Thanks to everyone who participated in the inaugural Southern Cross Crime Month here on this blog.
I’ve had a criminally good time (see what I did there?) reading and reviewing nine books, but I’ve also loved seeing what other people have read and reviewed around the blogosphere.
More than 20 were reviewed by bloggers from around the world, including Australia, the UK, USA and India. I’ve been impressed with the breadth and scope of the types of crime books that have featured.
Here’s what has been reviewed, arranged in alphabetical order by author’s surname.
- ‘The Silence’ by Susan Allot reviewed by Bill @ The Australian Legend
A mystery inspired by the Stolen Generations set in 1967 & 1997 - ‘The Black Russian / De Luxe’ by Lenny Bartulin reviewed by Lizzy’s Literary Life
Two noirish novels in the Jack Susko series - ‘The Hunted’ by Gabriel Bergmoser reviewed on this blog
Suspense novel meets horror story set in the Australian outback - ‘The Husband Poisoner’ by Tanya Bretherton reviewed on this blog
Historical true crime examining murders by poisoning committed by women in suburban Sydney - ‘Crackenback’ by Lee Christine reviewed by Veronica @ The Burgeoning Bookshelf
Police procedural set in the Snowy Mountains - ‘The January Zone’ by Peter Corris reviewed by Bill @ The Australian Legend
The 10th novel in the Cliff Hardy series - ‘Force and Fraud: A Tale of the Bush’ by Ellen Davitt reviewed by Vishy
Published in 1865, said to be the first Australian crime novel - ‘Bitter Wash Road’ by Garry Disher reviewed by Sue @ Whispering Gums
Police procedural set in rural South Australia, the first in the Hirsch series - ‘Ash Mountain’ by Helen Fitzgerald reviewed by Craig @ Crime Watch
An unconventional crime novel cum disaster thriller (I have also reviewed this book – see here) - ‘Worst Case Scenario’ by Helen Fitzgerald reviewed by Craig @ Crime Watch
Blackly comic thriller set in Glasgow - ‘Traffic’ by Robin Gregory reviewed by Veronica @ The Burgeoning Bookshelf
Detective novel, the first in the Sandi Kent series - ‘The Lady with the Gun asks the Questions’ by Kerry Greenwood reviewed by ShelleyRae @ Book’d Out
Short story collection featuring 1920s lady sleuth Phryne Fisher - ‘The Dry’ by Jane Harper reviewed by Vishy
Outback noir that became a bestseller around the world - ‘The Survivors’ by Jane Harper reviewed by A Novel Project
Murder mystery set in a small coastal town in Tasmania - ‘Other People’s Houses’ by Kelli Hawkins reviewed by ShelleyRae @ Book’d Out
Crime fiction debut - ‘Madame Midas’ by Fergus Hume reviewed by Bill @ The Australian Legend
19th century murder mystery set in Melbourne - ‘The Mystery of the Hansom Cab’ by Fergus Hume reviewed by Vishy
19th century crime novel believed to be one of the world’s first in the genre - ‘Death in Ecstasy’ by Ngaio Marsh reviewed by Emma @ Book Around the Corner
Whodunnit set in London by the New Zealand Queen of classic crime, first published in 1936 - ‘The Ruin’ by Dervla McTiernan reviewed by Cathy @ 746 Books
Police procedural set in Galway, Ireland, written by Irish-born Perth-based debut novelist - ‘Present Darkness’ by Malla Nunn reviewed by Lisa @ ANZLitlovers
Police procedural set in Apartheid South Africa, part of the Detective Emmanuel Cooper series - ‘The Family Doctor’ by Debra Oswald reviewed on this blog
Unconventional crime novel about domestic violence - ‘The Second Son’ by Loraine Peck reviewed on this blog
Gangland crime novel set in western suburbs of Sydney - ‘In the Clearing’ by JP Pomare reviewed on this blog
Psychological suspense novel about cults - ‘Sheerwater’ by Leah Swann reviewed by Sue @ Whispering Gums
Literary crime novel (I have also reviewed this book – see here) - ‘Containment’ by Vanda Symond reviewed by Lizzy’s Literary Life
Police procedural from New Zealand - ‘Death on Demand’ by Paul Thomas reviewed by Emma @ Book Around the Corner
New Zealand police procedural starring Maori police officer Tito Ihaka - ‘Death Leaves the Station’ by Alexander Thorpe reviewed on this blog
Cosy crime set in the West Australian wheatbelt in 1927 - ‘Shore Leave’ by David Whish-Wilson reviewed on this blog
Hard-boiled “nostalgic crime” set in Fremantle in 1989 - ‘Hermit’ by SR White reviewed by Annabel at Annabookbel
Police procedural set on a single day
During the month, I also wrote a piece about new Southern Cross Crime novels to add to your wishlist, while Vishy wrote an interesting post reviewing 7 short crime stories by ANZ women writers. Gordon Duncan wrote a post about four books he read over the course of the month.
If I missed your contribution, please let me know and I will add you to this post.
Thanks again to everyone who participated by reviewing books or leaving comments; it’s all very much appreciated. See you again next year?
Reading Matters 
Brilliant Kim – really well done! I do hope it comes back next year?
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Thanks, Cathy. Appreciated your contribution and apologies I couldn’t reciprocate. I’ve enjoyed following Reading Ireland Month from afar and my wish list has grown a lot thanks to you!
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No problem at all!
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Thank you Kim, for hosting and for reminding us how much entertainment we have right here at home (you must be able to see the Wish-Wilson setting from your front door).
Now I’d better go and read some of the others, Vishy’s especially.
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There’s a lot of varied crime being published then and now. I was surprised by breadth and scope of what was reviewed by everyone. Crime is so much more than the typical detective story / police procedural.
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I’m sorry I didn’t have the opportunity to contribute as much as I hoped, the month got away from me what with one drama and another. I’ll be more organised for next year!
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No need to apologise! I appreciated you taking part. I see you’ve just reviewed a Phryne Fisher book so I might add that to this wrap up post if that’s okay with you?
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Sure 🙂
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I also reviewed Containment by Vanda Symon
https://lizzysiddal.wordpress.com/2021/03/30/containment-vanda-symon-southerncrosscrime2021/
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Ah thanks 🙏 I’ll add that when I edit the post a bit later.
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Thanks so much for hosting Southern Cross Crime Month, Kim! I enjoyed participating very much! I discovered so many new ANZ writers! Looking forward to it next year!
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And thanks for being such an active participant Vishy and for reviewing such interesting books!
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Thank you for your kind words, Kim! Can’t wait for next year! Thinking of reading more Aussie books this year 😊
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Thanks for hosting! Now off to check out the posts you linked to!
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Hope you find something that piques your interest Suzanne
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What a great achievement kimbofo, and 9 books yourself! I’m impressed. Well done. Do you think you’ll do it again? I would be happy to read another one or two next year. Authors do pop up in AWW that intrigue me!
I plan to read a few of these posts, including Vishy’s as Bill also plans.
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Thanks for your contribution, Sue. Yes, I think I will do it next year, but might look at doing it in a different month… I had sooo much going on in my personal / work life this month that it’s a miracle I posted anything! Mind you, it’s a nice distraction to review books…
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You did amazingly well if that’s the case to do so many books.
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Such a lot of very good recommendations. Thanks for the links.
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Hope you enjoy exploring !
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Congratulations, Kim, this is a great resource for readers!
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Thanks, Lisa. Ever since blogger Bernadette Bean sadly died no one seems to be covering this space in Australia that I know of… I’m not sure I could review crime exclusively. I am dying to read something literary now!
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I bet you are!
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I just recently purchased Southern Cross Crime by Craig Sisterton. I will be watching to see if you have this event next year, and I will participate. I have always read primarily crime fiction and I was a loyal reader of Bernadette’s blog, so I am sure I can round up so books to read for this event. I currently have books (unread) by Peter Temple, Garry Disher, Angela Savage, Andrew Nette, June Wright, Kerry Greenwood, Malla Nunn and Jane Harper.
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Thanks, Tracy. I meant to review Craig’s book but never got around to it… I bought it at the start of my Crime Month… it’s a handy little reference.
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