The Battle of the Generals

Australian author, Roland Perry, has written a readable account of the battle of egos between MacArthur and Blamey during the second World War in his latest book, The battle of the generals: MacArthur, Blamey and the defence of Australia in World War II.

The Americans, led by General Douglas MacArthur, arrived in Australia in 1942 after the Japanese army captured the Philippines. MacArthur was determined to return to the Philippines as soon as possible to retake the islands but the attempted invasion of Papua New Guinea by the Japanese slowed down his plans. 

General Blamey was in charge of the Australian forces but MacArthur ensured that he was in charge of military proceedings even though the Australian soldiers were far more experienced than their American counterparts as they had experience fighting overseas before returning to Australia to defend their country.

The Australian forces did most of the fighting in Papua New Guinea although some American units were involved towards the end of the campaign. MacArthur's publicity campaign, however, made it look as if he was responsible for allied victories. When the campaign to retake the Philippines began, MacArthur was determined that Australian troops should not be involved as they might be shown to be superior to American forces. There was also tension between the American navy and other military forces.

When the Japanese began attacking the Australian coastline the Australian government tried to obtain additional aeroplanes and ships from the UK and the USA but MacArthur indicated to the Americans that Australia was well supplied. This did not improve the relationship between Blamey and MacArthur. Winston Churchill had made it clear that his emphasis was on Europe though some equipment was sent towards the end of the war.

Both the generals had character flaws that impeded relationships with troops and other military and political leaders from time to time. However, reading this book, I felt more sympathetic towards General Blamey who had extensive previous military experience in both the First and Second World Wars compared with his American counterpart who had his eyes set on political aspirations once the war was over.

The Deep

Black Wind at morning, 

Sailors take warning 

Black Wind at night,

Death is in sight.

The Deep by Kyle Perry is another atmospheric crime novel set in Tasmania. The plot in his first novel, The Bluffs, was located in the mountains in the north of the island however this novel is set in Shacktown, a small settlement on the coast surrounded by steep cliffs on the Tasman Penninsula south east of Hobart. Whether the fishing boats can go to sea is dependent on weather conditions, especially the Black Wind which can suddenly appear making the waters in the bay treacherous. 

The Dempsey family runs the local abolone plant, the main industry in the area, and is therefore well known in the town. Life changes for family members when a teenage boy emerges from the sea, claiming to be Forest Dempsey who disappreared with his parents seven years earlier. Shortly afterwards the boy's uncle disappears, believed to be drowned. The Demsey family business is also a front for The Business, the local drug industry and it is feared that another drug lord plans to move into the area.

The plot  is revealed via the actions of three characters, Forest, Ahab Dempsey - a family member who has severed his allegience to the family, and Mackerel (MacKenzie or Mack) who is on bail expecting to return to gaol on drug related charges and who has no wish to be further associated with drugs.

As secrets from the past are gradually revealed the dangers to the survival of the family business and members of this dysfunctional family increase, especially as it is obvious that many people are not telling the truth or only revealing a slither of information. There are many twists and turns in the plot as the story heads to the dramatic climax. Nature plays a dramatic role in the novel, particularly when the story is reaching its conclusion.

The Bluffs

The Bluffs, a great debut novel from Australian author, Kyle Perry, is set in the Great Western Tiers in northern Tasmania. The mountains have a foreboding reputation especially since the separate disappearance of five girls thirty years previously. Added to this tension is the legend of the Hungry Man said to haunt the mountains.

When Detective Con Badenhorst arrives in the area to oversee the search for four teenage girls missing on a school hiking excursion, it soon becomes obvious that something more sinister has occurred.

This book is more than just a crime novel. As the plot unfolds Limestone Creek is clearly a community of secrets complicated by small town politics and police corruption. Additionally, social media appears to be affecting the lives of young people and the town as a whole. The demons faced by many of the characters plus the dark presence of the surrounding mountains affect attempts to solve the mystery of the missing girls.

A multitude of twists and turns keep the reader in the dark until the end making this novel a great addition to the excellent expanding genre of Aussie Noir.

Many thanks to Better Reading and Penguin Books for providing me with a proof copy of this book to review. #BRPreview