ABBEY'S BOOKSELLER PICK ----- Alan Carter's latest novel skilfully blends the police procedural with the espionage thriller, so you certainly get extra 'bang' for your buck here. Also, in a year when most of us haven't been going anywhere, this story takes you afar, from Hobart to Perth, from Bunbury to Darwin, from Fremantle to Dili in Timor Leste.
The police procedural surrounds Detective Philip Kwong who is given the case of a butchered retiree who was living a quiet suburban life.
The spy thriller thread ratchets up the action significantly and revolves around a small group of whistleblowers giving testimony to a UN committee around Australia's oil manoeuvrings in the Timor Sea. The spook brought in to protect the posse is Rory Driscoll, a Gunditjmara man from Warnambool. Driscoll is one of those tough and capable people who can pull apart and reassemble a pistol within seconds.
Gradually, these threads pull tighter. A memorable line from a Timor warlord to Driscoll "They stole your land from you, and then they go and make their borders into something rigid and sacred against any other foreigners. Except for our oil reserves of course, where your border is as elastic as a Dali clock".
Not a line is wasted in driving the plot forward and his mastery of workplace banter is a pleasure to read. Craig Kirchner
'Alan Carter is one of those authors who does not seem to get the attention that he so richly deserves ... Crocodile Tears, is one of the year's best crime thrillers.' Murder, Mayhem and Long Dogs 'A first-rate thriller and one of the year's best books.' Canberra Weekly 'This is an extremely intelligent thriller, and a fitting ending to the series.' The AU Review 'It is an unputdownable thriller from one of an award-winning Australian crime author.' Boffins Books 'This was in all senses a page turner. Once I started it, I didn't want to stop ...' Underground Writers
