Last Drinks

Last Drinks is a crime novel set in Brisbane that follows George Verney, a disgraced lawyer who returns to his old haunts after learning of a friend's death. The story takes place against the backdrop of Queensland's political and police corruption landscape of the 1980s and its aftermath. George's investigation into his friend's death forces him to confront his own past involvement in Brisbane's corrupt political sphere during the pre-Fitzgerald Inquiry era. The novel moves between two time periods - the present day of the late 1990s and the murky past of 1980s Queensland. The central narrative explores themes of power, corruption, memory, and personal responsibility in the context of a specific period in Australian political history. While drawing inspiration from real events surrounding the Fitzgerald Inquiry, the novel presents a fictionalized account that examines how individuals navigate systems of institutional corruption.

Readers note the atmospheric portrayal of Brisbane's seedy underbelly and political corruption in the 1980s. The noir style and sense of place receive frequent mentions in reviews. Readers appreciated: - Rich descriptions of Brisbane locations and culture - The dark, moody tone throughout - Complex exploration of memory and regret - Integration of real Queensland political history Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in the middle sections - Some plot threads left unresolved - Main character can be frustratingly passive - Political background requires local knowledge Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (272 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (12 ratings) From reader reviews: "Captures the sticky heat and corruption of 1980s Queensland perfectly" - Goodreads "Too much time spent on the protagonist's introspection" - Amazon "The city itself becomes a character" - LibraryThing "Needed tighter editing in the middle chapters" - Goodreads

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🔍 The Fitzgerald Inquiry (1987-1989) exposed widespread corruption in Queensland's police force and government, leading to the imprisonment of several high-ranking officials. 📚 "Last Drinks" won the Ned Kelly Award for Best First Crime Novel in 2001, establishing McGahan as a significant voice in Australian crime fiction. 🌆 The novel's Brisbane setting captures the city's transformation from a "big country town" in the 1980s to a modern metropolis in the late 1990s. ✍️ Andrew McGahan's own experiences as a Brisbane native during the Fitzgerald Inquiry era helped shape the novel's authentic portrayal of the city's political climate. 🏆 McGahan (1966-2019) was also renowned for his Miles Franklin Award-winning novel "The White Earth" (2004), demonstrating his versatility across different literary genres.