Fleur McDonald

Though The Prospect launched Fiona McDonald’s new rural crime fiction series set in Kalgoorlie, it is The Missing that completes the author’s transition away from her popular Dave Burrows series.

The Missing introduces Detective Angie Sullivan, new to the outback town and eager for the opportunity to bolster her goal of promotion. She’s already having a rough morning though when a local radio host, Lily Carter, accuses the Kalgoorlie police department of failing to properly investigate show more the disappearance of a 16 year old foster kid almost a year ago. Angie is furious with the public ambush and intends to follow up, but she’s distracted when another child is reported missing. Max Galbraith, also 16, hasn’t been home for twenty four hours. Last seen on the outskirts of town before wandering away from a drug fuelled party, Angie expects he’ll be found quickly, even if he’s taken a tumble into one of the many abandoned mineshafts that litter the area. But when no trace of Max is found, a closer look will uncover a shocking secret that links the two boys.

The third person narrative in The Missing shifts between the perspectives of Angie, Lily, Detective Jack Higgins (whom readers might recognise from the Dave Burrows series or The Prospect) Max, the missing boy, and Smurf, a grizzled Vietnam War vet. This allows McDonald to provide insight both the personal lives of her characters and their connection to the case. I quickly grew to like Angie who is a self-assured, focused detective, and I think it’s possible that she will become the lead in this new (as yet unnamed) series, even if Jack, who is present but not front and centre in The Missing, remains in Kalgoorlie. Lily is not too dissimilar to Angie, though she has a somewhat haughty manner, and both women are in the midst of a relationship breakdown. Smurf, who lives with his dog in a hut in the middle of nowhere, meanwhile gives the story a burst of strong outback Australia colour.

I appreciated the insight into the characters but I was gripped by the turns in the case and its climactic ending. The story unfolds at a fast pace and McDonald makes good use of red herrings to both move the investigation forward and sustain the tension in the plot. She does provide enough clues for the reader to guess at Max’s fate, even if only in hindsight.

I’m a little familiar with the town of Kalgoorlie having grown up in Western Australia and I think McDonald describes the region with authenticity. It’s hot, remote and a bit wild thanks to its roots in an itinerant population of miners and tourists. A six hour drive inland from the nearest city, it’s surrounded by vast areas of nothing but scrubland and red sand.

With The Missing I think McDonald’s desire to rebrand herself as a crime writer has been eminently successful. This is a dynamic and compelling read that should satisfy old fans and new readers alike, and I’m looking forward to The Witness in early 2026. show less

The Witness is the third crime novel in Fleur McDonald’s Kalgoorlie series, set in the rugged Western Australian outback, and picks up almost a year after The Missing.

When Eric and Iris Bennett are killed after their car plunges off a bridge on the drive home from Perth, the tragedy is initially ruled an accident. Their adopted daughter, Molly, is left reeling. Raised with love by Eric, a retired police officer, and his wife after witnessing the murder of her biological mother, Sammi, at show more just five years old, Molly has already endured more than most.

Detective Jack Higgins is the first to sense something isn’t right. When he discovers Eric had recently contacted an officer connected to Sammi’s unsolved case, his suspicions deepen. As Jack and Detective Angie Sullivan, technically on maternity leave following the birth of her son, begin to investigate, they uncover unsettling links between past and present, and the chilling possibility that Molly may be in danger once again.

A cleverly plotted police procedural, The Witness delivers plenty of twists and mounting tension as decades-old secrets begin to unravel. The investigation grows increasingly complex when suspicion turns toward someone within the police force itself, raising the stakes considerably.

While the novel works well as a standalone, readers familiar with The Prospect or The Missing will appreciate the added depth to Jack and Angie’s personal lives. Jack faces a difficult decision about his future after receiving troubling news, while Angie navigates the challenges of new motherhood as a single parent.

Sharp, gripping, and layered with intrigue, The Witness is a compelling mystery that deftly explores secrets, lies, and betrayal. show less

Two seemingly unrelated story threads eventually overlap in Deception Creek, the fifth Australian rural mystery novel by Fleur McDonald to feature Detective Dave Burrows in the town of Barker, though the ninth in which he appears.

When Joel Hammond returns to Barker after serving a nine year jail sentence, Dave is surprised by the venom directed at him by a handful of locals. Their anger, Dave learns, is unrelated to the financial crimes that Joel claims he is innocent of. When Joel was a show more teenager his girlfriend, Maggie, died after a fall from a water tower, and though he was cleared of any involvement, her family have always believed him responsible.

Though Emma Cameron’s marriage has ended in divorce, she’s proud that all her hard work means the farm she inherited from her parents in Deception Creek is almost debt free. She doesn’t want to be alone forever though and when Kyle Pengilly, with whom she shares a tragic memory, comes to town, she finds his obvious interest flattering.

McDonald’s plot is skilfully crafted, well paced, and offers a truly unexpected ending. While Dave, and his partner Senior Constable Jack Higgins try to keep peace in town as Maggie’s brother, Steve, becomes increasingly confrontational with Joel, their partners, Kim Burrows and journalist Zara Ellison, grow curious not only about Joel’s insistence that he was not guilty of fraud, but also what really happened the night Maggie died. I was caught up in the drama and suspense as their questions unravel shocking truths that have been hidden for decades.

I’ve grown familiar with the core characters, who share a strong sense of community and justice, over previous instalments and find them to be an appealing foursome. I liked Emma, an independent, capable farmer, and Joel who, despite the accusations levelled against him, is sympathetic. Interestingly, both these characters give McDonald another opportunity to explore facets of PTSD, as she has done in several previous novels.

Though it can be read as a stand alone, Deception Creek is another great read is what is an engaging series that combines suspense and romance in an authentic rural Australian setting. show less

Something to Hide is the fourth engrossing rural suspense novel to feature Detective Dave Burrows, though the seventh in which he appears, by bestselling Australian writer Fleur McDonald.

Something to Hide brings closure to the undercover assignment investigating a stock theft ring that resulted in Dave being shot and the escape of the ringleaders, brothers Bulldust and Scotty, in Without A Doubt. Set a few months after the events of Red Dirt Country, Dave’s relationship with his wife, show more Melinda, is just getting back on track when, while grocery shopping, she’s confronted by a stranger with a message for her husband.

Dave’s been expecting the ruthless brothers to seek their revenge ever since the judge carelessly revealed his identity during his testimony in the case, and now that they’ve finally made their first move, Dave is keen to end the threat. McDonald develops a tense, fast-paced plot as the inevitable confrontation between Dave and Bulldust edges ever closer. Not knowing when, or where it will take place, but assuming it will be deadly, ensures suspense remains high throughout the story, particularly as both men grow more reckless in their pursuit of each other.

Stonewalled by the Major Crimes squad tracking Bulldust and his brother, Dave’s partner, Bob, tries to distract him with another case involving stock theft, moving the action from Perth back to Barrabine, adding a further layer of interest to the novel. It also reunites Dave with his mentor and handler on the undercover case, Spencer, who, in a shocking twist, gets caught up in Bulldust’s vendetta.

The entire situation is the last straw for Mel who issues Dave an ultimatum, insisting he choose between her and the job. McDonald explores Dave’s struggle to make such a choice, and the fears that drive the spouse of a police officer to demand one. Though I do not find Mel to be a likeable character, McDonald’s skill with creating authentic characters ensures I do sympathise with her concerns. Unsurprisingly, Dave remains hopeful that he can still have it all, until tragedy ensures the decision is made for him.

Though Something to Hide could be read as a stand-alone, I wouldn’t recommend it given it provides closure to two major threads developed in the previous books, plus you’d be missing out on what is an excellent series. Well crafted, with exciting action, Something to Hide is a stellar instalment, and I can’t wait to discover how Dave moves forward from here.

++++++

If you’ve enjoyed this review, (and even if you haven’t) please consider donating to the charity Fleur McDonald founded, DV assist, which offers information, resources and practical support for those experiencing or concerned about others who may be experiencing domestic and family violence in regional, rural or remote Western Australia experiencing family and domestic violence.
Go to DVAssist.org.au show less