Fleur McDonald

Rising Dust is a rural suspense in the Detective Dave Burrows series, by Australian author Fleur McDonald dubbed the “Voice of the Outback.” Partners Bob Holden and Dave Burrows are sent to a sheep station north of Carnarvon to investigate possible stock theft. Everything changes when a dead body, then a second body and a stash of drugs are found washed up on the beach at Corbett Station Stay where they are based.

Dave is recovering from the trauma of his broken family and the disintegration of his marriage after his mother-in-law was shot by a criminal he was chasing. He is currently facing the stress of a legal custody battle to see his daughters. The arrival of smart and beautiful forensic pathologist Shannon is a pleasant distraction from these dark thoughts.

This was a pleasant enough read, somewhat slow and rambling, and I may have felt more connected to Dave as a character if I had read some of the earlier books.… (más)

Voices in the Dark is the 22nd novel in which Detective Dave Burrows appears. He features in six, the most recent being Into the Night, and has a peripheral role in sixteen others, including this one, which follows the events of Broad River Station, but can be read as a stand alone.

Informed that her grandmother is gravely ill, Sassi Stapleton doesn’t hesitate to make the long drive from New South Wales to the South Australian town of Barker, hoping for the chance to say goodbye to the woman who raised her. It’s just past dawn when a kangaroo causes Sassi to veer off the road, trapping her in her rolled car, and while she is rescued with only minor injuries, Sassi is devastated to learn that her beloved grandmother is already gone. Being back in Barker is not easy for Sassi, who is still disappointed that there was no opportunity for her to work on the family’s farm, and it becomes more difficult when her estranged mother, Amber, shows up, but Sassi has resolved to do whatever she can to support her Pa, who struggles with daily tasks after a crippling stroke.

As the main character, Sassi carries the story well, with the Stapleton family drama dominating the storyline of Voices in the Dark. McDonald explores the issues of family estrangement, farm succession, and racism, as well as some particular sensitive subjects such as rape, and elder abuse. Somewhat surprisingly there is very little suspense in the plot, though there are some tense incidents. There’s no romance either, but I enjoyed the blossoming of new friendships.

Though Dave doesn’t feature in Voices of the Dark, readers familiar with his character will enjoy the scenes in which he appears. While some simply involve him doing his job as a police officer, and mentoring his new constable, Mia Worth, others reveal glimpses of his personal life, including his relationship with his wife Kim, and his two, now adult, daughters from his first marriage.

An engaging novel, I spent an afternoon happy immersed in Voices of the Dark, and I look forward to the next book to feature Dave Burrows and the community of Barker.… (más)

Into the Night is Fleur McDonald’s seventh novel to feature Detective Dave Burrows though the twelfth in which he appears, chronologically it takes place in 2002, just a few months after the events in Rising Dust.

No one has seen nor heard from Leo Perry, or his dog Coffee, since he placed a frantic call for help when fire broke out on his farm on the outskirts of Yorkenup. After a search determines there is no body among the ashes of the devastated property, Dave and his partner Detective Bob Holden are called in to investigate Leo’s puzzling disappearance.

The mystery element of this novel is really well-crafted, Leo’s wife, family, and friends all insist he is a good man who wouldn’t simply vanish so Dave and Bob start by examining alternative possibilities, but nothing really makes sense. The complicated case suits Dave’s methodical investigative skills and it takes a lot of digging before they make some headway. Though there’s not a great deal of action in Into the
Night, there are some surprising twists leading to a dramatic conclusion.

Dave is almost relieved to have something to focus on other than how difficult his ex-wife, Melinda, and her father, are making it to see his kids. Readers familiar with the series will understand the tense relations and how deeply it hurts him. Unfortunately it’s not the only upset Dave is facing when Bob delivers some bad news.

I’m a genuine fan of the Detective Dave Burrows series, each book offers intriguing suspense, thoughtful character development, and an authenticity in detail and setting. Into the Night is another terrific read from Fleur McDonald.… (más)

Two seemingly unrelated story threads eventually overlap in Deception Creek, the fifth Australian rural mystery novel by Fleur McDonald to feature Detective Dave Burrows in the town of Barker, though the ninth in which he appears.

When Joel Hammond returns to Barker after serving a nine year jail sentence, Dave is surprised by the venom directed at him by a handful of locals. Their anger, Dave learns, is unrelated to the financial crimes that Joel claims he is innocent of. When Joel was a teenager his girlfriend, Maggie, died after a fall from a water tower, and though he was cleared of any involvement, her family have always believed him responsible.

Though Emma Cameron’s marriage has ended in divorce, she’s proud that all her hard work means the farm she inherited from her parents in Deception Creek is almost debt free. She doesn’t want to be alone forever though and when Kyle Pengilly, with whom she shares a tragic memory, comes to town, she finds his obvious interest flattering.

McDonald’s plot is skilfully crafted, well paced, and offers a truly unexpected ending. While Dave, and his partner Senior Constable Jack Higgins try to keep peace in town as Maggie’s brother, Steve, becomes increasingly confrontational with Joel, their partners, Kim Burrows and journalist Zara Ellison, grow curious not only about Joel’s insistence that he was not guilty of fraud, but also what really happened the night Maggie died. I was caught up in the drama and suspense as their questions unravel shocking truths that have been hidden for decades.

I’ve grown familiar with the core characters, who share a strong sense of community and justice, over previous instalments and find them to be an appealing foursome. I liked Emma, an independent, capable farmer, and Joel who, despite the accusations levelled against him, is sympathetic. Interestingly, both these characters give McDonald another opportunity to explore facets of PTSD, as she has done in several previous novels.

Though it can be read as a stand alone, Deception Creek is another great read is what is an engaging series that combines suspense and romance in an authentic rural Australian setting.… (más)