Broke Road

A woman has been found dead in her home in the Hunter Valley and Detective Sergeant Rose Riley has been sent to investigate. Riley is familiar with the area as she spent her childhood on her parents' farm in the region. Constable Priya Patel joins her in the investigation along with local detective Senior Constable Christian Rodrigues. It is not long before journalist and author Adam Bowman, who wrote a book about a previous investigation undertaken by Riley, also unofficially joins the team.

 Broke Road is the second novel written by former journalist Matthew Spencer about Rose Riley and a murder case she is investigating. Once again he has produced a fast paced crime procedural following the investigation which becomes more complicated when it is realised that similar murders have occurred in Canberra and Adelaide, suggesting a serial killer. Once again an Australian crime novel that keeps the reader guessing to the end as the detectives strive to discover the perpetrator and prove their case. They also uncover other crimes during the investigation.

Black River

A murder during the summer holidays at a private boys' school in Parramatta is investigated by a team of police from Sydney including Detective Sergeant Rose Riley and Detective Chief Inspector, Steve O'Neill. There are similarities in the case to the recent murder of two other women. Was the 'Blue Moon Killer' responsible? When Rose finds journalist, Adam Bowman, in the school grounds she escorts him off the premises but later decides that he may be able to assist the police. Adam had been at the school as a young boy and working with the police brings back memories of the past.

Black River is the first novel by former journalist, Matthew Spencer. Great detail is provided as the police team investigates the case with the assistance of a forensic psychiatrist, Wayne Farquhar. As the investigation continues Adam Bowman is convinced that the nearby river is the key to solving the crime. This is a novel that I wanted to keep reading to discover what happens next. Yet another excellent Australian crime novel.