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Loraine Peck has worked as a painter, magician's assistant, croupier, bartender, sales manager and marketing director in Australia, the Middle East, Asia and the US. After attending a couple of inspirational writing courses, she fulfilled her ambition to write a thriller. THE SECOND SON is her first novel. She lives in Sydney and on the Gold Coast.
'At first glance, The Second Son is a modern-day Godfather that paints a brutal, bullet-ridden picture of gang warfare in Sydney's western suburbs. Look again, and it's a compelling exploration of inherited trauma and the endless cycle of violence. Get right up close and it's a tender story of fear, love and-ultimately-hope. A sharp and striking debut.' * Anna Downes * 'Outstanding...a gripping whodunnit. Original and straight from the heart.' * Kate London, author of Gallowstree Lane * 'Tight and tense, The Second Son is a wonderfully sharp-toothed crime thriller.' * Christian White * 'Compelling and gritty, at its heart this crime thriller is also the He says/She says tale of a marriage disintegrating under a Molotov cocktail of toxic masculinity and family honour. Hi-octane, brutal, raw and emotional, this is one striking crime debut.' * Greg Woodland, author of The Night Whistler. * 'A tense, sinuous, fast-moving debut where hard answers are given to questions of honour and justice.' * Garry Disher * 'Loraine Peck's debut novel is as relentless as headlights following you at night, full of spark, simmering violence and outright gang bloodshed.' * Books+Publishing * 'The novel snaps along at a cracking pace, [and] is filled with sharply drawn and complex characters...Disturbing, fresh, and thoroughly entertaining.' * Meredith Jaffe * '[A]n engaging read...Peck writes well on all narrative levels: the background, the action, and the personal relationships, which are tender and convincing.' * Australian * 'Have you ever read a book and imagined it as a gripping, 10-episode Australian crime drama? The Second Son is like that: action-packed, full of surprises, and with enough family tension to keep you hooked with every chapter.' * Readings * 'Don't start this book late at night. You will not be able to put it down. Fast-paced, great characters, evil plot and a shocking twist right at the end-what more could a crime fan want?' * Herald Sun * 'A brilliant action-packed crime debut.' * Avenue Bookstore * 'Impressive...Loraine Peck gives us a fast-paced gangland thriller...[T]he women are the real strength here.' * Sydney Morning Herald * 'This is a cracking read and I was reeled in from the first chapter. The characters are strong and pitch perfect, as the story is revealed in alternating chapters between Johnny and Amy. The plot is action-packed and compelling, and I struggled to put it down, bargaining with myself for 'one more page'. With overtones of The Godfather, these of family dynamics, conflict and expectations are explored with insight and nuance...exciting new voice on the Australian crime writing landscape.' * Good Reading *
