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Marble Bar
Gareth Ford, with a cloud still hanging over him because of his involvement in the Gwardar Gold Heist, has decided to make a new beginning in the iron mines of Newman. But when he returns home from the night shift and finds his flatmate has been murdered, suspicion quickly falls upon him. He, however, fears he himself was the real target and soon discovers he is being tailed. He summons his old ally from the Gold Squad, DC Rose Kavanagh, and soon they find themselves in Marble Bar, searching for the Gwardar Gold and being pursued by a variety of desperadoes, each with their own agendas.
- GenresCrime
360 pages, Paperback
First published June 25, 2014
2 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Robert Schofield
19 books4 followersHaving received a degree in engineering from Cambridge, Robert Schofield worked as a structural engineering consultant, engineering signature architecture including East Croydon Station, The Eden Project, Madrid Airport, Lichfield Theatre, and the London Imax Theatre. He then travelled to Australia and finding no call for creative architectural engineering in Perth, he adapted his skills to the mining and offshore industries. Whatever time he has left after working, writing, and wrangling three young children, he spends reading, cycling, kayaking on the Blackwood River, and maintaining his scooter: a beautiful 1970 Vespa Rally.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 21, 2014
Marble Bar is the sequel to Robert Schofield's debut novel, Heist, featuring mining engineer, Gareth Ford.
It has been a year since Ford was framed for the multi million dollar robbery of the Gwardar Gold Mine and narrowly escaped the murderous attentions of the real thieves, corrupt Gold Squad officers, vicious bikies and his ex-wife, Dianne. Now working at an iron ore mine in Newman while caring for his six year old daughter, Ford assumes the worst is behind them until he realises he is being tailed by two dangerous looking men, his lodger is murdered and he receives a desperate call from his ex-wife begging him to meet her. Gareth needs to get out of town, his daughter wants to see her mum and Kavanaugh wants to find the gold so they head to Marble Bar ...... and straight into trouble.
There are glimpses of the sharp humour, and exaggerated action I enjoyed in Heist, but Marble Bar has a more serious tone and less energy than its predecessor. That's not necessarily a bad thing, just not quite what I was expecting. Marble Bar is closer to a traditional crime/action novel with a more realistic storyline and less flamboyant characterisation.
Ford seems subdued during much of this instalment. I think that this is mainly attributable to his emotional turmoil with regard to his ex wife, and while I did admire Ford's determination to preserve the relationship between Dianne and their daughter, I thought his angst got in the way of the story somewhat.
With Ford unsure of his feelings, and worried about Dianne's safety, Kavanaugh is forced to take the lead in most situations the pair face in Marble Bar. Kavanaugh is willing to humour Dianne for the chance to recover the gold, but she is utterly unimpressed with Ford's angst regarding his wife's behaviour, and convinced Dianne's plea for help is just another con. This causes considerable tension between Ford and Kavanaugh, complicated by their mutual attraction and the twists of the plot.
I especially liked setting of this story. Marble Bar is a tiny West Australian Pilbara town with a population of about 200 people which regularly experiences some of the highest temperatures in the country. It seems an unlikely setting for a crime novel, but Schofield makes it work.
Marble Bar is well paced with a solidly developed storyline and I enjoyed reconnecting with familiar characters. I enjoyed Marble Bar, even though it wasn't quite what I expected based on reading Heist, and I am looking forward to the third title to tie up some of the remaining loose ends.
It has been a year since Ford was framed for the multi million dollar robbery of the Gwardar Gold Mine and narrowly escaped the murderous attentions of the real thieves, corrupt Gold Squad officers, vicious bikies and his ex-wife, Dianne. Now working at an iron ore mine in Newman while caring for his six year old daughter, Ford assumes the worst is behind them until he realises he is being tailed by two dangerous looking men, his lodger is murdered and he receives a desperate call from his ex-wife begging him to meet her. Gareth needs to get out of town, his daughter wants to see her mum and Kavanaugh wants to find the gold so they head to Marble Bar ...... and straight into trouble.
There are glimpses of the sharp humour, and exaggerated action I enjoyed in Heist, but Marble Bar has a more serious tone and less energy than its predecessor. That's not necessarily a bad thing, just not quite what I was expecting. Marble Bar is closer to a traditional crime/action novel with a more realistic storyline and less flamboyant characterisation.
Ford seems subdued during much of this instalment. I think that this is mainly attributable to his emotional turmoil with regard to his ex wife, and while I did admire Ford's determination to preserve the relationship between Dianne and their daughter, I thought his angst got in the way of the story somewhat.
With Ford unsure of his feelings, and worried about Dianne's safety, Kavanaugh is forced to take the lead in most situations the pair face in Marble Bar. Kavanaugh is willing to humour Dianne for the chance to recover the gold, but she is utterly unimpressed with Ford's angst regarding his wife's behaviour, and convinced Dianne's plea for help is just another con. This causes considerable tension between Ford and Kavanaugh, complicated by their mutual attraction and the twists of the plot.
I especially liked setting of this story. Marble Bar is a tiny West Australian Pilbara town with a population of about 200 people which regularly experiences some of the highest temperatures in the country. It seems an unlikely setting for a crime novel, but Schofield makes it work.
Marble Bar is well paced with a solidly developed storyline and I enjoyed reconnecting with familiar characters. I enjoyed Marble Bar, even though it wasn't quite what I expected based on reading Heist, and I am looking forward to the third title to tie up some of the remaining loose ends.
July 7, 2014
I’ll start of in echoing my review of this authors debut novel; I don’t normally like crime fiction. I conquered my prejudices the first time and was rewarded with an action packed ride through a literally coloufull and familiar (as a West Australian) landscape. This second book returns to the well in an equally polished fashion and lively fashion.
Our hero this time shifted up north to the red dirt of the Pilbara and having (apparently) recovered from his numerous injuries in the first book he finds himself drawn back into the ongoing fallout from the mine robbery of the first novel, and is forced to set out again on a desperate quest to save his daughter and himself from the collective menace of some familiar antagonists and a fresh series.
I won’t spoil the plot, but I will say that like the first, for me this book is at its best with its characters out in the local landscape. The living, breathing colour of the descriptions of the country, coupled with the dialogue (the protagonist’s inner monologue in particular) create an immersive experience and provide an unusual depth of characterisation for this style of book.
I would highly recommend it. It also stands on its own even as a sequel. You could chose to head over and read the first book first, or go straight ahead with this one. You’re fine either way.
Our hero this time shifted up north to the red dirt of the Pilbara and having (apparently) recovered from his numerous injuries in the first book he finds himself drawn back into the ongoing fallout from the mine robbery of the first novel, and is forced to set out again on a desperate quest to save his daughter and himself from the collective menace of some familiar antagonists and a fresh series.
I won’t spoil the plot, but I will say that like the first, for me this book is at its best with its characters out in the local landscape. The living, breathing colour of the descriptions of the country, coupled with the dialogue (the protagonist’s inner monologue in particular) create an immersive experience and provide an unusual depth of characterisation for this style of book.
I would highly recommend it. It also stands on its own even as a sequel. You could chose to head over and read the first book first, or go straight ahead with this one. You’re fine either way.
June 18, 2017
Bolinda audiobook. Unfortunately I did not realize this was the second book in a series until after I had started listening. Bit miffed that it wasn't mentioned on the BorrowBox app.
Really liked the book however, except for sometimes Ford was oddly passive. Especially when his gross wife was concerned.
Really liked the book however, except for sometimes Ford was oddly passive. Especially when his gross wife was concerned.
June 11, 2024
Loved the book.
The fact that I have been to those places made me feel like I was actually part of the story.
I was there with them. Sweating, swatting flies, walking with blisters.....I was traveling again.
The fact that I have been to those places made me feel like I was actually part of the story.
I was there with them. Sweating, swatting flies, walking with blisters.....I was traveling again.
January 15, 2026
dragged on a bit but very good storyline
July 29, 2014
The sequel to Robert Schofield's debut, Heist, is here at last. MARBLE BAR picks up the life, and trials of mining engineer and extremely reluctant hero Gareth Ford a year or so after he was framed for the multi-million dollar Gwardar Gold Mine heist. Then he narrowly escaped the murderous intent of an international gang of thieves, the close attention of dodgy Gold Squad officers, pursuit by some very determined bikies and the betrayal of his wife Dianne. Now life has almost stablised. Ford and his young daughter are in Newman, Ford working in the iron ore mine, trying to be a good single parent, balancing all the competing priorities. Until his past, that international gang of thieves and their enemies, his wife, and DC Rose Kavanagh all come crashing back into view.
Heist incorporated a lot of vaguely lunatic action, turning Ford into a bit of a reluctant super-hero along the way, but in MARBLE BAR that's been pared back. Perhaps because Ford is somehow more measured, possibly more risk adverse. Which fits with a man who has suddenly come face to face with his wife's betrayal, and his responsibility to their daughter. He's also conflicted for a fair part of this book - on the one hand trying to be fair to Dianne and his daughter, and on the other unsure about his increasing attraction to Kavanagh. To say nothing of this tendency for lunatic baddies to show up on his doorstep with monotonous regularity.
It's not all business as usual however, and the setting of Marble Bar adds to a general feeling of craziness - right down to the stand-off at High Moon, Marble Bar style - a scene which just has to raise a smile. Some of the lesser characters bought into this story are really strong, and very apt. The threat imposed by a very large Maori gentleman, with an aversion to guns and his umbrella toting Chinese offsider has just enough of the unlikely about it to make it all too feasible. The setting also gives Schofield a chance to draw some beautiful word pictures about the heat, the dryness, the oddity of the place, the people and the situation he and Kavanagh find themselves in. Kavanagh is also a strong character in this book, showing a bit of the human side, still a dab hand with a gun when required.
Despite some back story, and enough context to give readers an idea of the background, MARBLE BAR does step right back into the action and the fallout from the Gwardar Gold robbery. Because that's a complicated scenario in its own right, and things get even more complicated in this follow-up, it's does feel like it would be better if you read both books in sequence. Given what a ripper of a debut Heist was, that's a real opportunity.
MARBLE BAR is a slightly different kettle of fish from the first book, but in it's own way, that bodes well. There's only so much you can wring from one robbery after all, and Ford and Kavanagh have a lot of living left to do. What they do in a follow up book - well that's something we're keenly waiting for now.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
Heist incorporated a lot of vaguely lunatic action, turning Ford into a bit of a reluctant super-hero along the way, but in MARBLE BAR that's been pared back. Perhaps because Ford is somehow more measured, possibly more risk adverse. Which fits with a man who has suddenly come face to face with his wife's betrayal, and his responsibility to their daughter. He's also conflicted for a fair part of this book - on the one hand trying to be fair to Dianne and his daughter, and on the other unsure about his increasing attraction to Kavanagh. To say nothing of this tendency for lunatic baddies to show up on his doorstep with monotonous regularity.
It's not all business as usual however, and the setting of Marble Bar adds to a general feeling of craziness - right down to the stand-off at High Moon, Marble Bar style - a scene which just has to raise a smile. Some of the lesser characters bought into this story are really strong, and very apt. The threat imposed by a very large Maori gentleman, with an aversion to guns and his umbrella toting Chinese offsider has just enough of the unlikely about it to make it all too feasible. The setting also gives Schofield a chance to draw some beautiful word pictures about the heat, the dryness, the oddity of the place, the people and the situation he and Kavanagh find themselves in. Kavanagh is also a strong character in this book, showing a bit of the human side, still a dab hand with a gun when required.
Despite some back story, and enough context to give readers an idea of the background, MARBLE BAR does step right back into the action and the fallout from the Gwardar Gold robbery. Because that's a complicated scenario in its own right, and things get even more complicated in this follow-up, it's does feel like it would be better if you read both books in sequence. Given what a ripper of a debut Heist was, that's a real opportunity.
MARBLE BAR is a slightly different kettle of fish from the first book, but in it's own way, that bodes well. There's only so much you can wring from one robbery after all, and Ford and Kavanagh have a lot of living left to do. What they do in a follow up book - well that's something we're keenly waiting for now.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
February 23, 2017
Not as great as the first one, which is actually surprising.
November 2, 2016
I gabbed this book as an audio book, looking to sample a new Australian crime writer and came to it without any knowledge. Turned out it was the second book of a series. Having said that it stood up quite well as a standalone book, but I think I would have got a lot more from it if I had read the first.
It had great feeling of 'place', good characterization, and a plot that pulled me through the book. I was disappointed with the end, mainly because too many things were left unresolved, I assume as a set up for a sequel. I might feel better about he ending if I get around to reading the next book if and when it comes out.
It had great feeling of 'place', good characterization, and a plot that pulled me through the book. I was disappointed with the end, mainly because too many things were left unresolved, I assume as a set up for a sequel. I might feel better about he ending if I get around to reading the next book if and when it comes out.
June 29, 2016
I enjoyed the first book "Heist", set in outback Australia with a mining background. This one continues in the same vein, with many of the same characters and villains plus some additional local characters. Ford is still in trouble and needing Kavanagh to help him stay out of it. The action is still thrilling and suspenseful, with touches of humour and romance, albeit with Ford not knowing his own mind in regard to how he feels about his wife. Looking forward to book 3 to solve that problem for him.
September 6, 2014
I really enjoyed this story. I am familiar with the setting and was easily able to picture it. I thought initially it was a basic story but as it progressed Gareth and Rose seemed to be becoming deeply involved with th happenings of his wife. I am not really that sure why Grace was kept with Gareth in the story as she could have stayed with so done in Newman and the story have pretty much the same outcome. I wonder what will occur now?
September 13, 2014
I can see these two books as TV series. If so I hope they are filmed in the locations were these books were set. FIFO wag and family for 25 years +
September 10, 2022
A wonderful sequel to Heist. Can't wait for the third instalment. What a hoot!
April 6, 2016
Could really feel the north-west of WA in this novel. I hadn't read the first book with some of these characters but that didn't seem to matter. I still enjoyed the story telling.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews