When Roz Chen’s wife, Niamh, is killed in a hit-and-run on a lonely Tasmanian road, the grieving widow begins to wonder if Niamh’s death was an accident after all. Meanwhile, SAS veteran Sam Willard is hoping for a fresh start with a job at a salmon farm. But as allegations of old war crimes surface and Sam is ‘promoted’ as a special operative against anti-salmon farm activists, he and Roz form an unlikely alliance.
Forced to retreat into the unforgiving Tasmanian wilderness, Roz and Sam find themselves scrambling for the truth with murderous thugs on their trail.
(4/5)
Alan Carter has written such a brilliant novel because Prize Catch has many twists and turns throughout it keeping the reader in suspense until the very end. The characters are interesting, the storyline is different. This is a thrilling crime novel not to be missed!
(5/5)
This is the first book of Alan Carter’s that I’ve read. It certainly got my attention from the beginning and was truly difficult to put down.
The main character, Ros, recently lost her partner in a cycling accident. As with most events in this novel, we start to question the routine and coincidences: Was it really an accident?
Alan Carter introduces us to a range of characters such as war veterans with a dodgy past, business people who want to expand the local salmon farm and police officers who have something to hide. The seemingly unrelated cast come together and are involved in shoot-outs, car chases, midnight escapes and topsy-turvy helicopter rides.
The action is set against the backdrop of the stunning beauty of Tasmania which sparkles at its best.
I look forward to the next crime thriller from Alan Carter.
(4/5)
So refreshing to read a book with plenty of Aussie vernacular and with characters we can relate to so much. It places you there. And ‘there’ being the ‘village’ of Tasmania for us to dive into.
Two big topics, soldier life/war crimes and salmon fishing, are merged together with plenty of crime.
This continues the authors explorations in settings of Western Australia and New Zealand in his previous books.
Top notch.
(5/5)
A hit and run death, theft of damning evidence, intimidation of vocal critics of salmon farming: those are just the introduction to Alan Carter’s latest gripping novel. His cleverly crafted, intricate plot is wholly credible, his setting is perfectly depicted, and his characters are believably flawed. Featuring underhand and illegal acts by a Tasmanian salmon industry baron, accusations of war crimes by Australian armed forces in the Middle East, and whistle-blowers on both, this twisty, action-filled offering is topical and thought-provoking. Prize Catch is superb Australian crime fiction.
(5/5)
Being a fan of Alan Carter, this stand-alone book is yet another great book that kept the thrills coming throughout. We start with Roz Chen’s wife, Niamh, killed in a hit-and-run on a lonely Tasmanian road. Was it really an accident? Then SAS veteran Sam Willard is looking for a fresh start in Tasmania. How do these two situations and people come together?
A book with so much going on, so many twists yet so well written I didn’t feel lost and could follow along with ease. There’s the salmon industry and the problems associated with it, war crimes from the past catching up with the present. There’s murder, blackmail and corrupt cops.
This book covers so much of what we hear in the news today which brings the book to life. The story draws you in with its descriptions of Tasmania, the writing which jumps off the pages with its corruption and greed, it keeps you turning the pages as you never know what is going to happen next. I like that it is so unpredictable and found once I got started I just couldn’t put it down.
An interesting, intriguing, high-tension read with plenty of excitement throughout.
(3/5)
I have enjoyed Alan Carter’s Cato Kwong and Nick Chester books, so I was looking forward to this stand-alone, set in Tasmania, a different environment.
War crimes in Afghanistan and the salmon industry in Tasmania are two hot-button topics. A hint of police corruption is always good to add to the mix. Bringing them together in one story made for compelling drama, although I found that occasionally it challenged my credulity.
Carter is an assured writer of this kind of complex crime, and his sense of place is always well-described and atmospheric. There is a tense and satisfying finale, with some dangling loose ends that could play into another book.
(5/5)
In Alan Carter’s latest book he moves away from his terrific Cato Kwong and Nick Chester series and delivers a crime thriller that will keep you engaged all the way through. With touchstones of war crimes, salmon farming, domestic violence and covid there is plenty to relate to from headlines of recent years. As with many recent Australian crime fiction books there is a strong sense of place in the Tasmanian setting with a feel of Hobart and its surrounds and the wilderness of national parks providing a rich background as the story unfolds. It begins with a hit and run and a returned soldier trying to rejoin society it quickly gathers speed into a page turning thriller and holds the reader right through to the end. In fact the 2nd half of the book I read at a cracking pace as the action did not let up. Having read a number of previous books from Alan Carter I found this one to be the most enjoyable so far.
As a (probable) standalone story this is an excellent start for those who have not read Carter’s previous books and amongst all the other recent Australian Crime Fiction this is up there with the best.
(4/5)
I’m always excited to read a book by an author new to me, and was not disappointed with Prize Catch by Alan Carter. Set in beautiful Tasmania, with a cast of flawed characters this book kept me engaged, and quite tense as the story progressed. Carter brought together, the problems associated with the Salmon Industry and the current issues with defence personnel accused of war crimes in Afghanistan. Sam, a veteran, has a wife and young baby and finds it hard to hold down a job. When he is employed by a Salmon Farm in a menial role, he is determined to make it work. Naimh and Roz have relocated to Tasmania where Roz is battling anxiety. When Niamh is killed in a hit and run the world collapses around Roz. DI Cavanagh sympathises with Roz and tries to lend a helping hand. When Sam is offered a better paid position with a company linked to the Salmon Farm, he takes it despite having reservations. Carter weaves these two stories together, bringing in Jill, an experienced detective, and some shady veterans to keep the readers on edge. A gripping read.
Many thanks to Fremantle Press and Good Reading Magazine for an early reader’s copy.
(4/5)
An Australian crime that’s in a part of Australia that people mainly forget that is a part of Australia. A mystery of who killed Ros’s partner and what her partner was involved in comes at a price. Ex-military Sam just wants to live a simple life after being in the army and struggling to find work but now becomes involved in uncovering the mystery of it all. I enjoyed reading this and finding out the mystery, I think others will enjoy this Australian read.
(4/5)
I’ve always enjoyed Alan Carter’s writing and Prize Catch was no exception.
Alan Carter has mixed a cleverly crafted plot with superb character development.
Afghanistan veteran Sam Willard is a complex mixture of hero and villain and I haven’t come across such a likeable anti-hero as Sam since Jack Dunne in Outrider.
Prize Catch is rich in suspense and although I found the beginning slow the pace soon picked up and I was totally immersed in the story.
I liked that it was set during the early days of Covid lockdowns which made an isolated Tasmania the perfect setting.
With dual plotlines of activists against a big salmon farm and war crimes in Afghanistan I was eager to see how these two vastly different areas would come together.
Prize Catch is a riveting crime novel but I think it was the fabulous characters that really stood out to me.
(4/5)
After initial disengagement, the book engrossed me as I “warmed” to the characters, and read avidly.
A believable and topical storyline set in a recent past with accurate Tasmanian geography and landscapes.
The two women protagonists were depicted realistically with relatable and believable flaws.
Sam’s portrayal was equally realistic and enlightening for a returned Afghanistan soldier.
My first Alan Carter novel but not the last.
(4/5)
Alan Carter’s “Prize Catch” is a stand alone novel. I have not read anything by Alan Carter until now.
I enjoyed this novel. I found the writing engaging and fast paced, it encouraged me to read more. The story was a good crime adventure with well rounded characters. I feel confident I will read more books by Alan Carter.
I enjoy thrillers and adventures, most books by Lee child and Candice fox I would give four stars to as I see five stars as outstanding and reserved for very special novels and stories.
This story (without spoiling it) includes salmon fishing, climate activism, covers grief and trauma, police corruption, returning service man finding his feet in civilian life, being blamed for crimes, protecting his family.
(3/5)
Set in small town Tasmania and the surrounding wilderness, Prize Catch is an engaging crime novel. From the outset, the tragic death of Roz’s partner, Niamh, raised my suspicions of numerous townspeople. Told from multiple perspectives – including police officers, a war veteran and a suspicious widow – it was this style which really helped the story to develop for me.
Themes of salmon farming and war crimes are central to the narrative. Although it took an effort on my part to follow the connections between characters and past events at times, it didn’t deter me from continuing on with the story. Crime fiction is not my favourite genre, nor do I typically read stories with such grisly themes, and the pace of the story was a little slow at times. The beauty of the Tasmanian wilderness was described vividly, enhancing the imagined action. Overall, I felt compelled to continue reading and I think the story lines tied in well with a smart resolution.
I haven’t read any of Alan Carter’s earlier work but I imagine, based on the success of previous titles, his latest is likely to satisfy fans.
(3/5)
Prize Catch by Alan Carter tells the classic tale of what can go wrong when greed is your motivation.
Using Tasmania as a backdrop to the action, the novel centers around two main characters, Sam Willard and Ros Chen who have been thrown together in the most unlikely of circumstances but have no choice but to work together. The common denominator between them is the salmon farm off Bruny Island and the people who will do anything to ensure the upcoming sale goes through.
I felt that the author had too many good ideas which made the plot overly complicated. Carter however writes credible characters, Sam and Ros were standouts for me. Their respective challenges were written with empathy and kindness.
Regardless of some criticism, Prize Catch did keep my attention and kept me turning the pages which is a win for any novel.
(4/5)
A quest for truth becomes a race for survival as Roz Chen, a widow and former lawyer, tries to uncover the truth about her wife’s death. As Roz delves deeper into Niamh’s friends, her activism against the local salmon farms becomes a recurring theme and Roz starts to doubt the hit and run theory that the police are saying happened.
Meanwhile SAS veteran Sam Willard is hoping for a fresh start and when he starts working for the salmon farms, an opportunity arises that feels too good to be true. As allegations of old war crimes surface, Sam is convinced that there is more to his job then meets the eye and he and Roz form an unlikely partnership to uncover the truth.
While activists, war crimes and salmon farms seem an unlikely connection for a thriller, Alan Carter finds a way to keep the story entertaining and exciting. There’s a few good twists in the story and while sometimes it did stretch the boundaries of realism, it was definitely a fun read.
The picturesque views of the Tasmanian wilderness were a lovely addition and really helped to set the scene.
(5/5)
A delighted reader was I, flying along with this informed and quality work. It’s times like this a reader chides themself with the age-old adage ‘why have I not read this author before now?!’ Devouring this believable, compelling, and propulsive thriller to the extent I had not experienced for a long while. An engrossing twisty thread chock full of meaty subjects, whilst heavy, carrying the reader through extreme emotions without faltering. Fully immersed in the female camaraderie, the desperation of escape, and the true caring of reliable protagonists who I felt close to and protected by; I felt I knew them. Absorbing the feeling of evil in which they were fleeing, while attempting to bring to justice made for a terrific read. I loved the right characters; I hated the others with vehemence. Alan Carter has hit the nail on the head with smart writing and faultlessly crafted characters which made it hard to put down. Wanting my lunch break to be longer (what is wrong with stealing some work time to read?!) Here we have an established author clearly shining and I loved it. My copy has a full dance card right now – a sure sign of success.
(5/5)
A first Alan Carter read for me and did not disappoint. I was intrigued by the storyline, twists and turns. Alan Carter’s Prize Catch gripped me from the beginning to end. Loved it, Highly recommend.
(5/5)
Prize Catch starts by identifying a range of issues; The Afghanistan war, war crimes, the Salmon Industry, anti-salmon protestors, COVID, Tasmania’s lockdown restrictions. I wondered how it was all going to come together. As the story develops, they fall in place, and it becomes a fast paced, thrilling story. How many times can Sam Willard avoid certain death? I love reading stories set in Tasmania, and the descriptions made it easy to identify where the action was happening and where characters were located. I enjoyed this book very much – Alan Carter will appeal to anyone looking for a good thriller.
(5/5)
Prize Catch delves into very topical issues such as salmon farming and its detrimental effect on the environment as well as the issues with soldiers committing war crimes, and soldiers returning home and being at a real loss.
Carter’s descriptions of the ruggedness of Tasmania are superb. His development of the main characters and the struggles they undergo are very well written. A great read!
(4/5)
Prize Catch is the eighth novel by Sunderland born crime maestro Alan Carter. Set in picturesque Tasmania, this tale begins with what at first seems like an innocuous hit and run soon emerges as a piece in a much bigger and more elaborate web than anyone can imagine, only a grieving partner in Ros Chen who seems to care.
At the same time, ex-SAS trooper Sam Willard is trying to get his life back on track after a few hard years and finds a job at the local Salmon plant. What initially looks to be a mundane manual job soon pulls him back into the world he tried to leave behind.
Carter has, as per usual, woven a very tight narrative that builds momentum at an admirable pace. The pace doesn’t drop off and and no point had I worked out exactly where the story was heading. It is fair to say that the tone is far darker and more cynical than any of the author’s previous works – the narrative about the accused atrocities committed by Australian special forces is barely disguised from the real world occurrences.
The book itself as far more like Crocodile Tears than the early Kato Kwong books, and, my one slight criticism of the book is that I don’t feel like it quite encapsulates the environment as well as the earlier works – Fremantle was so important to Kwong that it may as well as its own character, as did Marlborough Sound for Nick Chester. Much like protagonist Ros Chen, Carter is still relatively new to his surrounds and still growing with them after leaving sunny Fremantle for new horizons. Hopefully he gives the Tasmanian surrounds the opportunity to grow in future works as his own time and experiences mature.
All in all another fine read by Alan Carter which I expect you’ll enjoy as much as I did.