I was very happy to be back in familiar territory with this story. A string of credible scenarios with well-drawn characters. I look forward to continuing this series soon. ( )

Second installment of the rural Australian life and times of Constable Paul Hirschhausen, who single-handedly keeps the peace in the farming district he's been assigned to as penance for "ratting out" crooked colleagues in the CIB. He's getting a bit more comfortable with the people, there's a new supervising Sargent who is actually concerned with proper policing and sees him as an asset rather than a liability, and his love life is fairly well settled---when he finds time for it. Suddenly, though, he's overwhelmed with crimes not common to the district-- vengeful destruction of property (including mutilated horses), murder and kidnapping. A grand distraction, if slightly over-plotted. ( )

Contains scenes of animal cruelty. ( )

Another page turner, which manages to be exciting and also down to earth at the same time. It depicts life as the only police officer in a small town in a way which seems very realistic - a blend of social work, talking people out of doing things they might regret, crowd control, and actual detection. The pacing seemed a little off in this one - an awful lot of loose ends got tied up in the last few pages. Hirsch remains likeable and is gradually gaining the respect of his colleagues. I'm looking forward the the fourth instalment becoming available here. ( )

I really enjoyed this fine novel. The Main Character Constable Paul Hirschhausen is really believable and the setting for the novel in Rural South Australia is brilliant.
Can’t wait to start the next book in the Series. ( )