Electrifying - brilliantly written - sensational story. Powerful Australian crime fiction that stuns and thrills as the story unfolds. The twists and turns in the novel lead you to a shocking and surprising finale. Author Patricia Wolf is up there with the best of the Australian crime fiction writers and this novel, second in the DS Walker series, is well worthy of five stars. The series is highly recommended to all crime and thriller readers.

Lucas Walker of the AFP is still recuperating from the injuries sustained during his last case in his hometown of Caloodie and is awaiting the results of a review board of his actions. He's been sent to Surfer's Paradise by his superiors to work on a murder case - the victim was someone walker knows from the Caloodie case. While they he assists the local police on a home invasion and murder - Siobahn Owen was brutally murdered by burglars who had tied up and tortured her husband, their daughter was almost smothered to death as well. Lucas becomes invested in the case as he takes shift at the hospital to protect the daughter, Gabby.

Fantastic read - I like that the story continues on from the first book Outback. Hope there will be more in the Walker series.

Thanks to Netgalley, Embla Books and Patricia Wolf for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

Surfers Paradise, on Australia’s Gold Coast, is full of oceanfront condos, expensive waterfront homes on a nearby river, tourists and surfers. It’s where DS Lucas Walker has come to recuperate from a serious leg injury. He’s supposed to assist with a local training program but when a low level drug dealer with ties to Lucas’ home in Caloodie is killed, Lucas is asked to help with the investigation. He also gets involved in a home invasion case when the wife of a local doctor is brutally murdered and their daughter is hospitalized in critical condition. Add a troubled professional kitesurfer to the mix and you have cases that will weave together and trap Lucas in a very dangerous web.

The second in a series by the gifted Patricia Wolf, Paradise features strong characters, and a carefully constructed plot. As a gritty, compelling mystery set in Australia, it is obviously for fans of Jane Harper but now also for the many fans of Patricia Wolf. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Embla Books and Patricia Wolf for this ARC.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Embla for the ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
Wow. A great follow up to this new series. I loved the first one, Outback, and this one was even better, which is saying something. Non-stop action from the first pages and it didn't let up at all. I couldn't read it fast enough. Ms. Wolf has a knack for description - you can see everything laid out in front of you like you're watching it, not just reading it. So suspenseful! You won't find the multiple mysteries confusing - they all tie together at the very satisfying ending. A fantastic character in Lucas Walker who you're rooting for all the way. I can't wait to see where this series goes. If you haven't read Outback, you won't be lost reading this as a stand alone, as there are references throughout, but by all means do yourself a favor and read it. You will not be disappointed. I can definitively say Paradise will be one of my favorite books of 2023.

A good second installment, that nudged me gently into remembering all the characters from the first book, which I enjoyed as much as this one.
It was nice to have some familiar faces around.
The main case was interesting, with enough clues dropped so that I'd guessed the outcome before the police did.
The second one added the drama snd tension.
Well written, with a credible, likeable main character, this a series I hope we get to see more of in the future.
Australia has a lot more to offer us I think, I'd happily have Lucas Walker as a guide.

Great book and series! This book was awesome! It had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, action, murder, mystery, MC drug dealers and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle! I highly recommend reading this book and series! Its well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!