The Mountains Have a Secret

The Mountains Have a Secret is a detective novel by Arthur Upfield, published in 1948. The story follows Detective Inspector Napoleon 'Bony' Bonaparte as he investigates the disappearance of two young women and the murder of a police officer near the Baden Park Hotel. The investigation takes place in the rugged terrain of Victoria's Grampians mountain range. Detective Bonaparte must navigate both the physical landscape and complex web of local relationships to uncover what happened to the missing women. The book is the twelfth installment in Upfield's Napoleon Bonaparte series and has been translated into multiple languages including Danish, Spanish, German, and French. It represents Upfield's continued exploration of Australian landscapes and their influence on human behavior and criminal activity. The novel examines themes of isolation, secrets kept by small communities, and the relationship between people and their environment. Through Bonaparte's unique investigative methods, which blend Aboriginal and European approaches, the story highlights cultural intersections in mid-twentieth century Australia.

Readers find this Napoleon Bonaparte mystery engaging but not among Upfield's strongest works. The incorporation of the Victorian mountain setting and Aboriginal tracking methods earns praise, with several reviews highlighting how the landscape becomes a character itself. What readers liked: - Detailed descriptions of the Grampians region - Technical details about tracking and bushcraft - Fast-paced final chapters - Strong sense of Australian wilderness atmosphere What readers disliked: - Plot takes time to gain momentum - Less Aboriginal cultural content than other Bony novels - Some find the ending rushed - Character development feels limited Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (127 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (32 ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (21 ratings) Multiple reviewers note this book works better as part of the series rather than a standalone, with one Goodreads reviewer stating "You need to read earlier Bony books to fully appreciate the character dynamics."

Death in the Back Blocks by Robert Schofield A murder investigation unfolds in remote Western Australia as Detective Sergeant Campbell tracks a killer through harsh outback terrain while uncovering secrets in an isolated mining community.

The Lost Man by Jane Harper A rancher's mysterious death in the unforgiving Australian outback leads his brother through a web of family secrets and environmental challenges.

The Shepherd's Hut by Tim Winton A manhunt across Western Australia's salt flats follows a teenage fugitive as he forms connections with the land and unravels dark rural mysteries.

Bitter Wash Road by Garry Disher Detective Paul Hirschhausen investigates a death in rural South Australia while navigating small-town politics and long-buried secrets.

The Dry by Jane Harper Federal Agent Aaron Falk returns to his drought-stricken hometown to investigate deaths that connect to a twenty-year-old mystery in the parched farming community.

🔍 Napoleon Bonaparte, Upfield's detective protagonist, was one of literature's first mixed-race detectives, appearing in 29 novels between 1929-1964. 🌄 The Grampians (Gariwerd) mountain range, where the novel is set, was formed over 400 million years ago and features more than 4,000 different plant species. 📚 Arthur Upfield based his detective character partly on a real Aboriginal tracker named Leon Wood, whom he met while working in the Australian outback. 🦘 The book was written during a period when Australia's literary scene was actively trying to establish a distinct national identity separate from British influences. 📖 Upfield developed his writing skills while working various jobs in the Australian bush, including boundary rider, cook, and camel driver, spending 20 years gathering material before publishing his first novel.