Unsolved Australia: Lost Boys, Gone Girls

by Justine Ford

Can you catch a killer or find a missing person?

Australia is 'the lucky country'. But not for everyone. Unsolved Australia: Lost Boys, Gone Girls tells thirteen stories of people whose luck ran out in the most mysterious of circumstances.

It's a journalistic deep-dive into Australia's dark heart by one of Australia's premier true crime writers, Justine Ford, the acclaimed bestselling author of Unsolved Australia and The Good Cop .

Why are four people missing from a Western Australian doomsday cult? Who abducted and murdered beauty queen Bronwynne Richardson on pageant night? And why is a cooked chook important evidence in the outback disappearance of Paddy Moriarty?

Key players are interviewed, evidence laid out and suspects assessed. Never-before-published information is revealed. Can you help crack the case and solve these mysteries?

Hold tight as Unsolved Australia: Lost Boys, Gone Girls takes you on a chilling yet inspiring true crime rollercoaster ride where the final destination is hope.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Crime, Australia

283 pages, Paperback

First published June 25, 2019

About the author

Justine Ford is a TV producer and journalist with a background in news and current affairs. She was a presenter on the top-rating crime series, Australia’s Most Wanted, and her producing credits include the hit shows Missing Persons Unit, Border Security¸ RPA and Random Acts of Kindness. She has also worked as a radio producer / presenter and as a magazine features’ writer.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5★s

Australian true crime writer, Justine Ford has written a fascinating, heartbreaking book featuring thirteen unsolved mysteries that Cold Case police have worked hard at, sometimes going back decades. We are also introduced to some extremely influential people and learn of their dedication, their quest for answers for the families.

Keith Moor, editor and investigative journalist tells how he went from a working class family in England to a reporter with the Melbourne Herald; as a political journalist in Canberra during the Hawke and Keating era – but his deep interest in crime reporting saw him with contacts in the Australian Federal Police and ASIO to name a few. Jan Ross is a missing persons expert as well as a private investigator. Her story is also intriguing. There are others…

Then there are the missing, the people who have never been found and those who have never had justice. Their families are shattered; their lives will never be the same. Former Detective Senior Sergeant Ron Iddles, OAM, Victorian Police Homicide Squad was deeply involved with several of the cases and writes the Foreword in Unsolved Australia: Lost Boys, Gone Girls. An engrossing insight into some of the sad and chilling missing persons and murder cases that have plagued Australia over the decades. Highly recommended.

With thanks to Pan Macmillan AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Krystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little too journalistic for my tastes.

This book looks at many missing persons cases - in most instances, unsolved assumed homicides. Men and women who mysteriously disappeared in varying circumstances. I love a good true crime mystery but this just didn't grab me at all.

The book is already short at just under 300 pages, and yet it still feels mostly like filler. The author goes to great lengths to speculate and give her own opinions, and there is a strong media-friendly vibe whereas the cops are mostly written as incompetent. There is more about the media involvement and the 'feelings' of the lead detective than the actual case in almost all instances. I honestly got bored.

I like true crime stories to present all the facts with no bias, and this was nothing BUT bias. Some of the cases seem fairly obvious and yet they still remain unsolved, usually due to how much time passed before someone thought to check something that should have been checked at the time. Obviously forensics have come a long way but these cases just seemed to highlight bad police work more than the plight of the loved ones of the missing. It rubbed me the wrong way.

Not a lot of detail is given in these cases. They only cover about ten pages or so each, and it still feels like the author had to flesh them out with speculation because there just wasn't enough of a case. Because of that, the focus drifts from the victims. As much as the author pads these stories out with trite words like 'we see you', it never feels like genuine concern. I actually hated that. It seemed more disrespectful to me than complete emotionless facts.

You can tell immediately that this book was written by a journalist as there seems more interest in selling the value of the media than actually treating these cases with compassion. It's also written in such a way that the stories are muddled by speculation and guess-work. The side profiles didn't really help, because again there seems more interest in talking about the professionals involved than the victims.

I thought I would really get sucked in but unfortunately this one left a bad taste in my mouth. All are still unsolved cases and this book brings us no closer to answers. Hopefully one day the families and loved ones of those Missing will get some closure.

With thanks to Macmillan for a copy

[Veronica ⭐️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read a lot of non-fiction however I find reading about true crime can be quite intriguing and Unsolved Australia: Lost Boys, Gone Girls is filled with intrigue and mystery.

Lost Boys, Gone Girls is written by journalist and true crime writer Justine Ford.
Ford has picked thirteen cold cases where people have gone missing or found murdered and the cases are still unsolved, many from decades ago. She explains how cases are never closed, however they are reviewed over time with fresh eyes and using the latest technology hoping to find that extra clue that solves the case.

There are not only facts on the investigations into the disappearances and murders but also interviews with the people involved in trying to solve these cases; detectives, investigative journalists, private investigators, criminologists and a criminal psychologist.

Lost Boys, Gone Girls is written with compassion and understanding for the victims and their families.
To make the stories more entertaining we are not purely given known facts but the author has also added some assumptions and speculation on people's thoughts.

Justine Ford hopes that getting all the available information out to the public will spark a memory in someone's mind that may ultimately lead to solving a case.

[Meegz Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

*5 Stars*

ARC kindly received from Pan MacMillan Australia, in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very interesting book to read, and before I started it, I was unsure if I would like it, because true crime can sometimes be written in a way thats not very interesting to read.

This book shows the reader many things. What cops deal with on a daily basis, and how horrible it must be for them to see the things they see. How horrible and disgusting some human beings are. How weird and unusual some cases can be. How technology and the media can help cases when handled correctly.

Made up of different cases and various profiles, this book truly makes you wonder what happened in all of these cases, and if they will ever be solved. One would hope that with advancements in technology and fresh eyes and persistent work on these cases, that one day they will be solved and the families left behind will be given some answers.

If you're a true crime buff, this one will interest you. I will definitely read more books like this in the future.


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[Tracey Allen at Carpe Librum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Justine Ford is a big name when it comes to true crime in Australia. She's a journalist and author of five books. One of these is The Good Cop - The True Story of Ron Iddles, Australia's Greatest Detective which was adapted into a series for the Foxtel channel and for which Ford was the Executive Producer. I absolutely loved the series and my respect for Police Detective Ron Iddles, OAM (retired) is unending.

This is my first foray into Justine's written work though and I enjoyed reading Unsolved Australia - Lost Boys, Gone Girls. Justine covers cold case missing persons and unsolved murders in Australia all the while encouraging the reader to help find a missing person or catch a killer. I knew about 2 of the 13 true crime cases included, those being the outback mystery of what happened to Paddy Moriarty and missing Army Officer Sean Sargent.

Justine's experience on Australia's Most Wanted is evidenced in her approach to this work. This collection of true crime cases encourages members of the public to come forward and help Police solve the cases and bring justice and some measure of comfort to the families.

Generous rewards are now on offer and both Justine Ford and Ron Iddles firmly believe the answer is out there and that someone always knows something. With the passage of time, relationships and allegiances change, which may result in a person with information coming forward to claim the reward in return for critical information about the case.

In addition to the true crime cases mentioned, Justine has also included six profiles throughout the book focussing on people dedicating their lives to investigating and solving crime in a variety of vocations. Readers will recognise Rachael Brown, the journalist behind the highly successful podcast Trace and will enjoy hearing from a forensic anthropologist and criminologist, a criminal psychologist and more.

Presented with a stunning cover with jigsaw piece design and embossing on some of the pieces to emphasize the nature of finding missing pieces of information in order to solve a crime, I do wish the publisher had invested more on the overall production of the book. There are many photos throughout the book and they're all in black and white. And we're not talking glossy black and white paper either. They're included on the regular print paper.

Black and white images and designs are also used to differentiate the profiles from the main body of the text, however it gave me the overall impression I was reading a newspaper. Given the author's desire for the reader to pay close attention to the cases on the off chance they can offer critical information, I'd have thought colour photographs would be essential.

Justine Ford is determined to help solve cold cases in Australia and I applaud her efforts to ensure the victims and their families aren't forgotten. Unsolved Australia - Lost Boys, Gone Girls by Justine Ford is recommended reading for true crime and history enthusiasts.

* Copy courtesy of Pan Macmillan *

[Carol - Reading Writing and Riesling · Rating 3 out of 5]

My View:
I applaud the fact that Justine Ford has illuminated cases that have baffled both those left behind and the police tasked with solving these mysteries. Someone, somewhere must know something that will help solve these cases and every time someone reads about one of the mysteries here, speaks to their neighbour or work colleague or the person sitting on the train next to them about this book that they are reading, more opportunities are created to tug at peoples memories or to encourage someone to come forward with that piece of information that will make a difference to the lives of so many. Has anyone come forward with useful information? Have the rewards tempted anyone to speak out? I hope so.

I found the additional information/profiles/interviews with the behind the scenes individuals – the investigator, the criminal psychologist, the forensic anthropologist /criminologist/reporter, the investigative reporter, the investigative journalist, the former police detective ( I hope I have not missed any one out) that interspaces the mysteries lifts and informs this collection of stories; simply fascinating. I could read more of this sort of interview.

There is so much sadness within these pages but there is optimism that reading this will make a difference to someone’s memory or conscience. I do hope so.

[Angelique Simonsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each story compassionately told and I sincerely hope that these cases will be solved

[Brooklyn Tayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly phenomenal. Full review to come upon Australian Publication date - a huge thank you to Pan Macmillan Australia for providing me with a copy to review.

[Jade Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book fed my true crime obsessed mind for days and I absolutely LOVED it.
I've been drawn to true crime for a number of years now and having developed a passion for it, I knew I had to dive right into this book.
The cases in this book have all gone cold. They are chilling, thought-provoking, infuriating, heart-breaking and downright baffling... while nothing short of phenomenal, this can be a book you should pace yourself with. There are no happy endings. The families of the missing or murdered don't have answers. It is harrowing and can weigh heavily on your heart. It can be mentally exhausting - which is our glimpse into how the people involved in these cases must feel every single day.
We get into the minds of detectives, criminal psychologists, forensic anthropologists, criminologists, family members of the missing or murdered, the victims and even influential true crime fanatics like myself.
We learn how cases used to be handled in the past when we had limited technology to how we have advanced today with our resources. There are so many incredible ways we can crack cases that are decades old now and that in itself is beyond exciting.

Justine Ford did an absolutely excellent job putting this gem of a book together. While it is non-fiction and the cases are all horrifyingly real, Ford managed to make this book easy to read. While giving us all the facts she could for the cases at hand, it didn't read like a case file study... so while admittedly I did find myself forgetting that these are real life cases and people at times, Ford was respectful and compassionate to all involved. This book isn't intended to be an entertaining book, the author really does want to help solve these mysteries and she encourages us to help too - I highly recommend it, especially for my fellow murderinos.
SSDGM.

[Kirsti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ultimately it seems fitting to post this review the day they arrest someone for the murder of Michelle Bright. It a case involving a small town, and with the one million dollar reward update on Monday, it seems as if police have had enough information to charge a suspect. My hope is that all the families in this book get the same closure, with so many unanswered questions about these cases.

I mentioned to a workmate that I was reading this book, and what it was about. She casually says that she knew somoene who has gone missing, which threw me for a second. Generally you see missing people cases as something that happens to people you don't know, there is a degree of seperation. A girl my friend went to school with disappeared before the end of the school year, and no one has heard from her since. She is apparently still listed as a missing person, but I had never heard her name. It really makes you wonder and think more, and this book definitely achieved this too.

Justine Ford has written a number of great Australian crime books, and gives just enough information to haunt you. It is hoped that by telling these stories that the people in them don't get forgotten, both the missing and the family waiting for them at home, or passed away never knowing what happened. It is obviously a sad book too, as these cases remain unsolved to this day despite speculation.

Another fantastic and informative book by this author, highly recommended. Five stars.

[Jessica Maree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unsolved Australia: Lost Boys, Gone Girls is a fascinating record of 13 Australians who have gone missing and have never been found, written by well-known Australian crime writer Justine Ford.

Each section of the book focuses on a different missing person, detailing their life and the final days that anyone saw them alive. If there have been any updates on the case in recent decades, Justine has included that. This book is very comprehensive, very detailed, and incredibly researched.

Additionally, the book features interviews with six key crime personnel, such as former police detectives, investigative journalists, private investigators, and criminologists. These interviews are fascinating, reading about their career trajectories, their experiences, and what they remember most about cold cases from their careers.

“When cops are described as ‘dogged’ it means they are the kinds of police who go the extra mile to crack a case. They are the investigators who spend sleepless nights wondering, Is there something I missed? They are the cops who struggle to accept it when they cannot find the answers.”

The book is a plea to the readers, asking them to read the stories and provide help with any clues or information they may see that has been missed. There are people out there who know what happened to these thirteen individuals — reading these stories may jog someone’s memory.

Generous rewards are on offer for anyone that can help with each case. Although, quite a few of these missing persons disappeared decades ago, so I understand it’d be very unlikely someone will read this and remember anything useful to police.

“What was unusual — for them, at least — was the strange entity they saw bobbing in the water on the starboard side of their boat. It must be an animal, they thought, maybe a dog…The men looked once, they looked twice, and then agreed: it was a human body.”

Justine’s tone is appropriate for the subject matter — she’s compassionate and caring, and you can tell she genuinely wants to find out what happened to these missing persons. She also does well to present all of the relevant information to the reader in a succinct, clear manner.

“For half an hour the police boat judders across the swell until what looks like a dot on the horizon — a farmhouse — comes into sight. It’s lonely out here and the ocean surrounding the property ahead is hundreds, if not thousands, of metres deep.”

At almost 300 pages, I grew emotionally exhausted by the end of the story. There are no solutions or answers to these cold cases. Reading about thirteen people who disappeared in strange circumstances and have never been seen again was mentally draining towards the end.

I’d recommend readers pace themselves with this book. Each section of the book is an appropriate length — long enough to include all the facts, information, and updates on the case, but not too long where you feel your attention waning.

Recommended for true crime lovers.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Verushka · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is the about: A true-crime book about a selection of cases that have caught Australia’s imagination — or nightmares.

What else is this about?: It seems like a cliche, but this is a human take on those stories we’d only hear on the news. I’ll explain that in the review, Promise. In addition, there are profiles of some famous Australian investigators, psychologists and is illuminating for they don’t hold back in what their life’s work does to them.

Unsolved Australia is a collection of stories of unsolved cases in Australia, ones that have captured the country’s interest. It is also a call for information as much as it is a reminder of the losses of these families, and the cops for whom these cases are their white whales — never solved.

First up, the human side to these stories — I know, I know it’s a cliche. But it’s true. I felt like I could be sitting across a table from these investigators and these families, sharing a cup of tea and listening to them talk about these cases and their losses.

Ford manages to find this balance between an intimate tone and an investigatory one, and that makes this all the better a read. I don’t enjoy true-crime books where authors insert themsleves into victims’ lives to write the book. This is about the victims and the cops, and not the author in these groups’ lives.

Something else I found interesting is the profiles on investigators within the books who share their experiences of cases, of the PTSD they suffered and often ignored and what that meant for their lives in the end. It’s confronting stuff bc on the news, they catch the bad guys through hard work and investigations.

But they’re human and they need help too — and it’s important that they understand that — and accept it.

Unsolved Australia offers insight into what the people left behind are still going through — that not knowing and what their losses have meant.

Justine Ford has written a book that is respectful and empathetic for what the investigators, victims and people left behind are still going through.

[Chelsea R.H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, it was well-written, sensitive and compassionate. I'm very careful about the true crime I read, so much of it is exploitive and sensationalises the horror and grief of those involved. A lot of it is also created without the consent or involvement of the family and friends of the victims of these crimes. However, this book wasn't like that. This is a book about unsolved missing person cases, and it involved the family, friends, detectives, and experts talking about their loved ones, and the people they've dedicated so much time and passion into finding. It also refrained from speculating on "whodunnit", which is another issue I have with a lot of true crime. It focussed a lot more on the feelings of those who were involved, as well as the life of the missing person. It wasn't sensationalised or played for entertainment.

This book was written with the idea of growing awareness to these missing people, some of who are speculated to still be alive, or to closing the cases of those who are believed murdered, in order to try and solve the cases, to give closure to loved ones, and identify the bodies of deceased people.

Overall, I liked this book, found it interesting and it made my heart hurt (one of the women interviewed in this book lost her sister to an abduction/rape/murder when she was four years old. The case still remains unsolved, but the woman spent enormous amounts of effort as a tiny child writing down car number plates, trying to identify the car her sister was abducted in. That made me so sad). It's not for the faint of heart, but it is important to remember these people.

[✨ Jasmin ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid 3 star read!

It was nice (I tread lightly with that word) to read about crimes/disappearances that actually take place where I live for a change instead of crimes that take place overseas which is where most True Crime I consume comes from.
I think Justine Ford did really well research and it was an added extra to actually get the case told from the perspective of the authority in the situation.
The reason this only gets three stars though is because I did find myself not 100% invested in every case and they did start getting slightly repeatative.
I will be reading the first book of this kind that she published back in 2015.

[Denise Cameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whilst an interesting read, I found the narration slightly irritating. Several words were mispronounced and I found the emphasis and pauses were not always correct. Another book I read of Justine’s I had Siri read to me out loud and, whilst Siri doesn’t read very well (she isn’t a professional narrator), I found her less irritating.

I may stick to the ebook next time, as I want to read another of Justine’s books.

[Xanthi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this on audiobook format.
I had already heard of a fair few of these cases. I prefer it when I haven’t, so quite a significant portion of this book wasn’t quite as interesting to me, as a result. Also, given that it’s a few years old now, it’s a bit dated. Some of these cases, although not quite resolved, have been investigated further and fair assumptions can be made as to the who and why.

[Aussie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tells thirteen stories of people who's luck ran out in the most mysterious of circumstances.
It's like a journalistic deep-dive into Australia's dark heart by one of Australia's premier true crime writer Justine Ford .
Why are four people missing from a western Australian doomsday cult ? Who aducted and murdered beauty queen Brownynne Richardson on pagent night ?

[Lefa]

Just a note: there are a few moments in this book (which I listened to as an audiobook) that have pretty disturbing imagery around deceased children. If this kind of thing is upsetting it might be worth skipping.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not necessarily a cover to cover story but I think sixteen individual cases of which I enjoyed fourteen. It is easy reading and well presented but to me anyway not really surprising how easy it is for people to simply 'disappear'.

[Susan Abbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A haunting book of people missing, lost and unresolved mysteries - where are they now - even after painstaking investigation work by numerous police investigations, families continue to mourn the loss with no resolution......

[Sophie Robins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! The way it is told from both the family and the detective point of view is fantastic and the profiles added in were fascinating. The profile of Jan Ross was inspiring!

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book with some sad tales.

[Kaitlyn Jackson (Masters) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read. I think I might read her other books.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are someone that enjoys true crime and a bit of a mystery, this collection of cases compiled by Justine Ford is a fine introduction to Australian crime and missing persons cases.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

[Kylie Hannant · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read exploring some real crime mysteries within Australia. Also included some interview with experts in the forensic fields, which was interesting.

[Natalie McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Justine Fords books and this was no exception. I really enjoyed the interviews with the detectives on the cases.

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

An okay book, but too focused on the 'brave' investigators. The parts relating to sex workers and the chance of victims being gay were also just bad.

[Melissa Stretton]

so sad how many people actually go missing. its wild that so many haven't been found yet.

[Bookywookydodah · Rating 5 out of 5]

for a true crime addict this was a great read.