But when word comes in that the backpackers have gone missing in the area, he’s asked to take a look and help out the local police, acting in a family liaison capacity. As that book reached its conclusion it was clear that a number of loose ends were yet to be tied off, suggesting the possibility of a sequel appearing at some point in the future. The sense of menace in the areas where the crimes were committed adds to the excitement of the chase and the ‘will they won’t they survive’ tension builds gradually culminating in a dramatic finale. It’s this comradeship around which the story is built and is stronger for and I enjoyed the way their friendship developed and grew.

Outback: A stunning new crime thriller: Wolf, Patricia Outback: A stunning new crime thriller: Wolf, Patricia

Walker’s taciturn boss has strongly suggested to him that he act solely as that advisor, keep his head down, and avoid any sort of controversy. However, he decides he will take the job just so that he can get something to do even though he does not expect so much from it. Not necessarily a good thing for a detective novel, although it did work in raising tension towards the end. This is where he grew up and has now come back to spend a few days of his compassionate leave with his mother who is dying of cancer. It is, unfortunately for him as it will turn out, coincidentally exactly where the Vandals have ended up too, including Stefan, who has a particular grudge against Lucas.

In fact, anyone with knowledge or eagle eyes may have noticed that she makes a few references to her hometown in the debut work of fiction. Dual plots can be hit and miss, but in this case I thought it worked really well, also it ensures that ‘all important’ suspense and tension never waivers. Lucas has kept abreast of developments in the Owen case and, at Cummings’s request, reviews all the information they have so far. But it looks like trouble has followed him with the Vandal bike gang moving their drug operation to the sunny Gold Coast. I liked the setting, the author did a good job in both books bringing specific areas of Australia to life.

Outback by Patricia Wolf | Waterstones

As with many seemingly straightforward missing persons cases, there’s a subversive subplot that makes itself known as Lucas begins digging deeper with his investigation. When two young German backpackers, Berndt and Rita, vanish from the area on their way to a ranch, he finds himself unofficially on the case. As the number of days since the couple's disappearance climbs, Walker is joined by Rita's older sister.

Thought the ending was a tad predictable, but I enjoyed the narrative and plot so much that I didn’t mind. Paradise was again just as gripping as Outback, I loved the descriptions of the settings and could very easily visualise them in my mind’s eye.

DS Walker Series by Patricia Wolf - Goodreads

The debut thriller from Patricia Wolf, Outback paints western Queensland with the shimmering heat haze and endless red dirt that marks that part of the world as a brutal place to visit. Australia's Gold Coast : On a stunningly beautiful stretch of coastline, a young mother is brutally murdered and her daughter, Gabby , is left in a coma, with her life hanging in the balance. This wasn't quite as strong as the first book, it was much more predictable, I could easily figure out where everything was heading. They had disappeared in the neighborhood while heading to a remote cattle station where they had been offered jobs.Paradise was provided by Embala Books through Netgalley upon the promise of a fair review and is set to be published on May 17, 2023. In the meantime, Walker finds himself working on a major investigation into a home invasion on Macintosh Island that turned out fatal. But why all the interest from the Federal Police when they have probably just ditched the heat and dust of the outback for the coast?