I've been meaning to read more Aussie crime and it's no secret that I have a weak spot for serial killer thrillers, so of course I couldn't resist adding Black River to my TBR. The journalist angle sounded interesting as well, and I fully expected to have a great time reading this debut. Sadly, it wasn't ment to be after all... And somehow I ended up struggling considerably with this story. I know that I'm in the minority, because most people do seem to love their time with Black River; this is me putting in my two cents just in case there is someone else out there who wonders if they were reading a completely different story than everyone else.

I still like the premise of Black River, with the serial killer angle and the doubt about the third murder being his work or that of a copycat. The journalist angle has potential as well, and especially since he is linked to the school in the past... Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan of the execution at all. It almost felt like the plot was trying too hard, overcomplicating things and making it very hard to keep focused and truly follow everything that is going on. Add the fact that there are WAY too many characters, and I honestly struggled to keep them all apart and properly follow what was going on.

It's not just the fact that there are way too many characters though, but they are also way underdeveloped and mostly felt like stereotypes. As a result, it was hard to keep them apart... The fact that the author kept switching between their first and last names to refer to them didn't help either, and only increased that confusion. The lack of dept also ment that I couldn't care less about what happened to them, and the way they talked and swearing was also off putting.

The pace in Black River was extremely slow, and as a result I had a really hard time to find the motivation to keep reading. Combine this with the fact that I somehow clashed horribly with the writing style and tone, and it's basically a miracle I made it to the end at all. I do confess I only finished this book because I ended up skimreading quite a lot of it, and I kind of wish I had just DNFed it instead. Sadly this author definitely isn't a good fit for me despite my love for serial killer thrillers. I also wonder why this is named the Rose Riley series, because she didn't stand out as a character at all... But that might just have been me.

All in all it is no surprise when I say that I really struggled with Black River. Between the oversized cast, the overcomplicated plot, the lackluster character development, the unappealing writing and slow pace this debut unfortunately ended up being a miss for me.

I just could not get into this one. I love serial killer books but this one just fell short. I was not a fan of the writing style.

Crime novel with a woman detective and a journalist trying to catch a serial killer before there is another murder. Good read if a little predictable.

01-14-2023 new review
Black River Matthew Spencer

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for this captivating eATC.

I am thrilled this new novel is set in Australia, because although I have been blessed with wanderlust, reality intrudes when it comes to the ability of my pocketbook to support this passion.

However, nothing restricts me from visiting exotic locations through the power of my imagination (sparked by the talent of Mathew Spenser).

Additionally, there is nothing like a worldwide pandemic to put a damper on the idea of enjoying the hospitality of strangers in another country.

Due to the magic of our imagination, skilled authors such as Mathew Spenser allow us to hitchhike with them for a spell (and we don't even need to take vacation days and arrange dog sitters to do so).

Through the power of the written word and our imaginations, our ability to visit new places is not restricted by boundaries.

This novel marks the beginning of an excellent new mystery series I will certainly foe and read.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

A "novel" thing about this book is that while the author delivers a solid police procedural (never "talking down" to his readers, while imparting fascinating new knowledge, such as post mortem details about the skull damage that lead to a victim's death) that stands on its own, as the author describes the detective's role in the investigation, he also provides us with equally insightful information regarding the reporter's role in documenting the crime.

Until next time, keep reading and stay safe (sleep with one eye 👁️ open and especially when it comes to selecting those closest to you, please chose wisely)!

First time author. I really enjoy when a book starts with a grasp and holds you in cliches until the end.

Great read. It surprised me at the end but very well written and beautiful.

Thank you net galley for letting me read this book!

A river flows gently past—murder sites!

Set on the Parramatta River north of Sydney near Gladesville. A series of particularly viscous sexual murders have spooked the community. The deaths began maybe a couple of years ago.
A huge investigative police strike force has been put together led by Detective Chief Inspector Steve O’Neil and Detective Sergeant Rose Riley. Its code name is Satyr.
Adam Bowman is a newspaper journalist who lives out that way, near the elite boarding school, Prince Albert, he’d attended. His father had been the school chaplain.
An attack has happened at the school. The current chaplain’s eighteen year old daughter Marguerite Dunlop, is found murdered.
Is it the work of Gladesville, the killer the police are combing through a zillion places for? Gladesville is dubbed the Blue Moon Killer by the press.
Bowman knows the place like the back of his hand and walks through tracks unknown to the police to take a look. He’s eventually spotted by O’Neil who decide to use him as a media conduit.
Bowman is convinced the river is the key. Riley saw that “the river was [the killer’s] highway, and Gladesville was a truck stop. By comparison O’Neil tends to chase several different leads before focusing on the one.
The river and its tributaries has a history, brooding and dark, from white invasion times.
The plot mixes Bowman’s story, the killing of Marguerite, and the other Gladesville deaths into a cauldron of intrigue and expectation, flavouring it with a rather narcissistic head master, the Griffith mafia and a high rolling politician. The search for the murderer is part diligence and intuition, solid investigative procedures and sometimes a stroke of luck.
A super atmospheric plot that draws you in.

A Thomas & Mercer ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc of this in exchange for an honest review.

This was a DNF for me. The concept sounded great, but I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters, and felt bored by the plot. I’m sure many people will love this book, it just isn’t for me.

We now have another great Aussie crime writer enter the genre, Matthew Spencer writes a gripping hunt for the Gladesville Blue Moon Killer (BMK) killer, set in Sydney and the chilling, menacing location of the Parramatta River. The body of a chaplain's daughter 17 year old girl Marguerite Dunlop, is found on the grounds of exclusive Prince Albert College, a school for the childen of the rich and powerful. It appears to be the work of the BMK but somethings just do not fit. 45 year old Adam Bowman is a journalist on The National whose career has slowly being going down the pan, he now serves on the graveyard shift. His editor, knowing that Adam had as a child attended the school, tells him to use his inside knowledge to get ahead of the competition.

So it is that Adam finds himself writing a series of exclusives that put his career back on track, helped mightily by working with the police, promised breaking stories and interviews if he toes their line and plays to their agenda. DS Rosie Riley is a dogged and determined officer, working under a boss known for getting results, a team that has acquired the bright and able DC Priya Patel. Dr Wayne Farquhar, a psychological profiler, is deeply embedded within the police team, providing a detailed picture of just how helpful a profiler can be, although the police do not always follow his guidance. This is a intricate police procedural that shines a light on the theories, advances, challenges, dangers and setbacks the police and Adam experience.

Spencer creates and develops a wide cast of characters in this atmospheric and dark thriller, Adam had a traumatic childhood, plagued by demons he has never really acquired any close friends, but his past is to play a important part. There is an array of suspects from school staff, the unsavoury and self serving headmaster, a member of the mafia and a number of others. A terrifically engaging and compulsive read, packed with twists, suspense and tension. It will appeal to many readers who love their Aussie crime fiction. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Black River started a little slow for me, but by about 30% through I was hooked. The focus of the story is on the homicide detectives in trying to solve the murders and determine if the school murder is linked to the 'Blue Moon Killer'. They find Adam Bowman, a journalist, wondering around the school yard. He was a previous resident of the school and after a 'test', Detective Riley decides to bring him in, by giving him information they want printed. The relationship between the Detectives and Bowman, the journalist was interesting. They trusted him, but to what extent? Was he also a suspect? I really enjoyed how Detective Riley trusted her gut at all stages. I enjoyed reading the police procedures and all the little bits that went into the investigation. Good, suspenseful police procedural, once I got into it.

I had a lot of trouble getting into this one and could not put my finger on the why. It just did not grab me from page one like other books do. I am specifically making note of that here in case another reader finds themselves in the same position. Keep reading, push through because it ends up worth it I promise. It all clicks and then it flows beautifully and the story line is creepy and twisty and turny and everything you want in a scary story.

This book was pretty good. I liked the backstory. The characters naturally flowed together and as you learned more about them, it did not feel forced or stiff. Their thoughts were easy to relate to while reading. I like how everything came together and it was not confusing to follow with different things happening throughout the book.

Another fantastic debut Australian crime novel to add to your shelves.

Adam Bowman a journalist and son of a former teacher at the prestigious Prince Albert College where a young woman has just been found murdered is sent out to capture the story.

Is this Murder another victim of the ‘Blue Moon Killer?’ Detective Sergeant Rose Riley and the task force are racing to find a link before he strikes again.

An unlikely alliance forms between the journalist and detective as she uses his past to help her find the killer but may instead end up putting themselves in danger.

Thank you to @netgalley and #thomasmercerpublishing for the eARC.

During a stifling summer in Sydney, the body of a chaplain’s daughter is found wrapped in black plastic on the deserted grounds of an elite boarding school. Is it the work of the killer who’s been stalking the privileged neighborhoods along the Parramatta River? Gut instinct tells Detective Sergeant Rose Riley something even more devious might be at play.

Eager to find the so-called Blue Moon Killer before he strikes again, Riley forms an uneasy alliance with Adam Bowman, a journalist with a valuable, and unsettling, link to the school’s history. As Riley’s investigation takes her deep into the secret lives of Sydney’s prominent citizens, Bowman delves into the darkest places of his own childhood for answers. When their paths converge, Riley must use every bit of her cunning to stop another murder.

Excavating

Firstly let me tell you how much that cover sold this book for me. I might not even looked twice if it wasn't for it honestly.
I loved this story so much. It's intense, fast paced at times and with characters that I have found enjoyable and very particular with their traits and past. It was a delight to read through and discover all their layers. as for the story itself, i loved the chase and how the clues were so unpredictable in some scenes.
Entertaining and engaging thriller that kept me guessing throughout.


Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy

As an American reading an Australian thriller, I enjoyed the twists and turns of this novel. However, it took me a minute to adjust to the Australian dialect and had to search multiple things to keep up with the language.

Bowman and Riley made a great team, they worked together well and their internal thoughts were fun to read as they complained about the other.

The BMK storyline was so well written and kept me on my toes the whole time. I didn’t see the killer’s identity coming at all which is why this book gets 4 stars cause keeping that surprise where I couldn’t even guess is something that very few authors have done!

Where is somewhere you’ve read about that you’d love to visit (real or fictional)?

For me Australia tops the list. I’d love to see the Sydney Opera House and the ocean. Just so many things about Australia interest me – okay except that it actively tried to kill you.

One particularly stifling summer in Sydney, the body of a chaplains daughter is found wrapped in black plastic on the deserted grounds of an elite boarding school. Detective Sergeant Rose Riley thinks this killing is more than the run of your mill killer – she thinks it’s the work of the Blue Moon Killer. Eager to find the killer before he strikes again, Riley forms an unlikely alliance with a journalist. However, this unlikely alliance ends up helping the case by unlocking the past. Will Riley be able to figure out the key pieces before its too late and the killer strikes again?

This was an interesting read. Law enforcement pairing with journalists is not something that happens all the time so it was a refreshing twist. However, this book didn’t really work for me. It didn’t hold my attention and interest me in the way that I need from a thriller. Usually, I love a good police procedural, but this one just fell flat for me, maybe it was just the writing style. I also found this one slow and this contributed with my struggle to like it. This is a debut novel and I think this author definitely has the potential to do great things.

Check this one out July 1st!

Thank you to the publisher, Thomas & Mercer, @amazonpublishing, Netgalley, @netgalley, and the author for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Solid police procedural about the investigation of the murder of the daughter of the chaplain at an all-boys school and its possible connections to a series of murders linked to a potential serial killer. Spencer has a bit of an odd writing style, terse sentences which sometimes halt the flow of the story. Once you get used to it, it's not as much of a problem. It's certainly well-written, and the characters are substantive, not cardboard cutouts. The procedural aspect is nicely done, with necessary discussions about psychopathy and crime scene analysis. The ending is a bit rushed and anti-climactic, but still manages to wrap things up satisfactorily. Not a perfect book but an above-average entry in the genre. Will definitely check out Spencer's next one. 3.5 stars bumped to 4 for the quality of writing. and well-done procedural aspect. Thanks to Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Black River is Matthew Spencer's first book. It's a winner. This dark, suspenseful, well-conceived mystery has many characters whose interactions are skillfully interwoven to contribute to the tight search for the killer of the daughter of the chaplain at an aristocratic boarding school near Sydney. At this juncture, the campus is largely deserted for the holidays. To me, as a reader, the most interesting part of the book is character development. There is Rose Riley, a savvy detective; Bowman, a journalist who has also attended the school and has his own somewhat suspicious OCD issues; Preston, a scurrilous headmaster without boundaries; a government minister; members of the mafia; Patel, another policewoman; and many others. It would be easy to make their interactions somewhat confusing, but Spencer has drawn them clearly,

The setting, which is no doubt familiar to Australians, is also a way for other readers to conceive of the surroundings that define the plot and contribute to the action and suspense. Spencer carefully puts together the plot, and the clever identification of the murderer at the end is a surprise.

Thank you to Net Galley and publisher Allen and Unwin for allowing me to read this book.

Set in Australia , at the height of summer, the location of the book is a private boarding school. The school is located in the bush and consists of several buildings and 200 + staff. It is the christmas break so there are only 8 people in and around the school . Two girls have been murdered in the suburbs around the school and now the daughter of the school chaplin is found dead. All have been wrapped in plastic . The murderer had ensured that little forensic evidence was available by intensively cleaning the body and area with bleach and ammonia. This death is slightly different.
The main detective is Rose and she is in close contact with a reporter, allowing him to publish limited information about the case. The plot and investigation builds up gradually and takes some concentration because there are a lot of people involved. It does hang together quite well though and there are a couple of other crimes to add to the action. Both Rose and the reporter, Adam drink a lot of alcohol and they could become friends (or more). Plenty of suspense and action in the book and I look forward to reading another installment
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

This is a nicely written mystery with twists to keep the reader guessing to the very end of the book. The details are interwoven in a way that the outcome is not predictable and results in some unexpected surprises.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this good ARC.