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Purgatory
IT IS THE EARLY 1980’S.
Greg Bowker is a young senior constable forcibly transferred to a one-officer station in a remote and dying Mallee town.
Welcomed by a brutal combination of heat, dust, isolation and primitive amenities, the new officer expects to waste years of his career in ‘purgatory’.
He is greeted with warmth by the community but becomes increasingly worried by the behaviour of two delinquent teenagers, one of whose family history hides a secret he cannot resist investigating.
A subsequent disappearance and murder set a new challenge for the young officer that leads him down a path into an unspeakable world of darkness and deception
Greg Bowker is a young senior constable forcibly transferred to a one-officer station in a remote and dying Mallee town.
Welcomed by a brutal combination of heat, dust, isolation and primitive amenities, the new officer expects to waste years of his career in ‘purgatory’.
He is greeted with warmth by the community but becomes increasingly worried by the behaviour of two delinquent teenagers, one of whose family history hides a secret he cannot resist investigating.
A subsequent disappearance and murder set a new challenge for the young officer that leads him down a path into an unspeakable world of darkness and deception
334 pages, Paperback
Published November 25, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 5, 2023
Purgatory by Australia author Robert M. Smith is a gripping murder mystery set in the 1980’s filled with suspense and a plot you must disentangle before you can turn off the light.
Senior Constable Greg Bowker finds himself relocated from his station in Ballarat to a Mallee town in north-west Victoria, Australia. The transfer to a one-officer station in Manangatang was his only option otherwise he would be looking for a new career. The isolated town has a much lower population of 419 than what Greg and wife Rachael are accustomed to and soon learn the labelling of the township Purgatory is quite fitting.
With a note left by his predecessor Senior Constable Roy Pace, Greg was not expecting much to happen in town apart from keeping a look out for a few certain people he had been warned about, one being Yvonne Bryant, a wayward teen who had moved up from Melbourne after the death of her mother. Little does he know how connected they would become.
Cocamba, located approximately 10km from Manangatang, Ferret Igoe was working at the silos when he smelt something pungent, he was desperate to find where it was coming from before the grain arrived Monday, searching the area and looking for roadkill it ended up being his kelpie bitch that found the decomposed body at the bottom on the grain shed. For a town where nothing ever happens Officer Bowker now has a disappearance and suspected homicide on his hands, as he pieces together evidence to uncover the truth, he gets more than what he has bargained for.
Smith spent time with the storyline development, and character-building including the ambiance of a rural small town. The description of the Mallee Is perfectly captured, you could feel the heat from the fierce sun and the dust from the dryness of the land.
I loved how the author managed to truly capture the feelings different people might have living in a small community. Each of the characters felt like real people instead of fictional characters, they are capable, smart, strong, passionate, deadly, and believable. The author’s use of figurative language throughout the book was beautifully chosen to evoke real emotions and to allow me to picture the events in my mind as they unfolded.
The immediate feeling, I had upon finishing this novel was one of satisfaction, for although not everything in the plot goes the way you might first imagine it, the interesting and intricate strands which come together during the investigation are deeply rewarding to discover and be surprised by. It highlights how good, solid police procedure can lead to the evidence needed to help solve a case.
Overall, I cannot recommend Purgatory highly enough for fans of this genre, especially if you enjoy unique angles and mysteries jam-packed with plenty of unexpected surprises. Robert M. Smith shows a remarkable talent, and I look forward to his next novel.
Thank you, Beauty and Lace and Shawline Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review.
Senior Constable Greg Bowker finds himself relocated from his station in Ballarat to a Mallee town in north-west Victoria, Australia. The transfer to a one-officer station in Manangatang was his only option otherwise he would be looking for a new career. The isolated town has a much lower population of 419 than what Greg and wife Rachael are accustomed to and soon learn the labelling of the township Purgatory is quite fitting.
With a note left by his predecessor Senior Constable Roy Pace, Greg was not expecting much to happen in town apart from keeping a look out for a few certain people he had been warned about, one being Yvonne Bryant, a wayward teen who had moved up from Melbourne after the death of her mother. Little does he know how connected they would become.
Cocamba, located approximately 10km from Manangatang, Ferret Igoe was working at the silos when he smelt something pungent, he was desperate to find where it was coming from before the grain arrived Monday, searching the area and looking for roadkill it ended up being his kelpie bitch that found the decomposed body at the bottom on the grain shed. For a town where nothing ever happens Officer Bowker now has a disappearance and suspected homicide on his hands, as he pieces together evidence to uncover the truth, he gets more than what he has bargained for.
Smith spent time with the storyline development, and character-building including the ambiance of a rural small town. The description of the Mallee Is perfectly captured, you could feel the heat from the fierce sun and the dust from the dryness of the land.
I loved how the author managed to truly capture the feelings different people might have living in a small community. Each of the characters felt like real people instead of fictional characters, they are capable, smart, strong, passionate, deadly, and believable. The author’s use of figurative language throughout the book was beautifully chosen to evoke real emotions and to allow me to picture the events in my mind as they unfolded.
The immediate feeling, I had upon finishing this novel was one of satisfaction, for although not everything in the plot goes the way you might first imagine it, the interesting and intricate strands which come together during the investigation are deeply rewarding to discover and be surprised by. It highlights how good, solid police procedure can lead to the evidence needed to help solve a case.
Overall, I cannot recommend Purgatory highly enough for fans of this genre, especially if you enjoy unique angles and mysteries jam-packed with plenty of unexpected surprises. Robert M. Smith shows a remarkable talent, and I look forward to his next novel.
Thank you, Beauty and Lace and Shawline Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review.
March 25, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I really connected to this book. Being the partner of a police officer also sent up to the Mallee I felt so connected to Senior Constable Bowker and his partner Rachael. The author did an amazing job at writing from the setting of the Mallee and I really resonated with each word.
The book follows Senior Constable Greg Bowker who has moved from his station in Ballarat to a one-man station in Manangatang in regional Victoria, Australia with his partner Rachael. Being so rural and in some of the harshest Australian conditions, locals have termed the town ‘Purgatory’ but this could be just the isolation Greg and Rachael desperately need. Once Bowker arrives in Manang, he meets rebellious teen Yvonne Bryant who has moved up from Melbourne following the troublesome death of her mother, little does Bowker know the impact young Yvonne will have on him.
I will say that the book was a really slow burn, with a lot of the action not happening until over halfway into the book. The first half of the book spent a lot of time character building and I did find that there were a lot of random stories, whilst I enjoyed them, other people might not understand the landscape that is being built by the author (but I really enjoyed it having been to a lot of the places mentioned)! The only thing that jumps out at me was the inconsistency with one of the characters names, it was interchangeably spelt ‘Percy’ and ‘Perce’ but I quickly figured out it was the same person and it was fine.
Overall a great book and especially recommend to those living in regional Victoria!
#bookreview #upcomingrelease #arcreview #arcreading #arc #advancedcopy #booksbooksbooks #bookworm #bibliophile #bookish #bookshelf #bookaholic #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #bookaddict #bookcommunity #bibliophile #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookclub #booktok #bookgram #booksofinstagram #bookblog #bookstagramfeature #bookblogger #bookblogging #bookreviews #thrillabookstaclub #thrillerbooks #crimebooks #crimebookclub
I really connected to this book. Being the partner of a police officer also sent up to the Mallee I felt so connected to Senior Constable Bowker and his partner Rachael. The author did an amazing job at writing from the setting of the Mallee and I really resonated with each word.
The book follows Senior Constable Greg Bowker who has moved from his station in Ballarat to a one-man station in Manangatang in regional Victoria, Australia with his partner Rachael. Being so rural and in some of the harshest Australian conditions, locals have termed the town ‘Purgatory’ but this could be just the isolation Greg and Rachael desperately need. Once Bowker arrives in Manang, he meets rebellious teen Yvonne Bryant who has moved up from Melbourne following the troublesome death of her mother, little does Bowker know the impact young Yvonne will have on him.
I will say that the book was a really slow burn, with a lot of the action not happening until over halfway into the book. The first half of the book spent a lot of time character building and I did find that there were a lot of random stories, whilst I enjoyed them, other people might not understand the landscape that is being built by the author (but I really enjoyed it having been to a lot of the places mentioned)! The only thing that jumps out at me was the inconsistency with one of the characters names, it was interchangeably spelt ‘Percy’ and ‘Perce’ but I quickly figured out it was the same person and it was fine.
Overall a great book and especially recommend to those living in regional Victoria!
#bookreview #upcomingrelease #arcreview #arcreading #arc #advancedcopy #booksbooksbooks #bookworm #bibliophile #bookish #bookshelf #bookaholic #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #bookaddict #bookcommunity #bibliophile #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookclub #booktok #bookgram #booksofinstagram #bookblog #bookstagramfeature #bookblogger #bookblogging #bookreviews #thrillabookstaclub #thrillerbooks #crimebooks #crimebookclub
May 4, 2023
Thank you to Shawline Publishing and Beauty and Lace Club for my copy. I also must add that Shawline always wrap their books in brown paper and I love the personal touch!
This book was pretty good for a debut novel. The cover represents the harsh climate where the story takes place and is also eyecatching.
I loved that the story was set in the 80's and is back to basics like reading actual maps to find a place, no internet and good old fashioned Police investigating.
The author was raised on a farm in country Victoria which shows in his descriptions of farming machinary and how it works, plus the mouse plague which sounded quite overwhelming and horrific.
I loved all the Aussie nicknames, most characters seemed to have one and the hilarious Aussie dry humor throughout the book. The description of the dry, harsh conditions and oppressive heat were described very well, could almost feel it as I was reading.
The story is mostly based around the new Constable in town, Greg Bowker and his girlfriend Rachael. The town has it's secrets, but so do Greg and Rachael which comes out later in the book.
In the prologue a body is discovered and it's not until later in the book that the murder occurs. There is no shortage of people with motive for the murder and I never picked who it was.
The story flowed well and I found it interesting right from the start and read it in quick time. The book also deals with town secrets, alcoholism, neglected and abused teenagers and has a couple of other juicy, unexpected secrets.
Overall, a good rural mystery, well written with enough to keep me entertained without being complicated.
This book was pretty good for a debut novel. The cover represents the harsh climate where the story takes place and is also eyecatching.
I loved that the story was set in the 80's and is back to basics like reading actual maps to find a place, no internet and good old fashioned Police investigating.
The author was raised on a farm in country Victoria which shows in his descriptions of farming machinary and how it works, plus the mouse plague which sounded quite overwhelming and horrific.
I loved all the Aussie nicknames, most characters seemed to have one and the hilarious Aussie dry humor throughout the book. The description of the dry, harsh conditions and oppressive heat were described very well, could almost feel it as I was reading.
The story is mostly based around the new Constable in town, Greg Bowker and his girlfriend Rachael. The town has it's secrets, but so do Greg and Rachael which comes out later in the book.
In the prologue a body is discovered and it's not until later in the book that the murder occurs. There is no shortage of people with motive for the murder and I never picked who it was.
The story flowed well and I found it interesting right from the start and read it in quick time. The book also deals with town secrets, alcoholism, neglected and abused teenagers and has a couple of other juicy, unexpected secrets.
Overall, a good rural mystery, well written with enough to keep me entertained without being complicated.
December 22, 2023
This self-published book suffers from being pitched to too narrow an audience. It is pretty clear that Smith is writing for people who come from Manangatang and nearby, and spends about two-thirds of the book talking about life there, describing local characters, some of whom are thinly disguised real people. He is obviously playing a game of spot-the-reference with people and places, for the benefit of the locals. The general reader simply does not need to know about the local sporting clubs and the results of Manangatang's netball, tennis, and footy competitions.
As a consequence, the actual crime that is the subject of the book gets short shrift until about 70% of the way in, and then everything is resolved in a mad rush that stretches credulity. Especially at the end, which somehow manages to both be very unsatisfying and impossible to believe.
As a consequence, the actual crime that is the subject of the book gets short shrift until about 70% of the way in, and then everything is resolved in a mad rush that stretches credulity. Especially at the end, which somehow manages to both be very unsatisfying and impossible to believe.
June 18, 2025
The author has got the town, the district and the times pretty much right.
I noticed that one reviewer thought the plot was implausible. I can attest that incest wasn't a rarity in rural Australia back in the 80s (and it probably still happens).
Male teachers and 16 year old girls? Not too uncommon back then.
Young tearaways in fast cars and up to no good. Yes, them too.
Bloody minded bent sexist cops? What a surprise!
It was certainly much less far-fetched than a lot of crime fiction that I have read over the years.
Yes, the heavy duty action doesn't happen early on in the novel. Normally I like to see some serious drama in the first couple of chapters, but the slow and gentle start worked out for me here.
I noticed that one reviewer thought the plot was implausible. I can attest that incest wasn't a rarity in rural Australia back in the 80s (and it probably still happens).
Male teachers and 16 year old girls? Not too uncommon back then.
Young tearaways in fast cars and up to no good. Yes, them too.
Bloody minded bent sexist cops? What a surprise!
It was certainly much less far-fetched than a lot of crime fiction that I have read over the years.
Yes, the heavy duty action doesn't happen early on in the novel. Normally I like to see some serious drama in the first couple of chapters, but the slow and gentle start worked out for me here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2023
First of all, thankyou to Beauty and Lace and Shawline Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Set in the early 1980's, Greg Bowker moves to a remote and dying Mallee town with his partner Rachel. We meet Yvonne who has had a rough life growing up and then when she goes missing and is subsequently found dead, Greg does everything possible to find her killer. Many twists and turns in this amazing book by Robert M.Smith, the epilogue at the end made me laugh. Karma. What goes around, comes around.
Set in the early 1980's, Greg Bowker moves to a remote and dying Mallee town with his partner Rachel. We meet Yvonne who has had a rough life growing up and then when she goes missing and is subsequently found dead, Greg does everything possible to find her killer. Many twists and turns in this amazing book by Robert M.Smith, the epilogue at the end made me laugh. Karma. What goes around, comes around.
March 5, 2023
A great book. The descriptions of the Mallee where the book is set were wonderful ,you could feel the heat and see the dust. The characters, were all well drawn and the writing was excellent. The story line was cleverly thought out and executed, It kept me guessing to the end. I hope the author writes more in this genre I will be lining up to read it if he does. I won't say anything about the story as you need to read it and find out for yourself sufficient to say a wonderful read, well done.
March 28, 2025
Quite enjoyable. Was in Australia when I read this first book of Robert M Smith. Set in The Mallee, a term with which I was not familiar although used to small villages almost in the outback.
The book held my interest. The chief protagonist is sent as the single police-man to a small village, where a murder is committed. He obviously knows the landscape and territory, very well.
The book held my interest. The chief protagonist is sent as the single police-man to a small village, where a murder is committed. He obviously knows the landscape and territory, very well.
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June 24, 2023Gripping read page turner with twists by a new Australian author
November 24, 2023
Well written, love the lingo and country banter. I live in northern Victoria and enjoyed seeing the local area mentioned. I enjoyed the book it was a good read 👍
September 13, 2024
Good descriptions of a unique part of Victoria but the eventual crime and resolution and other events in the last quarter of the book require some suspension of logic and likelihood.
April 6, 2023
An amazing debut novel from this author. His use of written imagery to paint the scene really draws you in. Like the small country town it’s based in, it feels like a sleepy town with minimal going on, until everything is going on. Can’t wait for the next one.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews