Taboo

Taboo follows Indigenous detective Dan Horton as he returns to his ancestral lands in Western Australia to investigate a mass murder from the colonial era. His work brings him into contact with local Indigenous youth and elders who are grappling with the area's violent history. The novel moves between past and present timelines, connecting historical massacres with contemporary tensions in the region. As Dan works to uncover what happened, he confronts both personal and communal trauma tied to the land and its stories. The narrative explores Indigenous Australian connections to Country, the impact of colonial violence, and the complex dynamics between Indigenous and settler communities in modern Australia. These themes emerge through Dan's investigation and his deepening engagement with local cultural knowledge. Through its fusion of crime fiction and historical elements, Taboo examines how past violence continues to shape present-day relationships and identities in Australia. The novel raises questions about healing, reconciliation, and the possibility of acknowledging difficult truths while moving forward.

Readers consistently note the book's unflinching examination of Australia's colonial history and its impact on Aboriginal communities. The prose style draws particular attention - readers appreciate Scott's poetic language and the way he weaves English with Aboriginal words. Liked: - Complex portrayal of cross-cultural relationships - Rich historical detail and research - The incorporation of Aboriginal language and storytelling techniques - The balance between personal narrative and broader historical context Disliked: - Some found the narrative structure confusing - Several readers struggled with the non-linear timeline - Aboriginal language passages challenged some readers - A few noted the pacing feels uneven in the middle sections Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon AU: 4.2/5 (80+ reviews) Notable reader comment: "Scott doesn't simplify the complexities of Australia's past - he forces you to sit with the discomfort and really think about it." - Goodreads reviewer

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🔍 Kim Scott is a descendant of the Noongar people about whom he writes in Taboo, giving him a deeply personal connection to the story of the Cocanarup massacre. 📚 The novel's setting, Kokanarup (Cocanarup), is a real location in Western Australia where a historical massacre of Aboriginal people occurred in the 1880s. 🏆 Taboo won the 2018 New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Indigenous Writers' Prize and was shortlisted for multiple other prestigious awards. 🌿 The book weaves together Aboriginal concepts of healing country (connecting with and caring for the land) with contemporary themes of trauma and reconciliation. 🗣️ Scott incorporates Noongar language throughout the text, contributing to a growing movement of Indigenous Australian authors who preserve their traditional languages through contemporary literature.