Gumshoes around the gum trees, bush noir, whatever the catch phrase for outback or rural Australia crime fiction, carve a new name into the bark , Ronni Salt, with the debut novel, GUNNAWAH.
It’s 1974 in the Riverina and there’s an ongoing conflict between cops and crops and the one big issue that is common to both legal produce and illicit plants – irrigation.
Just like in the classic film noir, Chinatown, water and its ownership and supply is at the heart of GUNNAWAH, as the mob tries to manipulate local politicians in policy of irrigation. But it’s not a dogged private detective that is on the case in this instance but a nineteen year old cadet journalist by the name of Adelaide Hoffman.
Adelaide is adamant that the disappearance of a local politician is mixed up with marijuana producers and the possibility of a cover up by local coppers. The more she digs the deeper the scale of shady deals, vested interests and labyrinth of lies that conceal secrets from the recent past.
A river runs through GUNNAWAH, the mighty Murray, and it courses through the novel like a character, and as much as the plot is important in this mystery, it’s the characters that power this book.
There’s the committed, steadfast Adelaide, of course, but also her boss, the ex Kings Cross working girl now local press baron, Valdene Bullark, a bulwark of her protege and her adopted community.
Kon and Tina, owners of the local Greek cafe, the mayor Barr Heneghan and his wife Cheryl-Ann.
The ghost of Al Grasby, although by the time this tale is told, he has been electorally defeated. But Gough is still Prime Minister and he and his wife, Margaret are coming to town to announce the great irrigation scheme. Their appearance is one of the highlights in this nifty nostalgic noir.
A little bit cold case creeps into the current caper and Salt peppers the historical with a spicy source of suspense.
GUNNAWAH by Ronni Salt is published by Hachette.
