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As Detective Inspector Terry Stratton emerges from the icy waters of idyllic Seven Mile Beach and sets out on the ride leg of his club triathlon, his only worry is beating his mate, Johnno. Despite his recent demotion, Stratton is revelling in his new role as head of the re-formed Homicide and Cold Case Unit, despite its reputation as a poisoned chalice within the ranks of Tasmania Police. His team, rejected as misfits by other divisions, as Stratton was himself, is part of the appeal.
Crossing the finish line, an urgent summons saves Stratton from Johnno’s victory taunts. A body has been found in macabre circumstances, in a nearby parkland. As suspects are eliminated and leads fizzle out, a second gruesome death occurs in another of Hobart’s picturesque parks. Stratton is convinced the murders are connected and that an arcane ritual is being played out in the shadow of kunanyi, the majestic mountain, looming over the city.
Under pressure from his nemesis, AC Morton, who insists the killings are unrelated, the local press, and even from within his own team, Stratton has a choice to make. Chase a murderer, desperate to complete their mission, or appease Morton, poised and waiting for an excuse to remove Stratton from the investigation.
Crossing the finish line, an urgent summons saves Stratton from Johnno’s victory taunts. A body has been found in macabre circumstances, in a nearby parkland. As suspects are eliminated and leads fizzle out, a second gruesome death occurs in another of Hobart’s picturesque parks. Stratton is convinced the murders are connected and that an arcane ritual is being played out in the shadow of kunanyi, the majestic mountain, looming over the city.
Under pressure from his nemesis, AC Morton, who insists the killings are unrelated, the local press, and even from within his own team, Stratton has a choice to make. Chase a murderer, desperate to complete their mission, or appease Morton, poised and waiting for an excuse to remove Stratton from the investigation.
376 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 26, 2023
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 18, 2024
(Full disclosure) ... The author is my brother. And I got such a surprise to discover how incredibly well he can write. This is his first book, and wow ... I was rather gobsmacked at his hidden ability for characterisation, plot development, dialogue, multilayered meanings, marvellous metaphor and profound social observation. Starting from the cover page, the title is fascinating ... and his explanation of the meaning of that gripping. The gradual revelation of the true depth of that title and how it ties in with the plot is compelling (and scary!)
Ok, so another disclosure, this is not my favourite genre - I am not big on horror (in fact I am not into it at all) ... Suspense and thrillers yes, at times, minus any gore. So, to sit through a few challenging (for me) episodes involving DI Stratton and his team says a lot about the quality of the writing. Yes, I did it for the love of my brother too! But the bottom line is that the writing lulled me through and sustained my interest (and courage!)
Right then, to the nitty-gritty. I love the way SJ Thiessen (a bit J.R.R Tolkien in its ring! Ah we can but aspire) ... evokes our home city, Hobart. And the islander mentality, which clearly he partakes of as all us islanders do. "Stratton's indignation was appeased only by a mental image of the smug bastards, in their smog ridden and uninhabitable cities, sitting in traffic for two hours of commuting each day."
Good writing is so much about evoking place and this book does it.
"Much of Hobart enraptures visitors and residents alike with stunning water views, natural reserves and the majesty of kunanyi (aka Mount Wellington) as a backdrop. The city and its surrounds deliver, in abundance, on the promise of nature, tranquillity and healthy outdoor living."
The book touches a lot on the theme of learning difficulties and dyslexia. And this woven into a policier – thriller – makes for an interesting combination ... and social probe with a personal tone.
"It wasn't just what Charlie had said. It was the tone of frustration, despair even, when he talked about his struggles at school. Worse, it was the look of shame when Charlie spoke of his classmates' taunts." ...
"You're not bloody dumb, buddy, and neither am I. I know writing and spelling are a battle, even reading. But we are both good at other stuff, aren't we?"
There is a myriad of fascinating characters that come to life in the novel. Not least of all, of course, Detective Inspector Terry Stratton who is in the course of unravelling a series of (macabre) mysteries. We get the feeling this is not the last we are to hear of DI Stratton, with the suggestion of more books (and stomach-churning episodes for me to sit through) to come.
As the plot thickens, and the reason becomes clearer on why the killer is choosing their victims, the book was increasingly hard to put down (despite my dread!)
I love the way the writer through the book also evokes Hobart's outdoor world for sports lovers. The swimmers, or triathletes, on the beach form "a polytechnic sea of swim caps". They "look like fucking seals" in their wetsuits ... the "nervous energy inching them towards the ocean".
There's also an ethos of open-mindedness and mental malleability that pervades the writing. With observations such as: "His team, rejected by conservative minds for reasons unrelated to good policing, was a breath of fresh air to Stratton. The same diversity and occasional impulsiveness that made them challenging also made them inspired problem solvers."
This stand against the status quo is equally refreshing and adds a depth to the writing. So do many other socially provocative, eye-opener observations. They had me thinking deeply, and looking through different eyes, and I like that (personal growth opportunity) in a novel. There is an emotional honesty that comes through the narrative too, in examining the role of emotions ... "Two emotions in particular. Anxiety and guilt, each wrestling for dominance."
Thank you S. J. Thiessen. Thanks DI Stratton. See you again soon (uggh, toughen up Tam 😅 📖)
Ok, so another disclosure, this is not my favourite genre - I am not big on horror (in fact I am not into it at all) ... Suspense and thrillers yes, at times, minus any gore. So, to sit through a few challenging (for me) episodes involving DI Stratton and his team says a lot about the quality of the writing. Yes, I did it for the love of my brother too! But the bottom line is that the writing lulled me through and sustained my interest (and courage!)
Right then, to the nitty-gritty. I love the way SJ Thiessen (a bit J.R.R Tolkien in its ring! Ah we can but aspire) ... evokes our home city, Hobart. And the islander mentality, which clearly he partakes of as all us islanders do. "Stratton's indignation was appeased only by a mental image of the smug bastards, in their smog ridden and uninhabitable cities, sitting in traffic for two hours of commuting each day."
Good writing is so much about evoking place and this book does it.
"Much of Hobart enraptures visitors and residents alike with stunning water views, natural reserves and the majesty of kunanyi (aka Mount Wellington) as a backdrop. The city and its surrounds deliver, in abundance, on the promise of nature, tranquillity and healthy outdoor living."
The book touches a lot on the theme of learning difficulties and dyslexia. And this woven into a policier – thriller – makes for an interesting combination ... and social probe with a personal tone.
"It wasn't just what Charlie had said. It was the tone of frustration, despair even, when he talked about his struggles at school. Worse, it was the look of shame when Charlie spoke of his classmates' taunts." ...
"You're not bloody dumb, buddy, and neither am I. I know writing and spelling are a battle, even reading. But we are both good at other stuff, aren't we?"
There is a myriad of fascinating characters that come to life in the novel. Not least of all, of course, Detective Inspector Terry Stratton who is in the course of unravelling a series of (macabre) mysteries. We get the feeling this is not the last we are to hear of DI Stratton, with the suggestion of more books (and stomach-churning episodes for me to sit through) to come.
As the plot thickens, and the reason becomes clearer on why the killer is choosing their victims, the book was increasingly hard to put down (despite my dread!)
I love the way the writer through the book also evokes Hobart's outdoor world for sports lovers. The swimmers, or triathletes, on the beach form "a polytechnic sea of swim caps". They "look like fucking seals" in their wetsuits ... the "nervous energy inching them towards the ocean".
There's also an ethos of open-mindedness and mental malleability that pervades the writing. With observations such as: "His team, rejected by conservative minds for reasons unrelated to good policing, was a breath of fresh air to Stratton. The same diversity and occasional impulsiveness that made them challenging also made them inspired problem solvers."
This stand against the status quo is equally refreshing and adds a depth to the writing. So do many other socially provocative, eye-opener observations. They had me thinking deeply, and looking through different eyes, and I like that (personal growth opportunity) in a novel. There is an emotional honesty that comes through the narrative too, in examining the role of emotions ... "Two emotions in particular. Anxiety and guilt, each wrestling for dominance."
Thank you S. J. Thiessen. Thanks DI Stratton. See you again soon (uggh, toughen up Tam 😅 📖)
February 8, 2025
Incredible story! AETHER is a murder mystery/detective story with a team of fully rounded, diverse characters who try to solve gruesome murders despite obstacles that seem insurmountable. The boss, D.I. Terry Stratton, is a terrific protagonist. The plot is complex but pristinely developed to keep the tension at just the right level without exhausting the reader. The character interaction is fascinating and the dialogue flows naturally. I loved it!
April 19, 2024
Excellent book. Could not put this down! Went in an entirely different direction than I thought it was going to go. Loved the main character and the change as the book reached its conclusion.
Matt yost
Matt yost
July 28, 2024
This was such a tangled story
The first novel I read of yours when the killer was revealed I thought yes I can see that this one I had no idea. Great to read about Australian people. Good read
The first novel I read of yours when the killer was revealed I thought yes I can see that this one I had no idea. Great to read about Australian people. Good read
October 11, 2024
Mind blowing
Very well written, thought provoking. I had great trouble putting it down to either sleep or charge my phone. Well done!
Very well written, thought provoking. I had great trouble putting it down to either sleep or charge my phone. Well done!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews