Reviewed by Cels Jansink

Forensic physician, Dr Anya Crichton, is looking forward to uninterrupted time with her 6 year old son, Ben, aboard a luxury cruise ship. Unfortunately for Anya, right from the very get go she finds herself embroiled in a case that may just shed light on what really happens on the open sea.

The body of a teenage girl is found shoved in a cupboard, dripping wet. With no obvious cause of death and the nearest port still days away, Anya volunteers her expertise. 

Stumbling across a sordid pattern of sexual assault, disappearances and drug use, Anya soon finds herself drawn into the underbelly of life aboard the ship. With a crew too afraid to talk and management determined to hide its sinister secrets, just who can Anya trust?

Shadowed by the head of security whose loyalties soon come into question and with more victims than answers, one thing soon becomes clear- there is a killer aboard.  This could be the one place on earth you’re almost guaranteed to get away with rape and murder.

Kathryn Fox has again delivered a who-dunnit that will hold you captive until the very last sentence. Back dropped against luxury and excess, this is a case full of twist and turns and revelations you will never see coming. In fact, I became so immersed in the case, the outside world ceased to exist. I devoured the novel in less than 24 hours.

Fox has found a balance between the more horrifying aspects of the crime and the forensics tools used to bring the perp to justice, without leaving you feeling bogged down in medical mumbo jumbo. There is something undeniably “human” about Anya and she certainly quickly becomes the person you want firmly on your side should disaster befall you. The supporting cast are also well assembled and all add to the mystique and bring a deeply emotional topic to life. This is more than just your typical crime drama; this shines the spotlight on some of the best and worst sides of the human condition.

If you haven’t as yet entered the Fox’s imagination, seriously what are you waiting for? This and her previous five novels in the series also work well as standalones, but I do warn you – once you meet Anya, you will be hooked. Fox certainly more than holds her own in the competitive world of crime writing and will appeal to fans of Reichs and Cornwell alike.

Cold Grave- Kathryn Fox

Pan Macmillan

337 Pages

ISBN:978-1-7426-1034-4

Released 1^st July 2012

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Reviewed by Cels Jansink

On the surface Megan appears to be a typical suburban soccer mum living the American dream. Complete with a perfect husband, two gorgeous kids and the white picket fence, Megan’s future should be rosy. Only problem is Megan used to walk on the wild side and her long buried past is about to collide with her present.

Ray used to be a talented and sort after photo-journalist but now at the age of forty he finds himself barely making a living in a dead end job as a “pap” for hire. Ray’s life ended the day he lost the love of his life and now he’s just going through the motions.

Detective Broome is still enslaved to a case 17 years old that he has never been able to lay to rest. When the son of a local business man disappears in similar circumstances, will Broome finally catch the break he’s been so desperately waiting for?

As the terrible consequences of long ago events merge into the present, three people living the lives they never wanted find their deep dark secrets seeing the light of day. As each confronts the dark side of the American dream, they soon realise that the line between one kind of a life and another can be as whisper thin as a heartbeat.

There are a handful of authors that can be counted on time and time again to deliver a compelling thriller; Harlan Coben is certainly one of the best.  “Stay Close” is his latest standalone offering and it hits the ball out of the park. Full of secrets, lies and grisly deeds, this is one case you will be desperate to solve.

The characterisation is excellent and I certainly couldn’t pick a favourite. Coben has a knack at delivering a cast that not only gel as an ensemble but stand firmly apart from the crowd as individuals. His characters also come across as totally and utterly human – warts, addictions, vices and all.  There are no perfect angels in this world.

Set in the seedier underbelly of Atlantic City, the after-dark playground becomes almost a character in its self. The glitz and gaudiness catches in your minds eye from the very beginning. The scenes are so vivid you can taste the stale smoke of the seedier clubs, feel your retina burn from the blinding flash of the camera blub and be haunted by the downtrodden expression of some of the “girls”. 

The only down-point was that I had in fact identified our perp well before the big reveal. But the secrets that were still left to fall, and reasons behind some of the actions were still so interesting that I didn’t mind. And as a refreshing change, the fact that our bad guy was just so downright loveable despite their actions, certainly gave the drama and intrigue that extra kick.

So the next time you’re looking for something new to play armchair detective with, give Stay Close ago. It’s certainly one heck of a thrill ride.

Stay Close- Harlan Coben

Orion

387 Pages

ISBN: 978-4091-1256-3

Released March 20^th 2012

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Reviewed by Cels Jansink

Tony Cavanaugh has lent his talent for words to some of the biggest shows to grace our screens over the last thirty years. Now he has crossed mediums and transferred his gift to the world of novels with his debut “Promise”.

Darian Richards earned a name for himself as one of the best homicide detectives the Victorian Police force had produced, spending sixteen years at the department’s helm.  He’s chased down one too many monsters and made one too many empty promises to victims’ families and has reached his breaking point. Hanging up his badge and his gun, Darian retires to Noosa hoping that a paradise setting could see him leave his nightmares far behind. But paradise has its own monsters lurking in the brilliant sunshine. A serial killer has made the Sunshine Coast his playground and young girls are disappearing. Darian knows the girls are all dead, even if the local cops keep listing them as missing. This killer knows how to hunt and hide in plain sight.  Darian is also well-versed on the game of cat and mouse and determined to see the killer get his just desserts- that’s a promise.

“Promise” is a gritty and a strong offering to the Australian crime scene. The author’s voice is strong and undeniably unique and the crime crafted with careful planning to keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat most of the way. The plot flows like liquid and there are just enough “shades of grey” to stretch your convictions without the central case becoming derailed.

As much as I enjoyed the thrill ride of the chase, the glimpses into our mad man’s head and the detailed yet-not-overly-gruesome look at his misdeeds –  I had a fairly major disconnect with our lead. He is an ex-copper trying to lay low and shake the darkness that has clung to him, and kudos to the author for delivering a realistic “anti-hero”. I just couldn’t invest in him. Darian is aloof and cold and there is never a moment where you feel like the character lets you in.

Personally, to truly engage in a story I need a connection with the main character/s, especially in the early pages before the action and intrigue heat up.  In saying that though, the cast of secondaries did go some way to alleviating my frustration with Darian. In particular the character of Maria was a standout for me.

Overall, Cavanaugh has an obvious gift for the macabre and could become a strong voice in the genre; I’d certainly give Darian and team another go.

Promise- Tony Cavanaugh

327 Pages

Hachette

ISBN:978-0-7336-2847-4

26^th April 2012

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1. Working Stiff- Rachel Caine

2. The Spider Goddess- Tara Moss

3. Redback- Lindy Cameron

4.Siren- Tara Moss

5. Dead Reckoning- Charlaine Harris

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Reviewed by Cels Jansink:

There’s a new designer in town- and she has Pandora in her sights. Who knew the fashion industry could be so venomous.

It’s now been two months since Pandora first moved to the mysterious Spektor to live with her equally mysterious Great-Aunt Celia. And it’s certainly been anything but boring. She’s encountered counting-obsessed vamps, ghosts, zombies and a myriad of characters she never thought possible.

Now there’s a new threat to New York, and Pandora seems to be a beacon for the strange and unexplained. As if dealing with her snarky boss and trying to work out just what being “The Seventh” means wasn’t enough, she’s again found herself barrelling head first into more trouble. And then there’s Lieutenant Luke…….

The Spider Goddess will deftly ensnare you in its web from the very first page, and hold you tight to the very last.  Packed with mystery, evil intentions and things that go bump in the night, Pandora’s world is breathtakingly addictive. The plot has almost a liquid feel and will sweep you away on its current as you pick through the layers of mystery right beside Pandora.  Moss has created a world that is dark, Gothic, uniquely funny and often downright terrifying without an overt morbid feel. Pandora has fast become my favourite heroine and I can’t wait to see what danger she leads us into next.

If you haven’t entered the mystifying Spektor yet- make it your next must visit destination. Just beware you may never look at spiders the same way again, or leave home without pockets full of rice.

The next stunning Pandora adventure “The Skeleton Key” is due for release in 2012.

The Spider Goddess- Tara Moss

Pan Macmillan

ISBN:978-1-7426-1003-0

324 Pages.

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