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Murray Whelan #6
Sucked In
Eagerly awaited by his legion of fans, Shane Maloney's sixth Murray Whelan mystery sees the clown prince of tue believers in vintage form. Trade paperback, 9"x6"
288 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 2007
About the author
Shane Maloney
25 books50 followersShane Maloney (born 1953) is an Australian novelist, based in Melbourne, best known for his crime fiction novels. He is a graduate of the Australian National University.
Maloney has written non-fiction and journalistic essays, but is best known for his six crime fiction novels - in the "hard-boiled" sub-genre - featuring Murray Whelan, a Labour party functionary working for a Victorian state political member, who finds himself investigating crimes linked to his job. The series (1994 - 2007) is popular for its wit and its portrayal of Melbourne's political and social culture. The novels are set slightly earlier than written, during the late 1980s when Labour was in power at both a federal and state level. The first two novels, "Stiff" and "The Brush-Off", were adapted into TV movies starring David Wenham in 2004.
"The Brush-Off" won the Ned Kelly Award for Crime Fiction in 1997. In 2009, Maloney received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Crime Writers Association of Australia.
Maloney has written non-fiction and journalistic essays, but is best known for his six crime fiction novels - in the "hard-boiled" sub-genre - featuring Murray Whelan, a Labour party functionary working for a Victorian state political member, who finds himself investigating crimes linked to his job. The series (1994 - 2007) is popular for its wit and its portrayal of Melbourne's political and social culture. The novels are set slightly earlier than written, during the late 1980s when Labour was in power at both a federal and state level. The first two novels, "Stiff" and "The Brush-Off", were adapted into TV movies starring David Wenham in 2004.
"The Brush-Off" won the Ned Kelly Award for Crime Fiction in 1997. In 2009, Maloney received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Crime Writers Association of Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 24, 2017
Absolute fun read.
Murray Whelan is a Victorian state MP in shadow government going nowhere fast.
Drought conditions mean the level of a lake drops enough for bones to be discovered. The possible bones of a trade unionist believed drowned years ago. Only problem is, this skeleton looks like its been shot!
A twitchy party apparatchik gets Murray to investigate.
Massively fun to read, especially for a Victorian like myself. When the state premier Kenneth Geoffries is mentioned in passing, and, by description, is obviously the then premier Jeffery Kennett.
The political machinations of the book are interesting too.
Possibly the best Murray Whelan novel of the lot. A rare 5 stars from me.
Murray Whelan is a Victorian state MP in shadow government going nowhere fast.
Drought conditions mean the level of a lake drops enough for bones to be discovered. The possible bones of a trade unionist believed drowned years ago. Only problem is, this skeleton looks like its been shot!
A twitchy party apparatchik gets Murray to investigate.
Massively fun to read, especially for a Victorian like myself. When the state premier Kenneth Geoffries is mentioned in passing, and, by description, is obviously the then premier Jeffery Kennett.
The political machinations of the book are interesting too.
Possibly the best Murray Whelan novel of the lot. A rare 5 stars from me.
May 6, 2008
Big fan of the Murray Whelan series. Set in Melbourne with identifiable public characters. Less gory than the previous, and less personally dangerous for Murray. He is an attractive character; sarcastic, good, Labour politician backbencher. I like his developing relationship with Red, his son, now 17 / 18. I like his bumbling pursuit of Andrea-Lanie.
"Lanie's may not have been the face that launched a thousand ships, but it definitely floated my little rubber duckie. She was cheerful, sardonic and fetchingly full-figured. Naturally, she was already taken.
Hubby had picked her up after one of the first classes, their pubescent daughter in tow. He was dopey-looking dork, reeking of academia."p.29
Not much of a mystery, more of a satire on local politics, about the cross and double cross, the improbable branch stacking election plots. But best of all is travelling through Melbourne's streets, in this case Sydney Road, Broadmeadows, and Clifton Hill, with funny man Murray.
"Lanie's may not have been the face that launched a thousand ships, but it definitely floated my little rubber duckie. She was cheerful, sardonic and fetchingly full-figured. Naturally, she was already taken.
Hubby had picked her up after one of the first classes, their pubescent daughter in tow. He was dopey-looking dork, reeking of academia."p.29
Not much of a mystery, more of a satire on local politics, about the cross and double cross, the improbable branch stacking election plots. But best of all is travelling through Melbourne's streets, in this case Sydney Road, Broadmeadows, and Clifton Hill, with funny man Murray.
August 8, 2012
What's not to love about Shane Maloney's idealistic cynical protagonist, Murray Whelan? Whether he's enjoying encounters of the personal kind in quite public places with a journalist or bean counting for the party faithful, Whelan is an intelligent charmer.
Maloney knows his Melbourne and at least a third of the joy of these books is re-discovering Melbourne landmarks through Whelan's eyes. Not to mention a close-up of the Labor party machine.
Maloney knows his Melbourne and at least a third of the joy of these books is re-discovering Melbourne landmarks through Whelan's eyes. Not to mention a close-up of the Labor party machine.
October 10, 2021
A light but pleasant end to this classic Aussie detective series. For those of us whose key interests are politics, history, Australian life, and perpetual sarcasm, Maloney was one of the best.
Around the year 2010, Maloney indicated that he was working on a seventh and final Murray Whelan novel. Alas, the trail went cold; it has never appeared. I recently emailed Maloney and he was kind enough to reply. Although I won't share his correspondence, it does sound as if Murray has grimaced his last. Like the real Australian Labor Party of which he is such a loyal member, his glory days are far behind him.
Around the year 2010, Maloney indicated that he was working on a seventh and final Murray Whelan novel. Alas, the trail went cold; it has never appeared. I recently emailed Maloney and he was kind enough to reply. Although I won't share his correspondence, it does sound as if Murray has grimaced his last. Like the real Australian Labor Party of which he is such a loyal member, his glory days are far behind him.
March 13, 2017
Yes do
This series is getting better by the book. Thankfully the author has finally realised that action isn't needed in a thriller. In fact, the absence of it just adds to the appeal of the twisted plot; a who-did-it? The writing comes with humour and the occasional original insight. It still needs a proper editor but where are they, these days? Definitely worth a read and I'm looking forward to the next instal.
This series is getting better by the book. Thankfully the author has finally realised that action isn't needed in a thriller. In fact, the absence of it just adds to the appeal of the twisted plot; a who-did-it? The writing comes with humour and the occasional original insight. It still needs a proper editor but where are they, these days? Definitely worth a read and I'm looking forward to the next instal.
June 12, 2009
Yeah, I felt a bit sucked in reading this one...there are dead bodies alright, but nary a juicy murder in sight...and that's always what a good mystery needs, I think. Maybe Murray's just getting old and no longer associating with the kind of seedy types that go around killing people. Nonetheless, still looking forward to the next, and final, installment in the Murray Whelan series.
August 5, 2011
I love Murray Whelan! All Shane Maloney's books in this series are really entertaining. Such funny commentary on the machinations of the ALP along with very engaging detective stories. Put aside a weekend, start at the beginning (with Stiff) and read them all. A good bit of fun.
April 22, 2018
So loaded, right down to every sentence, the book seems a little over worked. Funny yes, and some great writing, with lines I felt like jotting down and using myself in conversation.
February 6, 2020
Like all of these
December 31, 2020
one of the Murray Whelan series; becoming a little bit formulaic but good social comment hidden in the narrative
July 8, 2017
Murray Whelan is back and this time he is mired in politics. As mired as the recently discovered skeletal remains of which appear to be a union official Murray had dealings with; who disappeared, feared drowned over twenty years ago.
Things began to get complicated when Murray found himself sharing breakfast with fellow MP Charlie, Charles Joseph Talbot, MHR, only for Charlie to succumb to a sudden heart attack.
Murray and Charlie had electorates that shared many of the same constituents in the multicultural northern suburbs; thus it fell to Murray to organise the funeral arrangements. At the service Murray is inveigled into assisting with a clean and fuss free pre-selection for Charlie’s replacement. Normal Labour factional ructions and skulduggery ensue, so far so normal. What soon becomes apparent is that Charlie was on the boat that the unionist fell from during an ill-fated fishing venture. Also on the boat was Senator Barry Quinlan.
The police start investigating, questions are asked and people start to get nervous. Murray recalls the day of the heart attack and realises Charlie was reading the small article about the remains that were found in the lake. Coincidence?
Should the past stay buried along with the remains or will skeletons now out of the lake create havoc with reputations and the lives of the living. Murray battles with conflicting loyalties as he copes with the upcoming by election, relationships and teaching his teenage son to drive.
Things began to get complicated when Murray found himself sharing breakfast with fellow MP Charlie, Charles Joseph Talbot, MHR, only for Charlie to succumb to a sudden heart attack.
Murray and Charlie had electorates that shared many of the same constituents in the multicultural northern suburbs; thus it fell to Murray to organise the funeral arrangements. At the service Murray is inveigled into assisting with a clean and fuss free pre-selection for Charlie’s replacement. Normal Labour factional ructions and skulduggery ensue, so far so normal. What soon becomes apparent is that Charlie was on the boat that the unionist fell from during an ill-fated fishing venture. Also on the boat was Senator Barry Quinlan.
The police start investigating, questions are asked and people start to get nervous. Murray recalls the day of the heart attack and realises Charlie was reading the small article about the remains that were found in the lake. Coincidence?
Should the past stay buried along with the remains or will skeletons now out of the lake create havoc with reputations and the lives of the living. Murray battles with conflicting loyalties as he copes with the upcoming by election, relationships and teaching his teenage son to drive.
May 3, 2026
Probably not his best effort. It did feel like there was a fair amount of padding. However, if you've come this far then you've obviously enjoyed the ride as much as I have. And this was not really any different. I have had a great time visiting Murray Whelan's world and will miss it now that we're done. Razor sharp satire, humour and an iconic wander through the streets of Melbourne.
August 2, 2024
Amusing nonsense a bit dated now but good holiday read
October 24, 2024
No I could not stand it
And it’s not reader-friendly too big & bulky
And it’s not reader-friendly too big & bulky
January 15, 2013
More like a 3.5 really. Enjoyable but a tad predictable, and a feeling that Whelan finds politicians have become a parody of themselves. As Tom Lehrer may have said, "I'm not tempted to write a song about George W. Bush. I couldn't figure out what sort of song I would write. That's the problem: I don't want to satirise George Bush and his puppeteers, I want to vaporize them
December 13, 2008
This was lame.
September 7, 2010
Reviewed here.
July 3, 2011
Wickedly funny.
January 29, 2017
Loved it.
July 12, 2011
Enjoyable but not as good as some of the earlier books. Still worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews