Marianne's Reviews > Paving the New Road

Paving The New Road is the fourth book in the Rowland Sinclair series by award-winning Australian author, Sulari Gentill. The audio version is narrated by Rupert Degas. While gentleman artist, Rowland Sinclair has no love of fascists, it’s the idea of his brother Wilfred risking his life in Germany that sees him agreeing to go there in his stead. And how better to arrive quickly for this urgent mission than to fly?

It’s 1933, and New Guard leader, Colonel Eric Campbell is touring Europe drumming up support for a fascist-led take-over of NSW. For Rowly and co, liaison with an Old Guard infiltrator close to Campbell and sabotage of Campbell’s intended interactions are the order of the day. Rowland and his quirky friends hit upon the perfect cover for their journey to Munich: they are art dealers on a buying trip.

In addition to their interference with Campbell’s agenda, Rowly has been asked to look into the accidental(?) drowning of the previous liaison person. Despite the very sub-standard police investigation, he soon realises that, whatever they might learn about the death, the political climate will not allow any official redress.

During this gripping instalment, Rowly switches between at least six different personas as the need arises, while Milt comes up with a clever and quite audacious trick for one phase of their mission, Clyde keeps his usual steady countenance and, as usual, Edna charms all the men she meets, whether posing as an art dealer, a new wife or a prostitute.

Gentill includes plenty in interesting historical detail, gives several famous (and infamous) figures cameos (and some, important roles), and manages to include a number of tense encounters with fanatical fascists and desperate communists; an emergency desert landing; a stay at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore; a trip on the Orient Express; a book burning; and escapees from Dachau.
Milt takes great delight in liberally spending money on outrageous artworks, especially when he discovers who's paying.

Quotes from press articles and books of the time that preface the chapters cleverly serve the purpose of providing information germane to the text that follows. As always, Gentill flawlessly captures the era. Once again, an exceptional dose of historical crime fiction. Readers who enjoy it will be pleased to know they can look forward to a further six (at least) instalments of this award-winning, addictive series, beginning with Gentlemen Formerly Dressed.