Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
The black sheep of a wealthy 1930s grazier dynasty, gentleman artist Rowland Sinclair finds the past returns when the gun used in his father's murder is found in a drained dam at the family's country homestead in Yass. It's a murder the Sinclairs have declined to discuss and would prefer stayed unsolved. But now the finger of blame is now pointing squarely at our hero himself. So Rowland and all his unorthodox friends head to New South Wales' Southern Tablelands to clear Rowly's name. Up to now, Rowland Sinclair has been a reluctant hero. With new hindsight, his reluctance to follow the family script now makes perfect sense.
Synopsis
The gun used in Rowland Sinclair's father's death some thirteen years earlier has turned up in a drained dam at the family's country homestead in Yass. And when Rowland offends right-wing New Guard leader Eric Campbell, Campbell uses his influence to set the police to renew their inquiries into Henry Sinclair's death.
Henry's friends had all been led to believe that the wealthy landowner had died in a much more respectable way. Rowland and his elder brother, Wil, had avoided any discussion of the event ever since - in fact the whole family had ducked the issue for over a decade, keeping secret that Sinclair senior was murdered. The possible involvement of the teenage Rowly and his older brother's intervention has been under the radar as well.
But now the finger of blame is pointing squarely at the Sinclair black sheep, a man careless of what society and the authorities think of him. So he and the trio of artist friends who live in his Sydney suburban mansion, and generally have his back, avail themselves of a racing green Gypsy Moth (Rowland is a pioneer in air travel) and a yellow Mercedes sports car (another frightening mode of transport) to arrive in New South Wales' Southern Tablelands, bent on clearing Rowly's name.
With cameo appearances from historical figures - Bob Menzies in the Sinclair kitchen, Edna Walling in the garden, and Kate Leigh grinning lasciviously at Rowly in a jailhouse crowd - and a real sense of fun contrasting with the quite genuine tension, this is historical crime for those in the know and those who can barely remember what happened last weekend, a story of family secrets and fraternal loyalty. Despite the humor, the Rowland Sinclair Mysteries take a deadly serious look at the 1930s, reflecting our own tumultuous times.
Synopsis
A fascinating historical mystery by Sulari Gentill, author of #1 LibraryReads pick The Woman in the Library
Shortlisted for the Davitt Award for Best Adult Novel for 2015
Shortlisted for the Ned Kelly Award for Best Crime Novel 2015
Ever since the death of their wealthy, land-owning father a decade prior, Rowland Sinclair and his elder brother, Wil, have avoided any discussion of the event ever since--keeping secret that Sinclair senior was murdered... And the possible involvement of the teenage Rowly and his brother's intervention.
But now the finger of blame is pointing squarely at Rowly, the Sinclair black sheep, a man careless of what society and the authorities think of him. So he and the trio of artist friends who live in his Sydney suburban mansion, and generally have his back, avail themselves of a racing green Gypsy Moth plane (Rowland is a pioneer in air travel) and a yellow Mercedes sports car (another frightening mode of transport) to arrive in New South Wales' Southern Tablelands, bent on clearing Rowly's name.
With cameo appearances from historical figures--Bob Menzies in the Sinclair kitchen, Edna Walling in the garden, and Kate Leigh grinning lasciviously at Rowly in a jailhouse crowd--and a real sense of fun contrasting with the quite genuine tension, this is historical crime for those in the know and those who can barely remember what happened last weekend, a story of family secrets and fraternal loyalty.
A terrific addition to the critically acclaimed Rowland Sinclair WWII Mysteries and sure to appeal to Rhys Bowen, Kerry Greenwood, and Jacqueline Winspear, this historical novel features a bohemian amateur sleuth, a wry sense of humor, and a crime that will baffle even the most ardent of puzzle lovers.