A great read on many levels 4.5 STARS
BLACKWATTLE CREEK
Detective Sergeant Charlie Berlin is haunted by his World War II experiences and is trying to re-‐establish a normal life in 1950s Australia. Unusually for this genre, he is a happily married family man, and his home life grounds him and allows him to fight the demons evoked by his wartime trauma.
In describing Berlin's home life, McGeachin has created a piece of historical fiction that describes the domestic 1950’s in delightful detail, from the tea-‐making ritual of scooping tea leaves from the caddy and warming the teapot, to wrapping sandwiches in greaseproof paper. Anyone who lived through the 1950’s will find memories flooding back and those who didn't will find a faithful re-‐ creation of the times.
The 1950s, however, were not so benign when it came to the political climate. The Cold War was raging, Australians feared and mistrusted foreigners, women were relegated to the kitchen and policemen could use strong-‐arm tactics with impunity. It is against this background that the plot line unfolds. Berlin finds himself investigating the mystery of missing body parts from a funeral director's premises. What starts as a seemingly simple investigation finds him uncovering secrets that put him at odds with the newly formed ASIO and could threaten his life.
The plot is intelligent, historically well informed and moves at a cracking pace.
A great read on many levels. 4.5 STARS
Reviewed by Linda Irving