Australian author Gentill’s seventh installment featuring Rowland Sinclair is as fun and consuming as her previous novels. The writing is superb, providing fascinating historical context as well as depth in her characters. Highly recommended for fans of the series and historical crime mysteries.
This is a great addition to a fun Australian mystery series. Gentill has inserted an intriguing murder mystery into the story which combines well with the other storylines to produce an exciting and entertaining novel ... Gentill has continued her trend of including a number of iconic Australians from the period into her novels...While some of these characters have minimal effect on the plot, and their use is overdone, it is an interesting way to examine the period ... Containing an intriguing mystery, a unique sense of humour and a range of historical characters, this is a highly recommended read for lovers of Australian fiction.
... takes the reader on one wild ride ... Rich in period detail and including a stellar performance by a young Errol Flynn, competing against Sinclair in his silver Triumph, this is an ideal recommendation for fans of the flair and humor of Kerry Greenwood and the skillful plotting of Agatha Christie.
This 1930s Sydney is vibrant and authentic, and the inclusion of a relevant newspaper cutting at the beginning of each chapter is a neat touch, but there are the usual problems for any reviewer coming late to a series such as this. Without knowledge of the back stories and the nature of Rowland’s personal relationships, these must be guessed at; ditto references to his previous adventures, including a recent trip to Germany and his arrest for some unspecified crime. Thus it almost goes without saying that in order to get the best value out of this highly original series with its quirky characters, it is recommended that readers seek out the earlier titles and follow them in sequence.
... appealing ... Occultists, artists, politicians, backstreet doctors, lowlifes, high rollers, and even a dashing young Errol Flynn cross paths in this cleverly plotted mystery, which will keep readers eagerly turning pages to see what happens next. The relationships of Gentill’s well-developed characters continue to evolve as this fine historical series takes a darker tone with the rise of fascism in Europe.
