Hades (Archer & Bennett, #1) in Aussie Readers

Dec 02, 2013 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, psychological-thriller, own-read, thriller, net-galley, first-in-a-series, aussie-authors, read-on-kindle, 2014-release

Hades Archer had his home in the most unusual of places – the junkyard was where he spent his days, and his nights. He controlled his men with an iron fist, whilst finding a peace and calm in sculpting the trash into treasure. His night time deeds were of a different nature; many things were brought to him for disposal – the fees he charged kept him comfortable. But the night a stranger brought a small bundle covered in blood was the night his ordered existence changed forever.

Twenty years later ...more

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Mar 25, 2024 Catsalive rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: aww, 2024

A very good debut, well-written & well-paced, and we have a couple of anti-heroes on our hands. I can't say that I liked any of the detectives Eden & Eric Archer or Frank Bennett, not to mention Hades himself, but I did enjoy the story very much, belief suspended as it was.

There are some very murky backgrounds involved, & at first I was irritated by the jumping from past to present, but I got used to it. I actually looked forward to it in the end, & it definitely provided insight & development.

T ...more

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Aug 20, 2013 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc-are, provided-by-publisher

There is more than just the city's refuse buried in Hades Archer junkyard and when a stranger appears at his door muttering about an accident, carrying two small bundles, he considers the land around his yard, trying to determine the best place to lay the tiny bodies to rest. Until he notices the clenched toes of a pearly white foot.
Twenty years later, Frank Bennett joins the homicide team at Bondi and is partnered with the enigmatic Eden Archer. Their first case, following up an druggie's outla
There is more than just the city's refuse buried in Hades Archer junkyard and when a stranger appears at his door muttering about an accident, carrying two small bundles, he considers the land around his yard, trying to determine the best place to lay the tiny bodies to rest. Until he notices the clenched toes of a pearly white foot.
Twenty years later, Frank Bennett joins the homicide team at Bondi and is partnered with the enigmatic Eden Archer. Their first case, following up an druggie's outlandish story, uncovers a serial murderer's killing fields on the floor of Sydney Harbour but it is Eden and her brother, fellow detective Eric, that piques Frank's curiousity.

Hades is a dark, gritty and challenging debut novel from Candice Fox that I laid down only under protest. Broadly crime fiction, but also combining elements of a police procedural and psychological thriller, it delves into the seething mind of a serial killer and the lives of the detectives, Frank and Eden, who are pursuing him. The plot is reasonably linear as the investigation unfolds, but also explores the nuances of right and wrong, of justice and vengeance. There is explicit violence and language, thought not gratuitous, but it is the tension that causes chills to run down your spine.

The narrative is divided between a third person perspective that reveals the past of Eden and Eric Archer and a first person point of view from Frank Bennett. The characters, much like the plot, are dark and twisted. Eden and Eric share a shocking secret, a childhood marred by an unspeakable act of violence that changed them irrevocably. The siblings are intriguing, with dark secrets that are slowly revealed as the novel unfolds. Frank is also flawed though in ways more ordinary than his new partner and while I didn't find him particularly likeable, I did find him interesting.

The pace is compelling, the writing tight and concise and the tension high from the novel's first pages. It builds to a stunning climax that left me breathless and eager for more.

Hades is is a gripping and exciting read journeying into a atmospheric underworld of Sydney. It may be the first book I have reviewed for 2014, but it may also prove to be my favourite for the year.
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Aug 23, 2025 Rina rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Homicide detective Frank Bennett feels like the luckiest man on the force when he meets his new partner, the dark and beautiful Eden Archer. But there's something strange about Eden and her brother. Something he can't quite put his finger on. At first, as they race to catch a very different kind of serial killer, his partner's sharp instincts come in handy. But soon Frank's wondering if she's as dangerous as the man they hunt.

It’s always interesting to go back and read an established author’s de ...more

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Feb 21, 2016 Kira rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: thriller, aussie-author, crime-fiction, trilogy-series

I haven’t read a lot of serial killer books recently (and by recently I mean in years). Horrors and thrillers used to be my go-to genre, but I tend to go for other more uplifting books now. I saw this in my local shopping centre last week and picked it up.

hades is told largely through two different point of view — Hades in third person, and Frank in first — although there are the occasional viewpoints of the antagonists also. I actually enjoy getting inside character’s heads so for me I didn’t f ...more

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Apr 04, 2015 Robin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This book draws you in from page one and keeps you enthralled to the end. There are two parallel narratives – the story of two traumatized and emotionally damaged children, Eric and Eden Archer and their upbringing in the underbelly of society with a man nicknamed The Lord of the Underworld and their present day lives as members of the police force hunting down a serial killer who exploits the terminally ill..

Eric and Eden are haunting, unforgettable characters with whom I was able to empathize ...more

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Jul 16, 2023 Kathy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: australia

4.5 stars.

The Archer & Bennett series is diabolically clever with chilling characters and storylines. The chapters easily switch back and forth in time between Eden Archer's childhood with her brother Eric and the murder investigation in the present. With clever twists and turns, this edge of the seat thriller comes to a stunning conclusion. ...more

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Jul 09, 2025 Karen rated it it was ok · review of another edition

I struggled to get into this, not sure if it was the story or the narration. Eden and Eric were brought up by an underworld figure Hades, after their parents had been murdered. They had an unusual relationship, and Eden’s new partner Frank Bennett, was pleased to be partnered with the beautiful Eden but was wary about Eric, and could not quite put his finger on what was strange about their relationship. A series of murders have taken place in Sydney and Frank and Eden are investigating.

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May 16, 2022 Venessa Johnstone rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I read this series a few years ago.. I re read/listened again on audio books... Wasn't keen on the narrator but still really enjoyed.. ...more

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Dec 11, 2013 Lauredhel rated it it was amazing

Shelves: australian-women-writers-challenge, australian, crime, thriller, not-for-tansy, aww2014

A bit Dexter-ish, as others have noted, but still a ripping good yarn. The structure was only briefly confusing; it all came together quickly, though, into a pacey thriller with a slight twist and turn.

What I would really love to have read also was (view spoiler). ...more

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Feb 19, 2014 Janine rated it liked it

Shelves: net-galley

An impressive debut novel by Australian author Candice Fox. The story of two very different siblings, a police detective and a man who fixes other peoples problems. Set in Sydney with lots of twists and turns. We have a new crime writer here in Australia - bring it on!!

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