Babylon South

Babylon South is a crime novel set in Sydney, Australia, centered on detective Scobie Malone. The book follows Malone in 1989 as he confronts an unsolved case from his past - the 1966 disappearance of an ASIO director. The investigation forces Malone to navigate complex political pressures while simultaneously working on a new murder case. The dual investigations reveal connections between Sydney's criminal underworld, intelligence agencies, and corridors of power. Against the backdrop of late 1980s Sydney, Malone must balance the demands of his police commissioner, the weight of a decades-old mystery, and the challenges of his current homicide case. The story spans multiple time periods as past events surface in the present. The novel explores themes of institutional corruption, the burden of unresolved cases, and how the past continues to influence the present. Through its portrait of Sydney across different decades, it examines the evolution of power structures in Australian society.

Readers praise Jon Cleary's descriptions of 1960s Sydney and his portrayal of police detective Scobie Malone. Book reviews note the authentic period details and political intrigue woven throughout the story. Positive comments focus on: - Complex characters and police procedural elements - Cultural tensions between Anglo and Vietnamese communities - Historical accuracy about Vietnamese migration to Australia Common criticisms: - Plot moves slowly in the first third - Some subplots feel disconnected from main story - Cultural references may be unclear for non-Australian readers Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (42 ratings) Amazon: 4/5 (6 reviews) "Cleary captures the racial tensions and changing dynamics of 1960s Sydney perfectly," writes one Goodreads reviewer. Another notes that "the Vietnamese immigrant storyline provides fascinating historical context but occasionally overshadows the central murder mystery."

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🔍 Jon Cleary wrote over 50 books during his career, including 20 Scobie Malone novels, before his death in 2010 at age 92. 🌏 The book's title "Babylon South" refers to Sydney's reputation as a modern-day Babylon - a city of both glory and corruption - in the Southern Hemisphere. 🎬 Several of Cleary's works, though not this particular title, were adapted for film and television, including "The Sundowners" starring Robert Mitchum and Deborah Kerr. 🏛️ ASIO (Australian Security Intelligence Organisation), featured prominently in the plot, was established in 1949 during the height of Cold War tensions. 📚 The Scobie Malone character first appeared in 1966's "The High Commissioner" and became one of Australia's most beloved fictional detectives, appearing in books until 2004.