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A Few Right Thinking Men

(Rowland Sinclair #1)

Sulari Gentill (Goodreads Author)

3.70 · Rating details · 1,200 ratings · 250 reviews

Rowland Sinclair is an artist and a gentleman. In Australia's 1930s the Sinclair name is respectable and influential, yet Rowland has a talent for scandal.

Even with thousands of unemployed lining the streets, Rowland's sheltered world is one of exorbitant wealth, culture and impeccable tailoring. He relies on the Sinclair fortune to indulge his artistic passions and friend ...more

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Paperback, 349 pages

Published June 1st 2010 by Pantera Press

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Feb 16, 2018 Phrynne rated it liked it · review of another edition

This was a very interesting introduction to a series which I think I am going to like very much. Why only three stars then?

The three stars are for:-
* The characters, especially Rowland who has the makings of being a book hero. He is charming, rich, honest, thoughtful and smart. What more could you ask for? His friends and family are all interesting characters as well.
* The period setting 0f Australia during the Depression years. We get to visit the city and the outback and see the vast differen ...more

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Apr 15, 2019 PattyMacDotComma rated it really liked it

Shelves: chcc-library, australian-author, historical-fiction, mystery-crime-thriller, politics-culture-social

3.5★

“‘Don’t you do anything?’ asked Edna.

He smiled. ‘I’m the youngest son, Ed. . . My role is to keep bad company and squander the family fortune.’”

And Rowland Sinclair does. Well, he keeps some pretty questionable company, and although he’s not squandering the family fortune, he’s housing several dissident artists in one of his wealthy family’s homes in Sydney. By dissident, I mean left-leaning and Communist (far left) activists who love nothing better than orating from soapboxes in the park. ...more

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Jan 23, 2018 Brenda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, own-read, 5000-books, read-on-kindle, net-galley, historical-fiction, mystery, 2017-release

Rowland Sinclair – Rowly to his friends – was dining with his elderly uncle, Rowland Sinclair and as usual, enjoying the lively banter between the two of them. But when Rowly was informed a day or two later by the police that his uncle had been murdered, he was shocked and saddened. With the police seemingly doing nothing to find his killer/s, Rowly vowed to find them himself.

With the country in the throes of tensions caused by the Depression, and agitators on both sides of Parliament firing th ...more

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Aug 04, 2019 Tahera rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley-books-2019, netgalley, historical-fiction, e-books

This is the first book in the Rowland Sinclair series which covers the doings of the rich, charming, talented artist Rowland Sinclair and his group of equally talented and artistic dissident friends in the Australia of 1930s which is in the midst of both an economic Depression and a potential political revolution. I enjoyed the historical, social and cultural aspects of this era; the political aspect not so much but it's only because I personally don't like politics.

Also, the cover picture is go ...more

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Dec 29, 2018 Carolyn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018, debut, historical, murder-mystery, australian-author

I enjoyed this introduction to Rowland Sinclair and his artistic friends. Set in the Great Depression of the 1930s with high unemployment and poverty, political factions (communist, fascist, conservative) are competing for power and either trying to disrupt or defend the current government. As the son of a wealthy grazier, Rowland doesn't want for money but lives a bohemian life as an artist, sharing his wealthy home with fellow artists and poets. When his favourite uncle is assaulted and killed ...more

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Jul 17, 2019 Ingrid rated it did not like it

DNF. I gave up after 150 pages. It's very slow going, so much so that I really got annoyed with it and the subject of politics didn't help. ...more

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Mar 30, 2019 Marianne rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

4.5 ★s
A Few Right Thinking Men is the first book in the Rowland Sinclair series by award-winning Australian author, Sulari Gentill. When gentleman artist Rowland Sinclair’s favourite uncle dies following a savage beating in his own home, the police seem fixated on his elderly housekeeper at the expense of doing any real investigating. Information volunteered by the victim of a similar attack leads Rowly to suspect that it’s the work of the New Guard, the face of an increasing fascist presence in 4.5 ★s
A Few Right Thinking Men is the first book in the Rowland Sinclair series by award-winning Australian author, Sulari Gentill. When gentleman artist Rowland Sinclair’s favourite uncle dies following a savage beating in his own home, the police seem fixated on his elderly housekeeper at the expense of doing any real investigating. Information volunteered by the victim of a similar attack leads Rowly to suspect that it’s the work of the New Guard, the face of an increasing fascist presence in the country, but his uncle wasn't a communist, Rowly was certain, so why was he targeted?

With his quirky artistic friends (Edna the sculptress, Milton the poet and Clyde the artist), he devises a clever, if perhaps dangerous, way to learn more about those he suspects. But then it comes to light that his old uncle had a certain asset indicating an unsavoury connection, which muddies the waters a bit.

Soon, he finds himself, much to his older brother’s disapproval, deeply involved in what looks like becoming a civil war. When ultimately, they do discover who was responsible for the attack, Rowly and co are a little slow to figure out the why of it, and then events overtake them before they have time to react.

Gentill gives the reader an excellent plot with an exciting climax and a believable ending. While none are perfect, most of Gentill’s characters are endearing, with a few despicable ones to even things out. And of course, there’s Rowland: an appealing, can-do sort of guy, intelligent, a bit unconventional but full of integrity, which is reflected by loyalty of the friends he attracts.

Quotes from press articles of the time that preface many of the chapters cleverly serve the dual purpose of providing some of the background political climate and giving the reader a clear timeline of events.

Gentill's extensive research is apparent on every page, but this is no dry history lesson: the facts drop into the story unobtrusively; there’s also plenty of humour, especially in the banter between the friends. And she bestows on the reader a front-row seat for an infamous event of 1932.

As always, Gentill captures the era perfectly. This is a superb dose of Australian historical fiction, and readers who enjoy it will be pleased to know they can look forward to a further eight (at least) instalments of this award-winning series, beginning with A Decline In Prophets.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Pantera Press ...more

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Dec 08, 2020 Lata rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, bipoc-author, auth-f, x2020-read

This was a good start to a series based in 1930s Australia. Rowland Sinclair is the youngest son of a wealthy, conservative family. Rather than follow tradition, Rowland hangs out with artists, is an accomplished painter, and finds himself watching his country descend into communist and fascist camps, in the form of angry men in each of these groups plotting against each other and the government. Rowland has never troubled himself with any particular political belief, and finds himself alarmed b This was a good start to a series based in 1930s Australia. Rowland Sinclair is the youngest son of a wealthy, conservative family. Rather than follow tradition, Rowland hangs out with artists, is an accomplished painter, and finds himself watching his country descend into communist and fascist camps, in the form of angry men in each of these groups plotting against each other and the government. Rowland has never troubled himself with any particular political belief, and finds himself alarmed by various individuals around him trying to pull him in their sides.

Rowland would probably have continued to ignore everything, painting furiously everyday, and hanging out and drinking every night with his artist, poet and sculptress friends, if his uncle, with whom Rowland shares a name, hadn’t been beaten to death one night. When the police show no interest in really investigating, Rowland takes it upon himself, with his artist friends, to start poking around the politically-based groups, and finds that there are many people unhappy with where they see Australia going during the Depression, the impact of Russia's revolution still reverberating through the country, unemployed and maimed soldiers still recovering from WW1, and the technological and other effects of the war on society, scaring every -ism camp.

Rowland’s wealth has insulated him from a lot of nastiness, so he sometimes comes across as naïve, but he’s also a caring, kind person, and is not interested in his family’s deep conservatism and equally uninterested in the radical sentiments of the other camps, but also aware of the poverty and discontent towards people of his class. That doesn’t mean Rowland, and his artist friends Edna Higgins, Clyde Watson Jones and Milton Isaacs, don’t mind the trappings of his class, like his big house, and Rowland’s beloved yellow Mercedes Benz.
What’s particularly interesting about the sentiments and actions of people in the various camps is how familiar some of their arguments feel, particularly with the rise in fascism and anti-immigrant rhetoric in the populist movements around the world over the last several years. Though I wasn’t totally clear on a few of the political motives the author ascribes to various characters, I liked the descriptions of this period between the two World Wars. The murder investigation describes the complexity of feelings and attitudes of the early 1930s Sydney surrounding Rowland, and I look forward to reading more of Sulari Gentill’s work. ...more

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Mar 23, 2020 Alex Cantone rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: aussie-authors, 2020-1-misc-challenge, read-2020, historic-fiction, read-2020-az-authors

They were all of a generation who could not possibly have seen war service, but who were marked by the lack of it all the same. Certainly, he was aware it lessened him in Wilfred’s eyes.

Just over a year since I read Miles Off Course - third in the Rowland Sinclair series of cosy historic fiction, set in New South Wales, which left me with mixed views. I liked the cover and paper ‘aged’ with the ‘30’s touch and the historical newsprint, but I found the central character far too much the gentleman They were all of a generation who could not possibly have seen war service, but who were marked by the lack of it all the same. Certainly, he was aware it lessened him in Wilfred’s eyes.

Just over a year since I read Miles Off Course - third in the Rowland Sinclair series of cosy historic fiction, set in New South Wales, which left me with mixed views. I liked the cover and paper ‘aged’ with the ‘30’s touch and the historical newsprint, but I found the central character far too much the gentleman to stand up to a crashing bore from his Oxford days.

This, the first in the series was a slow starter, and for me the background on wealthy Rowland (the painter), living in Woollahra, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs with his artistic friends, while his elder brother Wilfred, resides at the family’s estate near Yass, went on a bit too long. The story opens with the murder of flamboyantly dissolute uncle (Rowland Sinclair senior), an unsolved crime four months after the event, with the police suspecting complicity of the elderly housekeeper.

About 40% into the book Rowly gets word of who might have been responsible, members of a paramilitary movement called the “New Guard” - (a few rights thinking men) intent on dismissing the Jack Lang led Labor state government. He goes undercover, posing as his friend Clyde to infiltrate the movement – ostensibly to paint the leader Eric Campbell’s portrait for entry to the Archibald Prize, while searching for evidence of the murderers.

As with the other book, I was slightly underwhelmed: too much politicking / too transparent storyline, where I prefer mystery. The descriptions of public transport and the contrast between conspicuous wealth and those struggling through the depression was – well, depressing. The endless shifting between grand houses, humbler homes and country estates, plus a race course or two grated after a while. Like a circus without clowns. It was redeemed for me by the “showdown” at the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932.

The series has received rave reviews and won the author a loyal following. I haven’t given up on it yet: I’m just glad I did not start with this one. Fewer pages in a larger sized font would have made a considerable difference. ...more

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Jan 28, 2018 Irene Sauman rated it it was amazing

Life throughout the world was unsettled in the 1930s, with the Great Depression, mass unemployment and political unrest. In Australia, depending on your own circumstances, you were a part of, or feared, Communism, Facsicm or the Old Guard conservatives who wished to maintain the status quo established pre-World War One.
The story of these unsettled times in New South Wales is told through Rowland Sinclair, wealthy young gentleman who has turned his back on his privileged upbringing and works as a Life throughout the world was unsettled in the 1930s, with the Great Depression, mass unemployment and political unrest. In Australia, depending on your own circumstances, you were a part of, or feared, Communism, Facsicm or the Old Guard conservatives who wished to maintain the status quo established pre-World War One.
The story of these unsettled times in New South Wales is told through Rowland Sinclair, wealthy young gentleman who has turned his back on his privileged upbringing and works as an artist. His comfortable home in one of Sydney’s best suburbs is also home to several other artists who are down on their luck. Well, they were until Rowland invited them in, anyway.
His older brother, Wilfred, who served in the war, is stongly aligned with the Old Guard, while friend and house-mate Milton leans toward Communism. Wilfred remonstrates with Rowland on his life-style, demanding he live up to his family name and support the lifestyle men fought for, and for which his eldest brother Aubrey died. When Rowland’s uncle, also named Rowland and another who lives a ‘scandalous’ life, is beaten to death in his home, young Rowland fumes at the lack of police progress in solving the killing. He suspects that the Fascist New Guard is involved and he infiltrates their ranks, posing under the name of fellow artist Clyde, painting a portrait of the Facsict leader Eric Campbell for the Archibald. His double identity lands him in trouble from both sides of the political spectrum, who either see him as a spy or of betraying his own kind.
One of the problems of compressing a period of history into book length is that the issues can feel over-tressed. The distrust, the belief of each group that it alone is right, the violence towards those who think differently is unrelenting throughout the first half. I don’t say that this is a fault, or can be avoided, but it meant I had to take a breather and read something lighter before I could finish. That probably says more about this reader than about the book. It is in fact an excellent rendition of the period, well written, well told, well constructed. It works on the level of history as well as mystery. Recommended.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley for an honest review.
...more

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Dec 06, 2019 eyes.2c rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: library, australian, ebook, historical-fiction, interbellum

Enjoyed this immensely. From the descriptions of these post WWI times in Australian history, to the opening of the Sydney Harbor Bridge, to the country towns, the illegal nightclubs, the horse races, the Depression, the stroll through Australian artists of the time. Great!!
Rowland Sinclair is a talented artist and the younger son from a wealthy sheep farming family who spent some years in Oxford and London amongst the more bohemian artist set.
He's returned to Australia occupying the family Sydne ...more

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Apr 24, 2019 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-are, netgalley-reviews, aussie-author

Sulari Gentill’s historical mystery series featuring Rowland Sinclair has long been on my radar. I regret that it has taken me a decade to start it, though on the plus side, there are a further eight books ahead of me to enjoy.

A Few Right Thinking Men is set in New South Wales, Australia during the early 1930’s. It is a period of great political upheaval where, in the wake of The Great Depression, tensions are mounting resulting in the rapid growth of extremist organisations.
Rowland Sinclair, a Sulari Gentill’s historical mystery series featuring Rowland Sinclair has long been on my radar. I regret that it has taken me a decade to start it, though on the plus side, there are a further eight books ahead of me to enjoy.

A Few Right Thinking Men is set in New South Wales, Australia during the early 1930’s. It is a period of great political upheaval where, in the wake of The Great Depression, tensions are mounting resulting in the rapid growth of extremist organisations.
Rowland Sinclair, affectionately known as Rowly to his friends, is content to stay out of politics. As the youngest son of the wealthy and influential Sinclair family, he has largely been left to his own devices, allowing him to pursue his passion for painting, and support a revolving cast of fellow artists at his well appointed home, Woodlands House, on Sydney’s North Shore.
That is until Rowly’s uncle, for whom he is named, is killed during a home invasion, and rumour places the blame on an aggressive group within the New Guard, a far right political organisation focused on destroying the ‘red threat’ of communism.

Till now, he had crowded his mind with his work and with things more mundane, but as he stood where his uncle had died, he was staggered by a deep sense of loss, and outrage.

Though Rowly’s goal is to bring uncle’s murderer to justice, the mystery surrounding his death is not really the focus of this novel. With the local detective reluctant to investigate, Rowly is convinced by his friends and houseguests Milton, Clyde and Edna to take on Clyde’s identity and infiltrate the New Guard, unwittingly putting himself at the epicentre of the dissent. It is the clandestine machinations of the various political organisations that is center stage here.

He’d just have to hope to God that democracy would survive all these right thinking men.

The authors research is meticulous, sadly I’m almost wholly ignorant of my country’s past, but it’s understandable that Gentill would enthusiastically delve into this ‘fascinating and ludicrous’ period of Australian history. The situation, as the conflict between the spectrum of ideologies escalates, would be farcical if not for the seriousness with which they regard themselves. Each is convinced they are the only ‘right thinking men’ fit to lead the state, if not the entire country.

“You are who you are. Given your gilded background, you could be insufferable, but you’re not. I wouldn’t have you be anything else.”

I thought the characterisation of both the main and supporting characters was very well done. Rowly is kind, generous, thoughtful and loyal. For the most part apolitical, Rowly is well aware that his background makes him an enemy of the far left, and his lifestyle pits him against the far right. His older brother Wilford is contemptuous of his youngest brother’s ways, but Rowly is wonderfully supported by Edna, a beautiful sculptress with whom he is in love, communist poet Milt, and fellow painter, Clyde, and not just because he funds their modus vivendi.

A Few Right Thinking Men is an entertaining and astute novel, rich with history, drama, and engaging characters. I’m looking forward to continuing with the series. ...more

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Dec 01, 2020 Marianne rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

4.5 ★s
A Few Right Thinking Men is the first book in the Rowland Sinclair series by award-winning Australian author, Sulari Gentill. The audio version is read by Rupert Degas. When gentleman artist Rowland Sinclair’s favourite uncle dies following a savage beating in his own home, the police seem fixated on his elderly housekeeper at the expense of doing any real investigating. Information volunteered by the victim of a similar attack leads Rowly to suspect that it’s the work of the New Guard, th 4.5 ★s
A Few Right Thinking Men is the first book in the Rowland Sinclair series by award-winning Australian author, Sulari Gentill. The audio version is read by Rupert Degas. When gentleman artist Rowland Sinclair’s favourite uncle dies following a savage beating in his own home, the police seem fixated on his elderly housekeeper at the expense of doing any real investigating. Information volunteered by the victim of a similar attack leads Rowly to suspect that it’s the work of the New Guard, the face of an increasing fascist presence in the country, but his uncle wasn't a communist, Rowly was certain, so why was he targeted?

With his quirky artistic friends (Edna the sculptress, Milton the poet and Clyde the artist), he devises a clever, if perhaps dangerous, way to learn more about those he suspects. But then it comes to light that his old uncle had a certain asset indicating an unsavoury connection, which muddies the waters a bit.

Soon, he finds himself, much to his older brother’s disapproval, deeply involved in what looks like becoming a civil war. When ultimately, they do discover who was responsible for the attack, Rowly and co are a little slow to figure out the why of it, and then events overtake them before they have time to react.

Gentill gives the reader an excellent plot with an exciting climax and a believable ending. While none are perfect, most of Gentill’s characters are endearing, with a few despicable ones to even things out. And of course, there’s Rowland: an appealing, can-do sort of guy, intelligent, a bit unconventional but full of integrity, which is reflected by loyalty of the friends he attracts.

Quotes from press articles of the time that preface many of the chapters cleverly serve the dual purpose of providing some of the background political climate and giving the reader a clear timeline of events.

Gentill's extensive research is apparent on every page, but this is no dry history lesson: the facts drop into the story unobtrusively; there’s also plenty of humour, especially in the banter between the friends. And she bestows on the reader a front-row seat for an infamous event of 1932.

As always, Gentill captures the era perfectly. This is a superb dose of Australian historical fiction, and readers who enjoy it will be pleased to know they can look forward to a further eight (at least) instalments of this award-winning series, beginning with A Decline In Prophets. ...more

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Jul 28, 2011 Rebecca rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction

I was given this book as a gift; I have no working knowledge of Australian history, so I felt a little intimidated, but that disappeared as soon as I read, "Rowland wiped his hands on his waistcoat. Not so many months ago, it had been a quality item of gentleman's attire. Now, it was stained with paint and smelled of turpentine. Rowland preferred it that way. He looked again at the painting with which he had battled all day and which, in the end, had defeated him."

This is Rowland Sinclair, a you I was given this book as a gift; I have no working knowledge of Australian history, so I felt a little intimidated, but that disappeared as soon as I read, "Rowland wiped his hands on his waistcoat. Not so many months ago, it had been a quality item of gentleman's attire. Now, it was stained with paint and smelled of turpentine. Rowland preferred it that way. He looked again at the painting with which he had battled all day and which, in the end, had defeated him."

This is Rowland Sinclair, a young, compelling man possessing eyes of intense blue, incredibly generous and friendly, open-minded, casual, a committed artist, who yearns for the love of the bohemian sculptress, Edna, but keeps his mouth shut about it. He's thrown open his house to Edna and other artists who have fallen on hard times during the 30s Depression, for his family comes from wealth and status. Rowland, the embarrassment of his right-thinking brother, lives life as he wants to live it, rather than obeying the rules attached to the higher classes. He doesn't realize until he's fallen deep into the pit how history will affect him personally, will drag him into the thick of things, although his only desire is to live life in peace and acceptance of others, whatever their beliefs.

It all begins when his friend, Milton, drags him to a Communist meeting. From there the reader is pulled into history with Rowland; we delve into the New Guard, a fascist group run by the historical figure, Eric Campbell, who, along with his compatriots, want to turn Australia into a fascist state. Then there's the Old Guard, the original group from which Campbell split, the group loyal to King and Country, Traditionalists all.

Against the backdrop of this history, (impeccably researched) we flow along with Rowland and his friends as they try to get to the bottom of a brutal murder, and end up discovering more than they ever dreamed of. Their very lives fall into jeopardy as the politics of the times overtakes and surrounds them.

One of the highlights for me was the wit, the humor, and the dialogue between these characters. This is all masterful, and I was guffawing even in the midst of a grim reality that could have ultimately changed Australia from the lovable place we know (albeit filled with the world's most poisonous snakes and spiders, not to mention crocs and jellyfish) to a place of dictatorship. Thank God that didn't happen!

Quotes: "You don't need to worry about my discretion, Wil," Rowland said angrily. "I'm not about to tell anyone that my brother is raising some clandestine, tweed-jacketed army because he thinks Stalin is heading south!"

"Ernest nodded solemnly. "Are you going to see the King?"
"Shall I give him your regards?"
"Don't be silly, Uncle Rowly, King George has his own guards...with big furry black hats."

"Civil war! Who would..." Milton clapped his hand on his forehead in realisation. "Bloody Catholics! I knew the Tykes were planning something...all that bloody Hail Marying!"
Clyde, who was a Catholic of sorts, clipped the side of Milton's head as he got up to refill his glass.

As far as the romance between Rowland and Edna...well, I'll let the reader discover that for him or herself. A Few Right Thinking Men could have been a dark account, almost a documentary, one event leading into the next. But the addition of Rowly, Wilfred, Ernest, Kate, Edna, Clyde and especially Milt (I love him) and their enduring friendship, the barely contained romance (which is masterfully done,) draws one in and makes this a story where the reader is completely invested in the lives, emotions, and outcomes of these people. From the first page to the last, everything flows, woven perfectly, so that we see the big picture of Australian politics in the 30s along with the microcosm of Rowland's life, friendships and family.

A Few Right Thinking Men merely introduces Rowland and his friends. Rowland's adventures, I'm happy to report, will continue on in future books. ...more

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Oct 22, 2017 Calzean rated it liked it

Shelves: woman-author, crime-thriller-mystery, historical-fiction, author-australia, culture-australia

The author has cleverly picked an interesting period of Australian history. The 1930s. The country is still recovering from WWI, is experiencing the great depression and there are patriots forming para-militias to fight the scourge of Communism. Amongst this setting Rowland Sinclair a man from a wealthy family and who lives well, but is also an artist and lives a life of Bohemian rhapsody. He has "adopted" three Communist aligned close friends, a sculptress, a painter and a poet. These three cha ...more

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Feb 15, 2015 Debbie Robson rated it really liked it

As some of my review followers may be aware, I have begun to read more crime fiction over the last year or two. Generally it is crime fiction written in the forties and fifties and occasionally the odd Agatha Christie - more for setting than anything else and a break from the literary fiction I generally read.
When I came across a review for a Sulari Gentill (it wasn’t for the first in the series) I immediately took note. Here was an Australian woman writer, (I belong to the Australian Women Writ As some of my review followers may be aware, I have begun to read more crime fiction over the last year or two. Generally it is crime fiction written in the forties and fifties and occasionally the odd Agatha Christie - more for setting than anything else and a break from the literary fiction I generally read.
When I came across a review for a Sulari Gentill (it wasn’t for the first in the series) I immediately took note. Here was an Australian woman writer, (I belong to the Australian Women Writers Challenge) the author of a crime fiction series set in Sydney in the 1930s! Perfect.
From the opening paragraph it was obvious that Gentill is an intelligent writer. Immediately I was drawn to Rowland Sinclair and his friends and the beautiful Woodlands House. I particularly enjoyed reading about Edna and would have liked more of her and their tricky relationship.
It’s obvious, too, that Gentill is amazing at combining characterisation and historical fact in one paragraph. I don’t know how she does it, but it is no mean feat. The only other writer who I have come across who does it so well is Sadie Jone.. See my review of Small Wars. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Here’s an example smoothly covering Rowly’s car, his social standing in England, the British attitude to Australians and Rowley’s mood:
“He climbed into his yellow Mercedes Benz, patting the bonnet affectionately as he did so. He had brought the supercharged tourer back with him from England. The car had once belonged to a Lord Lesley, with whom Rowland had played cards at Oxford. The Sinclairs meant very little to English society. There, they were looked down on as colonial upstarts of dubious breeding. Lord Lesley had been no exception, and made no secret that playing poker with an Australian was akin to dining with savages. The evenings were regularly peppered with barbed witticisms about convicts and bushrangers. Rowland had found it grating but he was playing poker. He kept his face closed.” Marvellous!
My only complaint (probably more an observation) that at 350 pages it does take a while for the mystery of Rowland’s uncle’s death to be solved. On the way though we are spending time with some wonderful characters who I’m sure I will be catching up with on a regular basis from now on. ...more

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Mar 30, 2018 Lady Alexandrine rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-novels, crime-novels

I enjoyed this book very much! Especially I liked the atmosphere of the New South Wales in the early 30s and the extremely likable bunch of characters. Rowley, Ed, Milt and Clyde are lovely misfits and I can't wait to read more about them.

What I loved most about this book were the characters and the dialogues. The main character is a wealthy artist Rowland Sinclair, known as Rowley to his friends. His friends are also artists, they are funny and charming. For the most of time they are just drif I enjoyed this book very much! Especially I liked the atmosphere of the New South Wales in the early 30s and the extremely likable bunch of characters. Rowley, Ed, Milt and Clyde are lovely misfits and I can't wait to read more about them.

What I loved most about this book were the characters and the dialogues. The main character is a wealthy artist Rowland Sinclair, known as Rowley to his friends. His friends are also artists, they are funny and charming. For the most of time they are just drifting through life, having fun, with no idea where they are heading. Edna is a sculptress and also a model, who doesn’t shy away from posing nude. Milton is a poet and Clyde is a painter, often forced to paint portraits of hideous clients for remuneration.

When I started reading this book I didn't know much about the political scene in New South Wales before the Second World War. Now, I know much more about the political fractions, the Great Depression in Australia and who Jack Lang was. What's more the information was given in such a way that it was easy to comprehend and it never got boring. The novel was lovingly crafted and rich with historically accurate details about the life in Australia in the early 30s. It was time full of political tensions and social unrest. The Great Depression bought unemployment and poverty to many families. It also caused rise of extremism on the right and the left side of the political scene. The Communists and the Fascist were preparing for revolution and coup d'état. Premier Jack Lang and his actions were very unpopular. The enemies of state were lurking on every corner.

description

photo of the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge

description

photo of Premier Jack Lang in his office

As you can see from my comments this novel is so much more than a murder mystery! There is an ongoing murder investigation and it motivates many of the characters’ actions, but there is much more going on than simply solving the crime. I am curious how the characters are going to evolve in the next book in the series and what other adventures they are going to face.

I received "A Few Right Thinking Men" from the publisher via NetGalley. I would like to thank the author and the publisher for providing me with the advance reader copy of the book. ...more

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Mar 25, 2015 Nicole Alexander rated it liked it

There’s nothing quite like the bohemian life in 1930s Australia. Throw in a wealthy gentleman artist, Rowland Sinclair, a mix-match of creative types living in his palatial home, and the murder of a much-loved uncle and you have the setting for Sulari Gentell’s historical crime novel. While A Few Right Thinking Men starts out with a murder, it soon devolves into an examination of the politics of the time. Fascism, communism, The New Guard, the Old Guard, the landed gentry …. Yes, there’s a lot i ...more

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Oct 11, 2017 Stacey DiFazio rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Despite the far-too-many similarities with Kerry Greenwood's divine Phryne Fisher series, A Few Right Thinking Men still pales in comparison. Gentill's characters are not especially interesting, the plot wanders aimlessly and then fizzles out, and the editing is less than scrupulous. The author struggled to intelligently resolve the crime and the red herrings and detours and pointless scenes have only threads of historical context to weave them together. The first in this series did not impress ...more

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Dec 07, 2018 Pamela Shropshire rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-not-romance, need-to-buy, early-20th-century

3.5 stars. This is a really fun first installment to an Australian crime fiction series roughly contemporary to the wonderful Phryne Fisher series by Kerry Greenwood. Like Phryne, Rowland Sinclair is from a posh conservative background but has, let’s say, more colourful friends.

Rowland is an artist, a serious one, not just a dilettante, and his closest friends in Sydney are from the artistic community. (In typical Aussie fashion, he is usually called Rowly.) These friends include Edna, a sculpt ...more

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Mar 26, 2020 Kate rated it it was amazing

In some ways this is the Australian version of Dorothy Sawyer's Lord Peter Whimsey detective series, although less renaissance in its literary references and more for the everyman in its setting and prose.

Each chapter begins with an epigraph, not a reference of excerpt from a Renaissance author but a relevant newspaper clipping which gives a bit of context to the narrative. The main character is from an aristocratic family, but is somewhat of a black sheep, spending more of his time with arty t ...more

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Jul 27, 2020 Deb Jones rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, series, crime

I confess to nearly total ignorance when it comes to the history of Australia. This story takes place during a time of political upheaval in that country when many feared a revolution spurred by Communist factions.

Rowland Sinclair, the youngest son in a wealthy family, finds himself at political odds with his older brother. Rowly, as the youngest Sinclair is called, has distanced himself from his brother, living in the city where he dabbles in painting and has befriended many people who the elde ...more

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Apr 08, 2018 Dillwynia Peter rated it really liked it

The early 1930s were a turbulent time in New South Wales: along with the world gripping Depression, the state was run by a very Left leaning Labor government. The fear was palpable, particularly amongst the monied people who were worried of a Communist revolution. These same people were war veterans and they had been militarised and knew how to organise a militia. The results were the Old and New Guards, and the worker Communist factions. The state was not a happy place.

This is the setting of A ...more

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Dec 04, 2012 Rob Kitchin rated it really liked it

I wasn’t really sure about A Few Right Thinking Men for the first 150 pages or so. Not a whole lot happens except the characters are introduced and the scene set for what follows. It is only with Rowly’s friends turning up at his brother’s house that the book sparks into life and then it’s a thoroughly enjoyable romp all the way to near the end. The strength of the story is its characterization, and its sense of place and history. Rowly and his friends are very engaging, and the other main chara ...more

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Aug 28, 2016 Barb in Maryland rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-thriller-goodies

3.5 stars.
Interesting and entertaining start to a series set in 1930s Sydney, Australia. The main characters are engaging young members of the bohemian art set. Rowland Sinclair is the one with money and a posh background--he's also a rather good painter. He shares the Sinclair family house with Edna, who works in sculpture, Milton, a poet and Clyde, who also paints. Milton is also a fervent Communist. Rowland's older brother Wilfred does not approve, at all, of the house guests.
While the murder ...more

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May 28, 2019 Silke rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Rowland Sinclair, an artist and youngest son to a respected and wealthy New South Wales family starts investigating the death of a close family member amid the rising political tensions of Australia and the world in the 1930ies.
I thoroughly enjoyed following Rowland's investigation, getting to know his family and close friends and also learning a lot about the society and political situations in Australia during said time. Thanks to the brilliant writing, an interesting cast of characters and a ...more

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Dec 15, 2018 Kate rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I throughly enjoyed this mystery novel that delved into the political struggles in 1930s Sydney in the midst of the depression. It was a brilliant read and I was fascinated by Rowland Sinclair’s pursuit and expertise in painting - such a different occupation compared to other amateur detectives.

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May 11, 2010 Karen rated it liked it

Shelves: australian, crime, review-books, historicals

A FEW RIGHT THINKING MEN introduces Rowland Sinclair to fans of Australian historical crime fiction. Set in 1930's Sydney and Yass, A FEW RIGHT THINKING MEN takes a reader into a world where the affects of the Great Depression are being felt, and the tension between the Proto-Fascists and Communists in Australian society veers dangerously close to civil war.

Not that the central character of this novel, Rowland Sinclair, is feeling any of the Depression affects. He is the youngest son of an extre A FEW RIGHT THINKING MEN introduces Rowland Sinclair to fans of Australian historical crime fiction. Set in 1930's Sydney and Yass, A FEW RIGHT THINKING MEN takes a reader into a world where the affects of the Great Depression are being felt, and the tension between the Proto-Fascists and Communists in Australian society veers dangerously close to civil war.

Not that the central character of this novel, Rowland Sinclair, is feeling any of the Depression affects. He is the youngest son of an extremely wealthy, influential farming family. His oldest brother runs the farm on a day to day basis, the middle brother was killed in the First World War. A painter, he lives in the family mansion in Sydney, along with a selection of his closest artist friends. Under his patronage, although it's really more friendship and generosity, they lead a life of luxury, privilege and ease. That doesn't stop them mixing with Communist elements - committed or fringe-dwellers.

When Rowland's uncle (of the same name) is bashed in his home and dies, Rowland returns to the family homestead for the funeral and a visit over Christmas with his mother, brother and sister-in-law. He finds his mother more and more mentally disturbed by the loss of her middle son, and his brother deeply involved with the New Guard. The New Guard was a mostly NSW, Sydney-centric proto-fascist movement committed to fighting the perceived "Communist threat". The Old Guard boasted a similar philosophy but were altogether more shadowy and militant. Both these movements were convinced that armed rebellion against the communists was required, and New Guard actively campaigned the overthrow of the then NSW Premier Jack Lang. For those interested in these things, the man who cut the ribbon at the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge before the Premier could, Captain Francis de Groot, was a member of the New Guard... but I digress.

A FEW RIGHT THINKING MEN is set in a very short period of Australian history when open rebellion was discussed and enmity and mistrust held very close to hearts. The battles between the Old and New Guard, the Communists, and sympathisers from all sides are covered within the context of this book, which has, at the heart of it a fairly simple murder plot. Even though Rowland Sinclair, the elder, is bashed to death, the death is mostly handled delicately and there's very little dwelling on the events and/or details. Where this book is very strong is in the clarity of the events that it describes, the way that the characters of Rowland and his friends are seamlessly woven into a true history, and the manner in which this period in Australia is described.

Not that this is a heavy, hard-work historical novel. The characters are wonderfully drawn. Rowland and friends are eccentric, but not overly so, they fit within that period of history well. The members of the New and Old Guard's are nicely shadowy, dedicated to the cause, slightly mad in their own right, but not cartoonish or overdone. There are light touches of humour, and there are some sad moments - the loss of Rowland the elder, the descent of Rowland's mother into complete madness are deftly drawn.

A FEW RIGHT THINKING MEN would be a good book for readers who like their murder and mayhem more on the incidental side. It's not that hard to pick the why very early on, and the who narrows down as events progress. But the murder doesn't read as the point of this book. It's the overall environment, and that short, sharp, mad period of Australian history, which is really very well handled. ...more

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Jun 19, 2012 Kate Forsyth rated it liked it

Shelves: historical-mystery

The first in a series of murder mysteries set in 1930s, featuring the artist and dilettante Rowland Sinclair, whose fortune allows him to support his friends – a Communist poet, an alluring sculptress and a painter. With newspaper snippets of the times heading each chapter, the mood of the times is well-expressed. I must admit I was hoping it would be funnier and faster-paced, with less about politics and more about parties, but it was an engaging read.

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Oct 20, 2011 Elisa rated it it was amazing

Brilliant book, so well written... it just flows beautifully. This was never something I thought I'd be interested in (politics in 1930s Australia) and yet I found it fascinating. It was also hilarious in parts and I absolutely adored the characters. Really looking forward to the next one. Highly recommended. ...more

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About Sulari Gentill

Sulari Gentill

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Not so long ago, Sulari Gentill was a corporate lawyer serving as a director on public boards, with only a vague disquiet that there was something else she was meant to do. That feeling did not go away until she began to write. And so Sulari became the author of the Rowland Sinclair Mysteries: thus far, six historical crime novels chronicling the life and adventures of her 1930s Australian gentlem ...more