It was no surprise that former lawyer Jock Serong received the Ned Kelly Award for Best First Crime Novel for his debut novel, Quota, about disgraced barrister Charlie Jardim. Searching for the truth in a murder case emerging from the seedy underworld of the illegal abalone trade, Charlie fascinated us as he travelled into the shadows and secrets of a small town on Victoria’s south-west coast.

The title of his second novel may be off-putting to non-enthusiasts, but a love of cricket is not a prerequisite for enjoying this story. The Rules of Backyard Cricket is an astute exploration of character and family. Serong takes us from ’70s suburbia through to a brutal present in which ex-cricketer Darren Keefe is cable-tied and lies wounded in the boot of a car. During his frightening ride, Darren remembers the life that has led him to this point. He is the black sheep of his family who has no apparent moral compass and who floats along on his natural abilities, taking pleasure in all the indulgences that fame brings.

In contrast to his earnest brother, Darren is a train wreck. Jock Serong’s gripping narrative is a compassionate exploration of masculinity and humanity as he chillingly questions whether we truly know those who are closest to us.

Reviewed by Sue Noonan