Blackwattle Creek

In this second installment of the Charlie Berlin series, set in 1957 Melbourne, former detective Charlie Berlin becomes entangled in a complex investigation. What begins as a favor to look into suspicious activities at a funeral parlor leads him down a dangerous path. The investigation connects to Blackwattle Creek, a former asylum for the criminally insane, and exposes Berlin to Cold War tensions and police corruption. As he pursues the truth, Berlin must navigate threats to both himself and his family while confronting powerful forces who want to keep their secrets buried. This Ned Kelly Award-winning novel captures the atmosphere of 1950s Australia with precise historical detail and a noir sensibility. McGeachin explores themes of post-war trauma, institutional corruption, and the moral complexities faced by those who seek justice in a compromised world.

Readers call this Australian noir crime novel gripping and atmospheric, with a strong sense of 1950s Melbourne. The protagonist Charlie Berlin receives particular attention in reviews for his complexity as a damaged WWII veteran turned investigator. Readers liked: - The authentic historical details and post-war setting - Complex character development of Berlin - Building tension and pacing - Integration of real events into the fictional story Readers disliked: - Some found the plot resolution unsatisfying - A few noted the violence was more graphic than expected - Minor complaints about historical accuracy in police procedures Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (167 ratings) Amazon AU: 4.4/5 (12 ratings) Amazon US: 4.2/5 (6 ratings) "A gritty look at Australia's underbelly in the 1950s" - Goodreads reviewer "The darkness of the story sneaks up on you" - Amazon reviewer

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🔍 The 1950s "Red Scare" depicted in the novel was very real in Australia, leading to the Petrov Affair in 1954 - a major espionage scandal involving Soviet diplomats. 🏆 "Blackwattle Creek" won the 2013 Ned Kelly Award for Best Fiction, Australia's most prestigious prize for crime writing. 🏛️ The original Blackwattle Creek was an actual waterway in Sydney that was filled in during the 1880s after becoming notoriously polluted from local industry. 🎬 The noir style employed in the novel draws inspiration from classic films of the period, particularly those featuring detectives like Humphrey Bogart's Sam Spade. 🏥 Mental asylums in 1950s Australia, like the one featured in the book, were often places of controversy, with the peak of institutional care occurring between 1955 and 1965.