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The Torrent

Dinuka McKenzie

$22.99

Paperback

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English
HARPER360
30 August 2023

ABBEY'S BOOKSELLER PICK ----- Kate Miles is exhausted. She's a month off having her second child, and there's one more week before she goes on maternity leave from the northern NSW police station where she is the detective sergeant. A violent hold-up to solve is the last thing she wants, but when she is also expected to fob off the grieving mother of a football hero who drowned in an unfortunate and avoidable accident, she is at the end of her tether. But as the mother shares her doubts and suspicions about her daughter-in-law, Kate starts to wonder if it was as simple as an accident… Layered with her investigations, are the memories of the footballer's wife, which gradually reveal the complications of the case. A taut mystery, with believable characters struggling with various issues and attitudes, and dilemmas that lead to heart-breaking consequences for those involved.   Lindy


A loving husband lost to devastating summer floods. A teenage girl injured during a robbery. Two seemingly unconnected cases that will push a detective to the brink.

An atmospheric, compelling new voice in Australian crime fiction.

'Such a good read' Val McDermid

Winner of the 2020 Banjo Prize. Shortlisted for the 2023 Davitt Awards and 2023 Danger Awards.

In Northern New South Wales, heavily pregnant and a week away from maternity leave, Detective Sergeant Kate Miles is exhausted and counting down the days. But a violent hold-up at a local fast-food restaurant with unsettling connections to her own past, means that her final days will be anything but straightforward.

When a second case is dumped on her lap, the closed case of a man drowned in recent summer floods, what begins as a simple informal review quickly grows into something more complicated. Kate can either write the report that's expected of her or investigate the case the way she wants to.

As secrets and betrayals pile up, and the needs of her own family intervene, how far is Kate prepared to push to discover the truth?

'The Torrent is subtle and clever and Dinuka has talent to burn. It unfolds so beautifully and the writer is in control every step of the way. Highly, highly recommended!' Dervla McTiernan

'The Torrent is vivid, pacy and refreshingly original. A gripping whodunnit with heart.' Emma Viskic

'Gripped me tightly with its twisting narrative threads and its cast of authentic and complex characters until the very last word.' Imbi Neeme

'This gripping debut by Dinuka McKenzie will keep you turning the pages late into the night' Petronella McGovern

'A fast-paced, page-turning crime novel ... Detective Kate Miles is a strong, unforgettable lead, expertly crafted by McKenzie who is an exciting new talent to watch on the Australian literary scene. McKenzie's prose is energetic and bursting with suspense from the first page to the very last.' Holden Sheppard

'A swirl of secrets and lies sweeping through to a deeply satisfying conclusion. McKenzie is an exciting voice - a new contender for Queen of Australian crime.' Katherine Kovacic

'Intense, dangerous and utterly compelling. I'm holding my breath to see what Dinuka McKenzie writes next.'

BM Carroll

'A stunning and compelling debut, driven by a cast of engaging characters that came to life on the page. The Torrent is a gripping police procedural with heart that kept me reading into the night!' Rae Cairns

By:  
Imprint:   HARPER360
Country of Publication:   Australia
Dimensions:   Height: 198mm,  Width: 128mm,  Spine: 19mm
Weight:   227g
ISBN:   9781460765340
ISBN 10:   1460765346
Series:   Detective Kate Miles
Pages:   336
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active

Dinuka McKenzie is an Australian writer and book addict. Her debut crime fiction novel, The Torrent, won the HarperCollins Australia 2020 Banjo Prize and was published in February 2022. She is represented by Alex Adsett Literary. When not writing, Dinuka works in the environmental sector and volunteers as part of the team behind the Writers Unleashed Festival. She lives in Southern Sydney with her husband, two kids and their pet chicken.

Reviews for The Torrent

ABBEY'S BOOKSELLER PICK ----- Kate Miles is exhausted. She's a month off having her second child, and there's one more week before she goes on maternity leave from the northern NSW police station where she is the detective sergeant. A violent hold-up to solve is the last thing she wants, but when she is also expected to fob off the grieving mother of a football hero who drowned in an unfortunate and avoidable accident, she is at the end of her tether. But as the mother shares her doubts and suspicions about her daughter-in-law, Kate starts to wonder if it was as simple as an accident… Layered with her investigations, are the memories of the footballer's wife, which gradually reveal the complications of the case. A taut mystery, with believable characters struggling with various issues and attitudes, and dilemmas that lead to heart-breaking consequences for those involved.   Lindy



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