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Detective Dana Russo #3
Red Dirt Road
One outback town. Two puzzling murders. Fifty suspects.
In Unamurra, a drought-scarred, one-pub town deep in the outback, two men are savagely murdered a month apart - their bodies elaborately arranged like angels.
With no witnesses, no obvious motives and no apparent connections between the killings, how can lone police officer Detective Dana Russo - flown in from hundreds of kilometres away - possibly solve such a baffling, brutal case?
Met with silence and suspicion from locals who live by their own set of rules, Dana must take over a stalled investigation with only a week to make progress.
But with a murderer hiding in plain sight, and the parched days rapidly passing, Dana is determined to uncover the shocking secrets of this forgotten town - a place where anyone could be a killer.
A gripping and vividly atmospheric story from the international bestseller, this is a searing story perfect for fans of Jane Harper, Chris Hammer and Garry Disher.
In Unamurra, a drought-scarred, one-pub town deep in the outback, two men are savagely murdered a month apart - their bodies elaborately arranged like angels.
With no witnesses, no obvious motives and no apparent connections between the killings, how can lone police officer Detective Dana Russo - flown in from hundreds of kilometres away - possibly solve such a baffling, brutal case?
Met with silence and suspicion from locals who live by their own set of rules, Dana must take over a stalled investigation with only a week to make progress.
But with a murderer hiding in plain sight, and the parched days rapidly passing, Dana is determined to uncover the shocking secrets of this forgotten town - a place where anyone could be a killer.
A gripping and vividly atmospheric story from the international bestseller, this is a searing story perfect for fans of Jane Harper, Chris Hammer and Garry Disher.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 5, 2023
124 people are currently reading
667 people want to read
About the author
S.R. White
10 books69 followersS.R. White worked for a UK police force for twelve years, before returning to academic life and taking an MA in Creative Writing at Nottingham Trent University. He now lives in Queensland, Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
November 14, 2022
This is my first taste of SR White's Aussie crime series featuring Detective Dana Russo with her plastic knee cap. She is not liked by her boss, Anton McCullough, and knows she is being set up to fail when she is assigned a stalled murder case to solve in 2 days in the drought ridden, one pub, one shop dying town of Unmurra, with a population of 50. Two men, farmer Larry Muir, and the husband of pub owner, Annie Ogden, Tim, are killed and displayed as macabre angels, emulating the art of Axel DuBois, with his installation of sinister moveable angels, commissioned to attract tourists to the town. As Russo flies in, its clear that she is not welcome, the local police commander, Judge Leonard Trent, tells her if the original police investigators failed, there is little chance of her succeeding.
The local police officer, Able Barillo, works with her, introducing her to the place, taking her to the crime scenes, and ensuring she meets key people, in a strange town where she is met with hostility and a wall of silence. No-one is willing to help, why would they not want to catch a killer that walks among them? Russo sees no point in emulating the first investigation, although she does wonder why Barillo was shut out of it, particularly given his local expertise and knowledge. She goes her own way as she approaches residents from surprising directions that appear to have little to do with the murders. It's a odd and baffling inquiry, the victims appear to have little connection with each other, and whilst everyone is a suspect, no-one looks to have a motive that could justify the manner of their killings, the set up of the deaths pointing the finger at the artist responsible for the angels in town.
Russo uses an unusual approach to solve this complex case, keeping Barillo and the reader in the dark, she focuses on the psychology of a killer, obviously someone clever and a sociopath. Matters only become clear as the police go to arrest and confront a killer, hoping to secure the evidence that will prove Russo's theories. White does an incredible job in conveying a terrific sense of location of dust storms, a desert looking to expel all human beings that dare to encroach on its territories, there are serious water shortages and paints a mesmerising picture of the tiny stubborn community that insists on living in such a god forsaken spot. This is a great crime read, although it takes some time before Russo begins to see the possibilities of answers, at which point the pace and action quickens considerably. Highly recommended, I am so delighted to have discovered another Aussie crime writer that I love. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
The local police officer, Able Barillo, works with her, introducing her to the place, taking her to the crime scenes, and ensuring she meets key people, in a strange town where she is met with hostility and a wall of silence. No-one is willing to help, why would they not want to catch a killer that walks among them? Russo sees no point in emulating the first investigation, although she does wonder why Barillo was shut out of it, particularly given his local expertise and knowledge. She goes her own way as she approaches residents from surprising directions that appear to have little to do with the murders. It's a odd and baffling inquiry, the victims appear to have little connection with each other, and whilst everyone is a suspect, no-one looks to have a motive that could justify the manner of their killings, the set up of the deaths pointing the finger at the artist responsible for the angels in town.
Russo uses an unusual approach to solve this complex case, keeping Barillo and the reader in the dark, she focuses on the psychology of a killer, obviously someone clever and a sociopath. Matters only become clear as the police go to arrest and confront a killer, hoping to secure the evidence that will prove Russo's theories. White does an incredible job in conveying a terrific sense of location of dust storms, a desert looking to expel all human beings that dare to encroach on its territories, there are serious water shortages and paints a mesmerising picture of the tiny stubborn community that insists on living in such a god forsaken spot. This is a great crime read, although it takes some time before Russo begins to see the possibilities of answers, at which point the pace and action quickens considerably. Highly recommended, I am so delighted to have discovered another Aussie crime writer that I love. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
May 25, 2023
3.5 stars. This is the third Australian crime thriller by S.R. White, featuring Detective Dana Russo. I was very impressed by 'Hermit,' the first book in the series. I was unaware there was a second novel, 'Prisoner'and have added it to my list for the future. I regret that I was somewhat disappointed by Red Dirt Road. The plot was complex and well thought out, but it avoided usual police procedures. Detective Russo relied on intuition and theory and proceeded to look for evidence to prove her conclusions. As two previous detectives failed to solve the case, she tried to avoid regular interrogation methods, alibis, and forensic findings. She proceeded using psychology to observe the suspects' reactions to questions unrelated to the crimes throwing them off guard. Unfortunately this diluted feelings of suspense and tension for me, and I found it slow-paced. I must have been hoping for more excitement. The character development was well-done.
Detective Dana Russo to an unsolved double murder case assigned by her boss, McCollaugh, who dislikes her. He expects her investigation to end in failure and tells her she must solve it in a few days. Dana is to fly to a dusty, remote settlement of Unmurra of approximately 50 residents where the last two detectives failed to solve the crimes. It seems that the residents were content with the murders remaining a mystery and did not seem worried that a killer might be loose among them.
Her destination of Unmurra has one pub, a single store and a gas station. Any of the 50 residents might be guilty. The government had commissioned an moveable art display with the unlikely aim of attracting tourists. The art work consisted of large panels on wheels with bizarre sculptures of angels in flight attached. Two local men, a farmer and the husband of the pub owner were killed and their bodies displayed on panels replacing the angel statues. The artist has disappeared into the desert, and it appears that the killer or killers have arranged to make him appear guilty. From the time Dana arrives, she is met with hostility and made to feel unwelcome. The local police commander tells her she cannot succeed where the others have failed.
The local police officer, Avile Barillo, is an indigenous man who grew up in Unmurra. and knows the area and people well. He was never included in the original investigation, and displays a quiet acceptance and resignation toward his lack of involvement. Dana is suspicious of him at first, but builds a working relationship with Avile, intent on boosting his confidence. Dana proceeds to approach the case in a different manner than her predecessors. With no internet, she has a friend at home searching by computer for information. Dana builds a psychological profile of the killer(s), devising a theory and works backwards to find proof and draw a complicated case together like a puzzle. Her psychological insight suggests the killer is an intelligent, controlling psychopath.
Any failure on her part would be highly embarrassing end to her career. She calls in a team to make an arrest, put together her evidence, and find if her ideas contain reliable proof of who committed the murders and the unusual motive. Will the inhabitants of the small settlement rebel, resenting her disrupting their way of life? Why did they not want the murders solved? At the conclusion, there is much explanation for the puzzling events and the crime's solution. (A lot of tell, not show). This had elements of an excellent psychological mystery but suspension of disbelief was needed regarding the nature of the crimes.
Detective Dana Russo to an unsolved double murder case assigned by her boss, McCollaugh, who dislikes her. He expects her investigation to end in failure and tells her she must solve it in a few days. Dana is to fly to a dusty, remote settlement of Unmurra of approximately 50 residents where the last two detectives failed to solve the crimes. It seems that the residents were content with the murders remaining a mystery and did not seem worried that a killer might be loose among them.
Her destination of Unmurra has one pub, a single store and a gas station. Any of the 50 residents might be guilty. The government had commissioned an moveable art display with the unlikely aim of attracting tourists. The art work consisted of large panels on wheels with bizarre sculptures of angels in flight attached. Two local men, a farmer and the husband of the pub owner were killed and their bodies displayed on panels replacing the angel statues. The artist has disappeared into the desert, and it appears that the killer or killers have arranged to make him appear guilty. From the time Dana arrives, she is met with hostility and made to feel unwelcome. The local police commander tells her she cannot succeed where the others have failed.
The local police officer, Avile Barillo, is an indigenous man who grew up in Unmurra. and knows the area and people well. He was never included in the original investigation, and displays a quiet acceptance and resignation toward his lack of involvement. Dana is suspicious of him at first, but builds a working relationship with Avile, intent on boosting his confidence. Dana proceeds to approach the case in a different manner than her predecessors. With no internet, she has a friend at home searching by computer for information. Dana builds a psychological profile of the killer(s), devising a theory and works backwards to find proof and draw a complicated case together like a puzzle. Her psychological insight suggests the killer is an intelligent, controlling psychopath.
Any failure on her part would be highly embarrassing end to her career. She calls in a team to make an arrest, put together her evidence, and find if her ideas contain reliable proof of who committed the murders and the unusual motive. Will the inhabitants of the small settlement rebel, resenting her disrupting their way of life? Why did they not want the murders solved? At the conclusion, there is much explanation for the puzzling events and the crime's solution. (A lot of tell, not show). This had elements of an excellent psychological mystery but suspension of disbelief was needed regarding the nature of the crimes.
January 28, 2024
The third book featuring Detective Dana Russo takes place in the tiny outback town of Unamurra where two people have been murdered over a 4 week period. The initial police investigation was perfunctory and yielded no results, so it was decided that Dana should be sent out to do a follow-up investigation. To make things that much more difficult, it appears her new boss is determined to set her up to fail and applies a ridiculously tight deadline for results while, at the same time, refusing to provide her with anything like the necessary supporting documents about the case.
Undaunted, she jumps on a plane and heads bush, making a two hour trip from the airport to Dutton, the first town before meeting up with Constable Able Barella, the police officer assigned to the town of Unamurra. It’s a further two hour drive into the endless dust fields of the outback before reaching the tiny community of Unamurra.
She embarks on her investigation and gets the predictable reaction from the locals. No-one’s particularly happy to see another detective in their midst, particularly when they thought the investigation was over and done. They answer her questions but still keep a great deal close to their chests.
One of the unusual aspects of the case is the town art installation that consists of 28 statues of angels that are scattered around the town on movable frames. The artist has the habit of repositioning his work as the feeling takes him. But here’s the thing, the two murder victims were strung up and displayed on frames to look exactly like a couple of these angel statues!
So, murders displayed to make a statement to the rest of the township’s inhabitants, those same people unwilling to talk to a blow-in cop from the city, a ridiculously huge amount of mileage to cover just to interview people and an equally ridiculously short period of time in which to get it done. Dana’s up against it, but she uses an unorthodox method to get it done, one that completely takes Abe by surprise.
Weirdly, Dana uses her lack of local knowledge as an important asset in her investigation.
Red Dirt Road is a simple, yet complex outback noir mystery that depends a great deal on your ability to pay attention. The investigative style used by Dana is unorthodox and could lead you to assume that very little is going on. Make that assumption at your peril, don’t be like the frog in the cooking pot.
Using the local knowledge of Able to guide her through the many dangerous pitfalls both in the town and throughout the wider region, Dana covers a huge amount of ground in a very short period of time. And considering the mobile coverage in the area was spotty at best, she also managed to make great use of her great ally Lucy back at Central to provide her with vital background information. For all the appearances that Dana was on her own in a vastly foreign location, she was able to pull in significant resources to help put together her case.
The unusual location plays its role by emphasising the remoteness of Unamurra and the vulnerability of the town’s inhabitants. Similarly, the tiny nature of the town means there’s only a scant number of suspects making it much easier to guess the identity of the killer. The trick lies in figuring out the motivation behind the killings.
All in all, Red Dirt Road is a sedately paced mystery that depends heavily on the dialogue of the characters rather than their actions. It pays to be patient with it, though, particularly with the overlong explanation by Dana of how she figured everything out which spans a full 50 pages.
Undaunted, she jumps on a plane and heads bush, making a two hour trip from the airport to Dutton, the first town before meeting up with Constable Able Barella, the police officer assigned to the town of Unamurra. It’s a further two hour drive into the endless dust fields of the outback before reaching the tiny community of Unamurra.
She embarks on her investigation and gets the predictable reaction from the locals. No-one’s particularly happy to see another detective in their midst, particularly when they thought the investigation was over and done. They answer her questions but still keep a great deal close to their chests.
One of the unusual aspects of the case is the town art installation that consists of 28 statues of angels that are scattered around the town on movable frames. The artist has the habit of repositioning his work as the feeling takes him. But here’s the thing, the two murder victims were strung up and displayed on frames to look exactly like a couple of these angel statues!
So, murders displayed to make a statement to the rest of the township’s inhabitants, those same people unwilling to talk to a blow-in cop from the city, a ridiculously huge amount of mileage to cover just to interview people and an equally ridiculously short period of time in which to get it done. Dana’s up against it, but she uses an unorthodox method to get it done, one that completely takes Abe by surprise.
Weirdly, Dana uses her lack of local knowledge as an important asset in her investigation.
Red Dirt Road is a simple, yet complex outback noir mystery that depends a great deal on your ability to pay attention. The investigative style used by Dana is unorthodox and could lead you to assume that very little is going on. Make that assumption at your peril, don’t be like the frog in the cooking pot.
Using the local knowledge of Able to guide her through the many dangerous pitfalls both in the town and throughout the wider region, Dana covers a huge amount of ground in a very short period of time. And considering the mobile coverage in the area was spotty at best, she also managed to make great use of her great ally Lucy back at Central to provide her with vital background information. For all the appearances that Dana was on her own in a vastly foreign location, she was able to pull in significant resources to help put together her case.
The unusual location plays its role by emphasising the remoteness of Unamurra and the vulnerability of the town’s inhabitants. Similarly, the tiny nature of the town means there’s only a scant number of suspects making it much easier to guess the identity of the killer. The trick lies in figuring out the motivation behind the killings.
All in all, Red Dirt Road is a sedately paced mystery that depends heavily on the dialogue of the characters rather than their actions. It pays to be patient with it, though, particularly with the overlong explanation by Dana of how she figured everything out which spans a full 50 pages.
January 22, 2023
An Aussie crime book set in a small rural town where any of the residents could be guilty of murder. This is one of my favourite types of books to read. And while this story was great, it was a very slow burn for me. I am used to fast paced police procedurals, but for such a short book, it was a slog. I did also pick the ending, and I never do that. It was a bit disappointing for me. I am definitely in the minority though so see what you think.
A large cast of characters and a cop from the big city sent in to help. There have been 2 murders now, and the local authorities have not been able to solve them. With a population of around 50 people, it could have been anybody. But who and why these 2 men? Dana Russo is flown in to try to get an outsiders perspective.
Thanks to Hachette Australia for my advanced copy to read.
A large cast of characters and a cop from the big city sent in to help. There have been 2 murders now, and the local authorities have not been able to solve them. With a population of around 50 people, it could have been anybody. But who and why these 2 men? Dana Russo is flown in to try to get an outsiders perspective.
Thanks to Hachette Australia for my advanced copy to read.
August 22, 2022
I was a huge fan of "Hermit" so I was eager to dive into Red Dirt Road and it did not disappoint.
Two murders in an isolated town suffering through drought sets the scene and Red Dirt Road is a brilliant character study, an intriguing mystery and a real page turner.
SR White really gives the reader insight, weaving the setting around his characters, motives and possibilities making it unpredictable and cleverly edgy.
A read in one sitting novel, beautifully crafted.
Two murders in an isolated town suffering through drought sets the scene and Red Dirt Road is a brilliant character study, an intriguing mystery and a real page turner.
SR White really gives the reader insight, weaving the setting around his characters, motives and possibilities making it unpredictable and cleverly edgy.
A read in one sitting novel, beautifully crafted.
January 26, 2023
An Aussie detective, Dana Russo, arrives in a tiny outback town on a mission to solve two murders, and in the process probably save her own job. The murders have been investigated before but to no avail. In this town of some fifty people, two hundred kilometres from anywhere else, the inhabitants are close and seemingly closed. Dana has also been given scant time to investigate by her boss - a man she can’t abide and who, it appears, has similar feelings about her. It all looks pretty hopeless.
To aid her investigation she has at her disposal a lone police officer, Able Barillo, who lives in this town and is responsible for law and order here and the vast surrounding area, which in effect comprises scrubland and a small number of large farms. But will he be a help or a hindrance? He’s lived in this place all his life and is consequently tied in many way to his neighbours – one or more of whom are most likely responsible for the murders. Time will tell. Dana is clever and introverted and determined not to follow the standard path to solving these crimes; that’s been tried before and it failed miserably.
There’s plenty to like here as Dana stirs up the local powerbroker and does her rounds asking abstruse questions to those she believes are worthy of attention. Able, who tags along, is as confused as everyone she meets by her approach. And then there’s a man in the background who shuffles around out of sight, moving his metal sculptures from place to place. What’s his role in all of this? The pace is slow but I found both the scenario and the people we meet interesting. I confess, I also learned a good deal about living and farming in the Dry (it hadn’t rained here in years).
It eventually plays out in a way I hadn’t expected, with a complicated (possibly over-complicated) series of signals, deductions and resultant actions. I enjoy mysteries set in unusual places and Australia’s outback is my current favourite. Until I finished this tale I hadn’t realised that it’s the third book in a series featuring Dana, and though I’ll probably not rush out to grab the other two books, I have little doubt that I will at some point in the future catch up with Dana again.
My thanks to publishers Headline for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review,
To aid her investigation she has at her disposal a lone police officer, Able Barillo, who lives in this town and is responsible for law and order here and the vast surrounding area, which in effect comprises scrubland and a small number of large farms. But will he be a help or a hindrance? He’s lived in this place all his life and is consequently tied in many way to his neighbours – one or more of whom are most likely responsible for the murders. Time will tell. Dana is clever and introverted and determined not to follow the standard path to solving these crimes; that’s been tried before and it failed miserably.
There’s plenty to like here as Dana stirs up the local powerbroker and does her rounds asking abstruse questions to those she believes are worthy of attention. Able, who tags along, is as confused as everyone she meets by her approach. And then there’s a man in the background who shuffles around out of sight, moving his metal sculptures from place to place. What’s his role in all of this? The pace is slow but I found both the scenario and the people we meet interesting. I confess, I also learned a good deal about living and farming in the Dry (it hadn’t rained here in years).
It eventually plays out in a way I hadn’t expected, with a complicated (possibly over-complicated) series of signals, deductions and resultant actions. I enjoy mysteries set in unusual places and Australia’s outback is my current favourite. Until I finished this tale I hadn’t realised that it’s the third book in a series featuring Dana, and though I’ll probably not rush out to grab the other two books, I have little doubt that I will at some point in the future catch up with Dana again.
My thanks to publishers Headline for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review,
March 3, 2023
Red Dirt Road is the third police procedural to feature Detective Dana Russo from former police officer S.R. White.
In the wake of the internal political manoeuvring in Prisoner, Dana has been sent to Unamurra, a tiny outback community with a population of 82 people and given just two days to solve the murders of two locals. Discovered a month apart, the bodies of Larry Muir and Tim Ogden were found shot in the heart and strung up on mobile art installations representing angels. Dana has concerns about the original investigation which yielded no witnesses, suspects or motive, and knows she needs to try something different if she is going to get results, and save her career.
It seems to me that the author has drawn some inspiration from the true crime mystery centred on the Australian town of Larrimah for Red Dirt Town. There are definitely some similar elements, though White tells his own story.
In what is essentially a ‘locked room’ mystery, in that the murderer must be one of Unamurra’s residents, Dana has limited resources to work with. Her usual team isn’t with her, she’s wary of the assistance offered by the town’s police officer, Abel Barillo, and the community doesn’t seem invested in finding the truth.
There’s not a lot of action in Red Dirt Road, and despite the time pressure Dana is under I felt Red Dirt Road lacked a sense of urgency, though the mystery, and the motive is intriguing.
The information Dana needs to solve the case comes slowly as she takes an oblique approach to the case. With plenty of possible suspects, White develops several red herrings, but it’s deciphering the unusual dynamics of the town that will prove crucial to Russo solving the murders.
Not my favourite of the series so far, but Red Dirt Road is still an interesting read.
In the wake of the internal political manoeuvring in Prisoner, Dana has been sent to Unamurra, a tiny outback community with a population of 82 people and given just two days to solve the murders of two locals. Discovered a month apart, the bodies of Larry Muir and Tim Ogden were found shot in the heart and strung up on mobile art installations representing angels. Dana has concerns about the original investigation which yielded no witnesses, suspects or motive, and knows she needs to try something different if she is going to get results, and save her career.
It seems to me that the author has drawn some inspiration from the true crime mystery centred on the Australian town of Larrimah for Red Dirt Town. There are definitely some similar elements, though White tells his own story.
In what is essentially a ‘locked room’ mystery, in that the murderer must be one of Unamurra’s residents, Dana has limited resources to work with. Her usual team isn’t with her, she’s wary of the assistance offered by the town’s police officer, Abel Barillo, and the community doesn’t seem invested in finding the truth.
There’s not a lot of action in Red Dirt Road, and despite the time pressure Dana is under I felt Red Dirt Road lacked a sense of urgency, though the mystery, and the motive is intriguing.
The information Dana needs to solve the case comes slowly as she takes an oblique approach to the case. With plenty of possible suspects, White develops several red herrings, but it’s deciphering the unusual dynamics of the town that will prove crucial to Russo solving the murders.
Not my favourite of the series so far, but Red Dirt Road is still an interesting read.
January 11, 2023
Thank you Hatchette Australia for sending me a copy of this book to review.
Set in a small town of Australia, a city detective comes to town to solve 2 murders. We hear mainly from Dana's POV. She must use her pyschology and behavioural science to solve the case so it reminded me very much of Criminal Minds. There is alot of suspects for Dana to choose from so we dont find out till the very end. This book is more about the investigation rather than the crime itself. It is very slow paced and I would have preferred to have it moved at a faster pace. I did also predict the killer. So these factors affected my rating.
Set in a small town of Australia, a city detective comes to town to solve 2 murders. We hear mainly from Dana's POV. She must use her pyschology and behavioural science to solve the case so it reminded me very much of Criminal Minds. There is alot of suspects for Dana to choose from so we dont find out till the very end. This book is more about the investigation rather than the crime itself. It is very slow paced and I would have preferred to have it moved at a faster pace. I did also predict the killer. So these factors affected my rating.
July 5, 2024
I was torn on this one. I didn't like the long narrative end, but I liked the setting so much. Mr. White deserves all his accolades--readers really get a picture of inland "red dirt" Australia. And more than once I found myself adding notes about the poetry of his descriptions.
Whether intended or not, the book is also a roman a clef of Australia's shut-down-everything approach to Covid. While here the total control is exercised by a person rather than a government, there is the same ennui, the same passive dread, the same fear to speak up. I don't know if White intended the atmospherics to be so parallel, but unconsciously or consciously, he captured it very well.
Highly recommended.
Whether intended or not, the book is also a roman a clef of Australia's shut-down-everything approach to Covid. While here the total control is exercised by a person rather than a government, there is the same ennui, the same passive dread, the same fear to speak up. I don't know if White intended the atmospherics to be so parallel, but unconsciously or consciously, he captured it very well.
Highly recommended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2024
Red Dirt Road is book three in the Detective Dana Russo series by S. R. White. Two murders took place in a small, isolated outback town, and the town was full of suspects. Detective Dana Russo was called in to help the local police find the killer. On arrival, Detective Dana Russo only met with silence and suspicion from the townspeople. The readers of Red Dirt Road will continue to follow Detective Dana Russo's investigation to discover what happens.
Red Dirt Road is an excellent addition to S. R. White's superb series. I enjoy how he incorporates suspense in this book, which takes me on a journey with the characters until the last page. I love S. R. White's portrayal of his characters and how they intertwine throughout this book. Red Dirt Road is well-written and researched by S. R. White. I like S.R. White's description of the settings of Red Dirt Road, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of Red Dirt Road will understand the dangers of someone controlling a community by fear and learn about the meaning of the Stasi and the damage they caused to communities.
I recommend this book.
Red Dirt Road is an excellent addition to S. R. White's superb series. I enjoy how he incorporates suspense in this book, which takes me on a journey with the characters until the last page. I love S. R. White's portrayal of his characters and how they intertwine throughout this book. Red Dirt Road is well-written and researched by S. R. White. I like S.R. White's description of the settings of Red Dirt Road, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of Red Dirt Road will understand the dangers of someone controlling a community by fear and learn about the meaning of the Stasi and the damage they caused to communities.
I recommend this book.
January 8, 2024
(3.5)
Rep: lesbian mc, Indigenous character, gay side character
Rep: lesbian mc, Indigenous character, gay side character
February 28, 2023
Unamurra is an outback town that is dying. Five years of drought have slowly sucked the life out of it. Whilst never prosperous, when there was rain then the farming, cattle ranching, was possible and from this all the businesses needed by a small-town community could function. The butcher, baker and garage have all closed in desperation, only the pub and attached shop, run by Annie, remain open. In some respects, Annie is the heartbeat of what is left of the community, even delivering cooked meals to the old and housebound. Now there are just 50 souls tied to Unamurra, together with some ranches but these can be many kilometres away. They pray for rain, a rain that is long overdue, that will bring some respite, but that is all it will be, even though some of the inhabitants delude themselves that all will be well.
The State Government’s answer to the re-generation is an art project, Axel DuBois’ angels. Fate is sealed when two men are murdered a month apart and their bodies displayed on frames just like the angel artwork. Two local officers investigate and are clueless in more ways than one. Dana Russo’s boss wants to get rid of her so what better case for her to fail on than a review of this impossible one. A case it seems nobody wants solving.
This is very much a slow burning novel but one to stick with. The murders have happened and there is little by way of traditional thriller action. Instead, it concentrates upon the investigation and a deep examination into life in a dying town. It excels in its descriptive passages where it brings the book cover to life, the oppressive heat, the desolation, the endless barren countryside. The reader also gets the sense of people who have given up but don’t want to acknowledge it, who rely on Annie and a few neighbours.
The investigation itself is an oddity, it doesn’t follow a traditional police procedural form, far from it. The local officer, Able, assigned to assist Dana cannot understand her approach to questioning. Her questioning is somewhat oblique and not the questions he would have expected. He doubts her capacity to solve the case whilst Dana is unsure if she can trust Able who was side lined from the original investigation. Their building of a mutual understanding is core to the story, they need each other. It requires the outsider Dana to bring some resolution, but as an insider will Able become collateral damage in the process.
The plot is cleverly constructed. The pool of suspects is small so the reader could well guess the killer, it is the methodology and motivation that matter and that is well described. Dana’s approach is very much that of a free thinker and threequarters through she gets the lightbulb moment as the jigsaw pieces click together in her mind. Some of the clues are there to pick up on and she asks Lucy to do investigations for her which the reader is not party to until the end.
It is all explained in the reveal, which isn’t really a reveal but a confrontation, where Dana and Able put the case to her suspect. A real sense of tension built up here as Dana’s points are rebuffed but she keeps plugging away until the facade starts to crumble and the person beneath is exposed. This is a masterclass in producing a gripping finale with zero thrills and spills but all the while leaving a question of doubt.
Red Dirt Road is a cerebral crime story set in a dusty barren landscape you can almost touch.
I was allowed access to a pdf review copy on Net Galley in exchange for a fair review. Thanks to the author and publisher for organising this.
The State Government’s answer to the re-generation is an art project, Axel DuBois’ angels. Fate is sealed when two men are murdered a month apart and their bodies displayed on frames just like the angel artwork. Two local officers investigate and are clueless in more ways than one. Dana Russo’s boss wants to get rid of her so what better case for her to fail on than a review of this impossible one. A case it seems nobody wants solving.
This is very much a slow burning novel but one to stick with. The murders have happened and there is little by way of traditional thriller action. Instead, it concentrates upon the investigation and a deep examination into life in a dying town. It excels in its descriptive passages where it brings the book cover to life, the oppressive heat, the desolation, the endless barren countryside. The reader also gets the sense of people who have given up but don’t want to acknowledge it, who rely on Annie and a few neighbours.
The investigation itself is an oddity, it doesn’t follow a traditional police procedural form, far from it. The local officer, Able, assigned to assist Dana cannot understand her approach to questioning. Her questioning is somewhat oblique and not the questions he would have expected. He doubts her capacity to solve the case whilst Dana is unsure if she can trust Able who was side lined from the original investigation. Their building of a mutual understanding is core to the story, they need each other. It requires the outsider Dana to bring some resolution, but as an insider will Able become collateral damage in the process.
The plot is cleverly constructed. The pool of suspects is small so the reader could well guess the killer, it is the methodology and motivation that matter and that is well described. Dana’s approach is very much that of a free thinker and threequarters through she gets the lightbulb moment as the jigsaw pieces click together in her mind. Some of the clues are there to pick up on and she asks Lucy to do investigations for her which the reader is not party to until the end.
It is all explained in the reveal, which isn’t really a reveal but a confrontation, where Dana and Able put the case to her suspect. A real sense of tension built up here as Dana’s points are rebuffed but she keeps plugging away until the facade starts to crumble and the person beneath is exposed. This is a masterclass in producing a gripping finale with zero thrills and spills but all the while leaving a question of doubt.
Red Dirt Road is a cerebral crime story set in a dusty barren landscape you can almost touch.
I was allowed access to a pdf review copy on Net Galley in exchange for a fair review. Thanks to the author and publisher for organising this.
July 14, 2024
Setting: 'Unamurra', Queensland, Australia; modern day.
In this third book in the series, detective Dana Russo is sent by her unappreciative boss to the isolated outback town of Unamurra - population 52 - to solve the murders of two local men, a local farmer and the husband of the publican. Dana's only resource is local police constable Able Barella, who may himself be a suspect. Arriving in Unamurra, Dana is greeted by a town in the grip of an extended drought, with no internet access, sporadic phone network, few facilities - and a population that don't seem particularly concerned about the murders that have happened in their midst and have already been investigated by local detectives without success. Dana appears to be on a hiding to nothing, having been given only a couple of days to solve the crimes and realising that her boss is intending to use her failure as a lever to dispose of her services. But Dana Russo is tenacious and persistent although, as the story progresses, even an optimistic reader like me found it hard to see where a resolution was going to come from......
This was a great read with lots of Aussie atmosphere, provided by the harsh outback environment complete with extended drought and even a tremendous dust-storm that descends on the town. I have really enjoyed the previous books featuring this character and am looking forward hopefully to more! - 9/10.
In this third book in the series, detective Dana Russo is sent by her unappreciative boss to the isolated outback town of Unamurra - population 52 - to solve the murders of two local men, a local farmer and the husband of the publican. Dana's only resource is local police constable Able Barella, who may himself be a suspect. Arriving in Unamurra, Dana is greeted by a town in the grip of an extended drought, with no internet access, sporadic phone network, few facilities - and a population that don't seem particularly concerned about the murders that have happened in their midst and have already been investigated by local detectives without success. Dana appears to be on a hiding to nothing, having been given only a couple of days to solve the crimes and realising that her boss is intending to use her failure as a lever to dispose of her services. But Dana Russo is tenacious and persistent although, as the story progresses, even an optimistic reader like me found it hard to see where a resolution was going to come from......
This was a great read with lots of Aussie atmosphere, provided by the harsh outback environment complete with extended drought and even a tremendous dust-storm that descends on the town. I have really enjoyed the previous books featuring this character and am looking forward hopefully to more! - 9/10.
August 13, 2022
3.5 stars
Coming from a land where we have plenty of rain, the back drop to the murders fascinated me, a country so vast and so dry.
Taking hours to get anywhere, and everything struggling through just waiting for the wet..
The murders felt like a lot of waiting too... I didnt put a single clue in the right place to get the answer.
It's a strange place with unusual people, and I felt like the slow burn would never end.
Two fab main characters, that were believable.
The "reveal" felt a bit lengthy for my liking, but at least I'm not left with any lingering questions!
Coming from a land where we have plenty of rain, the back drop to the murders fascinated me, a country so vast and so dry.
Taking hours to get anywhere, and everything struggling through just waiting for the wet..
The murders felt like a lot of waiting too... I didnt put a single clue in the right place to get the answer.
It's a strange place with unusual people, and I felt like the slow burn would never end.
Two fab main characters, that were believable.
The "reveal" felt a bit lengthy for my liking, but at least I'm not left with any lingering questions!
February 21, 2023
This was my first book in this series, now I need to go back and read the others. This was so different from normal police procedurals and as such it was a pleasant relief to read something different.
The detective Dana Russo took a completely different approach and it worked and flowed - impressed.
The setting was good, brought back memories of driving through the outback and staying with my father in my early years.
I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.
The detective Dana Russo took a completely different approach and it worked and flowed - impressed.
The setting was good, brought back memories of driving through the outback and staying with my father in my early years.
I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.
December 22, 2022
Detective Dana Russo is sent deep into the outback to solve a case no-one wants solved. Two men have been savagely murdered a month apart, with their bodies arranged like angels. Dana must overcome the dynamics of a small town and uncover their secrets if she is going to solve the case within the week.
I didn’t realise this is the third book in a series featuring Detective Dana Russo. I don’t like starting series mid-way through, and wish I had read the other two books first! That being said, this book can be read as a standalone.
Dana is an admirable protagonist who has her work set out for her. This is a slow paced book that requires some patience as Dana gathers evidence, drawing a conclusion I definitely didn’t see coming. This is an atmospheric read, which is sometimes creepy, and perfect for people who love Aussie crime fiction.
Thank you Hachette Australia for my gifted copy.
I didn’t realise this is the third book in a series featuring Detective Dana Russo. I don’t like starting series mid-way through, and wish I had read the other two books first! That being said, this book can be read as a standalone.
Dana is an admirable protagonist who has her work set out for her. This is a slow paced book that requires some patience as Dana gathers evidence, drawing a conclusion I definitely didn’t see coming. This is an atmospheric read, which is sometimes creepy, and perfect for people who love Aussie crime fiction.
Thank you Hachette Australia for my gifted copy.
February 10, 2023
Very disappointing and not a patch on his previous book, The Hermit.
I was reminded of Agatha Christie's Poirot with this story - how he gathers all the suspects in a room and then unmasks the murderer. But what Poirot didn't do was laboriously explain for page after page the crime and it's solution as S R White does in this less than gripping murder mystery.
The story was slow. It was tedious. And although the culprit would have been obvious to most readers. There were so few clues as to the Why and the How that White had to resort to a lengthy explanation of the plot through his heroine Detective Russo during and after the arrest of the main suspect, whereas Christie scattered her clues and brought readers along with her to avoid such a clumsy conclusion.
I was reminded of Agatha Christie's Poirot with this story - how he gathers all the suspects in a room and then unmasks the murderer. But what Poirot didn't do was laboriously explain for page after page the crime and it's solution as S R White does in this less than gripping murder mystery.
The story was slow. It was tedious. And although the culprit would have been obvious to most readers. There were so few clues as to the Why and the How that White had to resort to a lengthy explanation of the plot through his heroine Detective Russo during and after the arrest of the main suspect, whereas Christie scattered her clues and brought readers along with her to avoid such a clumsy conclusion.
May 26, 2023
Tedious read
I just found the book a tedious slog to get through. I love my books but this one was a chore and a sigh of relief when I finished. It had some good concepts and no disrespect to the author. Took too long to get to anything and then too long summing it up.
I just found the book a tedious slog to get through. I love my books but this one was a chore and a sigh of relief when I finished. It had some good concepts and no disrespect to the author. Took too long to get to anything and then too long summing it up.
March 29, 2023
Didn't love it, but it was an ok read. I found it dragged on a little
November 12, 2024
Read for book club. I didn't realise this was part of a series until I came to do my review so I can vouch that it can be read as a stand alone thriller without that 'what am I missing' feeling. This was a great book where the setting almost surpassed the characters and storyline. I enjoyed that the town and surrounding districts were front and foremost in the narrative, it definitely added to the atmosphere. A good read.
July 9, 2025
Red Dirt Road kept me gripped from start to finish. Dana is becoming such an intriguing character—complex, guarded, but with flickers of vulnerability that make her all the more compelling. I really enjoyed seeing the relationship between her and Lucy start to deepen; it added warmth and humanity to the tension-filled plot. The setting, as always, was atmospheric and unsettling in the best way. A solid, satisfying read.
August 20, 2022
Unamurra is a sinister town in the back of beyond. But is this just a community that looks after its own? I hadn't a clue what was going on for most of the book but the denouement was delicious! "Red Dirt Road" is well-plotted and atmospheric. I particularly enjoyed the setting and I look forward to reading more from S. R. White.
January 11, 2023
⭐️ 3.5 ⭐️
Review to follow
Review to follow
November 13, 2024
This is the first book that I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it. I even managed to guess the murderer (a bit of good luck probably). The book was well written and easy to read.
February 15, 2023
I received this ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve heard such good things about this book and I was intrigued to start it, I then found out it was the third book in a series. I feel this can be read as a stand-alone but I didn’t get the references to a few characters at the start of book but that didn’t spoil the rest of the story at all.
I think this is the only Australian Crime Fiction book I’ve read and it’s fast becoming one of my favourite things to read after reading Red Dirt Road. It’s so atmospheric, you definitely feel like you’re in the outback with Dana painstakingly discovering the truth.
I’d highly recommend this book.
I’ve heard such good things about this book and I was intrigued to start it, I then found out it was the third book in a series. I feel this can be read as a stand-alone but I didn’t get the references to a few characters at the start of book but that didn’t spoil the rest of the story at all.
I think this is the only Australian Crime Fiction book I’ve read and it’s fast becoming one of my favourite things to read after reading Red Dirt Road. It’s so atmospheric, you definitely feel like you’re in the outback with Dana painstakingly discovering the truth.
I’d highly recommend this book.
March 16, 2023
I received a copy of Red Dirt Road from Hachette Australia to review.
Rating of 4.5.
Impressive author S. R. White continues to lead the Australian outback murder mystery scene with his new and compelling release, Red Dirt Road, the third book in his Detective Dana Russo series. I had the great pleasure of reading the second book in this series, Prisoner, back in 2021 and I really enjoyed his unique take on the outback detective novel. As such, I have been rather excited to read his new book, Red Dirt Road, especially as it featured a particularly enthralling mystery.
Red Dirt Road ended up being a very fun and captivating murder mystery novel and one I had a wonderful time getting through. I really enjoyed White’s cool and clever plot scenario and the entire concept of a cop attempting to solve a mystery in a small town with limited suspects is a fun idea that harkens back to classic whodunits.
Red Dirt Road’s story itself hits the ground running quickly, as complex protagonist Dana Russo is forced to travel to the small town for the investigation and soon becomes wrapped up in its many foibles. This includes the sheer isolation, the lack of modern comforts and the unusual locals, many of whom are hiding from the outside world. There is also a set of creepy angel-themed statues that mysteriously move around town, the work of a guerrilla artist who has remained hidden since the murders began. With time restrictions on her investigation and with minimal help from the local police, Dana initiates an unconventional investigation that focuses on understanding Unamurra’s society and its people to solve the crime. After getting to grips with the various people living there, as well examining other clues and evidence, she is able to figure out which one of the town’s residents is the most likely killer and confronts them in a particularly fascinating reveal sequence. The full explanation for why the crime was committed, as well as the ingenious and very distinctive motivation of the murderer, was exceedingly clever, and I felt that White set everything up perfectly. While certain elements of the conclusion were a bit over-the-top, (a very unrealistic elite government SWAT team comes to town), I felt that the story was pretty damn impressive and I was absolutely blown away with the elaborate motivation that the author came up with. The plot of Red Dirt Road also simultaneously continues some of the series’ ongoing storylines, such as Dana’s personal relationship with her co-worker and the internal police politics that are impacting her career, and this ended up being quite a gripping read as a result.
One of the most noticeable things about Red Dirt Road was the unique, society-orientated investigation method that the protagonist used to understand the people of Unamurra and find out who the killer was. I personally thought that this was a very smart and intriguing way to frame a murder investigation that worked extremely well in the context of the setting and the series. When I reviewed Prisoner I noted that White likes to highlight the interrogation side of policing with his writing and this was once again in full display when it came to how Dana gathers information in Unamurra. The flurry of casual conversation she engages in ensures she picks up all the knowledge about the town and people she needs, while also putting the potential suspects at ease as they don’t understand her style or the subtle reasons behind her lines of inquiry. This information, when combined with some observations and additional background she gets from headquarters, allows her to pull together a full mental picture of the town and by understanding them and their needs she finally gets the insight she needs to understand the entire situation. This results in a very unique case, and I found myself getting really wrapped up in both the characters and the setting while trying to wrap the clues together in my head. While this style of investigation probably isn’t going to fit every murder mystery fan’s taste, I felt that it worked extremely well and I loved how the elaborate motivation was teased out through these discussions. The final confrontation with the killer and the various revelations it contained really ties all these previous discussions together perfectly and you quickly realise just how cleverly White structured his entire mystery.
On top of the cool investigation method, I also deeply enjoyed the dusty and desolate setting of Unamurra that served as the backdrop to the murders. White really tries to show the reader the full experience of such a lonely and decaying town, and thanks to the excellent descriptive writing you can absolutely picture every cloud of dust, quiet night, and the lack of movement. At the same time, the protagonist begins talking to each of the residents of Unamurra and you really get to understand the sort of people that would live in such a place, whether they are desperate, trapped, or have their own strange motivations. This excellent use of setting and compelling supporting characters greatly enhances the book’s already complex murder investigation, and I felt that White did an amazing job of working it into the larger narrative and mystery. The sheer isolation impacts every decision and insight that Dana has and you really come away trying to imagine what life in such a location would be like. While White does overgeneralise some areas of rural Australia in his book, especially as he makes the location of these crimes geographically vague, this setting added a great deal to the impact of Red Dirt Road and I deeply enjoyed my time in the elaborate setting of Unamurra.
Overall, Red Dirt Road was an outstanding new book from S. R. White that perfectly highlighted his distinctive take on a murder mystery investigation. Combining another outstanding outback setting with a unique case, Red Dirt Road will have you hooked all the way to the fantastic finale. I cannot wait to see what complex stories White comes up with in the future, but if they are anywhere near as clever and enthralling as Red Dirt Road, I know I am going to love them.
An abridged review of this book also ran in the Canberra Weekly on 16 February 2023:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2023/03/16/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
Rating of 4.5.
Impressive author S. R. White continues to lead the Australian outback murder mystery scene with his new and compelling release, Red Dirt Road, the third book in his Detective Dana Russo series. I had the great pleasure of reading the second book in this series, Prisoner, back in 2021 and I really enjoyed his unique take on the outback detective novel. As such, I have been rather excited to read his new book, Red Dirt Road, especially as it featured a particularly enthralling mystery.
Red Dirt Road ended up being a very fun and captivating murder mystery novel and one I had a wonderful time getting through. I really enjoyed White’s cool and clever plot scenario and the entire concept of a cop attempting to solve a mystery in a small town with limited suspects is a fun idea that harkens back to classic whodunits.
Red Dirt Road’s story itself hits the ground running quickly, as complex protagonist Dana Russo is forced to travel to the small town for the investigation and soon becomes wrapped up in its many foibles. This includes the sheer isolation, the lack of modern comforts and the unusual locals, many of whom are hiding from the outside world. There is also a set of creepy angel-themed statues that mysteriously move around town, the work of a guerrilla artist who has remained hidden since the murders began. With time restrictions on her investigation and with minimal help from the local police, Dana initiates an unconventional investigation that focuses on understanding Unamurra’s society and its people to solve the crime. After getting to grips with the various people living there, as well examining other clues and evidence, she is able to figure out which one of the town’s residents is the most likely killer and confronts them in a particularly fascinating reveal sequence. The full explanation for why the crime was committed, as well as the ingenious and very distinctive motivation of the murderer, was exceedingly clever, and I felt that White set everything up perfectly. While certain elements of the conclusion were a bit over-the-top, (a very unrealistic elite government SWAT team comes to town), I felt that the story was pretty damn impressive and I was absolutely blown away with the elaborate motivation that the author came up with. The plot of Red Dirt Road also simultaneously continues some of the series’ ongoing storylines, such as Dana’s personal relationship with her co-worker and the internal police politics that are impacting her career, and this ended up being quite a gripping read as a result.
One of the most noticeable things about Red Dirt Road was the unique, society-orientated investigation method that the protagonist used to understand the people of Unamurra and find out who the killer was. I personally thought that this was a very smart and intriguing way to frame a murder investigation that worked extremely well in the context of the setting and the series. When I reviewed Prisoner I noted that White likes to highlight the interrogation side of policing with his writing and this was once again in full display when it came to how Dana gathers information in Unamurra. The flurry of casual conversation she engages in ensures she picks up all the knowledge about the town and people she needs, while also putting the potential suspects at ease as they don’t understand her style or the subtle reasons behind her lines of inquiry. This information, when combined with some observations and additional background she gets from headquarters, allows her to pull together a full mental picture of the town and by understanding them and their needs she finally gets the insight she needs to understand the entire situation. This results in a very unique case, and I found myself getting really wrapped up in both the characters and the setting while trying to wrap the clues together in my head. While this style of investigation probably isn’t going to fit every murder mystery fan’s taste, I felt that it worked extremely well and I loved how the elaborate motivation was teased out through these discussions. The final confrontation with the killer and the various revelations it contained really ties all these previous discussions together perfectly and you quickly realise just how cleverly White structured his entire mystery.
On top of the cool investigation method, I also deeply enjoyed the dusty and desolate setting of Unamurra that served as the backdrop to the murders. White really tries to show the reader the full experience of such a lonely and decaying town, and thanks to the excellent descriptive writing you can absolutely picture every cloud of dust, quiet night, and the lack of movement. At the same time, the protagonist begins talking to each of the residents of Unamurra and you really get to understand the sort of people that would live in such a place, whether they are desperate, trapped, or have their own strange motivations. This excellent use of setting and compelling supporting characters greatly enhances the book’s already complex murder investigation, and I felt that White did an amazing job of working it into the larger narrative and mystery. The sheer isolation impacts every decision and insight that Dana has and you really come away trying to imagine what life in such a location would be like. While White does overgeneralise some areas of rural Australia in his book, especially as he makes the location of these crimes geographically vague, this setting added a great deal to the impact of Red Dirt Road and I deeply enjoyed my time in the elaborate setting of Unamurra.
Overall, Red Dirt Road was an outstanding new book from S. R. White that perfectly highlighted his distinctive take on a murder mystery investigation. Combining another outstanding outback setting with a unique case, Red Dirt Road will have you hooked all the way to the fantastic finale. I cannot wait to see what complex stories White comes up with in the future, but if they are anywhere near as clever and enthralling as Red Dirt Road, I know I am going to love them.
An abridged review of this book also ran in the Canberra Weekly on 16 February 2023:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2023/03/16/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
June 16, 2023
An interesting story about two unsolved murders that have occurred in a remote outback town called Unamurra. So we have the age-old rivalry between the local police at Dutton (200km from Unamurra) and a 'city slicker' detective sent in to solve all their problems. Feathers to be ruffled.
However Dana is not your standard detective and she manages to forge a relationship of sorts with the sole police officer actually stationed at Unamurra, Able. There is not much to uncover about these murders. To start there is a lack of evidence, the local population (of 50) don't want to talk about it, there is resentment, politics, a bit of corruption and a very strange French artist who pops in and out of town rearranging his 'installation' of 28 monumental angels.
While I liked the book, I found that the resolution ended up being pages of explanation - basically a long speech by Dana of what she found leading to the conclusions that she made, leading to the actions she took. That to me, took away a lot of impact as the characters seemed to disappear into a long 'explainy' narrative.
Did she solve the cases???? Well - not saying.
A good portrayal of the stark differences between those from the city and those in remote Australia.
However Dana is not your standard detective and she manages to forge a relationship of sorts with the sole police officer actually stationed at Unamurra, Able. There is not much to uncover about these murders. To start there is a lack of evidence, the local population (of 50) don't want to talk about it, there is resentment, politics, a bit of corruption and a very strange French artist who pops in and out of town rearranging his 'installation' of 28 monumental angels.
While I liked the book, I found that the resolution ended up being pages of explanation - basically a long speech by Dana of what she found leading to the conclusions that she made, leading to the actions she took. That to me, took away a lot of impact as the characters seemed to disappear into a long 'explainy' narrative.
Did she solve the cases???? Well - not saying.
A good portrayal of the stark differences between those from the city and those in remote Australia.
Read
July 10, 2023It's not often that I don't look forward to the book I'm currently reading, but this was one of those. I really disliked this story but was impelled to see 'who done it'. I was not satisfied with the ending, but glad I persevered just cause I had to know.
April 11, 2023
Yeah... an adequate read. I didn't buy the motivation of the murderer.
February 7, 2023
I really did enjoy this book. It’s a crime investigation with a difference. There are two savage murders in a small town and it takes an outsider to come in and through observation and asking questions from left-field, to try and establish what has occurred. Because this small town, with just 50 inhabitants, does not seem to want to know who committed these crimes.
There is not much love lost between Detective Dana Russo and her boss, Anton McCullough. She knows he’s just waiting for the right excuse to get rid of her, so when he assigns her to the Unamurra case, she knows he thinks she’s on a hiding to nothing.
She’s given just 48 hours to travel to the far distant town of Unamurra. It’s not much more than a small village with one shop, a pub and 50 inhabitants. It’s a place where the penniless go to live cheaply, because property is cheap and run down and there’s nothing to spend your money on.
Two men are dead. Larry Muir, a farmer, was first, then Tim Maguire, husband of Annie Maguire, the pub owner was next. This case has already been investigated by local detectives and they found nothing.
Suspicion falls on the one outsider, an artist named Axel Du Bois, whose angel art installations are what laughably passes for government assistance with economic development – in the hope that these moveable installations will attract tourists to the area. But this is an area where no-one passes through, it is drought ridden; a town of ramshackle buildings, poverty and nothing to see here.
These life-size angels are mounted on large frames which move around the town – only this last time it was a real body on the frame.
Russo has to set off straight away and as she visits the local Police Commander before heading out to Unamurra, she finds he is not confident in her ability to succeed where his officers have previously failed.
With little to go on, she heads for Unamurra in the company of the area’s one policeman, Able Burillo. Russo has noted that Able did not seem to be included in the previous investigation and she muses on why that is and how much he is to be trusted.
Unamurra, when she finally gets there, is as closed a community as she has found. No-one wants to chat, far less help. The angel artist, Axel DuBois has gone to ground, though an honour guard of angels is at the entrance to the town to welcome Dana as she arrives. With a complete lack of co-operation and a previous ineffective investigation, Dana has to deploy alternative methods to catch her killer/s.
Red Dirt Road is a psychological novel. Dana’s process of deduction is more akin to that utilised by Conan Doyle than Agatha Christie. Though she’s not sizing up cigar ash, she does spend her time thinking more about motivation and less about means. Spurred on by the help she gets from her dear friend Lucy back at base, Dana focuses on the challenge she has been set, which has been described to her as akin to the Star Trek Kobayashi Maru test.
As the clock ticks, Dana’s psychological profiling comes to the fore but she keeps her cards close to her chest and it is not until she’s ready to act that she brings Able into her thinking.
S.R. White is excellent at conveying the dry, dusty territory and the run down community that is Unamurra. The thankless task of being a farmer in the middle of a red dust desert during a period of drought is shown in all its heart-breaking misery.
Dana herself is strong thinker and an intuitive and empathetic listener. Her unorthodox approach to solving this case is novel but amounts to profiling the killer. The conclusion builds on Dana’s thinking and both satisfies and shows us that when the chips are down, her instincts are sound.
Verdict: This is a slow burn of a book with lots of tension and an edginess that sits on our detective’s shoulders keeping the unpredictability high. You really feel you are immersed in the dry, dusty outback. I loved Detective Dana Russo and her unorthodox methods. I certainly want to go back and read SR White’s previous books in this series. Highly recommended by me.
There is not much love lost between Detective Dana Russo and her boss, Anton McCullough. She knows he’s just waiting for the right excuse to get rid of her, so when he assigns her to the Unamurra case, she knows he thinks she’s on a hiding to nothing.
She’s given just 48 hours to travel to the far distant town of Unamurra. It’s not much more than a small village with one shop, a pub and 50 inhabitants. It’s a place where the penniless go to live cheaply, because property is cheap and run down and there’s nothing to spend your money on.
Two men are dead. Larry Muir, a farmer, was first, then Tim Maguire, husband of Annie Maguire, the pub owner was next. This case has already been investigated by local detectives and they found nothing.
Suspicion falls on the one outsider, an artist named Axel Du Bois, whose angel art installations are what laughably passes for government assistance with economic development – in the hope that these moveable installations will attract tourists to the area. But this is an area where no-one passes through, it is drought ridden; a town of ramshackle buildings, poverty and nothing to see here.
These life-size angels are mounted on large frames which move around the town – only this last time it was a real body on the frame.
Russo has to set off straight away and as she visits the local Police Commander before heading out to Unamurra, she finds he is not confident in her ability to succeed where his officers have previously failed.
With little to go on, she heads for Unamurra in the company of the area’s one policeman, Able Burillo. Russo has noted that Able did not seem to be included in the previous investigation and she muses on why that is and how much he is to be trusted.
Unamurra, when she finally gets there, is as closed a community as she has found. No-one wants to chat, far less help. The angel artist, Axel DuBois has gone to ground, though an honour guard of angels is at the entrance to the town to welcome Dana as she arrives. With a complete lack of co-operation and a previous ineffective investigation, Dana has to deploy alternative methods to catch her killer/s.
Red Dirt Road is a psychological novel. Dana’s process of deduction is more akin to that utilised by Conan Doyle than Agatha Christie. Though she’s not sizing up cigar ash, she does spend her time thinking more about motivation and less about means. Spurred on by the help she gets from her dear friend Lucy back at base, Dana focuses on the challenge she has been set, which has been described to her as akin to the Star Trek Kobayashi Maru test.
As the clock ticks, Dana’s psychological profiling comes to the fore but she keeps her cards close to her chest and it is not until she’s ready to act that she brings Able into her thinking.
S.R. White is excellent at conveying the dry, dusty territory and the run down community that is Unamurra. The thankless task of being a farmer in the middle of a red dust desert during a period of drought is shown in all its heart-breaking misery.
Dana herself is strong thinker and an intuitive and empathetic listener. Her unorthodox approach to solving this case is novel but amounts to profiling the killer. The conclusion builds on Dana’s thinking and both satisfies and shows us that when the chips are down, her instincts are sound.
Verdict: This is a slow burn of a book with lots of tension and an edginess that sits on our detective’s shoulders keeping the unpredictability high. You really feel you are immersed in the dry, dusty outback. I loved Detective Dana Russo and her unorthodox methods. I certainly want to go back and read SR White’s previous books in this series. Highly recommended by me.
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