Broken Bay

Broken Bay by Margaret Hickey is set on the Limestone Coast of South Australia. Detective Sergeant Mark Ariti is visiting Broken Bay for a short break from work and family issues. While he is there experienced cave diver,  Mya Rennik, disappears. But the body retrieved from the cave is not Mya. Mark is requested by senior officers to remain in the area and investigate the case of the mystery diver and to also be present when the divers eventually retrieve Mya's body from the sink hole.

It is soon obvious that numerous secrets are held by members of families who have lived and worked in the area for many years. Before long Mark learns of two other deaths in the past that may or may not have been accidents. Then there is a murder in the town. A team of detectives from Adelaide arrives to attempt to unravel the mysteries that seem primarily to involve the Doyle and Sinclair families.

This is a novel that I just wanted to keep reading. Like so many Australian crime novels the scenery plays an important part in the story. The sink holes and underground caves are beautiful but sinister and the myriad narrow passageways joining caves can be horrific. Add to this mysteries spanning more than twenty years, the recent deaths and the secrets held by community members all help to hold the attention of the reader. Mark is also trying to resolve his own family issues.

Broken Bay is the third book in the Detective Sergeant Mark Ariti series.