Australian Crime

Whether you know it as the ‘succulent Chinese meal’ video, or ‘democracy manifest’, chances are you have seen the video of baritone larrikin Jack Karlson getting arrested outside a Brisbane Chinese restaurant in 1991. The Guardian called it ‘perhaps the pre-eminent Australian meme of the last 10 years’. When Karlson called crime writer Mark Dapin out of the blue, though, Dapin hadn’t heard of him. But there was enough that intrigued him about this theatrical outlaw to continue the conversation. Over the following months emerged a dark and complex past.

In the bustling heart of Sydney, where the iconic harbour ferry connects the city's shores, Detective Sergeant Natalie Campbell is called to investigate when a body is pulled from the water - an apparent suicide that doesn't add up. What begins as a straightforward drowning soon reveals something far darker lurking beneath the surface of Sydney's corporate world. When the victim is identified as David Garton, a quiet accountant whose meticulous nature led him to discover financial irregularities at his shipping company, Natalie must navigate both the complex currents of Sydney Harbour and ...

A sinister group - code-named Zodiac - has launched devastating global attacks. Twelve targets across the world, 12 code-named missions. Operating distinct sleeper cells, they are the ultimate terrorist organisation, watching and waiting for a precise attack to activate the next group. It is a frightening and deadly efficient way to stay one step ahead. And cause the most chaos. For ex-CIA operative Jed Walker, chaos is his profession. On the outer, burned by his former agency, he is determined to clear his name.

Most Australians have heard of the Boer War of 1899 to 1902 and of Harry 'Breaker' Morant, a figure who rivals Ned Kelly as an archetypal Australian folk hero. Born in England and emigrating to Queensland in 1883 in his early 20s, Morant was a charming but reckless man who established a reputation as a rider, polo player and writer. He submitted ballads to The Bulletin that were published under the name 'The Breaker' and counted Banjo Paterson as a friend.

Amanda Howard examines the worst crimes of Australia, the brutal kidnappings, rapes and murders that destroyed the innocence of a nation. Cases include Australia’s worst serial killers, baby killer Kathleen Folbigg, the kidnappings of children Graeme Thorne and Sofia Rodriguez-Urrutia Shu as well as the brutal family murders carried out by Matthew De Gruchy and Sef Gonzales. Killer Australia looks at the motives and the complexity of the crimes and how the killers were brought to justice.

Ned Kelly's name resonates in Australia the same way the name Jesse James does in America. Was he a crusading folk hero or murderous horse thief and bank robber? Who was the real Ned Kelly? As the impoverished son of an Irish convict, Kelly was cheated, lied to, and abused by the English. Committed to fighting back against oppression, Kelly and his gang of outlaws eluded police for nearly two years.

Vol 4 in Bush Capital Series. With his career in political journalism a smoking ruin, Paul Ryder becomes a ghost-writer. A legendary West Australian mining tycoon hires him to pen his autobiography. All Paul has to do is write a lot of lies and bank a fat cheque. However, he stumbles upon a dark family secret, gets mixed up in murder, is targeted by Chinese spies and has to flee for his life.

When Sydney private investigator, Gary Maddox, is hired to recover a stolen painting, he plunges deep into the art world and finds himself battling crooks who are smooth, well-dressed and death in a chilled glass.

5 SHORT STORY GEMS is a compendium of short stories written by New Zealand author Lance Morcan and published by Sterling Gate Books in 2019/2020. The stories, which have also been released as standalone Kindle ebooks, are aimed at lovers of thrillers, adventure, romance and historical fiction. Details follow… ONCE WERE BROTHERS – Life will never be the same for young Benjamin Thomas after disaffected Maoris abduct his identical twin brother in this moving short story adventure set in Nineteenth Century New Zealand. Mr. 100% – When New York defense lawyer Madison ‘Mr. 100%’ Harley ...

Should he be hanged or transported? The Artful Dodger is the best pick-pocket in England, a one-person crime wave. Although only a child, he seems certain to face the noose. But, to everyone’s surprise but his own, he escapes this fate and is transported to Australia. There he falls prey to Fred Crimp, a disfigured and vicious criminal who Dodger thinks vaguely familiar. His quick wits save him, and life begins to look better as he discovers there are easier ways to get rich than by picking pockets. But back in London, the peril becomes more deadly and his life at risk. In order to elude ...

"We are the people our parents warned us about" is the motto of the Bandidos, one of the world's most feared outlaw motorcycle gangs. For ten years, Steve Utah was a Bandidos insider. He arranged the security of their clubhouses. He 'cooked' ecstasy and ice for them. He was at meetings where interstate and overseas drug and weapons smuggling was planned. He saw stolen military weapons being sold. He witnessed vicious beatings, helped dump corpses.It all became too much and, in an attempt to regain control of his life, Utah resorted to the unthinkable....

University professor Alex Wearing is found murdered in his study by the Post Graduate Co-coordinator, Vera Trenbath, a nosey interfering busybody. Assigned to the case is Detective Chief Inspector Alistair Fitzjohn. Fitzjohn is a detective from the old guard, whose methodical, painstaking methods are viewed by some as archaic. His relentless pursuit for the killer zeros in on Alex’s brother, James, as a key suspect in his investigation. Compelled to clear himself of suspicion, James starts his own investigation and finds himself immersed in a web of intrigue, ultimately uncovering long ...

Sri Lanka, 2009. Decades of civil war and bloodshed are being brought to an end at last – by any means necessary. In the capital, Colombo, tenacious journalist Ameena Fernando is murdered, execution-style, on a busy street near her home, with no witnesses. With pressure growing to find Ameena’s killers, CIA agent Ellie Harper is sent to seek justice for the journalist’s death with strict instructions: Find something, but not too much. It’s her first time returning to the island after her last mission went tragically awry four years prior, and Ellie has more than one ghost to lay to rest.

A village boy dies alone in the mountains, his broken body lying at the bottom of a steep gorge. Was it the tragic accident that everyone believes? Terry has suspicions. But he’s got his own problems. His writing career is on the rocks. In fact he can’t even see the rocks from where he’s standing. From the best-seller lists to obscurity it’s hit him hard. But the words aren’t there. The Greek-island village is a last shot to rekindle his lost mojo. But it’s not going well. Grilled octopus, raki and the single mum down the corridor hold more interest than his laptop. And what is ...

Dr. Blair Harbour, once a wealthy, respected pediatric surgeon, is now an ex-con down on her luck. She's determined to keep her nose clean and win back custody of her son. But when her former cellmate begs for help to find her missing daughter, Blair is compelled to put her new-found freedom on the line. Detective Jessica Sanchez has always had a difficult relationship with the LAPD. And her inheritance of a multi-million dollar mansion as a reward for catching a killer has just made her police enemy number one.

Dive Into the Legendary Lives of Iconic Lawmen Step into the annals of law enforcement history with "Crime Fighter Legends," a riveting exploration of the lives and legacies of some of the most iconic and legendary lawmen. From the pioneering efforts of Allan Pinkerton, founder of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, to the courageous stand of Frank Serpico against NYPD corruption, this book is a celebration of the true heroes who have defined criminal investigation and justice. In "Crime Fighter Legends," you'll journey through the gripping tales of historic detectives like Dave Toschi...

An enthusiastic crowd gathered at Lyrebird Lodge in the Blue Mountains on that crisp autumn morning, all anxious to acquire one of Florence Fontaine’s much sought after paintings. However, the only art on one visitor’s mind is the art of murder. Detective Chief Inspector Fitzjohn, unwittingly drawn into the case, launches his investigation that reveals a web of past and present jealousy, deceit and revenge, at a time when his own life is unravelling before his eyes. Meanwhile, Claire Reynolds, Florence’s business manager and organiser of the event, finds herself entangled in the ...

The International Serial Killers Encyclopedia series sheds light on the murderous minds of many killers, including their motivations, methods, and madness, through detailed research and explicit retelling of events. Some are notorious names that echo through history books, while others are lesser-known killers whose stories are no less harrowing. Each volume reveals a new layer of darkness. Australia is known for its breathtaking landscapes, exotic wildlife, and laid-back culture— but a darker side lurks beneath the surface of this serene country. Murderous Minds Australia, the fifth ...

Chicago, 2003. For twenty-year-old Will Slater, each day is a matter of survival on the crime-ridden streets of Englewood. Possessed by a rigid moral code, he allies with the city’s ruthless gangs only when absolutely necessary, and doesn’t hesitate to turn on crews he finds reprehensible. Orphaned at fourteen by a harrowing chain of events, he’s walked this tightrope for years without a safety net. Then it all changes. When a gang approaches Will with a job, memories are triggered that he’d rather forget. But once he accepts, he’s plunged into a web of deceit.

A Cabinet Minister is murdered, Parliament House is in uproar and political newshound Paul Ryder is busy trying to sleep with a sexy TV reporter. Soon he’s on the trail of the scoop of a lifetime. All he has to do is survive the media moguls, political fixers, spooks, cops and fellow reporters who stand in his way. A fast-paced comic crime novel.