An utterly compelling and gripping read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this fascinating, well crafted thriller and I highly recommend reading this incredible story.
If, like me, you enjoy the audiobook version you will find this riveting, beautifully narrated by the very talented narrator Rebecca Macauley.
Creepy, eerie and often tense. Delightful.

Under the Black Mountain. I wanted to love this book. I usually love books like this but something about the narrator, I just could not get past. I listen to over 80 audiobooks a year, and usually love most narrators but this one did not hold my attention at all. I may try to read the print book.

I had a lot of fun listening to this novel. The setting and situation are unique and engaging and the characters who waltz onto the scene are compelling. I'm grateful for stories like these, which upend my expectations of the genre.

A descriptor historical fiction novel. Intriguing capture of some of the events that are part of Australia’s history. Captures the reader with relatable environmental and character descriptions

Eva leaves are abusive husband in London me takes off to Australia. Eva finds her self in a mystery of murder and drugs. With using her love of psychology she helps the town sheriff figure it out.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

This was a good read that starts slow but develops some interesting twists. I liked the historical setting. The narrator did a good job.

An epic adventure with a plucky heroine struggling in her new life in Australia. Personal circumstances as well as her new job at the police station thrust her into the midst of a suspenseful mystery. Great scenery. Historically interesting.

Under the Black Mountain is an engaging historical murder mystery set in rural Australia shortly after WWI. The story focuses on Eva Willoughby who runs away from her abusive husband in England and travels to a childhood friend's home in northern Queensland. There she is hired by a local sheriff as a secretary of sorts. Not long after, her friend Sylvia disappears. The rest of the story is Eva investigating the disappearance, as well as the mysterious death of a young soldier.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story narrated by Melbourne voice actor Rebecca Macauley who did an excellent job. She provided varying voices for the different characters, as well as expressing all the varying emotions.

I was extremely happy to hear that Under the Black Mountain is the first book in the historical crime series featuring Eva Kylie Fitzpatrick. I am patiently waiting for the next book in the series!

Thank You Netgalley and the publishers for letting me listen to Under the Black Mountain by K.T. Fitzpatrick.

Small-town mysteries are a favourite.

This one is set down under and at the start of the 20th century.

Another one of those that you could read in a day.

I won't say it was exceptional but it was not bad either.

Just a book that you wouldn't mind reading.

Under the black mountain by KT Fitzpatrick and narrated by Rebecca McCalley. Eva Willaby flees England and her abusive husband to go stay with a friend in Queensland Australia. Soon after she arrives she starts to hear about missing people but it’s when she gets a job with captain Joshua Shaw and he is busy hunting down clues to the black market that her friend Sylvia goes missing. Eva believes that it is connected to the missing soldier and takes it upon herself to investigate. Let me just start by saying I love book set in Australia I don’t come across them often but love a good mystery set down under. This one was no exception with a great protagonist in Eva it’s set in 1919 if you’re looking for a good mystery trust me when I say this is a good one with great narration in an even better plot you can’t go wrong. I do want to say it has been over a month since I listen to this audiobook and thought I had reviewed it but having said that everything I put in my review is true and remember loving this book especially Eva. I want to thank Belinda audio for my free arc copy via NetGalley please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

*Many thanks to K.T. Fitzpatrick, Bolinda Audio, and NetGalley for a free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.*
Historical Fiction set in 1919 in Queensland. The Black Mountain looms over the landscape, surrounded by folk tales filled with the unexplained. Characters from all walks-of-life and different nationalities face the troubles linked to drugs, domestic abuse, threat of communism, post-war traumas and disappearances. A good novel portraying Australia in the early 20th century, with each character having their own voice.

This is a murder mystery, set in the Queensland outback in 1919, Eva has fled Britain to escape her husband’s violence. She has a friend in the Australia and decides to make a new life there. The area is dominated by the Black Mountain of the title along with some superstition about the disappearance of girls over some time. Eva works with the local police and despite opposition as she’s a woman, she determines to investigate what’s going on.

The story is well plotted, if a little slow to start. However, that’s part of the build up as the characters and background are established, so it’s worth persevering to the heart of the mystery. I thought there was a strong sense of location and as Aussie noir, this has a slightly different slant with the time period and protagonist. It’s well written and the characters are engaging. Plenty of twists to keep the interest going so overall, I found it quite intriguing. A slightly generous 4*. Narration this excellent. Well paced and well delivered.

A bit confusing in the beginning of this book but once I got the character's straight, it was interesting. I learned something new about Australia post WWI.
The main character Eva leaves London to escape her husband that has become violent, suffering from PTSD. She finds work for a police sergeant and uncovers missing people from Black Mountain. Opium use is common for those suffering post war trauma. This plays into the story line. She is smart, well-educated and determined not to be stopped just because she is a woman. There are many twists and turns, but it is worth finishing.
I listened to the audio version and enjoyed the narration. Thank you NetGalley for this early release

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.

 In Under the Black Mountain, K.T. Fitzpatrick weaves a mystery set against the haunting backdrop of far northern Queensland in 1919. Fleeing a violent marriage, Eva Willoughby seeks refuge at her childhood friend’s cattle station near the eerie Black Mountain—a place shrouded in unexplained disappearances. As tensions rise and unease settles over the post-war landscape, Eva becomes entangled in a web of secrets and danger.

Atmospheric Setting: Fitzpatrick’s vivid descriptions transport readers to the rugged Australian outback. The eerie Black Mountain becomes a character in itself, its mysteries echoing through the pages.

Complex Characters: Eva is a resilient and resourceful protagonist. Her determination to uncover the truth drives the narrative, while Detective Sergeant Jack Shaw adds depth with his own secrets.

Historical Context: The aftermath of World War I provides a rich backdrop, and Fitzpatrick skillfully captures the post-Gallipoli atmosphere. The war’s impact on individuals and communities resonates throughout the story.

Critique:

Pacing: While the slow burn builds tension, some readers may find the pacing too leisurely.

Narration: Rebecca Macauley’s narration is competent, but lacks the emotional intensity needed for pivotal moments.

Final Thoughts: K.T. Fitzpatrick’s Under the Black Mountain is a sharply written mystery that combines historical depth with an evocative sense of place. If you enjoy atmospheric thrillers and strong-willed heroines, add this book to your list.

Consider this a murder mystery type story set in rural Australia- people are going missing and the police can't figure out if it's something more sinister than the legends surrounding Black Mountain. Like if Agatha Christie wrote with an Aussie flair. It's a solid story; a slow build with a lot of time spent on character and plot development. I appreciated that it was clean because there were a few times I thought it was going to get descriptive- that's always a risk when I don't know the author or the content. The book ended with a lot of loose ends and hints of potential for sequels- which I won't read because I don't see how it's not going to get a little too steamy for my liking. But I can confidently recommend this book if you don't mind a slow but steady plot. I recommend taking some character notes for the first dozen chapters- it will help you keep track of what's going on.
Content considerations: domestic violence, alcoholism, drug addiction (heroin and cocaine), drug trafficking, shell shock, F-bomb (not often; mostly situationally appropriate), one closeted homosexual character
Thanks to Netgalley and Bolinda Audio for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This was an interesting book and I loved the setting for it. Great job by the narrator as well.
Enjoyable listen.

4⭐️

I had the audiobook of this Australian historical fiction read by Rebecca Macauley I felt that she does both a good middle class British accent as well as Aussie. She gave a really lovely feel to the story.

The setting is 1919 Northern Queensland. Eva Willowby flees England and a violent marriage going to stay with a childhood friend on a cattle station in the Black Mountain.
Eva finds a job working as an assistant for Detective Sergeant Jack Shaw when her friend Sylvia goes missing. As the police don’t seem interested in investigating Eve takes it upon herself. Eva is an early psychologist, a woman ahead of the time.

There’s a good feel of the time and place with the use of language and description of the environment. The Aussie terms are explained naturally and effortlessly. The politics of the era also comes across. There are also some racist terms of the time used.

It’s a gentle slow burn mystery the characters and setting carry it well. There’s a subtle romance included, the descriptions around the romance felt a little stilted but probably fitting for the era.

This was a very pleasant palate cleanser for me after a particularly harrowing book. It looks like the start of a series, it looks like becoming a more traditional city based procedural in the next instalment so I’m not sure that I would continue with the series.

Set just after WWI, we follow Eva Willoughby as she flees London and her abusive husband for Australia where she hopes to “disappear” off his radar. Eva is clear about her husband’s war trauma causing him to lose himself, and she sees the same lost look in the soldiers returning to Australia from war. Many of the men are hooked on cocaine and heroine given to them after the war to treat shell shock, and it is becoming a serious problem in her new home.

Eva takes a job with the police as a secretary, but she read psychology at university and her studies have helped her investigate a number of disappearances from Black Mountain. When her own friend Sylvia goes missing and she sees how stretched thin the department is, she takes it upon herself to get to the bottom of things. Eva’s insight into human intuition allows her to see through several of the locals and root out corruption running rampant.

Eva is a woman before her time, and intriguing to say the least. The story is set up almost like a first installment. Though I liked Eva’s character, the nonchalance surrounding drug use and spousal abuse was unsettling. I am sure Eva would do well in police work, as she doesn’t seem easily rattled. Though I liked Eva’s character, I am not sure I would read another installment.

Thank you to NetGalley, Belinda Audio, and author K.T. Fitzpatrick for the advanced copy of the audiobook. Under the Black Mountain is out now. All opinions are my own.

This was an interesting read. The narrator was good but I had a hard time keeping to the plot. I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the book and the setting.

Post war Eva leaves London for Australia where she meets various people along her journey, which involves her delving deep into investigating as a police secretary as to what actually has been going on in the area.

Eva is a very intelligent woman with her own psychology education along with lofe experience has left her domestic abusive marriage and has concerns her ex husband will get her sent back to London through his connections via army, she speaks of how in London you could purchase packs of cocaine and heroin as gifts as back then they were used in war times for soldiers to be able to continue in battle and cope with the trauma aftermath. When then in Australia, it's seen how the impacts of such things impacted and affected the soldiers long term. There is an obvious number of people who chose to emigrate to the country after the war, some working as miners, with the sugar cane mills however others were not so authentic. This itself caused some problems with the people who already lived in the country with some causing various disturbances as theft and violence by the people who went to these areas to steal and more.

When Eva's friend Sylvia goes missing, Eva really gets her detective head on, and the fact 3 people have gone missing around the same area of Black Mountain creates deep concern. Due to Eva's commitment and determination, she becomes detective rather than secretary, getting to the truth of what was happening.

This story covers domestic abuse, drugs, firearms, disappearances, police investigations, emigration/immigration issues, intelligence, working ethics, cultures, the beginning of change between men and women in equality, morals and so much more.

This was very well narrated with all accents done well and flowing without any confusion. The book cover gives that feeling of intrigue, wondering what is over that mountain, draws you in, and appropriately depicted for the story in my view.

With gratitude to Netgalley & Bolinda Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book in return for an open & honest review.