Jon Cleary drops you into the corridors of power where diplomacy is a blood sport and everyone's got a hidden agenda. Scobie Malone, Sydney's most principled detective, finds himself tangled in international intrigue when a high-profile political murder threatens to unravel more than just one case. Cleary, one of Australia's most decorated crime writers, builds tension like a master—each chapter tightens the noose while Malone navigates the murky waters between justice and political expedience. The prose is lean, the plotting is sharp, and the moral questions linger long after you close the book. This is crime fiction with substance, set against a backdrop where the stakes are measured in headlines and body counts. For fans of political thrillers where the detective actually has a conscience, or anyone who likes their mysteries with an Australian edge and zero patience for fluff.
