Crimson Lake (Crimson Lake, #1) in Around the Year in 52 Books

Jul 31, 2020 Nadine in NY Jones rated it it was ok

Shelves: broken, audio, detective-mystery, mystery

... [the gun] lay on its side and judged my drinking. Halfway down a bottle of Wild Turkey one night, I started asking the gun what it’s fucking solution to everything was if it was so smart. A gun has only one answer.

CW for: rape of a child, child pornography, murder, abuse of a dog, and death of a (different) dog.

This is exactly my kind of book: a murder mystery featuring a rough-around-the-edges detective who has been broken down by circumstances and is struggling to get his life back ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Jun 25, 2018 CrystalIsReading on StoryGraph rated it really liked it

Shelves: mysteries, international, around-the-world-challenge

I enjoyed Crimson Lake more than I've enjoyed a murder mystery novel in a long time. I enjoyed the evocative description of the sticky, watery, humid, stormy, lush jungle of Australia's "top end" in Queensland, about learning more about Cairns and the coastal area. I have no way of knowing how accurate the descriptions are for the area, but they are consistent and seem logical. I have zero desire to the visit the place as described, but it makes for a fascinating setting for the book, almost a t ...more

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Feb 22, 2018 Ann rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: country-small-town, missing-persons, murder, small-business, police-law-enforcement, suspense, tone-suspenseful, mystery, australia, social-rejects

Thanks to the publisher for an advance reader's copy.

I need to reevaluate some of my book prejudices because I kind of mentally dismissed this when I read that the author was a James Patterson collaborator (I'm not a fan of his books.) Thankfully, the publisher sent a digital audiobook ARC and how can I resist that?

The novel spins three mysteries into one, with a tragic ex-cop trying to start his life over anonymously after being wrongfully accused of a terrible crime. He reluctantly befriends ...more

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Aug 07, 2021 Donna rated it really liked it

In this compulsively readable thriller, a Sydney police detective, Ted, is accused of kidnapping and raping a young girl and leaving her for dead. He's released due to insufficient evidence but his life and career are in tatters. Ted escapes to Crimson Lake, a small town near Cairns in Far North Queensland, and a steamy, swampy spot where his notoriety follows him and where the local community and a pair of brutal policemen won't let him move on. Ted teams up with Amanda, an eccentric private in ...more

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Jan 20, 2019 Erika rated it it was amazing

I received this in a book subscription box. I’d never heard of the author or the book but I love anything to do with Australia so I started reading. Loved this book!!! I’ve already preordered the sequel when it comes out here in the US. The parts about Amanda were so funny and Ted was very likeable. I don’t know how popular this is in Australia, but I hope it catches on here because it’s really good!! I can’t wait to read more in the series!

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Dec 06, 2018 Meera rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, topamazon

This is a new author for me and I’m glad I found her. The mystery part was good but I admit the background story and the repercussions for the main character is difficult to read and I hope that gets dealt with soon if I continue with the series. But the writing is good and the main characters are well done so I will most likely return to this author.

1 like · Like · see review