A fictional murder mystery set in a small Australian country town in 1947.
Secrecy, anxiety, distractions and threats surround the murder of a naked young woman whose body is found on an ants' nest in the bush with a Christian cross cut into her forehead.
The normally laid back culture and dry sense of humour of this outback post-WWII community is shattered by this dramatic event.
Detective Harry Taylor, a damaged and flawed war hero, returns from behind enemy lines to face different battles in his home town.
Expected to solve the case quickly, Harry's local knowledge and investigative skills are tested by religious bias, racism, bigotry, romance, jealousy, sexual abuse, disability, power plays and divided loyalties.
Opinions and suspects are plentiful. Nobody has the answers. Everybody has something to fear and hide.
With more antagonists than friends, it's up to Harry to solve the case.
Told from Harry's perspective, the plot is driven by the conversations of a rich array of characters.
Similar to well-known Australian crime fiction authors Jane Harper, Gary Disher, Chris Hammer and Michael Robotham, Laurie Dicker's novel delves more into the 'why' rather than the whodunnit.
