3.5 stars

A solid Australian murder mystery, this one was hard to put down and had some interesting plot twists. I like Riley and enjoyed her relationships with Priya and Bowman.

Thank you to netgalley for the ARC.

Broke Road by Matthew Spencer, published by Thomas & Mercer, is the second book in the Rose Riley Series. The previous book is Black River.
For best reading experience I recommend to read the books in order.
Broke Road is Detective Rose Riley's next case.
Set in Australia, written with great love to detail, this story gives all the feels. I enjoyed reading this book, 4.5 stars.

Taut, intelligent, and layered with tension, Broke Road delivers a gripping murder investigation set against the backdrop of Australia’s wine country. While this is the second book in Matthew Spencer’s series, I read it as a standalone and had no trouble immersing myself in its world.

Detective Rose Riley is a compelling lead—sharp, determined, and unafraid to question the narrative unfolding around her. When a woman is found dead in the seemingly idyllic town of Red Creek, Riley and her team are quick to suspect those closest to the victim. But as they uncover chilling links to other unsolved murders, the case takes on a far more sinister scope. The tension builds steadily as Riley pieces together the threads of a calculated killer’s pattern, all while navigating the pressures of a small town on edge and a media circus hungry for scandal.

Spencer’s writing is crisp and evocative, bringing the Australian setting to life in a way that adds both charm and menace. The investigative detail is meticulous without slowing the pace, and the interplay between Riley, her partner Priya Patel, and crime reporter Adam Bowman adds depth to the storytelling. The mystery itself is layered with red herrings and sharp twists, leading to a payoff that feels both surprising and inevitable.