New Release Book Review: The Waterhole by Lily Malone

I have no idea how this post didn’t get finished when I started writing it well over a month ago, but I’m glad I can finish it now.

I was excited to hear Lily Malone had a new novel coming out, a departure from her usual genre this new rural crime novel has a much darker feel.

Lily has definitely managed to capture the feeling of small-town Cowaramup on the south coast of Western Australia.

This novel had some seriously unlikable characters, though one does redeem himself later on in the novel. I liked the characters of the two police officers and felt for Detective Marley West who has to prove himself to everyone because his grandfather was an extremely corrupt police sergeant who ruled the town for decades before. 

Told between three different timelines dating back to 1966, we slowly discover past secrets, and there are plenty until the many secrets expose the truth behind the human bones discovered in what used to be a waterhole. 

I’m looking forward to more dark crime fiction by Lily Malone and definitely looking forward to seeing more of Detective Marley West and hoping he can sort his life out a bit.

With thanks to the author for providing me with a digital copy of this novel in return for an honest review.