020
The Sands of Windee is book two in the Inspector Bonaparte Mysteries by Arthur W. Upfield. Luke Marks body found on the Windee Station near Milparinka New South Wales at; first the local police believes that Luke Marks loss in a dust-storm. However, Inspector Bonaparte saw something else in the crime photos and started to investigate. The readers of The Sands of Windee will follow Inspector Bonaparte investigation to find out what happens.
I enjoyed reading The Sands of Windee and reconnecting to Arthur Upfield historical Indigenous Australian character. I love Arthur Upfield portrayal of his characters and the way they intertwine with each other throughout this book. I found interesting that the method of destroying evidence outlined in this book was used in a real-life murder case the Murchison Murders in Western Australia in the 1930s. I like the way Arthur Upfield describes the settings of this book that allows me to imagine living on Windee Station. The Sands of Windee is well written and researched by Arthur W. Upfield.
The readers of The Sands of Windee will learn about breaking in horses on a rural property in the 1930s. Also, the readers of The Sands of Windee will learn about Australian law enforcement investigations in the 1930s.
I recommend this book.
I enjoyed reading The Sands of Windee and reconnecting to Arthur Upfield historical Indigenous Australian character. I love Arthur Upfield portrayal of his characters and the way they intertwine with each other throughout this book. I found interesting that the method of destroying evidence outlined in this book was used in a real-life murder case the Murchison Murders in Western Australia in the 1930s. I like the way Arthur Upfield describes the settings of this book that allows me to imagine living on Windee Station. The Sands of Windee is well written and researched by Arthur W. Upfield.
The readers of The Sands of Windee will learn about breaking in horses on a rural property in the 1930s. Also, the readers of The Sands of Windee will learn about Australian law enforcement investigations in the 1930s.
I recommend this book.
February 26, 2019
Napoleon Bonaparte, Australian half caste Detective Inspector, happens to see a picture of an abandoned car in the desert and knows murder was done. There is no body. No witnesses have come forward. Still, Bony asks to solve the case.
His first problem is to prove murder was committed. This is difficult without a body and the body no longer exists.
Once the first problem is solved, comes the question of who the murderer is. There must be a motive. No one is talking.
This is sheep country. It's in drought. Fire is a real and deadly danger.
As are all the mysteries in this series, this is a fast and easy read. Two of the characters are hunters who kill rabbits and kangaroos for the pelts and to keep the populations down to lessen competition with the sheep.
His first problem is to prove murder was committed. This is difficult without a body and the body no longer exists.
Once the first problem is solved, comes the question of who the murderer is. There must be a motive. No one is talking.
This is sheep country. It's in drought. Fire is a real and deadly danger.
As are all the mysteries in this series, this is a fast and easy read. Two of the characters are hunters who kill rabbits and kangaroos for the pelts and to keep the populations down to lessen competition with the sheep.
October 18, 2024
Somehow both racist and progressive at the same time
April 2, 2025
Upfield takes us on a journey to Outback New South Wales to witness his great detective, Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte, solve a crime that is already several weeks old.
The characters are drawn from Upfield's experiences when he "went bush" straight after arriving in Australia from England. With his beautiful depiction of the Outback, the hard lives of the people and animals, Upfield gives us a vision of the hardships experienced by its inhabitants. Upfield's writing brings to light the harsh reality of one of the harshest climates in the world, which is also one of the most beautiful.
The characters are drawn from Upfield's experiences when he "went bush" straight after arriving in Australia from England. With his beautiful depiction of the Outback, the hard lives of the people and animals, Upfield gives us a vision of the hardships experienced by its inhabitants. Upfield's writing brings to light the harsh reality of one of the harshest climates in the world, which is also one of the most beautiful.
October 23, 2023
Looking forward to the next one in the series. Delightful audio narration, love all the different accents - Aussie, English, Irish, American, Aboriginal.
July 7, 2017
Plot summary:
In outback NSW, a man named Marks has disappeared after visiting a remote sheep station. The police are suspicious but can find no evidence of a body. Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte - ‘Bony’ - is brought in from Queensland to go undercover and solve the mystery. Bony, son of a white father and an Aboriginal mother, combines his knowledge of Aboriginal culture and bushcraft and Western rationalism to uncover the truth - that Marks was a blackmailer who has been blackmailing the station owner (Stanton) for many years and went too far, resulting in his own death at the hands of a station worker. However, this death is ultimately deemed to be justifiable homicide as Marks was threatening to kill the station owner’s son while fleeing.
Overall:
This was my first Upfield novel and I quite enjoyed it, despite some fairly old-fashioned writing. The plot is ultimately believable and Bony is an intriguing character.
Plotting:
Convoluted! Several characters have false identities. There are many twists and turns eg the station owner’s one time partner Mrs Thomas turns up and tries to persuade him to marry her; two of the station workers got rid of Marks’ body; a local aboriginal man witnessed the killing but was killed himself in another incident; the station worker who killed Marks died after being bitten by a snake; the other station worker marries the boss’ daughter; the station owner lives under a false name and had once abducted Mrs Thomas because she was promised to him but married someone else; Mrs Thomas turns out to be Marks’ brother; Marks’ real name was Green and he was a corrupt NSW cop on the run.
Characterisation:
Strong - they are all distinct and convincingly painted. Bony is an enigmatic character, torn between his white and black identities. Bony is simultaneously highly conceited and sure of himself, yet deeply understanding of and sympathetic towards other people. The portrayal of local Aboriginal people displays Upfield’s understanding of and empathy with them. The bush workers are vivid and no doubt based on Upfield’s own extensive time in the Outback. I also loved the publicans (Mr and Mrs Bumpus).
Dialogue:
Upfield is not afraid to portray bush dialogue the way it was spoken at that time. Bony is an educated and literate man with a university degree and it often shows.
Setting and Description:
Upfield gives us a vivid portrayal of outback NSW. His description of two converging bushfires, with Bony in the middle, is gripping. His account of two Aboriginal clans holding a corroboree then fighting over the behaviour of a young man is powerful. His description of Bony discovery of the remains of Marks is fascinating.
Readability:
It is often long-winded and old-fashioned so it slows down at times but overall it was a good read.
Sub-plots:
The sub-plots are all woven into the fabric of the story eg the love affair between Maureen Stanton and Dash; Bony’s relationships with the local Aboriginal people; the historical relationship between Stanton Snr and Mrs Thomas.
Read another by same author?
Maybe
Note: The Murchison Murders
The method Upfield describes of disposing of a body so that no remains could be found came from a friend of his. The method was copied by an acquaintance of Upfield’s in WA who murdered three men. Unfortunately for this killer, he stuffed up in one case, was caught and was executed in 1931.
In outback NSW, a man named Marks has disappeared after visiting a remote sheep station. The police are suspicious but can find no evidence of a body. Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte - ‘Bony’ - is brought in from Queensland to go undercover and solve the mystery. Bony, son of a white father and an Aboriginal mother, combines his knowledge of Aboriginal culture and bushcraft and Western rationalism to uncover the truth - that Marks was a blackmailer who has been blackmailing the station owner (Stanton) for many years and went too far, resulting in his own death at the hands of a station worker. However, this death is ultimately deemed to be justifiable homicide as Marks was threatening to kill the station owner’s son while fleeing.
Overall:
This was my first Upfield novel and I quite enjoyed it, despite some fairly old-fashioned writing. The plot is ultimately believable and Bony is an intriguing character.
Plotting:
Convoluted! Several characters have false identities. There are many twists and turns eg the station owner’s one time partner Mrs Thomas turns up and tries to persuade him to marry her; two of the station workers got rid of Marks’ body; a local aboriginal man witnessed the killing but was killed himself in another incident; the station worker who killed Marks died after being bitten by a snake; the other station worker marries the boss’ daughter; the station owner lives under a false name and had once abducted Mrs Thomas because she was promised to him but married someone else; Mrs Thomas turns out to be Marks’ brother; Marks’ real name was Green and he was a corrupt NSW cop on the run.
Characterisation:
Strong - they are all distinct and convincingly painted. Bony is an enigmatic character, torn between his white and black identities. Bony is simultaneously highly conceited and sure of himself, yet deeply understanding of and sympathetic towards other people. The portrayal of local Aboriginal people displays Upfield’s understanding of and empathy with them. The bush workers are vivid and no doubt based on Upfield’s own extensive time in the Outback. I also loved the publicans (Mr and Mrs Bumpus).
Dialogue:
Upfield is not afraid to portray bush dialogue the way it was spoken at that time. Bony is an educated and literate man with a university degree and it often shows.
Setting and Description:
Upfield gives us a vivid portrayal of outback NSW. His description of two converging bushfires, with Bony in the middle, is gripping. His account of two Aboriginal clans holding a corroboree then fighting over the behaviour of a young man is powerful. His description of Bony discovery of the remains of Marks is fascinating.
Readability:
It is often long-winded and old-fashioned so it slows down at times but overall it was a good read.
Sub-plots:
The sub-plots are all woven into the fabric of the story eg the love affair between Maureen Stanton and Dash; Bony’s relationships with the local Aboriginal people; the historical relationship between Stanton Snr and Mrs Thomas.
Read another by same author?
Maybe
Note: The Murchison Murders
The method Upfield describes of disposing of a body so that no remains could be found came from a friend of his. The method was copied by an acquaintance of Upfield’s in WA who murdered three men. Unfortunately for this killer, he stuffed up in one case, was caught and was executed in 1931.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2018
Here is a mystery indeed. This book was published 11 years before Christie's The Body in the Library, and yet Bony makes several references to it! He talks about how "real murder mysteries" don't have a convenient body sprawled on the library carpet, and says several other things that made me feel like Upfield had already read that Miss Marple tale. However, Bony himself is more Poirot than Marple, as the conceited fish-out-of-water on the Australian police force. He apparently has never, ever failed, in part because the intelligence and imagination inherited from his white father supposedly makes him a better tracker than the "unimaginative" full Aborigines. (!!!)
I enjoyed this novel more than I did the first, perhaps because Upfield resists the temptation to get into the whole race discussion until better than halfway through the novel. I'm not sure I understand how a "half-caste" could not show any tendency to colour under Australia's intense sunlight, until adolescence--and then from the feet upwards, until it eventually reaches his face!--but then that could just be my ignorance (though somehow I doubt it). It's an interesting take on the "perfect murder" scenario, harking back to a cold case of decades before. Having read some of the less charmed reviews here, I was much afraid that it would suffer from "second novel syndrome" but it doesn't. The description of the wildfire kept me on edge all the way through!
One quibble, however, was with the "American" character of Dot, who talks like a Cockney all the time. Why did they make him American? Oh, yeah--because he would be a white bushman. Uh-huh. Not convincing. I doubt very much the author had ever met an American, much less from the Southwest. Another is Upfield's strange obsession with the verb "became"--to the place that at one point "the housekeeper became seated" to take tea, and at another "her eyes became half-closed" when she laughed. He also has the station owner speak "per telephone" instead of "by telephone". Odd.
Like Christie, Upfield pulls an unconvincing rabbit out of his hat to finish the book, showing that all the aces from three packs of cards were hidden up his sleeve. And yet I couldn't put it down.
I enjoyed this novel more than I did the first, perhaps because Upfield resists the temptation to get into the whole race discussion until better than halfway through the novel. I'm not sure I understand how a "half-caste" could not show any tendency to colour under Australia's intense sunlight, until adolescence--and then from the feet upwards, until it eventually reaches his face!--but then that could just be my ignorance (though somehow I doubt it). It's an interesting take on the "perfect murder" scenario, harking back to a cold case of decades before. Having read some of the less charmed reviews here, I was much afraid that it would suffer from "second novel syndrome" but it doesn't. The description of the wildfire kept me on edge all the way through!
One quibble, however, was with the "American" character of Dot, who talks like a Cockney all the time. Why did they make him American? Oh, yeah--because he would be a white bushman. Uh-huh. Not convincing. I doubt very much the author had ever met an American, much less from the Southwest. Another is Upfield's strange obsession with the verb "became"--to the place that at one point "the housekeeper became seated" to take tea, and at another "her eyes became half-closed" when she laughed. He also has the station owner speak "per telephone" instead of "by telephone". Odd.
Like Christie, Upfield pulls an unconvincing rabbit out of his hat to finish the book, showing that all the aces from three packs of cards were hidden up his sleeve. And yet I couldn't put it down.
February 1, 2021
The Sands of Windee by Arthur W. Upfield is the second book of the Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte "Bony" mystery series set in late 1920s Australian Outback. "Bony" proclaims himself "the greatest Australian detective". His advantage: "half caste" heritage (mother: aborigine, father: Englishman). He has two distinct perspectives: one from a "superb English education", the other from "the call of the bush". With supreme self-confidence, he rejects assignments unworthy of his superior intellect and detection skill. If that upsets his superiors, he simply resigns. They will beg him to return, next time they need a tough case solved.
The disappearance of Luke Marks at Windee Station was ruled by "the whites" a simple case of a man wandering into the bush, overcome by the elements. Bony does not agree. As a "blackfellow", he alone sees evidence "whites" cannot see that murder was committed, in a photograph of Luke Marks' car. Coordinating only with Sergeant Morris at Broken Hill, Bony takes on various jobs at Windee Station, not revealing his detective status. Of course he is an excellent horse breaker or cook. He selects each job for opportunities to scout the murder scene and to build trust with locals to gain insider knowledge.
The employees of Windee Station go to a "tin-kettling", a celebration of marriage and housewarming.
A "blackfellow" with the scars to prove he "made buck", Bony is accepted by the local tribe and invited to attend a corroboree. Bony is thrilled by the ritual warfare; accepts the death of Lubdi as part of tribal life. (The "white" police are not interested in a "tribal death".)
Bony started with a huge list of suspects: anyone with "opportunity" to be at the crime scene. He reduces the list to those with "means" (the appropriate weapon) after his detailed search discovers the slug. He whittles his list to 3. With Lubdi no longer alive to share what he witnessed, Bony has to set a trap.
Mother Nature steps in, with bush wildfires threatening thousands of sheep on the far-flung ranch. Bony has to flee for his life, minutes (or seconds?) ahead of the flames. But of course, he solves the crime.
The disappearance of Luke Marks at Windee Station was ruled by "the whites" a simple case of a man wandering into the bush, overcome by the elements. Bony does not agree. As a "blackfellow", he alone sees evidence "whites" cannot see that murder was committed, in a photograph of Luke Marks' car. Coordinating only with Sergeant Morris at Broken Hill, Bony takes on various jobs at Windee Station, not revealing his detective status. Of course he is an excellent horse breaker or cook. He selects each job for opportunities to scout the murder scene and to build trust with locals to gain insider knowledge.
The employees of Windee Station go to a "tin-kettling", a celebration of marriage and housewarming.
A "blackfellow" with the scars to prove he "made buck", Bony is accepted by the local tribe and invited to attend a corroboree. Bony is thrilled by the ritual warfare; accepts the death of Lubdi as part of tribal life. (The "white" police are not interested in a "tribal death".)
Bony started with a huge list of suspects: anyone with "opportunity" to be at the crime scene. He reduces the list to those with "means" (the appropriate weapon) after his detailed search discovers the slug. He whittles his list to 3. With Lubdi no longer alive to share what he witnessed, Bony has to set a trap.
Mother Nature steps in, with bush wildfires threatening thousands of sheep on the far-flung ranch. Bony has to flee for his life, minutes (or seconds?) ahead of the flames. But of course, he solves the crime.
September 26, 2012
I read this book about 20 years ago, and recently my husband and I listened to an unabridged audiobook version together. Having read all of the Bony mysteries previously, we had a much wider overview of the character of Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte than is presented in this, the second in the series of the Upfield Australian half-cast detective series. However, it does present a more intense idea of the struggles this character continuously had with his white and Aborigine parentage. It is difficult to review this book without lapsing into spoilers for those who have not read more of the Bony series.
This story gained notoriety when it was first published because of a similarity to an actual case in Australia at the time of its publication, that being a case labeled as "the perfect murder". I have a hard time thinking of murder as being perfect in any sense, so really the historical case, and this story, is more about how to perfectly dispose of a body so that no clue remains about the victim's demise. We did not feel this was one of the best of the Bony mysteries, but it is certainly worth the read, especially if one has become enchanted with the character and his amazing detecting skills throughout the vast country of Australia.
Bolinda Audio began making these unabridged audio recordings read by Peter Hosking available just a few years ago. The print copies are becoming available again, but for a long time, they were very hard to find even in libraries and used book stores. Peter Hosking adds color to them by lending the Australian accent to the written words. The subject matter of murder would not make these suitable for pre-teens, but would be fine for young adult and older. One must recognize, however, the times in which the Bony mysteries were written (1930s to 1950s) and that there are prejudices (racial and concerning women) and practices (i.e. smoking) that are not considered admirable by today's standards. Thinking of them as historical vignettes of life in Australia makes for enlightened and enjoyable reading.
This story gained notoriety when it was first published because of a similarity to an actual case in Australia at the time of its publication, that being a case labeled as "the perfect murder". I have a hard time thinking of murder as being perfect in any sense, so really the historical case, and this story, is more about how to perfectly dispose of a body so that no clue remains about the victim's demise. We did not feel this was one of the best of the Bony mysteries, but it is certainly worth the read, especially if one has become enchanted with the character and his amazing detecting skills throughout the vast country of Australia.
Bolinda Audio began making these unabridged audio recordings read by Peter Hosking available just a few years ago. The print copies are becoming available again, but for a long time, they were very hard to find even in libraries and used book stores. Peter Hosking adds color to them by lending the Australian accent to the written words. The subject matter of murder would not make these suitable for pre-teens, but would be fine for young adult and older. One must recognize, however, the times in which the Bony mysteries were written (1930s to 1950s) and that there are prejudices (racial and concerning women) and practices (i.e. smoking) that are not considered admirable by today's standards. Thinking of them as historical vignettes of life in Australia makes for enlightened and enjoyable reading.
November 12, 2011
I didn't expect this crime novel to be as good as it was. A dead body on a sheep station somewhere the other side of Broken Hill. Enter Bony, part-Aboriginal maverick detective, as self-assured as Sherlock Holmes. Yes, it's of its time and Upfield can seem patronising toward Aboriginals, but at other times his unabashed admiration of them shines through. In fact, it's such a good whodunnit, the murder method in The Sands of Windee was borrowed by an acquaintance of Upfield's in a real life murder spree.
Sentus Libri 100 word reviews of overlooked books.
Sentus Libri 100 word reviews of overlooked books.
June 24, 2020
A good detective story set in Australia in the 1920's. Having read these books many times over many years, the insights into the way of life in the bush at that time have always fascinated me and Bony's detecting skills are amazing. On this occasion I found the racist attitudes and language disturbing and had to accept that that was the way it was back then. I also found Bony's attitude to Marion puzzling and came away thinking that this was a product of a very paternalistic attitude towards aboriginal people on the part of the author. In spite of the fact that these books are a product of their time, I have always loved them.
March 30, 2015
Published in 1931 and the second in a series of mysteries featuring Detective Sergeant Napoleon Bonaparte. Bony's mother was aboriginal and his father was English and he was educated as an English/Australian boy would have been. But as an adult he felt the call of the bush. So he joined the Queensland constabulary and he is the best detective they have. He outranks most of the lawmen he works with and they and the people on the stations in western New South Wales have to cope with his mixed race however they can. The ambiguity they feel and that Bony has to deal with is an important part of this story about a man traveling south through the bush who ended up missing, along with his money.
November 6, 2016
"Huit volumes essentiels dans une collection (Grands Détectives, chez 10/18) qui ne l'est pas moins.
Huit romans signés Arthur Upfield, père d'un des flics les plus attachants du genre. Le dénommé Napoléon Bonaparte, Bony pour les intimes, est moitié blanc, moitié aborigène. Intuitif et méticuleux, il est également rompu aux astuces de la vie dans le bush et aux subtilités de l'interprétation des rêves, symboles et autres présages, dans la description des paysages grandioses de l'Australie (chaque roman se situe dans une région spécifique) et des mœurs rudes de leurs habitants. Bony s'avère un guide idéal. et Upfield un grand maître."
Huit romans signés Arthur Upfield, père d'un des flics les plus attachants du genre. Le dénommé Napoléon Bonaparte, Bony pour les intimes, est moitié blanc, moitié aborigène. Intuitif et méticuleux, il est également rompu aux astuces de la vie dans le bush et aux subtilités de l'interprétation des rêves, symboles et autres présages, dans la description des paysages grandioses de l'Australie (chaque roman se situe dans une région spécifique) et des mœurs rudes de leurs habitants. Bony s'avère un guide idéal. et Upfield un grand maître."
September 28, 2011
This is the second in the Arthur Upfield "Bony" series of books. As expected, some of the racial references are rather offensive viewed through today's eyes. I do think the book as a whole is better than the first one, but there certainly seems to be a shift in gears during the last 3 or so chapters, especially when Upfield describes a wildfire, and the attempts to put it out. It's very exciting, very descriptive, and one gets the sense that the author is most at home describing details of the landscape.
July 18, 2008
Interesting for the view it gives of life in the Australian outback in the first half of the 20th century, but not terribly compelling as a mystery. The author is overly parsimonious with clues, letting his protagonist learn facts that are not shared with the readers until the end of the book. The book also contains a good many ethnic stereotypes that are jarring to modern sensibilities.
November 3, 2014
I have read many of the Napoleon Bonaparte series and some of them several times and I think that "The Sands of Windee" is one of the best that Arthur W. Upfield has written. However, the reader has to bear in mind the time that they were written. The have some of the attitudes of the time. It is a good book and I enjoyed it very much. I would recommend it.
June 13, 2015
Another fun Australian mystery by Upfield featuring his part aboriginal detective Napoleon Bonepart, "Bony". He is able to read signs and evidence in the "outback" not understood by Aussie police, and thus he is able to solve the mystery of a missing man. Lots of interesting details about the desert and how different people do or don't read the circumstances facing them.
September 19, 2015
I didn't notice the publish date when I started 'Sands of Windee'. It's an interesting side effect of ebooks, I suppose. So I wasn't prepared for the awful racism that underlies the tale. The mystery is interesting, with great feeling for setting, but the attitude toward Native Australians is painful to read, and the pacing much slower than modern readers are used to. So it averages to a 2.
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