20backlistin2020 Book Review: The Night Whistler by Greg Woodland

#20backlistin2020, Australian Authors, Book Reviews, My reading, New Release Book 1 Minute

Not too much of a backlist novel, but still one I’m glad to finally have read.

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What a great crime read this novel was, and surprisingly not set in Tasmania. Instead, this is set in the New England region of NSW in 1966. The cover alone has plenty of sinister feels about it and the author does a great job of depicting the setting.

There was plenty of suspense throughout, as demoted former detective Mick Goodenough (pronounced Goodno) tries to uncover who might be making threatening phone calls to the Humphries’ residence along with trying to figure out who is killing pets and if it’s more sinister than just animals.

Mick is thwarted at every turn by corrupt, incompetent, and lazy colleagues and he really struggled to make headway in the cases.

The star of the story though is young Hal Humphries who finds the body of the dog that’s been killed and who is determined to play Sherlock and figure out who is calling his house, a person they’ve named The Whistler.

There’s plenty of people doing the wrong things in this small town, where racism is rife. I changed my mind several times about who had done which crimes, and it’s near the end where the perpetrator is pushed too far that things become clear.

If this is Greg Woodland’s debut novel, I’ll definitely be looking out for his next one.

Thanks to Netgalley and Text Publishing Company for a digital copy of this novel in return for an honest review.

Published by Claire Louisa

I am an avid reader who will read just about anywhere I can. I have over 1200 books on my shelves and 700 on my kindle and a TBR pile I doubt I will ever get through. I have a preference for Australian authors, but still, read many others. I read a large variety of genres and love learning about other peoples cultures and experiences through fiction. I am an Art Therapist at Healing heART Therapy, a disability support worker, and work in a nursery. I was the Spec Fiction round-up editor for Australian Women Writers Challenge until they changed their focus this year.

Published

10 thoughts on “20backlistin2020 Book Review: The Night Whistler by Greg Woodland”

    1. Yes, I’m going down now, I’ve read the ones that are due to be released, now I’m going down reading all the back list ones, of which there are many.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

        2. I have titles from a few years ago too. I feel bad that I never read them yet, but they are titles I’d still like to read. Lucky I sent them to my Kindle and I’ll still enter the review onto NetGalley once I do eventually read them. Otherwise my read review ratio will remain appalling!

          Liked by 1 person

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