Created by Tara Moss A new series, well-received, following the adventures of feisty Australian war-time reporter BILLIE WALKER who returns home to Sydney after the war, mourning the disappearance and possible death of her husband Jack Rake somewhere in Europe. Turfed out of her job now that "the men are back,” she takes over her late … Continue reading Billie Walker
Tag: Sydney
Jack Morgan, Peter Knight, Dan Carter, Chris Schneider, Craig Gisto, Santosh Wagh, Joey Montague et al (Private)
Created by James Patterson, Maxine Paetro, Mark Sullivan, Mark Pearson, Michael White, Ashwin Sanghi, Rees Jones, Jassy Mackenzie et al I've heard so many bad and even cruel things from writers and readers whom I generally respect about James Patterson's writing--tempered by equally effusive but vague praise by diehard fans--that I really had little real … Continue reading Jack Morgan, Peter Knight, Dan Carter, Chris Schneider, Craig Gisto, Santosh Wagh, Joey Montague et al (Private)
Mak Vanderwall
Created by Tara Moss I've only read one MAKEDDE "MAK" VANDERWALL book so far, and I the character appears to be closely based on the author herself, a Canadian ex-pat and former model now living in Australia. Mak is studying forensic psychologist and working as a part-time model... and a budding P.I. for the Marion Wendell agency … Continue reading Mak Vanderwall
Jeffrey Blackburn
Created by Max Afford (1906 - 1954) “I wonder if the old bird would be interested in buying a few antiques from this family? A .45 automatic, rusty through disuse, an unused set of brass knuckles and an out-of-date private eye, sound in wind and limb except for a pickled liver!” -- Jeffrey ponder his … Continue reading Jeffrey Blackburn
Jill Fitzpatrick
Created by Dorothy Porter (1954-2008) "Christ, not more bloody poems." Subtitled "An Erotic Murder Mystery," Dorothy Porter's 1995 book The Monkey's Mask is more than just the story of JILL FITZPATRICK, an Australian lesbian private detective who dives head first into "murder, manipulation and the consuming power of sex." It's also some kind of literary tour-de-force, stunning … Continue reading Jill Fitzpatrick
Jefferson Shields
Created by Patricia Carlon (1927-2002) It's the 1960s and Australian private detective JEFFERSON SHIELDS is hired to look into the death of a young female student, Robyn Calder, killed during a protest against the Vietnam War at a Sydney university that somehow turns into a murder, in Patricia Carlon's very well-received but preachy Death By Demonstration … Continue reading Jefferson Shields
Clyde Smith
Created by Garrick Jones "... to be brutally honest, I couldn't be fucked playing the game." -- Clyde on why he left the Sydney police department In The Cricketer's Arms (2019), the first in a proposed series by Garrick Jones, it's 1956 Sydney, Australia where we meet CLYDE SMITH, an ex-cop and current freelance restaurant reviewer (having … Continue reading Clyde Smith
Jill Fitzpatrick
Created by Dorothy Porter (1954-2008) "Christ, not more bloody poems." Subtitled "An Erotic Murder Mystery," Dorothy Porter's 1995 book The Monkey's Mask is more than just the story of JILL FITZPATRICK, an Australian lesbian private detective who dives head first into "murder, manipulation and the consuming power of sex." It's also some kind of literary tour-de-force, stunning … Continue reading Jill Fitzpatrick
Amanda Pharrell & Ted Conkaffey
Created by Candice Fox "My charge had been rendered ‘no billing’, meaning that the state could take it up again at any time, . . . They wanted me to slowly boil in purgatory, just above the fires of hell, hopelessly far from the clear, clean air of the earth." -- Ted in Crimson Lake. Not … Continue reading Amanda Pharrell & Ted Conkaffey
Harry Kenmare
Created by A. B. Patterson "This is going to go down better than a stripper and a sack of cash at a Cabinet meeting." -- Harry in Harry's World The one word that keeps coming up in the blurbs about Sydney, jaded Australia private eye HARRY KENMARE is "prehistoric." And they ain't kiddin'--Harry makes Amos … Continue reading Harry Kenmare