The Hanged Man in the Garden by Aussie author Marion Halligan was originally published in 1989 and is, in places, very politically incorrect. For the The Hanged Man in the Garden by Aussie author Marion Halligan was originally published in 1989 and is, in places, very politically incorrect. For the era though, everything was said and done as it is in this book.
Richard and Martha went to New Zealand from their home in Canberra, to have a driving holiday and while they were there, called in to see Richard’s brother Ron and his wife Cecily, and their children, a boy and two girls. Ron was very “hands on” with Martha, upsetting Cecily (and Martha) when he wouldn’t stop. Bruce, their son, wanted to go into theatre, not what his father wanted for him – his father labelled him with names that are completely incorrect nowadays. The book continues on after Richard and Martha arrive home in Canberra...
Not my sort of book I’m afraid – I picked it up from the library as I needed a book set in Canberra for a challenge. Fortunately it’s not long so I was able to wade through it....more
The call to counter terrorism expert Sid Allen at 5am wasn’t good. As he headed to the site, he thought about up and coming politician Dan LeRoi,3.5★s
The call to counter terrorism expert Sid Allen at 5am wasn’t good. As he headed to the site, he thought about up and coming politician Dan LeRoi, whom he knew quite well, and the effect his murder would have on things. His body was beside his luxury car, while inside the boot an unknown man lay dead, also hit in the same manner as LeRoi – four bullets to the head. Sid joined his partner, Detective Senior Sergeant Kelvin Rice, as they assessed the crime scene, taking note of all the agencies attending.
Zephyr Wilde was a journalist who was tenacious, not letting things get past her. She also was looking into her mother’s murder which was now a cold case. Zephyr and Sid occasionally helped each other out, although he didn’t know a lot about her. But learning that she was in contact with LeRoi and his wife Cherie – friends, but there was more to it – Sid wondered whether he should cut contact. As the depth of the investigation into the politician’s death, and the upcoming federal election took over front page of the papers, the secrets which went back a long way began to rise to the surface. Was it terrorism? Corruption? And was Shirley Wilde’s murder connected?
Dead Letters by Aussie author Michael Brissenden is an intriguing, political crime read, filled with corrupt politicians, murder, dirty cops and terrorism. Set in Sydney and Canberra, I quite enjoyed it but found myself skimming in places (the political push for elections!) I liked Sid and Zephyr’s characters, AJ some of the time – but Rice was weird! Recommended. ...more