Book Review: Outback by Patricia Wolf

A few months ago I received Opal by Patricia Wolf for review. I saw then that this was book #3 in a series and book #1, Outback, had garnered many rave reviews. I knew then I had to purchase the first two books and read them before I delved into Opal.

 

Outback is the debut crime fiction novel from Australian author Patricia Wolf and an introduction to AFP officer DS Lucas Walker. 

 

Walker is on leave in his hometown of Caloodie, in remote western Queensland, to spend time with his sick grandmother. When a couple of German backpackers go missing in the area he is asked to help out on the case. Every day is crucial in this hot, dry, desolate land. 

Patricia Wolf never lets her readers forget how hot it is! The heat, isolation and danger is so well portrayed you can feel yourself overheating and feeling parched.

 

The author uses dramatic irony as we know details the police don't have which adds to the tension. Chapter heading with number of days missing adds to the intensity of suspense.

 

The introduction of Barbara Guerra from the Berlin police department was a great addition and I hope she will be back in future books.

 

Outback reads well as a stand alone as the major crime is wrapped up in this book however there is a minor plot involving a motorcycle gang that has the potential to run through future books. 

 

When you can feel the searing heat and see the haze lifting off the road you know the author has the setting just right. What started at a mildly slow pace soon picked up with an intensity that had me glued to the pages.

 

My rating 4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 8th November 2022

Genre: Crime

Pages: 356

Source: Own copy