Beams Falling

Detective Nhu "Ned" Kelly returns to work after recovering from a violent shooting at a drug raid in Cabramatta. She takes on cases in Sydney's Vietnamese community while struggling with unresolved trauma from the incident. The novel follows Kelly as she investigates the death of a young Vietnamese student amid escalating gang violence in the area. Her work forces her to confront both her own Vietnamese heritage and the complex relationships between police, criminals, and the local immigrant community in 1990s Australia. The story tracks Kelly's parallel journeys - solving the crime while dealing with PTSD symptoms that affect her work and personal life. Her professional commitment to justice clashes with institutional pressures and cultural barriers. This crime novel moves beyond standard police procedural elements to examine trauma, cultural identity, and the true human cost of law enforcement work in marginalized communities. The 1990s Cabramatta setting provides a lens for exploring still-relevant questions about policing, immigration, and belonging.

Readers note this police procedural delves deeper into trauma and PTSD than typical crime fiction. Many highlight Newton's authentic portrayal of both police work and Sydney's Vietnamese community in the 1990s. Readers appreciated: - The complex exploration of psychological impacts on police officers - Detailed portrayal of Cabramatta and Vietnamese-Australian culture - Strong character development of protagonist Ned Kelly - Realistic depiction of police procedures Common criticisms: - Slower pacing compared to traditional crime novels - Some found the PTSD elements overshadowed the mystery - A few readers wanted more focus on the criminal investigation Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (156 ratings) Amazon AU: 4.3/5 (12 ratings) Reader quote: "Newton writes with authority about both policing and the Vietnamese community - you can tell she's lived this world." - Goodreads reviewer "The psychological elements are confronting but necessary to understand the character's journey." - Amazon reviewer

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🔍 "Beams Falling" takes its title from a Raymond Chandler quote about police work: "...a long slow fall of beams that had taken eight years to gather..." 👮‍♀️ Author P.M. Newton drew from her 13 years as a NSW Police officer to create the authentically gritty atmosphere and police procedures in the novel. 🌏 The book explores the Vietnamese-Australian community in Cabramatta during the 1990s, a time when the suburb was experiencing significant gang activity and heroin-related crime. 🏆 The novel is the second book featuring Detective Nhu 'Ned' Kelly, following Newton's debut "The Old School," which won the Sisters in Crime Davitt Award for Best Adult Novel. 🎭 The protagonist's name, Nhu 'Ned' Kelly, cleverly combines Vietnamese heritage (Nhu) with a reference to Australia's most famous bushranger, creating a character who straddles two cultures.