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Jack McCain #3
Dirty Weekend
An early-morning phone call shatters Jack McCain's sleep. As Chief Forensic Scientist for the Australian Federal Police, he knows that violent criminals don't keep office hours. but three murders in quick succession draw him into investigations that threaten to change his life forever. Using all his forensic knowledge, and that of his team, Jack attempts to uncover what the ex-wife of a cop had in common with a beautiful research scientist and a frail old man. besides the fact that they were all brutally murdered. From a nightclub to an agricultural research station to a quiet country hamlet, Jack McCain is determined to link the pieces. But what does a casual sex-swapping group have to do with a rare native orchid and Terminator Bunnies? As Jack races to make sense of the evidence, an unsolved murder from the past complicates matters further. With one suspect missing and another refusing to talk, Jack knows that he is running out of time if he wants to stop a murderer from killing again. But will the search cost him the woman he loves?
- GenresCrime
376 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
1 person is currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Gabrielle Lord
108 books239 followersGabrielle Craig Lord is an Australian writer who has been described as Australia's first lady of crime.
She survived being ‘razed’ by the nuns, acquired an education despite this, and after working in many different areas, sales, teaching, brick-cleaning, peach-picking and packing, and in the Public Service as an employment officer, started writing seriously aged 30.
Her first two manuscripts ended up composting the tomatoes at her market garden – another attempt to make a living – but the third one FORTRESS was picked up internationally and made into a feature film starring Rachel Ward. A later novel WHIPPING BOY was made into a telemovie starring Sigrid Thornton. The film rights money, coinciding with her daughter leaving school, allowed Gabrielle to resign and instead of getting up at 4.30am and writing for several hours before heading off for work, she could write full-time and lead a more ‘normal’ writer’s life – hanging around with scientists and detectives, badgering forensic anthropologists (she studied some Anatomy at Sydney university) and doing work experience with a busy private security business and of course, writing.
Research is everything, she says. ‘Out of my contacts with experts (who are always far too modest to describe themselves that way) I get not only the fine-tuning necessary for today’s savvy readers, but also wonderful incidents and images that enrich and enlarge my books.’
Gabrielle’s interests are very simple. ‘After a misspent youth, I don’t have many brain cells left so I enjoy walking, meditation, singing, gardening, chatting with close friends, being with my family and grandkids, feeding my goldfish and keeping up to date with bodywork and enlightened psychotherapy.’
Gabrielle has now written fourteen adult novels and a novel for young adults. Once the 12 books of Conspiracy 365 are completed, this tally will be a tad bigger! Following this mammoth endeavour she already has plans for another three adult novels and two more YAs.
2013
She survived being ‘razed’ by the nuns, acquired an education despite this, and after working in many different areas, sales, teaching, brick-cleaning, peach-picking and packing, and in the Public Service as an employment officer, started writing seriously aged 30.
Her first two manuscripts ended up composting the tomatoes at her market garden – another attempt to make a living – but the third one FORTRESS was picked up internationally and made into a feature film starring Rachel Ward. A later novel WHIPPING BOY was made into a telemovie starring Sigrid Thornton. The film rights money, coinciding with her daughter leaving school, allowed Gabrielle to resign and instead of getting up at 4.30am and writing for several hours before heading off for work, she could write full-time and lead a more ‘normal’ writer’s life – hanging around with scientists and detectives, badgering forensic anthropologists (she studied some Anatomy at Sydney university) and doing work experience with a busy private security business and of course, writing.
Research is everything, she says. ‘Out of my contacts with experts (who are always far too modest to describe themselves that way) I get not only the fine-tuning necessary for today’s savvy readers, but also wonderful incidents and images that enrich and enlarge my books.’
Gabrielle’s interests are very simple. ‘After a misspent youth, I don’t have many brain cells left so I enjoy walking, meditation, singing, gardening, chatting with close friends, being with my family and grandkids, feeding my goldfish and keeping up to date with bodywork and enlightened psychotherapy.’
Gabrielle has now written fourteen adult novels and a novel for young adults. Once the 12 books of Conspiracy 365 are completed, this tally will be a tad bigger! Following this mammoth endeavour she already has plans for another three adult novels and two more YAs.
2013
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 28, 2012
“Jack’s back … and the dead are talking …
There is something about the presence of a dead body, especially a murdered one, that still touches me. Despite its silence, a dead body poses an immense question. A murdered body even more so.
An early-morning phone call shatters Jack McCain’s sleep. As Chief Forensic Scientist for the Australian Federal Police, he knows a call at that hour is never good news.
For Tianna Richardson it is ‘very’ bad news. She’s dead. But hers isn’t the only case that Jack has to deal with. Is her death linked with a casual sex-swapping group? Using all his forensic knowledge, Jack needs to find out how the ex-wife of a cop is connected with a beautiful research scientist and a frail old man … besides the fact that they were all brutally murdered.
Jack McCain is determined to link the pieces. But the killer has expertly covered their tracks and Jack has only trace evidence from a rare native orchid and a whole lot of unanswered questions about the Terminator Rabbit research project to work with. And is the cost to Jack’s personal life worth it, even if he does find the answers …”
This novel follows recovered alcoholic Jack McCain, son of an alcoholic mother, divorced father of two grown children (one of which is a recovered heroine addict) and Chief Forensic Scientist with the Australian Federal Police (AFP), along with the complexities of forensic investigation. Being a Chief Forensic Scientist, Jack should be doing a lot more laboratory and administrative work for the cases coming through the AFP, but unfortunately he just can’t say no and frequently takes on the persona of a private investigator, feeling "obligated" to the victims.
It’s therefore no surprise then that when Jack receives an early morning call from Earl Richardson, an ex-colleague, informing him that his (Earl’s) ex-wife has been murdered, Jack is all but ready, willing and able and finds himself drawn into the murder investigation. Everything snowballs from there when a second call comes in, this time from Dallas Baxter, Chief Scientist at the Agricultural Research Station requesting Jack to attend the Ag Station to assess an incident that has occurred. Of course, this doesn’t appear to be enough for Jack and a third call comes in from Brian Kruger, one of Jack’s team members, requesting Jack to do him a favour by going to see a woman in Ginnindera about a neighbor whom she hasn’t seen for a day or so. And then of course, just to add a further twist to the plot, there’s a cold case that emerges!
Jack is a man with workaholic tendencies and it becomes quite apparent that he works like this in order not to ponder the guilt, anger and difficulties he experiences in both his past and current life – guilt at not being able to help his mother and sister along with a seemingly false accusation leveled at a suspect many years before which had dire consequences and anger at his own childhood suffering. We get to hear first-hand about those feelings as they become entwined with his life with Iona who has moved from Sydney to live with him.
With detrimental consequences to his personal life, he finds himself caught up in all three murder investigations with not many clues except that they all feature traces of a rare native orchid. Finally a suspect is taken into custody, but something is not sitting well with Jack and he is further bothered by the fact that the recently reconstructed skull and facial features of the bones from the cold case bear a striking resemblance to someone he has encountered either in the past or the present – he’s not quite sure. Little does he know that the killer has been right in front of him all along and has been muddying the waters. Everything finally ties up in the final few chapters and we realise what a tightly wound plot Gabrielle Lord has created.
I like the way that Ms Lord has taken Jack’s personal life, particularly his relationship with Iona and his somewhat poignant thoughts on his life, to form a back-story to the main plot. She has created very real, believable characters touching upon social issues such as alcoholism, drug abuse and domestic violence. Having been brought up with an alcoholic father myself (also the son of an alcoholic mother), alcoholism is a social issue which resonates strongly with me - there were some thought-provoking moments which had me wondering whether my own father, like Jack McCain, suffered guilt-ridden periods in his life.
I must admit that the title of the novel bothered me every time I picked it up – personally, I felt it alluded to a book containing large amounts of sexual content – however, nothing could be farther from that. So, for those of you who are not keen on erotica, you can safely pick up this book knowing that there are only a few references to sex and the casual sex-swapping group mentioned in the blurb, with only one particularly daring scene in a hotel room.
This is the first book I have read by Gabrielle Lord but I am given to understand that it is the third book in the Jack McCain series.
Written in the first-person narrative from Jack’s perspective, I found Dirty Weekend to be well researched and, Ms Lord an author who appears to be well-versed in matters of criminological procedures. Not being from a scientific background at all, I was amazed at all the new words I learned.
There is something about the presence of a dead body, especially a murdered one, that still touches me. Despite its silence, a dead body poses an immense question. A murdered body even more so.
An early-morning phone call shatters Jack McCain’s sleep. As Chief Forensic Scientist for the Australian Federal Police, he knows a call at that hour is never good news.
For Tianna Richardson it is ‘very’ bad news. She’s dead. But hers isn’t the only case that Jack has to deal with. Is her death linked with a casual sex-swapping group? Using all his forensic knowledge, Jack needs to find out how the ex-wife of a cop is connected with a beautiful research scientist and a frail old man … besides the fact that they were all brutally murdered.
Jack McCain is determined to link the pieces. But the killer has expertly covered their tracks and Jack has only trace evidence from a rare native orchid and a whole lot of unanswered questions about the Terminator Rabbit research project to work with. And is the cost to Jack’s personal life worth it, even if he does find the answers …”
This novel follows recovered alcoholic Jack McCain, son of an alcoholic mother, divorced father of two grown children (one of which is a recovered heroine addict) and Chief Forensic Scientist with the Australian Federal Police (AFP), along with the complexities of forensic investigation. Being a Chief Forensic Scientist, Jack should be doing a lot more laboratory and administrative work for the cases coming through the AFP, but unfortunately he just can’t say no and frequently takes on the persona of a private investigator, feeling "obligated" to the victims.
It’s therefore no surprise then that when Jack receives an early morning call from Earl Richardson, an ex-colleague, informing him that his (Earl’s) ex-wife has been murdered, Jack is all but ready, willing and able and finds himself drawn into the murder investigation. Everything snowballs from there when a second call comes in, this time from Dallas Baxter, Chief Scientist at the Agricultural Research Station requesting Jack to attend the Ag Station to assess an incident that has occurred. Of course, this doesn’t appear to be enough for Jack and a third call comes in from Brian Kruger, one of Jack’s team members, requesting Jack to do him a favour by going to see a woman in Ginnindera about a neighbor whom she hasn’t seen for a day or so. And then of course, just to add a further twist to the plot, there’s a cold case that emerges!
Jack is a man with workaholic tendencies and it becomes quite apparent that he works like this in order not to ponder the guilt, anger and difficulties he experiences in both his past and current life – guilt at not being able to help his mother and sister along with a seemingly false accusation leveled at a suspect many years before which had dire consequences and anger at his own childhood suffering. We get to hear first-hand about those feelings as they become entwined with his life with Iona who has moved from Sydney to live with him.
With detrimental consequences to his personal life, he finds himself caught up in all three murder investigations with not many clues except that they all feature traces of a rare native orchid. Finally a suspect is taken into custody, but something is not sitting well with Jack and he is further bothered by the fact that the recently reconstructed skull and facial features of the bones from the cold case bear a striking resemblance to someone he has encountered either in the past or the present – he’s not quite sure. Little does he know that the killer has been right in front of him all along and has been muddying the waters. Everything finally ties up in the final few chapters and we realise what a tightly wound plot Gabrielle Lord has created.
I like the way that Ms Lord has taken Jack’s personal life, particularly his relationship with Iona and his somewhat poignant thoughts on his life, to form a back-story to the main plot. She has created very real, believable characters touching upon social issues such as alcoholism, drug abuse and domestic violence. Having been brought up with an alcoholic father myself (also the son of an alcoholic mother), alcoholism is a social issue which resonates strongly with me - there were some thought-provoking moments which had me wondering whether my own father, like Jack McCain, suffered guilt-ridden periods in his life.
I must admit that the title of the novel bothered me every time I picked it up – personally, I felt it alluded to a book containing large amounts of sexual content – however, nothing could be farther from that. So, for those of you who are not keen on erotica, you can safely pick up this book knowing that there are only a few references to sex and the casual sex-swapping group mentioned in the blurb, with only one particularly daring scene in a hotel room.
This is the first book I have read by Gabrielle Lord but I am given to understand that it is the third book in the Jack McCain series.
Written in the first-person narrative from Jack’s perspective, I found Dirty Weekend to be well researched and, Ms Lord an author who appears to be well-versed in matters of criminological procedures. Not being from a scientific background at all, I was amazed at all the new words I learned.
March 18, 2014
This book reminds me of all the reasons I stopped reading Gabrielle Lord. It's not that she is a bad writer - I think I've just moved on from this particular style of books. It plays out very much like an Australian cop show. Was my thing in the early 90's but now, not so much.
February 7, 2017
I'm not going to say that this was a good book. I did enjoy it, but I felt like the story didn't pick up until the last chapter. Also, the Iona thing was cringe worthy.
May 12, 2022
I've enjoyed Lord's books. This one, not so much.
Too long, too many clichés and implausibles, too many unimportant characters.
Even Iona, the character that seemingly only exists to personify the problem caused McCain's struggles with workaholism, is superfluous.
The main character, McCain, too unsympathetic to sustain a 3rd book. The crime scene investigator stories, too well trodden a path. Too much homework done by Lord on forensic science and too much desire by her to dump it all in the book.
The only way out for McCain to rebuild his dysfunctional life would be to resign from his demanding job. The book failed to deliver that outcome obviously because the author wants to continue the series. No thanks.
Too long, too many clichés and implausibles, too many unimportant characters.
Even Iona, the character that seemingly only exists to personify the problem caused McCain's struggles with workaholism, is superfluous.
The main character, McCain, too unsympathetic to sustain a 3rd book. The crime scene investigator stories, too well trodden a path. Too much homework done by Lord on forensic science and too much desire by her to dump it all in the book.
The only way out for McCain to rebuild his dysfunctional life would be to resign from his demanding job. The book failed to deliver that outcome obviously because the author wants to continue the series. No thanks.
May 30, 2025
A book about Jack McCain a forensic scientist, who is a workaholic.
Jack is meant to be slowing down. His girlfriend Iona has moved to be with him and wants to spend time with him. Jack just can't seem to say no to new cases.
Jack jumps into the case of Tianna Richardson's death. Whilst investigating this he ends up embroiled in another murder case of a fellow scientist.
I found this book focused too much on Jack's personal life. I enjoyed the forensic side of things though and got a kick out of the name of one of the machines the scientists used being my name ELISA.
Jack is meant to be slowing down. His girlfriend Iona has moved to be with him and wants to spend time with him. Jack just can't seem to say no to new cases.
Jack jumps into the case of Tianna Richardson's death. Whilst investigating this he ends up embroiled in another murder case of a fellow scientist.
I found this book focused too much on Jack's personal life. I enjoyed the forensic side of things though and got a kick out of the name of one of the machines the scientists used being my name ELISA.
March 11, 2015
cover:
Jack’s back... and the dead are talking...
An early-morning phone call shatters Jack McCain’s sleep. As Chief Forensic Scientist for the Australian Federal Police, he knows that violent criminals don’t keep office hours... but three murders in quick succession draw him into investigations that threaten to change his life forever.
Using all his forensic knowledge, and that of his team, Jack attempts to uncover what the ex-wife of a cop had in common with a beautiful research scientist and a frail old man... besides the fact that they were all brutally murdered. From a nightclub to an agricultural research station to a quiet country hamlet, Jack McCain is determined to link the pieces. But what does a casual sex-swapping group have to do with a rare native orchid and Terminator Bunnies?
As Jack races to make sense of the evidence, an unsolved murder from the past complicates matters further. With one suspect missing and another refusing to talk, Jack knows that he is running out of time if he wants to stop a murderer from killing again. But will the search cost him the woman he loves?
-------------------------------------------------------------
I enjoyed the crime story & Lord's writing style, but I felt it got too bogged down in McCain's personal life & demons to flow well. I have no previous relationship with McCain, so it's nice to have a little back story when you start on the 3rd episode, but I really didn't care enough about him to want to plough through it all. Perhaps, if I'd started at the 1st McCain book, I'd have been more interested.
See what I mean, I remember more about being irritated by McCain acting the idiot than the actual crimes. Rated 6/10 at http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1....
Jack’s back... and the dead are talking...
An early-morning phone call shatters Jack McCain’s sleep. As Chief Forensic Scientist for the Australian Federal Police, he knows that violent criminals don’t keep office hours... but three murders in quick succession draw him into investigations that threaten to change his life forever.
Using all his forensic knowledge, and that of his team, Jack attempts to uncover what the ex-wife of a cop had in common with a beautiful research scientist and a frail old man... besides the fact that they were all brutally murdered. From a nightclub to an agricultural research station to a quiet country hamlet, Jack McCain is determined to link the pieces. But what does a casual sex-swapping group have to do with a rare native orchid and Terminator Bunnies?
As Jack races to make sense of the evidence, an unsolved murder from the past complicates matters further. With one suspect missing and another refusing to talk, Jack knows that he is running out of time if he wants to stop a murderer from killing again. But will the search cost him the woman he loves?
-------------------------------------------------------------
I enjoyed the crime story & Lord's writing style, but I felt it got too bogged down in McCain's personal life & demons to flow well. I have no previous relationship with McCain, so it's nice to have a little back story when you start on the 3rd episode, but I really didn't care enough about him to want to plough through it all. Perhaps, if I'd started at the 1st McCain book, I'd have been more interested.
See what I mean, I remember more about being irritated by McCain acting the idiot than the actual crimes. Rated 6/10 at http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1....
April 6, 2016
Is it because Jack McCain is irritating and selfish? Is it because he's a character created by a woman and therefore lacks authenticty somehow? Lots of words and lots of mysteries but ultimately not that satisfiying.
February 1, 2017
What you would expect from Lord.a slick read with chick flick elements I find I really enjoy her books but they are an enjoyable jaunt rather than a meaty read.For those who like an Aussie thriller,this one set in Canberra, this might just fill in a good weekend.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews