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Milat: Inside Australia's Biggest Manhunt - A Detective's Story
A true insider's story of the Backpacker Murders from the detective who led the team that arrested Ivan Milat. Milat - the serial killer who preyed on young hitchhikers. The backpackers - the innocent victims of a brutal murderer. Belanglo - a place that became synonymous with pure evil.It was the biggest and most complex manhunt in Australian history, an investigation that gripped a nation. Behind the many false leads and dead ends, precious clues emerged that pointed to one man.This is the story of how Ivan Milat was caught. Clive Small takes us inside the operation he led as his team painstakingly pieced together the evidence that put Milat behind bars. But questions remain. Did he act alone? Were there other victims? How much did his family know? And what of his great-nephew, who brutally killed a young man in 2010?Chilling, forensic, compassionate - this is the definitive story that could only be told by someone at the centre of the police operation. It is also a powerful argument for the investigation of more than a hundred unsolved murders.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2014
46 people are currently reading
336 people want to read
About the author
Clive Small
9 books6 followersClive Small is a former detective and Assistant Commissioner of the The New South Wales Police Force, the primary law enforcement agency of the state of New South Wales, Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
February 5, 2017
Milat is the confronting story of the serial killer who preyed upon young women backpacking through Australia, raping and murdering without remorse. Author Clive Small, a senior detective on the case is methodical and clinical in his recollection of the case itself, procedures, process and investigative methods used to put Ivan Milat behind bars. Whilst interesting in a morbid way, this approach did result in a monotonous dour tone which at times led to distraction.
True crime readers wanting to know more about the backpacker murders will get what they are after in full gore through the harsh reality of, well, reality. Ivan is a brutal murderer with no redeeming qualities as is evident by Small’s writing of the book. Whilst the detail is hard to swallow at times, the devil needs to be brought to light to fully paint the picture that is Milat and the heinous crimes he committed.
Towards the later stages of the book, the author sidesteps Milat to detail other crimes he’s either been part of from a policing point of view or those which are likened to the backpacker murders. These vinaigrette's are insightful but all too brief. The case of a Milat family member (not Ivan) brutally murdering his mate whilst another filmed it is downright scary and warrants more page time. Returning to Milat towards the end provides a glimpse at the murderer maintaining his innocence though contradicting himself on occasion. His prison health and mental stability are also well documented.
Narrated by Peter Hosking, Milat felt at times like a lengthy nightly news bulletin. I did have to concentrate heavily through the more dour passages than I would’ve liked as the monotone was near sleep inducing, particularly late at night. (Tip - listen during the day). That said, Hosking’s Australian accent works perfect for this book and the narration itself was good enough to keep me listening.
I’d give Milat a 3 / 5.
True crime readers wanting to know more about the backpacker murders will get what they are after in full gore through the harsh reality of, well, reality. Ivan is a brutal murderer with no redeeming qualities as is evident by Small’s writing of the book. Whilst the detail is hard to swallow at times, the devil needs to be brought to light to fully paint the picture that is Milat and the heinous crimes he committed.
Towards the later stages of the book, the author sidesteps Milat to detail other crimes he’s either been part of from a policing point of view or those which are likened to the backpacker murders. These vinaigrette's are insightful but all too brief. The case of a Milat family member (not Ivan) brutally murdering his mate whilst another filmed it is downright scary and warrants more page time. Returning to Milat towards the end provides a glimpse at the murderer maintaining his innocence though contradicting himself on occasion. His prison health and mental stability are also well documented.
Narrated by Peter Hosking, Milat felt at times like a lengthy nightly news bulletin. I did have to concentrate heavily through the more dour passages than I would’ve liked as the monotone was near sleep inducing, particularly late at night. (Tip - listen during the day). That said, Hosking’s Australian accent works perfect for this book and the narration itself was good enough to keep me listening.
I’d give Milat a 3 / 5.
March 27, 2017
I find the true events very interesting, however, the book read like a police report, full of terms and jargon we're not used to hearing. I would have preferred to have read it as more of a "recount" of what happened rather than almost like a list of evidence and dot points of what happened after he was caught.
October 19, 2014
I have spent many hours, countless essays and a fair amount of round table discussion time speaking about and hypothesising about the backpacker murders. I was a little bit hesitant to buy another book on the Belanglo forest atrocities, but had heard interesting tidbits in the press regarding this book. I was particularly interested as the leading detective on the Case, Clive Small, had written the book from an investigators perspective and was hoping that it would provide insight into the analysis of evidence and the hunt for the killer. I expected transcripts from interviews and insider information that the other books failed to provide.
The book is different from the others out there (the most noteworthy being "Sins of the Brother" which is a must read if you're looking for a well researched and rounded book on the Milat family) but perhaps lacking in the information that you would have expected Small to provide.
A substantial amount of the book is used to describe the aftermath of the arrest and conviction of Milat. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as the victims and the method of their demise has certainly been well covered in other books, but what you're left with post conviction can be dry reading at times, and disjointed at others. There are some confusing chapters relating to infighting in the task force, as well as others on corruption and dissent within the police ranks. These can sometimes make you lose sight of what you're meant to be reading about, as it comes across as a "tell all of the NSW Police Force" rather than an insiders perspective of one of Australia's worst murderers.
It's not necessarily a bad book, but it doesn't deliver what you would expect. The chapters can be a bit hodgepodge in the middle (especially the one that dealt with an interpreter that assisted the victim's families, it came out of nowhere and I wasn't quite sure why it was included in that particular section of the book) but it is a well written book, and Clive Small comes across as competent and sensitive to the topic at hand.
If you're looking for something that doesn't delve too deep into gore and post mortem information, this is a good book for you. If you're looking for psychological profiling and an insight into the Milat family, I would recommend other books that tackle the subject from that perspective.
There isn't any new information in this book, but it's worthwhile reading nevertheless.
The book is different from the others out there (the most noteworthy being "Sins of the Brother" which is a must read if you're looking for a well researched and rounded book on the Milat family) but perhaps lacking in the information that you would have expected Small to provide.
A substantial amount of the book is used to describe the aftermath of the arrest and conviction of Milat. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as the victims and the method of their demise has certainly been well covered in other books, but what you're left with post conviction can be dry reading at times, and disjointed at others. There are some confusing chapters relating to infighting in the task force, as well as others on corruption and dissent within the police ranks. These can sometimes make you lose sight of what you're meant to be reading about, as it comes across as a "tell all of the NSW Police Force" rather than an insiders perspective of one of Australia's worst murderers.
It's not necessarily a bad book, but it doesn't deliver what you would expect. The chapters can be a bit hodgepodge in the middle (especially the one that dealt with an interpreter that assisted the victim's families, it came out of nowhere and I wasn't quite sure why it was included in that particular section of the book) but it is a well written book, and Clive Small comes across as competent and sensitive to the topic at hand.
If you're looking for something that doesn't delve too deep into gore and post mortem information, this is a good book for you. If you're looking for psychological profiling and an insight into the Milat family, I would recommend other books that tackle the subject from that perspective.
There isn't any new information in this book, but it's worthwhile reading nevertheless.
January 20, 2025
So, like everyone else in Australia, you already know about the terrible backpacker murders. Correct? Wrong. The first few pages of this book outline the gruesome and terrible crimes committed by the psychopath Milat. And you quickly realise there are more layers to these terrible serial murders and the investigative work that follows in order to catch and convict this disgusting perpetrator.
Clive Small also goes on to detail more (eventually) solved and some unsolved murders as he works through the murky ripple effect of Milat’s crimes and other similar cases.
An informative read, from the perspective of the detectives and police in charge of the various strike forces, and the unsolved cases that were subsequently reopened.
Clive Small also goes on to detail more (eventually) solved and some unsolved murders as he works through the murky ripple effect of Milat’s crimes and other similar cases.
An informative read, from the perspective of the detectives and police in charge of the various strike forces, and the unsolved cases that were subsequently reopened.
March 29, 2021
This book is hard to rate - it’s a true crime hunt for a serial killer, but it’s not a memoir and it’s not told in a story format. It’s fascinating and packed with facts and process if you’re interested in how serious violent crimes are investigated and prosecuted in Australia, but it reads more like a lecture at a police academy or conference or inquiry than a non-fiction book for the general public. It’s informative with being sensationalist, it’s detailed while respecting the victims and their families, and it gives a very good insight into the type of man in charge of the type of detectives who bring killers like Milat to justice.
December 27, 2018
I remember the backpacker murders - the bodies were found when I was growing up. I knew Belanglo was nowhere near where I lived (although I always thought it was in Victoria, for some reason) so it didn't worry me too much, but it's still quite unsettling to think that someone could act like this. Probably less so at the time, as I was still a child, and probably not very aware of all the details. And I now find that some of Ivan Milat's family lived at Woombye, which is not so far from where I grew up - I think I'm glad I didn't know that at the time!
The first half of the book, which detailed how the police followed lead to find Ivan Milat, was very interesting, but after he was found guilty, the story seemed to lose momentum. The author went down some paths that only seemed to be tenuously related. However it picked up a little again toward the end, with some mention of Milat's time in prison (I didn't know he'd cut off a finger! And with a plastic knife! I wouldn't have thought that was possible!) and debate about whether he acted alone. He still officially declares that he was innocent of all the abductions and murders.
The first half of the book, which detailed how the police followed lead to find Ivan Milat, was very interesting, but after he was found guilty, the story seemed to lose momentum. The author went down some paths that only seemed to be tenuously related. However it picked up a little again toward the end, with some mention of Milat's time in prison (I didn't know he'd cut off a finger! And with a plastic knife! I wouldn't have thought that was possible!) and debate about whether he acted alone. He still officially declares that he was innocent of all the abductions and murders.
December 29, 2019
** 2 stars**
This was not what I was looking for in an Ivan Milat True Crime book
Time taken to read/ listen: 10 Days
I listened to this as an audiobook on Audible, and it is really not what I was looking for from a true crime book.
This book is split into two Parts. Part 1 looks into the police investigation into the Back Packer Murders and Taskforce Air, who were responsible for bringing Ivan Milat to trial. Part 2 looks at the different police techniques that were "discovered" during the investigation and how these have been used to solve various different cold cases.
This read like a bunch of police documents that go through procedure, they do not analyse the case or attempt to understand Milat or his background.
Not the book for me but could work for someone else.
This was not what I was looking for in an Ivan Milat True Crime book
Time taken to read/ listen: 10 Days
I listened to this as an audiobook on Audible, and it is really not what I was looking for from a true crime book.
This book is split into two Parts. Part 1 looks into the police investigation into the Back Packer Murders and Taskforce Air, who were responsible for bringing Ivan Milat to trial. Part 2 looks at the different police techniques that were "discovered" during the investigation and how these have been used to solve various different cold cases.
This read like a bunch of police documents that go through procedure, they do not analyse the case or attempt to understand Milat or his background.
Not the book for me but could work for someone else.
May 30, 2025
This book is great if you already know the backpacker murders story and want more in depth information and facts about the detective side of the story as well as some other interesting crime stories mixed within.
I’ve read a lot on the murders and the Milat family in other books so I really enjoyed this perspective as well.
I’ve read a lot on the murders and the Milat family in other books so I really enjoyed this perspective as well.
February 11, 2020
A first person account into a very complicated investigation. The Backpacker Murders are still well-known today, and it was interesting finding out how the police tracked down not only the murderer, but also the evidence needed to convict him.
A good, if chilling read.
A good, if chilling read.
July 24, 2019
the second part of this was boring & i wanted to dnf it so much but i persevered. was it worth it? no
October 19, 2021
Very matter of fact (to be expected), but great insight into the Milat manhunt and arrest.
July 2, 2021
Clive Small might have been a competent police officer (he never rose above the rank of Commander of a Task Force as he was not identified as higher rank material), but he is no author. He has co-written several books now, this being the last I have read and will ever read.
Boring, self-serving and short-sighted are my TL:DR words on this book. Self-serving as if you believe what you read, Small himself is beyond reproach in the investigation when in fact he was widely criticised by many, and I do not include Paul Gordon amongst these (he had his own problems). Raising the conflict between Gordon and Small in this book only shows just how lacking in confidence Small was and how delicate he was, and remains to criticism.
The fact that Small focused entirely on Ivan alone, and not any of his brothers shows how short-sighted he was and remains to be as there are far too many facts showing two of his brothers knew far too much about what was happening to be healthy. But Small refused to investigate them.
Read "Sins of the Brother" by Les Whittaker and Les Kennedy for a far more insightful and complete study of the background to the family, the murders and the investigation.
Boring, self-serving and short-sighted are my TL:DR words on this book. Self-serving as if you believe what you read, Small himself is beyond reproach in the investigation when in fact he was widely criticised by many, and I do not include Paul Gordon amongst these (he had his own problems). Raising the conflict between Gordon and Small in this book only shows just how lacking in confidence Small was and how delicate he was, and remains to criticism.
The fact that Small focused entirely on Ivan alone, and not any of his brothers shows how short-sighted he was and remains to be as there are far too many facts showing two of his brothers knew far too much about what was happening to be healthy. But Small refused to investigate them.
Read "Sins of the Brother" by Les Whittaker and Les Kennedy for a far more insightful and complete study of the background to the family, the murders and the investigation.
May 3, 2025
This book on the story of Ivan Milat marks the beginning of my non-fiction side quest in my love of literature. And to many more history books to come, both ancient and modern.
I've always had a fascination with crime thrillers, so naturally I'm drawn to true crime. The fact that these events actually happened makes the stories even more chilling than fiction, and the real life people often more bizarre than made up characters.
As you dig deeper into the story of Milat, the inticate details involved with the crimes, the personal history and the perpetrator's persona are fascinatingly horrifying. As the road sign reads: 'Welcome to Belangalo State Forest: Please be careful.'
To name examples of details I found particularly twisted - firstly, the body of victim 5, Anja, German hitchhiker, spine severed and skull missing?! .... Skull Missing?! What on earth did he do with her head!
Secondly, a common detail for most of the victims, gunshots to the head from all angles - front, sides, back, and... directly on top?! A characteristic in Milat's mannerisms that really sets him apart from other serial killers. You'd think one gun shot wound is enough, no, this, this was pure evil for his own pleasure, his hobby.
Thirdly, a leash and cord wrapped around insulation tape found near the bodies... for what reason? what, he would walk them on a leash like a dog, while torturing them? Makes you wonder just how long they had to suffer for. Insanity.
As far as his early life goes, I was shocked to find out that before the age of 20, he had already spent 3 years and 6 months in prison for three seperate break, enter and steal charges. At 20, he impregnated his brother's wife, a real shiny example of good character. Then, another two years imprisonment for stealing a car - this man is not even trying to avoid gaol at this point, he is ruthless, cunning, rebellious, and completely disregarding the law. Morals are not even on his radar.
A few bank robberies later, the Milat brothers and their mates were out here running some sort of Ocean's 11 bank heist joint enterprise. A rape charge pops up, followed by Ivan on the run for 3 years. Wow, true ted bundy style, above the law, living on his own terms, never mind the order of society. Back in Sydney, he was acquitted of the rape charge; his defence lawyer concocting some story of the two girl complainants being lesbians who were mentally deranged, holy it gets better and better - that sort of defence is actually laughable, and would certainly not slide in court today.
All up, Ivan was a gun nut, a domestic abuser, a rapist, a fraudster, a thief, a killer, a detainer, an arsenist, and a cow and kangaroo murderer of all things. This man was every conceivable bad thing under the sun. He was jumping between aliases, having been using seven different licenses, skating through life temporarily unscathed from accountability to his ultimate and inevitable fate.
Holding a gun to his ex's head, and when they split, he wrote many letters and she came back? Emotional manipulation at its finest. He was always wanting to be in absolute control.
Court time... Despite the amplitude of evidence against him, Ivan claims he's innocent, also claiming that he has never held a gun and is being framed - he shouts to Ian Lloyd QC. His delusion is typical and frankly, comedic. Also bundy style, ivan rejects his solicitor John Marsden and decides to represent himself. Later, he sacks another barrister Catherine Holmes, leaving Andrew boe by himself. Barrister Andrew boe then withdrew from the case, leaving Milat to defend himself. How Chaotic. The karmic ways of life work in mysterious but glorious ways.
The commital hearing involved 172 witnesses, 225 exhibits, nearly 1000 photographs and produced almost 2000 pages of transcript. Oh how I wish to go back in time, to be in that court room, to be selected as a member of the jury, or simply attend as a spectator. The privilege of hearing every bit of evidence at first instance, from every possible angle, examined with a fine tooth comb, and best of all, all the while observing the look on Ivan's face, his reactive body language and demeanour... would have been breathtaking. I can almost feel the goosebumps.
A death threat to a juror the morning before the final verdict... another spanner in the works, I wonder who called the juror?! Suggests more than just Ivan involved. Still a mystery to this day.
After Ivan was sentenced, task force air continued investigations of 30 or more other missing hitchhikers over the last 10 years. Three victims produced extremely similar factual circumstances to that of Ivan's killings. The location of the attacks, timing and circumstances, the makeshift burial, and the apparent taking of mementos all suggested Ivan was behind them. Also his work Records placed him in the areas giving him opportunity. although extremely convincing, there was insufficient evidence to prosecute, but it makes you wonder - just how many more victims are out there? The Belanglo State Forest is a vast place, as well as other surrounding forests in greater Sydney, and it's impossible for investigators to properly search its entirety, surface and below ground level.
I honestly also have to commend the police detective work and overall how the investigation was conducted. they made sure his arrest and prosecution was to be successful. Right down to every last detail, even the infrared photography identifying the victims name on a drink bottle found on Ivan's property, which he attempted to scratch off. Man probably never heard of infra-red. But why was he keeping momentos anyway, that's what ultimately let him come unstuck. Side note : the man was 5'6... WHAT?! Inconceivable. Must have been strong, because he lacked a significant amount of meters and inches.
Also another thing that puzzles me... Milat had a girlfriend the whole time, multiple girlfriends actually. How could they not know? Again, rings similar to bundy's love life, although his crimes were entirely sexually charged. It goes to show how you can never actually really know anyone truly. A person presents a crafted version of themself everyday, showing you exactly and only what they want you to see. The chance of your lover or friend living a conniving double life is completely plausible.
Disclaimer; do not stay up reading this story alone until midnight, with a storm howling outside - or do, at your own risk. Life will not feel real. The mind often has a hard time deciphering imagination from reality. I felt as though ivan was in my room that night.
I've always had a fascination with crime thrillers, so naturally I'm drawn to true crime. The fact that these events actually happened makes the stories even more chilling than fiction, and the real life people often more bizarre than made up characters.
As you dig deeper into the story of Milat, the inticate details involved with the crimes, the personal history and the perpetrator's persona are fascinatingly horrifying. As the road sign reads: 'Welcome to Belangalo State Forest: Please be careful.'
To name examples of details I found particularly twisted - firstly, the body of victim 5, Anja, German hitchhiker, spine severed and skull missing?! .... Skull Missing?! What on earth did he do with her head!
Secondly, a common detail for most of the victims, gunshots to the head from all angles - front, sides, back, and... directly on top?! A characteristic in Milat's mannerisms that really sets him apart from other serial killers. You'd think one gun shot wound is enough, no, this, this was pure evil for his own pleasure, his hobby.
Thirdly, a leash and cord wrapped around insulation tape found near the bodies... for what reason? what, he would walk them on a leash like a dog, while torturing them? Makes you wonder just how long they had to suffer for. Insanity.
As far as his early life goes, I was shocked to find out that before the age of 20, he had already spent 3 years and 6 months in prison for three seperate break, enter and steal charges. At 20, he impregnated his brother's wife, a real shiny example of good character. Then, another two years imprisonment for stealing a car - this man is not even trying to avoid gaol at this point, he is ruthless, cunning, rebellious, and completely disregarding the law. Morals are not even on his radar.
A few bank robberies later, the Milat brothers and their mates were out here running some sort of Ocean's 11 bank heist joint enterprise. A rape charge pops up, followed by Ivan on the run for 3 years. Wow, true ted bundy style, above the law, living on his own terms, never mind the order of society. Back in Sydney, he was acquitted of the rape charge; his defence lawyer concocting some story of the two girl complainants being lesbians who were mentally deranged, holy it gets better and better - that sort of defence is actually laughable, and would certainly not slide in court today.
All up, Ivan was a gun nut, a domestic abuser, a rapist, a fraudster, a thief, a killer, a detainer, an arsenist, and a cow and kangaroo murderer of all things. This man was every conceivable bad thing under the sun. He was jumping between aliases, having been using seven different licenses, skating through life temporarily unscathed from accountability to his ultimate and inevitable fate.
Holding a gun to his ex's head, and when they split, he wrote many letters and she came back? Emotional manipulation at its finest. He was always wanting to be in absolute control.
Court time... Despite the amplitude of evidence against him, Ivan claims he's innocent, also claiming that he has never held a gun and is being framed - he shouts to Ian Lloyd QC. His delusion is typical and frankly, comedic. Also bundy style, ivan rejects his solicitor John Marsden and decides to represent himself. Later, he sacks another barrister Catherine Holmes, leaving Andrew boe by himself. Barrister Andrew boe then withdrew from the case, leaving Milat to defend himself. How Chaotic. The karmic ways of life work in mysterious but glorious ways.
The commital hearing involved 172 witnesses, 225 exhibits, nearly 1000 photographs and produced almost 2000 pages of transcript. Oh how I wish to go back in time, to be in that court room, to be selected as a member of the jury, or simply attend as a spectator. The privilege of hearing every bit of evidence at first instance, from every possible angle, examined with a fine tooth comb, and best of all, all the while observing the look on Ivan's face, his reactive body language and demeanour... would have been breathtaking. I can almost feel the goosebumps.
A death threat to a juror the morning before the final verdict... another spanner in the works, I wonder who called the juror?! Suggests more than just Ivan involved. Still a mystery to this day.
After Ivan was sentenced, task force air continued investigations of 30 or more other missing hitchhikers over the last 10 years. Three victims produced extremely similar factual circumstances to that of Ivan's killings. The location of the attacks, timing and circumstances, the makeshift burial, and the apparent taking of mementos all suggested Ivan was behind them. Also his work Records placed him in the areas giving him opportunity. although extremely convincing, there was insufficient evidence to prosecute, but it makes you wonder - just how many more victims are out there? The Belanglo State Forest is a vast place, as well as other surrounding forests in greater Sydney, and it's impossible for investigators to properly search its entirety, surface and below ground level.
I honestly also have to commend the police detective work and overall how the investigation was conducted. they made sure his arrest and prosecution was to be successful. Right down to every last detail, even the infrared photography identifying the victims name on a drink bottle found on Ivan's property, which he attempted to scratch off. Man probably never heard of infra-red. But why was he keeping momentos anyway, that's what ultimately let him come unstuck. Side note : the man was 5'6... WHAT?! Inconceivable. Must have been strong, because he lacked a significant amount of meters and inches.
Also another thing that puzzles me... Milat had a girlfriend the whole time, multiple girlfriends actually. How could they not know? Again, rings similar to bundy's love life, although his crimes were entirely sexually charged. It goes to show how you can never actually really know anyone truly. A person presents a crafted version of themself everyday, showing you exactly and only what they want you to see. The chance of your lover or friend living a conniving double life is completely plausible.
Disclaimer; do not stay up reading this story alone until midnight, with a storm howling outside - or do, at your own risk. Life will not feel real. The mind often has a hard time deciphering imagination from reality. I felt as though ivan was in my room that night.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2014
For those not in Australia, Ivan Milat was convicted of killing seven backpackers in New South Wales. This book tells of how Superintendent Clive Small headed the task force that investigated the murders.
This could have been a fascinating case study of how a murderer was unmasked by a leading detective but it is not. Small spends part of the book telling you about all the process and procedures he implemented and it almost reads like a job application. For example the first thing I did was implement a media strategy and the successful outcome was no leaks. The parts of the book that are interesting is the tension between Small and fellow detective Paul Gordon. It is perhaps the most insightful part of the book.
I was disappointed in this book it was light on detail and it makes it seem that everything came together relatively easy. It is an okay read but could have done more than just scratch the surface
This could have been a fascinating case study of how a murderer was unmasked by a leading detective but it is not. Small spends part of the book telling you about all the process and procedures he implemented and it almost reads like a job application. For example the first thing I did was implement a media strategy and the successful outcome was no leaks. The parts of the book that are interesting is the tension between Small and fellow detective Paul Gordon. It is perhaps the most insightful part of the book.
I was disappointed in this book it was light on detail and it makes it seem that everything came together relatively easy. It is an okay read but could have done more than just scratch the surface
March 29, 2020
"I admit this was a 'fill in' read while I waited for the books I had ordered to arrive. The subject matter interests me greatly but I have read a book and many many articles on these murders before. Being an Australian it was hard to get away from the stories as the events unfolded.
The reason for giving this a go is because it is written by Clive Small who was the Commander of task force Air, the force responsible for the Milat/belanglo State Forest murders investigation.
I do not remember either the exact title or the author of the book I read about 20 years ago but I am sure this one is better. Clive through his involvement is able to give more insight into the case. All the collection of items from various locations, m
ore detailed analysis of scenes etc. The actual names and style of murder is nothing new but Clive goes beyond that.
Perhaps the best part of the book is after the trial of Ivan Milat is finished. Clive Small talks about task forces set up within the NSW police force to investigate unsolved murders. The reason for their inclusion is because Milat always comes up as a person of interest but some of these cases I was unaware of. Certainly has you thinking he was responsible for more than just the Belanglo Stae forest murders and the same question is also raised again and again. Did he act alone?
Very refreshing to read the chapter on Detective Senior Constable Paul Gordon. I doubt I have ever read a senior police man admit that a fellow senior officer was not up to the task. To discuss how Gordon nearly ruined the case and how he was dismissed from the task force but to talk about it without malice. It does not come across as two big guys in a pissing contest
, more that Gordon was inept in his duties.
Great also to see the reasoning behind decisions - why police do not tell the media some things, why search warrants can not be granted, why the force has to wait when all evidence seems to point to a suspect, how they deal with the families involved, the seemingly unimportant questions they ask people of interest and some of the painstakingly mundane work they need to perform to make sure a case is watertight. "
The reason for giving this a go is because it is written by Clive Small who was the Commander of task force Air, the force responsible for the Milat/belanglo State Forest murders investigation.
I do not remember either the exact title or the author of the book I read about 20 years ago but I am sure this one is better. Clive through his involvement is able to give more insight into the case. All the collection of items from various locations, m
ore detailed analysis of scenes etc. The actual names and style of murder is nothing new but Clive goes beyond that.
Perhaps the best part of the book is after the trial of Ivan Milat is finished. Clive Small talks about task forces set up within the NSW police force to investigate unsolved murders. The reason for their inclusion is because Milat always comes up as a person of interest but some of these cases I was unaware of. Certainly has you thinking he was responsible for more than just the Belanglo Stae forest murders and the same question is also raised again and again. Did he act alone?
Very refreshing to read the chapter on Detective Senior Constable Paul Gordon. I doubt I have ever read a senior police man admit that a fellow senior officer was not up to the task. To discuss how Gordon nearly ruined the case and how he was dismissed from the task force but to talk about it without malice. It does not come across as two big guys in a pissing contest
, more that Gordon was inept in his duties.
Great also to see the reasoning behind decisions - why police do not tell the media some things, why search warrants can not be granted, why the force has to wait when all evidence seems to point to a suspect, how they deal with the families involved, the seemingly unimportant questions they ask people of interest and some of the painstakingly mundane work they need to perform to make sure a case is watertight. "
June 19, 2019
Years after detective Clive Small was the lead investigator in the Backpacker Murderer case and Ivan Milat was behind bars at Goulburn Supermax Correctional Centre, he ran into Ivan in the hallway and assured him he knew Ivan's sister Shirley wasn't involved in the killings and said he knew Ivan did it on his own. Ivan replied, "Yes, so why are you telling them she was involved?" Clive called the chance encounter the closest admission of guilt anyone has ever got from the murderer.
The name Ivan Milat sends chills down anyone's spine and reading about the in depth police work conducted behind the scenes to catch Ivan Milat and charge him with the seven murders was interesting. I knew a lot of the details about the killings going into this book, so there wasn't anything new for me there, but I still found it engaging and informative.
The issue I had with this book was when Small started talking about other unrelated disappearances and murders in Australia that had nothing to do with Milat. I get that the police work used to catch Milat lead to other arrests and cold cases being reopened, but I really just wanted to read about the Belanglo case.
The fact that I picked this book up the day before Milat was taken from jail to hospital, diagnosed with throat and stomach cancer and given only a few months to live was eerie.
Overall I enjoyed the book, but I feel like it would have been better without the focus on other cases.
The name Ivan Milat sends chills down anyone's spine and reading about the in depth police work conducted behind the scenes to catch Ivan Milat and charge him with the seven murders was interesting. I knew a lot of the details about the killings going into this book, so there wasn't anything new for me there, but I still found it engaging and informative.
The issue I had with this book was when Small started talking about other unrelated disappearances and murders in Australia that had nothing to do with Milat. I get that the police work used to catch Milat lead to other arrests and cold cases being reopened, but I really just wanted to read about the Belanglo case.
The fact that I picked this book up the day before Milat was taken from jail to hospital, diagnosed with throat and stomach cancer and given only a few months to live was eerie.
Overall I enjoyed the book, but I feel like it would have been better without the focus on other cases.
August 4, 2025
I was recommended this book as I was wanting to read more and was manly interested in true crime.
In my opinion this story was a very grotesque book to begin my reading with, but i enjoyed it throughly as I much loved how the book was more closer to a police report than a recount of the case. I much prefer this way as I feel more immersed with the story.
I was truly horrified when reading what he had done to those multiple backpackers and how he took advantage of them in so many ways. It got me thinking though. It taught me how cautious to be when travelling somewhere you’ve never been and how not everyone who is nice to you is trustworthy.
When I’m reading a true crime story I want it to teach me a valuable lesson on life or keep me so intrigued that I never want to put the book down until i finish it. And that’s exactly what this book did.
Highly recommend to people who aren’t squeamish and love all the gruesome and gnarly details within cases like these.
In my opinion this story was a very grotesque book to begin my reading with, but i enjoyed it throughly as I much loved how the book was more closer to a police report than a recount of the case. I much prefer this way as I feel more immersed with the story.
I was truly horrified when reading what he had done to those multiple backpackers and how he took advantage of them in so many ways. It got me thinking though. It taught me how cautious to be when travelling somewhere you’ve never been and how not everyone who is nice to you is trustworthy.
When I’m reading a true crime story I want it to teach me a valuable lesson on life or keep me so intrigued that I never want to put the book down until i finish it. And that’s exactly what this book did.
Highly recommend to people who aren’t squeamish and love all the gruesome and gnarly details within cases like these.
July 5, 2022
Was a really good book, it takes you through the investigation and what they had to deal with in regards to the laws, media and witnesses. I did find it hard to follow at times with the police talk as I didn’t understand it sometimes and was getting confused with all the different names, but was still able to get the jist of what was happening. I was happy to read about the families getting that support and feeling supported by the police. Truely an evil man who caused so much pain and suffering to many people.
March 7, 2021
This was good - but sorta confusing. There was a lot of people and a lot of names - which made it slightly impossible to understand what was going on and who was involved.
I knew about the case and this was a fresh take on it. Written by someone that was a part of the main sections of the case was a perfect way to approach it.
The victims were treated with respect and I commend the author for his writing.
I knew about the case and this was a fresh take on it. Written by someone that was a part of the main sections of the case was a perfect way to approach it.
The victims were treated with respect and I commend the author for his writing.
August 5, 2024
I definitely agree with other reviews about how it reads like a police report, lots of facts and no biographical filler information about Milat so it’s a bit boring to read, the stats and facts are crazy don’t get me wrong, but it drones. The second part of the book I think is pointless and doesn’t really have any relevance being in a book called ‘milat’ when it doesn’t have anything to do with the Milat family.
August 4, 2018
The first half of this book was fantastic and super informative and I thoroughly enjoyed it and learned heaps of things I didn’t know previously about Ivan Milat, his family and of course, the murders. The second half kinda lost me and although I did finish it, I struggled to get through it as I was pretty bored.
July 31, 2020
An excellent read. Couldn't put the book down, this has been the first book I have read in such a short time. The amount of information and additional information was just expectional! All evidence found with associated comments are shared with the reader as well as other graphs shown to the jury. This book was a fantastic read and I highly recommend it!
January 10, 2022
This book was more interesting than I had originally anticipated. It gives accounts from people who knew the Milat family, people who worked the cases, and gives really interesting insight into some investigative techniques that were developed and still used to this day, because of the Milat murders.
Quite the chilling account of events, and definitely one for true crime fans to enjoy.
Quite the chilling account of events, and definitely one for true crime fans to enjoy.
November 7, 2024
generally quite good, although it certainly isn't a true crime book in the style that people might expect. the book focuses less on the actual crimes and more on the pursuit of milat and subsequently the impacts of his arrest. the content is interesting but if you're looking for a good primer on the case overall, i'd recommend reading something else first.
January 15, 2019
It was a good read, slightly hard to follow as it flicks between dates alot from paragraph to paragraph.
Some information/chapters felt rather irrelevant to Ivan Milat and the Backpacker murders but were still interesting none the less.
Some information/chapters felt rather irrelevant to Ivan Milat and the Backpacker murders but were still interesting none the less.
January 28, 2019
I don’t know if I just came in with different expectations or what, but this just didn’t do it for me. Felt more like an information dump and I struggled to latch on to any narrative arc. Maybe better fit people already really familiar with Milat and the murders.
March 14, 2022
A serial Killer I had never heard of. Kind of a dry recitation of the facts. Usually cops are great storytellers, but not so much here. It was interesting to heard about cold cases that they solved due to technology developed to catch Ivan Milat.
November 1, 2022
This isn’t a book that I would read twice but it was fine to read once. There isn’t a lot to it that I haven’t read in newspapers or seen on tv. I thought Sins of the Brother gave a much better overview of Ivan Milat.
January 16, 2023
A good recount on the murders, investigation and trial of Ivan Milat. The first half of the book was engaging and easy to read quickly, but the second half had more of a focus on other murders rather than Milat himself.
February 9, 2025
Very interesting. Easy to read - thankfully not too detailed regarding the way Milat murdered his victims. The attention to detail by the investigators was impressive - initially all they had to go on were the badly decomposed bodies and the billets and shell cases…..
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