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Cato Kwong #3
Bad Seed
When wealthy property developer Francis Tan and his family are found slain in their mansion, Cato Kwong is forced to recall a personal history that makes his investigation doubly painful. The killer is elusive and brutal, and the investigation takes Cato to Shanghai. In a world of spoiled rich kids and cyber dragons, Cato is about to discover a whole lot more about the Chinese acquisition of Australian land—about those who play the game and those who die trying.
348 pages, Paperback
First published February 25, 2015
19 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
About the author
Alan Carter
10 books91 followersAlan Carter is an award-winning crime author and sometimes television documentary director. His Cato Kwong series – Prime Cut, Getting Warmer and Bad Seed – has been published in the UK, France, Germany and Spain. His latest novel, Marlborough Man, is set in New Zealand. Alan was born in Sunderland, UK and immigrated to Australia in 1991. These days he divides his time between his house near the beach in Fremantle and a hobby farm up a remote valley in New Zealand. In his spare time he follows a black line up and down the local swimming pool. Alan Carter has won the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel (2018) and the Ned Kelly Award for Best First Fiction (2011).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
March 9, 2025
Pavlou appraised him. ‘You’re a good man, Philip, and a good cop. We all know that. But you need to learn to let go of things. Not rock the boat.’
Acting Sergeant Philip “Cato” Kwong of the Fremantle police is going through a rough time. His rebellious teenage son is moving with a bad crowd, his ex-wife Jane is expecting a baby to her new beau, his father diagnosed as terminally ill, his boss DI Hutchens called as a witness in an inquiry into sexual abuse at a hostel years earlier. And now the Tan family – once friends, the wife more than friends – have been murdered, with only the elder son, Matt, surviving. Who did it and why?
Early in the investigation the Major Crimes squad not only takes an interest but takes over, Cato tolerated because of his Chinese ancestry. There emerges shonky property deals with mainland China, flagged by the Foreign Investment Review Board, and gangsters in both countries have an interest. Soon Cato is part of a police team sent to Shanghai, where he meets Sharon Wong, another Chinese Aussie, a officer of the Australian Federal Police in Beijing, and he is confronted with a very different culture, one where guanzi - “mutual obligation”, prevails.
Set in 2013, ahead of the Federal Election in which asylum seekers boats was a key issue, the story switches between the Chinese players and their Australian counterparts, and the unfolding dramas at the inquiry, where a victim of the perpetrator is seeking not only compensation, but revenge.
Wow! This was tightly written with some very interesting characters (one who seems to be playing both sides of the street) - and insights into the Aussie psyche. It reveals the attitudes shown to Asians in Australia, even the descendants of the Victorian gold rush of the 1850’s. And a certain snobbery against the “bland” coastal subdivisions springing up in SW WA, which to people living in high rises in smog-bound Shanghai would seem like paradise.
Verdict: top Aussie crime and a thought-provoking reading.
Acting Sergeant Philip “Cato” Kwong of the Fremantle police is going through a rough time. His rebellious teenage son is moving with a bad crowd, his ex-wife Jane is expecting a baby to her new beau, his father diagnosed as terminally ill, his boss DI Hutchens called as a witness in an inquiry into sexual abuse at a hostel years earlier. And now the Tan family – once friends, the wife more than friends – have been murdered, with only the elder son, Matt, surviving. Who did it and why?
Early in the investigation the Major Crimes squad not only takes an interest but takes over, Cato tolerated because of his Chinese ancestry. There emerges shonky property deals with mainland China, flagged by the Foreign Investment Review Board, and gangsters in both countries have an interest. Soon Cato is part of a police team sent to Shanghai, where he meets Sharon Wong, another Chinese Aussie, a officer of the Australian Federal Police in Beijing, and he is confronted with a very different culture, one where guanzi - “mutual obligation”, prevails.
Set in 2013, ahead of the Federal Election in which asylum seekers boats was a key issue, the story switches between the Chinese players and their Australian counterparts, and the unfolding dramas at the inquiry, where a victim of the perpetrator is seeking not only compensation, but revenge.
Wow! This was tightly written with some very interesting characters (one who seems to be playing both sides of the street) - and insights into the Aussie psyche. It reveals the attitudes shown to Asians in Australia, even the descendants of the Victorian gold rush of the 1850’s. And a certain snobbery against the “bland” coastal subdivisions springing up in SW WA, which to people living in high rises in smog-bound Shanghai would seem like paradise.
Verdict: top Aussie crime and a thought-provoking reading.
March 1, 2025
4.5 stars. Alan Carter is a fantastic writer and his novels are rich and topical. It’s an entirely different take on the Aussie Noir genre and I like the political backdrop to his writing too. It took me a long time to read (listen to) because the plot was very complex and there were lots of players. This is not a criticism but sometimes I needed a bit of reminding and had to go back. I really like the humanity of the characters. Nothing is overly simple in these novels. Perhaps not 5 stars because it was a little long and the ending a bit fast.
March 20, 2015
In a word, Brilliant.
April 27, 2015
My View:
A complex plot sited both in Perth Western Australia and Shanghai that is choc- o- block full of mystery, intrigue, politics and dark humour. Sins of the past play softly in the background, slowly gathering momentum and reaching a crescendo colliding with events of today. There are a few bloody deaths to investigate whilst light is shed on policing habits and idiosyncrasies that come under investigation in their own right (eg crime and corruption hearings) and plenty of local social commentary (eg Abuse in Government care) that will be very familiar to the local reader.
I particularly enjoyed Mr Carter’s method of naming his characters; for those who are unaware Mr Carter is well known in the Western Australia’s documentary scene, a very talented individual, and I found myself smiling and having a chuckle as I recognised some familiar names ( though not their traits) in this book .
This is the third book in the Cato Kwong series but can easily be read as a stand a lone.
A complex plot sited both in Perth Western Australia and Shanghai that is choc- o- block full of mystery, intrigue, politics and dark humour. Sins of the past play softly in the background, slowly gathering momentum and reaching a crescendo colliding with events of today. There are a few bloody deaths to investigate whilst light is shed on policing habits and idiosyncrasies that come under investigation in their own right (eg crime and corruption hearings) and plenty of local social commentary (eg Abuse in Government care) that will be very familiar to the local reader.
I particularly enjoyed Mr Carter’s method of naming his characters; for those who are unaware Mr Carter is well known in the Western Australia’s documentary scene, a very talented individual, and I found myself smiling and having a chuckle as I recognised some familiar names ( though not their traits) in this book .
This is the third book in the Cato Kwong series but can easily be read as a stand a lone.
April 21, 2015
From the first book featuring Cato Kwong this has been a series to follow closely. A police procedural that's moved him from Coventry (aka the Stock Squad in remote WA) back to Perth and right into the middle of a shocking murder scene. Made worse by his old friendship with the dead family.
Not that it was a current friendship. Kwong and the Tan family had drifted apart many years ago, but the reason for that separation is part of the problem for this investigation:
"Another strong gust shook the walls. Cato couldn't disagree. He knew the boy, and if anybody was capable of this, he was."
The best thing about this series is the balance between strong, believable and really companionable characters, and the little details of police and forensic procedure that are dotted throughout (as well as the dry and gallows humour):
"Cato left Duncan Goldflam and his mob to continue shifting through the forensic broth in the Tan home and headed back to the office. A team of detectives and uniforms was doorknocking the area. That was expected to take most of the day. The boffins had taken away the array of family PCs, Macs, iPads, smartphones and such, and were picking the bones out of them. The telcos were also doing their bit: logging calls received and made, durations and locations in the preceding week, timeline to be expanded as required. DC Thornton hovered by Cato's desk."
Needless to say the state of the investigation is summed up in a succinct paragraph and we're away. There is much to be said for this clear, to the point style. The reader knows where we are, the procedural aspects aren't brushed under the carpet, and they don't bog the action down into the bargain. Which leaves Carter free to play with his characters, their attitudes and interactions.
"He flicked a finger at the newspaper. 'This race to the bottom. Competing to see how badly we can treat asylum seekers. Tents on Castaway Island for fuck's sake. They'll be promising to spit in their food next. Pathetic.' A Perth gangster with more humanity and political insight than a Federal political leader; it gave you pause for thought."
Yes indeed it does. As does much of this investigation as it digs into the Tan family themselves, their boyfriends and girlfriends, and Francis Tan's business associates. It's a good balance of plot, action and characters, with some standouts in all categories.
"There was a certain inevitability about what happened next. The Red Mist had descended on Deb Hassan but she was horribly calm as she unclipped her taser, marched up and stuck it into Mrs Harvey's shoulder. 'Mind your manners, bitch.'"
Not politically correct, flamboyant and definitely a tad on the grumpy side, Deb Hassan works really well with the calmer, more prosaic Kwong even though there are times when you can visualise them with hands around each others throats.
Kwong doesn't play a lone hand though, there are other things happening in his world. His boss in trouble with a judicial inquiry, and a bad dose of angina, as well as characters from the earlier books with happy events and woes of their own. Carter does not shy away from some dramatic outcomes in the case of his characters. All isn't automatically happy and right in this world. This aspect alone means that the chance to read the books in order is going to make everything work much better for you, but it's not necessary. These are such good books there's enough context here to keep you from being confused, without bogging you down.
It's hard to explain sometimes why cracking, tight, and realistic dialogue is so necessary for this genre. People that work together daily, under pressure and in the most confrontational of circumstances talk in jargon, in short-hand, in pointed and often poignant style. Instead of explaining why it's so important from here on, I'm seriously considering referring questioners to books like BAD SEED.
Combine all of these excellent elements with a great sense of place, time and social context and BAD SEED clearly indicates that this is a series that just keeps getting better.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-bad-seed-alan-carter
May 5, 2015
Referencing WA locations and fictionalising real events, a good police procedural. My only criticism is that it was quite complex
March 21, 2015
Bad Seed by Alan Carter is his third crime novel starring Detective Cato Kwong. In this excellent novel Carter casts his protagonist’s net wider to include the port city of Fremantle, Port Coogee, China and the West Australian wheat-belt. The result is a cracking good read. Fast-paced, action-packed, the story hurtles along beautifully. For a crime novel, it ticked all the boxes and more, a whole more. I loved it. As I did Alan Carter’s two earlier, brilliant crime novels—Prime Cut and Getting Warmer.
July 2, 2015
I had few expectations of this novel and was pleasantly surprised to find a well written novel with complex characters. The good and bad guys aren't clear cut black and white and not all the loose ends get tied off, making it more realistic in that sense. It moves along at a good pace and you're never 100 per cent sure whodunit even after the police have got their man. The main character's sense of humour allows for some witty repartee which prevents the book becoming too dark despite the bloodiness of the murders. This was my first Cato Kwong book but not the last.
April 16, 2015
Excellent. Loved it and couldn't put it down
April 16, 2015
Great as are all Alan's books!
December 22, 2025
I cannot remember why I decided to order this book from the library - it must have been recommended somewhere. It was extremely brutal with a high death rate all linked to the desire to dominate and get richer than they were already. Chinese corruption was involved and the downfall with expected execution of one family was forecast - I suppose their fate was justified but it was all rather horrible. The side story of a historic child abuse was also distressing. I think I will call this my scary book in the WBC as whilst I wasn’t actually scared it was unsettling. I will not read more by this author.
October 30, 2021
The best in the series thus far - 4.5 stars. Kwong #1 was ok, #2 very good and this one just went to the next level. If you are thinking a simple Australian murder mystery, you’ll get a little more. There is a lot going on in this novel and a late night read whilst on the verge of a doze just won’t work. It keeps you thinking throughout with multiple conclusion possibilities lurking beneath the surface.
So why not 5 stars? The ending. It was good but the mystique and suspense of it was not at the same level of the prior 400 pages. Just a little too ‘easy’, almost like the word count ran out. That aside I’ve ordered Kwong #4 and just learnt Kwong #5 is about to hit the shelves!
So why not 5 stars? The ending. It was good but the mystique and suspense of it was not at the same level of the prior 400 pages. Just a little too ‘easy’, almost like the word count ran out. That aside I’ve ordered Kwong #4 and just learnt Kwong #5 is about to hit the shelves!
Read
July 6, 2021DNF
April 2, 2015
In 2 words. Bloody brilliant.
October 18, 2020
Philip 'Cato' Kwong is now an Acting Detective Sergeant, generally running things while the Inspector is involved, as a witness, at an inquiry into child sexual assault at a state home. Things get hectic when an friend of Cato is killed along with most of his family as they slept in their home. Major crime become involved and he finds himself back working with Lara Schmich. It's not an easy case as the victim is involved with Chinese business men doing property deals. Clearly something has gone wrong with the business.
The investigation takes them to China and it's a life changing trip for Cato and the others.
I enjoyed this read as I like the characters and the setting. But the second story line was just annoying and I think totally unnecessary. The cases where chalk and cheese and I kept wondering why this was included. It was as if a short story sitting on the desk was decided to be included in this book. Without it novel would have been a bit better to read.
The investigation takes them to China and it's a life changing trip for Cato and the others.
I enjoyed this read as I like the characters and the setting. But the second story line was just annoying and I think totally unnecessary. The cases where chalk and cheese and I kept wondering why this was included. It was as if a short story sitting on the desk was decided to be included in this book. Without it novel would have been a bit better to read.
May 15, 2017
At first when I read that Cato would be going to China and having adventures I was hesitant as, this is often a gimmick used by authors when they don't really have much inspiration about what their protagonist should be doing. Well, my doubts were unfounded as 90% of the book takes place in Perth and moves along at a good clip.
The author as always (extra points for being a pom) does a very good job of capturing the banter and dry character which often takes place in Australian conversations superbly. The only minor criticism would be that this is passed on to some characters that wouldn't necessarily speak that way. But it is a minor complaint as often the dialogue forms the best parts of this novel.
All in all, a fantastic read and I look forward to anything else that Mr Carter has written.
The author as always (extra points for being a pom) does a very good job of capturing the banter and dry character which often takes place in Australian conversations superbly. The only minor criticism would be that this is passed on to some characters that wouldn't necessarily speak that way. But it is a minor complaint as often the dialogue forms the best parts of this novel.
All in all, a fantastic read and I look forward to anything else that Mr Carter has written.
April 13, 2019
# 3 in Cato Kwong series.
Cato finds himself embroiled in an investigation involving criminal kingpins from Shanghai when the Tan family from Perth are brutally murdered.
As per the previous two installments in this series I love the wit and style of writing. The descriptions, dialogue and characters are all brilliant. However, this time the author goes way over the top and you will have to suspend disbelief to keep turning the pages. There are ALOT of characters, after 100 pages I went back and listed them as I was having trouble remembering who was who. A list at the front would definitely be helpful.
Still Cato is one of my favourite characters and I will definetly be back for more.
Cato finds himself embroiled in an investigation involving criminal kingpins from Shanghai when the Tan family from Perth are brutally murdered.
As per the previous two installments in this series I love the wit and style of writing. The descriptions, dialogue and characters are all brilliant. However, this time the author goes way over the top and you will have to suspend disbelief to keep turning the pages. There are ALOT of characters, after 100 pages I went back and listed them as I was having trouble remembering who was who. A list at the front would definitely be helpful.
Still Cato is one of my favourite characters and I will definetly be back for more.
October 28, 2017
I haven't read earlier books, but still really enjoyed this one as a stand-alone story. I'd like to read the others as I'd like to get to know the main character a bit better. It was a complicated story-line, with several stories progressing at the same time - the murders, the boss's predicament, Cato's own family life and also the occasional glimpses of Lara's personal life. Lots of suspense, humorous at times and well written.
December 27, 2021
I enjoy reading books by Alan Carter involving Cato. They are based in Perth and I know the places he is talking about. This book involves the murder of most of the Chinese Tan family. Cato sets out to find who is responsible and discovers that property developers in China and the West Australian south west are involved. He investigates in China and is almost killed.
April 14, 2022
I love this series even though I have missed out on the first two books. Cato/Philip Kwong is a terrific character; warm, practical and realistic. He is also Australian so that is a huge tick for me as it means I better understand his thinking and his humour. The crime is detailed and layered but easy to read and very enjoyable. May Cato live on.
December 19, 2021
A page turner. I got a little confused with all the wheeler dealings with the Chinese but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book. I do love the author’s asides about Australian politics of the time. Spot on.
August 4, 2017
Really enjoyed this
July 16, 2018
I really enjoyed this, probably the best of a good series.
Looking forward to the standalone novel Marlborough Man.
Looking forward to the standalone novel Marlborough Man.
August 9, 2018
Loving this series, especially the local references to Freo and all my fave haunts.
November 28, 2018
Bit Russian given all the characters, but a great treat and glad I could find it here in the states -- what a nuisance. Still trying to get my hands on Heaven Sent.
April 8, 2019
A great read - looking forward to the next Cato Kwong book - Heaven Sent.
About to start in a few minutes.
About to start in a few minutes.
July 3, 2019
With a half...reading more of Cato Kwong is an easy choice for me when I want a well written tale to couch read with, this aptly fits the bill.
October 27, 2019
So many plot and bashing and tiring till the end. Get money worth in a book I guess. No killing a dog this time.
June 29, 2020
An interesting read but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I'd have started from book one in the series as I got a bit lost with the relationships between the established characters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews