Tipping Point

 

Set in a country town in northern NSW, Luke, the brother of Detective Kate Miles returns for the funeral of Marcus, a school friend, who was shot. Ant, another school friend appears to have committed suicide recently. The three boys, Luke, Marcus and Ant were a close-knit group at school. Now only Luke is left, and he becomes a person of interest to the police as he appears to be the last person to have seen Marcus alive. 

In Tipping Point by Dinuka McKenzie we learn about the relationships between the three boys over the years. Much of the focus hearkens back to events at an eighteenth birthday party held seventeen years earlier and how these may be impacting on the present events. Luke has also just lost his job and is being questioned by police about an incident that led to his dismissal.

This book provides a study of how inappropriate (often forgotten) acts from the past can impact upon future events and continue to affect people over time. Topics in the book cover date rape, the sharing of intimate media clips, domestic violence and coercive control as well as depression and suicide.  

As in the previous two books in this series, the focus continues to be on how Kate juggles with her police work and looking after two young children as well as her relationship with other family members. When the press learns of Luke’s possible involvement in the death of Marcus, Kate has to step down from the case but investigates another line of enquiry.

Tipping Point is another well written, fast moving crime novel – a welcome addition to the sub-genre of Aussie Noir.