Slaughter Park (The Belltree Trilogy)

Slaughter Park is the third book in The Belltree Trilogy and the sixteenth novel by Scots-born Australian author, architect and urban design expert, Barry Maitland. Harry Belltree's self-imposed exile in Queensland comes to an abrupt end when Times journalist Kelly Pool tracks him down to tell him that his wife Jenny has disappeared, leaving their daughter Abigail with her sister.

Harry hasn't seen Jenny for almost a year, and has never met nine-month-old Abigail, but he knows there is no way that Jenny could have committed the crime of which she is suspected: the brutal murder of a fifty-four year-old man in Blackheath.

Harry is puzzled about Jenny's most recent actions; he has stayed far away to reduce exposing her and Abigail to the danger that always seems drawn to him, but now she appears to be intentionally involving herself in the affairs of the rather menacing Nordlund family.

His old partner in homicide, Deb Velasco is in charge of the investigation and unwilling to listen to reason; Kelly Pool is more than willing to exchange information with him if it will get her a scoop.

Maitland's characters are complex and multi-faceted: while some are exactly what they first seem to be, this is certainly not the case for all of the players. Harry is appealing: a tenacious maverick who will do anything to protect those he cares about, whether that means spending nights in his new baby's room or other, more violent deeds. Jenny really proves what she's made of in this instalment, and Kelly Pool certainly goes above and beyond to get her stories.

Once again, Maitland gives the reader fast-paced tale with plenty of twists and surprises, and more than one heart-stopping climax. This wholly believable piece of crime fiction includes copy-cat murders, stolen generation children, corrupt politicians, developers and police, dog fights and some clever police work. Maitland manages to tie up all the loose ends and resolve the questions that have engrossed readers from the start. The final twist provides a delicious irony. A brilliant end to an excellent Aussie crime trilogy.