Crimson Lake

Crimson Lake by Candice Fox

I was induced to read this book while watching the Thomas Jane TV series “Troppo,” which is an adaptation of this book. In other words, it has the same leading characters and setting, but the mystery has been changed for reasons known only to the Gods of TV Adaptations.

Ted Conkaffey is an ex-cop, who is living under the threat of criminal prosecution for a very convincing set of circumstantial evidence linking him to the brutal rape/assault on a twelve-year-old girl. He has fled to the “Top End,” i.e., steamy, sweaty Northern Australia. While there he meets Amanda Pharrell, who runs a private investigation business in Crimson Lake, Cairns, and the Top End.

Amanda has her own dark past. She was convicted of murder as a juvenile and served serious time in Queensland Women's for that murder. The victim was a popular fellow classmate. The murder is inexplicable and no one has tried to understand it. People write it and Amanda off as psychotically evil.

So, Ted and Amanda are the pariahs of Crimson Lake.

Amanda is hired to find a missing writer, which leads them through the paces of the mystery. Both face the hostility of everyone around them, particularly Ted who is labeled a “pedo” and is being followed closely by two of the local constabulary, who have made it their personal mission to run him out of the Top End.

The mysteries work out nicely. I enjoyed the setting in tropical Australia. I found the characters engaging enough to follow them on future adventures.

Can't say more in favor of a book than that.