Mole Creek is not far from where I live, and as I enjoy Tasmanian crime fiction I thought I’d give this a try.

What to Expect

Expect a fast-paced thriller, taking place in modern day Australia and during the Vietnam War. Most of the novel is from the point of view of the protagonist, Xander McAuslan, a crime journalist, while some chapters are told from his grandfather’s days in 1970. When Xander refuses to accept that his grandfather has taken his own life, affairs grow increasingly odd and violent. Xander keeps digging, without a an apparent bottom to how deep the secrets go.

What I liked

It’s an enjoyable thriller, mixing personal drama and international affairs. The pace it swift, the characters engaging, and the mystery intriguing.

What to be aware of

The protagonist at times doesn’t seem like the sharpest tool in the shed, and one has to question his actions and choices. There are also a couple of movie tropes around tech and guns (like gun silencers that make guns emit only a soft noise), which I personally dislike. One also has to wonder about some of the gap years, which don’t quite add up (Xander’s grandfather being in his early seventies, ie he was unmarried in his early twenties in 1970, and yet having a 34 year old grandson).

Felix’s and Jack’s Reviews

Jack, like me, despises the “corrupt/inefficient police” trope. I think he’s a bit over-sensitive, what with being a policeman himself. That said, after getting over the tropes and hiccoughs in the small details, he thought the story was well told, with accessible prose and a fair clip to events. Certainly more a thriller than a police procedural, about an average guy getting caught in big events.

Summary

Despite the occasional stumble, it’s a very enjoyable read. If you like crime thrillers and espionage intrigue, this book is for you.

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Enjoying the reviews, but wondering who the heck are those Felix and Jack fellows? Glad you asked! Felix is the protagonist of the Togas, Daggers, and Magic series, an historical-fantasy blend of a paranormal detective on the background of ancient Rome, and Jack is the police detective running the Unusual Crimes Squad, dealing in occult crimes in modern-day Australia.

Come meet Felix and Jack on the free short stories and novels!