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Where the Truth Lies
Shortlisted for the same award that launched The Dry, and a finalist for the Australian Crime Writers Association's Ned Kelly Awards, Karina Kilmore’s debut Where the Truth Lies introduces a major new crime-writing talent. In this clever and explosive thriller, a feisty but flawed investigative journalist battles unexplained deaths, big business, trade unions and media manipulation amidst the gritty underside of Melbourne.
She was slipping away. The further she fell, the closer the clouds seemed to come. Wispy transparent slipstreams of white. Cirrus. Pain smashed her head. Floating ...
When investigative journalist Chrissie O’Brian lands a senior job at The Argus, she is desperate to escape the nightmares of her past. Her life has become a daily battle to numb the pain. But her job is something she does better than anyone else – and the only thing that’s keeping her anchored to this world.
A face-off on the waterfront between the unions and big business is just the kind of headline-grabbing story to get her career back on track. But when a dockworker turns up dead, she becomes obsessed with unravelling the truth.
When a gruesome threat lands on her desk, it's clear someone will do anything to stop her. But this is one battle Chrissie won't give up without a fight.
She was slipping away. The further she fell, the closer the clouds seemed to come. Wispy transparent slipstreams of white. Cirrus. Pain smashed her head. Floating ...
When investigative journalist Chrissie O’Brian lands a senior job at The Argus, she is desperate to escape the nightmares of her past. Her life has become a daily battle to numb the pain. But her job is something she does better than anyone else – and the only thing that’s keeping her anchored to this world.
A face-off on the waterfront between the unions and big business is just the kind of headline-grabbing story to get her career back on track. But when a dockworker turns up dead, she becomes obsessed with unravelling the truth.
When a gruesome threat lands on her desk, it's clear someone will do anything to stop her. But this is one battle Chrissie won't give up without a fight.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 23, 2020
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September 19, 2020
Investigative journalist Chrissie O’Brian just wanted to put her terrible past behind her, and then when she lands a senior job at the Argus she couldn’t be happier. This was a fresh start for her and she was going to dedicate all her time and energy into her job in the hope that the past would just be that and she could move forward. The one thing Chrissie knew she was good at and she enjoyed was her work and she would do all she could do to prove herself.
Chrissie is assigned to a job down on the wharf she is to interview the very first Australian woman to operate a crane. Masina Weber the crane driver informs Chrissie of a few things and it seems there are things going on at the wharf which are being covered up. Chrissie can’t let what she has learnt go and she wants to find out more, but then suddenly there is a death on the wharf one of the workers have sadly died. An investigation into how this happened was underway to find out if it was an accident or something more sinister.
Where The Truth Lies is a debut novel by Aussie author, Karina Kilmore and one I rather enjoyed. A good paced thriller that kept me turning the pages. Recommended.
Chrissie is assigned to a job down on the wharf she is to interview the very first Australian woman to operate a crane. Masina Weber the crane driver informs Chrissie of a few things and it seems there are things going on at the wharf which are being covered up. Chrissie can’t let what she has learnt go and she wants to find out more, but then suddenly there is a death on the wharf one of the workers have sadly died. An investigation into how this happened was underway to find out if it was an accident or something more sinister.
Where The Truth Lies is a debut novel by Aussie author, Karina Kilmore and one I rather enjoyed. A good paced thriller that kept me turning the pages. Recommended.
February 5, 2020
This well written debut novel features a young journalist, who becomes interested in the poor safety record of a shipping terminal at the Melbourne docks resulting in deaths and serious injuries. After an experienced female crane operator she had just interviewed for a feature, falls to her death from a crane she becomes convinced that something illegal is going on at the waterfront.
The journalist, Chrissie O'Brian is still trying to find her feet at the newspaper. After losing her husband in a horrendous car crash in New Zealand, she moved to Melbourne for a fresh start but her hiring has caused resentment by the rest of the staff who had recently lost colleagues through forced redundancies. While she feels there is an important story to be exposed at the docks, her editor has assigned her to routine work, forcing her to spend her free time working on the investigation. With the Unions and Management each blaming each other and a leak at the newspaper, Chrissie isn't sure who she can trust.
The plot moves along at a good pace as Chrissie and her computer nerd neighbour Mike start to peel back the layers of what has been going on at the docks and Chrissie starts to get threats aimed at her. Chrissie is a great character, a flawed young woman still struggling to come to terms with the mistakes of her past and go on living every day, but determined to find out the truth for those who died on the docks. The author's long experience as a newspaper journalist is telling in her depiction of the newsroom characters, such as the editors and heads of sections, who are so well drawn that they make the newsroom come to life with the buzz and excitement of deadlines and a whiff of newsprint. I hope we'll get to meet Chrissie again in a future sequel.
With thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia for a copy to read via Netgalley
The journalist, Chrissie O'Brian is still trying to find her feet at the newspaper. After losing her husband in a horrendous car crash in New Zealand, she moved to Melbourne for a fresh start but her hiring has caused resentment by the rest of the staff who had recently lost colleagues through forced redundancies. While she feels there is an important story to be exposed at the docks, her editor has assigned her to routine work, forcing her to spend her free time working on the investigation. With the Unions and Management each blaming each other and a leak at the newspaper, Chrissie isn't sure who she can trust.
The plot moves along at a good pace as Chrissie and her computer nerd neighbour Mike start to peel back the layers of what has been going on at the docks and Chrissie starts to get threats aimed at her. Chrissie is a great character, a flawed young woman still struggling to come to terms with the mistakes of her past and go on living every day, but determined to find out the truth for those who died on the docks. The author's long experience as a newspaper journalist is telling in her depiction of the newsroom characters, such as the editors and heads of sections, who are so well drawn that they make the newsroom come to life with the buzz and excitement of deadlines and a whiff of newsprint. I hope we'll get to meet Chrissie again in a future sequel.
With thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia for a copy to read via Netgalley
March 24, 2023
Set on the docklands of Melbourne, Where the Truth Lies is a crime thriller featuring a newspaper reporter struggling to get a foothold in the industry. This is the debut novel from Karina Kilmore and you can see her extensive journalism background showing through strongly as she gives a stark portrayal of the difficulties faced by journalists in today’s changing communications world. The story combines a riveting crime drama with a deeply troubling psychological battle resulting in a tense story that draws from recognisable real world problems.
Chrissie O’Brian is battling an editor who hates the idea that she’s got the job ahead of numerous friends and reporters who’ve been laid off, but she’s also battling a past that is deeply disturbing. She has problems with addiction and keeps a timer indicating the time since her last attempted suicide. There’s no doubt right from the jump that this is going to be a disturbing ride.
The story that drives her is about the poor safety record of the shipping terminal with numerous serious injuries and even a couple of deaths in a short period of time. Although Chrissie has been getting some great info with hard-hitting follow-up stories, she’s having trouble convincing her editor to run her stories. Instead, she’s assigned what might be considered fluff pieces. That is, until she’s given the job to do a piece on a female crane operator at the docks. Before she has a chance to publish this story, though, yet another death on the docks throws another big spanner in the works.
Chrissie’s sure the poor safety record she’s been digging into is more than simple accidents. But the company is closing ranks and the Trade Union is up in arms, both blaming the other. Meanwhile, just setting foot on the docks is becoming increasingly dangerous. Knowing there’s a story there and ensuring you don’t become part of it looks like it could be very difficult.
This is a crime novel that builds the tension as it goes. Numerous roadblocks, an internal struggle due to an agonising past and a couple of industries (docks and journalism) that are in crisis help to ensure that pressure is applied from multiple angles.
Apart from Chrissie herself, we don’t really get to know in much depth any of the other central characters. And this is a real shame, particularly when it comes to Mike, her neighbour and valuable computer whiz.
Where the Truth Lies is more than a crime on the shipping docks story. It’s a trawl through the mind of a person who is still trying to come to terms with some strong feelings of guilt. Kilmore manages to strike deeply within the psyche of her lead character, making it clear that she’s not without guilt, but does a good job in ensuring we’re on her side all the way.
As for my slightly lower star rating, I wasn’t altogether happy with the abrupt ending and felt there were just too many things unresolved.
Chrissie O’Brian is battling an editor who hates the idea that she’s got the job ahead of numerous friends and reporters who’ve been laid off, but she’s also battling a past that is deeply disturbing. She has problems with addiction and keeps a timer indicating the time since her last attempted suicide. There’s no doubt right from the jump that this is going to be a disturbing ride.
The story that drives her is about the poor safety record of the shipping terminal with numerous serious injuries and even a couple of deaths in a short period of time. Although Chrissie has been getting some great info with hard-hitting follow-up stories, she’s having trouble convincing her editor to run her stories. Instead, she’s assigned what might be considered fluff pieces. That is, until she’s given the job to do a piece on a female crane operator at the docks. Before she has a chance to publish this story, though, yet another death on the docks throws another big spanner in the works.
Chrissie’s sure the poor safety record she’s been digging into is more than simple accidents. But the company is closing ranks and the Trade Union is up in arms, both blaming the other. Meanwhile, just setting foot on the docks is becoming increasingly dangerous. Knowing there’s a story there and ensuring you don’t become part of it looks like it could be very difficult.
This is a crime novel that builds the tension as it goes. Numerous roadblocks, an internal struggle due to an agonising past and a couple of industries (docks and journalism) that are in crisis help to ensure that pressure is applied from multiple angles.
Apart from Chrissie herself, we don’t really get to know in much depth any of the other central characters. And this is a real shame, particularly when it comes to Mike, her neighbour and valuable computer whiz.
Where the Truth Lies is more than a crime on the shipping docks story. It’s a trawl through the mind of a person who is still trying to come to terms with some strong feelings of guilt. Kilmore manages to strike deeply within the psyche of her lead character, making it clear that she’s not without guilt, but does a good job in ensuring we’re on her side all the way.
As for my slightly lower star rating, I wasn’t altogether happy with the abrupt ending and felt there were just too many things unresolved.
October 31, 2020
Where the Truth Lies is an Australian crime fiction story full of suspense and set in a busy Melbourne city newsroom that publishes The Argus Newspaper.
Chrissie O’Brien is an investigative journalist who is hiding a dark and chilling secret, she is extremely unstable and tormented by dreams of her past. She's left her home in New Zealand to start afresh and lands a job at The Argus. Chrissie surrenders herself to alcohol and medication to escape her past and in her apartment she hides a clock with a secret count.
Chrissie loves being a journalist and she’s good at it, it helps to heal her pain. Her current boss resents her and most of the other workers appear to resent her too as they don’t want to interact with her or include her in their office social events but she is determined to work even harder to prove herself.
Chrissie is assigned a story to interview the first Australian woman to operate a crane on the wharfs, the only one in the country. The crane driver Masina Weber tells Chrissie secretly that she intends to leave the company. The women organise to meet up later but there’s a development, a suspicious murder!
Chrissie becomes involved in a desperate race to uncover the truth about the deaths of workers at the company Masina works for. This leads to a dangerous investigation that involves corporate politics, unions, drugs, murderers and corruption and she knows she’s on the right track when a devastating threat is delivered to her desk at The Argus.
Who would of guessed this is author Karina Kilmore’s debut novel. I loved Chrissie’s delicately layered character, she was extremely interesting and I'd love to see her introduced again in a future story.
I wish to thank Simon & Schuster for generously providing me an advanced copy of the book in return for an honest review
Chrissie O’Brien is an investigative journalist who is hiding a dark and chilling secret, she is extremely unstable and tormented by dreams of her past. She's left her home in New Zealand to start afresh and lands a job at The Argus. Chrissie surrenders herself to alcohol and medication to escape her past and in her apartment she hides a clock with a secret count.
Chrissie loves being a journalist and she’s good at it, it helps to heal her pain. Her current boss resents her and most of the other workers appear to resent her too as they don’t want to interact with her or include her in their office social events but she is determined to work even harder to prove herself.
Chrissie is assigned a story to interview the first Australian woman to operate a crane on the wharfs, the only one in the country. The crane driver Masina Weber tells Chrissie secretly that she intends to leave the company. The women organise to meet up later but there’s a development, a suspicious murder!
Chrissie becomes involved in a desperate race to uncover the truth about the deaths of workers at the company Masina works for. This leads to a dangerous investigation that involves corporate politics, unions, drugs, murderers and corruption and she knows she’s on the right track when a devastating threat is delivered to her desk at The Argus.
Who would of guessed this is author Karina Kilmore’s debut novel. I loved Chrissie’s delicately layered character, she was extremely interesting and I'd love to see her introduced again in a future story.
I wish to thank Simon & Schuster for generously providing me an advanced copy of the book in return for an honest review
February 21, 2020
Love a crime book set in Australia! Where The truth Lies is a twisty and gritty story that kept me hooked. The main character is a messed up journalist who is trying to escape her past but struggling to move on. I look forward to reading more of this character
Chrissie O'Brien has moved to Melbourne from NZ after world is torn apart. She is a troubled women who is constantly battling her demons, unable to put her past behind her. Her boss resents her and she wants a story that packs a punch to impress him and prove her place on the team. She is sent to interview the first Australian women to operate a crane on the wharfs. The next day the women is dead, in apparent work[place accident. But Chrissie is not having any of that. Something wicked in happening on the wharf in Melbourne and she is determined to find out what.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster Australia and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
Chrissie O'Brien has moved to Melbourne from NZ after world is torn apart. She is a troubled women who is constantly battling her demons, unable to put her past behind her. Her boss resents her and she wants a story that packs a punch to impress him and prove her place on the team. She is sent to interview the first Australian women to operate a crane on the wharfs. The next day the women is dead, in apparent work[place accident. But Chrissie is not having any of that. Something wicked in happening on the wharf in Melbourne and she is determined to find out what.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster Australia and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
March 28, 2020
Where The Truth Lies is the first novel by Australian journalist and author, Karina Kilmore. After a year at The Argus, journalist Chrissie O’Brian is still being relegated to minor stories and puff pieces by her resentful news director. But one such piece, interviewing a female dockworker, leads into a potentially explosive story.
Masina Weber, a veteran of some years’ experience with Grange Industries, falls to her death in her workplace mere hours after leaving Chrissie a concerning voicemail alleging that something was dangerously wrong at the wharf.
Chrissie is determined to find out just what Mas meant, and whether her death, unwitnessed and unrecorded on CCTV, was really accidental. But interviews with Grange, with the Maritime Union boss, and with the Transport Union rep result in conflicting allegations and information, and it’s soon clear that the opposing sides have agendas they aren’t revealing. Chrissie is left wondering if she can trust anything they say.
Before she can do the necessary research, however, she is taken off the news desk and sent to work for the op ed doing obits. Could the rumour about The Argus avoiding certain stories have some validity? And if the coming redundancies don’t threaten her job, could there be someone at The Argus leaking?
Another death, and then a grisly message delivered to her desk have Chrissie and her colleagues concerned for her safety. It also becomes clear that Chrissie's judgement and performance are affected by the high consumption of alcohol and pills to which she resorts to cope with the grief and guilt she carries from her recent traumatic events in New Zealand.
Kilmore’s secondary characters, if a little thin, are appealing, particularly Mike and Maria; Chrissie, as a main character, is well developed, but using the flawed protagonist device can be a fine line to tread: laying it on too thick risks losing the empathy of the reader, leading instead to frustration with the character's behaviour. The hint of romance is unnecessary and not entirely convincing.
Kilmore’s experience as a journalist is apparent on every page, and she manages to incorporate many topical issues into her plot: the automation of industry and the inherent safety concerns; the (perhaps unsafe) conditions under which non-union and foreign labour might agree to work; and the spread of information and “news” via social media, with its lack of fact checking. The plot has numerous twists, red herrings and sub-plots, making the resolution feel a little messy. Nonetheless, an impressive debut.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia.
Masina Weber, a veteran of some years’ experience with Grange Industries, falls to her death in her workplace mere hours after leaving Chrissie a concerning voicemail alleging that something was dangerously wrong at the wharf.
Chrissie is determined to find out just what Mas meant, and whether her death, unwitnessed and unrecorded on CCTV, was really accidental. But interviews with Grange, with the Maritime Union boss, and with the Transport Union rep result in conflicting allegations and information, and it’s soon clear that the opposing sides have agendas they aren’t revealing. Chrissie is left wondering if she can trust anything they say.
Before she can do the necessary research, however, she is taken off the news desk and sent to work for the op ed doing obits. Could the rumour about The Argus avoiding certain stories have some validity? And if the coming redundancies don’t threaten her job, could there be someone at The Argus leaking?
Another death, and then a grisly message delivered to her desk have Chrissie and her colleagues concerned for her safety. It also becomes clear that Chrissie's judgement and performance are affected by the high consumption of alcohol and pills to which she resorts to cope with the grief and guilt she carries from her recent traumatic events in New Zealand.
Kilmore’s secondary characters, if a little thin, are appealing, particularly Mike and Maria; Chrissie, as a main character, is well developed, but using the flawed protagonist device can be a fine line to tread: laying it on too thick risks losing the empathy of the reader, leading instead to frustration with the character's behaviour. The hint of romance is unnecessary and not entirely convincing.
Kilmore’s experience as a journalist is apparent on every page, and she manages to incorporate many topical issues into her plot: the automation of industry and the inherent safety concerns; the (perhaps unsafe) conditions under which non-union and foreign labour might agree to work; and the spread of information and “news” via social media, with its lack of fact checking. The plot has numerous twists, red herrings and sub-plots, making the resolution feel a little messy. Nonetheless, an impressive debut.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia.
April 5, 2020
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
‘She could see the finish line. The story was within her grasp. Finally she would be able to show them all. Prove to the newsroom that she was good at her job. Make Harry eat his resentment. Make good her mistake. Ease the guilt. Reveal where the truth lies.’
With two of my favourite Australian crime novelists, Jane Harper and Petronella McGovern issuing praise to debut title Where the Truth Lies by Karina Kilmore, I just knew I would be in for a thrilling ride. Where the Truth Lies is a story of corruption, underhand tactics, trade unions, big business, suspect dealings, murder, misadventure and the role of the media. It is an exhilarating and eye opening tale.
Where the Truth Lies introduces lead protagonist Chrissie O’Brian, an investigative journalist who is haunted by the demons of her past. Chrissie hopes that her lucrative new job reporting for The Argus will help her to overcome her personal problems. In order to prove herself at The Argus, Chrissie takes on a story that sees her move into the murky depths of trade unions and big business. These two fractions are currently at war in Melbourne and when one of the first people Chrissie interviews as part of her story is found dead, Chrissie knows that she has ventured into dangerous territory. After this murder, another death soon occurs and Chrissie is issued with a threat to stop reporting on the case. But Chrissie knows this story represents both a personal and professional battle to get to the bottom of the truth, before someone else dies in the process.
There has been plenty of buzz surrounding this debut release from Karina Kilmore. From support via fellow Australian crime novelists, to endorsements from the media, booksellers and fellow book bloggers, it definitely encouraged me to move Where the Truth Lies to the top of my review pile. And I’m so glad I did this as Karina Kilmore’s debut was a thrilling read!
If you enjoy solid Australian crime stories, this one will well and truly meet your reading needs. A story comprised of plenty of twists, turns, surprising revelations, menace, startling revelations and a good undercurrent of suspense, Where the Truth Lies has the power to draw readers into its fold. The pace is set to an even beat, which I appreciated. I also enjoyed the balance between the personal and professional aspects of the lead’s life. Chrissie was not a perfect character by any means, but I liked following her journey and I was with her every step of the way as she worked to release this high profile story to the public.
Drawing on her many years of expertise as a journalist has put Karina Kilmore in good standing to produce a novel about a dogged journalist. We see the positives and the negatives of this career path. We also get a great insight into the work of newsrooms, which are quite cutthroat, I don’t think I would survive this workplace! Kilmore’s text is authentic, realistic and engaging. I really enjoyed the investigative process performed by the lead.
Kilmore brings to life a shady part of Melbourne, the waterfront, as a site that is brimming with tensions, power struggles and dangerous movements. This dark underbelly is richly realised by the author and the tension is absolutely palpable in many sequences of the novel. I really enjoyed this aspect of Where the Truth Lies.
The race to the conclusion was riveting and I was happy to surrender myself to the writing, as well as unfolding story provided by Karina Kilmore. I do hope we hear from both the enigmatic lead of this tale, Chrissie O’Brian again, and the author of this excellent crime staple. Where the Truth Lies is a recommended read.
*I wish to thank Simon & Schuster Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Where the Truth Lies is book #37 of the 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge
‘She could see the finish line. The story was within her grasp. Finally she would be able to show them all. Prove to the newsroom that she was good at her job. Make Harry eat his resentment. Make good her mistake. Ease the guilt. Reveal where the truth lies.’
With two of my favourite Australian crime novelists, Jane Harper and Petronella McGovern issuing praise to debut title Where the Truth Lies by Karina Kilmore, I just knew I would be in for a thrilling ride. Where the Truth Lies is a story of corruption, underhand tactics, trade unions, big business, suspect dealings, murder, misadventure and the role of the media. It is an exhilarating and eye opening tale.
Where the Truth Lies introduces lead protagonist Chrissie O’Brian, an investigative journalist who is haunted by the demons of her past. Chrissie hopes that her lucrative new job reporting for The Argus will help her to overcome her personal problems. In order to prove herself at The Argus, Chrissie takes on a story that sees her move into the murky depths of trade unions and big business. These two fractions are currently at war in Melbourne and when one of the first people Chrissie interviews as part of her story is found dead, Chrissie knows that she has ventured into dangerous territory. After this murder, another death soon occurs and Chrissie is issued with a threat to stop reporting on the case. But Chrissie knows this story represents both a personal and professional battle to get to the bottom of the truth, before someone else dies in the process.
There has been plenty of buzz surrounding this debut release from Karina Kilmore. From support via fellow Australian crime novelists, to endorsements from the media, booksellers and fellow book bloggers, it definitely encouraged me to move Where the Truth Lies to the top of my review pile. And I’m so glad I did this as Karina Kilmore’s debut was a thrilling read!
If you enjoy solid Australian crime stories, this one will well and truly meet your reading needs. A story comprised of plenty of twists, turns, surprising revelations, menace, startling revelations and a good undercurrent of suspense, Where the Truth Lies has the power to draw readers into its fold. The pace is set to an even beat, which I appreciated. I also enjoyed the balance between the personal and professional aspects of the lead’s life. Chrissie was not a perfect character by any means, but I liked following her journey and I was with her every step of the way as she worked to release this high profile story to the public.
Drawing on her many years of expertise as a journalist has put Karina Kilmore in good standing to produce a novel about a dogged journalist. We see the positives and the negatives of this career path. We also get a great insight into the work of newsrooms, which are quite cutthroat, I don’t think I would survive this workplace! Kilmore’s text is authentic, realistic and engaging. I really enjoyed the investigative process performed by the lead.
Kilmore brings to life a shady part of Melbourne, the waterfront, as a site that is brimming with tensions, power struggles and dangerous movements. This dark underbelly is richly realised by the author and the tension is absolutely palpable in many sequences of the novel. I really enjoyed this aspect of Where the Truth Lies.
The race to the conclusion was riveting and I was happy to surrender myself to the writing, as well as unfolding story provided by Karina Kilmore. I do hope we hear from both the enigmatic lead of this tale, Chrissie O’Brian again, and the author of this excellent crime staple. Where the Truth Lies is a recommended read.
*I wish to thank Simon & Schuster Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Where the Truth Lies is book #37 of the 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge
February 11, 2020
Chrissie O'Brian is a newly appointed journalist working for the Argus Newspaper in Melbourne, Australia.
Pretty much banished from the small community in her native home in New Zealand after a serious fall from grace, Chrissie is desperately trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life and make a fresh start.
Her once highly acclaimed job as a respected top investigative journalist seems to have shattered along with all of her other dreams.
Under increasing pressure from her work and her beloved father to go away for awhile, she has reluctantly accepted a relocation to a proposed position with a newspaper in Melbourne, Australia.
Although struggling to stay afloat in the changing times of the digital age, The Argus is a prominent Melbourne Daily Newspaper, and Chrissie is fortunate to have been given this chance at rebuilding her career in a new city with a clean slate.
However, not all of her new colleagues are as welcoming as she had hoped as it seems she was inserted into a non existent vacancy just as others were being laid off due to cost cutting and reshuffling within the company.
Chrissie has to prove herself as a valuable asset if she is to gain the same respect she enjoyed in her previous position and which her qualifications are testament to.
She is sent to the infamous Melbourne Docklands to report on a story involving a face off between the waterfront workers union members and their employers.
After an increase in reported workplace accidents and even deaths, the safety of the docklands workers has become a seriously hot issue with tempers at a picket line outside the shipping terminal reaching boiling point.
Claims of negligence from members against the big business owners has become even more serious with the death of yet another dockworker, within days of the last.
Chrissie is soon torn between conflicting stories from the union boss, the management and the workers themselves.
Rumours of foul play at the top and throughout are being suggested and possible leaks within her own work environment are threatening to usurp her own new role.
When Chrissie starts to receive serious threats suggesting she back off her investigations, she knows she is onto a big story.
In an already hostile environment at her own workplace, Chrissie does her best to investigate this story with little help from her boss or coworkers, and immediately throws herself into a story which she believes has a lot of potential to be explosive.
This is Karina Kilmore's debut novel into the crime mystery genre, and what a great start!
Although I felt there was a lot of room to pad out the more intriguing parts of the story with a bit more embellishment, I thought the author did a terrific job of keeping to the flow without over complicating things.
I get the feeling from the mood and flavour of this debut novel, that Karina Kilmore will quickly prove herself as no lightweight in the crime writer field.
I think this author has a lot more latent talent up her sleeve that we are yet to enjoy...and I for one am excited at the prospects of her next book!
4⭐️'s
Many thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia and the author for my copy to read and review.
Pretty much banished from the small community in her native home in New Zealand after a serious fall from grace, Chrissie is desperately trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life and make a fresh start.
Her once highly acclaimed job as a respected top investigative journalist seems to have shattered along with all of her other dreams.
Under increasing pressure from her work and her beloved father to go away for awhile, she has reluctantly accepted a relocation to a proposed position with a newspaper in Melbourne, Australia.
Although struggling to stay afloat in the changing times of the digital age, The Argus is a prominent Melbourne Daily Newspaper, and Chrissie is fortunate to have been given this chance at rebuilding her career in a new city with a clean slate.
However, not all of her new colleagues are as welcoming as she had hoped as it seems she was inserted into a non existent vacancy just as others were being laid off due to cost cutting and reshuffling within the company.
Chrissie has to prove herself as a valuable asset if she is to gain the same respect she enjoyed in her previous position and which her qualifications are testament to.
She is sent to the infamous Melbourne Docklands to report on a story involving a face off between the waterfront workers union members and their employers.
After an increase in reported workplace accidents and even deaths, the safety of the docklands workers has become a seriously hot issue with tempers at a picket line outside the shipping terminal reaching boiling point.
Claims of negligence from members against the big business owners has become even more serious with the death of yet another dockworker, within days of the last.
Chrissie is soon torn between conflicting stories from the union boss, the management and the workers themselves.
Rumours of foul play at the top and throughout are being suggested and possible leaks within her own work environment are threatening to usurp her own new role.
When Chrissie starts to receive serious threats suggesting she back off her investigations, she knows she is onto a big story.
In an already hostile environment at her own workplace, Chrissie does her best to investigate this story with little help from her boss or coworkers, and immediately throws herself into a story which she believes has a lot of potential to be explosive.
This is Karina Kilmore's debut novel into the crime mystery genre, and what a great start!
Although I felt there was a lot of room to pad out the more intriguing parts of the story with a bit more embellishment, I thought the author did a terrific job of keeping to the flow without over complicating things.
I get the feeling from the mood and flavour of this debut novel, that Karina Kilmore will quickly prove herself as no lightweight in the crime writer field.
I think this author has a lot more latent talent up her sleeve that we are yet to enjoy...and I for one am excited at the prospects of her next book!
4⭐️'s
Many thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia and the author for my copy to read and review.
February 6, 2020
Thanks to Simon & Schuster for this advanced copy to read and review.
For a debut novel from Karina Kilmore this is a winner. I already look forward to her next book.
Journalist, Chrissie O'Brian, working at The Argus in Melbourne finds a story, about the local wharf, that she just can't let go. She latches on and follows every lead putting herself in extreme danger.
Murder, drugs, secrets and threats, this book has it all.
I really liked the characters in this book, especially Chrissie, who had her own personal struggles with alcohol and her past, but was very likable.
It was easy to follow and hard to put down.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants a good thriller.
For a debut novel from Karina Kilmore this is a winner. I already look forward to her next book.
Journalist, Chrissie O'Brian, working at The Argus in Melbourne finds a story, about the local wharf, that she just can't let go. She latches on and follows every lead putting herself in extreme danger.
Murder, drugs, secrets and threats, this book has it all.
I really liked the characters in this book, especially Chrissie, who had her own personal struggles with alcohol and her past, but was very likable.
It was easy to follow and hard to put down.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants a good thriller.
September 19, 2021
‘That’s what journos are supposed to do.’
Melbourne, Victoria. Chrissie O’Brian has landed a senior job with The Argus, but her boss is not happy. Chrissie has been parachuted into the job at a time when The Argus is having to let staff go.
There’s tension on the waterfront between the unions and business. And, when Chrissie is asked to write a short piece about a female crane operator at the Melbourne waterfront, she sees an opportunity to get her career back on track. But Chrissie has some demons of her own to fight.
There’s plenty of action in this crime thriller. There are a series of mysterious accidents and deaths on the waterfront, and both management and the union have positions to maintain. Chrissie herself is fighting both personal and professional battles. Can her investigative skills save her? Chrissie is determined to find the truth, but the past threatens to overwhelm her.
I picked up this novel and couldn’t put it down. For much of the book, I was trying to work out who was doing what (and why).
Recommended.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Melbourne, Victoria. Chrissie O’Brian has landed a senior job with The Argus, but her boss is not happy. Chrissie has been parachuted into the job at a time when The Argus is having to let staff go.
There’s tension on the waterfront between the unions and business. And, when Chrissie is asked to write a short piece about a female crane operator at the Melbourne waterfront, she sees an opportunity to get her career back on track. But Chrissie has some demons of her own to fight.
There’s plenty of action in this crime thriller. There are a series of mysterious accidents and deaths on the waterfront, and both management and the union have positions to maintain. Chrissie herself is fighting both personal and professional battles. Can her investigative skills save her? Chrissie is determined to find the truth, but the past threatens to overwhelm her.
I picked up this novel and couldn’t put it down. For much of the book, I was trying to work out who was doing what (and why).
Recommended.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
February 15, 2020
An engaging read with a classic Australian voice.
I loved it! Questions I have right now:
Are we going to see more of Chrissie and her dangerous journaling adventures? Because I feel like this could be a series!
Is Mike into Chrissie or not?
When are Chrissie and Detective Bannister finally going to get it on!?
I was honestly in a bit of a reading slump before I started this, but it was a welcome change from a slew of recent disappointing reads.
It was a great plot and by the end, I honestly had no idea who I could trust
I loved it! Questions I have right now:
Are we going to see more of Chrissie and her dangerous journaling adventures? Because I feel like this could be a series!
Is Mike into Chrissie or not?
When are Chrissie and Detective Bannister finally going to get it on!?
I was honestly in a bit of a reading slump before I started this, but it was a welcome change from a slew of recent disappointing reads.
It was a great plot and by the end, I honestly had no idea who I could trust
April 4, 2020
I wanted to love this, especially given the publishers enthusiasm and the big glossy launch but it didn’t quite work, the book is lacking something and the by the end I didn’t care for the story at all. If anything it made me lose faith in Jane Harpers taste as she offered this novel an endorsement.
May 5, 2020
Long-time business journalist Karina Kilmore ably taps into her well-trodden beat with her debut crime novel, an intriguing mystery with a fascinating central character, set against escalating friction between unions and big business on the Melbourne waterfront.
Chrissie O’Brien fled New Zealand for a fresh start at The Argus newspaper in Melbourne, only to bring her nightmares and guilt along for the ride. Bottles and pills are her close friends. A year into her role at The Argus, Chrissie is tasked with writing a profile on an inspiring female crane operator at the docks, only for the woman to confess some worries, then later turn up dead. A workplace accident, or something more sinister? Chrissie digs into things over her bosses’ objections, starts receiving threats, and then another worker dies. With several events making it clear someone is trying to squash any investigation, Chrissie doesn’t know who she can trust among her colleagues and sources.
There is plenty to like about Kilmore’s first fictional offering. Chrissie is a flawed heroine stumbling through life as she battles guilt and grief. While pacing and secondary characters could do with a shade more development at times, Where The Truth Lies shines brightly when it explores the internal machinations of journalism and the nexus between news, politics, and business. An author and character to watch.
3.5 stars.
Chrissie O’Brien fled New Zealand for a fresh start at The Argus newspaper in Melbourne, only to bring her nightmares and guilt along for the ride. Bottles and pills are her close friends. A year into her role at The Argus, Chrissie is tasked with writing a profile on an inspiring female crane operator at the docks, only for the woman to confess some worries, then later turn up dead. A workplace accident, or something more sinister? Chrissie digs into things over her bosses’ objections, starts receiving threats, and then another worker dies. With several events making it clear someone is trying to squash any investigation, Chrissie doesn’t know who she can trust among her colleagues and sources.
There is plenty to like about Kilmore’s first fictional offering. Chrissie is a flawed heroine stumbling through life as she battles guilt and grief. While pacing and secondary characters could do with a shade more development at times, Where The Truth Lies shines brightly when it explores the internal machinations of journalism and the nexus between news, politics, and business. An author and character to watch.
3.5 stars.
April 30, 2020
Shortlisted for the Unpublished Manuscript Award in the 2017 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards, Karina Kilmore’s debut has got a lot of Australian crime fiction fans talking. Full Review at Newtown Review of Books
January 4, 2022
I whipped through this Aussie crime novel in one day - New Year's Day! Start as you mean to go on, I say. It appealed to me when I saw it in the library because it had the "NZ Author" sticker on the spine, although Karina Kilmore has obviously lived in Australia for some time now.
The most appealing thing about this novel is the main character, journalist Chrissie O'Brian, a brave (some might say foolhardy) and determined young woman who has run away from tragedy in New Zealand to start afresh in Melbourne. She's a reporter for the Argus newspaper (which was a real paper from 1846-1957, but not in the contemporary era in which this novel is set).
Chrissie digs out stories and secrets, and finds a lot more than she bargained for when assigned to profiling one of the few female wharf workers - a crane operator who turns up dead not long after Chrissie interviewed her.
There's so much going on - yet it all hangs together in this tightly plotted first novel. There are health and safety issues on the wharves - injuries and deaths - with the unions pitted against the shipping company, and the prospect of increasing automation and staff layoffs. This is paralleled in the frenetic Argus newsroom where "legacy" media is going through its own downsizing in the new digital media era.
But wait, there's more! There are dramas and patch protection going on in the newsroom - which colleagues do you trust? There's also much more going down at the wharves... and Chrissie's personal story is gradually revealed through the book. I really hoped she could begin to deal with her issues because - bloody hell! - she surely can't keep up drinking two bottles of wine a night for too long.
If the ending had been stronger and more believable I would have given it five stars. I'll definitely be looking out for Kilmore's next novel - this is I hope the beginning of a series.
The most appealing thing about this novel is the main character, journalist Chrissie O'Brian, a brave (some might say foolhardy) and determined young woman who has run away from tragedy in New Zealand to start afresh in Melbourne. She's a reporter for the Argus newspaper (which was a real paper from 1846-1957, but not in the contemporary era in which this novel is set).
Chrissie digs out stories and secrets, and finds a lot more than she bargained for when assigned to profiling one of the few female wharf workers - a crane operator who turns up dead not long after Chrissie interviewed her.
There's so much going on - yet it all hangs together in this tightly plotted first novel. There are health and safety issues on the wharves - injuries and deaths - with the unions pitted against the shipping company, and the prospect of increasing automation and staff layoffs. This is paralleled in the frenetic Argus newsroom where "legacy" media is going through its own downsizing in the new digital media era.
But wait, there's more! There are dramas and patch protection going on in the newsroom - which colleagues do you trust? There's also much more going down at the wharves... and Chrissie's personal story is gradually revealed through the book. I really hoped she could begin to deal with her issues because - bloody hell! - she surely can't keep up drinking two bottles of wine a night for too long.
If the ending had been stronger and more believable I would have given it five stars. I'll definitely be looking out for Kilmore's next novel - this is I hope the beginning of a series.
April 1, 2020
Very average. Enjoyed the newspaper scenes, but there was too much lengthy dialogue with characters explaining to each other what was going on, and too many baddies just to keep us guessing. Really wanted to support a new Australian talent and, despite reservations, would give a second book a try.
February 29, 2020
Dedicated journalist Chrissie O’Brian thinks she’s onto a big story investigating a number of mysterious workplace accidents at the Melbourne Docklands. But her stories keep getting slashed and instead she’s assigned to a profile piece on solo female crane driver, Masina. Things take a sinister turn when Masina tells Chrissie she’s in danger, and then is found dead the next day – another ‘accident’. As Chrissie digs deeper, yet another worker is killed and a bloodied parcel turns up at her desk. She realises she’s onto something – and she has to get to the truth before it gets to her.
Karina Kilmore’s debut novel Where the Truth Lies is crime fiction at its finest with an intriguing mystery at its core – are these really workplace accidents or are they murders? The plot is complicated by an ongoing dispute between the unions and the wharves, missing cargo, dodgy crane records and financial trouble. Could the unions be staging accidents? Or are the wharves involved in large scale fraud?
Main characters in crime fiction typically have a dark past (that’s what makes them so interesting) and Chrissie is no different. She lives alone, self-medicating with alcohol and painkillers, trying to dull the pain from a past trauma, throwing herself into her work and taking comfort in neighbourhood stray cat, Skinny. The successful career she forged in New Zealand hasn’t translated to Australia; her senior position at The Argus newspaper was given to her as a favour and her news director resents her. But Chrissie’s backstory, involving the tragic loss of her husband and her downward spiral into self-blame and depression, is so heart-breaking that the reader cannot help but feel empathy for her and root for her to succeed.
Like Chrissie, Karina Kilmore is a New Zealand native who lives in Melbourne. An experienced journalist, Kilmore uses her knowledge to great advantage with vivid depictions of the newsroom, crammed with desks and people, and buzzing with noise from televisions, radios and phones. She brings the wharves to life with descriptions of the patchwork of coloured corrugated containers and picketers spinning their clicker rattles high in the air, chanting about safety.
The plot ticks along at a fast pace, the suspense increasing as the story speeds towards a revealing conclusion. Chrissie is hit with several gut-wrenching setbacks – just when she seems to be making headway, she’s forced backwards again. But like all compelling protagonists, she ploughs on, undeterred. Karina Kilmore’s confident writing style and talent for telling a great story, teamed with her flawed but extremely likeable main character, makes it easy to see why this novel was shortlisted for the Unpublished Manuscript Award at the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards in 2017. Like Chrissie, you’ll be racing to the end to find out who, if anyone, is telling the truth.
Karina Kilmore’s debut novel Where the Truth Lies is crime fiction at its finest with an intriguing mystery at its core – are these really workplace accidents or are they murders? The plot is complicated by an ongoing dispute between the unions and the wharves, missing cargo, dodgy crane records and financial trouble. Could the unions be staging accidents? Or are the wharves involved in large scale fraud?
Main characters in crime fiction typically have a dark past (that’s what makes them so interesting) and Chrissie is no different. She lives alone, self-medicating with alcohol and painkillers, trying to dull the pain from a past trauma, throwing herself into her work and taking comfort in neighbourhood stray cat, Skinny. The successful career she forged in New Zealand hasn’t translated to Australia; her senior position at The Argus newspaper was given to her as a favour and her news director resents her. But Chrissie’s backstory, involving the tragic loss of her husband and her downward spiral into self-blame and depression, is so heart-breaking that the reader cannot help but feel empathy for her and root for her to succeed.
Like Chrissie, Karina Kilmore is a New Zealand native who lives in Melbourne. An experienced journalist, Kilmore uses her knowledge to great advantage with vivid depictions of the newsroom, crammed with desks and people, and buzzing with noise from televisions, radios and phones. She brings the wharves to life with descriptions of the patchwork of coloured corrugated containers and picketers spinning their clicker rattles high in the air, chanting about safety.
The plot ticks along at a fast pace, the suspense increasing as the story speeds towards a revealing conclusion. Chrissie is hit with several gut-wrenching setbacks – just when she seems to be making headway, she’s forced backwards again. But like all compelling protagonists, she ploughs on, undeterred. Karina Kilmore’s confident writing style and talent for telling a great story, teamed with her flawed but extremely likeable main character, makes it easy to see why this novel was shortlisted for the Unpublished Manuscript Award at the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards in 2017. Like Chrissie, you’ll be racing to the end to find out who, if anyone, is telling the truth.
February 27, 2023
It took a little bit to get into but once things got going I found it hard to put down!
February 16, 2020
Investigative journalist Chrissie O'Brian is struggling to free her mind of the tragedy that befell her in New Zealand, and struggling to fit in her new role at The Argus newspaper. Keen to make her mark, she's digging into a story at the wharves which initially starts as a profile piece about one of the few female crane operators but promises to uncover a huge scoop.
A story with plenty of twists and turns and a thriller that held my interest throughout.
A story with plenty of twists and turns and a thriller that held my interest throughout.
February 29, 2020
Crime and journalism set in inner city Melbourne with a list of interesting, flawed and fearless characters, this is a fast paced thriller and crime novel. Chrissie has some “issues” (understatement) but that won’t stop her getting to where the truth lies.
Another great Aussie read from an author with more to come I’m sure.
Another great Aussie read from an author with more to come I’m sure.
February 23, 2020
I was given this book by Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed his book. The plot flowed, character development was intriguing and the story kept me wanting to read ‘just another page’. One stand out paragraph that I absolutely loved was Karina’s description of how a waterfront port worked - “Massive four limbed monsters lifted metal babies out of the mothership. They passed them to others who sucked them up in new arms and carried them to their families... Huge ships were tethered by fat umbilical cords. Further out past the channel more mothers lined up at the anchor, waiting to deliver.” Wow.... that is amazing! I’ll be certainly keeping an eye out for Karina’s next piece of work.
February 10, 2020
Where The Truth Lies by Karina Kilmore is a marvellous debut novel as it is full of intrigue and mystery that held my attention right throughout the story. Chrissie’s personal story is interwoven into the overall story which revolves around her working as a journalist at The Argus newspaper in Melbourne, Australia. She gets involved in researching and writing a story of deaths and corruption on the wharf front of Melbourne. Corruption at all levels emerges and someone is leaking what she is coming up with - who can she trust?
Beside Chrissie there are a lot of well developed characters who add a lot to the depth of the story. In particular I loved Mike, the nerdy computer guy, who is her neighbour and friend with Mr Skinny their shared cat. Also there is Harry, the grumpy boss at The Argus who adds colour to the story as he is never happy with Chrissie as her employment was made without his consultation. The detectives Bannister and the sinister Dorn provide interesting but contrasting characters.
A refreshing story of a woman searching for personal release from her past while also trying to re-establish herself as a professional journalist which she had to leave behind in New Zealand.
Highly recommended read.
Thank you to Netgalley and publisher Simon & Schuster Australia for a copy to read and review.
Beside Chrissie there are a lot of well developed characters who add a lot to the depth of the story. In particular I loved Mike, the nerdy computer guy, who is her neighbour and friend with Mr Skinny their shared cat. Also there is Harry, the grumpy boss at The Argus who adds colour to the story as he is never happy with Chrissie as her employment was made without his consultation. The detectives Bannister and the sinister Dorn provide interesting but contrasting characters.
A refreshing story of a woman searching for personal release from her past while also trying to re-establish herself as a professional journalist which she had to leave behind in New Zealand.
Highly recommended read.
Thank you to Netgalley and publisher Simon & Schuster Australia for a copy to read and review.
July 16, 2020
Disappointing. Characters were little more than conversations. (Bannister got no further than 'tall dark and handsome'). Just when it started to pick up, it ended, and that was just plain confusing. Can't recommend it. Forgettable title.
December 3, 2019
3.75 stars. Where the Truth Lies is the debut novel for author Karina Kilmore. It was a great mystery/suspense story set in Melbourne on the docks and it revolves around Chrissie O’Brian, journalist at The Argus, and her pursuit of the truth. Given the task of writing a profile piece on Australia’s first female crane operator Mas Weber, shortly after the interview Mas contacts her and hints she’s scared about something. And shortly after that, Mas is killed in a workplace accident. The more Chrissie looks into things down at the docks the more certain she is that this wasn’t a workplace accident at all. So many things are not adding up - accidents are happening, people are looking the other way, and hostilities between the company and the union are escalating. All the while her anxiety seems to be increasing and the guilt and grief from her past seems to be ever present. Determined to get to the truth she’s not sure who she can trust with her investigation at the paper, and she’s unsure who to trust outside her workplace. There seems to be twists and turns at every corner, she’s close to the truth but there’s still some missing pieces to the puzzle. When finally she gets to the truth there is still more challenges to come...
February 28, 2020
Where The Truth Lies is a new debut novel by Karina Kilmore.
It is an enthralling story about a journalist who is trying to uncover the truth about recent accidental deaths in a workplace.
While this book is extremely well written, I found it a bit difficult to get into it. The present story seemed a bit lacklustre, but I was hugely interested in the main characters past and wish there was more of that included.
Overall, this story would be a great choice for those who enjoy thrillers. It had some twists and turns I was not expecting, and even though it wasn't my favourite book, I felt quite empty when it was finished.
Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster for sending me a copy of this book to review.
It is an enthralling story about a journalist who is trying to uncover the truth about recent accidental deaths in a workplace.
While this book is extremely well written, I found it a bit difficult to get into it. The present story seemed a bit lacklustre, but I was hugely interested in the main characters past and wish there was more of that included.
Overall, this story would be a great choice for those who enjoy thrillers. It had some twists and turns I was not expecting, and even though it wasn't my favourite book, I felt quite empty when it was finished.
Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster for sending me a copy of this book to review.
April 6, 2020
4 1/2
One year ago, Chrissie O’Brian packed her bags and moved away from her failed life in rural New Zealand to take up a position with The Argus newspaper in Melbourne, Australia. She is struggling to fit in with the office crowd, is a loggerheads with her boss, blocking any attempt to allow herself to examine the tragic car accident where she lost her husband and unborn child, and is refusing to acknowledge the depths of her alcoholism.
After being sent to do a fluff piece on a female crane operator at a Melbourne shipping terminal, O’Brian uncovers a number of workplace health and safety issues that have resulted in a series of suspicious, poorly reported accidents and deaths. She becomes convinced that there is more to the story than union powerplays and employee negligence and undertakes an investigation to uncover the truth. But her efforts are hampered by issues at the paper. There are redundancies looming large, she’s uncertain if she can trust her police contacts, someone on staff seems to be leaking her findings to the shipping company management, and just when she starts getting traction on the story, she is moved off the news desk and into the Obituaries department.
“Where the Truth Lies” has a real Melbourne/Nordic Noir feel about it. I suspect this is partly due to the seasonal descriptions of Melbourne and the grungier suburbs featured (mainly Fitzroy and the docks areas), or perhaps it’s my recollections of the now abandoned Argus building in Elizabeth Street.
Chrissy O’Brian is a fantastically flawed heroine, whose every pain is etched deeply into the pages of the story. The other players are a fascinating and mixed bunch with varying levels of character development. The plot builds smoothly, enticing the reader to keep pushing until the end. It is a hard one to put down.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and consider it an excellent debut novel. Kilmore’s experience as a journalist shines through in every part of the tale. It’s well written with believable and flawed characters. My only criticism is that I worked out who the snitch was pretty early in the piece – but I do read a lot of crime fiction.
If you’re fond of the works of Peter Temple, Garry Disher and Jane Harper, you will love “Where the Truth Lies” by Karina Kilmore.
I received a free copy of this book through Sisters in Crime - Australia, in exchange for a fair and honest review.
One year ago, Chrissie O’Brian packed her bags and moved away from her failed life in rural New Zealand to take up a position with The Argus newspaper in Melbourne, Australia. She is struggling to fit in with the office crowd, is a loggerheads with her boss, blocking any attempt to allow herself to examine the tragic car accident where she lost her husband and unborn child, and is refusing to acknowledge the depths of her alcoholism.
After being sent to do a fluff piece on a female crane operator at a Melbourne shipping terminal, O’Brian uncovers a number of workplace health and safety issues that have resulted in a series of suspicious, poorly reported accidents and deaths. She becomes convinced that there is more to the story than union powerplays and employee negligence and undertakes an investigation to uncover the truth. But her efforts are hampered by issues at the paper. There are redundancies looming large, she’s uncertain if she can trust her police contacts, someone on staff seems to be leaking her findings to the shipping company management, and just when she starts getting traction on the story, she is moved off the news desk and into the Obituaries department.
“Where the Truth Lies” has a real Melbourne/Nordic Noir feel about it. I suspect this is partly due to the seasonal descriptions of Melbourne and the grungier suburbs featured (mainly Fitzroy and the docks areas), or perhaps it’s my recollections of the now abandoned Argus building in Elizabeth Street.
Chrissy O’Brian is a fantastically flawed heroine, whose every pain is etched deeply into the pages of the story. The other players are a fascinating and mixed bunch with varying levels of character development. The plot builds smoothly, enticing the reader to keep pushing until the end. It is a hard one to put down.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and consider it an excellent debut novel. Kilmore’s experience as a journalist shines through in every part of the tale. It’s well written with believable and flawed characters. My only criticism is that I worked out who the snitch was pretty early in the piece – but I do read a lot of crime fiction.
If you’re fond of the works of Peter Temple, Garry Disher and Jane Harper, you will love “Where the Truth Lies” by Karina Kilmore.
I received a free copy of this book through Sisters in Crime - Australia, in exchange for a fair and honest review.
May 8, 2020
Blurb...
She was slipping away. The further she fell, the closer the clouds seemed to come. Wispy transparent slipstreams of white. Cirrus. Pain smashed her head. Floating …
When investigative journalist Chrissie O’Brian lands a senior job at The Argus, she is desperate to escape the nightmares of her past. Her life has become a daily battle to resist numbing the pain. But her job is something she can do better than anyone else – and the only thing that keeps the memories at bay.
A face-off on the waterfront between the unions and big business is just the kind of story to get her career back on track. But after a dockworker who confided in her turns up dead, Chrissie becomes obsessed with unravelling the truth. When a gruesome threat lands on her desk, it's clear someone is prepared to do anything to stop her.
But who is more dangerous – a ruthless enemy or a woman pushed to the edge? Used to fighting her own demons, this is one battle Chrissie is determined not to lose.
Where the Truth Lies was shortlisted for the prestigious Unpublished Manuscript Award in the 2017 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards.
My thoughts...
PLOT
A well-plotted crime novel written by an author who brings authenticity to the storyline and to the role of an investigative journalist.
PACE
The pace was good throughout the story, although it wavered a little towards the end. The author used a wedding in the final chapters to introduce new information. This slowed things down when I expected the tension to build.
LANDSCAPE
The author introduced me to a side of Melbourne I did not know. I now have more of an understanding of the workings of the waterfront and some of the ‘shadier' streets of Melbourne.
CHARACTERS
The story's main character, investigative journalist Chrissie O’Brian, narrated the story, but I didn't feel anything for her, I didn't admire her. I didn’t like what she brought to the story. Her background story was a sad one and yet I felt quite removed. She seemed distant. I didn't much care about her.
OVERALL FEELINGS ABOUT THE STORY
Overall, I enjoyed this novel, I understood the plot, and I was a little surprised by the ending. Unfortunately, I was not compelled to keep reading at the end of each chapter. I was happy to put it down until my next opportunity to read.
This review is also published on http://www.readroundoz.wordpress.com
She was slipping away. The further she fell, the closer the clouds seemed to come. Wispy transparent slipstreams of white. Cirrus. Pain smashed her head. Floating …
When investigative journalist Chrissie O’Brian lands a senior job at The Argus, she is desperate to escape the nightmares of her past. Her life has become a daily battle to resist numbing the pain. But her job is something she can do better than anyone else – and the only thing that keeps the memories at bay.
A face-off on the waterfront between the unions and big business is just the kind of story to get her career back on track. But after a dockworker who confided in her turns up dead, Chrissie becomes obsessed with unravelling the truth. When a gruesome threat lands on her desk, it's clear someone is prepared to do anything to stop her.
But who is more dangerous – a ruthless enemy or a woman pushed to the edge? Used to fighting her own demons, this is one battle Chrissie is determined not to lose.
Where the Truth Lies was shortlisted for the prestigious Unpublished Manuscript Award in the 2017 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards.
My thoughts...
PLOT
A well-plotted crime novel written by an author who brings authenticity to the storyline and to the role of an investigative journalist.
PACE
The pace was good throughout the story, although it wavered a little towards the end. The author used a wedding in the final chapters to introduce new information. This slowed things down when I expected the tension to build.
LANDSCAPE
The author introduced me to a side of Melbourne I did not know. I now have more of an understanding of the workings of the waterfront and some of the ‘shadier' streets of Melbourne.
CHARACTERS
The story's main character, investigative journalist Chrissie O’Brian, narrated the story, but I didn't feel anything for her, I didn't admire her. I didn’t like what she brought to the story. Her background story was a sad one and yet I felt quite removed. She seemed distant. I didn't much care about her.
OVERALL FEELINGS ABOUT THE STORY
Overall, I enjoyed this novel, I understood the plot, and I was a little surprised by the ending. Unfortunately, I was not compelled to keep reading at the end of each chapter. I was happy to put it down until my next opportunity to read.
This review is also published on http://www.readroundoz.wordpress.com
April 18, 2020
5 stars
Journalist Chrissie O’Brian has landed a job at The Argus in Melbourne. Glad to have escaped the terrible tragedy she caused in New Zealand, she just wants to get on with things. However; her new boss is not impressed that she has landed a job when his colleagues are being made redundant and shows little interest in the explosive story at Melbourne’s Docks that Chrissie has uncovered. Whilst Grange Industries and the Union are quick to blame each other for a wave of workplace deaths; Chrissie is just desperate to uncover the truth before her story gets canned and the mole at The Argus ruins everything.
Wow! I don’t even know where to start with Where the Truth Lies. It is the best crime fiction book that I have read in a long time and I could not put it down. I read it one sitting, it was simply that good.
The plot is brilliant and builds at a good pace, throwing in twists and turns at the right moments and revealing just enough snippets to let you think you know where it’s going, only to realise you don’t. The mole was a shock to me and whilst I do think I knew who it was early on, Kilmore writes so well that you are completely thrown off the scent. In summary, the plot is completely and utterly engaging and Kilmore makes it easy to visualise the storyline.
The characters are well developed and interesting. I liked that rather than getting an overwhelming backstory each time a new one was introduced, that their complexity and layers built over the length of the book. This was very clever and another means of keeping the reader intrigued.
Whilst I would have loved this book regardless; there were three added extra bonuses for me. 1) That it was set in Melbourne. 2) That The Argus, for which I have a soft spot for as a result of my Australian history degree; was where Chrissie worked rather than at a fictional newspaperpaper. 3) Parts of the book reminded me of the 1998 Waterfront Dispute in Melbourne, the event that reignited my desire to become a lawyer. Even without these things though, Where the Truth Lies is a 5 star read. I cannot recommend it enough. It’s a must read for everyone, but especially if you like crime fiction and thriller whodunnits.
To play along with my book bingo and to see what else I’m reading, go to #ktbookbingo and @kt_elder on Instagram.
Journalist Chrissie O’Brian has landed a job at The Argus in Melbourne. Glad to have escaped the terrible tragedy she caused in New Zealand, she just wants to get on with things. However; her new boss is not impressed that she has landed a job when his colleagues are being made redundant and shows little interest in the explosive story at Melbourne’s Docks that Chrissie has uncovered. Whilst Grange Industries and the Union are quick to blame each other for a wave of workplace deaths; Chrissie is just desperate to uncover the truth before her story gets canned and the mole at The Argus ruins everything.
Wow! I don’t even know where to start with Where the Truth Lies. It is the best crime fiction book that I have read in a long time and I could not put it down. I read it one sitting, it was simply that good.
The plot is brilliant and builds at a good pace, throwing in twists and turns at the right moments and revealing just enough snippets to let you think you know where it’s going, only to realise you don’t. The mole was a shock to me and whilst I do think I knew who it was early on, Kilmore writes so well that you are completely thrown off the scent. In summary, the plot is completely and utterly engaging and Kilmore makes it easy to visualise the storyline.
The characters are well developed and interesting. I liked that rather than getting an overwhelming backstory each time a new one was introduced, that their complexity and layers built over the length of the book. This was very clever and another means of keeping the reader intrigued.
Whilst I would have loved this book regardless; there were three added extra bonuses for me. 1) That it was set in Melbourne. 2) That The Argus, for which I have a soft spot for as a result of my Australian history degree; was where Chrissie worked rather than at a fictional newspaperpaper. 3) Parts of the book reminded me of the 1998 Waterfront Dispute in Melbourne, the event that reignited my desire to become a lawyer. Even without these things though, Where the Truth Lies is a 5 star read. I cannot recommend it enough. It’s a must read for everyone, but especially if you like crime fiction and thriller whodunnits.
To play along with my book bingo and to see what else I’m reading, go to #ktbookbingo and @kt_elder on Instagram.
February 10, 2020
Where The Truth Lies by Karina Kilmore is a marvellous debut novel as it is full of intrigue and mystery that held my attention right throughout the story. Chrissie’s personal story is interwoven into the overall story which revolves around her working as a journalist at The Argus newspaper in Melbourne, Australia. She gets involved in researching and writing a story of deaths and corruption on the wharf front of Melbourne. Corruption at all levels emerges and someone is leaking what she is coming up with - who can she trust?
Beside Chrissie there are a lot of well developed characters who add a lot to the depth of the story. In particular I loved Mike, the nerdy computer guy, who is her neighbour and friend with Mr Skinny their shared cat. Also there is Harry, the grumpy boss at The Argus who adds colour to the story as he is never happy with Chrissie as her employment was made without his consultation. The detectives Bannister and the sinister Dorn provide interesting but contrasting characters.
A refreshing story of a woman searching for personal release from her past while also trying to re-establish herself as a professional journalist which she had to leave behind in New Zealand.
Highly recommended read.
Thank you to Netgalley and publisher Simon & Schuster Australia for a copy to read and review.
Beside Chrissie there are a lot of well developed characters who add a lot to the depth of the story. In particular I loved Mike, the nerdy computer guy, who is her neighbour and friend with Mr Skinny their shared cat. Also there is Harry, the grumpy boss at The Argus who adds colour to the story as he is never happy with Chrissie as her employment was made without his consultation. The detectives Bannister and the sinister Dorn provide interesting but contrasting characters.
A refreshing story of a woman searching for personal release from her past while also trying to re-establish herself as a professional journalist which she had to leave behind in New Zealand.
Highly recommended read.
Thank you to Netgalley and publisher Simon & Schuster Australia for a copy to read and review.
March 20, 2021
When investigative journalist Karin Kilmore is forced out of her small New Zealand town, she seeks redemption in Melbourne. She moves into a flat in a rough part of Richmond where she befriends Mike, a computer nerd, who has friends in whom the police would be interested.
She gets a job at the fictional, but once existing Argus newspaper where she wants to prove her self-worth that’s at an all-time low but recent forced redundancies cause those remaining to resent her.
Her boss assigns her to a light-weight story about Australia’s first female crane driver at the docks, but when she falls to her death soon after the interview, Chrissie suspects foul play. Soon after, her boss tells her she is to work on the obituaries pages, about as far away from prestigious investigative journalism as you can get.
The obituaries editor, an old-style journalist, takes Chrissie under her wing and enables her to continue working on the dock story. The more questions Chrissie asks, the stronger her opposition from the dock company, police and others becomes. And she finds out someone in the newsroom is feeding what she has learned to the dock company.
Mike’s technical knowledge helps her reveal the truth but the formidable forces to stop it are well organised.
Where The Truth Lies is a tight, fast-moving and entertaining thriller that takes you into the declining newspaper industry. Kilmore, an experienced long-term journalist, takes the reader into the newsroom with all its colourful characters, piles of newspapers, tension and its decline.
She gets a job at the fictional, but once existing Argus newspaper where she wants to prove her self-worth that’s at an all-time low but recent forced redundancies cause those remaining to resent her.
Her boss assigns her to a light-weight story about Australia’s first female crane driver at the docks, but when she falls to her death soon after the interview, Chrissie suspects foul play. Soon after, her boss tells her she is to work on the obituaries pages, about as far away from prestigious investigative journalism as you can get.
The obituaries editor, an old-style journalist, takes Chrissie under her wing and enables her to continue working on the dock story. The more questions Chrissie asks, the stronger her opposition from the dock company, police and others becomes. And she finds out someone in the newsroom is feeding what she has learned to the dock company.
Mike’s technical knowledge helps her reveal the truth but the formidable forces to stop it are well organised.
Where The Truth Lies is a tight, fast-moving and entertaining thriller that takes you into the declining newspaper industry. Kilmore, an experienced long-term journalist, takes the reader into the newsroom with all its colourful characters, piles of newspapers, tension and its decline.
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