But while the pacing and setting are tremendous, I admit that I struggled a little with the believability of the plot, particularly at the very beginning and end of the novel. Needless to say, Dead Heat'has the tenacity of a sheepdog cowing a herd: it nips and jostles and doesnt let upand yes, I will shamefacedly admit to reading this one whilst walking to and from work. Theres the thirst, the heat, the horizon so bright that it burns your eyes, that ragged sound of your breath as you run Some of our most memorable crimes have occurred in the vast tracts of the outback, where, to steal a line from Aliens, no one can hear you scream. After all, there is something so very chilling about our landscape: though beautiful, Australia is hot, barren, and if our numbers of poisonous creatures is anything to go by, quite intent on killing us all. The rural setting is perhaps one of the things I enjoyed most about Dead Heat, and Parry exploits it to excellent effect. But with his background in organised crime, he knows right away that Jos discovery isnt just a one-off crime of passion: it has all the hallmarks of a drug cartel he knows all too well.ĭead Heat'is Bronwyn Parrys third novel, and her confidence as an author veritably hums off the pages: she could be easily likened with romantic suspense stalwart Nora Roberts.'With its strong suspense narrative, the novel offers a twist on the rural romance literature Ive been reading of late, and its rural setting also makes it stand apart from the gritty urban settings so often seen in crime novels. Recovering from an injury inflicted on the job, Nicks looking for a peaceful posting involving cups of coffee with worried pensioners and lost dogs. Undertaking a routine patrol, Jo comes across a bodyand the cause of death is certainly not natural.Įnter Nick Matheson, a detective whos looking to leave behind his rough upbringing and the undercover work of his past and start anew. Shes also nursing the ache of seeing her fiance die in her arms, a pain thats showing no sign of diminishing despite the brave face she presents.'But Jos about to be confronted once more by death, and this time it may well be her own life that ends up on the line.

She spends her days patrolling the national parks of north-west New South Wales, enduring the blistering heat, the isolation, and the odd group of drunken hooligans.

Park ranger Jo Lockwood is no stranger to tough situations.

As Darkness Falls by Bronwyn Parry