This is the second book in the Clementine Jones series. Clem knows that the death of her friend Helen, a second mum more than a friend, simply cannot be suicide as the police declare. She is sure that Helen was pushed rather than jumped off the cliff. As Clem leaves Helen’s funeral service, she knows that she will stop at nothing to find the truth.

Helen was the leader of an environmental conservation group trying to save the habitat of the white-throated turtle. This position stood her in the way of a large powerful mining company, leaving Clem with a myriad of potential suspects to consider. Suspects who would profit greatly with Helen out of the picture. Clem takes it upon herself to discover just what happened and who murdered Helen.

But the deeper she digs, the more dangerous her search becomes. The suspects are all powerful men. It quickly dawns on Clem that having already murdered Helen, the murderer will not blink an eye in doing the same to her.

Thornton skilfully ratchets up the pace and tension by switching perspective between Clem and the killer sent to silence her. This works brilliantly, giving depth and a face to an integral character.

This is the second book in a series that Thornton is writing that revolves around Clementine Jones. I have not read the first book and, while not being essential, I feel it would enhance the enjoyment of this novel having done so. Thornton writes a great character, with some of them crossing over from the first book, and I would love to know more about them.

A great narrative, descriptively Australian, wonderful characters, and a series I intend to follow.

Reviewed by Neale Lucas