The Diggers Rest Hotel

Charlie Berlin #1

by Geoffrey McGeachin

In 1947, two years after witnessing the death of a young Jewish woman in Poland, Charlie Berlin has rejoined the police force a different man. Sent to investigate a spate of robberies in rural Victoria, he soon discovers that World War II has changed even the most ordinary of places and people.

An ex-bomber pilot and former POW, Berlin is struggling to fit back in: grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder, the ghosts of his dead crew and his futile attempts to numb the pain.

When Berlin travels to Albury–Wodonga to track down the gang behind the robberies, he suspects he's a problem cop being set up to fail. Taking a room at the Diggers Rest Hotel in Wodonga, he sets about solving a case that no one else can – with the help of feisty, ambitious journalist Rebecca Green and rookie constable Rob Roberts, the only cop in town he can trust.

Then the decapitated body of a young girl turns up in a back alley, and Berlin's investigations lead him ever further through layers of small-town fears, secrets and despair.

The first Charlie Berlin mystery takes us into a world of secret alliances and loyalties – and a society dealing with the effects of a war that changed men forever.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Australia, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction, Historical

316 pages, Paperback

First published April 27, 2010

About the author

After a career as a world-travelling photographer and then photo-educator, Melbourne born Geoffrey McGeachin eventually settled in Sydney’s Bondi Beach where he decided one day to sit down and see if he had a book in him.

His first novel, the award winning Fat, Fifty and Fu*ked! (definitely not an autobiography) was published by Penguin and followed by three tongue-in-check spy novels featuring photographer/secret agent Alby Murdoch: D-E-D Dead, Sensitive New Age Spy, and Dead & Kicking.

In 2010 Geoffrey wrote the first of the Charlie Berlin trilogy, The Diggers Rest Hotel; followed by Blackwattle Creek and St Kilda Blues. The series, set in 1947, 1957 and 1967, earned him two prestigious Ned Kelly Awards (2011 and 2013) for Best Australian Crime Fiction.

In 2023 Clan Destine republished Fat, Fifty and Fu*ked!, praised by iconic author Kerri Greenwood as, ‘hilariously funny,’ adding, ‘this wonderful book . . . is a hymn of joyful praise for this Big, Brown Land. If you love Australia as it actually is, warts and all, then you will love this book.’

In 2025 McGeachin’s laconic larrikin photographer/spy Alby Murdoch is back in action with Clan Destine’s republication of D-E-D Dead, Sensitive New Age Spy, and Dead & Kicking.

Geoffrey now lives on the gorgeous NSW central coast.

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this historical mystery set in 1940s Wodonga. The Australian setting was well done as was the description of post war country side Victoria and the way ordinary people were affected by the war. DC Berlin is a very interesting character who is dealing with the atrocities he himself witnessed in his time as a fighter pilot and as a POW. Despite it all he has the makings of an excellent policeman, fair but not unbending, smart and quick to pick up on clues. I liked him very much and also enjoyed his relationship with Rebecca. This is the first book in a series and I shall be looking out for the rest.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in Geoffrey McGeachin's Charlie Berlin series. Set just after WW2 in 1947, Charlie is a returned pilot and POW. Clearly suffering PTSD as a result of losing his plane and crew on a bombing raid to Berlin followed by the atrocities he experienced and saw as a POW, he struggles with nightmares, flashbacks and occasional blackouts. He has returned to his previous career as a police detective in Melbourne and in this novel is sent to Wodonga in country Victoria to investigate a series of armed payroll robberies carried out by a gang on ex-army motorbikes.

For me the mystery itself wasn't the main interest in this story. I really enjoyed the historical detail of life after WW2, showing how even in a small town like Wodonga the after effects of the war had repercussions on the men who returned as well as the people left behind. The author did a terrific job of researching and capturing the mood and feel of the time with great descriptions of Aussie country life - the rooms at the hotel, the men drinking in the pub, the rationing, the type of food that was served and social attitudes to women, immigrants and Aboriginals. Charlie Berlin is a great character, damaged and hurting but ultimately a good man with a strong moral sense, but a man who is compassionate and able to turn a blind eye to minor misdemeanors when needed. I also liked Rebecca Green, not a typical woman of her time but as well as being feisty and gutsy one who is keen to hold onto her independence won through her work during the war. An excellent read and I hope there will be many more in the series.

[Krystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I would enjoy this a bit more than I did, and that's probably because the PTSD and war memories were more plentiful than I was expecting. It made the mystery a bit slower to play out.

Small town crime stories don't leave too much room for players so they characterise pretty well, and this was no different. Charlie's a pretty typical 'cop trying to forget the trauma of his past' but hey, here's a pretty woman to help him with that.

The mystery was intriguing, though a little slow as mentioned and just didn't leave any lasting impressions. I read this one many years ago and I remember it just being mediocre. Mostly I just read it because the sequel sounded fun.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Diggers Rest Hotel is the first Charlie Berlin Mystery by Australian author, Geoffrey McGeachin. It is 1947, and ex-bomber pilot, Charlie Berlin has returned from the war bodily (if not psychologically) intact to resume his police career. DC Berlin, now 27 years old, is a bit of a loner, a misfit, still subject to blackouts, nightmares and flashbacks, a legacy of his time as a pilot and POW. His boss sends him to Wodonga to investigate a series of payroll robberies that have left local police baffled.

He learns the robberies are committed by a gang of five balaclava’d motorcycle riders toting sub-machine guns, but there is a dearth of further clues. While Rob Roberts, the young constable assigned to him, has some ideas, he is offered some valuable information by a journalist for The Argus, in town to interview Russell Drysdale. The other local police are uncooperative, and the witness accounts less than helpful. Then, the corpse of a beheaded young Chinese girl is discovered in an alley, and Berlin finds his detecting talents under extra pressure.

McGeachin gives the reader an excellent plot with a few red herrings and the odd twist or two. Charlie’s crime scene investigation is, of course, basic: the use of DNA, microscopic trace evidence, computers and mobile phones all far into the future. McGeachin expertly captures the feel of post-war country Victoria, the moods and attitudes of the people; his characters are believable and their dialogue is natural. Berlin is a character with depth and appeal, so readers will be pleased to know that he appears in at least two further books. This is excellent historical crime fiction.

[Jülie ☼♄  · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Diggers Rest Hotel

I thought the story was a bit slow to start and worried that it was going to be hard work, then it started to pick up pace and I began to enjoy the way it was unfolding.
Given that it is the first book in a new series I figured it was laying the necessary groundwork and setting up character profiles for the follow on books.

Set in post WW2 Australia, in country, Albury - Wodonga 1947.

DC Charlie Berlin is a likable character but a bit emotionally damaged from his recent war service in Europe as an enlisted man with the RAAF, where he flew many successive and successful flights as a bomber pilot over Germany, finally ending up being shot down and captured as a POW.
After returning from his war service Charlie thought he would pick up his career with the Police Force in Melbourne where he was working prior to his enlistment.
He finds however that during his absence he has been left behind in the claim for career advancement and that his then, junior colleagues now outrank him....which grates a bit, and puts him in the target range for in house jokes and directives to take on the more unpopular jobs.

Such are the circumstances that find Charlie (DC Berlin) on a hastily organized private flight to Albury, to take charge of an investigation into a series of robberies which have left the local cops out of their depths.
After arriving in town Charlie is picked up at the plane by his appointed assistant and driver, constable Bob Roberts, who takes him to his accommodation at The Digger's Rest Hotel in the heart of town.
Things start to pick up now as Charlie takes control and begins his investigations by meeting a few of the locals, and one very attractive female reporter who happens to be in town for a story on a popular painter, artist.

Investigations are suddenly interrupted when the murdered body of a local girl is discovered in a nearby lane and...since he is already in town, DC Berlin is put in charge of solving this case also.
With lots of pressure from higher up to solve these cases ASAP, Charlie is stymied by the incompetence of the local police officer in charge of this small town as well as many of its emotionally flawed residents...who have their own crosses to bear.

I thoroughly enjoyed this old fashioned type of investigative crime story. It was very easy to read and kept the pace going with plenty of action going on all the time.
It reminded me of the old black and white detective movies, which always held your attention.
The descriptions of the vehicles in particular, as well as much of the equipment of the time, and some of the household goods and corner shop items are very accurately depicted to give a real authentic and nostalgic feel to the story.

Highly recommended for crime enthusiasts and others. 4★s

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit that I started reading this novel with some trepidation. Historical crime fiction has never been a favourite of mine. I always found the genre a bit like Enid Blyton for grown-ups, with lashings of sentimentality and moral fibre. However, somewhere amongst the pages of this book I was turned. This book became my very own time machine. Each evening as I read, I was transported back to post-war 1940s rural Australia.

The two world wars had scarred Australia. Rationing lead to thriftyness and the front bar drinking culture was in full force. Small towns had secrets, graft, and alliances and a universal distrust of foreigners. Amidst this backdrop, the Charlie Berlin literary character is introduced to us. He too is scarred by the war, with the horror of being a fighter pilot and POW gently teased out of him throughout the novel. Charlie is a complex character, and his vulnerability and self-destructive streak coupled with obvious intelligence endear him almost immediately to the reader. You are on board with Charlie. A very private man, where only you, the reader, are privy to Charlie's inner pain.

Following the war, Charlie Berlin re-joins the police force, and is sent to rural Victoria to investigate a series of armed hold-ups. The plot thickens when a young Chinese girl is found dead and decapitated. Charlie's crime-solving meanders along as he bumbles around the countryside with his assigned local sidekick, rookie constable Rob Roberts and the ambitious and beautiful journalist Rebecca Green. Seemingly inocuous visits to various crime scenes, ultimately lead Charlie to piece together the puzzle, and solve the crimes.

Overall a wonderfully researched historical crime fiction novel. The mood of the time was fully captured. There was no rose-coloured reminiscing involved. People made mistakes. Men drank, fought and had drug addictions. Police were corrupt, women flirted and teenage girls became pregnant.

I feel Geoffrey McGeachin has hit a winner with Charlie Berlin. A complex and enigmatic lead character, a captivating plot and as a sideline, a wonderfully enjoyable social commentary of Australia in the late 1940s. I can't wait for the next installment so that I can travel back in my time machine and rejoin Charlie Berlin for a 'frothy' in another rustic Australian front bar! It's my shout Charlie!

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story featuring a detective named Berlin went nowhere. It is set in Australia after WWII. Berlin goes to a small town to investigate a series of armed robberies by a motorcycle gang. Then a 16 year old girl is murdered. Instead of hearing details about the crimes, it seemed most of this book describes how macho these Aussie men are, how much they fight and goes on and on about the war. So little was spent on investigating the crimes. In the end, Berlin barely had to do anything to find the guilty. I have now decided to avoid unknown audiobooks and spend my time listening to books I actually want to read. A bargain isn't a bargain if you don't like it.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always interesting to see a favoured author head off in another direction, and THE DIGGERS REST HOTEL is a big directional switch for Geoffrey McGeachin. Moving away from the madcap all-Australian James Bond of the Alby Murdoch books, we are introduced to a new character, a new timeframe and a very different approach.

Set in post World War II Victoria THE DIGGERS REST HOTEL introduces Charlie Berlin. A pilot during the war, back to the police on his return, Charlie is deeply traumatised. Sent to Albury-Wodonga to investigate a series of robberies that have suddenly become violent, this is also a story of the after-affects of war. Alongside the robbery, a subsequent murder and Charlie's own story, there are glimpses of the damage done on the home-front as well. The man whose son was a victim of a brutal death, and the brother who survived. The young Australian photographer and would-be newspaper reporter, who has her own family tales of difficulty for her German-born parents.

The information that came with this book highlights how the author has used the stories of his own father's wartime experiences as both an airman and a POW in Europe, as well as his childhood recollections of growing up in country-town Australia. It's a very realistic portrayal of country Australia - be it in the late 1940's or even more recently (well in this reader's memory anyway). Balance that small-town, closed environment, and the changes that are coming over a society traumatised and profoundly changed by the war and those who did and didn't return, against the individual story of one man who was so profoundly affected by events in Europe, and well, you end up with something that's entertaining, moving and affecting.

THE DIGGERS REST HOTEL isn't a straight up police procedural, this book is about a man who, as damaged and fragile as he is, is an observationist. Along with the personal perspective that this book is built upon, there is also an investigation - finding the motorbike riding gang who have terrorised and robbed multiple Railway locations, and then the horrific murder of a young Chinese girl in the town. There is also a fragile and tentative love story. There is also some stark examples of the differences between acceptable social conventions then, and now. Domestic violence, racism, thuggery, sexism, double standards - they are all touched upon, displayed but not dwelled upon.

Undoubtedly the great strength of THE DIGGERS REST HOTEL is the character study of Charlie Berlin, followed very closely by the affects of war on everyone, even in a small country-town deep within Australia - on the border of New South Wales and Victoria. Charlie Berlin is a wonderfully flawed human policeman, doing his duty, falling apart and picking himself back up again. THE DIGGERS REST HOTEL really does remind you that in the days post World War II there wasn't counselling, there wasn't retraining, there wasn't support. There was just the demons, and the jobs that had to be done, and alcohol and there were those that found a way to fit back in, and those that never did.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Diggers Rest Hotel is book one of the Charlie Berlin series by Geoffrey McGeachin. One morning Detective Constable Charlie Berlin came to work and was dispatch to Albury/Wodonga straight away with only the case file to stop the group who is robbing trains. However, Detective Constable Charlie Berlin started to think he was sent to investigate the robberies to fail. The readers of The Diggers Rest Hotel will follow the twist and turns in Detective Constable Charlie Berlin investigation into the thefts and see if Charlie fails or closes the case.

The Diggers Rest Hotel is historical crime mystery set in Albury/Wodonga in the late 1940's, and I did enjoy reading it. I loved Geoffrey McGeachin portrayal of Charlie Berlin and the way he intertwined Charlie with his other characters. Diggers Rest Hotel is well written and research by Geoffrey McGeachin. I was engaged with the characters, and the plot of The Diggers Rest Hotel from the beginning and I will differently read other books in this series.

The readers of The Diggers Rest Hotel will start to understand the problems POW's can have when they come home after the end of WWWII. The Diggers Rest Hotel highlights the financial hardships rural communities went through after the ending of WWWII.

I recommend this book.

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book full of evocative scenes that really brought post-war Australia alive for me. It was refreshing to read a period piece that had no political correctness outside of the era, no anomalous references. The crimes are of their time. The action is not that of a block-buster (thank goodness). Thoroughly enjoyed the setting, characters, writing, plot and ending. I'll be looking for McGeachin's other books featuring Charlie Berlin, copper and returned WWII airman - Black Wattle Creek and St Kilda Blues. If he kept up the form to these two novels, I'll be delighted.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thoroughly entertaining audio version of the novel presented a range of interesting characters, a not-too-obvious plot and an unexpected but sensitively rendered air of pathos. Although crime fiction is not usually my preferred genre this expertly delivered audio version by Peter Byrne was the perfect accompaniment on a recent road trip Outback and I look forward to meeting Charlie Berlin again in Black Wattle Creek.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kind of liked this, but it probably paled against another book that I was reading at the time - also a police procedural set in rural Victoria with a male protagonist investigating a crime while fighting his own demons, but in a contemporary setting. In comparison, this one seemed a little washed out and less gripping.

It is also possible that my opinion of this book suffered a little because of how I read it - it was my ebook for reading while on the treadmill at the gym, so therefore, I was only reading it sporadically - 30 minutes here and there. This meant it took a while and possibly dragged a little as a result.

I would be interested still to continue on with more of this series - perhaps not reading it while on the treadmill, but as my main, read-at-home book, and hopefully not while reading another procedural at the time (or following hot on the heels of one!).

[Sandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this to be an enjoyable historical mystery. First in a series featuring a Melbourne detective constable and set in 1947, I really liked the Australian location, the time period, and the characters. The plotting in the book was fine and the narration by Peter Byrne was very good.

[Kris McCracken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Geoffrey McGeachin's "The Diggers Rest Hotel" is a historical crime novel that serves its purpose well enough but doesn't exactly light up the literary firmament. Set in late 1940s Albury/ Wodonga, it captures the era with a keen sense of atmosphere, even if the storytelling occasionally leans on convention.

The book introduces Charlie Berlin, a war-damaged ex-bomber pilot turned policeman, investigating a series of armed robberies. Charlie is an astute and reflective protagonist, though he's not breaking new ground for the genre. His internal monologue offers perceptive commentary on the post-war world, and his struggles with PTSD add layers, but the trope of the haunted veteran has been done to death (and better) elsewhere.

The supporting cast is a smorgasbord of archetypes seemingly plucked from the checklist of contemporary historical fiction. There's the fiercely independent woman bristling against patriarchy, the neurodiverse character providing a touch of left-field insight and the queer character whose narrative function feels half-hearted at best. Of course, this being Australian fiction, we also have the sagacious Aboriginal character, forced to keep his brilliance under wraps in a world hostile to his existence. While these figures reflect important and often neglected histories, their inclusion en masse feels both predictable and a tad contrived, particularly in a town this size.

McGeachin clearly did his homework; the period details - from jittery post-war tensions to the scent of rationed tobacco - are immersive. This meticulousness gives the book a sturdy framework, but it sometimes feels as though the research is doing the heavy lifting where the prose or plotting might otherwise shine. The dialogue, while functional, lacks the snap and bite of great crime fiction, and the mystery's resolution is more serviceable than surprising.

The novel does effectively explore the ripples of war trauma, not just for individuals but entire communities. Charlie's efforts to fit back into a world that has fundamentally shifted ring true - the dangers of his stoicism and the risk of even if the narrative takes a leisurely pace in unpacking these themes.

In the end, "The Diggers Rest Hotel" is a competent piece of genre fiction: easy enough to read, historically resonant, but unlikely to be remembered as transformative. It transcends the standard police procedural by offering a thoughtful examination of its hero's vulnerabilities, though it never quite finds the spark to elevate it beyond the middle ground.

⭐ ⭐ 1/2

[Kerrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this novel long enough ago for me to have forgotten the finer plot details. Peter Byrne's narration is solidly done, but it is the author's detailed descriptions that place the reader firmly in post-war rural Victoria. McGeachin takes great pains to mention items and events which put us just after World War II.

In some ways Charlie Berlin is still suffering post-war trauma - events from his experience as a P.O.W. and as a bomber pilot keep sending him reminders. Wodonga is a country town still on war alert even thought the war is long over - a squad of local militia still train "just in case" and there are plenty of reminders of the war, including an army camp or two full of discarded weaponry, tanks, trucks and other vehicles.

But they are not the problem - a bunch of armed Harley Davidson riders is - they conduct raids on banks and other places holding money. The latest is the Wodonga Post office, although this is the first one where someone has been hurt. Charlie Berlin is sent up from Melbourne to find out what is happening, but no-one expects him to succeed.

An excellent read, whether you tackle the audio book or a printed copy. And the start of an award winning Australian series. See below for the list of titles so far.

[J.D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars is probably a little generous, but I appreciated the effort. The casual racism of the time was hard to bear as it was too close to home, the children of this era were my generations parents and regretfully, some of them have carried that bias down through their lives with them. The wanting description of the Aussie Rules (AFL) game was by someone who is not an aficionado of that sporting code either. Otherwise I enjoyed the hotchpotch dynamic of fragmented and broken returned soldiers, mixed in with the regional townies, seasoned with the flawed police. The protagonist Charlie Berlin was likeable enough, the romance with Rebecca was layered with amusing repartee, until it was consummated with a lazy, unimaginative bit of writing. I will possibly read the second instalment if I accidentally come across it.

[Derelict Space Sheep · Rating 4 out of 5]

Former bomber pilot Charlie Berlin is sent to Wodonga to track down a gang of armed robbers. His investigations seem almost peripheral to McGeachin’s purpose: a well-drawn character study of Berlin and of rural Australian society shortly after the Second World War.

[Anne Fenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Wodonga of all places. Interesting angle of post WW1 world. Too much product placement and past history but otherwise entertaining.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: after WW2, Charlie rejoined the police force a different man. Investigating robberies in rural Victoria, he asks, Am I being set-up to fail?

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

l liked this book. No spoilers from me.

[Rhondda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The late 1940's era in Australia is well described in this crime novel, the first in a series about WWII returned POW Charlie Berlin.
The hero of The Diggers Rest Hotel, Charlie, is a detective and a flawed hero. He is barely coping with post-traumatic stress as a result of his war years. He was a bomber pilot then POW in Germany during World War II. Charlie works out of Russell Street police station and doesn't fit in with the rest of the detectives. When not at work he is a recluse, living in a rundown bedsit in Carlton, and on the way to becoming an alcoholic. His life changes when he is sent to rural Victoria to investigate a spate of robberies. No-one else wanted the job and he is given no time to even pack before being put on a plane to Albury.
Charlie is picked up by young constable, Rob Roberts and taken to the scene of the crime in Wodonga. The local police are wary of him and the locals not much better. After taking a room at the Diggers Rest Hotel, he sets about solving a case that no one else can. He has the help of a feisty and ambitious journalist, Rebecca Green and Roberts who seems to be the only cop in town he can trust.
All the characters in the story are well drawn. They are easily identifiable and seem very real to the reader. This is a well-researched historical crime fiction novel and the mood of the era was well captured. It was also a great story.

[Bruce McNair · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's 1947 and Charlie Berlin is an ex WW2 bomber pilot who spent some time as a POW in German controlled Poland. He is still haunted by his war experiences. But he is also a cop who is also haunted by the horrors of his police duties. He draws the last straw to investigate a spate of robberies in country Victoria. During his investigations, a young girl is found murdered and Berlin is told to stay on and solve both cases. The plot seems to get bogged down as Berlin is stymied in every direction. But inevitably the breakthroughs come, one courtesy of his love interest, and the perpetrators are identified. I felt that the end might have been telegraphed a little, but at least both mysteries were resolved.

This is a great story with richly imagined characters right out of the late 1940s. The description of Wodonga, which could be any Australian town of the era, is also spot on. The turmoil of the post-war is a reminder that war affects nearly everything. I felt that the refugee situation described has some parallel with today, especially the racist attitudes. Thus, the author has managed to capture the feel of the era. I highly recommend this book to any lover of crime/mystery, particularly Australians and especially those who remember the 1940s or 1950s.

[Selena Hanet-Hutchins · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was away from this book (due to leaving it behind when I was staying away from home) I was thinking about it a lot, and especially the depth of characterisation of Charlie Berlin. When I finally finished it I wanted to read another one, or keep going somehow, even though the mystery had been solved, in the 1940s present and in Charlie's past. Charlie is the measure of the success of this book; to me, at least, he felt very real. McGeachin's skill is at showing just enough of Charlie for us to 'get' it when he alludes to the rest burning beneath the surface. We're always hoping he will finally let Rebecca Green in. She is also enjoyable (and maybe deserves her own spin-off series?) and many of the other characters (e.g. Roberts, the driver) are drawn with respect and a sense of depth and authenticity. The mystery itself was difficult enough to solve that I wanted to keep reading for that payoff, too, and was happily satisfied. I'm keen to read the next Charlie Berlin book, and to see where the series will take his characterisation.

[Shellie Whild · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not something I would normally pick up (I was given a copy) but I gave it a chance and thoroughly enjoyed it. The main character is well-developed and as the book progressed I found myself wanting to get to know him better. My interest never lessened in the story - so no temptation to skip ahead (which you couldn't really do as the book is peppered with flashbacks). A good crime/who-dunnit type of story, interesting assortment of back-up characters, good knowledge/use of the period, promising development of a love interest, and the knowledge that there are two more books in the series. Very satisfying.

[Steph (loves water) · Rating 4 out of 5]

****Review of audiobook****

This was very well done. I haven't listened to an audiobook in 15+ years. This was the only book available through ILL, and I listened to it every chance I could get. Listening to the descriptive paragraphs of the war and its aftermath were powerful and intense, probably because I couldn't skim over them as I do with a paper book. As a result, this was a well written book, with a decent narrator, and well developed characters. I look forward to the next Charlie Berlin novel, be it audio or paper.

[Calzean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great detective story. Broken men who are trying to make something of their lives after WWII. A Victorian region that is seeing a spate of robberies. The local culture consists of beer drinking, fighting and the football.

DC Charlie Berlin is sent from Melbourne to solve the crimes. He is the broken of broken men. He knows he is damaged but he can't get away from blood, violence and death. He is a great character.

[Elaine Mayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent! This novel is set in a rural area of Australia just after WWII. Charlie Berlin was the bomber pilot who is shot down and sent to a concentration camp in Poland. Eventually he returns to his job as a detective. He has terrible nightmares and daymares, but he perseveres in his investigation first of bank robberies and then of a murder. The cast of characters is great, the sense of place is great and the plot interesting. Well worth your reading/listening time.

[Kaye Stambaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Post WWII, Melbourne-based DC Charlie Berlin is sent to the Australian bush of Albury-Wodonga to investigate a series of robberies that are eluding the local police. No cocky city detective, this war former bomber pilot and POW is sadly damaged by his war experiences and is simply trying to cope day-to-day. This was a decent mystery but the characters and setting really make the book. This is the first in the Charlie Berlin series and I'm looking forward to reading the next book.

[Kd · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast moving thriller. Detective Charlie Berlin's tragic past shadows him always leaving us on edge as to how he my react in some situations. Good writing, strong characters and interesting story lines what more could you want from a crime thriller. I look forward to reading more Charlie Berlin stories.

[Sharondblk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is everything I want in a lock-down weekend read. It's set in places I know, it's well written, the plot is easy to read and yet it's not light. I cared about the characters, I cared about the plot. I loved it and am so happy there is a sequel.