Mr. Jelly's Business

Detective Inspector Napoleon 'Bony' Bonaparte investigates a puzzling disappearance in rural Western Australia after a man vanishes following a late-night drive in the rain. The case centers on the small town of Burracoppin, where the only clues are a crashed car, two hats, and empty beer bottles along the rabbit-proof fence. The novel showcases Bony's unique investigative methods as he takes over from Detective Sergeant Muir to solve this mysterious case. Set against the stark backdrop of Australia's Wheatbelt region, the story follows Bony as he pieces together the events of that rainy November night. This fourth installment in Upfield's Bonaparte series examines themes of isolation and deception in the Australian outback, while highlighting the cultural complexities of its half-Aboriginal, half-white detective protagonist.

Readers praise this Detective Bonaparte mystery for its detailed portrayal of 1930s rural Australia and the clever integration of Aboriginal tracking methods into the plot. The unusual disappearance case and investigation technique keep readers guessing until the end. Liked: - Atmospheric descriptions of the Australian countryside - Cultural insights into bush life and Aboriginal customs - Complex mystery with satisfying resolution - Bony's methodical detective work Disliked: - Slow pacing in the middle sections - Dated language and attitudes typical of the era - Some find the Aboriginal tracking details repetitive Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (161 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (42 ratings) "The clever plotting and vivid sense of place make up for the occasionally sluggish narrative," notes one Goodreads reviewer. Several Amazon reviewers mention the book requires patience but rewards careful reading with its authentic portrayal of outback life and unconventional detective methods.

Death in the Back Blocks by Kerry McGinnis A lone detective must unravel a disappearance in the Queensland outback where the victim's vehicle sits abandoned on a cattle station.

Diamond Dove by Adrian Hyland Indigenous detective Emily Tempest investigates a murder in a remote Northern Territory settlement while navigating cultural boundaries.

The Dry by Jane Harper Federal Agent Aaron Falk returns to his drought-stricken hometown to investigate three deaths that connect to a long-buried secret.

Bitter Wash Road by Garry Disher Detective Paul Hirschhausen investigates suspicious deaths in rural South Australia while confronting police corruption and small-town politics.

The Lost Man by Jane Harper A man's death near a remote cattle station fence in the outback leads his brother through a complex investigation of family secrets.

🔍 The rabbit-proof fence mentioned in the book was a real barrier spanning 2,023 miles across Western Australia, built between 1901 and 1907 to protect crops from rabbit invasion. 📚 Napoleon 'Bony' Bonaparte appears in 29 novels by Upfield, making him one of Australia's longest-running detective characters in literature. 🖋️ Author Arthur Upfield worked as a boundary rider and cattle drover in the Australian outback for decades, lending authentic detail to his descriptions of the harsh landscape. 🌏 Burracoppin, where the story is set, is a real township established in 1891 during the Western Australian gold rush and served as a vital water stop for steam trains. 👤 The character of Detective Bonaparte was groundbreaking for its time, being one of the first mixed-race detectives in popular fiction and challenging racial stereotypes of 1930s Australia.