What do you think?
Rate this book
The Big Dead Dry
Would you drive into a small Australian town in drought, packed with intrigue, lust and murder?
Brumby Flat, a small country town in South Australia, suddenly rises to notoriety and becomes the centre of the world through a baffling series of murders and accidental deaths.
Raquel Willaston and her son, Steve, have just moved into town, and Raquel soon gets caught up in the local goings on, whether she wants to or not, and a love entanglement she’d rather not deal with.
The quiet arrival of a mysterious homeless man and his subsequent brutal murder at the base of the town silos is the catalyst for the chaos which erupts.
City-based Senior Detective Phillip Duncan is in charge of the ensuing investigations and has to cope with some colourful and quirky characters to find out who the killer is. There’s Anabella Williams who wears vintage clothes and still lives in the 1950s and is renowned for her ‘killer cakes’. Famous silo mural painter Phil Proctor, newly arrived from New York, seems to know more than he lets on. There’s Chris Jones, an ex-military officer, who lives his life with military-like precision. Bridie Browne, who runs the local post office, seems more preoccupied with the male of the species rather than actually sorting mail.
And then there’s ‘The Raindrops Shop’ run by Bette Mitchell which offers a range of merchandise completely at odds with a town in the middle of a two-year drought.
Nothing is as it seems in Brumby Flat. It’s going to be a tough ask to identify the serial killer hiding amongst them.
Brumby Flat, a small country town in South Australia, suddenly rises to notoriety and becomes the centre of the world through a baffling series of murders and accidental deaths.
Raquel Willaston and her son, Steve, have just moved into town, and Raquel soon gets caught up in the local goings on, whether she wants to or not, and a love entanglement she’d rather not deal with.
The quiet arrival of a mysterious homeless man and his subsequent brutal murder at the base of the town silos is the catalyst for the chaos which erupts.
City-based Senior Detective Phillip Duncan is in charge of the ensuing investigations and has to cope with some colourful and quirky characters to find out who the killer is. There’s Anabella Williams who wears vintage clothes and still lives in the 1950s and is renowned for her ‘killer cakes’. Famous silo mural painter Phil Proctor, newly arrived from New York, seems to know more than he lets on. There’s Chris Jones, an ex-military officer, who lives his life with military-like precision. Bridie Browne, who runs the local post office, seems more preoccupied with the male of the species rather than actually sorting mail.
And then there’s ‘The Raindrops Shop’ run by Bette Mitchell which offers a range of merchandise completely at odds with a town in the middle of a two-year drought.
Nothing is as it seems in Brumby Flat. It’s going to be a tough ask to identify the serial killer hiding amongst them.
230 pages, Paperback
Published March 31, 2021
3 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Portia Stanton-Noble
8 books7 followersPortia was born and raised in Melbourne, Victoria, to Estonian parents who migrated to Australia after World War II. She has worked in the retail, telecommunications and real estate sectors. Always wanting to be a writer, over the years, she has edited and written articles and reviews for various university student newspapers and independent publications.
She currently lives with her son in the picturesque Gilbert Valley region, South Australia, nestled between the wine-growing regions of the Barossa and Clare Valleys.
She has just completed the sequel which is entitled 'Pretty Dead Ordinary'. To be released in the New Year.
She currently lives with her son in the picturesque Gilbert Valley region, South Australia, nestled between the wine-growing regions of the Barossa and Clare Valleys.
She has just completed the sequel which is entitled 'Pretty Dead Ordinary'. To be released in the New Year.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 17, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and found it difficult to put down. The characters are an interesting bunch and the plot keeps you guessing. Lots of intrigue and romance.
July 19, 2023
Closer to 3.5 stars!!
Quirky, humorous, and full of twists. I loved the fun narration across all the characters, it reminded me of Pushing Daisies. And I adore a thrilling mystery that can make us giggle and then gasp seconds later! 🥹
Quirky, humorous, and full of twists. I loved the fun narration across all the characters, it reminded me of Pushing Daisies. And I adore a thrilling mystery that can make us giggle and then gasp seconds later! 🥹
April 30, 2025
An excellent first book set in a small country town with some colourful characters. Murder and mystery abound and everyone is suspicious of everyone else. Well written and a book that draws you into their lives and loves.
January 17, 2026
Definitely more closer to 3.5 stars. It was a really good short, easy read. I very much enjoyed reading this, I liked the unknowns and my suspicion was correct. I’m looking forward to reading the next one.
August 27, 2023
3.5 stars
An interesting premise from a debut author. The writing shows potential although there's a lot of trashy romance elements that could have been better edited to focus on the mystery element. I always enjoy reading books set in Australia, particularly SA. This is essentially a murder mystery meets trashy romance novel.
An interesting premise from a debut author. The writing shows potential although there's a lot of trashy romance elements that could have been better edited to focus on the mystery element. I always enjoy reading books set in Australia, particularly SA. This is essentially a murder mystery meets trashy romance novel.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews